Rebirth: I Became Mr.President’s Beloved
Chapter 229: I Want to Stay on the Mountain for a Few Days

Chapter 229: Chapter 229: I Want to Stay on the Mountain for a Few Days

Song Baiyan listened to the abbot’s Zen words, merely offering a light smile in response. Buddhism advocates a mind free of distractions, where all four elements are empty; truly reaching this state is tantamount to taking refuge in Buddhism.

Buddha said: All life is suffering, all forms are fundamentally void.

From birth, humans must endure suffering, struggle in the mortal world, experience joy and sorrow, separation and reunion, anger and delight, love and hate, folly and craving, only to realize in the end that everything is but an illusion.

And in the cycles of reincarnation, sentient beings seek to escape the situation of "delusive false thinking," their answer seemingly within reach.

——Nirvana.

That is exactly what Buddha wants people to strive for.

The old abbot added, "Desire leads to suffering, the weariness of life and death arises from covetousness; from excessive desire stems, from little wanting comes non-action and comfort of body and mind. Those who desire little are not sycophantic to curry favor with others, nor are they led astray by their senses. Those who practice modest desires have a tranquil heart, free from worries and fears; when encountering matters, they always feel content, never lacking. Whoever possesses little desire also possesses Nirvana."

"A tranquil heart is strong and unwavering."

Song Baiyan spoke up, "Except, living in the tumult of the world, there is too much that is beyond one’s control."

The old abbot sighed slowly, "Everything with form is but an illusion, if one sees all forms as not form, then they see the Tathagata. All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows; like dew as well as lightning, and should be viewed as such."

The implication being, that what is beyond our control is, in the end, just what we cannot let go of.

"Believers of Buddhism worship Buddha as a form of seeking refuge; non-believers worship Buddha, at the very least, as a form of respect." The Kasaya on the old abbot looked slightly worn, but his aged eyes were clear, and his face and eyes exuded kindness, "Whether one believes or not, Minister Song, since you’ve come to worship Buddha for many years consistently, what you seek is nothing but peace of mind."

Hearing this, Song Baiyan, with his hands clasped behind his back, smiled without showing any displeasure at having his thoughts revealed by the old monk; instead, he replied, "A mere layperson like me dare not discuss scriptures or dharma with the abbot."

As soon as he finished speaking, he caught a glimpse of a graceful figure in the corner of his eye.

It was dusk when Tang Li stood beside the archway, dressed in a green windbreaker, with an oversized black backpack slung over her right shoulder, her hair tied loosely in a ponytail, her unadorned face and those doe eyes were looking towards him.

Such an encounter seemed too coincidental.

The old abbot followed suit and turned his head, noticing a strange young lady in the temple. He looked at the middle-aged monk questioningly, who hurried over to explain that she had come to place an ancestral urn. The old abbot showed a friendly face and then said, "Buddha is compassionate, the donor’s filial piety is evident; naturally, she should not be turned away."

From a distance, Tang Li understood the abbot’s meaning and pressed her palms together in thanks.

Then, she shifted her gaze back to Song Baiyan.

The old abbot suddenly remarked, "It seems that this female donor knows Minister Song."

Tang Li still waited in place.

The old abbot exchanged a few more words with Song Baiyan before departing with the middle-aged monk, leaving Song Baiyan standing in front of the incense burner.

After about ten seconds, Song Baiyan walked towards her.

Tang Li’s hand clutching her backpack strap tightened.

"Haven’t been filming or attending classes recently, how come you have time to come here?"

Two bodyguards stood not far to the left. Tang Li steadied her mind, Still offering the same explanation she told the temple monks, "I just wrapped up shooting the day before yesterday, and I heard that Guangyuan Temple has a place to enshrine ancestral relics. I’m free these days, so I brought over my mother’s urn."

Upon hearing this, Song Baiyan nodded, his Adam’s apple moving slightly as he spoke, "It’s inconvenient to call a car here. I’ll have Ji Ming drive you back to the county town."

Hesitating momentarily, Tang Li lifted her gaze to meet his, "If possible, I would like to stay on the mountain for a few days."