About a hundred years ago, a group of "monks" dressed in tattered robes came to a forest. The forest contained many kinds of trees. The monks said to them: "I want to build a temple here, but we don't have enough money. The only timber we can use is from you. I'm doing this for the sake of the common people. We pray for all living beings. If you help us, it will be an immeasurable act of merit. The Buddha, in his compassion, will surely grant you ascension to immortality." The trees looked at each other and began to discuss amongst themselves. Some said, "It's a good thing! Even if we live for hundreds or thousands of years, what difference does it make? We're still just trees, inferior to all living things, even less than animals. At least animals can move freely. If we help these monks, it will be a great deed. The Buddha, if he has divine power, will surely help us." Some of the larger trees said, "Don't take their words seriously. Look at them, they don't look like proper monks at all. They don't even have a decent robe. They're probably beggars disguised as monks, here to scam food and drink." While the argument raged on, several ancient locust trees spoke up: "We appreciate the masters' good intentions, but we, these decaying woods, are truly unworthy of such immeasurable merit, nor are we destined to receive celestial music. Our ancestors have lived here for generations and are long accustomed to it; the outside world's disturbances are meaningless to us." The monk, still gentle and kind, replied: "Since none of you have such intentions, the Buddha, in his compassion, never forces anyone. We will take our leave. We hope you will consider this carefully; we will wait for you for a few days."
That night, a group of masked men in black arrived in the forest, went straight to the large locust trees, and uprooted them. While digging up one of the trees, it roared to the sky: "I only know it's you! You are definitely not so-called monks; you are nothing but a band of bandits! Using the name of monks to do bandit deeds, you are even worse than bandits!"
The next day, the group of monks returned to the forest, but the old locust trees were gone. The monks, still with their gentle smiles, asked, "What do you all think? Remember, it's a matter of immeasurable merit, greatly beneficial to you and all living beings!" No one answered immediately; the trees all looked timid. The monks, sensing their fear, changed their tone and said gravely, "Why didn't I see those old locust trees from yesterday?" The trees timidly replied, "Wasn't it you who did it?" The monks solemnly declared, "Buddha is compassionate; all living beings have spirits. Monks do not kill. You've misunderstood. There's a group of Taoist priests on that mountain not far from you. They do shady things; it must have been them."
The trees finally granted the monk's request, and a few years later, a sizable temple was built. Soon, its incense offerings flourished, and the monks wore new robes. A few years later, the monks expanded the temple, and the monks now appeared quite imposing, wearing gold-embroidered robes. In contrast, the nearby Taoist temple is now just a pavilion; the Taoist priests have vanished. Why such a once grand temple has fallen to such a state remains a mystery. The monks who once wore tattered robes are now renowned abbots.
The wind blows through the forest, and it is no longer what it once was. A majestic temple stands, occupying more than half of the forest, with throngs of trees scattered throughout. Not a single large tree can be seen anymore.
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