Chapter 1377: Chapter 621: Turning the Pharmacist and the Three Great Principles (Part 2)
But doing nothing is also a choice.
Congratulations to Liuli Buddha for his effective teachings.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Liuli Buddha."
The face of the Pharmacist Bodhisattva turned pale: "You want me to lure out the Master?"
Cheng Yun nodded gently.
After temporarily resolving the issue of Paradise Fragrance, Maitreya and the others naturally couldn’t let Liuli Buddha and the Jile Heavenly Girl off.
The Jile Heavenly Girl was easier to deal with, but the problem with Liuli Buddha was that he was hiding in Leiyin Temple and dared not come out.
Maitreya and Qingnv did not dare to go to that place, Leiyin Temple.
Therefore, the Great Leiyin Temple needed someone to lure him out, and the Pharmacist Bodhisattva was the best candidate.
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva’s expression kept changing and he was unwilling to agree.
Cheng Yun waited for a long time before finally saying: "It seems the Bodhisattva still doesn’t trust our Great Leiyin Temple."
"It’s not that I don’t trust..." the Pharmacist Bodhisattva seemed to want to explain.
"Are you aware that our Great Leiyin Temple’s elementary school opened?"
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva nodded.
"If the Bodhisattva is free, why not come with me to take a look?"
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva was startled, knowing that Cheng Yun still wanted to convince him, but what was the big deal about an elementary school?
Unexpectedly, Cheng Yun mysteriously added: "The Bodhisattva doesn’t know, but there’s a big event tonight."
"A big event?"
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva grew more curious, but Cheng Yun seemed intent on keeping it secret, only saying: "The Bodhisattva will know when you come with me."
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva pondered for a moment before finally nodding, quietly flying out of the Medicine Buddha Hall with Cheng Yun.
There were four elementary schools of the Great Leiyin Temple in Pharmacist City, one each in the east, west, south, and north, mainly for the convenience of children’s education.
The two of them concealed their figures and flew into the elementary school in the north city.
The architectural style of this elementary school was something the Pharmacist Bodhisattva had never heard of. Upon entering, there was a two-acre martial arts field on the left and a six-story building on the right, each floor with stone railings, and behind the railings were classrooms filled with children.
"There aren’t many children in the city anymore," Cheng Yun sighed, "We’re taking in all under sixteen who are illiterate, just enough to fill the four buildings."
A look of embarrassment flashed across the Pharmacist Bodhisattva’s face.
Both of them knew why there weren’t many people.
The sound of a bell broke the awkward silence between them.
One by one, figures entered the classrooms and stood on the podium, clearly the teachers of the elementary school.
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva was taken aback.
These people had cultivation!
Even teaching children to read required cultivators?
"Is the Great Leiyin Temple so well-staffed?"
Cheng Yun thought for a moment and explained: "According to the studies of the Nine Mountains Immortal Court, for disciples below the Nascent Soul, learning before the age of sixteen is very important."
"Therefore, the quality of elementary school teachers is crucial."
This point has been observed in the modern world as well.
Simply put, cultivators can improve their physical conditions through cultivation.
The adolescent period is when the neurons in the human body are most active, and learning during this time greatly affects the ratio of successful cultivators—because large-scale neural system transformation, apart from Spirit Root modification, has to wait until the Nascent Soul or even Divinity Transformation.
Therefore, cultivation before the Nascent Soul period heavily relies on early knowledge reserves.
Indeed, a comparison between the two worlds shows that modern people wanting to cultivate need at least a bachelor’s degree, and their success rate is slightly higher than that of Nine Mountains Immortal Court.
Thus, the Nine Mountains Immortal Court is also undergoing reforms, preparing to conduct scientific education before letting disciples enter the path.
Emphasis on elementary schools is also increasing daily.
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva naturally didn’t quite understand.
Cheng Yun thought of another reason: "Also considering employment, well, we just have a lot of cultivators."
"..."
Not only do modern cultivators abound, but Nine Mountains Immortal Court also has many cultivators.
...
At this moment, in the classroom closest to them, the disciple from the Great Leiyin Temple began to speak: "Please open ’Great Leiyin Temple Buddhism Simplified Meaning,’ start with the first Chapter, and read along with me."
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva watched for a while, then turned to Cheng Yun and asked: "Aren’t you afraid the children won’t understand when you use Buddhist doctrines to teach them to read?"
"That’s why it’s called Simplified Meaning."
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva frowned.
Buddhist scriptures and Buddhist doctrines are two different things.
Most followers can chant sutras, but when it comes to literacy, very few can manage it. If they want to excel in doctrines—not many Leiyin Temple disciples can do it.
"The content of the first Chapter is the three main principles of Maitreya."
"The first principle is that all beings have Buddha-nature, Maitreya doesn’t ask the background of beings, only their actions."
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva was slightly startled but heard the teacher ask the students:
"Do you know what this sentence means?"
These children obviously didn’t understand much, shaking their heads.
The teacher continued: "This sentence is actually very simple. Everyone, like you Liu Xiaohu, Juanjuan, has Buddha-nature."
The child named Liu Xiaohu became excited: "Teacher, what is Buddha-nature?"
"Buddha-nature means the possibility of becoming a Buddha."
"Can I become a Buddha too?"
"Of course, this means anyone can become a Buddha."
The children in the classroom couldn’t help but stir with excitement. They were shy, dared not whisper, only eagerly watching the teacher.
"Do you want to know how to become a Buddha?"
"Yes!"
"This is the second sentence, becoming a Buddha doesn’t depend on your background, who your parents are, only on what you’ve done, understand?"
"Understood!"
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva opened his mouth, knowing the Great Leiyin Temple had already hollowed out the foundation of Leiyin Temple with this first principle.
Leiyin Temple pays great attention to origins, especially past lives, for example, a reincarnated Buddha, once regaining their Dharma Image, is still a Buddha.
Therefore, the teachings of Leiyin Buddhism do not believe that everyone can become a Buddha.
The teacher naturally did not know the thunderous shock in the Pharmacist Bodhisattva’s heart and continued:
"Do you want to become a Buddha?"
The children shouted loudly: "Yes!"
The teacher smiled gently.
"To become a Buddha, you must follow the second principle, which is altruism and symbiosis, both compassion and wisdom."
"This principle tells us how to act to become a Buddha."
"Self-benefit is learning, seeking wisdom, for example, you attending elementary school is cultivation, understand this?"
"Altruism is helping others, only by achieving both can you become a Buddha."
"Simple? Understand it?"
The children in the classroom nodded one after another.
"Now let’s look at the third principle, dependent origination, emptiness of nature, equality of all beings, impermanence of all laws."
At this point, the teacher’s tone became solemn as he slowly said:
"This principle is the most difficult, but you must remember, we have a final exam, and this will definitely be tested."
The children did not understand much, just looked at the teacher in bewilderment.
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva muttered this sentence quietly, familiar with the first four words.
This is the fundamental doctrine of Leiyin Buddhism, which boils down to the belief that all things are composed of various conditions, and the essence of matter is emptiness.
This is the core concept of the Thunder Sound Buddha’s Way of Cause and Effect.
But the last eight words... shouldn’t be told to these children, or any mortal.
He heard the teacher use a few examples to slightly explain what dependent origination, emptiness means, then said:
"Since everything is empty, then my essence and your essence, isn’t there no difference? It’s just our experiences that make us different?"
Some children still seemed confused.
Some nodded their heads.
Then the teacher continued: "Now think, is Maitreya Buddha, or any other Buddha, different from you?"
The Pharmacist Bodhisattva remained silent, realizing this was an easily drawn conclusion.
"Therefore, you and the Buddhas are actually the same, all beings are equal."
The classroom was silent, every child was startled by this statement.
"So what is the impermanence of all laws?" the teacher slowly said: "Since everything is empty, Buddhist teachings will also vanish, so if anyone tells you that his teachings are never wrong, even the best forever, those are lies."
"Has Maitreya gone mad?" the Pharmacist Bodhisattva couldn’t help but angrily say to Cheng Yun, "Do you...truly know what you’re teaching?"
