Chapter 191: Fortune Telling
This day, the boy impulsively set up a divination stall in the park.
He held a blade of green grass in his mouth, his hands clasped behind his head, lying leisurely on a simple folding chair,
humming a song called Divination; “Keep guessing and divining again, foretelling fortune and misfortune, or worrying endlessly, my love for you stretches to the horizon, fate plays tricks, and affinities go astray…”
Coincidentally, the old monk who had just come from the Grand Bathhouse had no money in his pocket, not a cent, and was wandering around with a begging bowl, thinking if there was any kind person who could give him alms.
It’s unknown if the old monk had used up all his compassionate golden light at the Grand Bathhouse or what, but after walking for four hours, he hadn’t received a single cent.
Finally, he met a few young people who were quite kind and respectful towards him. Upon seeing him, they clasped their hands in greeting and bowed.
This delighted him immensely. He thought to himself, “Look at these young people nowadays, they truly have enlightenment. As soon as they see my kashaya, they understand what to do.”
However, to his surprise, as soon as these young people finished chanting Amitabha, they asked him to produce a QR code to scan.
The old monk was completely dazed. He thought, where would he have such a thing? He was a proper monk, not someone who dealt in cash and certainly didn’t have a mobile phone. What was he to do? He was helpless against someone who didn’t carry cash.
Seeing that the old monk had no QR code, the young people searched nearby for a long time but couldn’t find anywhere to exchange for cash. This was because people nowadays were very cautious and wouldn’t easily exchange money with strangers.
In desperation, they advised the old monk, “Master, your cultivation must keep up with the times! Even people begging nowadays have QR codes, and temples have self-service incense machines. Just carrying a big bowl for alms won’t do! People don’t carry much cash anymore.”
“Yes, Master, you must keep up with the times. In this era, the only ones who carry any cash when they go out are the elderly men and women. Although we are willing to give alms, the conditions do not allow it.”
The old monk waved his hand dismissively, “It’s alright, it’s alright. Your intention is good. Benefactors, let go with the flow, go with the flow.”
The old monk thanked them and didn’t linger. He was not a greedy person; he was content with whatever he received, whether it was a lot or a little. Everything was left to fate.
However, their words reminded him that young people didn’t carry cash, so he decided to try and see if older people did. After much thought, he figured that the park would have the most elderly people. So he decided to go to the park and try his luck.
The old monk was indeed cultivating well; he wasn’t discouraged at all by not receiving alms. His mood remained excellent, and he happily hummed a song to motivate himself as he walked, “You always lean your ethereal shadow against the moon, vast moonlight dancing with your beautiful dreams, I smell the fragrance and trek infinitely far, just to see your face…”
After singing “My Lou Lan” several times, and seeing that he was almost at the park, the old monk changed to another song, “Wish to be that Bodhisattva’s Lotus”; “Wish to be that Bodhisattva’s lotus,
cultivate the mind method with no distracting thoughts, blooming and falling by your side, be the water lotus of past and present lives, good causes form good affinities, boundless compassion, a broad mind, dynamic in heaven and earth, sever worldly ties, cast troubles aside, kneel before the Buddha, and often recite scriptures…”
Of course, this was not to blame the old monk for transforming his external appearance, nor was he showing off. This was because giving alms has categories: material alms, fearlessness alms, and dharma alms.
Material alms are about giving money or items to others, helping them solve material needs. Fearlessness alms involve helping others eliminate fear and disturbances, such as acting righteously and protecting the weak. Dharma alms refer to spreading Buddhist Dharma and wisdom, helping others achieve spiritual liberation and improvement.
The old monk was performing dharma alms through these songs with a Buddhist aura. When he encountered fated individuals who heard the Buddhist sounds, it would awaken them to material alms, abandon greed, and obtain great good fortune. Individuals would experience satisfaction and joy, rather than merely pursuing the accumulation of matter.
“Wish to be that Bodhisattva’s lotus, cultivate the mind method with no distracting thoughts, blooming and falling by your side, be the water lotus of past and present lives, good causes form good affinities, boundless compassion, a broad mind, dynamic in heaven and earth, sever worldly ties, cast troubles aside, kneel before the Buddha, and often recite scriptures…”
The old monk sang for two hours, his throat about to give out, and no one came forward to give alms. However, the old monk still felt no trouble. He understood that people nowadays had it hard; even going to worship Buddha required an entrance ticket, and many had doubts about Buddhist Dharma, which was understandable.
Isn’t it coincidental that the old monk saw the boy reading the palm of an old woman? There were also some scattered coins at the divination stall. Seeing that the boy was also a cultivator, he wanted to offer some convenience.
So he stood aside and quietly watched the boy animatedly explaining to the old woman.
The boy examined the old woman’s palm for a long time, then slapped his thigh. He spoke fluently;
“Oh, dear auntie, your destiny is truly wonderful, no one can compare to you. With your palmistry, only one in a hundred thousand people has it, and none are the same as you. In other words, I don’t even need to look to know. Not to mention anything else, when you came over, I noticed your facial features. Truly, your forehead is full, your jaw is square, your nose is like a hanging gall, your eyes are like bright stars, your mouth is like vermilion, your teeth are like jade pieces, truly the three mountains are matched with the five peaks harmoniously.
You don’t need to worry about anything; your destiny is one where descendants are always with you, and you will be rich and healthy in old age. Moreover, the older you get, the fuller your treasury will be, and the more money you will have.
So, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. You don’t need to say it, I know what you want to ask? Are you worried about your child’s marriage and career? Do you want to know if your child’s partner is suitable, and if their current job will be long-term and stable?”
Upon hearing this, the old woman’s face lit up with joy, “Oh, little master, you are too miraculous. I haven’t even asked, and you already know what I want to ask.”
Seeing that he was right, the boy continued with a smile, “Your son, you don’t need to worry. Just take care of your health and wait. You see, your child is also not an ordinary child. People say, ‘Like father, like son; like mother, like daughter.’ A rat’s son knows how to dig holes. Your destiny is to have a phoenix return to the nest in old age, which is a destiny like a phoenix. How can your child be ordinary? It’s just that the time has not yet come. Wait a few more years, and this child will surely be like a dragon in a pond encountering wind and clouds. Ancient books record that the offspring of a phoenix are at least a roc. Do you know what a roc is? Have you watched Journey to the West? The uncle of Tathagata Buddha was a roc. So, you see, can this destiny be bad?”
After hearing this, the old woman’s face instantly turned red, her eyes shimmering with excitement. The boy looked more and more pleasing to her, and every word spoke directly to her heart. She took the boy’s hand, trembling slightly and unable to speak.
Seeing this, the boy waited for a moment. The old woman then wiped the tears from her face and said, “Oh, little master, you are truly divine. Why didn’t I meet you sooner? If I had met you earlier, wouldn’t I have understood everything long ago? Thank you, little master.”
Hearing the old woman’s words, the old monk’s kind face twitched like Zhao Si’s father. He thought to himself, “Isn’t that so? If you had met him earlier, he could have made you live ten years longer by his words. Who wouldn’t be happy hearing that? Once happy and believing, then that’s it. Living happily every day, wouldn’t that be good? Even a person who usually argues a lot, if their spirit is adjusted to this frequency, they can instantly become passionate and generous, not caring about trivial matters. Those past difficulties and unpleasant things would instantly dissolve. It would be strange if your destiny didn’t improve!”
