Life as a Scholar Monk

He opened the dark red wooden door and entered his room. Though called a room, it was really a tiny chamber.

A bedroll lay against the wall, its bedding two layers of coarse wool felt. There was also a low table and, in the corner, a small stove for warmth in winter. Beside the stove stood a small copper kettle for heating over the fire.

The rammed-earth floor was hard and uneven. A small window sat high in the earthen-brown wall, letting in little light.

Yet to Qu Zan, this little chamber was like a villa.

"So this is what it means to become a Scholar Monk!" Qu Zan suppressed his excitement.

That night, Qu Zan slept in the little chamber.

Sleeping here alone, Qu Zan no longer smelled the stinking feet of the communal sleeping platform, nor heard anyone grinding their teeth or talking in their sleep at night.

The next morning, when a conch sounded in the temple,

Qu Zan's eyes snapped open. He washed up, pushed open the door, and went outside.

The sky was still steeped in blue-black dimness, and a hint of fish-belly white appeared over the distant snowy peaks.

Leaving the Scholar Monks' quarters, he stepped onto the main path paved with whole slabs of bluestone, which rose gently along the mountainside.

Qu Zan entered the prayer-wheel corridor. Along the wall stood thousands upon thousands of brass prayer wheels, their cylinders engraved with gilded scriptures.

A flick of his fingertips set off a continuous chorus of low, rumbling wheels.

Thick red walls of rammed earth towered high, crowned with black-edged bands of bundled brushwood. Gilded Dharma banners and auspicious qilin Dharma wheels projected from the eaves.

The Scholar Monks wore solid-red sleeveless monastic robes, the fabric very new, neat, and crisp. Their steps were light and steady, their gazes restrained...

Qu Zan blended into the crowd of Scholar Monks, walking slowly and breathing in the crisp morning air.

He passed through an ornate red gate and entered the great scripture hall.

The great scripture hall faced east from the west, lofty and bright. Inside stood a hundred and eight pillars, their shafts wrapped in colorful woolen rugs and painted with coiling dragons.

A gilded Buddha statue was enshrined at the center of the western wall, flanked by statues of bodhisattvas.

Before the Buddha stood seven tiers of offering tables, displaying a hundred and eight butter lamps that burned day and night without going out, as well as copper water-offering bowls.

Huge painted murals covered the surrounding walls, while thangkas, colorful prayer flags, and khatas hung from the beams and pillars...

"This hall reserved for the Scholar Monks' morning prayers really is extraordinary."

Qu Zan glanced at the surrounding Scholar Monks. On the surface, everyone wore the same monastic robes.

But some Scholar Monks wore a dazzling array of gold, coral, and other items among the seven treasures.

Poor ones like Qu Zan wore no adornments at all. Just as serfs had three ranks, there were differences in wealth among the Scholar Monks.

The entire floor was laid with thick wooden boards, and as he stepped on them, he could smell the fresh fragrance of wood.

Long red meditation cushions covered the floor, each row seating dozens of people. The Scholar Monks took their seats in order of generation and seniority.

Newcomers like Qu Zan, who were Scholar Monks, were assigned to the rear rows near the door.

Upon arriving at the great scripture hall, they first spent two hours in meditation, sitting quietly.

Then came morning prayers. The many Scholar Monks chanted scriptures together here-the "Refuge Sutra," "Praise of the Buddha King," "Ode to the Bodhisattvas," and others... Their low, unified voices echoed through the hall.

They chanted for two hours.

The arrival of a new Scholar Monk like Qu Zan naturally drew furtive glances from the others, curiosity and puzzlement in their eyes.

Next came breakfast, which was far better for the Scholar Monks than for the Attendant Monks.

They drank thick butter tea and ate fragrant tsampa.

The butter tea served to the Scholar Monks contained genuine yak butter. It was nothing like the Attendant Monks' pale, watery tea.

Rich black tea mingled with the full, creamy fragrance of yak butter, carrying a faint saltiness.

The tea tasted smooth and rich. Into it went tsampa-finely ground roasted highland barley-which had a strong grain fragrance and was extremely filling.

Some Scholar Monks came from fairly wealthy families and brought their own provisions, such as dried meat.

After breakfast, they went to the smaller scripture halls, where scripture teachers gave lessons.

Different smaller halls taught different subjects: collected topics, Buddhist logic, perfection of wisdom, the Middle Way, Abhidharma, monastic discipline...

Qu Zan had to begin with the most basic course in collected topics.

Collected topics formed the foundation of Buddhist teachings in Mìdì. Put simply, it was an introduction to language and logic.

It covered basic concepts such as form, mind, the conditioned, the unconditioned, permanence, and impermanence, along with logical frameworks, definitions, and the things they defined...

Simply put, collected topics resembled the School of Names from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods of his previous life, which excelled in logical analysis and debate.

But it was more purely dry and tedious, requiring extensive memorization.

Without having received empowerment, Scholar Monks like Qu Zan studied only abstract, useless concepts.

Honestly, even reading a few more scriptures would have been good.

With his panel, Qu Zan might even comprehend a method like the [Lion's Roar Heart Mantra]!

Paper was extremely expensive in Mìdì, and scriptures were the very lifeblood of monasteries.

Scholar Monks had to go to designated places, such as the scripture repository or branch libraries, to read, copy, and memorize them according to the rules...

Unlike Attendant Monks, Scholar Monks could borrow books, but only with a master's guarantee and a written slip could they borrow them to read.

At noon, the Scholar Monks actually had two hours for lunch and a midday rest.

Qu Zan found this exceedingly comfortable.

At the dining hall, the Scholar Monks' lunch included not only butter tea and tsampa, but also stewed vegetables and meat. Although there was only one piece, it was genuine meat.

He also saw Doje and Gonbo there.

But Doje looked utterly exhausted and moved extremely slowly, his body twitching with pain at every step.

"Senior Brother Doje, what's wrong?"

As soon as Doje saw Qu Zan, he poured out his woes.

"Life as a Warrior Monk is far too exhausting. We have to get up before dawn, strip to the waist and bathe in cold water, then run ten li through the mountains, throw stones, train our arm strength... Buddha preserve me, this afternoon we still have to carry timber, wrestle, and lift weights!"

"When I was an Attendant Monk, I could still slack off. Now being a Warrior Monk is even more exhausting..."

At Corpse Camel Temple, Warrior Monks were in fact monk soldiers who underwent paramilitary training. Their status was below that of Scholar Monks, and they were responsible for guarding the temple and enforcing discipline.

"Study hard. I'd like to learn a few moves from you later!" Qu Zan said.

"Huh? Aren't you studying scriptures? Why do you want to learn Warrior Monks' methods too? Do you have that much time?"

Qu Zan smiled and said, "More skills never weigh you down. With strong muscles and bones, I can study scriptures better!"

With his [Extensive Learning] talent, Qu Zan had an exceptional aptitude for adapting to learning. He intended to cultivate both scholarly and martial pursuits...

As for time, the treatment he received as a Scholar Monk was even better than Qu Zan had expected.

They had one day off every six days, and he had heard there were two long holidays each year.

I'll be living the nine-nine-six life from now on too. In this godforsaken place of Mìdì, nine-nine-six really is a blessing! Qu Zan thought.

"No problem," Doje said. "Once I've learned something, I'll teach you. Just don't complain if I teach badly."

"That's fine!" Qu Zan said with a smile.

With his panel, anything he learned would appear on it. When the time came, he only needed to add points.

After the midday rest came the afternoon scripture debate class.

As soon as he entered the room, Qu Zan noticed something unusual. All the Scholar Monks had already entered the small scripture hall at least fifteen minutes early.

Moreover, everyone sat perfectly upright, without the slightest laxity.

It was a world apart from the somewhat casual atmosphere of the morning class.

Qu Zan asked a Scholar Monk beside him, "Why has the atmosphere suddenly changed?"