“Don’t underestimate me,” Coral retorted smugly, “Do you know the meaning of a stupa?”
Leo shook his head, pretending not to know.
“A stupa, also known as a pagoda or Buddhist tower, is generally composed of an odd number of levels such as one, three, five or seven. The seven-level stupa is the most common,” Coral explained as they walked inside.
“Stupas originated in India which is the birthplace of Buddhism. Initially shaped like tombs with a hemispherical body on a square platform and various shapes for its top,” she continued.
“These tombs were called stupas in ancient Indian Sanskrit language and meant burial mounds for Buddha’s remains.”
“After Buddha’s bones were cremated into colorful crystal-like beads and buried in stupas. The seven-level stupa was then called Seven-Level Stupa.”
Leo looked at her with interest before complimenting her saying, “I didn’t expect you to not only be beautiful but also knowledgeable. Do you know what merit there is in circumambulating around a stupa?”
“Of course I do! When circumambulating clockwise around it, all heavenly dragons, demons and ghosts will pay homage to you instead of harming you,” she replied confidently.
“When circumambulating around it, all heavenly dragons will pay homage to you instead of harming you while going counter-clockwise has no merit but rather incurs great sin.”
After Coral finished speaking, Leo decisively took her hand.
Coral instinctively pulled back slightly, but she couldn’t free herself. She asked in confusion, “What are we doing?”
“Taking you around the pagoda,” Leo said without hesitation, pulling Coral’s hand and finding a pagoda to start circling clockwise.
After completing three clockwise circles, Leo asked, “Do you feel anything special?”
Coral shook her head.
Leo smiled and said, “It’s merit, of course. It’s something you can’t see or touch.”
After they passed through the forest of pagodas, the gate of the White Dragon Temple appeared in front of the two.
Upon entering the gate, Coral pulled her hand out of Leo’s and said, “I’m taking you to meet an extraordinary person. I’ve already made an appointment with him, and he must have been waiting for us for a long time. Let’s hurry.”
“An extraordinary person? The high monk you mentioned?” Leo asked.
Coral nodded and, without waiting for him to continue questioning, quickly led him inside.
Inside the gate was a small courtyard. Besides a well and a meditating old monk with closed eyes, the courtyard was almost empty, without even a tree.
Coral led Leo to the side of the old monk and bowed, saying, “Ahagi Master.”
Leo followed Coral’s example and bowed to the old monk in greeting.
The old monk’s eyes remained closed, which made Leo somewhat uncomfortable. The monks here seemed so arrogant.
The old monk finally opened his eyes, giving a slight nod as a gesture of acknowledgment. He then raised his right hand, adorned with a string of prayer beads, and gestured towards the well beside Leo.
Leo didn’t understand what he meant, but Coral did and reminded him, “The master wants you to take a look into the well.”
What’s the meaning of this? Leo wondered, but he still leaned his head forward to look into the well, as instructed.
Inside, it was pitch black with no water, and the bottom was not visible.
Leo raised his head, looking at Coral with confusion, not understanding the meaning behind this.
Coral had a faint smile on her face and gestured towards the old monk with her eyes.
The old monk began to speak cryptically, “Between heaven and earth, is it like a round box? Empty yet unyielding, moving yet surpassing. Many words are limited, not as good as staying in the center.”
“The valley spirit does not die, it is called the mysterious female. The mysterious female’s gate is called the root of heaven and earth. It exists continuously, but does not require effort.”
Leo listened, feeling perplexed and lost in a haze. He had no idea what the old monk meant with his words.
“May I ask, Master, what do your words mean?” Leo asked.
The old monk didn’t directly answer his question but simply said, “Let me tell you a story.”
The light in the old monk’s eyes became gentle, and he calmly said, “There was a man who had four wives…”
“The fourth wife received the most love from him. He took her wherever he went. He personally took care of her daily bathing, clothing, food, and daily life. He tried his best to fulfill her desires, her favorite clothes, and showered her with countless affections and attentions.”
“The third wife was the object of pursuit for many people. He went through great hardships and defeated others to obtain her. Therefore, he cared for her every day, worried about her, and often sweet-talked her by her side. He even built a beautiful house for her to live in.”
“The second wife was the one he was closest to, the one he turned to whenever he had any concerns or troubles. He always sought her to share his worries and seek solace. Being with her made him feel content, and he missed her when they were apart.”
“As for his first wife, he almost forgot about her and rarely visited her. Yet, she was burdened with all the heavy household chores, responsibilities, and worries. However, she received no attention or consideration from him.”
“One day, he had to leave his hometown and go to a distant place, unable to return. He said to his fourth wife, ‘I have something important to attend to now, and I must leave. Will you come with me?'”
“The fourth wife replied, ‘I don’t want to go with you.’ He was extremely surprised and asked, baffled, ‘I love you the most, I always listen to you. We have never been apart for a moment. Why don’t you want to accompany me now?'”
“No matter what you say, I cannot go with you,” the fourth wife firmly said.
“He resented her heartlessness and called the third wife to ask, ‘Will you accompany me then?’ The third wife replied, ‘If even your most beloved fourth wife is unwilling to accompany you, why should I?'”
“He had no choice but to call the second wife and said, ‘Will you always be willing to accompany me?'”
“After a brief moment of contemplation, the second wife responded, ‘I will be sad to see you leave, but I can only accompany you to the city outskirts. The rest of the journey, you have to walk alone!'”