Chapter 4: A Hundred Days of Foundation Laying

He felt that he had not exerted much effort, yet the wooden barrel was lifted up

Seeing them quicken their pace, Meng Qi felt a stir in his heart. He also bent down and assumed the proper posture, and immediately felt that the water-filled wooden barrel was lighter.

Meng Qi, however, did not feel the fatigue and soreness typically associated with strenuous physical labor; instead, he felt even more alert, with a clear mind and abundant energy

... ...

It can only be attributed to that inexplicable lord.

They looked at Meng Qi and the others in surprise, clearly not expecting that even the servant monks could come to the scripture lecture hall to study

"Because he has not yet reached the realm of enlightenment..." Meng Qi replied in a distant voice, feeling it necessary to explain to Zhen Hui the principles of being a person, lest he continually offend others with his foolishness, thereby implicating himself.

Indeed, we have entered the Monastery of the Warrior Monks, while Zhen Ding and Zhen Hui can only serve as lay monks, which is something to be happy and proud about

Zhen De opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but after glancing at the monk beside him, he closed his mouth again, pulling two full buckets out of the stream

"Junior apprentice, are you alright?" Meng Qi did not pay any attention to them at all, instead asking the panting Zhen Hui.

After Xuan'en repeatedly emphasized the key points several times, he said: "Once the 'cultivation of the self in stillness' is completed, then the essence, energy, and spirit will be sufficient, the meridians will initially open, and the body will be strong. Only then can one proceed to the next step of 'meditative energy accumulation', which in our Buddhist tradition is also referred to as 'nurturing the holy fetus'"

Having said that, he no longer mentioned the matter of rewards and left the hall with a grim expression

Meng Qihan stood up, feigning calmness as he said: "I have heard my father mention it."

Then, they did not linger and hurriedly left this place

This is not meditation; it merely requires a calm mind, which is not difficult. For children with fewer thoughts, it is relatively simple

It was not until this moment that a series of low chuckles echoed within the dining hall

At the moment of meditation, with the six senses purified, free from delusions and impatience, after a quarter of an hour, true energy will naturally arise. Half of it ascends through the Governing Vessel to the Baihui point at the crown of the head, then descends to the upper jaw, forming a mouthful of 'Golden Nectar'; the other half ascends through the Conception Vessel to the lower jaw, transforming into a mouthful of 'Jade Fluid'

"The newcomer will accompany me to the lecture hall." Xuanxin, holding a chicken leg, stood at the entrance of the dining hall with a smile. Upon seeing Mengqi looking over, he gently nodded and said, "Well done, don't give those little brats from the martial monk academy any face. When you return tonight, the master uncle has a reward for you."

Meng Qi curled his lips, deciding not to stoop to the level of a child, as he was determined to enter the Monastery of Warriors one day and learn the ultimate skills of Shaolin

Meng Qi listened attentively, fearing that he might miss a single word

He twitched the corner of his mouth and said with a forced smile, "Master Uncle, I never violate the precepts"

Meng Qi turned his head and then noticed that the patrolling monk had somehow appeared beside him, demonstrating the rhythm of breathing. He was both surprised and delighted, and began to adjust his breathing. Soon, the feeling of breathlessness and exhaustion disappeared, and he made his way back to the temple.

Regardless of whether it is the Daoist quietude or secular methods, the first step on the path of martial arts practice is fundamentally the same, which is the initial opening of the meridians, strengthening the spirit and enhancing the body. Xuan'en paid no attention to the confusion of Zhen De and others, continuing to speak to himself.

The golden body of the Great Compassionate and Great Merciful Avalokiteshvara? Meng Qi exclaimed in astonishment, feeling an inexplicable heat in his heart

"That small jade Buddha?" Meng Qi felt a surge of joy in his heart, and without further thought, he gradually calmed his mind and entered a state of meditation

However, the mountain path was difficult to traverse, and it was an uphill journey. By the time Meng Qi arrived, he was still drenched in sweat and panting heavily

Zhenhui approached honestly and straightforwardly, lifting the two full buckets of water in front of Mengqi. The veins on his forehead bulged, his face contorted, and then he nodded: "Heavy"

Hmph, we must start steadily; otherwise, we won't be able to proceed later!" Zhen De said indignantly behind Meng Qi.

"Oh, indeed, Master Nephew, have you also heard of this couplet at the entrance of the Shuiyue Monastery?" Xuanxin asked with a smile.

Before Xuanxin could respond, Zhenhui, in a daze, said: "Master Xuanxin, after enlightenment, one must not consume meat; you have violated the precept"

Is it heavy?" Mengqi asked Zhenhui with a look of confusion

Mengqi and Zhenhui, along with others, did not dare to speak, each finding a place to kneel and sit down. After waiting for a quarter of an hour, one by one, the young monks arrived in succession, among them were Zhendé and others who had entered the temple together as "companions".

This is a child with eyes like ink dots and eyebrows resembling distant mountains, delicately carved like jade, approximately twelve or thirteen years old, just slightly older than the true wisdom depicted in the books

Meng Qi let out a sound, feeling that it was necessary to change to a larger wooden barrel tomorrow, otherwise there would be no effect from the exercise

It is not surprising that Xuanxin spoke with a tone of regret: "Master Uncle, I once visited the Shuiyue Monastery and saw this couplet at the entrance, which left a deep impression on me. At that time, the abbot, with the strength of being the top of the rankings for many years, forcefully attempted to break through to the Dharma Body realm, hoping to attain the 'Golden Body of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion and Great Mercy.' Unfortunately, he failed and passed away in meditation."

At this moment, as everyone entered the "Lecture Hall," Xuanxin retracted his playful demeanor, ceased speaking, and solemnly led Mengqi and the others into a side hall

I see... Meng Qi felt his face flush and his heart race; it was truly both thrilling and enchanting to discover that this world has golden statues of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas.

He cast aside his chaotic thoughts and lifted the two wooden barrels with great effort

You are so foolish and silly... Meng Qi responded inwardly

Zhenhui nodded and said: "Very, very good, breakfast!"

Before dawn, the morning bell rang, waking Meng Qi. After studying a small Sanskrit incantation during the morning class, he and Zhenhui were assigned by Xuankin to fetch water here, along with Zhenying, Zhenguan, and other individuals, as well as the monks from the martial monk academy who were honing their skills by carrying water.

After a while, Zhenhui, Zhendé, and the other young monks also carried water up the mountain, and saw Mengqi, who was calm and composed, breathing in the "morning light".

Regardless of the reason, Meng Qi no longer feared fetching water. He bent down, shouldered two buckets of water, and followed the front line of the monk team as they ascended the mountain along the stone steps

Xuan En broadly introduced the key points of "Ding Zhong Xiu Shen" (Hundred Days of Foundation Building): "The human body has three hundred and sixty-five major orifices. After each transformation generates a breath of true energy, it must be filled into the orifices, and each major orifice requires nine breaths of true energy to be sufficient

As soon as the wooden bucket left the water's surface, Meng Qi was suddenly taken aback, wondering how it could be so light

Just as Meng Qi was about to lift the wooden bucket, he suddenly felt someone watching him. He turned his head and followed the gaze, only to see a group of somewhat familiar martial monks. They were the young monks who had been ordained with him by Xuan Ku, among whom Meng Qi could hardly remember many names, but now he recognized one of them, the monk named Tu Shu Zhen De.

Seated prominently at the front of the chanting hall is a frail old monk with snow-white eyebrows, similarly dressed in a yellow robe, with books and a wooden fish placed before him, and a戒尺 held in his hand

Pay attention to your breathing. Suddenly, a serious voice sounded in his ear

As he made his way around the courtyards of the large and small Buddha halls, Meng Qi could only hear the sound of chanting, ethereal and distant, profoundly cleansing the heart

Meng Qi's head buzzed for a moment; he wanted to turn around and cover Zhenhui's mouth but was a beat too slow

Brother Xuan'en, this is the new novice from the servant's courtyard.

Reward? Meng Qi felt a surge of joy in his heart; although he found Xuan Xin somewhat annoying, who doesn't love a reward?

The team quickly elongated and dispersed, and the monks, honed over many years, carried iron buckets and water yet moved swiftly, soon disappearing into the mountains and forests

The encounter of 'Jinjin Yuye' will converge into a mouthful of clear and sweet saliva, which in my Buddhist teachings is referred to as 'sweet dew'. After swallowing the 'sweet dew', it fills the corresponding orifices...

The evening drum and morning bell awaken the worldly seekers of fame and fortune; the sound of scriptures and the chanting of Buddha's name call back the dreamers lost in the sea of suffering... For some reason, Meng Qi thought of this couplet, as the emotions and the scene were truly fitting.

This posture is quite simple... Meng Qi explored techniques to exert himself more effortlessly, gradually quickening his pace, and before he knew it, he had left Zhenhui behind and surpassed Zhendé.

Xuanxin suppressed a sigh and chuckled, saying: "The foundation of the Shuiyue Monastery's sect is fundamentally the 'Heart Sutra of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.' If one achieves the right fruit, one can attain the 'Golden Body of the Great Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva,' which belongs to the great Bodhisattvas and great Arhats, far surpassing the ordinary Bodhisattva and Arhat golden bodies. It is only inferior to the Tathagata's golden body, the Amitabha's dharmakaya, and the Bodhi golden body. Alas, throughout the ages, only the abbot of Shuiyue Monastery has attained this realization."

The other young monks around him, upon witnessing this, transformed from expressions of deep sorrow to beaming smiles, as if the hardships of life in the monastery had dissipated upon seeing a "companion" who was faring even worse than themselves

You all sit down separately. He pointed to the half-empty cushions below, each of which had a small table in front of it

He paused and said: "But before teaching you the characters of the scriptures today, I must first guide you into the martial way"

Having spoken, he instructed each of the young monks to attempt to enter a meditative state

Indeed, the smile on Xuanxin's face suddenly froze.

However, Zhenhui was not concerned about this issue and quickly shifted her attention: "Senior brother, why did Master Xuanxin say that he did not violate the precepts, when he is clearly gnawing on a chicken leg?"

He submerged the wooden barrel to the bottom of the water, intending to test his own strength. At the same time, he reminded his companion Zhenhui, "Junior brother, you only need to lift half of it, that's about enough, don't overexert yourself."

Such confusion also left Zhen De and others wide-eyed. What is the difference between the Servant Academy and the Martial Monk Academy

Surrounded by lush green trees, a thin mist envelops the mountains and forests, and the air is exceptionally fresh, giving Mengqi a sense of physical and mental relaxation

Zhen De's eyebrows are rather disheveled, his cheeks are long and thin. Upon seeing Meng Qi glance back, he slightly raises his head, appearing somewhat arrogant and pleased.

After having breakfast, as dawn was just breaking, the east was a brilliant red

Upon hearing this, Meng Qi felt a surge of spirit, instinctively straightening his back. Even a menial monk can receive guidance

When he was so anxious that he was sweating profusely, he suddenly felt a cool sensation in his chest, which cleared his mind

"Tomorrow we will change to a larger bucket to fetch water," the monk instructed, before going down to greet the other young monks

"Is it not a matter of water?" Meng Qi took a light breath, pondering inwardly, "Could it be that this body is naturally strong? Uh, looking at the skin, the clothing, the ornaments, and the mention of the lord by the uncle with the horse face, this body probably comes from a noble background. Perhaps it has practiced martial arts before, laying a solid foundation, resulting in strength far greater than that of an ordinary child."

Meng Qi's mouth twitched slightly; although he had the same thought in his mind, he was still quite worried about not having enough strength

In order to avoid drawing attention, Meng Qi, along with several other lay monks such as Zhen Hui, lingered until the end, while the newly admitted novice monks from the martial monk academy, including Zhen De, had only just entered the temple a day prior and had not made any progress, thus remaining with them as well

This step is referred to as 'Establishing the Foundation in a Hundred Days' in the Daoist tradition, signifying the establishment of the foundation for martial arts practice. The term 'Hundred Days' implies that within a normal timeframe of one hundred days, the energy in the Ren and Du meridians will naturally open up. In the Buddhist tradition, this is known as 'Cultivating the Body in Meditation,' because only when the mind is calm and focused, undisturbed and unconfused, can the true energy naturally transform, fill the acupoints, and open the meridians, which is commonly referred to as 'Opening the Meridians' in secular terms.

Meng Qi noticed that Xuanxin outside had not stopped walking, and without bothering to explain the worldly wisdom and human emotions to Zhenhui, he called for him to follow along.

Gazing at the stream, Meng Qi inadvertently caught a glimpse of his current self reflected on the slowly flowing water's surface

Xuan'en tapped the wooden fish in front of him, quieting the young monks, and then spoke in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft: "For the next three years, as long as you do not violate the temple rules, you may come here to learn to read at this time every day. In addition to ordinary characters, you must also study Sanskrit in order to read the ancient scriptures."

"It's just that it's a bit more powerful." Zhen De gasped and muttered, feeling embarrassed in front of the obviously inferior Zhen Ding, just like the other young monks in the monastery.

Feeling the gaze of Meng Qi and others, the young monks from the Wuseng Academy, such as Zhen De, turned red in the face, lowered their waists, assumed their stances, and marched forward with large strides, not wanting to be grouped with this group of servant monks

This body is truly remarkable... Meng Qi surveyed the exhausted lay monks in the dining hall, a sense of joy welling up within him. Regardless of the circumstances, a good body will be his reliance in the future

"Not bad at all," Meng Qi praised himself, but then immediately lamented, what use is this for a monk? I must return to secular life!

Oh! Master Xuanxin has not yet awakened. Zhenhui suddenly realized, her face filled with joy, as if she had unraveled some crucial secret

Each time one enters a meditative state for a quarter of an hour, one can only generate a single breath of true energy. Therefore, depending on the daily practice time of each individual, it generally takes about 100 days to a year to complete this step

As a grown man, Mengqi is plagued by numerous thoughts, making it difficult for him to attain a state of calm and concentration for a long time. This causes him great impatience, yet the more anxious he becomes, the harder it is for him to find that state of focus

A clear stream flows out from the forest, swirling around in front of Mengqi before cascading down towards the foot of the mountain

Hmm. Zhenhui watched the fish swimming in the creek and licked her lips

Zhenhui looked at Mengqi with confusion and asked, "Senior brother, what are they laughing at?"