Our Binding Love: My Gentle Tyrant

He was smiling with his clear eyes and the corners of his mouth were slightly curved upward. He was holding a bracelet made from ink-black Buddha beads and behind him was a lush green forest. They walked up steps made from jade.

Ye Mu seriously said, “I believe that a person starts practicing Buddhism from birth. It’s not the same kind of practice like chanting and reciting the Buddha scriptures every day, but it’s still a form of practice. A person’s emotions and desires are also endowed by heaven. The problems and distresses we encounter each day is a test given by heaven. I don’t believe chanting and reciting scripture in one place is considered practicing Buddhism. Why don’t people look around and appreciate the great scenery? The beautiful lush mountains and the crystal-clear rivers? Why won’t they appreciate the mysterious beauties of the world?”

She folded a finger and said, “Look, if you marry a wife, then you have successfully practiced your desire for love. If you gained wealth, then you have successfully practiced your desire for money. You need to practice all your desires and experience the world. This way, you won’t have any regrets when you depart from the world.”

The Silent Mast looked past her. Tianshou Temple was built on top of the mountain, so he was able to see the roof at the eleventh hall and the world below the mountain by standing on the stairs.

He finally spoke after a long stretch of silence, “The moment I entered the temple, I had left the mundane world. I only cultivate my heart, mind, and character now.”

Ye Mu didn’t quite understand what he meant, but she could feel the deep sense of helplessness from his tone when he said it.

Then, as if something had suddenly dawned on her, Ye Mu’s eyes brightened!

“That’s right! You don’t have to do anything for today’s Dharma Convention, right?”

The Silent Master nodded. Today was the day the believers will practice Buddhism by themselves. They needed to read the scripture in the temple for an entire day. Their living areas had already been arranged, so he didn’t have anything to do.

Ye Mu smiled slightly, “Since that is the case, then I will take you along to play today!”

“Play?”

“Yep!” Ye Mu rolled up her sleeves, “You need to experience both cultivating inside the temple and cultivating in the secular world. You should give yourself a vacation today by “cultivating” in the secular world!”

The Silent Master knew that he should refuse, but when Ye Mu started dragging him down the mountain, his resistance suddenly disappeared. Did he really hope that he can walk in the secular world again one day?

Ye Mu put a hood over his head and then made him change into commoner’s clothing. She was also dressed like a commoner. The two of them secretly went through the back door and descended the mountain together.

While they were descending, the Silent Master began questioning Ye Mu, “What if a disciple needs me? What if there is a problem with one of the Buddhist worshippers? What if…”

Ye Mu dragged him with force, interrupting his words.

“Relax. I promise that the twelve halls of Tianshou Temple will not collapse in one day!”

The Silent Master pursed his lips and fell silent; however, he still felt very uneasy. He kept turning around to look at Tianshou Temple until it disappeared completely from his view.

But soon, he didn’t have the leisure to think about the temple anymore, because Ye Mu urged him to get on a horse!

“What is this for?”

Heaven knew that this was the Silent Master’s first time riding a horse. The monks preach mercy and compassion, so how can they slave animals?

Ye Mu ignored him. This was the horse she rode when she sneaked out today. She sat in front and smiled evilly, “If you don’t hold tightly onto me, then don’t blame me if you accidentally fall off!”

She kicked the horse with her legs and shouted, “Go!”

“Huh! Wait a moment!”

The Silent Master was unable to continue talking, instead, he tightly clung onto Ye Mu’s clothes to prevent himself from falling off.

In the past, he had always walked when he descended the mountain. Each time he descended the mountain, he was either practicing Dana or giving free medical treatments to the poor. This was his first time descending the mountain to go out to play.

T/N: Dana – Buddhist practice of giving.

The horse they were riding seemed to love bullying the Silent Master too. When it noticed how nervously the Silent Master was holding onto it, it started running faster and faster.