Has Chapter 399 arrived yet? (Buddha)
Donglin Temple, on the southwest side.
The main hall of the temple.
This hall is one of the Three Treasures Halls.
There is a saying among the people that "a young wife will not visit the temple unless she has something important to say."
In Buddhism, the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are considered the Three Jewels, and the Three Jewels Hall refers to the Buddha Hall, Dharma Hall, and Sangha Hall.
The Buddhist hall refers to the Mahavira Hall.
Generally, only larger temples have this feature; they are places of serene purity and solemnity.
It is also a major place for worship, chanting, and spiritual practice.
When necessary, it also takes into account the needs of temples for performing rituals.
One should not wander in unnecessarily.
The same is true of Donglin Temple. The main hall on the southwest side is solemn and majestic, with golden Buddha statues shining brightly.
It is usually only opened during festivals, celebrations, welcoming or sending off Buddhist treasures, or important religious ceremonies.
Tonight is no exception.
After nightfall, the main hall of Donglin Temple is brightly lit.
A grand ritual to exorcise evil spirits is underway.
A coffin containing a corpse was placed in the back hall of the Buddhist temple, surrounded by a circle of candles as thick as an infant's arm.
The front hall was crowded with people.
However, most of them were monks from Donglin Temple dressed in black robes, sitting upright and chanting sutras.
Leading the group was Master Shandao, whom we hadn't seen for many days. He was dressed in a solemn and expensive monk's robe, his white beard flowing, and he sat upright at the very front.
With his otherworldly and dignified appearance, anyone who saw him would have to call him "Master".
With a compassionate expression, Master Shandao performed an exorcism ritual for the unfortunate benefactor.
Behind them, Xiufa and several other young novices followed, chanting scriptures together. However, one of the novices seemed unable to stay up so late for the ceremony and yawned.
Master Shandao tilted his head slightly, his hair tugging at his companion. The young novice immediately stopped talking, put away his lazy and tired look, and sat down to meditate seriously.
Xiufa glanced at her master's dedicated back view.
To be able to invite the Venerable Master Dahui to personally perform the ritual, the price must be quite high. This time, the person who paid was a big spender, no wonder the master was so dedicated to his work tonight.
She couldn't help but feel admiration for his beautiful hair.
Originally, the exorcism ritual for Zhao Rushi's corpse was commissioned by the county government to be performed by Donglin Temple, and it was entirely a voluntary service.
The master wasn't particularly enthusiastic, but adhering to the principle of compassion, he accepted the task nonetheless.
However, it certainly wasn't held in a grand place like the Mahavira Hall at first. A simple, low-key event would suffice. After all, everyone needs to eat, and with most of the temple's residents gathered here tonight, we can't just starve.
But who would have thought that as soon as the body was brought up the mountain, "family members" eagerly claimed it.
Moreover, they were generous spenders. A glint flashed in the master's eyes, and he immediately appealed to their emotions and reasoned with them, making the family members of the wealthy spender deeply appreciate the profoundness of Buddhism and understand the reason why they had to make a grand gesture. So, the master waved his hand.
That's why we have this special occasion tonight.
The burial should not take place immediately; instead, a ceremony should be held for three days and three nights to ensure the holy light can deliver the evil spirits!
As one of the young monks muttered privately during the day, whether they'll get extra meals and bonuses at the end of the year depends on these three days.
As a result, most of the monks in the temple, except those on duty or unable to leave, were summoned by their master and participated in the religious ceremony without fail.
After all, the price is calculated per person...
Those who witnessed it couldn't help but admire his dedication.
At this moment, in front of the main hall, among a small group of "family members" surrounded by monks,
There was a Persian man with brown hair and green eyes.
Li Li looked around the solemn Buddhist hall.
After chanting sutras with Master Shandao for a while, he stood up, first comforted the weeping "family members" beside him, and then stood up with the guards behind him, including the secret ascetic and the frivolous Taoist, and walked towards the back hall.
"Amitabha, please wait a moment, benefactor."
Master Shandao came over and called out to Li Li and his group.
"I haven't asked yet. May I ask your surname, and what relationship do you have with County Magistrate Zhao?"
Li Li subtly sized up the kind-looking old monk in front of him, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Zhao Ru is a bachelor and has no family members to speak of.
The so-called family members crying and sobbing inside the main hall were all hired by him at his expense; they were professional crybabies, and their main purpose was to present a truly heartfelt feast.
Li Li and the monk Mi Yin were not family members, but rather people who had rushed over from Xunyang City overnight to investigate.
It's just that they deliberately raised the price to extend the funeral ceremony by a few days in order to postpone the burial.
Try to get an investigation done, and at the same time... give it a shot.
At this moment, when Master Shandao took the initiative to speak with him, Li Li nodded and said succinctly:
"My surname is Li."
Master Shandao: "Shouldn't the Zhao family members have the surname Zhao?"
After speaking, the old abbot looked curiously at the strangely dressed companions behind the Persian merchant.
When the flaw was pointed out, Li Li didn't even lift an eyelid.
He didn't speak, just stared at Master Shandao.
"Cough cough."
The atmosphere was a little awkward. Master Shandao coughed and decided not to mess with money, so he didn't ask any more questions.
“Benefactor Li, why bring along some idlers? This is a sacred Buddhist site; we must be mindful of certain things.”
Master Shandao glanced at the Secret Seal Ascetic and the frivolous Taoist priest, and subtly offered a reminder.
Li Li said calmly, "They're just friends who came to pay their respects. Master, please don't be so stingy."
"It's not that I'm stingy, it's just that Buddhism is profound. I am not talented, but I am also known as the Greatly Wise Monk Who Spits Lotus Flowers, a title personally bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress. I am afraid that when I recite scriptures and lecture later, I might inadvertently convert these two fellow practitioners and make them vie to join my Lotus Sect. That would be difficult, since they also have their own masters. It would be a bit unethical to poach them."
Master Shandao sighed, his expression apologetic.
"..." Li Li, Secret Seal Monk, Frivolous Taoist.
Everyone couldn't help but glance at the serious-looking old monk, their expressions varying.
You're worried that this isn't proper, right? Okay, okay.
The ascetic with secret incense bowed his head and chanted scriptures, then silently shook his head.
The frivolous Taoist priest chuckled.
Li Li suppressed her twitching lips and waved her hand:
"It's alright, Venerable Monk, please continue chanting the sutras. If you can convert my two friends and help them turn back to the right path and learn Mahayana Buddhism, that would be an immeasurable merit, wouldn't it?"
The frivolous Taoist priest nodded solemnly: "Please, Master, you must save me."
Master Shandao pondered, "That makes sense." He then chanted "Amitabha" to the frivolous Taoist priest.
Li Li smiled. From this perspective, the money wasn't wasted. Not only did it buy them time for the investigation, but it also provided some entertainment while they waited.
Master Shandao glanced around discreetly, then, finding an excuse, pulled Li Li aside and whispered:
"I have discovered that the evil spirit of Benefactor Zhao is somewhat difficult to dispel. It just so happens that I have recently been studying the Diamond Sutra and have made some progress. I have gained a new understanding of a Buddhist teaching for helping people, the essence of which lies in the explanation of 'dependent origination and emptiness'."
"The Tathagata said that the world is not the world, therefore it is called the world."
"These three sentences contain the core essence of the Diamond Sutra. Even the most sinister demons and monsters can be 'empty of inherent existence' to some extent, focusing on seeing through illusions and eliminating karmic obstacles..."
"I wonder if Benefactor Li would be willing to give it a try for Benefactor Zhao..."
Li Li had thought it was something important, but it turned out to be just "begging for alms." Speechless, he nodded and sighed with a serious expression.
"Either is fine. Master Xingkong is not... Master Shandao. You can make the preparations. Make sure my brother passes away peacefully. It would be best if we could catch that monster and eliminate this karmic obstacle."
"good."
Master Shandao suppressed a smile and nodded, then happily went to prepare.
High rollers are high rollers; they never haggle.
At the same time, he pretended not to see Li Li and others' unauthorized visit to the rear hall to view the corpses.
Li Li chuckled and led the Secret Monk, the frivolous Taoist priest, and two Xianbei men back into the inner hall.
Just entered.
The frivolous Taoist priest chuckled at the hunched-over, tattered monk, Mi Yin Toutuo:
“Old bald monk, this money-grubbing fellow monk wants to talk about the Diamond Sutra and the emptiness of inherent existence. Isn’t that what your Buddhist sect is best at? Shouldn’t you talk to him about the Dharma and teach him a thing or two? Tell him you’re from Miyin Temple, and you might even be able to take on an old disciple. That would make the trip worthwhile.”
The ascetic Miyin, who had already abandoned his disciples, lowered his head and ignored him.
"Amitabha," she whispered.
Li Li stepped forward, opened the white sheet, suppressed the nauseating smell, and examined the cut wounds on the separated parts of the corpse.
He then took out a Wei-character token and glanced at it.
For some unknown reason, the Persian merchant's face grew increasingly gloomy.
The flippant Taoist priest asked with a smile, "That person will come? Is he really the legendary Swordholder?"
Li Li nodded almost imperceptibly, glanced at the night, and her expression turned serious.
The ascetic in secret suddenly said, "Tathagata."
...
After having dinner with Liu's mother, Ouyang Rong chatted for a while about everyday matters.
After they had all fallen asleep, he quietly closed the door and left.
He made a low-key trip to Longcheng this time, bringing with him a violin case and a bundle.
Inside the bundle was a bronze mask and a Qi-replenishing pill called Ink Dragon.
I'm only bringing these three items with me on this trip.
While it was still early, Ouyang Rong went to the underground palace, found Xiuzhen whom he hadn't seen in a long time, gave her some pastries, and they started chatting.
It was a real chat, with you saying one thing and me saying another.
Although most of the time the two were not on the same wavelength, their conversations became lonely.
Surrounded by emptiness, Ouyang Rong sat quietly on the lotus throne, looking up at the moonlight outside the well above.
Suddenly, he thought of the mute embroiderer and muttered to himself:
"Dependent origination and emptiness..."
It's unknown whether his "connection" with the embroiderer will continue.
Speaking of fate, Ouyang Rong had deep feelings.
Master Shandao recently started studying the Diamond Sutra, rambling on about the meaning of the three sentences, dependent origination and emptiness, and he even frequently wrote letters and sent books to me to discuss these things...
In his previous life, Ouyang Rong was not interested in Buddhism, but he was interested in getting high scores and passing the imperial examinations.
I have no interest in Buddhism in this life, but I am interested in accumulating merit.
So he could be considered to have "some knowledge" of Buddhism.
Initially, it was Master Shandao who approached him to discuss the matter, and of course, there was also a slight intention to show off the profundity of Buddhism. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong person.
As the relationship deepened, it gradually became a one-sided affair where Ouyang Rong would offer his insights from various angles, while Master Shandao had less and less to say. He would then take charge of the enlightenment and offer some rather exaggerated flattery, which was as abundant as a flowing river. He even praised the young master for having "great wisdom," which made the already eighteen-year-old Ouyang Rong wonder how the master knew about this.
Getting back to the point.
The Diamond Sutra, also known as the Diamond Sutra.
The so-called "three-sentence meaning" is an expression that frequently appears in Buddhist scriptures such as the Diamond Sutra.
It is a sentence structure that is both affirmative and negative.
For example, in the Diamond Sutra, there is a frequently occurring phrase: "The Tathagata says that the world is not the world, therefore it is called the world."
The general meaning is: The Buddha said there is a world, but it is not a world; it is simply called a world.
It sounds contradictory, like a word game, a charade.
However, it can be understood by combining it with the three realms of "seeing mountains as mountains, seeing water as water; seeing mountains not as mountains, seeing water not as water; seeing mountains as mountains again, seeing water as water again".
Although not entirely correct.
In Ouyang Rong's current state of calm, the three phrases of Buddhist teachings touch upon deeper issues.
This touches on a question about the nature of the world... Does this world actually have a physical form?
If it were still during his previous life when he was taking the postgraduate entrance exam, Ouyang Rong would nod decisively. Of course it has a physical form. Physics doesn't exist anymore, right? What else could the world be but a physical entity?
However, after arriving in this world, he came into contact with the existence of Qi cultivators and witnessed firsthand the mythical law of "Qi" that all things in the world possess.
Ouyang Rong has gained a new understanding of the Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist teachings, which were previously only concepts found in textbooks, and has begun to reflect on them.
Let's examine the meaning of the three sentences in the Diamond Sutra.
The first sentence is, "The Tathagata speaks of the world."
The Buddha said that there is a world, but you must not regard this world as a physical entity.
The second sentence is not the world.
The Buddha immediately denied that this world was a physical entity.
The third sentence is called "the world".
You deny the world as a physical entity, but you can't directly deny the world, otherwise how do you explain everything we see and feel right now?
Therefore, it is still a world, but not composed of physical entities.
Shakyamuni believed that it was composed of "dependent origination," but its essence was emptiness.
All things are inherently empty.
So where does the ability to touch and feel come from?
It is formed by the aggregation of causes and conditions.
That is, the origin.
Things that come together by chance will also part ways when those chances separate.
Therefore, it is said that the Tathagata said the world is not the world, but is called the world.
This is called dependent origination and emptiness.
It is an important concept widely accepted by all schools of Buddhism. If one does not acknowledge this, then one is not a Buddhist sect. It's just that each school interprets "dependent origination and emptiness" with different emphases.
Similarly, if one does not agree with the concept of "dependent origination and emptiness," then it is impossible to understand most Buddhist Zen sayings.
Reading Buddhist scriptures can be confusing, making them seem like nonsensical and superstitious.
For example, when he first woke up in the underground palace, the old Taoist priest in the crane-cloak suddenly asked Ouyang Rong a question.
What is the first principle of the Noble Truth?
He answered with "vast and without holiness".
However, Ouyang Rong's understanding at that time was only logical and far less profound than it is now.
Inside the underground palace, silently inhaling the sandalwood incense wafting in the air, Ouyang Rong remained silent for a long time before suddenly turning to Xiuzhen, who was sitting there blankly, and said:
It's laughable.
"When I opened my eyes and came to this underground palace, I never believed in the concept of dependent origination and emptiness, nor in the concept of arising and ceasing due to conditions. It wasn't until later, after much anticipation, that I received the blessing of returning home."
"At the moment I realized that I could never go back, I deeply felt the emptiness of dependent origination."
He waved the bronze mask in his hand:
“I used to firmly believe that things like postgraduate entrance exams, family ties, and hometown would always exist... but on the day my blessings were revealed, I knew they were gone.”
Looking back, I suddenly realized that all those rules and regulations that I used to follow in my life were essentially empty.
"After experiencing despair, rage, despair, confusion, and helplessness, I picked up the mask left by Ah Shan and put it on again. That day marked a new beginning."
"I also began to realize that the junior sister I met, the aunt I met, Liu Lang I met, the A Qing family, the Li Xian family, and so on and so forth, all these ongoing karmic relationships and emotions are essentially the same, and are also empty."
"The so-called 'birth arises from causes and conditions, and death occurs when causes and conditions disperse' applies to all things."
"But, Master, do you think I can simply become disillusioned with nothingness, retreat from the world, and passively deny what already exists just because its essence is empty?"
Before Xiuzhen could answer with a simple "I don't know," Ouyang Rong asked and answered himself:
"No.
"We should cherish it even more."
The murmuring youth lowered his head, gently put on the mask, held the violin case, and stood up:
"Master, I hope to visit you again next time. All things arise from causes and conditions, and I am connected with you, connected with the underground palace, and connected with the embroiderer who protected me twice during my awakening. Connection is the most important thing. I look forward to the next time."
"Goodbye."
(End of this chapter)
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