Amitabha Buddha is the master of the Western Paradise.

According to Buddhist teachings, people suffer the pain of the six realms of reincarnation. However, if one is reborn in the Pure Land, they can escape the suffering of reincarnation.

Their status is naturally high and unsurpassed.

The 17th day of the 11th lunar month is their birthday.

There is a story about the origin of this day.

It is said that Amitabha Buddha has two incarnations in the human world.

One is Master Shandao.

The other is Master Yongming Yanshou.

Master Yongming Yanshou was not only the sixth ancestor of the Pure Land Sect but also the third ancestor of the Zen Dharma Eye Sect.

He was born in the chaotic era of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, when Buddhist law was declining. He was respected as the State Preceptor by Qian Chu, the king of Wuyue.

One day, the king of Wuyue wanted to hold a Feast of Non-Difference. When setting the seats, everyone declined the chief seat, and Master Yongming also refused to sit. But a ragged long-eared monk unceremoniously sat in the chief seat.

After the meeting, the king of Wuyue asked Master Yongming if a saint had come to the feast. Master Yongming responded that the Ding Guang Ancient Buddha came to the feast today, hinting that the long-eared monk was indeed the Buddha.

Upon hearing this, the king of Wuyue was delighted and sent people to pursue him, only to learn that the long-eared monk was practicing in a mountain cave and had passed away by the time they found him.

Before his death, the long-eared monk said, "Amitabha speaks a lot," hinting at Master Yongming's identity.

The messenger informed the king of Wuyue that the Ding Guang Ancient Buddha had passed away, but that Master Yongming was Amitabha reincarnated.

Upon hearing this, the king of Wuyue was overjoyed and hurried to see Master Yongming, only to learn at the gate that he too had passed away.

Coincidentally, Amitabha represents infinite light, infinite life.

The name "Yongming" signifies infinite light, "Yanshou" signifies infinite life, which is precisely the meaning of "Amitabha."

Subsequently, the birthday of Master Yongming Yanshou, the 17th day of the 11th lunar month, was designated as Amitabha Buddha's birthday.

Whether this story is true or false, the date was settled accordingly.

If primarily devoted to Amitabha Buddha, the Pure Land Sect would hold the "Three Times Mindfulness Dharma Assembly" and the "Diligent Buddha Seven Dharma Assembly."

Guangde Temple is not of the Pure Land lineage but of the Zen, so it only holds a "Blessing Assembly" to honor Amitabha, wishing for his protection of all beings. There's also the "Universal Buddha Assembly," praying for blessings, disaster relief, and increasing fortune and wisdom for the believers.

These are matters for the disciples of Buddhism to worry about.

For the common devotees, it's another matter.

The merchants, big and small, of Sui Ning County are very happy.

After all, in these times, while the Great Xuan Dynasty's Qi Fortune is flourishing, ordinary people still cannot escape toil and fatigue over daily necessities.

No poor person has traveled a long distance to burn incense.

Their eating, drinking, defecating, urinating, and sleeping are early-year income.

The Jianghu artists are also very happy.

With several days of rituals, a temple fair is inevitable, allowing them to quickly earn some money, and then rush to Chengdu to continue earning.

Whether they eat meat or drink the northwest wind next year depends on these days.

The ordinary people of Sui Ning are also pleased.

After all, life is too bitter and dull; besides weddings and funerals, these temple fairs and festivals are all the pleasures they have.

Therefore, early in the morning, the city gets busy.

Families, old and young, carry small bamboo baskets filled with straw paper, incense and candles, yellow paper, and offerings, go uphill to burn incense, then hurry to the temple fair.

They pray at the Buddha and Bodhisattva for blessings, then watch the opera at the temple fair, eating some snacks to satisfy their cravings, almost like celebrating the New Year...

Jianghu artists and peddlers, before dawn, get up early to go to the temple fair at the foot of the mountain, primarily fearing that their stalls will be occupied...

As for those officials and gentry, they also get up even earlier.

The first incense in the temple is not something anyone wants to miss...

...

"Temple fair, not interesting, not going!"

Sha Lifei shoved down a couple of bites of food, then turned back into his room, took out a picture, and sat cross-legged with a prayer bead in hand.

The picture depicted a lotus flower.

Now he is learning to Storing God, starting from the basics.

Now in his mind, he visualizes the lotus and strives to maintain it so that even after stopping his practice, it can last a long time, thus entering the threshold.

Otherwise, there is no way to visualize the deity.

Let alone the future building of the tower.

This step is easy for some people.

But for him, even meditating properly was a big problem.

Fortunately, Li Yan acquired a treasure from the mountain. Wearing the white-clothed bodhisattva wrist beads, Sha Lifei immediately felt different.

At least he can now easily enter meditation and visualize the lotus.

Regarding his Magic Method, Li Yan also had a plan.

The Mei Mountain Taoist excel at the Hunter Method and now were the first to create a Magic Method compatible with firearms.

It couldn't be more suitable for Sha Lifei.

Joining the Mei Mountain Sect is not a difficult task.

The sect has many branches, various organizations, master-disciple traditions, and is widespread, even in the land of Shu.

Even if the Mei Mountain Sect in Shu is unwilling to accept, Li Yan knows a few Mei Mountain Sect friends, at worst, he can go to Xiangxi.

"I'm not going either."

Lv San directly refused and also returned to his room.

Such crowded occasions are a nightmare for him, and it's inappropriate to bring a bunch of small animals.

"Why is everyone like this..."

Li Yan was somewhat helpless, turned to look at Wang Daoxuan, "Daoist, could it be that you're not interested either?"

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and shook his head, "I've seen enough temple fairs. The weather is nice today, and I want to take my books out to dry."

"Alright then."

Li Yan sighed, squeezed out a smile, and turned to look at the restlessly sitting Wu Ba, "Let's go, today I'll accompany you. Let's eat and play heartily!"

"Great! Great!"

Wu Ba quickly stood up, his excitement unmistakable on his face.

To be honest, Li Yan also wasn't eager to go, but with Wu Ba in the team, who despite his robust build and no less than ancient fierce generals, sometimes has a childlike nature.

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