Saints Have No Form, Saints Have Ten Thousand Forms!

Suzhou-Hangzhou, Lingyin Temple

It was a day of gentle winds and bright sunshine, with crisp autumn air.

A fat monk dressed in simple, plain robes, carrying a tin staff and a large cloth bag over his shoulder, climbed the bluestone steps and knocked on Lingyin Temple's mountain gate.

"Amitabha. I am a traveling monk and would like to stay at your temple for a few days."

Maitreya looked at the monk who opened the gate, pressed his palms together, and bowed. The smile on his face grew even wider.

"Venerable Master!"

"Staying here is fine, but could you show me your ordination certificate?"

The little novice who had opened the gate returned the greeting with his palms together and replied respectfully.

"Ordination certificate?!"

At those words, the smile on Maitreya's face froze...

"Please don't take offense, Venerable Master."

Seeing the smile freeze on Maitreya's face, the little novice hurriedly added:

"There have been many traveling monks in recent years, and the authorities have been conducting strict inspections. Our temple dares not keep anyone without a certificate without permission!"

"If you cannot find it for the moment, you can rest at the tea stall outside the mountain gate. I will report this to my master inside the temple, and then we can discuss it further!"

Maitreya rubbed his belly and laughed heartily.

"Sorry for the trouble!"

With that, Maitreya turned and left, arriving at the tea stall outside Lingyin Temple, where he ordered a bowl of cold tea.

"What happened, Junior Brother?"

Shi Yu, who had wandered over, lifted his robe and sat down on the bench opposite Maitreya, gently waving his folding fan.

"Why didn't you go in? Could it be that Lingyin Temple refused to accept you?"

After hearing Shi Yu's words, Maitreya let out a long sigh and