Conferred God: Got cramped at the beginning

Chapter 1042 The Power of Interpretation
The iron-clad monk looked at the monk Xuanzang before him.

He never expected that the reason he had been trying to figure out for so long—a reason to 'punish' those who had converted to Buddhism, to restore the reputation of Buddhism, without provoking a backlash—would be given to him in an instant without him even blinking.

In an instant, eight words appeared in the Iron-Clad Monk's mind.

'I interpret the Six Classics, and the Six Classics interpret me.'

This is a game played by the scholars and noble families of the human race.

Use your own ideas to interpret the classics of the ancient philosophers.

Using the classics of the ancient philosophers to prove one's own ideas.

This is something that happens all the time in the world.

That is why the doctrines of those philosophers... each doctrine can be further subdivided into many schools of thought.

The ideas of the various philosophers were also innovated and developed during this process.

However, the Iron-Clad Monk never expected that Buddhist scriptures could be used in such a way.

After all, while they are all classics, the classics of Buddhism and Taoism are different from those of the other schools of thought. The classics of the other schools of thought only carry ideas and do not involve practice. Therefore, no matter how they are annotated or explained, they will not directly cause any harm to people.

However, the scriptures of Buddhism and Taoism are different.

Their classics not only carry educational ideas, but are also scriptures for spiritual practice and 'codes' for deciphering other scriptures.

In this state, once there is a difference in the interpretation of a certain classic, then the related cultivation methods, supernatural powers and so on will be affected!

If the ideas of the ancient philosophers were about adapting to changes in human beings, then the classics of Buddhism and Taoism are about enabling living beings to adapt to those classics.

Therefore, under such circumstances, the Iron-Clad Monk never entertained the idea of ​​"interpreting the Six Classics through my own lens, and vice versa".

I never thought of interpreting the Buddhist scriptures from another angle or another direction.

The Iron-Clad Monk asked himself, among the Buddhist disciples in this world, he was already considered one of the most 'rebellious' ones.

But who would have thought that the Buddhist leader in front of him was even more rebellious than him?

To annotate the scriptures left by sages and Buddhas, to reshape the interpretation of those scriptures, and to seek a new answer beyond the 'standard answer'.

It should be understood that the philosophers of the human world have died and can no longer interfere in human affairs—but the saints of Buddhism, the Buddha of Buddhism, still sit high on Mount Ling, looking down upon all living beings in the human world.

How arrogant and disrespectful to the Buddha must one be to have such thoughts?
Isn't he afraid that the Buddha on Mount Ling could kill him with a single palm strike from afar?

Looking at the monk Xuanzang before him, the iron-clad monk was filled with emotion, yet his heart trembled with immense fear.

In a daze, he seemed to hear a vast and endless thunderclap resounding between heaven and earth, causing the sacred mountain to shake.

He had no idea how much of a stir the thoughts of the Buddhist leader before him would cause within the Buddhist community if they were to be spread.

It's even more unclear whether the ripples they create will cleanse Buddhism of its impurities or simply submerge it...

"Why would a monk have such a thought?" the iron-clad monk asked cautiously.

At that moment, he was acutely aware of the gap between himself and the Venerable Xuanzang—therefore, he no longer dared to call Xuanzang by his name.

Why would you have such a thought?

Xuanzang himself also fell silent.

The opportunity for this idea actually arose a long time ago.

However, before that, although he had such thoughts and he despised supernatural powers at that time, he still had considerable reverence for Buddhism.

Therefore, at that time, he dared not have the slightest thought of 'I focus on Buddhism, and Buddhism focuses on me'.

When did his thoughts begin to change?
First, at Yinshan Temple, the Buddha Longguang descended in his incarnation, attempting to forcibly convert himself and King Wu, Li Ke.

At that time, Xuanzang began to have some doubts about the Buddhas on Mount Ling.

Buddha is the enlightened one.

The Buddha should not have been so shallow!

Then, after the robe was unfolded, Xuanzang saw the text.

Mara has disrupted the Dharma, and demons have become monks.

Thus, Xuanzang's doubts about the Buddhas on Mount Ling were magnified infinitely!

Perhaps, the Buddha on Mount Ling really has encountered a problem!
It was precisely because of this that Xuanzang became convinced of the idea that 'I interpret Buddhism, and Buddhism interprets me'.

Since the Buddha himself may have had problems, then the scriptures passed down by the Buddhas are 30% problematic—and the interpretations of those scriptures are 70% problematic!

Therefore, when examining Buddhism in the human world with this mindset, all the strange phenomena become clear.

Mara is corrupting the Dharma!
"Why does the Zen Master find this strange?" Xuanzang feigned a puzzled look as he looked at the iron-clad monk before him. "Is my interpretation of the scriptures incorrect?"

"Please enlighten me, Venerable Monk," Xuanzang said respectfully.

The iron-clad monk fell silent, then turned his gaze to the statue of the Buddha of Compassionate Light.

Inside the main hall, the Buddha of Compassion and Light looked down upon the human world with a compassionate expression. The outstretched hand of Aqi seemed to see countless beings struggling in the sea of ​​suffering and wanted to ferry them out of it.

He was waiting for the Buddha of Compassionate Light's response to Xuanzang's interpretation of the Buddhist scriptures.

Similarly, Xuanzang's gaze also fell upon the statue of the Buddha of Compassion and Light.

He was also waiting for the response from the Buddha of Compassionate Light.

As the leader of Buddhism, Xuanzang naturally knew the origins of Buddhism in the various Buddhist temples in this world, and he was also clear about the 'sphere of influence' of the Buddhas on Mount Ling in this world.

This Iron Fork Temple is the only temple in the human world dedicated to the compassionate Buddha, Ci'en Guangwang Buddha.

It is precisely because of this temple's uniqueness that the Iron-Clad Monks were able to maintain the Iron Fork Temple's tradition even after their "heretical" actions.

It was precisely because of this 'uniqueness' that Xuanzang believed that at this moment, the Buddha of Compassion and Light must have been looking at this Iron Fork Temple.

Inside the Great Thunder Temple, the gaze of the Buddha of Compassionate Light indeed fell upon the Iron Fork Temple, and he clearly heard Xuanzang's interpretation of the Buddhist scriptures—no, it was not an interpretation of the Buddhist scriptures, but an interpretation of the tenets of Buddhism!

Upon that interpretation, even he, a Buddha of the Great Luo, clearly perceived the turbulent waves hidden behind it!

That is none other than the crucial 'right to interpret scriptures' for a lineage of Confucianism!
In the past, the power to interpret scriptures was always in the hands of each Buddha—each Buddha was responsible for his own Dharma and for explaining his own Dharma so that his disciples could know his Dharma.

In such a state of 'autonomy,' even other Buddhas would not interfere with another Buddha's interpretation of his own Dharma—at most, it would be some Buddhas whose Dharma was opposed to each other who would dislike each other's Dharma and call that Dharma 'heretical'.

But that’s all!

On Mount Ling, there is the Buddha Shakyamuni in the Great Thunderclap Temple. Even now, no Buddha has ever unified those opposing or contradictory Buddhist teachings so that they can complement and corroborate each other, instead of causing them to consume each other.

This is the 'right to interpret scriptures' that belongs to the Buddhas.

But now, in that Iron Fork Temple, Xuanzang's posture and his alternative interpretation of the Buddhist doctrine are clearly shaking the 'right to interpret scriptures' and vying for the 'right to interpret' many Buddhist scriptures.

For Buddhism, this is absolutely a change that touches upon the very foundation of Buddhism.

This was a realm even the Buddha himself dared not touch—the Buddha of Compassion and Light could not comprehend where the mortal Xuanzang had gotten such audacity to venture into this matter. Did Xuanzang himself truly harbor such thoughts?

Or was it that human emperor in the mortal realm who had such thoughts?

Given this idea, how would the Buddhas of Mount Ling respond?

Should we just kill Xuanzang and force the Emperor to choose a new envoy, thus suppressing this idea?

Or should we pretend we don't know and wait to see how the situation changes?

Or perhaps, it's about going with the flow, relinquishing all authority, and allowing Buddhism and the human world to become more closely integrated?

While calculating the changes, the Buddha of Compassion and Light instinctively concealed the 'heavenly secrets,' hiding the situation in the Iron Fork Temple to prevent other Buddhas from knowing what was happening there.

At that very moment, the Buddha of Compassionate Light was absolutely certain that the Venerable Xuanzang had not stumbled upon the essence of Buddhism unintentionally.

It was intentional!

The reason lies in the target it chose.

What it 'annotates' and interprets is not the Dharma of any particular Buddha—therefore, this interpretation does not directly touch upon any Buddha on Vulture Peak.

It also prevented the Buddhas on Mount Ling from taking any precautions in advance.

Therefore, the Buddha Ci'en Guangwang thought of another point—Xuanzang had clearly considered this matter carefully when he mentioned it in the Iron Fork Temple!

He specifically chose to test himself, the Buddha of Compassionate Light King, who had a good temper and always cared for his Buddhist disciples!

If even he himself could not accept Xuanzang's actions, then Xuanzang might abandon his current idea and seek other paths.

If he could accept Xuanzang's idea, then Xuanzang might be able to take it a step further.

Most importantly, I cannot pretend I don't know about this matter—because not responding is also a form of response.

"What should we do?" While the Buddhas' gazes were all focused on the Cloud Cave, the Buddha Ci'en Guangwang secretly covered his fingers with his robe and began to calculate.

At the head of the table, seated high on the altar, the Venerable Shakyamuni glanced casually at the back of the Buddha of Compassion and Light, and felt a chill run down his spine.

"I can't calculate it!"

"I really can't figure it out!" After a moment, the Buddha Ci'en Guangwang helplessly lowered his fingers.

He was not a Buddha who was good at divination.

At this moment, amidst an unprecedented calamity, the timeline was thrown into chaos, and the Buddhist sect was the most crucial link in this calamity.

Under such circumstances, it became even more impossible for him to accurately predict the changes within Buddhism.

Just as he was struggling with this decision, he suddenly glanced at an empty seat on Mount Ling.

That is the lotus throne belonging to Maitreya.

The aura of Maitreya Buddha on the lotus platform had not yet dissipated.

In a short while, the Buddha of Compassionate Light had a clear understanding in his heart.

—The Venerable Maitreya is the future World Honored One, a symbol of the future of Buddhism.

As long as his spirit remains, the future of Buddhism also remains!

"Therefore, I can be even bolder," thought the Buddha of Compassionate Light.

On Mount Ling, a thought arose.

In that Iron Fork Temple, the candlelight beneath the seat of the Buddha of Compassionate Light immediately began to flow, transforming into a small figure that jumped down from the offering table.

It is also an incarnation manifested from the thoughts of the Great Luo.

At this moment, the manifestation of the Buddha of Compassionate Light King was completely different from the previous manifestation of the Buddha of Dragon Light.

When the incarnation of the Buddha Longguang descended, the Buddha's light spread for thousands of miles, and the entire Liangzhou was under that Buddha's light.

Countless living beings in Liangzhou, whether mortals or livestock, converted to Buddhism under the Buddha's light.

The commotion was truly earth-shattering.

At this moment, when the incarnation of the Buddha of Compassionate Light descended, it was like a gentle breeze and the rising sun, passing by leisurely. Although it appeared in the form of a candle flame, it did not exert any oppressive force whatsoever.

It was just a pure, unadulterated thought.

It possesses no magical power, nor any supernatural abilities.

“Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk Xuanzang/Tieyi pays respects to the Buddha of Compassionate Light.”

Looking at the little fire figures in front of them, they all bowed in salute.

"Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk Ci'en greets the two fellow Buddhists."

The little fire-man returned the greeting with an extremely humble demeanor.

"The Master's previous words were quite extraordinary."

"Although I am on Mount Ling, I still have some feelings in my heart, which is why I descended into this form to ask for your guidance."

"But I wonder what prompted the Master's earlier words?"

The Buddha of Compassionate Light did not use any Zen riddles, but spoke frankly—the current situation did not allow him to use any Zen riddles.

“Naturally, it originated from the human world,” Master Xuanzang replied.

As the saying goes among the philosophers of the world, "Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles, and you will gain a comprehensive understanding."

“I have read all the Buddhist scriptures. Then, I first went to Chang’an to debate the Dharma. After leaving Chang’an, I traveled all the way here.”

"On this journey, I have seen high-ranking officials, powerful figures, merchants, and commoners."

"Along this journey, we have seen both good and evil."

"It was seen by immortals and gods, and even by Buddhas."

"Furthermore, many eminent monks and wise teachers discussed the Dharma with me along the way."

"However, what I have seen and heard from the many people along the way does not match the descriptions in the many Buddhist scriptures."

"The entanglement of good and evil in the human world does not seem to be as simple as described in the scriptures."

"Therefore, this humble monk was moved."

"Buddha, the Dharma is the way to save people."

"How can it not change depending on the person?"

Master Xuanzang spoke of his thoughts, his experiences along the way, and the views of the people on Buddhism.

(End of this chapter)