"Through the kalpas of the old world, three thousand thrones of ages past remained."
"Most revered among all ranks, he was worshipped as the King Buddha."
"Named 'World-Transcending,' he transmitted the Dharma as Amitabha..."
Within the resplendent temple atop Mount Jiaowu, sandalwood smoke drifted thickly as waves of chanting rose.
The Buddha's Pure Dharma Golden Body, weighing ninety-five thousand jun, wore a crown and ceremonial robes. His meditative visage was stern and majestic, his closed eyes like those of one asleep.
The main hall was lofty and vast, like a hidden heaven.
The hallful of monks all sat with their eyes closed, chanting sutras like swarming meditation ants. Creatures born at dawn and dead by dusk, they immersed themselves in the wondrous awareness of the past, utterly unaware of what night it was tonight.
A monk who had brushed the stardust from his robes stepped over the towering threshold and entered.
The faithful monks chanted with ever greater devotion, yet none knew that the true Buddha they revered had arrived.
Only the State Preceptor of Great Chu, who had been dozing while tapping a wooden fish, snapped awake and opened his sparkling eyes.
"Those who revere the Buddha cannot see the Buddha."
"Those who do not revere the Buddha see him without knowing him."
"Thus, there was never any Buddha in this world..."
Eternal Zen Master looked at the Buddha statue on the altar. "It is merely a clay sculpture in my own image."
Fan Shijue blinked. "Can we change shifts now?"
Eternal Zen Master, who had gone to conquer stars beyond the heavens, had returned to the birthplace of Great Chu's imperial house.
The monk who meditated on Three Treasures Mountain only wanted to crawl back into bed and catch another nap.
Being the State Preceptor of Great Chu