333: Discussing the Dao with Buddha

Buddha Jingkong's single phrase, "This question is already close to the Dao," instantly froze the hall's doubts and anger, turning into a dead silence of astonishment.

Everyone's gaze towards Xiao Zhuo completely changed, from anger and disdain to deep reverence and disbelief. To receive such an evaluation from Buddha Jingkong, his Realm was already unfathomably profound!

Above the lotus platform, the approving smile on Buddha Jingkong's face did not recede. His clear eyes seemed to penetrate Xiao Zhuo's question itself, seeing the profound insight into the essence of the Great Dao contained behind it.

"Layman's Wisdom Eye, piercing the subtle and profound," Buddha Jingkong's voice remained peaceful, yet carried a penetrating power that pointed directly to the Origin. "'Breaking' and 'Establishing,' 'Attachment' and 'Emptiness,' seem to be opposites, but are in fact illusions that arise and continue from each other, like the moon in the water, a flower in a mirror, all are appearances born from the discrimination of consciousness."

He did not directly answer Xiao Zhuo's "how to truly break," but instead changed the subject, plucking a flower with his finger. A phantom golden lotus bloomed, withered, and then dissolved into points of light, cycling repeatedly:

"If the world is attached to 'breaking,' it falls into the appearance of 'breaking attachment;' if attached to 'emptiness,' it gives rise to the obstacle of 'stubborn emptiness.' The 'breaking attachment' mentioned in our Buddhist Heart Lamp Sutra is not an attachment to breaking, nor an attachment to establishing a 'heart lamp' that exists eternally without perishing. Its true meaning lies in 'illumination.'"

"Illuminating the arising and ceasing of various attachments, like watching clouds roll and unroll, neither resisting nor retaining. Illuminating that the 'heart lamp' also arises from the combination of Destiny, and will eventually have a time of extinction, understanding that this 'lamp' is also a raft for crossing the river; once the other shore is reached, the raft should be abandoned. This 'illumination' itself is the beginning of liberation, and also the true meaning of 'breaking'—breaking free from the bondage of all names and forms, rather than creating another layer of bondage."

A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Zhuo's eyes.

Buddha Jingkong's answer confirmed some of his conjectures and provided a completely new perspective—including the process of "breaking" itself within the scope of "observation," maintaining a transcendent state of awareness, without falling into either extreme.

This had a similar effect to his Dao Principle of Freedom's pursuit of "a mind without hindrance, thoughts moving freely" on the level of "non-stagnation."

"What the Buddha calls 'illumination,' clarifying the mind and seeing one's nature, is indeed the ultimate truth." Xiao Zhuo nodded slightly, then changed the subject, expounding on his own Dao, "However, what I cultivate is freedom and following the heart, not clinging to things, nor clinging to 'emptiness.' The function of this Heart Lamp's illumination, for me, can be to adopt its ability to 'observe and clarify' and integrate it into my own Dao Heart."

"Using my True Intent as the foundation, incorporating the wisdom of 'illumination' as a mirror, reflecting the myriad phenomena of the mind's lake, all delusive thoughts and attachments are like floating clouds passing by the eyes; thoughts arise without following, thoughts cease without pursuing. The mind's thoughts flow, naturally true, not seeking externally, not establishing a lamp, yet the mind is naturally clear. This 'Free and Clear Mind' Realm, neither breaks nor establishes, neither attaches nor empties, exists only in the present, a single thought of purity."

Xiao Zhuo's voice was not loud, yet it contained a unique Dao rhyme, distinctly different from the Buddhist light permeating the hall, yet equally profound and vast.

A wisp of clear light flowed around his fingertip, at times transforming into thunder and lightning, fierce and swift. At other times, it became spatial ripples, mysterious and unfathomable.

At other times, it transformed into Soul fluctuations, deep and ineffable. Finally, it returned to a state of clear emptiness, as if encompassing wan fa (myriad laws) yet independent of them.

Within this clear light, a trace of the "illumination" mentioned by Buddha Jingkong was subtly integrated, making it even more harmonious and unimpeded, indestructible.

He was not simply copying Buddhist teachings, but rather using their essence as nourishment to nurture, strengthen, and validate his own Dao Principle of Freedom!

He took its use as a "bright mirror" to forge the foundation of "freedom."

Buddha Jingkong looked at the clear light on Xiao Zhuo's fingertip, which contained multiple Dao Origins, integrated the essence of Buddhist "illumination," and ultimately returned to free and clear emptiness. The ancient well-like calm of his mind finally stirred with genuine ripples, and his eyes revealed an unprecedented solemnity and admiration.

"Good! Very good!" Buddha Jingkong praised twice, "Layman's Dao, embracing all rivers, integrating and connecting, has already grasped the true meaning of 'wan fa (myriad laws) return to one, one returns to freedom.' This 'Free and Clear Mind' method, unconventional and pointing directly to the true nature, even this old monk feels suddenly enlightened upon hearing it, as if seeing a new heaven!"

The debate between the two great powerful beings had long transcended the arguments of scriptures and risen to the validation and Fusion of the Dao Origin.

Everyone in the hall listened in a fog, finding it unfathomably profound and mysterious, but the interwoven collision of the Dao rhyme and Buddhist rhyme that pointed directly to the heart made their minds sway, as if they had glimpsed the threshold of a higher Realm. Although they did not understand why, they benefited greatly.

The earlier accusations against Xiao Zhuo had long vanished, leaving only deep reverence.

This debate did not last long, but every word was a gem, and the Concept was lofty.

Finally, the two looked at each other and smiled, everything unspoken.

Buddha Jingkong gained some insight into Xiao Zhuo's Dao of "freedom," which also touched upon his Buddhist cultivation.

Xiao Zhuo, on the other hand, successfully refined and integrated the essence of Buddhist "Heart Lamp illumination," elevating the mental defense and clarity of his own Dao Principle of Freedom to a higher level, creating the prototype of the "Free and Clear Mind" method, which also improved his mental state.

"Layman Xiao's Dao is profoundly mysterious, and forming this good Destiny with Great Brahma Sound Temple is a blessing for Buddhism," Buddha Jingkong said solemnly, with his palms pressed together.

"Buddha's Buddhist teachings are profound, and I, Xiao, have also learned much. If Destiny allows, we shall discuss the Great Dao again another day," Xiao Zhuo also replied with a smile.

A few days later, Xiao Zhuo, accompanied by Wang Xianzhi and his/her siblings, left Jialuo City under the personal escort of Buddha Jingkong.

At the mountain gate of Great Brahma Sound Temple, Jingkong watched the dark gold tower ship transform into a streak of light and disappear into the sky. In his hand, he twirled a peculiar jade talisman, a parting gift from Xiao Zhuo, which contained a trace of Free and Easy True Intent and the Dao of Thunder. He softly chanted a Buddhist mantra, then turned and returned to the temple, his back seeming a few shades more transparent than usual.

The tower ship traversed the vast sea of clouds in the Immortal Realm, heading towards a wider world.

Time flew by, and another ten years passed.

Xiao Zhuo traveled with the Wang Siblings across several great continents, experiencing the different customs, unique mountains, and strange waters of the Immortal Realm, and also encountered some minor disturbances, all of which he resolved effortlessly.

Under Xiao Zhuo's guidance, Wang Xianzhi's Nascent Soul cultivation became increasingly solid and pure, subtly showing signs of a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation.

Wang Xianyu, on the other hand, perfectly integrated with her Spirit Communication Dao Body, her cultivation steadily increasing to the Late Stage of Golden Core, and her perception and control over spirituality were even more exquisite. However, on the dark gold tower ship, she remained merely a highly skilled maid and little chef.

On this day, the tower ship reached the Liuzhou region in the southwest of the Immortal Realm.

Liuzhou has many marshes and great lakes, where Spiritual Qi is dense, carrying a hint of watery resilience and change.

As the tower ship passed over a vast body of water called "Bining Great Lake," a violent spatial fluctuation suddenly came from the distant sky, accompanied by a muffled roar!

In the depths of the great lake, above a previously calm lake surface, space rippled violently like water waves. Countless mysterious runes flickered on and off in the Void Realm, and a phantom mountain, emanating an ancient and vast aura and enveloped in a faint glow, was slowly "squeezing" out from between the spatial layers!

"Immortal Mansion appearing!" Wang Xianzhi's eyes narrowed, sensing the powerful Restriction forces and pure immortal Spiritual Qi contained within the phantom.

The news spread rapidly as if on wings.