Chapter 685 Buddha, I win again! (5.6k votes requested)
Under the Bodhi tree, the two sat opposite each other.
Lorne asked first:
"Why do all living things suffer, in your opinion?"
"The suffering of sentient beings is mostly due to not observing the precepts and indulging in lust. When sentient beings have pure minds, the land is pure; when sentient beings have turbid minds, the land is turbid. Therefore, we must abide by our original mind, eliminate the five poisons, and observe the eight precepts."
Gautama clasped his hands together and spoke eloquently:
"Avoid killing, be kind to all living beings, and even ants can be at peace;
If you abstain from greed and think about giving, then poverty and wealth can be reconciled;
Abstain from lustful thoughts, cultivate the holy life, and evil desires will not invade your body;
Avoid lying, do not speak deceitfully, and deception will not be rampant;
Abstain from drinking alcohol, keep your mind pure, and do the right thing;
Avoid indulging in pleasure, discard the dross and retain the truth, and all living beings will get what they wish for. "
The above are the methods of saving the world that I have concluded through observing the people’s sentiments and thinking about them day and night, collectively known as [Bajie].
As long as all things and all people are willing to abide by it with all their heart, they can get rid of the five poisons of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt, and make the world bright forever.
However, Loen shook his head and sneered:
"Bullshit! If you don't kill, the hatred will never end.
If I don’t accumulate wealth, what’s the difference between a strong or a weak person like me?
Do not commit adultery, all sentient beings are guilty of sin.
Don’t tell lies, dreams and illusions are empty.
Don't be greedy for wine, for you worry about the ups and downs of life.
Don't indulge in pleasure, youth and beauty are only fleeting.
If you don’t want to sleep, you will suffer and never be able to be free.
Without indulgence, all actions will be meaningless! "
This is a completely different view, even diametrically opposed.
The end point of hatred in ancient and modern times, both in China and abroad, is war and killing. Forbearance and forgiveness will only become a knot in the heart that cannot be overcome, and become a mouthful of bad anger that cannot be swallowed, which will never end. Only by killing the enemy can hatred be ended, and only by killing them all and killing them all, can the war end.
I am strong and you are weak, so naturally I have to demand from you. As a superior person, I have to step on those who are inferior to me in order to demonstrate my strength and make my hard work in becoming stronger worthwhile. If everyone is equal, why should I work hard to climb up?
If it is not for love between men and women, then all love in the world is false and a sin. How can offspring and bloodlines be reproduced?
Not boasting about myself is like not returning home after becoming rich and powerful, or wearing fine clothes and walking at night, how can I show my nobility?
If you are in pain and worry, don’t drink to calm down? How can you sleep at night? How can you get rid of stress? How can you get rid of worries? The only way to relieve worries is to drink!
Why not have fun while you are young and strong? Do you want to wait until you are old and sick to have fun? Will you still be able to play by then? Will you still have the interest to play? Will you still have the energy to play?
Even if you go to bed late and get up early every day and work hard, your life is still inevitable to enter aging and death. You will be tortured both mentally and physically. When will you be able to get rid of this pain?
If you don't indulge your desires and enjoy your hobbies, and you demand so much of yourself every day, what's the meaning and fun of this life?
Gautama frowned and asked:
"Then how do you think we can govern the world and quell the chaos?"
"Use war to stop war, use killing to stop killing, those who obey me will prosper, those who defy me will perish! Sweep away all injustices, and let the [capable ones] set the rules for all eternity!"
Loen answered in a domineering tone, with a hint of majesty emanating from him, making Pandora and Boros dare not look directly at him.
However, Gautama was like a swaying tree in the wind, his body still upright and his eyes still calm.
He picked up a flower and retorted in the same tone and sentence structure:
"Bullshit! What is a capable person? It's just that the winners are kings and the losers are bandits. It is because there are too many people with your thoughts that the world is so filthy. One person's greed affects ten or a hundred people; a hundred people's evil thoughts spread to thousands or tens of thousands of people.
Killing to stop killing, hatred will continue and will never end;
The upper class oppresses the lower class, and greed for wealth and accumulation of wealth are the beginning of injustice;
Due to the common karma of all living beings, the order of heaven and earth is out of balance, evil karma has become numerous, and the world has turned into a sea of suffering.
Therefore, we should see our nature and enlighten our mind, and realize it by ourselves. Then, from one to a hundred, from a thousand to ten thousand, until all living beings can put down their butcher knives, the sea of suffering in this world will become a holy land of bliss! "
Luo En was unmoved and sneered:
"Even if you can convince yourself, me, and everyone in the world, can you convince the powerful gods?"
"What about you? Even if you can kill thousands of people and wipe out all the injustices in the world, can you defeat these gods?"
"What if I can?" Lorne asked proudly.
"That's just a change of [master] for the [slave]."
The two looked at each other, and their gazes meeting in the air seemed to collide and create invisible sparks.
To put it bluntly, these are two completely different concepts.
One advocates ruling the world with authority, the other advocates influencing people with benevolence.
These two views are also imprinted in the doctrines of their respective sects.
The Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy says: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot."
The Buddhist scriptures say: Buddha’s compassion covers all living beings. He always seeks compassion for all living beings and saves them from all suffering.
But after staring at each other for a long time, the two seemed to understand something, and laughed at the same time, saying the same word:
"fart!"
Because neither of these two is a perfect solution.
The Canaanites were vindictive and followed the principle of revenge, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. They even claimed that they dared to "fight God." What was the result?
After wandering for thousands of years, it is difficult to find a place to stand, and now it still lives with the whole world as its enemies.
Similarly, Indian monks advocate tolerance and compromise and reject violence. What is the result?
Brahmanism, which had been suppressed for a thousand years, rose again and expelled these monks almost without bloodshed. Even the Nalanda Temple, which was regarded as a holy place by the monks, was burned down by the foreign invaders who invaded India.
But now, Gautama can’t even solve the crisis of the Sakya clan, so how can he persuade all living beings to lay down their butcher knives?
Therefore, any extreme path is doomed to fail.
Gautama put his hands together, as if he had realized something:
"I understand what the master meant. To be merciful, one must also use drastic measures!"
"That's right. The kingly way is the backbone, and the hegemonic way is the blade. If you want the world to be peaceful, you should first use the hegemonic way to eliminate injustice, and then use the kingly way to rule the world and bring peace to the people!"
Lorne smiled and nodded, giving his true opinion.
This view is also reflected in the changes in the Bible.
The Old Testament's requirement of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" for revenge did not improve the situation of the Canaanites, but the New Testament's Gospel of Matthew says, "But I tell you, do not resist one who is evil. But whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also." It requires believers to be tolerant and compromise and not to make enemies easily, but this has helped Christianity to prevail.
Of course, in addition to holding the Bible in one hand, those missionaries often held a sword in the other.
The combination of the two makes Christ the true King of kings.
At this moment, Luo En no longer concealed his feelings, and stood up and said:
"I can be a tyrant, I should conquer the world with my sword!"
Although he had a premonition in his heart, Gautama still couldn't help but be surprised:
"Your Excellency really wants to challenge the gods?"
The greatest power in the world is the gods who are endowed with power. At the same time, they are also the greatest injustice in the world and the source of most disputes and disasters.
The Indian gods regarded humans as cattle, horses and slaves, and divided them into four levels of caste system, which originated from the instructions of the gods in heaven.
Only by clearing out these [tyrants], big and small, can we create the soil for displaying [the kingly way].
"Why not?" Luo En smiled faintly and pondered, "If a god is killed, he will die too!"
"The same goes for you," Gautama reminded.
Luo En smiled nonchalantly and said, "Then let's see whose sword is sharper."
Then, he paused, and his true intentions became clear:
"But to educate the people and save all living beings, one must have a king."
"It's just a matter of changing the [master] for the [slave]. What's the difference between you and them? What's the meaning of everything?"
After listening to this, Gautama felt a little bored.
"No! In my opinion, this world does not need masters, let alone slaves! The gods belong to the gods, and humans belong to humans."
Luo En shook his head and said solemnly:
"So, the war between gods should be resolved by gods, and the future of mankind should be decided by mankind!"
This is an idea and a promise.
When Gautama heard this, his face changed instantly.
Since God has made the choice, humans should also have their own awareness.
If the world is a sea of suffering, I will practice the Mahayana Dharma and lead all living beings to the other shore.
After a while, he seemed to have made up his mind, knelt down under the Bodhi tree, put his hands together and chanted:
"If I attain the supreme Bodhi and become a fully enlightened being, the land I live in will be adorned with immeasurable and inconceivable merits and virtues, and will not contain any hells, hungry ghosts, animals, insects, or reptiles.
All sentient beings, as well as those in the Yama Realm and the three evil paths, will be reborn in my land and receive my teachings. They will all attain Anuttara Samyaksambodhi and will no longer fall into the evil paths. If this wish is fulfilled, I will become a Buddha. If this wish is not fulfilled, I will not attain the supreme enlightenment.
The Sanskrit chanting was solemn and majestic, the boundless starlight gathered, and a golden halo as bright as a lotus condensed behind Gautama's head.
Loen felt the sacred aura rising steadily, and couldn't help but think of some extremely outrageous practice settings in Indian mythology.
Asceticism and great aspirations.
Anyone who has practiced asceticism for decades can command (note that this is not begging) the high gods to bless them, which is actually making a wish, and the gods cannot even refuse. What's more, the power given by the gods can be greater than the power of the gods themselves. For example, if an ascetic asks the gods for invincibility, then this person will really be invincible and even the gods cannot defeat him.
Of course, this strategy is only applicable within the Indian Age of Gods. Therefore, the solution is often for Shiva to dance to restart the Indian Age of Gods, or for the gods to use various tricks to break the curse.
At this moment, under the Bodhi tree, Gautama made a lotus-shaped mudra with his hands and chanted more and more loudly:
"When I become a Buddha, all sentient beings in the ten directions who are born in my land will have bodies of purple gold, straight and clean, all of the same kind. If there are differences in appearance, such as beauty or ugliness, they will not attain enlightenment.
When I become a Buddha, all sentient beings born in my country will know their past lives, good and evil deeds for countless kalpas, and will be able to see and hear clearly, and know the past, present and future events in the ten directions. If I cannot fulfill this wish, I will not attain enlightenment.
When I become a Buddha, all sentient beings born in my country will be able to read other people’s minds. If I do not know the thoughts of sentient beings in hundreds of thousands of Buddha lands, I will not attain enlightenment.
When I become a Buddha, all sentient beings born in my country will obtain supernatural powers and the perfection of freedom in a single thought. Those who cannot travel through hundreds of thousands of Buddha lands and make offerings to all Buddhas will not attain enlightenment.
When I become a Buddha, all sentient beings who are born in my country will be free from discrimination and have their faculties calmed. If they do not decide to attain the perfect enlightenment and realize the great nirvana, they will not attain the perfect enlightenment.
When I become a Buddha, my light will be immeasurable, illuminating the ten directions, far superior to all other Buddhas, and a thousand million times brighter than the sun and the moon.
When I become a Buddha..."
Buddha means enlightenment.
As a prince born with early wisdom, Gautama was able to see his nature and understand his mind since he was a child. He began to practice cultivation at an early age and had already accumulated enough strength to ask God for blessings.
However, he did not appeal directly to the gods, nor did he fight for anything on his own behalf. Instead, he used himself as a medium to ask the heavens and the earth for a way of salvation for all living beings.
When the gods are at war, all living beings are suffering. We should use our bodies as a boat to carry everyone to the other shore.
Under the Bodhi tree, the enlightened people chanted forty-eight great aspirations, fully demonstrating their compassion and care for the world.
Gradually, the sky around him began to fall, golden lotuses emerged from the ground, strange visions appeared, and countless golden Sanskrit words floated and flashed around him.
Upon seeing this, Loen quickly set up a barrier to conceal the changes around him and prevent the situation here from being noticed by the Indian gods.
When the last ray of Sanskrit sound faded away, he looked at the figure under the Bodhi tree with a serious face:
"Everything has a price. You have made such a great wish, not asking God or others for help, but only asking yourself. Do you know the consequences of doing so?"
"To relieve the suffering of all living beings, I will not refuse even if I die a thousand times."
Gautama slowly opened his eyes, picked up a flower and smiled.
Those deep eyes seemed to be neither open nor closed, full of compassion and determination. The black hair behind his head was tied into buns under the guidance of some force, which reflected the golden halo behind his head, bringing indescribable peace.
Loen looked deeply at the enlightened one with a complicated look.
According to legend, after the Buddha Shakyamuni's Nirvana, he turned into several pieces of Buddha bones and 84,000 bead-shaped relics. It is no exaggeration to say that his body was shattered into pieces.
These relics were enshrined in pagodas by monks from all over the country, who chanted sutras day and night. As a result, they had the magical effect of cleansing the body and mind and warding off evil spirits. This swept away the unhealthy trends in India where demons and monsters were rampant, and brought a thousand years of stability to India, which is also called the [Dharma Age].
Perhaps, this is the answer he wanted, and it is also the cause and effect he created.
Lorne sighed and said no more.
And under the Bodhi tree, the enlightened person still sits cross-legged with his head bowed, continuing to comprehend the path he wants to take.
If I remember correctly, this meditation will take seven days and seven nights to complete.
After thinking for a moment, Loen looked at Boros and said:
"After Gautama wakes up, you will stay here, restore your real name, and help him spread Buddhism. You don't have to go back to Rome. I will explain to Alexandria."
Upon hearing this, Boros turned pale and knelt down in fear:
"My Lord, what have I done wrong?"
"No, I just want to give you and your family a great opportunity."
Lorne paused and said meaningfully:
"Under the Dharma, all beings are equal, without the shackles of caste, and everyone can be a king!"
Boros was slightly stunned, then he reacted, with a hint of excitement and excitement on his face.
He has no lack of talent, but his status as a pariah is a source of worry.
Under India's deeply rooted caste system, even if he could really make a name for himself, it would be difficult for him to become the leader of a country and be accepted by the majority of Indians.
But if we promote Buddhism, we advocate equality for all.
So what if he started out as a pariah?
The most important treasures of a country can only be possessed by those with talent and virtue!
If others can sit on the throne, why can't he?
Thinking of this, Boros could hardly contain his excitement and quickly assured:
"Sir, I will follow your instructions, promote Buddhism, and establish Buddhism as the state religion."
"You can't. It's not the right time yet."
Luo En shook his head lightly, opened the magic circle diagram, and handed over a golden secret ring:
"Give this to your grandson Ashoka, and he will complete your unfinished business."
In fact, Gautama was only the founder of Buddhist theory. It was Ashoka who truly regarded Buddhism as the "true Dharma" and spread it widely.
It is said that when King Ashoka was alive, Buddhism was introduced to Southeast Asia, Iran, Parthia and other places, and even reached as far as Egypt, where it was the most popular at that time.
The native Brahmanism in India was almost uprooted and suppressed for a full thousand years before it found an opportunity to turn around.
——Just... Ashoka? Grandson?
Just when Boros was confused, Loen walked up to him and pointed his finger at his forehead.
A series of real and fake images emerged in Boros' mind:
Because he stayed in India, he lived a poor life at first, but the help of a Brahmin named Qiaodiliya made his fortune. Qiaodiliya saw his talent and invested in him, helping him get his first pot of gold, and used the money to recruit an army. His leadership ability was put to good use, and he led his army to conquer all directions and conquered a large territory. He was called "Moon Guardian King"...
Later, his son Bindusara succeeded to the throne, consolidated the foundation, and continued to expand the territory.
When it came to his grandson Ashoka, the empire wiped out the sixteen powerful kingdoms, unified India, and became unprecedentedly powerful, known as the [Maurya Dynasty]!
As the last picture in his mind faded, Boros opened his eyes, and a hint of understanding gradually appeared on his face.
Just like the previous debate between these two people: In troubled times, one must first act in a hegemonic way and then govern with a kingly way.
At present, he has no foundation or achievements, the caste system is deeply rooted, and there are countless Indian gods overlooking the world. At this time, his delusion of adhering to the Buddhist Dharma of compassion and saving people is simply impossible to work.
Only by making gradual progress and pooling the efforts of three generations can we build the grand territory of the destined [Peacock Empire].
It seems that he can only make the beginning, and the time will not be truly ripe until his grandson Ashoka succeeds to the throne.
Looking at the somewhat lost Boros, Loen comforted him:
"Since King Ashoka, Buddhism has been accepted as the orthodox religion. The Maurya Dynasty was established and the world has been in the right path for a thousand years!"
"And then?" Boros asked.
"The Dharma Image lasts for a thousand years, and the Dharma Ending lasts for ten thousand years!"
When Boros heard this, his expression changed slightly:
"Sir, what is the [End of Dharma]?"
"The gods have disappeared, the Buddha has disappeared, the number of people who observe the precepts and practice is decreasing, and everything is dominated by ordinary people."
"That would be terrible!"
Boros was startled, his eyes filled with fear and worry about the future.
However, Lorne shook his head and said unexpectedly:
"On the contrary, when you no longer need to pray to the gods or rely on Buddha, you will be considered to have truly grown up. That means everyone can walk their own path and become their own [God]!"
After a pause, he murmured meaningfully:
"Similarly, an ideal and perfect world does not need any saviors or shepherds..."
Loen's unorthodox declaration, even pointing the gun at himself as a "God", made Boros confused and he didn't know how to respond for a moment.
Of course, his lack of understanding does not mean that he cannot hear God’s expectations and love for mankind in those words.
Boros' heart was filled with excitement. He immediately raised his right fist and hit his chest, solemnly promising:
"Please rest assured, I will never let you down and will never reveal anything about you!"
Really?
Probably true.
If I remember correctly, after completing the task of expanding the territory and passing the throne to his son, King Chandra gave up his wealth and glory, went into the jungle alone, and died of starvation according to Jain customs.
Loen took a deep look at the man in front of him, his eyes becoming a little softer.
Then, he looked toward the northern sky as if he had sensed something, and laughed loudly:
"Well, now that the previous part is done, let me start the game for you!"
Before he finished speaking, he pulled Pandora beside him and headed for the battlefield belonging to the Gods.
Buzz!
At the same time, a cluster of dazzling golden flames shot up into the sky from the north, and countless fire elves Ifrit flapped their wings and sang joyfully.
Immediately afterwards, Sanskrit sounds, sea tides, and beast roars rang out in three different eras of gods, echoing each other from afar.
The cold and murderous aura formed a black wave visible to the naked eye, completely tearing apart the chaotic fog that had already become extremely thin.
The last barrier between the Age of Gods was removed.
The battle of the gods has officially entered the countdown!
(End of this chapter)
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