Aoyama

Chapter 341 Let go
The Buddhist disciple did not fast, and was abandoned in the Manjusri Hall of Yuanjue Temple in the winter of the tenth year of Jianing. There was only a string of star and moon bodhi seeds, totaling 108 in the cradle.

Wu Zhai recited the Heart Sutra silently at the age of three, and the Madhyamaka Shastra silently at the age of seven, all without a teacher. He was a rare talent in Yuanjue Temple, but he refused to take the bhikkhu precepts and traveled as a novice at the age of twelve, debating with Daoting.

He was gone for seven years, and when he returned to Yuanjue Temple, he had won back seventeen Taoist temples and thirty-three thousand acres of fertile land for the Buddhist sect. It was also well known in the martial arts world that Wuzhai had three questions: the first question was about breaking the sutra, the second was about breaking the appearance, and the third was about breaking the heart.

But in the winter of the 31st year of Jianing, Wuzhai led 108 novice monks to cross the river to Luoyang in the south and attended a literary gathering at Luhun Villa at the foot of the Taoist temple on Laojun Mountain, intending to win a game at the foot of the Taoist ancestral temple.

This debate attracted worldwide attention.

Before Wu Zhai left, more than a hundred literati in Beijing wrote poems and essays to send him off outside the Yongding Gate. Some of them, such as "Introduction to the Blue Ox Listening to the Sutra", "Sending Master Wu Zhai to the Southern Expedition to Luhun" and "Song of Breaking the Mystery", were full of anger.

However, in such a grand migration to the south, Wu Zhai lost to an unknown young man at Luhun Villa with the saying "no self, but there is self".

Wu Zhai returned to Beijing quietly. Half a month later, when storytellers in Beijing began to tell the story of Luhun Villa, everyone knew what had happened.

At this moment, Qi Zhenwu, Qi Zhaoning, Shen Ye and others realized that the person who defeated Wu Zhai was in Mingse Tower.

And he is still the same person who only has a vague understanding of everything.

Qi Chenzhuo was also hearing about this for the first time. He looked at Chen Ji with wide eyes and asked in astonishment: "Master, why haven't I heard you mention this before?"

Chen Ji said sincerely: "It seems a bit deliberate when you say it yourself, it will seem more profound when someone else says it."

Qi considered: "..."

In the main hall of Mingse Building, everyone looked at Wuzhai, then at Chenji, and were speechless for a moment. The sound of the pipa had already stopped.

Wu Zhai held the Star-Moon Bodhi in his hand and looked at Chen Ji: "It just so happens that we meet at the literary gathering today, why don't you debate with me again?"

Chen Ji smiled and pointed at Shen Ye, Huang Que, and Lin Chaojing: "Buddha, we are having a poetry gathering. Compared to the scripture debate, I prefer poetry gatherings."

Lin Chaojing frowned slightly. When did you like poetry gatherings? Aren't you always eating?

But Wu Zhai smiled and said, "Poetry must be inspired by feelings to have spirituality. If it is just based on the 106 rhymes and level and oblique tones, and a random title, then it is just a rhyme game. Isn't it 'covering the truth with vulgarity'? It's better not to play with such vulgar things."

Chen Ji looked at Lin Chaojing innocently: "Did you hear that? It doesn't matter if you don't want to play."

Qi Zhuozhu lowered his head and shook his shoulders, and Xiaoman chuckled.

Lin Chaojing's face darkened. He explained to Wuzhai, "Buddha, no matter how we tried to persuade Chen Ji before, he refused to attend the poetry meeting or write poetry, and we ridiculed him. Now he is trying to trick you and ridicule us in return. Don't fall for his evil plan."

Wu Zhai suddenly realized: "So that's how it is...but this poetry meeting is really useless."

Chen Ji laughed loudly, clasped his fists and said loudly: "Master Wu Zhai, your opinion is great!"

Wu Zhai ignored Lin Chaojing's expression and turned to look at Chen Ji again: "Donor Chen Ji, I wonder if you have ever thought about my proposal after leaving Luhun Villa?"

Chen Ji picked up a piece of Zhuangyuan Cake and asked, "What's your suggestion?"

Wu Zhai picked up the Buddhist beads and smiled: "I see that you have Buddha nature in your body. Would you like to join my Buddhist sect?"

Chen Ji chewed the Zhuangyuan Cake and said, "Buddhist, you have misunderstood me. I don't have the Buddha nature."

Wu Zhai said sincerely: "All living beings have Buddha nature, even Ajatashatru has Buddha nature and can become a Buddha."

Chen Ji asked casually: "If someone massacres a city and kills 100,000 people, can this person still become a Buddha?"

Wu Zhai's expression became solemn, and even the flickering candlelight in Mingse Tower seemed to freeze. He ignored the puzzled looks of the people around him, walked to the opposite side of Chen Ji, and sat down cross-legged behind the desk that originally belonged to Lin Chaojing. When he sat down, his moon-white cassock rose up, like a blooming lotus.

The velvet red carpet divided the main hall into two parts. Only Chen Ji and Wu Zhai sat opposite each other in the empty seats.

Under the bright candlelight, one was wearing a moon-white monk's robe, and the other was wearing a black robe with a large collar. Neither of them was sad or happy, as if they were destined to be opponents in life.

The young monk Luo Zhui Sakya suddenly said, "It has begun."

It was not until this moment that the others realized that the debate between Chen Ji and Wu Zhai had already begun.

Wu Zhai sat cross-legged behind the table, holding a Star-Moon Bodhi in his hands, and clasped his hands together, saying sincerely: "Donor Chen Ji, for me, the heavy snow in Luhun Mountain Villa that day has never stopped, and it has been falling until today."

Chen Ji seemed to be in a trance and then sighed softly: "For me, the heavy snow in Los Angeles has never stopped."

Shen Ye lifted up his coat, found an empty desk about ten feet away from the two of them, sat down, and started writing.

A scholar asked curiously, "What is Brother Shen doing?"

Shen Ye pointed at Chen Ji and Wu Zhai and said, "Of course, I will record everything about today's debate. Everyone, this is the second time they have debated. No matter who wins or loses, it will be known all over the capital tomorrow. You and I are in it, so wouldn't we be honored to be there? When people in the future see the whole debate, they might remember that it was me, Shen Ye, who recorded it. I'm sorry, everyone, I got there first and took advantage of this good thing."

Qi Chenwu looked at the traces meaningfully.

When Buddhist Wuzhai debates with others, he is known for asking questions that can break your mind. If he asks questions, he has already prepared countless arguments to defeat you.

The one hundred and eight star and moon bodhisattvas in the hand, when one moves a rosary bead, nine hundred thoughts will arise and disappear.

But now, Chen Ji did not give Wu Zhai any chance to ask questions. He just used a small incident to drag Wu Zhai into the debate and made him the questioner.

Wu Zhai moved the Buddhist beads in his hand, and suddenly stopped when he moved to a certain bead. He said calmly: "To answer your question, can an evil person who slaughters a whole city still become a Buddha? It is said in the "Avalokitesvara Mysterious Meaning" that an evil person stops practicing good deeds, but his nature is still good; a Buddha stops practicing evil deeds, but his nature is still evil. Donor, an evil person just does evil things, which does not mean that there is no good in his body. A Buddha cultivates himself only to not do evil things, which does not mean that there is no evil in his heart."

Chen Ji said quickly: "Buddhism says that good deeds are rewarded with good, and evil deeds are punished with evil. If evil people can become Buddhas, where is the cause and effect?"

Wu Zhai calmly replied, "Becoming a Buddha is a result of one's own enlightenment and sudden awakening, not a reward or good reward from the ten directions of the world. Buddhas are no better than humans. Donor, becoming a Buddha is not a reward."

Shen Ye whispered: "Great!"

Before Qi Zhaoning could appreciate the beauty of this answer, Chen Ji stopped kneeling and supported the bamboo mat with his left hand, sat sideways and said jokingly: "Buddha, since I already have Buddha nature, why do I need to cultivate it?"

Wu Zhai flicked a rosary bead and replied, "Buddha nature is like gold hidden in a mine. Although it is covered, it is complete. Our practice is nothing more than the process of digging out the Buddha nature."

Chen Ji picked up another piece of Zhuangyuan Cake and stuffed it into his mouth: "Since Buddhism says that all things are empty, where does the gold in your mine come from?"

Wu Zhai moved another rosary bead: "Donor's sophistry. The gold in the mine is just a metaphor. Buddha nature is the possibility of enlightenment, not a substance, and is the same as emptiness."

Chen Ji smiled and sat up straight: "Since all things are empty and all living beings have no self, why does the Buddha still want to save all living beings? Isn't it like curing a person in a dream?"

Everyone was shocked.

It is selflessness again.

After the debate at Luhun Villa, the word "no self" almost became a mental obstacle for Wuzhai. Now that Chen Ji brought the word "no self" back to the topic, he had to be extremely alert.

Time passed by bit by bit. Qi Zhaoning asked his brother in a low voice: "What do they mean by this? Why is the Buddhist disciple silent?"

Qi Zhenwu frowned and said, "Shut up!"

Everyone in Mingse Tower held their breath, knowing that the debate had reached a critical point.

Wu Zhai closed his eyes and moved more than ten prayer beads before slowly answering: "The donor asked why Buddha still wants to save all living beings. The Avatamsaka Sutra says that we should do worldly things with a transcendental mind. Before transcendence, even though we know that there is nothing, we should still devote ourselves to the world."

Chen Ji laughed: "Since there is no self, then who is saving all living beings, who is accumulating good deeds and practicing reincarnation, and who is transcending and becoming a Buddha?" Wuzhai suddenly opened his eyes.

Everyone's expressions became serious. Buddhist disciple Wu Zhai was defeated by this question in Luhun Villa. This question went straight to the foundation of Buddhism in attracting believers and it was impossible to answer it.

Shen Ye sighed and said, "One law can explain all laws. It seems that Brother Chen Ji intends to use this question to suppress Buddhism for three hundred years."

Qi Zhaoning stared blankly at the scene in front of him, as if Li Changge and the Buddhist were right in front of him, and as if the real Four Dreams of Bianliang were also in front of him.

Past, present, Future.

Like an illusory bubble, like dew or lightning.

However, at this moment, Wu Zhai picked up the Buddhist beads and smiled and replied: "Donor Chen Ji, greed, anger, and delusion make up the 'self'. People in the world all want money to belong to 'me', beauties to belong to 'me', and power to belong to 'me'. This is a stumbling block to enlightenment. Doing good deeds and giving virtues is to give away the things you are obsessed with and cut them off from yourself. Donor, Buddhism teaches people to accumulate good deeds and virtues, not to cultivate blessings in the next life, but to cut off greed, anger, delusion, and self-attachment, to achieve selflessness, and all things are empty."

Shen Ye, who was originally recording the debate, looked up in surprise, and the brush in his hand stopped moving. It had been several months since he last saw it, and Wu Zhai actually asked this question!
No wonder Wu Zhai still dared to fight Chen Ji calmly. I wonder how long Wu Zhai had been waiting for this day.

Everyone looked at Chen Ji.

Qi Zhaoyun said softly: "Zhaoning, this time, Li Changge is going to lose."

In silence, Chen Ji slowly stood up, walked across the red carpet and stood in front of the Wuzhai table.

The candlelight in Mingse Tower cast his shadow on Wuzhai, and Wuzhai could only look up.

Chen Ji asked calmly, "What is selflessness?"

No fast, no sadness, no joy, pinching the rosary beads: "The past mind is unattainable, the present mind is unattainable, and the future mind is unattainable."

Chen Ji asked again: "Why should we cultivate selflessness?"

Wu Zhai replied: "All things are impermanent, all dharmas are without self, and nirvana is extinction. Donor, only by letting go of the ego can you see through the truth of this world. When you have no ego in your heart, how can you be troubled when others scold you, insult you, and slander you?"

Shen Ye's writing became heavier and heavier.

The Buddhist teachings are a process of continuous supplementation. From dependent origination and no self to emptiness, and from emptiness to alaya-vijnana, they are all patches added to the teachings by generations of eminent monks in order to make themselves impeccable.

Wuzhai was flawless this time and became even more harmonious.

The thought of 'no self' is flawless.

But the next moment, Chen Ji smiled: "Who is arguing with me about the non-self?"

Wu Zhai stood there in a daze.

Who is arguing for no self? Me.

Qi Chenzhuo asked in confusion: "What do you mean? Why is Wuzhai silent? Has he been defeated again?"

"Great," Shen Ye took a deep breath and explained with a smile, "Last time, Brother Chen Ji jumped out of the concept of no self and pointed directly at the foundation of Buddhism's acceptance of believers. Now Wu Zhai has come up with a way to deal with it. So Chen Ji jumped out of the concept of no self again and pointed directly at Wu Zhai's behavior of looking for people to debate with: since there is no self and no form, and since all dharmas are empty, then debating for victory is also an obsession and distraction, which should be cut off."

"Wu Zhai has gained a great reputation in the debate between Buddhism and Taoism over the years, and has seized the property of the Taoist court. He has caused the Taoist court to wail everywhere. He has strayed far from the true meaning of Buddhism and Taoism. If he really cultivates selflessness, he should not argue or fight."

"If Wu Zhai insists on saying there is no self, then it proves that everything he has done over the years is completely wrong. Every time he argues with others from now on, he will be one step more wrong."

"Brother Chen Ji wants to stop practicing Wuzhai."

Lin Chaojing lowered his head and pondered for a moment: "No, the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism is a dispute over a principle. The more you debate, the clearer the principle becomes."

Shen Ye smiled and said, "If we cut off our obsession, you will be right on your own and I will be right on mine. Why do we need to argue? Why do we need to win?"

Behind the desk, Wu Zhai's expression changed several times.

Sometimes the Vajra has angry eyes, sometimes the Bodhisattva lowers his eyebrows, and the appearance of people, the appearance of self, the appearance of sentient beings, and the appearance of the longevity change in sequence.

Human appearance, attachment to others.

Ego-image, attachment to self.

The appearance of all living beings, and attachment to all living beings.

The aspect of longevity is the attachment to life.

At this moment, Chen Ji lowered his head to face Wu Zhai and whispered, "Put it down."

Although the sound was not loud, it was like a wake-up call.

In an instant, Wuzhai suddenly leaned over and spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his moon-white cassock red, and the faint light behind him gradually dimmed.

In the brightly lit Mingse Tower, the candle flames moved without wind and were half extinguished in an instant, and the koi in the large pond also scattered into the distance.

Shen Ye's expression changed: "The Buddhist disciple has fallen."

Wuzhai cultivation is a way of thinking and debate. The more you debate and the more you win, the higher your cultivation level will be. Now that someone has attacked your heart, you can't even maintain your cultivation level.

Shen Ye stood up to help Wu Zhai, but Wu Zhai raised his hand to stop him and slowly stood up on his own.

He faced Chen Ji and clasped his hands together: "Thank you, Buddha, for your enlightenment. I will return to Yuanjue Temple to practice silent meditation and never debate with anyone again."

Shen Ye sighed: "Why would a Buddhist do that?"

Wu Zhai did not answer. He just wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, stood up and walked out.

When he came, his moon-white cassock was spotless, and when he left, his heart was covered with dust. He should not have come that night.

Qi Chenzhuo looked at Wu Zhai's receding back and turned back in confusion: "Why did Brother Shen Ye say 'Why should a Buddhist do that'?"

Shen Ye explained: "At the end, Wuzhai Buddhist said 'Thank you Buddha for enlightenment'. It seems that he is elevating Chen Ji to the level of Buddha, but in fact he means that Buddha used Chen Ji to point out the mistakes in his practice, not that 'Chen Ji' won him. He is sacrificing himself to save some face for Buddhism, which can be regarded as a complete plan for Buddhism."

Everyone was silent.

Qi Zhaoning turned to look at Chen Ji. He had many questions in his mind, but he couldn't ask them for the moment.

Chen Ji, however, acted as if nothing had happened. He turned around and asked Qi Chenzhuo, "Now that this matter is over, can we go have a drink with the brothers in the Yulin Army?"

Qi Chenzhuo came back to his senses and said: "Let's go, let's go."

Chen Ji whispered to Xiao Man: "The Yulin Army is full of soldiers, so go back to Chen Mansion first."

After saying that, Chen Ji walked in front and Qi Chenzhuo walked behind, and the two of them stepped over the threshold and walked into the moonlight.

The little monk chased after him: "Wait for me!"

(End of this chapter)