All living beings in hell

Chapter 123 - Monk Chengxing
The lotus lantern at the entrance was lit up, and the office welcomed six guests No.70.

A monk in maroon cassock walked into the office, clasped his hands together, and bowed to me.

"The poor monk's name is Chengxing. After passing away, he followed Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to save all living beings in hell. Visiting today, I am sorry to disturb you, Amitabha."

The monk has kind eyebrows and kind eyes, with upturned eye tails, and twelve ring scars of different sizes on his head are very eye-catching.He holds a string of wooden Buddhist beads in his left hand, and there are no other decorations on his body.

After the monk sat down on the wooden chair, a solemn smell of lotus seed core mixed with sandalwood spread to the back of the wooden table.His voice was neither hasty nor impatient, and if he hadn't seen the person, he wouldn't be able to tell the difference between male and female.There is a bitterness between the brows - it can't be said that the bitterness is deep and the hatred is deep, but the faint bitterness, like a spring full of bitter herbs.No matter what flowers or plants grow on the earth nourished by such springs, it is also bitter.

I clasped my palms together in return, and then wrote his name: "Master Cheng Xing, I didn't bother you. Why are you looking for me today?"

"The poor monk wants to talk about Buddhism with adults."

"The breadth and breadth of Buddhism, I have not even learned the superficial, I am afraid it is difficult to compare with you."

"Those who know the Dharma may read thousands of volumes and recite the scriptures thousands of times. But the only one who understands the Dharma is the Buddha. You are not a Buddha, and I am not a Buddha, so we are all just peers. Talk about your own opinions among peers, Why not?"

"If you say that, then I will show my shame when I write."

"In your opinion, when will all the sentient beings in hell be saved?"

"Why are you asking this question?"

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva first came to hell and vowed to save all sufferings, especially the sentient beings in hell. He even made a big vow that hell will not be empty, and vowed not to become a Buddha. As a follower of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, I wish to Let’s realize our ambitions together. Since his passing away, more than [-] sentient beings have been converted in hell, and the number of sentient beings converted by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva must be even greater. However, the number of sentient beings in hell has not decreased, but is increasing day by day. The poor monk is dedicated to the goal of saving sentient beings, but this goal has not come to an end, and I feel depressed, so I want to ask you to enlighten me."

"Have you asked Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva about this?"

"The Bodhisattva said that life and life are interdependent, and the source is eternal. I don't understand what he means. Does it mean that this matter has no end?"

"What if there is no end? Are you willing to continue doing what you are doing now?"

"The Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has been here to transform sentient beings since the beginning of hell. It must have been thousands of years in this barren land. But I am only a mere hundred years. Compared with the Bodhisattva, my merits and hard work are not worth mentioning. I How dare you not want to!"

"I've been in hell for less time than you, so I'm afraid I can't give you any insight."

"But I have something to ask my lord."

"Go ahead."

"I heard that during your tenure, your lord will only accept 161 guests, and one more will not be accepted. Is there such a thing?"

"conclusive."

"Why should your lord set a specific number for yourself? If your lord is a priest, you should take the responsibility of the common people in the world and do your best to save the souls of the dead, so as to accumulate merits for generations."

"When I first took up this official position, I was still a human being. Human energy is always limited and abilities are also limited, so the number of guests we receive needs to be within a controllable range. Although now I lose my body and only my consciousness remains , but my spiritual consciousness is still that of a human being, and my cognition is roughly the same as before. To be honest, I can't do things like taking the responsibility of the world as my own."

"How do you know you can't do it?"

"Human beings are limited in what they can do, and the responsibilities they can bear are also limited. If all the responsibilities of human beings are placed on me alone, then what should they do? I can't take their troubles and deal with them. Well, isn't this becoming meddling?"

"But the world is suffering, and the Bodhisattva vows to transform the common people. How can you sit idly by and ignore it, my lord!"

I don't know why, Cheng Xing's tone is full of blame.

"Are you recruiting people for Earth Store Bodhisattva?"

"What does your lord mean by this?"

"The Bodhisattva made a vow to transform all sentient beings in hell. I made a vow to receive 161 guests well and perform their duties. It was good. You are blaming me again for ignoring the common people in the world and not accumulating merit. You frequently talk about Bodhisattvas, as if I You must do the same thing as the Bodhisattva. I and the Bodhisattva have different positions and are responsible for different jobs. But you want me to quit my job and go to work for the Bodhisattva. Your logic is so strange."

"If people all over the world think like the Bodhisattva thinks, and think like the Bodhisattva thinks, then the world will be peaceful!"

"Do you think you think the same as the Bodhisattva?"

"The poor monk dare not say the same thing, but the vow of the poor monk is the same as that of a bodhisattva, and it is to save all living beings."

"According to what you said, your vows are the same, but the way of doing it seems a little different."

"how do I say this?"

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva will not suddenly ask me to do work that does not belong to me, nor will I go to transform the common people for the sake of merit. If I am doing these things only for the so-called merit, isn't it putting the cart before the horse?"

"Does your lord think merit is not important?"

"Which do you think is more important than making a vow or merit?"

"Naturally, making a wish is more important."

"Ah."

"But merit is also very important. Doing good deeds and building good virtues are the laws of heaven and earth."

"I think Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva made the vow to transform the sentient beings in the hells, not for the merits of the sentient beings in the hells. Perhaps the Bodhisattva knew from the very beginning that life is endless and the source is eternal. Everything in the world is in the cycle. As long as As long as there is a world, there will be hell. As long as there is heaven, there will be hell. Even if you transcend the six realms, the six realms will still exist."

"Your Excellency, you mean that this matter is endless?"

"What's after the end?"

"After the end, you can become a Buddha."

"So you are doing these things in order to become a Buddha?"

"Not exactly, but the poor monk really hopes to have something in his heart, at least something to look forward to."

"It's good to have hope."

"What will adults want to do after 161 guests?"

"I didn't think about it. My hope is to finish receiving these guests first."

"At least your work can be seen."

"If you feel very tired, you can also set a number for yourself..."

Chengxing interrupted me suddenly, as if I had said something that shouldn't be said.

"My lord, what are you talking about! It is my lifelong desire to transform the common people!"

"Sorry, I'm talking too much."

"I listened to the ghosts talking about the master who wrote the book, you are knowledgeable and resourceful. I thought you could study the Buddhadharma with you and gain supreme wisdom. You may be knowledgeable in other aspects, but your understanding of Buddhism is really shallow. The poor monk and you can't discuss more. .”

"Alright."

Chengxing stood up, clasped his hands together, saluted and said goodbye: "My lord, then we will see you later. I wish you success in your future work."

"See you."

"Amitabha."

Chengxing turned around and walked out of the office quickly, his footsteps were silent.

(End of this chapter)