Wuxiang Temple.
The back mountain.
Early morning.
Inside a small courtyard.
Zen Master Zhi Kong sat cross-legged on a prayer mat.
Across from him sat a little monk, a tiny thing who looked to be only three or four years old, his large eyes blinking.
He wore a slightly oversized monk's robe, one hand propping up his smooth-shaven head, a look of utter boredom on his face.
"Amitabha. Wu Chen, today's morning lesson is on the Six-Word Great Bright Mantra. Do you know which six words they are?" Zen Master Zhi Kong asked the little monk across from him.
This little monk was, of course, Wang Xiao, who had been living at Wuxiang Temple for three years.
Wu Chen was the dharma name Zhi Kong had given him.
Wuxiang Temple assigned generational names in the order of Zhi, Wu, Pu, Hui, Qing, Jing, Zhen, Ru, and Hai.
Since Wang Xiao had been accepted as Zhi Kong's direct disciple, he belonged to the "Wu" generation.
His seniority was, one could say, quite high!
