Chapter 360: Chapter 210: The Debate on Zen and an Earthshaking Scheme
Xiuxin’s attempt to unite with Xiuzhu was naturally within Chen Kuang’s expectations.
With Chen Kuang’s current reputation in the Pure Land, his debate on spiritual cultivation with Xiuzhu would soon spread throughout the Jie Lan Temple.
It would naturally reach Xiuxin’s ears as well.
And the difference in their viewpoints was also deliberately orchestrated by Chen Kuang... However, the one debating with him that day was not the sinister second personality, but Xiuzhu himself.
This young monk’s comprehension and innate wisdom truly embodied a natural Buddhist nature. Chen Kuang originally intended to discuss with that second personality afterward, using the verse exchange between Shenxiu and Huineng to astonish the monks of Jie Lan Temple and achieve his purpose.
Unexpectedly, with just a slight nudge from Chen Kuang, Xiuzhu immediately came up with a similar perspective on his own.
This saved Chen Kuang a lot of effort.
The body is the Bodhi Tree, the mind a bright mirror stand. Constantly dust them off, do not let them gather dust.
Bodhi is originally without a tree, the bright mirror also not a stand. Fundamentally there is not a thing; where can dust collect?
These two lines are words of a high monk. Chen Kuang didn’t find them to be a matter of right or wrong, but the latter’s realm is clearly on a higher level, representing the division of Lesser and Greater Vehicles.
The former focuses solely on personal cultivation, while the latter already considers the self as nothing, without barriers with nature and all things, and even integrates into one, embodying true great compassion and great mercy.
Yet in Cangyuan, the current Pure Land hasn’t made such distinctions.
Because in this world, there truly is a Buddha, and it is truly possible to become a Buddha...
Therefore, the belief of most monks is to first complete their self-cultivation, attain great divine power, and great wisdom, before they can further liberate all beings.
These two lines, in fact, cannot really be ranked in superiority.
And Chen Kuang’s objective was originally not to use this to gain fame—his high-profile act of practicing Buddhism while keeping his hair has already made him quite famous as Buddha’s Son.
His real goal was to make Xiuxin realize that he and those three demons were in cahoots.
And at the same time, to hint at the thoughts of these three demons.
Chen Kuang was brought back with the strong support of three Great Zen Masters; his ideas largely represent the current mindset of the three Great Zen Masters.
Moreover, after the debate ended, everyone in Jie Lan Temple knew that the three Great Zen Masters highly appreciated Chen Kuang’s views and criticized Xiuzhu’s ideas as too idealistic, very self-centered, and arrogant.
But as Buddha’s Son, Xiuxin would naturally quickly grasp the true meaning behind it.
What Chen Kuang explained was actually what had happened in the Pure Land during this period.
The sudden seven-day indulgence feast, making monks develop secular thoughts, what was the reason?
It surely wasn’t because the three Great Zen Masters openly led this to disrupt the rules, provoke the monks to break commandments, and disturb their Buddhist hearts!
Then what was it for?
It was in this debate that Chen Kuang said, it is necessary to refine the heart in the mundane world, to cleanse the spirit, in order to elevate one’s realm further!
During the debate, Chen Kuang cited the example of Lion Heart.
Look, Buddha’s Son Lion Heart, Profound Profound Realm, a Half-Saint on the verge of sainthood, isn’t his perception high enough? Isn’t his realm strong enough?
Yet upon entering the mundane world, he didn’t die at the hands of some master but had his Dao Heart broken by a two-year-old child.
What an enlightening example.
Lion Heart, growing up in the Pure Land, underestimated the ugliness and murkiness of human hearts in the external mundane world, which led to the tragedy.
Nowadays, the Pure Land is mostly closed off from the outside world. All the monks, though bathed in pure Buddhist light and having the deepest insights into Buddhist Teachings.
But without entering the mundane world, there is naturally no empathy with all beings, so how can they liberate all?
Once they come into contact with the mundane turbid world, isn’t it likely that they will be corrupted first?
Therefore, noticing this, the three Great Zen Masters decided to conduct a "mundane heart refinement" trial for the disciples of the Pure Land.
The seven-day vegetarian feast was just a small test.
Those monks who broke commandments afterward were actually not sincere enough in their inclination to Buddha, their minds not strong enough, hence being crushed by this small test and immediately becoming captives of desire.
This precisely illustrates that the Great Zen Masters’ actions are wise!
And the three Great Zen Masters naturally went along with this explanation.
In an instant, the monks who originally had some dissatisfaction and suspicion suddenly understood and realized the profound intentions of the Great Zen Masters.
It turns out the Great Zen Masters are testing us!
However, with Xiuxin’s intelligence, how could he not know the danger contained in this.
If this is just a beginning... the Pure Land will only become more indulgent, and this will happen under the indulgence of the Great Zen Masters.
This is a terrifying thing.
It is called a test, but without external rules to restrain those whose cultivation is not complete, it would ultimately evolve into a disaster.
The rule, the discipline.
The restraint of self, the admonishment of desire, these are precisely what Buddhist Teachings need to achieve, requiring not only inward aspiration but also external guidance in cultivation.
Once left unchecked, the consequences are unimaginable.
Even if a wandering monk goes into the mundane world, there are still worldly rules to restrict their actions.
But the Pure Land is different.
The Pure Land is a place with few secular rules, everything is restrained only by the two words, Buddhist Teachings.
Now, once doing something contrary to Buddhist Teachings, it means losing all control.
Xiuxin believes the three Great Zen Masters have no reason not to know this, but why do they still do this?
He naturally harbors immense doubt in his heart.
This...
This is fundamentally shaking the foundation of the entire Pure Land!
Therefore, Xiuxin became so anxious to seek out Xiuzhu, who proposed a thought aligning with his and diverging completely from Chen Kuang and the Great Zen Masters’ views, to ally with him.
Xiuzhu listened to Xiuxin’s thoughts, nodded, and smiled, saying:
"I see, I understand."
Xiuxin hastily said: "Brother Xiuzhu, you are the one with the deepest innate wisdom in nearly a century, naturally you can understand the fear within, at this point, only you and I can oppose the three Great Zen Masters."
Xiuzhu nodded again: "I know, what do you plan to do, senior brother?"
Xiuxin pursed his lips, seeming to make a decision, saying:
"Let’s go to the Great Zen Masters to advise them, tell them this is absolutely unfeasible!"
Xiuzhu stared at him for a while, but shook his head: "No."
Xiuxin was taken aback, saying: "Junior brother, are you afraid? It doesn’t matter, then we’ll say it was my idea, and not mention anything, the Great Zen Masters have always favored you, they definitely won’t blame you..."
"I mean."
Xiuzhu smiled and said: "With our mere words, how can we sway the three deeply versed Great Zen Masters? If they insist on going their way, how can we alone be effective?"
Xiuxin suddenly felt a sense of foreboding: "Then what do you mean?"
Xiuzhu leisurely said: "If the three Great Zen Masters suddenly pass peacefully, the Pure Land would naturally be under our say."
