Elder Jin Chi seemed to wake from a dream as he turned to look at him.
"Hm? What guidance does this benefactor have to offer?"
Chu Yang smiled faintly and cupped his hands. "I would not dare call it guidance. I merely looked over your collection earlier and had some thoughts. I would like to speak with you about them."
Elder Jin Chi folded the kasaya, carefully placed it on the table, then sat back down. He gently covered the kasaya with his palm, as though afraid it might fly away.
"Please, speak."
Chu Yang sat across from him, lifted his teacup, and took a sip.
"Elder, you have collected kasayas for centuries. Have you ever considered one question—what is a kasaya?"
Elder Jin Chi was briefly taken aback, then smiled.
"A kasaya is the ceremonial robe of one who has left the secular world, a mark of Buddhist cultivation. That question is rather shallow. Surely that is not all you wished to ask?"
Chu Yang said, "You are correct, Elder. A kasaya is a ceremonial robe. But what I wish to ask is—what does the 'Dharma' in 'Dharma robe' refer to?"
Elder Jin Chi rolled his prayer beads between his fingers and replied unhurriedly, "Dharma refers to the Buddhist teachings. A kasaya bears the spirit of Buddhism. To wear a kasaya is to wear the Dharma, reminding oneself at every moment that one is a disciple of Buddhism and must not slacken in cultivation."
Tang Monk, listening nearby, nodded slightly.
Chu Yang nodded as well. "What the Elder says is reasonable. But I have one question."
"Please ask."
"Since a kasaya bears the spirit of Buddhism, does that spirit reside in the kasaya itself, or in the heart of the person wearing it?"
Elder Jin Chi's smile froze for