Chapter 303: Chapter 245: This Damned Dharma Name! A Profound Buddhist Affinity Indeed

The Bright Buddha Hall was not as grand or imposing as the Ten Thousand Buddha Hall.

It resembled a rather opulent temple, and likewise, it housed a great number of Golden Buddha Statues.

Yang An was led to the hall by two Gami. The Gami guarding the entrance bowed respectfully and welcomed him inside.

Inside, all two hundred and seventy-plus fated ones had already arrived. Everyone sat silently on their cushions, waiting quietly for the tonsure ceremony to begin.

Yang An slowly stepped into the Bright Buddha Hall. The Gami behind him closed the heavy doors, blocking out the natural light from outside. The hall instantly grew dim, leaving only the flicker of candlelight and the reflected light from the golden statues.

Faced with Yang An, these fated ones sitting quietly on their cushions, not yet tonsured, all pressed their palms together and lowered their heads. The light scattered across their bodies, creating patches of light on them.

Yang An walked forward along the central aisle. At the very front, a gold-embroidered cushion had been prepared for him, appearing utterly lavish.

As the Buddha’s Son, he naturally received the best treatment.

Yang An also saw the Holy Child from the other day, Ming Hui. Ming Hui’s position was slightly behind his own.

Their eyes met for a fleeting moment, and Ming Hui slowly lowered his head.

Arriving at his spot, Yang An also sat down and waited quietly for Zen Master Qing Cheng, who would preside over the tonsure ceremony, to appear.

Before long, a faint chanting arose from all directions within the Bright Buddha Hall, as if countless monks were reciting in low voices.

As the chanting began, a golden Lotus Platform slowly descended from the ceiling of the Bright Buddha Hall. At the same time, a faint golden light scattered down, making it seem as if a golden rain was falling throughout the hall.

Hai Shu Bodhisattva sat upon the Lotus Platform, a benevolent and kind expression on his face, descending slowly with the platform.

And behind him to the side was a Zen Master wearing a black Monk’s Robe and a red Kasaya, holding a golden wooden box in both hands. This must be Zen Master Qing Cheng, who would preside over the tonsure ceremony.

Why had Hai Shu Bodhisattva come in person?

Everyone subconsciously looked at Yang An, who was sitting at the very front. The reason was obvious: it was for the Buddha’s Son.

Only the Buddha’s Son could receive such a great honor.

Yang An naturally guessed this as well, and his heart grew even more tense.

’This is bad! If the Bodhisattva himself performs the tonsure, does that mean they never want my hair to grow back?’

’Am I really going to have to say goodbye to this beautiful, flowing hair forever?’

’It seems I can only endure it; I’m powerless to resist.’

Sure enough, after Hai Shu Bodhisattva and Zen Master Qing Cheng appeared, the Zen Master quickly announced that Hai Shu Bodhisattva would personally perform the tonsure ritual for the Buddha’s Son. The other fated ones would all have the honor of witnessing the glory of the Buddha’s Son’s tonsure ritual.

The appearance of a Buddha’s Son was exceedingly rare. To be able to witness the tonsure ritual of a Buddha’s Son was a great honor for everyone present.

The tonsure ceremony wasn’t just for Yang An; all the newly initiated fated ones present were to undergo it.

Thus, although Zen Master Qing Cheng was presiding over the ceremony, with Hai Shu Bodhisattva present, the Bodhisattva himself would perform the preliminary rites for everyone. Only when it was time for the actual tonsure would he hand things over to Zen Master Qing Cheng.

In a way, this also meant that the Bodhisattva was personally performing the tonsure ceremony for them, and they all shared in the honor.

The tonsure ceremony had a very formal procedure, which was the same whether in the mortal world or at the Great Virtue Temple. Everything would be completed under the gaze of the Buddha.

"To leave home and enter the Dao, severing attachments, parting from kin. Let the laws of the Buddhist Sect now imbue this form. With a heart of abiding compassion, abandoning falsehood to return to truth. Oh, joyful gate of liberation! Amitabha!"

Hai Shu Bodhisattva sat upon the Lotus Platform, chanting aloud. The Golden Buddha Statues in all directions seemed to be watching intently.

Under Zen Master Qing Cheng’s guidance, everyone present rose from their cushions. They bowed in unison to Hai Shu Bodhisattva, and then bowed to the various Buddhas in all directions.

Then, starting with Yang An, each person took a stick of incense from beside the incense cauldron. He walked a circle around the hall, and the others, also holding incense, followed behind him. Finally, they returned to their original positions, facing the largest and most magnificent Golden Buddha Statue in the Bright Buddha Hall.

The burning incense sticks were placed into the cauldron, and wisps of blue smoke rose, making the entire Bright Buddha Hall seem as if it were wreathed in mist.

Everyone returned to their places and, following Hai Shu Bodhisattva’s lead, began to chant a relatively simple set of scriptures together.

When the chanting was finished, they performed three prostrations and knelt with their palms pressed together.

"To alter one’s form to keep one’s resolve, severing attachments, with none held kin. To leave one’s home to spread the sacred Dao, with a vow to deliver all humankind."

Everyone chanted together, their faces full of piety. This was called the Gatha of Leaving Home.

After all this was done, the most important part came next: the tonsure ceremony itself.

"Buddha’s Son, step forward!"

At Zen Master Qing Cheng’s call, Yang An slowly rose from the floor. Under everyone’s gaze, he walked before Hai Shu Bodhisattva, keeping his palms pressed together the entire time, and then sat down again.

Hai Shu Bodhisattva rose from the Lotus Platform and came to stand before Yang An. He reached out a hand that showed no signs of age and gently touched the top of Yang An’s head.

Yang An had been worried. A complete tonsure ceremony would surely include necessary vows and secret mantras.

But as Hai Shu Bodhisattva’s hand passed over his head, a faint green light suddenly enveloped him, settling upon his body.