Chapter 4743 Buddha’s Heart and Nature
Yin Wenchao said: "It is said that it was the initiative of Shangshu Youpu She and Yue Guo Gongfangjun. All the ministers unanimously seconded the proposal, and His Majesty approved it. He ordered Jingzhao Yin Mazhou to take the lead in pilot implementation within the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Mansion to select the pros and cons and explore the advantages and disadvantages. , and then perfect it and implement it throughout the world.”
"Emperor Taizong once praised his second son as a 'talented prime minister', but he did not expect that he would have such decisive courage in just a few years. It is a blessing to the empire to have another capable minister in the court."
Yin Wenchao nodded. A "technical" talent like him was astonishing to Fang Jun. His compilation and dissemination of "Mathematics", "Geometry", "Physics" and other subjects have long been regarded as a model by knowledgeable people all over the world.
"If before this, I definitely advocated fighting this decree, Buddhism has far surpassed our Taoism. Now that the tax rate is increased and all are treated equally, wouldn't we be even weaker? But now that we have decided to use knowledge as the inheritance of Taoism, then It doesn’t matter how much land you have or how many believers you have, you just need to stick to the upper class route. Besides, I heard that this time the tax reform is not just about increasing the tax rate, but about determining the tax rate based on the amount of land.”
Cheng Xuanying was stunned for a moment, thinking about the key point. Although he claimed to be a monk, he was not indifferent to the world, and he knew a lot about the world's major events.
The current tax system implemented in the Tang Dynasty is "rent-yong modulation". To put it bluntly, it is a two-way tax on land and population. The basis of land taxation is the "equal land system". However, not long after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the land annexation situation across the country has become very serious. The first "Measurement of the World's Land" controlled by Xu Jingzong It is estimated that a large number of fields have been annexed and occupied by aristocratic families. Countless farmers have become "without permanent property" and have to depend on the aristocratic families, either as tenants or as donations. The land on the books has been greatly reduced, not only These farmers who lost their land were living in dire straits, which led to a significant reduction in state tax collection.
If all those messy things were cut off and only one criterion was left: to pay taxes based on the amount of land and the quality of the soil, wouldn't everyone be happy?
The court does not have to go to great lengths to monitor whose name the land belongs to. It only needs to ensure that the aristocratic families do not hide the land.
People do not have to worry about losing their land. People who lose their land can go to the city to work, and can rely on aristocratic families to rent land for farming. They will not have to pay land taxes without having land...
"If this method is implemented all over the world, the prosperous age can last for hundreds of years! Fang Jun's strategy is enough to be famous in history."
Cheng Xuanying was very impressed.
Yin Wenchao asked: "Do we Taoists respond to the imperial policy?"
Cheng Xuanying smiled and said: "As you said, we are not satisfied with the world occupying famous mountains and rivers to build temples, and we do not fool the people to harvest believers. Why do we need so much money? We just need to be ruthless and take root in learning. Don’t worry about anything else.”
Compared with the prestigious and influential "state religion" status, the actual registered Taoist priests are far unable to match the huge size. This is also the reason why Taoism is at a disadvantage in the competition with Buddhism. The threshold of Taoism is too high. Yes, you can't just enter if you want to.
The small number of people means low expenses. Taoists do not have the habit of building Taoist temples on a large scale and frequently painting gold dust on gods. The industry they own can fully support the normal operation of the entire Taoist sect.
Yin Wenchao also had this intention: "This time, in order to help Taoism boost its momentum, His Majesty built many Taoist temples in and outside Chang'an. Once completed, Taoists will no longer easily build Taoist temples."
Cheng Xuanying nodded repeatedly: "That's exactly what it should be!"
*****
The predecessor of Daci'en Temple was the Jingjue Temple built during the reign of Emperor Daowu of the Northern Wei Dynasty. It was later destroyed in the war. In the former Sui Dynasty, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty rebuilt the Wulu Temple on the original site, but it was also dilapidated in the war.
Today, Daci'en Temple has been rebuilt on the site of Wulu Temple. Its scale and regulations are the first in the world. "Aragonite, osmanthus, oak camphor, and palm are used as materials, and pearls, jade, paintings, ocher, and gold are used as decorations." There are nearly 1,900 buildings in the temple, with "double towers and halls, and cloud pavilion bridal chambers."
When Master Xuanzang returned to Tianzhu to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures, he gathered Buddhist monks from all over the world who were proficient in Sanskrit and had profound Buddhist teachings to translate the Tianzhu Buddhist scriptures, thus becoming the center of Buddhism in the world.
On the left side of the courtyard, hidden among the towering ancient trees, is the core area of Da Ci'en Temple: the Sutra Translation Courtyard.
In the afternoon, the dense branches and leaves of towering ancient trees cover the sky and the sun. In midsummer, the ground is covered with dense shade and the air is cool. Only the chirping of cicadas from time to time among the treetops breaks the tranquility of the temple, and the dense fragrance of tea wafts from the open windows. Outside, the birds perched among the branches and leaves fluttered their wings and chirped.
In the monastery, Xuanzang, who was dressed in moon-white monk robes, sat cross-legged on a futon with his eyes slightly closed. Opposite him, an old monk wearing a hundred-pin robe sat on his knees with a sad face, looking leisurely and contented. He was the one who had appeared in Monk Yibao from Lishan Farm.
Another monk sat across from the two of them. He had a handsome face and fair skin. He looked close to his fifties, but his brows were clear and bright, and his eyes were piercing, making it difficult to estimate his exact age for a while...
The monk was enjoying himself while holding a cup of tea.
There were several cicadas chirping outside the window. Yibao raised his hand to pour tea into the monk's cup and asked with a smile: "Is this tea suitable for senior brother's taste?"
The monk smiled brightly, showing his white teeth, and his voice was as clear and clear as the tinkling of spring water, which was very pleasant to the ear: "Although it is my first time to drink fried tea, the way of frying tea is bitter at first and then sweet. Just as we practitioners have experienced, in this life Bitterness, sweetness in the next life, no fear of hardship, sweetness like sweetmeat, the person who invented this kind of calligraphy must have a clear Buddha nature and a deep root of wisdom."
Yibao was slightly startled: "Senior brother, you have never tasted fried tea?"
The monk's smile became brighter: "A poor monk lives in Shuangfeng Mountain. He has not set foot in the mortal world for twenty years. He listens to the master's teachings and is inspired by the Dharma. He is immersed in it and cannot extricate himself. How can he have the mind to pay attention to such things? ?”
Yi Bao sighed to himself: "Senior brother is devout to the Buddha, and he has fulfilled the mantle of Daoxin Zen Master. One day he will definitely be able to establish a sect and promote Buddhism."
Hearing the monk talk about "Master", Xuanzang, who had been keeping his eyes closed, opened his eyes and asked softly: "When he was young, he once walked on thousands of mountains and traveled thousands of rivers to Shuangfeng Mountain to pay homage to Zen Master Gai Daoxin. , under the guidance of a Zen master, many things that I had not understood in the past suddenly became clear. After several years of practice, After tempering my mind, I embarked on a journey to seek Buddhahood in Tianzhu. I have always been grateful to the Zen Master. However, I was in a hurry to translate the sutras and had no time to go to Shuangfeng Mountain to pray. I was in a state of panic and could not rest my head at all times... I wonder how the Zen Master is doing? ”
This monk is naturally Hong Ren, a direct disciple of Zen Tao Xin...
Hongren clasped his hands together, suppressed his smile, and said respectfully: "Master is quiet and inactive, and has superb Buddhist teachings. He has already transcended the world. His skin is like the mist that gathers in the morning and disperses in the evening, which is not enough to linger in his heart."
Xuanzang and Yibao were in awe of Hongren. Although they had only heard of Hongren's name and met him for the first time, looking at his expression, demeanor, speech and behavior, one could tell that this man was a man of profound Buddhist practice and worthy of being the successor of Zen Master Daoxin. It is said that Zen Master Daoxin intends to pass on Fuyi Dharma and let him take over the Zen lineage...
Yibao couldn't help but ask: "Senior brother, I came down to Beijing this time to unite Buddhists to participate in a grand event. I wonder if you have any advice?" He sighed and said helplessly: "At present, the Taoists are pushing each other hard, and with the help of the royal family, they are even more evil. The flames are so high that if Buddhism cannot properly handle it, its influence will inevitably weaken, resulting in a sharp decline in believers. It will be difficult to compete with it. ”
Xuanzang frowned: "As long as the Buddha's Dharma is clear and the Buddha's light is universal, and believers will gather to defend the Buddha and protect the Buddha, why bother trying to put the cart before the horse?"
He does not take seriously the current competition between Buddhism and Taoism. The same rice can support hundreds of people. Since there is Buddhism and Taoism in the world, and their beliefs and doctrines are quite different, it is natural and understandable to believe in Buddhism or to worship Taoism. There is nothing more that can be done. It is just to promote Buddhism and educate believers. If it is to compete with Taoism and fight tit for tat in order to win over believers, then what is the point of winning over these believers?
Yi Bao doesn't think so: "The conflict between Buddhism and Taoism is not an example of this. Since ancient times, once Taoism wins and Buddhism is defeated, it will be massacred. Has the master forgotten the tragedy that happened during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty recorded in the Buddhist scriptures? More than 40,000 temples were destroyed, and 300 temples were destroyed. Tens of thousands of monks and nuns were ordered to return to secular life, the wealth accumulated by Buddhism for hundreds of years was wiped out, the Buddha fell into the wild, and his golden body was broken into pieces... The master braved the difficulties to obtain the true scriptures from Tianzhu, which shocked the world and boosted the reputation of Buddhism. Emperor Taizong even ordered the construction of the Great Ci'en Temple. However, even so, it was far from being restored to its former glory. If it was suppressed by Taoism at this time, If Buddhism is unlikely to find an opportunity to turn around within a hundred years, how can it glorify its ancestral home and promote Buddhism? ”
Behind every large-scale "extermination of Buddhism" there is a vague shadow of Taoism. The so-called "quiet and inaction" and "naturalness" are just a cover for Taoism to fool the people. Those Taoist priests can marry wives and have children after practicing, and have endless worldly relationships. With six impure roots, how can it be possible to "evolve and ascend" and "land in the fairy world?"
Xuanzang sighed and shook his head: "The lifelong wish of this poor monk is to translate Buddhist scriptures and promote Buddhism. Such trivial matters should not touch me."
I have no interest in getting involved in your pursuit of fame and fortune. I just want to quietly translate Buddhist teachings and don't bother me.
Yibao looked at Hongren again.
After Emperor Yuwen Yong of the Northern Zhou Dynasty destroyed Buddhism, Seng Can fled to the south and lived in seclusion with his second ancestor Hui Ken. He traveled between Sikong Mountain and Tianzhu Mountain for fifteen years, which made "Zen" popular in the south and had great influence. Later, Seng Can His disciples are more faithful to the Taoism than their predecessors, and the Shuangfeng Mountain where they live is even recognized as the "Ancestral Court of Buddhism in the South." If there is the support of Hong Ren, Buddhism can at least be in an invincible position. However, Hong Ren smiled and shook his head: "This time when I went north to Beijing, I participated in grand Buddhist events such as the Obon Festival, and on the other hand, I was entrusted by my master to give Sun Simiao the prescription for treating the plague and the mustard cake that can cure scabies. Ignore all other mundane matters.”