The Great Offering

All the monks who heard the Dharma gong put on their robes and walked with steady steps toward the Great Sutra Hall.

A grand temple built with care was also a complete "Mandala," just like the present Endless White Pagoda Temple. As the most important building in a temple, the Great Sutra Hall was an immensely spacious structure where many major Dharma assemblies and grand gatherings were held. The "great offering" was no exception.

The red-robed monks inside the Great Sutra Hall sat according to rank. After the Dharma gong sounded, the monks already seated in the hall, regardless of status, took out their bowls and placed them before themselves. Even Elder Mingfa was no exception; he simply sat in the highest and most exalted position, waiting for the great offering to begin.

Next came the monks from outside. In order of seniority by age, they sat down in succession from the Great Sutra Hall onward, took their bowls from inside their robes, and likewise placed them before themselves, waiting for the offering to begin.

Once the red-robed granary monk standing at the entrance of the Great Sutra Hall confirmed that the time had come and they could begin, he blew the Dharma Conch at his waist. Its muffled sound signaled that this great offering could begin.

Immediately, the monks in the kitchen put butter into the scalding tea and stirred it constantly. Then monks carrying teapots began with the highest-ranking Chief Seat monk and poured tea into their bowls one by one, round after round.

Only after the third round did they stop.

The monks responsible for the kitchen bustled in and out like busy worker ants. Only after Elder Mingfa finished the last bowl of tea did the red-robed granary monk at the entrance of the Great Sutra Hall take out the Dharma Conch and blow it again.

Then the yellow-robed monks handling provisions carried in bucket after bucket of white rice porridge cooked the day before. Under the assembled monks' gazes, they crumbled in dark sugar and added raisins. Other monks stirred it evenly beside them before it was ladled into the bowls the monks had licked clean.

Everyone received one bowl.

Even the Chief Seat monk was no exception.

No more and no less. When receiving the offering, all the monks, regardless of status, had to press their palms together and bow in thanks to the yellow-robed monks serving the porridge. Even Mingfa was no exception.

This expressed the monks' gratitude toward those giving alms.

Everything proceeded in orderly fashion. The monks who finished their meals wiped their bowls clean and placed them before themselves.

To the monks, licking their bowls clean was nothing shameful. It was a skill every monk had to learn: eat, lick the bowl clean, and tuck it inside their robes.

Every great Monastic Court did the same, for this was conduct admired and advocated by the Buddha and the great beings of the Secret Dharma Region. However fussy or particular the monks were about food in private, however much they scorned those giving alms, in an offering like this, everyone had to lick their bowls clean and offer thanks repeatedly.

Never mind a Chief Seat like Elder Mingfa.

Even if the Abbot Venerable were here, he would have to lick his bowl spotless, leaving not a trace behind.

And thank those giving alms several times.

These yellow-robed monks were thoroughly practiced at their duties. One monk returned the bows, one distributed the alms, and one pushed the porridge bucket onward, continuing to serve those farther down.

The entire great offering had to end within one hour, without running over at all.

Thus, everything for each "great offering" had to be prepared before this brief period so it could proceed directly within the temple. During the proceedings, every monk also had to finish eating very quickly. Every step had to stay strictly within its allotted time.

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These were the monastic rules.

During this great offering, disciplinary monks also stood to one side, responsible for handling any stage where a problem might arise.

Thus, as soon as the last young monk finished the rice porridge in his bowl, the yellow-robed monks immediately left with the porridge buckets.

Another group of yellow-robed monks took their place, all carrying satchels against their chests. Once again beginning with Elder Mingfa, a yellow-robed monk took five copper coins from his satchel and placed them in Elder Mingfa's bowl.

Elder Mingfa bowed again, and the yellow-robed monk returned the bow.

Every monk received the same alms, but the number of portions differed.

Ordinary monks received only one portion, while someone like Elder Mingfa received ten. The granary elder in charge of this matter might receive eight or nine.

The disciplinary monks received around six or seven portions.

Lu Feng stood to one side, quietly watching this great offering proceed as scheduled, without any disturbance.

Strangely, Lu Feng felt no excitement at all now.

There was only a very peaceful sense of "observation."

As though this matter had not the slightest connection to him.

After all the alms had been distributed, the red-robed monk standing before the Great Sutra Hall began clapping again.

At the first clap, Elder Mingfa raised his voice, and the monks below joined in, as did the monks seated outside. This was praise, and also a hymn of exaltation.

It was the final part of the entire great offering.

Hearing the hymn, Lu Feng saw Zhiyun standing beside him press his palms together and lower his head. Lu Feng pressed his own palms together and bowed, and those monks inclined their bodies slightly.

They were returning the bow.

After this final part ended, Elder Mingfa rose and left without saying a word.

The red-robed monk who had been about to clap froze for a moment-according to the rules, Elder Mingfa should only have left after he clapped again. This did not quite follow the procedure, but the other man was Elder Mingfa, so he reacted very quickly, immediately coughing and pretending nothing had happened as he let Elder Mingfa leave.

The other red-robed scripture monks also followed Elder Mingfa out of their own accord, without passing before Lu Feng. Lu Feng remained motionless, his heart unruffled.

Compared with everything that had happened last night, today's events could not stir the fields of Lu Feng's heart.

In fact, Lu Feng had already anticipated them.

Lu Feng merely pressed his palms together and respectfully saw the senior monks off.

Only after all the red-robed scripture monks-apart from Zhiyun-had left did the granary monk at the entrance clap again. At the signal, the older monks left first, followed in order by the younger ones.

At last, it was the granary monk's turn. He glanced at Lu Feng and Zhiyun with some fear, gritted his teeth, and still came over to bow to Zhiyun. Not daring to acknowledge Lu Feng, he hurried away as though Lu Feng carried some dreadful Dragon Sickness.

Zhiyun was not surprised by this at all.

He said to Lu Feng, "Come, leave with me. We'll go choose a Lama. But even now, you still haven't told me which Yidam you wish to worship."

As they descended the steps, Lu Feng slowly replied, "King Mingzhu."

At this, Zhiyun stopped in his tracks. He said, "Do you know that this temple has another great path of wisdom, called the Vajra Bodhi Mahā Mahāmudrā? If you wish to take it as your foundational practice, there are many Lamas in this temple who can serve as your Yidam Lama and help you grow.

"As for King Mingzhu."

Zhiyun fell silent for a long time, then said, "Consider carefully."