Chapter 208: A verse from another world
It was sunset in the capital.
The flaming clouds on the horizon border the Qingming sky, creating an ink-like picture.
Zhao Duan rode a horse and looked at the monk in white in the center of the road ahead.
He is about thirty years old, with soft and handsome features, a calm expression, and eyes as clear as a baby under his slightly sparse eyebrows.
Zhao Duan has never seen Monk Bianji, but he has seen his portrait.
Coupled with this, the martial artist's instinctive warning for strong practitioners has already guessed 70% to 80%.
The next second, the monk in white clasped his hands together, confirming his guess:
"Amitabha, poor monk Bianji, is the White Horse Inspector Zhao Jun in front of you?"
…
…
A few moments.
In a simple and elegant pavilion on the street.
The waiter carefully served the plain tea cakes and said: "You two, please use it slowly."
Retreat slowly.
"Does the guy in this store know a mage?"
Zhao Duan lowered his eyes and looked at the brown tea soup in front of him, and saw ripples, and his facial features were reflected in the tea soup.
Just now, Bianji invited him to sit down and chose a nearby store on the grounds that they had met each other. The shopkeeper looked solemn and received him personally.
Bianji was sitting opposite him, his white monk's clothes not stained by dust, and a smile on his face:
"This place can barely be regarded as the property of Shenlong Temple."
Zhao Duan sighed:
"I've heard for a long time that the Shenlong Temple family has a great business and is making a lot of money every day. Not only in the capital, but also in various prefectural cities, they have shops. When I saw it today, the rumors are true."
Bianji just smiled and said: "It's just a trivial path, how can it be compared with what Zhao Shijun did?
On that day, at the Zhaiyuan Dharma Conference, the poor monk learned that I had been wronged. I wanted to mediate in person, but I regretted that I left early... I can only express my apology today..."
Zhao Duan smiled incomprehensibly:
"The Master's words have devastated me. As an official, I am only of the sixth rank.
As a practitioner, I am far away from the master. How dare I ask the master to apologize in person... What's more, this matter was done by Li Yinglong. How can I blame your temple? "
Well... I don't know whether Li Yinglong bribed some monks or someone took the initiative... In short, Shenlong Temple is partly responsible for the Zhaiyuan incident.
But as the saying goes, don't hit the smiling man. This well-known Buddhist strongman came to see him in person and made a gesture.
Regardless of whether you are sincere or not, at least you have an attitude.
"On the contrary, there is one thing that puzzles me. The Master is not specifically looking for me today, let's put it this way." Zhao Duan asked jokingly.
Bianji smiles gently, and he looks like a warm man:
"Oh? Why can't it just be acquaintance?"
Zhao Duan sighed:
"Although I have gained some fame during this period, compared with the Master, I am still nothing, especially with my reputation... Heh, I think the monks in your temple are more disgusted than curious."
The monks of Shenlong Temple have been disgusted with the kings of hell in Zhaoyamen for a long time.
It shows that Ma Yan is never invited.
With the respected status of Shenlong Temple, even the empress would have to give her full respect. It really made no sense to value him so much as a lackey.
Bian Ji slowly coiled a string of jade beads in his hands, but did not respond directly.
Those eyes that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts scrutinized him:
"You seem to have some resistance to my Buddhism?"
You're really good at judging people... Zhao Duan smacked his lips:
"It's not resistance, at most it's just that I don't agree with it."
"Oh?" Bian Ji looked curious, "I'd like to hear the details."
Zhao Duan hesitated for a moment. He was a little unsure of the other party's intention, so it was difficult to give the most appropriate response strategy.
But I also thought that 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 out.
He simply raised his hand, picked up the three upside-down tea bowls on the table, lined them up in a row, knocked them one by one with his chopsticks, and said: "Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism..."
The debater is very interested:
"Does the three bowls refer to the three martial arts? Your Majesty also has an opinion on this?"
He smelled something familiar: Buddhism teaches Dharma, and he likes to play Zen ji and play ji.
It is not only a game of wisdom, but also because many insights are difficult to convey in words.
Words are the carrier of incomplete thinking.
Many meanings lose their original meaning the moment they are turned into words.
Zhao Duan's movements were inexplicably like a monk playing riddles.
Ha... I knew that this way of speaking would be the most appealing to you bald guys... Zhao Duan tried it out a little, and it was very effective.
Then he picked up the teapot, poured roughly equal amounts of water into the three bowls one after another, and said:
"This is the saint, the Buddha, the way of heaven."
Bian Ji glanced at him in surprise and seemed to be a little more serious:
"Is a bowl of water a metaphor for the nature of meditation?"
Zhao Duan didn't answer, but tapped the edge of the tea bowl with chopsticks one after another. The water rippled with the clinking sound, and he said:
"This is human desire, various appearances, and temptations."
During these days, through conversations with Lao Wang, he gradually understood that, except for the extraordinary power of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in this world, the main purpose of his thoughts was not much different from that of his previous life.
So, I gave him room to talk...
Huh, no matter what the monk's intention is, he can't lose his momentum anyway.
Especially referring to Lao Wang's experience, Zhao Duan was wondering if he could trick the opponent once and get some benefits from Shenlong Temple...
Lao Wang is such a cheat, he prostituted him for nothing last time.
But Shenlong Temple is so rich, and this Bian Ji is also a well-known big shot. Different from the unknown casual officials like Lao Wang, he must be more shameless...
You shouldn't run away casually...right?
Copying the "Tao Te Ching" can get benefits from the Tianshi Mansion.
Is it possible to copy the Diamond Sutra and get some good stuff from Shenlong Temple?
At this moment, Monk Bianji didn’t know that the pretty boy sitting opposite was already preparing to trick him... He said with great interest: "Shijun’s words seemed to mean that the three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism Nothing more."
Zhao Duan shook his head and said: "If I stand outside the door and look at it, I feel that the three schools of learning are similar. But if I walk in, I feel that they are completely different."
He pointed to the first bowl:
"As for Confucianism, there is no mysterious and powerful power in cultivation. It is all about the knowledge of living in the world, cultivating loyalty, and being honest and sincere. At the most small level, it is for oneself to survive better in the world. At the most important level, it is to respect oneself and others. , Cultivating one person is cultivating tens of thousands of people.
What matters is that everyone has a saint in their heart.
It is nothing more than sweeping away the dust and polishing one's mind. Although it does not have the power of a warrior or the cunning of a sorcerer, it is beneficial to the world. If we talk about disadvantages, there are many, but it is good knowledge after all to exclude those corrupt scholars. "
He pointed to the third bowl:
"Taoist sects can form a sect. It's simple at first. It's just for 'seeking immortality'. Everyone wants to live, so they come to learn to cultivate their moral character. The so-called vitality, essence, spirit... in the final analysis, they are the same thing.
The flow is Qi, the gathering is essence, and when it is used wonderfully, it becomes a god. Pursue immortality, run towards the immortal, and ascend to immortality... This is the goal for those who seek immortality...
Of course, if you really delve into it, you may not care about immortality or not. Seeking the Tao itself is a pleasant thing. If you hear the Tao in the morning, you will die in the evening. This is the purpose that is born out of desire and no longer cares about it.
But even if you don't reach this level, you are just cultivating your magic power and seeking a long life. Although it is not as big as the Confucian school's ambition to serve the world, it is not perfect at all. It is just a personal pursuit, and 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..."
Bianji looked at him with a pleasant expression:
"Buddhism's way of saving oneself and others is not as good as Taoism's."
Zhao Duan carefully observed the other party's expression and carefully adjusted his words: "It's not 'not as good', it's just too heartless. Buddhism emphasizes compassion, but in my opinion, it's too cold.
The reason why Buddhism gathers together is that people's life in the world is too painful, and the world is like a sea of suffering, so they want people to cut off the seven emotions and six desires, just because the source of pain is the connection with others. If it is cut off, there will naturally be no more pain.
Therefore, if you cut off your parents and do not marry a wife, then your wife and children can also be cut off, and you still have your own desires, and you still have to cut off your own desires. If you become a monk and become a monk, you will cut off the three thousand troubles. This statement makes it clear that what you are shaving is not the hair. It is to cut off worries...
After getting started, you must abide by the rules and disciplines, and avoid greed, anger, and ignorance... You are also cutting off human desires... In the end, you will cultivate yourself into a cassock that has nothing to do with you and is the most ruthless.
As for saving all sentient beings, it is nothing more than pulling all sentient beings into Buddhism, allowing them to escape from the "sea of suffering" and become Buddhas together. They also promise reincarnation. If they become Buddhas, they will enter the Buddha's kingdom. If they fail to achieve success, they can still be reincarnated... Too tricky. "
Finished talking.
There was no anger on Bianji's face, just some surprise.
Although I had heard of many of this man's abilities before, they were only in tactics and country-governing strategies.
At most, someone with great talent for cultivation can be added.
In fact, there is not much reason for the defense machine to come here today.
It was more like his heart moved at will, and the Buddha's heart told him faintly that this famous "Master Zhao" was extraordinary.
So I simply came to see him.
But he never thought that the other party, a martial artist, would have such insights into the three schools of martial arts.
"The poor monk probably understands what Ambassador Zhao means."
Bian Ji has a gentle demeanor and sits upright.
Unknowingly, he elevated the person in front of him from an official to the level of a "destined person" who can talk about Taoism. He patiently explained: "It's just that you must have a deep misunderstanding of my Buddhism.
Those who have clear rules and precepts are just ordinary disciples who cannot keep the bowl of water in their hearts. They are often attached to various appearances, and their original hearts are dusty, so they have to use the precepts to forcibly help them get rid of them.
The envoy compares the original mind to a bowl of water, while the poor monk compares it to a bright mirror. The mirror is covered with dust, so it must be wiped diligently from time to time. If the disciple can abide by the original intention and keep the rules and precepts after entering the door, there is no need to abide by them...
This is the way to practice. As for the mysterious techniques, they are derived naturally after gaining wisdom, and there is no need to deliberately pursue them. "
After a pause, Bian Ji sighed again:
"However, although I have misunderstood, I already have wisdom based on these Buddhist speculations, but I don't know why I am still obsessed with fame and wealth. If I calm down and practice pure cultivation, I may achieve great achievements in the future. Wouldn't I be better than a powerful official in the world?" ?”
There was quite a sense of regret during the conversation.
Zhao Duan shook his head and said:
"What the mage said sounded nice, but what I saw was not like that."
"Oh? I'd like to hear the details."
"The Master said that ordinary people use precepts, but if they cultivate to a high place, they don't need to use them. Presumably, when they reach a high place, they also send and receive from the heart. Everything in the world is reflected in the mirror of the heart. They no longer cling to appearances, but Do you understand your true intentions?"
"That's natural."
Okay...that's what I was waiting for...Zhao Duan suddenly smiled half-heartedly and stared at the monk in white:
"Then I'm a little curious, Master, have you reached a high place?"
Bian Ji was startled.
Zhao Duan didn't wait for him to speak and continued:
"I heard that Master Xuanyin is a person whom Abbot Xuanyin relies heavily on. In his early years, he was famous all over the world for his saying, 'The grass will grow green when spring comes'. As for the cultivation of external forces, he has already reached the 'worldly' realm.
One step further up is His Majesty, Master Xuanyin, Master Zhang Tianshi, Wu Xiankui and others... In this case, Master, your cultivation skills must be high. "
Bianji nodded. At 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: "In that case, why is the Master still obsessed with the appearances?
In the Zhaiyuan Dharma Conference, celebrities from the capital were invited, and the master personally taught the Dharma. Is it to help the dignitaries of the capital escape from the "sea of suffering", or to build good relationships with Shenlong Temple? Fundraising for incense money?
Of course, Master, you may not come here for fame and fortune at all, but you have done these things for the survival of the temple. I dare to ask, Master, why are you still obsessed with the survival and prosperity of the temple? Isn’t it persistence? "
Bianji opened his mouth: "The poor monk is doing it for..."
Zhao Duan interrupted him and continued:
"The master just asked me again why I am so obsessed with fame and fortune, and don't cultivate my character, and talk about great achievements.
This is strange. If the master's heart is empty and he doesn't see all appearances, why do he only see me pursuing fame when he looks at me?
You persuade me to practice Qing Dynasty, but you only see great achievements? Aren’t these all ‘phases’? "
He pointed to the three bowls of water on the table:
"Master looks at me as if I were looking at this bowl of water. You look at me based on external rhetoric. When people say it's a bowl, you think it's a bowl. When people say it's water, you think it's water... Isn't this attachment to external appearance?"
Zhao Duan shook his head and sighed: "Master and other Buddhist masters, who are all about foreign ministers, still need to uphold the precepts. They only invite me to eat this vegetarian meal, and they are taboo about meat and fish... How can they talk about the heart being like a mirror?< br/>I’m afraid that the clear mirror in Master’s heart has been covered in dust for a long time. If a ‘master’ like Master is still like this, how can you make me believe that if you practice Buddhism to a high level, your mind will be as still as water?”
After a pause, he sighed deeply, shook his head and said:
"Master said that I have some resistance to Buddhism, that's why. Today I talked a bit too much, please don't blame me. In the end, I just want to send Master a verse, and that's my answer."
He paused and slowly said a famous sentence from the Diamond Sutra, the supreme Buddhist classic in his previous life: "All appearances are false; if you see all appearances that are not appearances, you will see the Tathagata."
Buzz——
At this moment, the tea set on the table suddenly trembled, violent ripples appeared in the three bowls of water, and water droplets splashed out.
Up and down the pavilion.
The guests who were dining here were shocked. They looked at the clinking cups and plates and felt the slightly shaking floor, and their expressions changed.
"Earthquake!"
Even the shopkeeper and the clerks downstairs were all very excited.
I thought that earthquakes rarely occur in the capital.
Even if there is, Tianshi Mansion will give a warning at least one day in advance. Why does it happen silently?
There were guests downstairs who were close to the door, and they had already fled out of the door, or crawled under the table, with frightened expressions on their faces.
Quack quack——
Rooftop.
A group of black crows standing on the eaves flew up in fear, hovering in the air and making an unpleasant cry.
"No, only this building is shaking!"
Someone with sharp eyes saw that everything was peaceful and peaceful outside the building.
…
Upstairs, at the table.
The gentleness and indifference finally disappeared from Bianji's face, his lips tightened, and he didn't say a word.
All appearances are false...
If you see that all forms are non-identical, you will see the Tathagata...
Only he knew that this was not an earthquake, just...
His heart is just moving.
The strong man's mind trembles, and the ground he stands on also sways.
Bianji closed his eyes and recited the meditation mantra silently, using magic power to stabilize the Buddha's heart, and the shaking building also calmed down.
"The poor monk lost his temper a little, which made you laugh."
Bianji clasped his hands together, opened his eyes, and regained clarity.
Damn it...I thought you were going to collapse the building...Are the warlocks in this world so scary? Clearly no traces of the spell were seen...
Zhao Duan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
Just listen to Monk Bianji say calmly:
"For your knowledge, this poor monk will receive instruction today."
…
Typos will be corrected first
(End of this chapter)