Taishi Xiandu, Qiluyuan, Yunkong Palace.

The Vice-Head of the Buddhist sect, White Horse Bodhisattva Shemoteng, said to Fang Jian, "Master Hongqing, there are so many disciples of our Buddhist sect who have been possessed by demons. I wonder if Master Hongqing has any solution?"

Fang Jian was very surprised to hear Shemoteng's question. He looked at Shemoteng and asked, "Don't the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have any solution?"

At this point, Fang Jian added, "If the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can't do anything, then what can I do?"

Shemoteng said, "Back then, True Lord Hongqing, you fought against the Buddha Demon Po Xun in the Haolan Realm. You should have some experience in dealing with Buddha Demons, right?"

Fang Jian heard this and said, "You should ask Guanyin Bodhisattva. Her incarnation once worked with me to kill Buddhas and demons in the Haolan Realm."

Shemoteng shook his head and said, "As the Vice-President of the Qiluyuan of the Buddhist sect, and now also the Bodhisattva in charge of the Buddhist precepts, I naturally want to help the Buddhist sect solve its problems."

"Actually, there is a solution." Fang Jian said.

Upon hearing this, Shemoteng was delighted and asked quickly, "Oh? Please enlighten me, True Lord Hongqing! Saving my Buddhist disciples from the sea of ​​suffering will be a great merit."

Fang Jian said, "Burn all the possessed ones to death, and then there will be no more possessed ones."

Shemoteng looked at Fang Jian in shock, and after a while he murmured, "This is a bit too extreme."

"Extreme?" Fang Jian asked in astonishment, "Doesn't Buddhism have a method for achieving Nirvana and rebirth?"

Shemoteng shook his head and said, "That is the Buddha. Only the Buddha can achieve Nirvana."

After hearing this, Fang Jian asked Shemoteng, "Have you been disturbed by the Buddha or demon?"

Shemoteng said: "No, it is extremely difficult for Buddhas and demons to invade those who have reached the level of Taiyi Golden Immortal and above. As long as you stick to your heart of Taoism, strictly observe the precepts, have no desires or requests, and keep your mind clear and calm, you can resist the invasion of Buddhas and demons."

"Oh." Fang Jian said, "That means there are many disciples within the Buddhist sect who are unable to strictly observe the precepts and purify their minds and practice the Dharma?"

Shemoteng said, "Yes, but that doesn't mean they have violated the precepts. True Lord Hongqing, you should understand that compared to mortals, immortals are only free from material desires. However, immortals do not seek nothing; they seek higher things."

"For example, Taoism, magic power, and cultivation." Fang Jian said.

Shemoteng nodded and said, "There is also the teaching dispute."

Shemoteng further explained: "The Buddha first gathered the Sangha and founded Buddhism in order to spread the Dharma to all living beings. Therefore, the Dharma is the idea, and the Buddhist sect is the tool to spread the idea."

Fang Jian said, "But after countless generations of development, Buddhism has become an entire 'interest group' or 'force' centered around the Buddha."

"That's right," Shemoteng said, "This is no longer something that the Buddha can easily change."

Fang Jian said, "The same is true of Taoism. Whether it's Taoism, Buddhism, or any other religion, they were all originally founded on a single idea, to study the Dharma together and save all living beings. But as it grew and gained more and more disciples, it became an extremely large group or sect, and the interests of every individual within it were closely connected."

"Yes." Shemoteng nodded and said, "So this is the danger that the Buddha Demon poses to our Buddhist sect. The Buddha Demon is not an ordinary demon. It does not use the seven emotions and six desires to seduce us, nor does it use the separation of life and death to frighten us. Instead, it touches the very foundation of our Buddhist sect."

Fang Jian's eyes flashed, and he said, "Everyone is a Buddha."

Shemoteng's eyes flashed with a gleam as he praised, "As expected of True Lord Hongqing. Indeed, one of the most fundamental principles of our Buddhist sect is that all living beings are Buddhas. But when people demand too much of this statement, then they are no longer Buddhas, but demons."

"Especially as Buddhist disciples we also have to spread the teachings and educate all living beings, and there are many disputes with Taoism or other sects. As long as these situations exist, the harm that Buddha and demons pose to our Buddhist sect will always be the greatest." Shemoteng said slowly.

Other kinds of demons or other kinds of demonic paths have little effect on Buddhism, because as long as a Buddhist disciple can become an immortal, his personal cultivation is very strong. No matter what kind of demon comes, it is difficult to invade the heart of a Buddhist immortal.

But Buddha and demon are different. Buddha and demon are the piety, awe, trust, obsession, perseverance and other beliefs in the heart of every Buddhist disciple towards Buddhism. These will become the weakness for Buddha and demon to invade and seduce you.

Therefore, the Buddha Tathagata said: In front of the Buddha and the devil, if the Buddhist disciple takes a step forward, he becomes the Buddha; if he takes a step back, he becomes the devil. There is no middle ground.

But it is easy to take a step back, but extremely difficult to take a step forward. First of all, you don’t know how to move forward, or what you think is "moving forward" is actually "moving backward", and you fall into the devil's way inexplicably.

This is the crisis facing Buddhism right now. Thinking of this, Fang Jian suddenly asked, "Where is Fahai?"

Shemoteng shook his head and said, "He was also attacked by the Buddha Demon, but fortunately he survived this demonic calamity. It's just that his cultivation was damaged, and he needs to retreat to recover."

"Oh?" Fang Jian was surprised. "Fellow Daoist Fahai has profound Buddhist knowledge, a firm heart, and strictly observes the precepts. How could he be attacked by a Buddha demon?"

Shemoteng said, "It was because he strictly adhered to the precepts that his heart was eventually seduced by the Buddha and the devil, and he developed an obsession. Fortunately, he was discovered by Manjushri Bodhisattva, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous."

"Becoming possessed by obsession." Fang Jian pondered. He had also become possessed by obsession because of his obsession with the Heavenly Principle, but he was saved by the Queen Mother of the West.

Fang Jian nodded and said, "It seems the problem is indeed very serious, but I can't help much. The Buddhist community must resolve its own affairs."

Shemoteng clasped his hands together and chanted the Buddha's name, then said, "Thank you, True Lord Hongqing."

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