Foreword:
LongmenGrottoesisaUNESCOWorldHeritagesitelocatedinLuoyang,HenanProvinceinChina.ItisoneofthefinestexamplesofChineseBuddhistartanddatesbacktotheNorthernWeiDynasty(386-534AD).Thesiteisrenownedforitsstatues,carvings,andinscriptions,whichhavebeencarefullypreservedforover1,500years.ThisisthestoryofayounggirlnamedMeiwholivedduringtheTangDynasty(618-907AD)andherjourneytoLongmenGrottoes.
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Meiwasacuriousandadventurousgirlwholovedtoexploretheworldaroundher.ShegrewupinasmallvillageontheoutskirtsofLuoyangandhadheardmanytalesoftheLongmenGrottoesfromhergrandparents.Theywouldoftentellherstoriesoftheancientemperorswhohadcommissionedthegrottoesandtheskilledartisanswhohadcreatedtheintricatecarvingsandstatues.
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Oneday,MeidecidedtovisitLongmenGrottoestoseethewondersforherself.Shepackedasmallbagwithsomefoodandwaterandsetoffonherjourney.Shewalkedforseveralhoursthroughthecountrysideuntilshereachedtheentrancetothegrottoes.Assheapproached,shecouldseethemassivestonewallsandgatesthatguardedtheancientsite.
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Meiwasinaweassheenteredthegrottoesandsawthehundredsofstatuesandcarvingsthatlinedthewalls.Shecouldfeelasenseofhistoryandculturethatemanatedfromeverysurface.Shewalkedthroughthetunnels,admiringtheintricatedetailsofeachstatueandcarving.
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AsMeicontinuedtoexplore,shenoticedasmallgroupofpeoplehuddledaroundaparticularstatue.Curiositygotthebetterofher,andsheapproachedthegrouptoseewhattheywerelookingat.ItwasastatueoftheBuddha,surroundedbyintricatecarvingsandinscriptions.Thepeoplewereprayingandofferingincensetothestatue,hopingforgoodfortuneandblessings.
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MeiwasfascinatedbythedevotionandreverenceshowntotheBuddhastatue.ShehadheardofBuddhismbeforebuthadneverreallyunderstooditsteachings.ShedecidedtoaskthepeoplearoundherabouttheBuddhaandwhytheyworshippedhim.
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OneofthepeopleshespoketowasamonknamedMasterWu.HeexplainedtoherthattheBuddhawasagreatteacherwhohadtaughtpeopleaboutcompassion,wisdom,andinnerpeace.HetoldherthatworshippingtheBuddhawasawaytoconnectwiththeseteachingsandtofindasenseofpeaceinlife.
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MeiwasfascinatedbywhatshehadlearnedanddecidedtospendsometimestudyingBuddhism.ShereadbooksandtalkedtothemonksatLongmenGrottoes,tryingtounderstandtheteachingsoftheBuddha.Shefoundthatthemoreshelearned,themoreshefeltasenseofpeaceandpurposeinherlife.
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Oneday,MeimetayoungmonknamedLiwholivedatLongmenGrottoes.Theybecamefriendsandspentmanyhourstalkingabouttheirlivesandexperiences.LiwasalsointerestedinexploringtheworldoutsideLongmenGrottoesandoftentalkedabouthisdreamoftravelingtodistantlands.
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LiandMeisoonbecameinseparable,exploringeverycornerofthegrottoestogether.Theywouldsitinquietcontemplationbesidethestatuesandmeditateontheirthoughtsandfeelings.MeifoundthatherconnectionwithBuddhismgrewstrongereveryday,andshefeltasenseofpurposeandmeaninginherlife.
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Oneday,LitoldMeiaboutasecretchamberhehaddiscovereddeepwithinthegrottoes.Hehadfoundanoldscrollthatspokeofahiddentreasurethatwasguardedbyapowerfuldragon.Thescrolldescribedapaththatledtothetreasure,butitwasfilledwithperilanddanger.
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MeiwasintriguedbytheideaofatreasurehiddenwithinLongmenGrottoes.SheandLidecidedtofollowthepathdescribedinthescrollandseewhereitled.Theypackedsomesuppliesandsetoffontheiradventure.
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Thepathwastreacherous,filledwithsharprocksandslipperysurfaces.Theyhadtocrossanarrowbridgeoveradeepchasmandclimbupsteepcliffstoreachtheirdestination.Meiwasscaredbutdeterminedtoseewhatlayahead.
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Astheyapproachedtheendofthepath,theyheardadeepgrowlingsoundthatshookthegroundbeneaththeirfeet.Suddenly,amassivedragonappearedbeforethem,itseyesglowingwithfury.MeiandLiwerefrozeninfear,notknowingwhattodo.
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Thedragonspoke,"Whodarestodisturbmyslumberandseekmytreasure?"Meisteppedforwardandsaid,"Wemeannoharm,greatdragon.Weonlywishtoexplorethisancientsiteandlearnfromitsteachings."
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ThedragonseemedpleasedbyMei'swordsandsaid,"Youshowwisdombeyondyouryears,youngone.Iwillgrantyouaccesstothetreasure,butyoumustanswermyriddlecorrectly."
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Thedragonposedhisriddle:"Iamseeninthewaterifseeninthesky.Iamintherainbow,ajollysight.Whateverisputinme,italwaysdies.WhatamI?"
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Meithoughtforamomentandthenanswered,"Theanswerisabubble."Thedragonwasimpressedandsaid,"Youareindeedwisebeyondyouryears.Youmayproceedtothetreasurechamber."
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MeiandLienteredthechamberandsawalargechestsittinginthecenter.Theyopeneditandwereamazedatthewealthoftreasuresinside.Therewerejewels,gold,silver,andotherpreciousitemsthatsparkledinthedimlight.
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ButMeiandLiwerenotinterestedinthematerialwealth.TheyknewthatthetruetreasurewastheknowledgeandwisdomcontainedwithinLongmenGrottoes.Theyspentsometimemeditatingandcontemplating,takinginthepeacefulenergyofthesite.
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Astheymadetheirwaybacktotheentranceofthegrottoes,Meirealizedthatherjourneyhadbeenmorethanjustanadventure.Shehaddiscoveredaconnectiontoherpastandherheritage,andshehadfoundasenseofpurposeandmeaninginherlife.
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MeiknewthatshewouldalwayscherishhermemoriesofLongmenGrottoes,andshehopedthatotherswouldvisitthisbeautifulsiteandconnectwithitslegacy.SherealizedthattheteachingsofBuddhismandtheancientChinesecivilizationwerestillrelevanttoday,andthattheycouldprovideguidanceandinspirationtopeoplefromallwalksoflife.
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Andso,Meireturnedtohervillage,carryingwithhertheknowledgeandwisdomofLongmenGrottoes.Shefeltasenseofpeaceandcontentmentthatshehadneverexperiencedbefore,andsheknewthatshewouldalwaysbeconnectedtothisancientsiteanditsteachings.
