558: On Buddha

On Earth, everything was proceeding according to plan, and the strategy discussed by everyone was being implemented step by step; it could be said that they were racing against time.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, two months had gone by.

In the Shaolin Temple, the abbot, Great Master Huisheng, suddenly felt a surge of intuition.

Opening his eyes from meditation after long contemplation, he said to the novice monk under his command: "Two wandering monks have arrived at Shaoshi Mountain, a man and a woman.

They are travel-worn, their faces etched with the hardships of life, making their original features unrecognizable.

Go and welcome them. Whatever they ask for, grant it without exception. Do you understand?"

The novice monk asked curiously: "A male and female monk? Could it be a monk and a nun?

This is truly strange. How can a monk and a nun travel together in this world?

Wouldn't that invite misunderstanding and offend public decency?"

Great Master Huisheng suddenly tapped the novice monk's bald head and said: "Instead of practicing Zen and martial arts properly, you spend every day thinking about nonsense.

You must know that there are countless Zen practitioners in this world, and regardless of gender, they are one family.

If the heart is focused and free from distracting thoughts, what difference does it make whether one is male or female?

Furthermore, these two... forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you.

You just need to handle the lodging procedures for them."

The novice monk covered his bald head and left, feeling dejected!

The Old Monk smiled helplessly and said: "This little novice doesn't know their origins.

How could you possibly lose out by receiving them?

This is a tremendous Opportunity!

Right, I must inform Master about this..."

Halfway up Shaoshi Mountain, Tang Ku was leading Wu Zhen as they climbed, taking the Opportunity to tell her the story of Bodhidharma, the first Ancestral Master of Zen Buddhism.

At this moment, Tang Ku's appearance was no longer the handsome and elegant one from before; instead, he wore tattered monk's robes, had long, slightly curly hair, and a face full of thick beard!

Wu Zhen was slightly cleaner than Tang Ku, wearing a hood to cover her long hair, and her complexion had become somewhat dark, no longer reflecting her previous beauty...

Although one could faintly discern her extraordinary features, her appearance was vastly different from before.

"Zen Buddhism is an important sect of our Buddhism. Its approach to Epiphany and the way it comprehends the Buddha Dharma are unique.

In the future world, the Buddha Dharma of Zen Buddhism will almost dominate the Central Plains...

Of course, the essence of Mahayana Buddha Dharma, which teaches that one can attain Buddhahood by realizing one's true nature, is also included within it!" Tang Ku said.

"Bodhidharma, the Ancestral Master, faced the wall for nine years. In terms of technique, law, body, and mind, he had already reached the standard for attaining Buddhahood.

However, his single thought in spreading the Buddha Dharma was to save all sentient beings.

Therefore, he voluntarily gave up the Opportunity to become a Buddha.

After passing Zen Buddhism to the second Ancestral Master, Huike, he escaped through a faked death and traveled the world to spread the Buddha Dharma.

The eighteen-style Cultivation Technique he invented for the monks to exercise has already derived many unique skills, making the Shaolin Temple a leader in both Buddhism and the Martial Forest!"

Wu Zhen's eyes lit up as she listened, and she immediately pressed her palms together and said: "In that case, this Bodhidharma, the Ancestral Master, is indeed much greater than the Western Paradise Buddhas!"

"That is true. If the Western Paradise Buddhas all had his breadth of mind, not only would there be more followers of Buddhism, but there would also be more people doing good in this world.

Nowadays, whether it is the Daoist sects or the Buddhist sects, there is no shortage of infighting.

The stronger the magical power, the heavier the selfishness.

To some extent, they are no longer worthy of being called Buddhas!" Tang Ku explained.

"Disciple believes that there is actually no need to be too harsh on them.

Whether it is the Buddha or the Jade Emperor, both have selfishness.

Even a Saint cannot avoid this!" Wu Zhen said solemnly.

Having followed Tang Ku to retrace the Journey to the West and studying the Buddha Dharma along the way, she was no longer the ignorant goddess who had first entered the secular world.

"But a Saint can weigh the pros and cons, find the most balanced approach, and use it to seek welfare for all living beings...

Do you remember those Pseudo-Saints I mentioned?

The reason they became Pseudo-Saints instead of achieving the fruition of a Saint is precisely because their selfishness was at work, reaching a point that angered both heaven and man.

In order to achieve their so-called 'Righteous Fruit', they killed and plundered without restraint, viewing all living beings as ants, which is why they were Sealed by the Pangu Great God!

Therefore, whether one has selfishness is not important; what is important is how one chooses when facing one's own selfishness!"

Tang Ku pressed his palms together and smiled, "Allow your Master to gild his own face: what we need to do now is to find a way to protect this world and deliver all living beings!"

Wu Zhen pressed her palms together, smiled sweetly, and said: "After delivering all living beings, are you going to return to secular life to find your Queen of the Daughters Country?"

"Stop hanging around with your Second Senior Brother and the others.

Hmph, you haven't learned much in terms of ability, but you've learned to be glib!" Tang Ku rolled his eyes and said, "Even if your Master really returned to secular life, I would only be a lonely man.

I will not marry anyone!"

Wu Zhen just smiled and said nothing, following behind Tang Ku to continue up the mountain.

They did not take the main path, but headed straight towards the back of Shaoshi Mountain.

The novice monk who had just spoken to Great Master Huisheng scratched his bald head and waited outside the temple gate again and again.

He paced back and forth until his feet were practically smoking, but he still hadn't seen the two people his Master mentioned.

He wanted to go down the mountain to look for them, but he was afraid there were too many side paths and he might miss them, which would be hard to explain.

He couldn't help but gaze down the mountain, anxious and impatient.

Suddenly, a team of martial monks fetching water appeared before the novice monk, carrying two buckets of water with their hands extended.

The lead martial monk saw how anxious he was and curiously asked: "Tanzhi, what are you doing here?

Pacing back and forth like this, what kind of technique are you practicing?"

"Sigh, don't mention it.

Master asked me to welcome a male and a female monk into the temple to lodge, but I've waited for half the morning and haven't seen a shadow.

It's so frustrating!" The novice monk smiled bitterly.

"Oh? You mean a male and female monk from out of town?

When we were fetching water just now, we passed halfway up the mountain and saw them heading towards the back of the mountain!"

The lead martial monk said with a smile.

The novice monk was instantly dumbfounded.

He thought about it, then ran towards his Master's meditation room without looking back.

Just as he pushed open the door, he heard his Master sigh and say: "Since you've returned, don't go looking for them.

You and they, in the end, have no fate!"

On the back of the mountain, Tang Ku had already brought Wu Zhen to a stop in front of a cave.

Tang Ku said: "This should be the Damo Cave.

Legend has it that he faced the wall for nine years and imprinted his shadow on the wall, which shows the depth of his Buddha Dharma.

It was also here that he passed Zen Buddhism to the second Ancestral Master, Huike..."

"He was still a Mortal back then, right?

Even an immortal would find it hard to go nine years without eating or drinking while facing a wall.

Just this perseverance alone is beyond what a Mortal can achieve..."

Wu Zhen pressed her palms together and bowed to the cave.

Suddenly, a voice like a great bell rang out from the cave: "Before I was born, who was I? When I was born, who am I?"

Tang Ku looked solemn, pressed his palms together, and said: "Before I was born, all living beings were me.

When I am born, I am for all living beings!"

The cave fell silent for a moment, then a sigh came: "Senior Brother is compassionate and truly admirable.

Please, come in!"