By the time he said that, Fangzheng had already entered the backyard.
"Master, you have to make it clear! Then what did you give up? So what if you gave up? "Squirrel pressed.
Fangzheng sighed. "Giving up on rituals isn't equivalent to giving up on culture, but it definitely means giving up on cultural confidence!
If you deny your own cultural heritage and don't dare show it to others, what confidence is there to talk about?
This Penniless Monk heard that a certain country worships male genitalia, so there's a festival where people carry huge male genitalia molds to parade. Men and women will participate in this grand festival. If it were in China, or even the world's ethics, this would clearly be disrespectful. However, they can carry these things and parade through the streets. They can even proudly announce to the world that this is their culture of worship! Finally, the world accepts their culture and participates in it.
"Another example, if you don't worship ancestors on Tomb-Sweeping Day, don't eat dumplings on Dragon Boat Festival, don't eat mooncakes on Mid-Autumn Festival, and don't put up couplets during the new year, what is the symbol of these festivals? What do you use to remind people of its existence? Eventually, it will definitely disappear! How can a culture that disappears talk about confidence?
A nation without confidence is definitely a nation of cowards.
"People are like cultural beggars, but they are walking down a cultural corridor. In such a situation of extreme inferiority, they will treat anything they see as good! When others spit, it's a physiological need. When one's own people spit, it's a lack of manners. When others scold you, it's to guide you forward. When you scold others, it's a lack of manners, an inferior race. At that moment, you will never be able to straighten your back and be a person! You can only be a monkey that walks on the road with your back bent and back hunched. You will be mocked and teased by others! "
"Master, don't be racist at such a time," Monkey mumbled.
Fangzheng rolled his eyes at him and continued. "When cultural confidence is extremely lacking, foreigners seem to be superior to others!
Without cultural confidence, people will lose their faith. The so-called pride of cultured people will disappear. In order to prop up their thin bodies, they can only try their best to hang money on their bodies. It's as if wearing clothes made of money can give themselves a little confidence. However, that confidence is just a cover for a nouveau riche. It's still unable to obtain the respect of others. Now, do you understand the importance of rituals? "
Squirrel widened his eyes. "I see! I still don't understand! "
Fangzheng: "…"
"Do you understand?" Fangzheng asked the other disciples.
Red Boy nodded thoughtfully and shook his head, indicating that he understood a little, but still didn't understand a lot.
The others shook their heads.
Fangzheng rolled his eyes. Indeed, he was playing the lute to a cow!
However, to be more precise, he wasn't speaking to these disciples, but to himself. It was for the sake of dispelling the depression in his heart. Having said it all in one breath, his heart relaxed. He raised his head slightly and looked at the blue sky. He thought to himself, "Since the people of the world have taken the wrong path, This Penniless Monk shall lead them back to the right path! So that's how it is! "
Not long after Fangzheng entered, he heard the disciples outside shout. "Master! Not good! Something's wrong! "
When Fangzheng heard that, he hurriedly ran out to ask about the situation. Squirrel ran all the way and said, "Master, follow me. Something happened! The incense burner is very popular! "
Fangzheng was dumbfounded. An incense cauldron was popular? What was going on?
When he ran out to take a look, he saw Red Boy, Salted Fish, Monkey, and Lone Wolf surrounding the incense burner. Upon seeing Fangzheng, Red Boy immediately took an incense stick and inserted it into the incense burner.
Just as Fangzheng was about to say something, he saw the incense stick suddenly light up. Following that, it burned at a discernible speed! It felt like it had been eaten! It was the kind that ate noodles. With a slurp, it was gone!
Fangzheng hurriedly asked the System, "System Bro, what's going on?"
"Don't you know how to check the incense burner's functions yourself?"
Fangzheng was taken aback. He had forgotten about this matter after being angered by his prodigal disciples! Hence, Fangzheng hurriedly checked …
"Fortune Incense Burner: Using this incense burner to offer incense can increase the fortune of the incense holder, increasing the light from providence shines on the monastery. When one sincerely prays to Buddha, the incense burner will sense it. In the time it takes for the incense holder to bow thrice, the incense will be completely burned! If one's heart isn't sincere, the incense will not burn. "Special effects: Dustless: Using this incense burner to burn incense, not a single speck of incense ash will drift out. "Unscatter: The incense condenses and the wind won't scatter it, rising straight into the nine heavens!"
After Fangzheng finished reading, he instantly understood everything. These incense sticks had been inserted into the original incense burner or outside by devotees. They had already bowed thrice, so once the incense sticks entered the Fortune Incense Burner, they would instantly be absorbed by the incense burner.
After understanding the reason, Fangzheng secretly heaved a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that he would accidentally bring another demon over. If that happened, his monastery could change its name to — Demon Camp.
After explaining the reason to the disciples, they all looked at each other in dismay.
Monkey marveled. "If a bunch of insincere people come, I reckon there won't be enough incense burners."
Fangzheng smiled. "It's fine. Just take out the incense that can't be lit and put it back in its original spot."
Monkey nodded slightly to express his understanding.
After settling all of this, Salted Fish pointed to the bottom of the bodhi tree and said, "Reverend, that money is considered my pocket money, right?"
When Fangzheng saw this, his eyes finally had a look of delight. He hadn't noticed it previously, but now that he took a careful look, he realized that Salted Fish's offering table was surrounded by money! Although they were all in small denominations, there was definitely quite a lot of money piled up like a small mountain! It was even more than what Fangzheng usually received in his Merit Box!
Fangzheng subconsciously glanced at the Merit Box, and his heart began to race! There was definitely no less than Salted Fish's, right? Then how much would there be?
Lone Wolf came to Fangzheng's side and asked, "Master, do you want to open it and take a look?" With that said, he subconsciously licked his lips, clearly tempted.
Fangzheng shook his head. "No, I'll open a big one tonight! Now, quickly clean up the yard. Once you're done, quickly open the door and accept the incense offerings. I'll check the money tonight and buy new year goods for everyone tomorrow! "
When everyone heard that Fangzheng wanted to buy new year goods for everyone, they immediately felt motivated. With Red Boy and Salted Fish leading the way, Lone Wolf and Squirrel followed behind, and Monkey did the finishing touches. One Finger Monastery was quickly cleaned up. Following that, Fangzheng ran into the backyard and the front yard's door opened!
Fangzheng leaned over the wall and secretly watched. The crowd swarmed in, and following that, there were exclamations after the incense offerings were lit and the kowtowed.
"Oh my god, the incense sticks are all burned?"
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