I searched for corpses in the Wuding River to extract entries

Since the "Two Monks Debating on the Vehicle", Buddhism has long been divided into the "Mahayana" and "Hinayana" factions.

Disciples of the two factions often debated in the market, and even fought when their faces turned red.

As the epitome of Mahayana Buddhism, Dongshan Temple is also located at the foot of Dongshan Mountain, surrounded by green pines and cypresses.

The morning bells and evening drums, as well as the melodious Buddhist chants, are what monks all over the world yearn for in the temple.

On a rainy morning in spring, the temple abbot Hongren found an abandoned baby under a bodhi tree.

The baby was born with a cinnabar mole between his eyebrows, shaped like a lotus.

The abbot named him "Shenxiu" and taught him to recite scriptures when he was three years old. Surprisingly, the child could remember everything he saw.

When he was ten years old, Shenxiu followed his master to a distant place to debate Buddhist scriptures. Facing questions from a high-ranking monk of the Hinayana school,

He easily refuted it with Mahayana Buddhism, and reconciled the theories of the two schools with his own doctrine.

Monks all over the world praised him as "the wisest one". Even the arhats on Mount Lingshan sent him a jade ruyi to show the depth of his Buddha nature.

When Shenxiu was twelve years old, Hongren put his cassock on him.

The staff passed down from generation to generation in Dongshan Temple was handed to him.
In front of the statue of Dipankara Buddha, he said to Shenxiu: "From today on, you are the orthodox successor of Zen Buddhism."

Shenxiu knelt in front of the palace, looked up and saw the face of his master.
I couldn't help but look at the statue of Dipamkara Buddha and felt that it was somewhat similar.

After that, Shenxiu was even more focused and immersed himself in the study of Buddhism.

Every morning, before dawn, he would be chanting sutras in the Buddhist temple.

The monks in the temple were either sweeping the temple in the morning or doing morning prayers. Seeing Shenxiu's diligence in devoting himself to Buddhism, they all admired him.

Shenxiu was not only diligent in his practice, but also deeply rooted in the study of Buddhist principles.

He often sat in the Sutra Repository for the entire day.

As the master of Mahayana Buddhism, he often denied the Hinayana Buddhism.

Therefore, when debating scriptures, Shenxiu was also extremely sharp.

He often quoted from classics and made extensive citations.

Analyze the limitations of Hinayana Buddhism from the perspective of Mahayana Buddhism.

Most of the Hinayana practitioners found it difficult to cope with Shenxiu's debates.

After a debate, Shenxiu could often convince many Theravada practitioners.

As the number of debates increased, Shenxiu's name gradually became known in the Buddhist world.

All the monks said that Shenxiu of Dongshan Temple had unparalleled eloquence.

Under such circumstances, the Hinayana school was almost on the verge of extinction.

It was midsummer, and the breeze was gentle and pleasant.

There are also monks named Wuding, wearing black robes, worn-out shoes, straw sandals and carrying bamboo sticks, wandering leisurely in the mountains and fields.

The monk Wu Ding wandered leisurely, and walked into the depths of the dense forest.

Suddenly he heard the sound of axes, each sound powerful and rhythmic.

Monk Wu Ding followed the sound and saw a woodcutter.

The woodcutter was wearing a short and tied robe, looked young, and had a sparkling look in his eyes.

At this moment, there seemed to be a rhythm in the woodcutter's raising and lowering of his axe.

The monk Wu Ding looked at it intently and saw the woodcutter suddenly stop his axe.
His eyes were fixed on the dead trees, as if he was thinking about something.

Then the monk Wu Ding walked to the side of the woodcutter. The woodcutter seemed to sense something and looked up at the monk Wu Ding.

"I've met the master!"

Monk Wu Ding smiled but said nothing. He just took out the wine gourd from his waist and asked, "Would you like a sip?"

The woodcutter smelled the wine but was not tempted. He just shook his head and said, "No thanks, Master!"

The monk Wu Ding then raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.
He wiped his lips and looked at the woodcutter: "Would you like to hear a few words from me?"

The woodcutter nodded and said, "Please give me some advice, Master."

Then the monk Wu Ding threw the empty gourd into the air:

"Look at this gourd. It is full and empty, empty and full. Is it not so with sin and dharma?"

The woodcutter thought for a moment, glanced at the wine gourd that had fallen to the ground and asked:

"Master, may I ask if there is any Buddhist teaching in wine?"

The monk Wu Ding laughed loudly, then picked up the wine gourd.
The originally empty wine gourd was shaken a few times in the monk Wu Ding's hand, and wine splashed out again.

"Tell me, did I finish drinking just now?"

The woodcutter seemed to understand something after hearing this.
Then he picked up the axe and started to chop at another place. In an instant, the old tree broke with a sound.

Looking inside, it was actually hollow.

The monk Wu Ding nodded and praised:

"Well done! Now that you have realized this truth, I will now teach you the Dharma under the name of 'Wild Fox Zen'. Would you be willing to accept it?"

The woodcutter immediately clasped his hands together and said, "Thank you, Master!"

The monk Wu Ding then began to recite: "Sins are originally empty, there is no Buddha outside the mind, everything is realized by the mind..."

As the night deepened, the moonlight became like water, and the figure of the monk Wu Ding became increasingly illusory.
Before leaving, he said to the woodcutter, "You have deep wisdom and can do anything with the Dharma."

“Therefore, I bestow upon you the Dharma name, Hui Neng!”

"Remember, there is no Buddha outside of the mind. Chopping wood is also a form of spiritual practice."

After Monk Wu Ding finished speaking, his figure suddenly disappeared into the night, leaving no trace.

After this enlightenment, Huineng repeatedly pondered the Dharma he was taught and his yearning for Buddhism became even stronger.

So he gave up his axe, left the mountains and forests, and embarked on the path of seeking Buddha.

Before he knew it, Huineng had arrived at Dongshan Temple.

All you can see is the red walls and black tiles of the Dongshan Temple, towering ancient trees, the lingering sound of Buddhist chants, and the wafting smoke of incense.

Huineng entered the temple and paid a visit to the abbot of Dongshan Temple.

The abbot saw that although he came from a humble background, he had a very different temperament and fell in love with him, so he kept him in the temple.

From then on, Huineng became a monk sweeping the floor at Dongshan Temple.

Every morning, before dawn, Huineng would sweep the yard with a broom.

Wherever the broom passed, all the dust was removed.

One day, when Shenxiu was giving a sermon,

The monks in the temple all sat devoutly and listened attentively.

Shenxiu was wearing a brocade robe and sitting on a high platform.

He spoke wittily, quoted scriptures, and talked about his theory of "gradual enlightenment".
His words reveal his profound insights into Buddhism.

The monks listened and nodded slightly from time to time to show their agreement.

On one side of the lecture hall, Huineng, wearing a coarse monk's robe and holding a broom, was silently sweeping the fallen leaves in the courtyard.

The broom swept across the ground, making a soft rustling sound.

While Huineng was sweeping the floor, he listened attentively to what Shenxiu said.

At first, his face was calm, his eyes focused on the dust and fallen leaves on the ground.

Then Huineng's brows gradually furrowed, as if he was thinking about something.

As Shenxiu's teaching progressed, Huineng kept shaking his head.

A monk saw Hui Neng like this and couldn't help but ask in a low voice:
"Brother Huineng, isn't Brother Shenxiu's teaching wonderful? How could I teach you to keep shaking your head?"

Huineng ignored him, but stopped sweeping the broom, looked up,

He looked towards Shenxiu on the high platform and said loudly:

"Brother Shenxiu said that sins are like iron chains, but I see that sins are all gold and silver."

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a bolt from the blue, and there was an uproar in the lecture hall.

The monks turned their heads, their faces showing surprise.

They looked at Huineng, as if they couldn't believe that these words came from the mouth of a sweeping monk.

Shenxiu was slightly startled, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
But he immediately regained his composure and asked gently, "Brother Huineng, why do you say that?"

Huineng took a step forward, his expression calm, and said:

"If it wasn't for opposing the idea of ​​Xinrao's sin, how could there be the idea of ​​laying down the butcher knife and becoming a Buddha right away?" "The Diamond Sutra says, 'One should not dwell on anything and give rise to the mind.' If the mind is originally empty, where does the yoke of sin exist?"

At this time, Abbot Hongren also stood up from his seat, stared at Huineng, and was secretly amazed in his heart.

He thought for a moment, and then said, "Shenxiu, please stop."

Then Master Hongren looked at Huineng:

"If Buddha nature is pure, why do sentient beings sink into the sea of ​​suffering and cannot be liberated?"

Without hesitation, Hui Neng answered, "All living beings perish because they cling to false thoughts and do not know their true mind."

"If you can suddenly realize your own mind and understand that the Buddha nature is originally pure, you can be liberated."

Hongren was stunned at this moment, and just sighed: "Hui Neng, you have a deep wisdom, but it's a pity that you have entered the door of Hinayana Buddhism..."

He then looked at Shenxiu and said, "Go on."

Shenxiu also laughed. Over the years,
There were many Hinayana practitioners who debated with him, but all of them were high-ranking monks.

This was the first time that a mere monk was arguing with him.

He said, "Brother Huineng, you are confusing cause and effect!"

"The death of Xinrao in the past was nothing but the burning of his body by his delusions."

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva vowed that he would not attain Buddhahood until hell was empty. This is because sins are like a mountain and must be cut away layer by layer with the sword of precepts!"

Huineng suddenly broke off a piece of the broom's tail and said: "Brother, look at this broom. If it touches your hands, it will be stained with filth, but if it is put into the fire, it will turn into smoke."

"Sins are like this broom. If a fool holds it tightly, his hand will become dirty. If a wise man lets go, it will become nothing."

"You have cultivated the Buddha's teachings, but do you dare to accept this 'filth'?"

While he was talking, Huineng had already thrown his broom towards Shenxiu.

Shenxiu just moved his mind, and the broom instantly fell back to Huineng's side: "You are just making up an argument! Do you think everyone is a Buddha?"

"The butcher put down his knife and became a Buddha, but the sea of ​​blood has not dried up at all!"

"Can such sinful souls be liberated by simply saying 'original emptiness'?"

Huineng also laughed and said, "Brother, I'm afraid you are obsessed with appearances!"

"In the past, the monk Budai suffered all the eight kinds of suffering, and then he realized that his sins were caused by his robes..."

……

As the two debated, Shenxiu gradually developed the intention to kill.

The originally pure and free wisdom was actually shaken by Huineng's words at this moment.

It’s a pity that Hongren was the abbot here, and he couldn’t do anything about it.

This debate lasted for three days.
Shenxiu has the Buddha Dharma in his body, but it doesn't matter.
It’s a pity that Huineng was just an ordinary person and couldn’t even hold on after drinking water.

Therefore, the debate was suspended.

The moonlight is like water, sprinkling on the red walls and green tiles.

Shenxiu stood in front of the window of the Zen room, his face gloomy and his eyes flickering.

In just three days, Huineng demonstrated his insights.
Each of his debates was like the morning bell and evening drum, awakening the deaf and dumb.

Even the abbot Hongren, who was well versed in Buddhism, praised Huineng's performance.

However, all this was like a thorn in Shenxiu's back, making him feel uneasy.

Shenxiu always had a high opinion of himself, believing that he was the orthodox successor of Mahayana Buddhism and the most outstanding among all monks.

But now Huineng's sudden emergence has put his position under unprecedented threat.

The jealousy in Shenxiu's heart grew wildly like weeds, and he could not accept that Huineng's brilliance surpassed his own.

As time went by, this jealousy gradually turned into murderous intent.

"If this child is left here, he will become a serious problem in the future."

He knew very well that Huineng was gifted and had extraordinary understanding, and his potential was unlimited.

If Huineng was allowed to continue like this, it would not be long before his position in the temple would be replaced by Huineng.

Thinking of this, Shenxiu frowned tightly and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes.

At night, Shenxiu also planned to take action, so he summoned several monks with great supernatural powers.

However, Huineng had already sensed Shenxiu's hostility towards him.

As the night deepened, Huineng decided not to sit and wait for death.

He quietly stood up and began to pack his bag.

He knew in his heart that if he continued to stay here, he would be hard to escape Shenxiu's clutches.

Finally, Huineng packed his bags and tiptoed out of the meditation room.

Under the moonlight, his figure looked a little thin, but he did not hesitate at all.

When he reached the temple gate and was about to take that step,

Suddenly, his heart tightened, and he saw a group of monks standing quietly at the door.
There were also a few monks lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

Huineng was shocked. Could it be that Shenxiu had discovered him?

His hands unconsciously clenched his bag, preparing for possible danger.

However, when he looked closely at the faces of these monks, the fear in his heart was instantly replaced by surprise.

These monks were not Shenxiu's subordinates, but eminent monks who respected Theravada Buddhism in the past.

Those who fell to the ground were truly Shenxiu's minions.

They agreed with Huineng's teachings and were deeply dissatisfied with Shenxiu's autocratic behavior.

A senior monk walked out from the crowd and approached Huineng: "We are willing to go with you and help you spread the Dharma."

Upon hearing this, Huineng nodded slightly to express his gratitude.

His eyes swept across the group of monks in front of him, and he couldn't help feeling moved.

He knew that these people sincerely wanted to follow him and spread Buddhism together.

"Thank you all for your help, I, Huineng, will live up to everyone's expectations." Huineng clasped his hands together.

On this night, Huineng and a group of eminent monks quietly left Dongshan Temple.

They traveled south, a long and arduous journey.

They support each other, share their wisdom and experience during their journey, and explore the true meaning of Buddhism together.

Finally, after a long journey, they arrived at the foot of a mountain in the south.

The mountain is so high that it reaches the sky, as if it is connected to the sky.

The peaks on the mountain are extremely steep and the rocks are rugged, which makes people afraid.

Huineng stood at the foot of the mountain, looking up at this strange mountain, and suddenly something moved in his heart. He murmured to himself:

"This place is very good. We will build a temple here to spread Buddhism and save all living beings."

When the eminent monks nearby heard Huineng's words, they all nodded in agreement.

They were also shocked by the majesty of the mountain and felt that building a temple here would surely attract more believers to come and worship.

They immediately started building the temple.

Just like this, day after day, year after year,
After seven full years, a magnificent temple finally rose from the ground on this strange mountain.

This temple is built on the mountain, and some buildings are even suspended in the air.

From a distance, it looks like a Buddhist palace in the clouds, which is breathtaking.

Thanks to this, everyone decided to name it "Hanging Temple".

After the completion of the Hanging Temple, it quickly attracted countless believers to come and worship, and the place was very lively and bustling with people coming to worship.

As the abbot of the Hanging Temple, Huineng preached in the temple.

The Buddhist teachings he preached were profound and easy to understand, making the believers fascinated.

Huineng particularly emphasized the concept that "sins are originally empty, and there is no Buddha outside the mind".

He told his believers that all the troubles and sins in the world are illusory, and only inner purity is the true Buddha.

When the believers heard what Huineng said, they all gained some enlightenment and respected him even more.

Since then, Buddhism has been divided into two sects, the Northern and Southern.
The northerners take Huineng's "Dongshan Temple" as their ancestor, and the southerners take the "Hanging Temple" as their ancestor! (End of this chapter)