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The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism
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Rating(3.6 / 5.0, 118 votes)
5 | 51% (60 votes) |
4 | 14% (16 votes) |
3 | 7% (8 votes) |
2 | 6% (7 votes) |
1 | 23% (27 votes) |
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Support Book (#ad)
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One entry per lineArtist(s)
One entry per line
N/A
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Example: 2012
2017
Status in COO
Status in Country of Origin. One entry per line
1509 Chapters (Main Story)
12 Chapters (Bonus Story)
(Completed)
12 Chapters (Bonus Story)
(Completed)
Licensed
Yes
Completely Translated
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One entry per lineEnglish Publisher
One entry per lineRelease Frequency
Every 133.3 Day(s)Activity Stats [Graph]
Weekly Rank: #2000Monthly Rank: #12347
All Time Rank: #3887
Reading List [Graph]
On 893 Reading Lists
Monthly Rank: #19616
All Time Rank: #7941
Description
Links are NOT allowed. Format your description nicely so people can easily read them. Please use proper spacing and paragraphs.In the rural northeastern mountainous regions stands a tiny Buddhist temple, named One Finger Temple. It isn’t a large one but it is extremely miraculous.
The temple has rice that emanates an aromatic fragrance.
The temple has sweet and refreshing water that rivals ambrosia.
The temple has Buddhas that grant wishes to the sincere.
The temple isn’t large but it has everything. The temple isn’t large but it has flourishing incense offerings that far exceed all temples. The temple isn’t large but it attracts both citizens and foreigners that line up overnight…
The temple has a bald but handsome monk. Every day, he would bawl, “I want to renounce asceticism! I want to marry a chick that’s not too pretty, have a cute baby, and lead a stable life!”
Associated Names
One entry per line老衲要还俗
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Recommendation Lists
Latest Release
Date | Group | Release |
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10/20/18 | Webnovel | c48 |
10/20/18 | Webnovel | c47 |
10/19/18 | Webnovel | c46 |
10/19/18 | Webnovel | c45 |
10/18/18 | Webnovel | c44 |
10/18/18 | Webnovel | c43 |
10/16/18 | Webnovel | c42 |
10/17/18 | Webnovel | c41 |
10/16/18 | Webnovel | c40 |
10/16/18 | Webnovel | c39 |
10/15/18 | Webnovel | c38 |
10/15/18 | Webnovel | c37 |
10/14/18 | Webnovel | c36 |
10/14/18 | Webnovel | c35 |
10/13/18 | Webnovel | c34 |
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This book is a casual novel that introduces various Chinese traditional customs, as well as Buddhist ones. It strives to be a positive book, allowing people to reflect on how they should live their lives and treat others.
SUMMARY
FangZheng, a mundane young orphan (around 20) inherits a desolate Buddhist temple from the abbot who passed away (who is also his guardian). He is subsequently attached to a System that wants him to develop the temple and propagate Buddhist philosophy while helping mankind. And so our hero goes on a journey to become a Buddhist master of the universe... NOT.
That's precisely where most readers got it wrong. FangZheng only wish is to live a normal life. So his journey is both a spiritual self-discovery of Buddhist philosophy and of the interactions with the people around him. The supernatural powers he gains along the way are only a plot device to progress the story. COMMENTS
Firstly, full disclosure that I'm a former lay Buddhist and have studied various aspects of different religions and philosophy. I do not believe in Karma or the supernatural, and I don't claim (or want) to be a theologian, but I do have a decent understanding of the various philosophies discussed and expounded in the novel. Note that this is not a novel that presents one-sided doctrines or one-true-answers to readers, but invites a lot of introspection. -- A truly normal protagonist
FangZheng grew up as an orphan with the abbot in a poor rural part of China. And no, the abbot is not some magical Grandpa. The MC is not particularly devout, and wishes only to lead a normal life while maintaining the temple. Which is a perfect fit for this novel. He does NOT aspire to be esoteric, occasionally hits stumbling blocks, and is humble about his lack of knowledge (i.e. no pointless face-slapping). He finds joy in the simplest of things -- such as playing with highly intelligent animals, or enjoying the beautiful scenery around the temple. That said, when greatness is inevitably forced onto him through the System, he eventually steps up to the plate when he has to. Not because of some higher virtue or messiah attitude, but just out of basic human decency. We see the MC providing more of a listening ear, a psychiatrist/psychologist role, rather than giving advice. MC isn't a useless pacifist or passive-aggressive. That's a good understanding of modern Buddhist philosophy.
Fangzheng thought about it. "A dream is not a dream, and everything changes unpredictably. Patron, if you think it's real, then it's real. If you think it's false, then it is false. Most importantly, what you figured out is more important than the realness of your dream."
Fang Yunjing lay in bed and read the message. Her eyes looked a little confused, "A dream is not a dream, and everything changes unpredictably... Was what I figured out real? " There was a strange look on Fang Yunjing's face.
She asked: "Venerable Fangzheng, does Buddha exist in this world? Why do I find you so godly? Can humans learn divine powers?"
Fangzheng thought for a moment before answering: "Patron, what sort of Buddha is the Buddha you mentioned? This Penniless Monk believes that everyone in the world has Buddha nature. Everyone and anyone can become Buddha. As long as one's heart inclines to doing good, they are Buddha. Buddha nature is impermanent but omnipresent. As for divine powers, airplanes can fly in the sky and submarines can enter the deep depths of the sea. In the eyes of the ancients, those are divine powers as well. This Penniless Monk only knows a little more than you."
This is where the novel really shines.
In a modern era of hard science and instant gratification, it's hard for people to reconcile with old traditions and religion. The MC and the System offers no easy answers, except to present them in an objective case-by-case basis through the MC's interactions with various people. Buddhist philosophy is often based on introspection and invites discussion. There are not always hard truths, and how people choose to live their lives is up to them.
A mercenary that accidentally took a life during a robbery, is repentant and comes to terms with his misdeeds through his interactions with the MC. He is eventually sentenced to death.
An unrepentant hacker holds hospital data systems hostage for ransom, where several patient lives are at stake. The hacker had a troubled childhood that led to mental illness. In an inadvertent clash with the MC, the hacker is killed during a police standoff. MC acknowledges the hacker's life, and states openly that he feels no guilt or regret on the result.
Too many to list....
MC's One-Finger Abbot Dad, who raised him despite his disabilities.
The hardcore mercenary that robbed to provide for his terminally ill daughter.
The cynical wastrel villager that was highly suspicious of the MC and every other do-gooder.
The poverty stricken remote villagers who wanted dignity, not just a charitable handout.
The beautiful university student who experienced a life-changing event and had to come to terms with loss and death. -- Open recognition of the plight/failures of modern religion
The novel doesn't shy away from acknowledging all the modern criticisms of religion. There are critiques of form over substance - where religious people/institutions overemphasize image and ceremony over the truth. The novel often invokes a spiritual, pragmatic and rational discussion (maybe due to China doctrine) of traditions and religion. Some examples include: The purposes of traditional practices such as tomb-sweeping, observances, celebrations, ceremonies are clearly explained, with the emphasis on pragmatism and not religiosity. The pursuit of material wealth/fame and the many benefits (healthy competition, efficiency, etc) and negatives (excessive greed, vices, possible loss of happiness).
The descriptions are a little above the average that webnovels have accustomed us. Unfortunately, this gives no bragging rights given the webnovels standard. [Edit chap 86: nope, they are on the average standard : (] And the author show the tendency to waste most if... more>>Pro :
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