Seventh Peak, Erha's Anomaly

I did not get to see the Great Living Buddha.

A young lama told me that the Great Living Buddha had gone wandering.

I thought that was ridiculous. I had never heard of the Great Living Buddha traveling to the Sea of Clouds. Did he really think I knew nothing about Tibetan Buddhism? But the Great Living Buddha was definitely not at the temple. He was deliberately avoiding me.

He had the young lama pass along a message: everything followed the heart.

In other words, I was to act according to my own heart. But what was I supposed to do when my heart was in turmoil? What was I supposed to do with all the things I did not understand?

"This Great Living Buddha, whether he talks or acts, is never straightforward. Honestly, he's not even as good as my Bodhisattva!" Erha said unhappily.

I smacked Erha on the head. "Are they even comparable? How could the Great Living Buddha compare to your Bodhisattva?" Only then did Erha come to its senses. "That's right. My Bodhisattva is a genuine Bodhisattva, one infinitely close to becoming a Buddha. What does he count for?"

I sighed. "You can't put it that way either. At least in Tibet, he is a Buddha—the Buddha in people's hearts."

After I said that, Erha fell silent as well.

Soren asked me, "Master, are we heading back now?"

I nodded. Since I could not see the Great Living Buddha, I could only return for now. There was no point in staying.

After getting into the carriage, Soren personally took the reins.

"Soren, has the young master mentioned leaving Tibet again?"

Soren said no. He said Maru seemed like a completely different person now, so different that even he found him unfamiliar.

He was a little worried.