Chapter 2012 Appreciation
"On the contrary, if everyone were to embrace Buddhism, who would be left to work?" Manbao hadn't forgotten why they opposed the rise of Buddhism. She said, "Buddhist ordination certificates don't require taxes, tributes, or forced labor. If everyone embraces Buddhism, who will guard the borders? Who will repair the roads and rivers? What about water conservancy?"
Bai Erlang said, "Even though I'm not very well-educated, I know that in ancient times, after the prosperity of Buddhist temples, dynasties would inevitably face many hardships."
This was too heartbreaking. Zhishen's face turned solemn. "The three donors are too biased. When has the prosperity of Buddhist temples not coincided with the prosperity of the dynasty?"
Bai Shan: "Everything that rises must fall. This is an eternal truth."
Zhishen: "So how can the decline of a dynasty be attributed to Buddhist temples?"
"Then the prosperity of the dynasty has nothing to do with Buddhist temples," Bai Shan said. "Since Buddhist temples cannot benefit the country, the court should not favor them. Your Majesty, as the head of the court, should not be biased."
Zhishen shook his head slightly. "The Huguo Temple has no intention of asking Your Majesty to take a side. The Buddha simply wants to guide the people to enlightenment and lead their hearts to goodness."
Bai Shan smiled faintly and said, "Master, that's a noble idea, but I believe that everything in this world begins with responsibility. Even monks benefit from a stable country, and Buddhist temples can spread their teachings because of a stable world. If the world is in chaos, who would be able to go up the mountain and worship Buddha in peace?"
so what?
Bai Shan did not continue, but asked: "Master, what do you think?"
Zhishen naturally agreed that it was indeed easier to preach in prosperous times than in troubled times.
Bai Shan and the others accepted Zhishen's gifts, and he personally escorted the three of them to the mountain gate, which many people saw.
It is not easy to meet Master Zhishen, so everyone was quite surprised that three young men could be accepted as his disciples.
"Isn't that Lord Zhou?" They go to court together and see each other every month, so it's hard not to know each other.
"That's Princess Mingda's consort, right? And the one next to him is Master Bai? Master Zhishen actually personally escorted them to the mountain gate."
Seeing this young man, everyone couldn't help but envy him. "I wonder what the feng shui of the Bai and Zhou families is like..."
Bai Shan and the others politely said goodbye to Monk Zhishen and turned back.
Seeing them in such a hurry, Bai Erlang asked, "Why are you going back?"
"Write a memorial," Bai Shan said. "Master Zhishen believes that Buddhist temples and monks should also take responsibility for the country. Although it may not be possible, we can still make some suggestions."
Bai Erlang: "...really? Then, will we be driven away from Xuandu Temple when we go there next time? And will the abbot of Shouqing Temple still be willing to let us go up the mountain to worship the Heavenly Lord after we return?"
Of course, the memorial could not have been directed only at the management of Buddhist temples; Taoist temples would also be mentioned, otherwise it would seem as if they were targeting Buddhists.
Bai Shan thought for a moment and said, "We should still give them some preferential treatment. Let's think about it later."
But after reading the history of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the three of them often thought about the impact of the increasingly prosperous Buddhist temples on the country.
Even Mr. Zhuang has said privately that the prosperity of Buddhist temples is tantamount to prying under the foundation of the national treasury. It is not obvious now, but in another twenty or thirty years, when more and more monks enter the temples, more Buddhist temples are built, and more Buddhist land is occupied, taxes will definitely be reduced on a large scale. By then, the national treasury will be empty, and the pressure of taxes will definitely be passed on to other people.
There are many things that history books will not point out, but we are not stupid. When reading history, we never just read the superficial text.
This is true not only for Buddhist temples but also for Taoist temples.
It’s just that Taoist temples are declining now, and many Taoists are traveling around the world or living in seclusion in the mountains. There are not many people who actually preach in the world.
Half of them are scammers, which is completely different from the prosperity of Buddhist temples.
Bai Erlang really didn't want to go back, but Bai Shan and Manbao were both going back, and he would be bored being alone outside, so he had no choice but to follow them.
Zhishen watched them walk away, turned around and went back, but instead of returning to his own room, he went to the host's room.
Coincidentally, his back window faced the yard where they had just spoken.
Master Zhiren was concentrating on writing something. When he heard the voice, he didn't even look up and asked, "Have you three friends been sent off?"
Zhishen said, "I'm afraid they are not friends. Brother, you've heard that they are prejudiced against our Huguo Temple and even the Buddhist Temple."
Master Zhiren smiled and shook his head, "No prejudice."
Zhishen:......
He stared at Zhinin, "Senior brother actually likes them?"
Zhiren then put down his pen and set aside the half-translated Buddhist scripture. He said, "Brother, didn't you hear that? These three are the first in the world. Many fifteen or sixteen-year-olds have such ambitions, but not many have such insights."
He said bluntly: "Although they are young, their insight is no less than that of my junior brothers."
Zhiren had no feelings about Zhishen's behavior of bringing people to the back yard to talk today, because he had no intention of getting involved in these disputes, so when it came to people who came here before, he was concentrating on writing his own scriptures.
Only this time, he felt somewhat happy. The three children were still young. This was their current shortcoming, but also their greatest strength. They had unlimited possibilities in the future.
Zhishen was already used to his brother's attacks; he didn't care. He only cared about the future of Huguo Temple. "Brother, His Majesty trusts Huguo Temple, but the Crown Prince has no special feelings for Buddhist temples. Zhou Man is not only a favorite of His Majesty, but also of the Crown Prince. She favors Taoism. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, I'm afraid our Buddhist temple will suffer a heavy blow if this continues."
Seeing that Zhiren was unconcerned, Zhishen asked, "Brother, have you forgotten the tragic destruction of Buddhism by Emperor Taiwu and Emperor Wu?"
Seeing Zhishen's agitation, Zhiren sighed and said, "Brother, you are obsessed with appearances. The Buddha should not interfere in political affairs. As long as you stay away from politics and treat everyone as a donor, and treat it with a normal mind, there will be no such disaster."
He advised again: "Junior brother, you shouldn't buy so many Buddha fields."
Zhishen said, "The number of monks in Huguo Temple is increasing. If we don't buy the Buddha land, how will the disciples survive?"
Zhiren then said, "Junior brother shouldn't have accepted so many disciples."
"To spread the Dharma and study Buddhist principles, we need disciples," Zhishen's gaze fell on Zhiren's desk. "Brother, if you want to concentrate on studying the Dharma, you shouldn't worry about three meals a day. These also need to be supported by disciples and believers."
Zhiren said calmly, "Every tea and meal is a gift from heaven. Not only do I have disciples to support me, but I can also farm myself, so I don't need the temple's offerings."
He paused, thinking of what Bai Shan had just said about responsibility, and was about to remind him, but when he looked up, he saw Zhishen's expression of disapproval, so he paused and remained silent.
Zhishen once again disagreed with his senior brother, but he was not angry. In the past few decades, they had disagreements eight out of ten times. Zhishen would have been angry before, but not now.
He bowed and took his leave. When he left, he found his senior disciple standing outside with his hands hanging down. He nodded and said, "Take good care of your master."
Jie Chen clasped his hands together in agreement, and waited until his uncle left before knocking on the door and going in.
Zhiren had already picked up his pen and continued translating his scriptures.
See you at 6pm
(End of this chapter)
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