Chapter 208: Verses from Another World
It’s dusk in the capital.
The fiery clouds on the horizon meet the dark blue sky, creating an ink-like painting.
Zhao Duan rode on a horse and looked at the white-robed monk in the middle of the road ahead.
He was about thirty years old, with soft and handsome features and a calm expression. Under his slightly sparse eyebrows, his eyes were as clear as a baby's.
Zhao Duan had never met Monk Bian Ji, but he had seen his portrait.
Combined with the warrior's instinctive warning about the powerful cultivators, he had already guessed about 70% of the situation.
The next second, the white-robed monk clasped his hands together, confirming his guess:
"Amitabha, this poor monk, Bian Ji, is that the White Horse Supervisor Zhao Shijun in front of me?"
…
…
After a while.
In a simple and elegant pavilion on the street.
The waiter carefully served the vegetarian tea and pastries, saying, "Enjoy your meal, both of you."
Slowly retreat.
"Does the clerk in this shop know a mage?"
Zhao Duan lowered his eyes and looked at the brown tea in front of him. He saw ripples and his facial features were reflected in the tea.
Just now, Bian Ji invited him to sit down with him on the grounds that meeting was fate, and chose this nearby store. The owner received him personally with a solemn expression.
Bian Ji sat opposite him, his white monk's robe unstained by dust, a smile on his face:
"This place can barely be considered as Shenlong Temple's property."
Zhao Duan sighed:
"I've long heard that the Shenlong Temple is a wealthy family with a fortune, making a fortune every day. They have shops not only in the capital, but also in various provincial capitals. Seeing them today, I can see that the rumors are true."
Bian Ji just smiled and said:
"It's just a trivial matter, how can it be compared with what Envoy Zhao did?
That day, during the Zhaiyuan Dharma Assembly, I learned that the Envoy had been wronged. I wanted to mediate in person, but unfortunately, the Envoy left early... I can only express my apologies today..."
Zhao Duan smiled with an ambiguous meaning:
"Master, your words are really embarrassing to me. I am only a sixth-rank official.
"In terms of spiritual practice, I am far from the master's level. How dare I ask the master to apologize in person... Besides, this matter was caused by Li Yinglong, so how could I blame your temple?"
Well... although I don’t know whether Li Yinglong bribed certain monks or some individuals took the initiative to curry favor with him... In short, Shenlong Temple was somewhat responsible in the Zhaiyuan incident.
But as the saying goes, don't hit a smiling person, this famous Buddhist master in Dayu came to see him in person and showed his attitude.
No matter whether it is sincere or not, at least the attitude is there.
"Well, there is one thing I don't understand. Didn't the Master come to see me today specifically? Let's talk about this." Zhao Duan asked jokingly.
Bian Ji has a gentle smile, and he looks like a warm man:
"Oh? Why not just for acquaintance?"
Zhao Duan sighed:
"Although I've gained some fame recently, it's still a far cry from the Master's. Especially considering my reputation... Oh, I'm sure the monks in your temple are more disgusted than curious."
The monks of Shenlong Temple have long been disgusted with the King of Hell in Zhaoya.
This is evident from the fact that Ma Yan was never invited.
Given the respected status of the Shenlong Temple, even the Empress would have to give it full face. It really doesn't make sense for her to value him so much as a lackey.
Bian Ji slowly coiled a string of jade Buddhist beads in his hands, but did not respond directly.
Those eyes that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts looked at him:
"Your Excellency seems to be opposed to our Buddhist sect?"
You are really good at judging people... Zhao Duan smacked his lips:
"It's not really resistance, at most I just don't agree."
"Oh?" Bian Ji showed curiosity, "I'd like to hear more about it."
Zhao Duan hesitated for a moment. He was not sure of the other party's intentions, so it was difficult for him to come up with the most appropriate response strategy.
But then I thought, in the eyes of such a master of cultivation, I am afraid that I can’t hide much of my thoughts... Since I can’t see it, I might as well take the initiative to test it.
He simply raised his hands, picked up the three upside-down tea bowls on the table one by one, lined them up in a row, and knocked them one by one with his chopsticks, saying:
"Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism..."
Bian Ji was very interested:
"Do the three bowls represent the three branches of cultivation? Does the envoy have any opinion on this?"
He smelled something familiar: Buddhist teachings, and his love for Zen riddles and witty remarks.
It is not only a game of wisdom, but also because many insights are difficult to convey in words.
Words are the carriers of incomplete thoughts.
Many meanings lose their original meaning the moment they are turned into words.
Zhao Duan's action was inexplicable, a bit like a monk's guessing game.
Haha... I knew that this way of speaking would suit the tastes of you bald guys... Zhao Duan tried it out and it was very effective.
He picked up the teapot again and poured roughly equal amounts of water into the three bowls, saying:
"This is the saint, the Buddha, and the way of heaven."
Bian Ji looked at him in surprise, and seemed to be a little more serious:
"A bowl of water is used to represent the nature of tranquility."
Zhao Duan did not answer, but used his chopsticks to knock on the edge of the tea bowl one by one. The sound of tinkling made the water ripple, and he said:
"This is human desire, various aspects, and moving hearts."
During this period, through conversations with Lao Wang, he gradually understood that the Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism in this world, apart from having an additional extraordinary power, their main ideological themes were not much different from those in his previous life.
So, it gave him room to talk nonsense...
Humph, no matter what the monk’s intention is, I cannot lose my momentum.
Especially referring to Lao Wang's experience, Zhao Duan was thinking about whether he could trick the other party once and get some benefits from Shenlong Temple...
Lao Wang is such a jerk. I got it for free last time.
But Shenlong Temple is so rich, and this Bian Ji is also a well-known big shot. Unlike Lao Wang, who is an unknown official, he must have more dignity...
He wouldn't just run away...right?
Copying the "Tao Te Ching" can bring you benefits from the Tianshi Mansion.
Can I copy the Diamond Sutra and get some good stuff from Shenlong Temple?
At this moment, Monk Bianji was still unaware that the pretty boy sitting opposite him was already preparing to trick him... He said with great interest:
"Your Excellency's words seem to imply that Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism are the same."
Zhao Duan shook his head and said:
"From the outside, the three schools of thought seem similar. But once you step inside, they seem quite different."
He pointed to the first bowl:
"Confucianism doesn't involve any mysterious or powerful cultivation. It's all about cultivating oneself and the world, maintaining a sense of righteousness, and being sincere and honest. In a small sense, it's all about surviving better in the world. In a big sense, it's about extending one's own kindness to others. If you cultivate one person, you cultivate millions.
What is important is that everyone has a saint in their heart.
It's nothing more than sweeping away the dust and polishing one's heart. Although it lacks the strength of a warrior or the cunning of a sorcerer, it is beneficial to the world. As for its drawbacks, there are naturally many, but apart from those corrupt scholars, it is still a good learning. "
He pointed to the third bowl:
"As for the Daoist sect, the reason it came together to form a sect was simple at first. It was all about seeking immortality. Everyone wanted to live, so they came to learn how to cultivate their body and mind. The so-called primordial energy, primordial essence, and primordial spirit... in the final analysis, they were all the same thing.
Flow is Qi, gathering is Jing, and when used skillfully it becomes God. Pursuing longevity, striving for immortality, ascending to become an immortal... is the goal for those seeking immortality...
Of course, if you really delve into it, you may not care about whether you can live forever or not. Seeking the truth itself is a pleasure. If you hear the truth in the morning, you can die in the evening. This means that you no longer care about the original purpose born out of desire.
But even if one cannot reach such a state, simply cultivating magical power and seeking a long life may not be as broad-minded as the Confucians who care for the people of the world, but at least it is not completely inhumane. It is just a personal pursuit, so it cannot be said to be bad. "
After a pause, Zhao Duan finally pointed to the bowl in the middle and said quietly:
"As for Buddhism..."
Bian Ji looked at him with a pleasant expression:
"Is it possible that Buddhism is not as good as Taoism in saving oneself and others?"
Zhao Duan carefully observed the other party's expression and adjusted his words carefully:
"It's not that it's 'inferior,' but it's just too heartless. Buddhism emphasizes compassion, but in my opinion, it's too cold.
The reason why Buddhists gather together is that they believe that life in this world is too painful and that the world is like a sea of suffering. Therefore, people are required to cut off their seven emotions and six desires. This is because the source of suffering is the connection with others. Once these are cut off, there will naturally be no more suffering.
So, if you cut off your parents and don't marry, you can also cut off your wife and children. If you still have your own desires, you have to cut them off as well. You shave your head and become a monk, cutting off the three thousand strands of troubles. This makes it clear that you are not shaving your hair, but cutting off your troubles...
After entering the sect, one must abide by the rules and regulations, abstain from greed, anger, and ignorance... which is also to cut off human desires... Ultimately, one must cultivate oneself into a cassock that is indifferent to everything and is the most ruthless.
As for saving all sentient beings, it simply means drawing them into Buddhism, allowing them to escape the 'sea of suffering' and become Buddhas together. They also promise reincarnation: if they achieve Buddhahood, they will enter the Buddhaland; if they fail, they can still be reincarnated... This is too tricky."
After saying this.
There was no anger on Bian Ji's face, just a little surprise.
Although I had heard of many of this man's abilities before, they were nothing more than political tactics and statecraft.
At most, he has excellent talent in cultivation.
There wasn't much of a reason why Bian Ji came here today.
It was more like his heart moved at will, and the Buddha's heart told him subtly that this famous "Lord Zhao" was extraordinary.
So I decided to come and see him.
But he never expected that the other party, a mere martial artist, would have such insights into the three schools of martial arts.
"I think I understand what Envoy Zhao means."
Bian Ji had a gentle expression and sat upright.
Unconsciously, he elevated the man before him from an official to the level of a "predestined person" with whom he could discuss the Dao, and patiently explained:
"It's just that you must have a deep misunderstanding of my Buddhism.
Those strict rules and regulations are nothing more than ordinary disciples finding it difficult to keep the water in their hearts. They often cling to various appearances, and their original hearts are obscured by dust. So we have to use the rules and regulations to forcibly help them get rid of them.
The envoy compared the original mind to a bowl of water, and I compared it to a bright mirror. If the mirror is covered with dust, it must be wiped diligently from time to time. If the disciple can abide by the original mind and the rules and regulations after entering the sect, then there is no need to abide by them...
This is the way to practice. As for the mysterious techniques, they will naturally emerge after gaining wisdom, and there is no need to deliberately pursue them.
After a pause, Bian Ji sighed again:
"However, although you may have misunderstood, your understanding of Buddhist principles alone shows that you possess wisdom. Yet, for some reason, you are still obsessed with fame, wealth, and power. If you cultivate your mind in peace and tranquility, you may achieve great things in the future. Wouldn't that make you better than a powerful official in this secular world?"
There was a sense of regret in his words.
Zhao Duan shook his head and said:
"What the mage said sounds good, but what I saw was not true."
"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."
"The master said that ordinary people use precepts, but if one reaches a higher level of cultivation, then they no longer need to use them. Presumably, when one reaches a higher level, one's mind is free to send and receive, and all things in the world are reflected in the clear mirror of the mind. One is no longer attached to appearances, but instead understands one's true nature."
"That's natural."
Okay... I've been waiting for you to say this... Zhao Duan suddenly smiled and stared at the white-robed monk:
"Then I'm a little curious, Master, have you reached the top?"
Bian Ji was stunned.
Zhao Duan didn't wait for him to speak and continued:
"I heard that the Master is a person that Abbot Xuanyin relies on very closely. In his early years, he was famous throughout the world for his saying 'Spring comes and the grass turns green.' As for his cultivation of external forces, he had already reached the 'worldly' realm.
One step above that, there are figures like Your Majesty, Master Xuanyin, Zhang Tianshi, and Wu Xiankui... So, Master, your cultivation skills must be very high."
Bian Ji nodded. On this point, he was not overly modest:
“Although I am not as good as some Bodhisattvas, I can still be considered high.”
Zhao Duan asked back:
“If that is the case, why is the Master still obsessed with all these things?
Was the Zhaiyuan Dharma Assembly, where prominent figures from the capital were invited and the Dharma master personally lectured, intended to help the city's powerful escape the "sea of suffering" or to build good relationships for the Shenlong Temple? Was it to raise money for incense offerings?
Of course, Master, you may not have come here for fame or fortune, but you did all this for the survival of the temple. May I ask, why do you still cling to the temple's continued prosperity? Isn't that just attachment?
Bian Ji opened his mouth and said, "This poor monk is..."
Zhao Duan interrupted him and continued:
“The Master just asked me why I was obsessed with fame, wealth and power, and why I didn’t cultivate myself, yet I claimed to have achieved great success.
This is strange. If the master's mind is empty and he does not see anything, why does he only see me pursuing fame and fortune when he looks at me?
You advise me to cultivate purity, yet you only see great achievements? Aren’t all these things ‘various aspects’?
He pointed to the three bowls of water on the table:
"Master, you look at me just as you look at this bowl of water. You look at me based on what the outside world says about me. If someone says I'm a bowl, you think it's a bowl. If someone says I'm water, you think it's water... Isn't this clinging to external appearances?"
Zhao Duan shook his head and sighed:
"A Buddhist master like the Master is obsessed with appearances and still needs to abide by the precepts. He only invites me to eat vegetarian food and abstains from meat and fish... How can he talk about a clear mind like a mirror?
I'm afraid the Master's clear mind has been covered in dust for too long. If even a 'master' like the Master is still like this, how can I believe that even the most advanced Buddhists can achieve a calm mind?
After a pause, he sighed deeply, shook his head and said:
"Master, you said I have some resistance to Buddhism, and that's why. I've been a bit talkative today, so please forgive me. Finally, I just want to give you a verse, which will be my response."
He paused, then slowly recited a famous line from the Diamond Sutra, the supreme Buddhist classic from his previous life:
"All appearances are false; if you see that all appearances are not appearances, you will see the Tathagata."
Buzz——
At this moment, the tea set on the table suddenly shook, and violent ripples appeared in the three bowls of water, with water droplets splashing out.
Up and down the pavilions.
The guests who were dining there were all astonished. Their faces changed as they looked at the clinking cups and plates and felt the slightly shaking floor.
"Earthquake!"
Even the shopkeeper and the waiters downstairs were furious.
I thought earthquakes rarely happened in the capital.
Even if there was, the Tianshi Mansion would have given a warning at least one day in advance. Why did it happen silently?
The guests downstairs who were close to the door had already fled out the door or crawled under the table with fear on their faces.
Quack, quack, quack——
Rooftop.
A group of black crows standing on the eaves flew up in fright, circled in the air, and made unpleasant noises.
"No, only this building is shaking!"
Someone with sharp eyes saw that everything outside the building was calm and peaceful.
…
Upstairs, at the table.
The gentleness and indifference on Bian Ji's face finally disappeared. He pursed his lips and said nothing.
All appearances are false...
If you see that all things are not things, you will see the Tathagata...
Only he knew that this wasn't some kind of earthquake, it was just...
His heart was just beating.
The strong man's mind trembled, and the place where he stood also swayed.
Bian Ji closed his eyes and silently chanted the meditation mantra, using his magical power to stabilize his Buddha mind, and the shaking building also calmed down.
"I'm sorry that I lost my composure a little and made you laugh."
Bian Ji clasped his hands together, opened his eyes, and regained his clarity.
Holy shit... I thought you were going to shake the building down... Are sorcerers in this world so terrifying? I clearly didn't see any trace of magic...
Zhao Duan took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.
I only heard Monk Bianji calmly say:
"I will learn from your advice today."
…
Typos should be corrected first and then replaced
(End of this chapter)
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