Cangjie smiled and said, “As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement. Your words, teacher, are truly reasonable. The Theravada Buddhism established by Shakyamuni Buddha aimed at ‘cultivating oneself and helping others.’ This principle was indeed a great teaching of the time. However, although this method is good, it is too idealistic and unrealistic. Under the way of heaven, there is light and darkness. Although the Buddhist principles are good, they are too domineering. Now Shakyamuni Buddha has entered Mahayana Buddhism, which focuses on ‘bliss’. Naturally, this does not conform to the original state. Therefore, although Buddhism can flourish for a time, it cannot last long in the world.”
"Although everyone's destiny is predetermined, as the saying goes, 'As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement,' meaning that everyone's achievements can be changed through hard work!"
"While Buddhism 'saves' others, its true purpose is 'self-cultivation.' Relying on the help of others is not the most real thing; it is always illusory. Therefore, I have taken this as my enlightenment and, combining the essence of several religions, I am determined to create this path that teaches people to strive for success in their lives. In addition to innate talent, what determines everyone's achievements in life is the nine virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, trustworthiness, forgiveness, loyalty, and filial piety!"
Cangjie paused for a moment, then said, "Benevolence is loving others, righteousness is upright, propriety is virtuous, wisdom is intelligent, trustworthiness is without falsehood, forgiveness is tolerant, loyalty is honest, and filial piety are the foundation of being a person! With these nine virtues to educate the world, all people in the primordial world should cultivate themselves, strive for self-improvement, and thus achieve the unity of innate talent and acquired education, and the harmony between heaven and man!"
The three disciples standing nearby were astonished. They never expected that Cangjie, who had been so unknown, would suddenly utter such profound truths and have such lofty aspirations. For a moment, they couldn't help but imagine the scene of all sentient beings striving for self-improvement through their own efforts.
Xuan Tian, his eyes filled with satisfaction, said, "Your magnanimity and lofty aspirations are truly a blessing to all the people of the primordial world! Good! Good! Good!" Cang Jie bowed to Xuan Tian and said, "I have come to understand the great path of human education through your guidance, Master. Please name my path!" Xuan Tian smiled and said, "The spirit of benevolence is called 'Ru' (儒), and the spirit of righteousness is called 'Ru' (儒). How about calling your path of education 'Ru' (儒)?" Cang Jie bowed and thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Master."
Having said that, Cangjie rose, faced the primordial world, took out a brush and a ruler, and proclaimed loudly: "There are three thousand Great Daos, each leading to the ultimate realm! Today, I, Cangjie, a disciple of the Sage Pangu of Penglai Island, have established the Confucian school to educate all people. I will use the Spring and Autumn Annals Brush to teach and guide, and the Universe Ruler to precept and enlighten. May these be the sacred instruments of my Confucian school for generations to come!"
In an instant, Cangjie's voice resounded throughout every corner of the primordial world. All the people of the primordial world immediately knelt and bowed towards Penglai Island in the East Sea, calling him the ancestor and great master of literature. At this moment, a large patch of seven-colored merit clouds descended from the sky, illuminating the entire primordial world. Half an acre of auspicious clouds appeared above Cangjie's head, the cloud light as clear as water, with three lotus flowers in the middle, divided into black, white and blue. The black lotus had already opened, and a person sat on it. The seven-colored merit clouds slowly descended into the top of Cangjie's head. As the merit clouds poured in, the white lotus slowly bloomed until it was fully open. Suddenly, a person jumped down from above, wearing a blue cloth robe, which was what later generations called "Confucian robe". Cangjie threw the Spring and Autumn Reincarnation Brush and the Qiankun Ruler in his hand to him. The person caught them, faced the primordial world and said: "I shall be Confucius and uphold the rites of Confucian teachings."
Instantly, the remaining merit clouds in the sky poured into the Spring and Autumn Reincarnation Brush and the Qiankun Ruler. After they were completely absorbed, the two objects shone with golden light. After that, the Spring and Autumn Reincarnation Brush, aided by the merit, had been upgraded to thirty-eight layers of restrictions, making it a rare item of merit. The Qiankun Ruler, also aided by the merit, had been upgraded from thirty layers of restrictions to thirty-three layers.
After absorbing the merit, "Confucius" went straight down to the four continents of the lower realm.
Twenty-eight Confucian, Mohist, and Daoist
A great religion is the great teaching of the primordial world! Its most important element is destiny. The once-powerful Wu and Yao tribes could be considered great religions. The Wu tribe had twelve ancestral witches who inherited the great merit of Pangu in creating heaven and earth, while the Yao tribe had the innate treasure, the Chaos Bell, to suppress their destiny. However, due to their cruelty and lack of merit, both tribes were ultimately wiped out. The Jie Sect had the innate treasure, the Four Swords of Zhuxian, to suppress their destiny. But the Four Swords of Zhuxian suppressed the aura of killing and destruction; therefore, the Jie Sect nearly suffered total annihilation in the Investiture of the Gods war.
A great religion's fortune cannot be established and suppressed without innate treasures. That is why the Three Pure Ones were able to establish a religion. The Western religion, the predecessor of Buddhism, was established by suppressing the fortune of two innate spiritual treasures: the Twelve-Petaled Lotus Platform of Amitabha Buddha and the Seven-Treasure Tree of Cundi Bodhisattva. However, it still lacked fortune and had great difficulty in making progress. If it weren't for the internal struggle among the Three Pure Ones, how could the Western religion have taken even half a step into the East?
Don't be fooled by the fact that Cangjie has only severed two corpses yet. His cultivation level is only below that of a sage. Cangjie's cultivation level is largely due to the merit he has accumulated. First, there was the merit of creating characters. The merit of creating characters is immense. Cangjie's creation of characters revealed the secrets of heaven and earth. It was a great merit, but also a great evil.
The creation of writing has benefited the spread of human civilization and the progress of humankind, a truly meritorious act. However, with the advent of writing, human progress will not cease, even if human society stagnates or even temporarily regresses for various reasons. Overall, human progress will not change. Yet, precisely because of the emergence of writing, the secrets of heaven and earth will inevitably be revealed. Given time, the primordial world will likely hold no more secrets, and other species, under human interference, will forever lose the opportunity to become the protagonists of the universe. Therefore, the creation of writing is also the greatest act of defying nature.
Since it was the greatest act against the heavens, it would naturally unleash the strongest annihilation tribulation. However, at that time, Cangjie was on Penglai Island, so the tribulation naturally did not fall on his head.
Cangjie has received the merit of creating characters. Such merit is immense. Once the Heavenly Tribulation is over, it will be an act in accordance with Heaven. Writing is the foundation for the great prosperity of the human race. Cangjie has received more than 80% of it, which is roughly 5. Adding the merit he has now gained from establishing the Confucian school, Cangjie's own merit is close to 8. If Cangjie has the Primordial Purple Qi, with his own cultivation, if he does some more merit, he could almost become a saint.
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