125: What is compassion?

Three days ago, Monk Guangji was arrested and thrown into the Heavenly Prison because he had previously killed a hunter's elderly mother with a single strike and defiled his wife and daughter, committing utterly heinous acts. And when the hunter returned home, he was also cut down by a single strike!

But before this, he was a monk with profound Buddha Dharma and skilled in both martial arts and literature.

He had always devoutly worshipped the Buddha, never showing the slightest disrespect; on the contrary, he frequently opened porridge kitchens to provide relief to beggars. He even sold temple property to establish orphanages and rescue orphans, truly performing countless good deeds in his life.

However, due to a single misguided thought, he committed a monstrous crime.

To do good one's entire life, then commit one evil act, makes one the greatest villain under heaven—this is a truth passed down since ancient times.

Before listening to the sutra today, he never felt he had done anything wrong; he was merely acting according to his inner self. But by the time the last verse of the sutra was heard, he was already in tears, remorseful, yet it was too late.

In the square, all the monks were in the exact same state as him.

"Do you... know you were wrong?"

A voice like a great bell, deafening.

"Amitabha!"

The monks clasped their hands together, looking solemnly at the figure radiating a faint golden light, proclaiming the Buddha's name in unison, "Disciple knows his mistake!"

Tang Ku smiled faintly, "As long as there is one Buddha in the world, you will still be my Buddha's Disciples. However, though Buddha Dharma is benevolent, the law is unforgiving. From now on, you shall act according to your hearts!"

"Disciple obeys!"

Guangji was the first to stand up, facing the Qianniu Guard General beside him, solemnly and reverently recounting all the crimes he had committed. His voice was clear and resonant, yet choked with sobs, and everyone in the square could hear what he was saying.

The Qianniu Guard's eyes blazed with fury, almost drawing his saber to cut down the bald monk before him, as what this fellow had done was truly despicable.

"...The sins committed by this Disciple are beyond redemption, even with ten thousand deaths!"

After his confession, he turned to look at Li Shimin on the city wall, knelt on both knees, performed the three kowtows and nine prostrations to Li Shimin, and then said, "I humbly request Your Majesty to grant this humble monk death, to serve as a warning to the world not to commit evil. Otherwise, this humble monk's heart will be uneasy, and the majesty of the law will be lost."

Li Shimin's voice was calm, and he nodded, saying, "Let the nearest Qianniu Guard warrior grant his wish!"

"Yes, I obey!"

Before coming out, these guards had already received orders that they might act as executioners today. Especially after hearing this fellow's confession just now, he had long hated this evil monk to the bone. As he received the order, he had already drawn his long saber and cut off Guangji's bald head with one strike.

The people present, upon seeing this bloody scene, were not afraid. Instead, a boundless sense of regret emerged in their hearts, and at the same time, they began to repent for the sins they had committed.

In Tang Ku's vision, a faint light appeared behind Guangji; it was his soul.

Guangji's soul bowed slightly to Tang Ku, clasped its hands together, proclaimed the Buddha's name, and then its figure disappeared.

Tang Ku knew that he had entered Hell to endure the suffering of the Eighteen Levels of Hell, to atone for his sins, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

Next, countless punishments awaited him, carving the marks of sin onto his soul. Only when all sins were purged could he undergo Reincarnation.

Although the Manager of Hell had left, the path of Reincarnation still existed, so he didn't need to worry about any accidents.

Subsequently, the remaining monks one by one confessed their wrongdoings, and the entire day was spent on this.

Those monks who deserved death were all executed on the spot, blood flowing everywhere. The common people looked sorrowful, but their sorrow was not for the monks' lives, but for the fragility of life and the generation of evil. At the same time, the desire for good in their hearts surged incomparably.

The Pure Land of Buddhism does not shield or cover up; those who commit evil must eliminate their karma, and those who commit crimes must atone for them. This is the ultimate truth!

Only then did people understand the meaning of the name Guangdu Xin Buddha.

To save others, one must first save oneself; to save oneself, one must first save one's heart; to save one's heart, one must uphold good thoughts, and only by holding good thoughts can one avoid falling into Avici Hell.

This Water-Land Dao ritual was not only to propagate Buddha Dharma but also to make the atmosphere of the entire society more positive and progressive.

Those who deserved to be killed were killed, those who deserved to be exiled were exiled, those who deserved to be imprisoned were imprisoned. There were also countless who were to be executed in autumn or subjected to forced labor, but none of the monks had any complaints. They knew they were wrong and how to atone for their mistakes.

The monks were now incomparably devout, honoring only this one Buddha before them, which was Guangdu Xin Buddha!

"Namo Guangdu Xin Buddha!"

One after another, the Buddha's names soared to the sky. The Buddhist swastika symbol, with the hand seals of Tang Ku, slowly spread outwards. Bits of golden light reached all the temples in Chang'an. All the monks who had made mistakes, were about to make mistakes, or were lost and didn't know where to go, found their Power Of Faith at this moment. In time, the entire Buddhism would surely regain its glory.

Tang King Li Shimin watched all the soldiers and common people devoutly gazing at the golden figure. The sky was gradually darkening, but the faint light emanating from that figure actually made the entire city of Chang'an as bright as day.

It wasn't a simple, dazzling light, but rather a light that seemed to be in everyone's eyes, a light that allowed them to see hope.

"Holy Monk, you truly have given me a great gift..." Li Shimin said to Zhang Anan beside him, "Issue an order: from today onwards, Buddhism shall be the state religion of my Great Tang. Wherever the Holy Monk goes, it shall be as if I am personally present!"

No need for too many orders, these few words were enough!

Li Shimin knew that the national power of the entire Great Tang would, starting today, at its most prosperous moment, rise again, becoming stronger and better!

And all of this was brought to him by today's Water-Land Dao ritual, or more accurately, by Tang Sanzang.

For a day and a night, all the soldiers and common people, big and small, did not close their eyes, nor did they rest. Yet, everyone, bathed in the Buddha Dharma, appeared exceptionally spirited, showing no signs of fatigue.

It was not until the Yin hour of the next day, just as the sky was brightening, that this sermon finally concluded.

The monks who deserved punishment received the most appropriate retribution, and Chang'an City was permeated with Buddha Dharma. Inside Xuanwu Gate, where the monks' blood had covered the ground, clusters of dark golden lotuses blossomed, swaying in the wind.

Guangdu Xin Buddha said that these were the flowers of sin. Only when these lotuses turned pure white would it signify that the sins of the deceased had been cleansed, allowing them to undergo Reincarnation.

Starting from the second day, all the temples, big and small, throughout Chang'an, had an additional standing Buddha statue, dressed in a moon-white monk's robe, without a kasaya, yet with a solemn and majestic expression. The world knew that this Buddha was far more efficacious than any Buddha they had worshipped before, because he always thought of the common people of the world!

Everything was developing in a good direction. And when Tang Ku returned to the post station, the faint light on his body had not completely disappeared. Wu Zhen said that this was the Power Of Faith condensed from the people!