Getting Two Treasures for Free

Why are your two treasures so expensive?

"If it were twenty or thirty taels, I would have taken it. I didn't expect you to ask for five thousand taels, and five thousand taels for one item at that."

After hearing the price quoted for Bodhisattva Guanyin's treasures, this person couldn't help but speak up immediately.

"For someone like you who has no Buddha in his heart, ten thousand taels is already a low price for my robe and staff."

"A person with Buddha in their heart, if they wear this robe of mine, will be protected from falling into depravity, from Hell, from evil calamities, and from encountering tigers and wolves."

"If you don't have Buddha in your heart, wearing these clothes won't have any effect."

Bodhisattva Guanyin saw through this monk at a glance; he was nothing more than a fraud using the title of monk to swindle people out of their money.

Therefore, when Bodhisattva Guanyin spoke to him, she didn't even raise her eyes, showing no interest in communicating with him.

"You, you!"

After Bodhisattva Guanyin exposed the monk's behavior, he pointed at Bodhisattva Guanyin with trembling hands, repeatedly saying "you".

The monk was very angry and wanted to lash out, but because he was in the wrong first, he pointed at Bodhisattva Guanyin a few times.

When he noticed that people around him were starting to point and whisper about him, he could only angrily flick his sleeves and slink away.

"Go ask that monk why he sold these two items at such a high price."

At this moment, the prime minister, who was passing by, overheard the conversation between Bodhisattva Guanyin and the fake monk. Feeling curious, he sent his men to investigate.

"My two treasures have their advantages and disadvantages; they have their reasons for wanting money from them, and their reasons for not wanting money from them."

After hearing the guard's question, Bodhisattva Guanyin smiled and answered.

"Master, I've already heard about the advantages and disadvantages you mentioned. But what's the deal with the argument that there's a reason for wanting money and another reason for not wanting money?"

Can you tell me about it?

At this moment, the prime minister also came over and asked Bodhisattva Guanyin with a curious tone.

"If I encounter a monk who harbors evil intentions and has no respect for Buddha or the Dharma, I will definitely sell him this robe and that staff for ten thousand taels of silver."

"If I encounter a monk who is kind-hearted, has Buddha in his heart, and respects Buddhism, I am willing to give him these two treasures."

After hearing the Prime Minister's question, Bodhisattva Guanyin calmly began to answer his questions.

"Master, I have a favor to ask of you. Our Emperor is kind-hearted, and almost all the civil and military officials in the court are like him."

"Today, our Emperor held a grand Buddhist assembly to propagate the Dharma, but the presiding monk, Jiang Liu'er, doesn't have a decent robe."

"I would like to invite you into the palace to purchase this cassock and staff for Jiang Liu'er."

After hearing Bodhisattva Guanyin's words, the Prime Minister immediately thought of the Dharma Master who presided over the assembly to propagate Buddhism, as Jiang Liu'er did not yet have a proper cassock.

So he thought of bringing Bodhisattva Guanyin and his two treasures into the palace to let the emperor see them first. If the emperor was satisfied, he would buy them and bestow the robe and staff upon Jiang Liu'er.

"Good!"

After hearing the Prime Minister's request, Bodhisattva Guanyin calmly granted it.

Then Changxiang led the way, with Bodhisattva Guanyin following behind him, and they entered the palace and arrived at the gate of the emperor's bedroom.

After the Prime Minister arrived with Bodhisattva Guanyin, the eunuch hurriedly ran into the room and told the Emperor that the Prime Minister had come to request an audience.

"The Prime Minister is in such a hurry to see me, there must be something he needs to discuss. I should go see him first."

At this moment, the emperor was overwhelmed with troubles from his subordinates. When he heard the news that the prime minister had arrived, his first reaction was anger.

He felt that the Prime Minister's visit at this time was rather troublesome, but he quickly realized that the Prime Minister must have something to discuss with him.

Then the emperor sent the eunuch to invite the prime minister and Bodhisattva Guanyin in.

"Your Majesty, on my way back today, I happened to encounter this monk selling meditation staffs and robes."

"I thought these two treasures could be given to Jiang Liu'er, so I brought this monk to see you and hear your opinion."

Upon seeing the door to the emperor's bedchamber, the prime minister immediately reported the news to the emperor.

"What are the prices of that kasaya and that staff?"

Emperor Taizong of Tang was delighted with what the prime minister said, and immediately asked Bodhisattva Guanyin about the price of the two treasures.

"This cassock and this staff, both cost five thousand taels."

After hearing Emperor Taizong of Tang's words, Bodhisattva Guanyin replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"I wonder why this robe and staff are worth this price?"

When Emperor Taizong of Tang heard the price of the cassock and the staff, he was truly astonished and immediately asked why they were so expensive.

Bodhisattva Guanyin didn't waste any time with him and directly told him why the kasaya and staff were so expensive.

"I wonder why Your Majesty purchased this robe and staff."

Then, Bodhisattva Guanyin asked Emperor Taizong of Tang of Tang about his purpose in buying the two treasures.

"To be honest, Elder, I bought these two treasures to bestow upon the Dharma Master Xuanzang. He is a monk deeply versed in Buddhism and of great virtue."

Emperor Taizong of Tang of Tang did not conceal his purpose and told Bodhisattva Guanyin directly why he bought the two treasures.

"Since he is such a monk, then this humble monk is willing to give him these two treasures without asking for a single penny."

After learning who Emperor Taizong of Tang intended to give the two treasures to, Bodhisattva Guanyin realized that it was the very person she herself was meant to give them to.

Bodhisattva Guanyin immediately stated that he would not need to pay a single penny for these two treasures.

After saying that, he left the main hall.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Taizong of Tang hurriedly got up to try and stop him, but he found that no matter how hard he tried to catch up with Bodhisattva Guanyin's back, he could not seem to get close to her.

Emperor Taizong of Tang then had no choice but to give up the transfer. The prime minister gave the two treasures to the Dharma Master Xuanzang, instructing him to wear them before attending the assembly the next day and preaching the Dharma to the crowd.

After the prime minister responded, he took the two treasures and went to find the Dharma Master Xuanzang.

After handing the two treasures over to the Dharma Master Xuanzang, he left.

On the second day, the Dharma Master Xuanzang appeared on the stage of the assembly wearing these two treasures and began to explain Buddhist teachings to the crowd.

"Your Buddhism is nothing more than Hinayana Dharma; it cannot save the dead or help them ascend to heaven."