Simultaneous travel: I am proving the great way in the heavens.

Chapter 589 Do no evil, do all good! You can't take anything with you when you die, only your karma follows you!
There are three realms of life.
The first level is simply seeing mountains as mountains and water as water, merely echoing what others say—a realm of mortal perception. It's like when the internet first emerged, people were misled by others taking things out of context when they thought they understood the situation.

The second level is seeing mountains as not mountains and water as not water. Having suffered many losses, when faced with a seemingly familiar hot topic again, one will soberly make a judgment without commenting on the unknown whole picture.

As for the third level, seeing mountains as mountains and water as water, these are actually two different realms. They represent the true nature of all phenomena within oneself, and it's also a matter of perspective. Between mountains and water, one sees mountains when the mountains benefit oneself and water when the water benefits oneself. It's simply a matter of defining mountains and water from one's own standpoint.

Great beings like the Buddha transcend such matters; they should be judges, not involved in them.

The great beings and the Buddha will let these karmic connections flow naturally, providing limited guidance, but will never rashly intervene or personally get involved.

The Sixth Prince and the Black Bear Spirit, among others, had come to Luofu for help.

However, although the two sides share the same goal, their objectives are completely different.

The Black Bear Spirit only wanted to capture the Golden-haired Roar so as not to leave an impression of being incompetent and negligent in front of the Bodhisattva.

The sixth prince, on the other hand, wanted to slay demons and restore the kingdom of Lion Camel.

Luo Fu naturally had to respond differently to the requests of the two individuals.

Facing the Black Bear Spirit and the Sixth Prince, who were kneeling respectfully in the main hall, Luo Fu said, "Black Bear Spirit, you are the guardian deity of the Purple Bamboo Forest on Luojia Mountain in the South Sea. While you certainly bear responsibility for neglecting your duties and being careless in this matter, the Golden-Haired Roar is a mount under Guanyin Bodhisattva, and its tribulation has been completed. You have only suffered an undeserved calamity. You may return to Luojia Mountain on your own and report everything to Guanyin Bodhisattva. At that time, Guanyin Bodhisattva will make her own decision."

The black bear spirit blinked, a hint of confusion flashing in its beady eyes.

Although he didn't quite understand Luo Fu's meaning, he realized that the Golden-Haired Roar had escaped from the Purple Bamboo Forest and descended to the mortal realm as a demon because of his failure to guard the mountain gate. It seemed that he, as the gatekeeper, had no responsibility whatsoever.

Even if you report directly to Guanyin Bodhisattva, you will not be punished.

As for the claim that his tribulations had come to an end, the Black Bear Spirit couldn't understand it, nor did he want to. In truth, back when he was the king of the mountain, the Black Bear Spirit was an extremely clever monster.

He knew exactly what he could know and what he shouldn't pry into.

The truly wise person pretends to be ignorant when they know the truth.

The black bear spirit looked bewildered as he bowed deeply to Luofu, saying, "This disciple thanks Buddha for his guidance. This disciple will now return to the Purple Bamboo Forest to apologize to the Bodhisattva."

I don't know about anything else, but the Black Bear Spirit understood one thing from Luo Fu's seemingly vague words.

The cause and effect behind the Lion Camel Ridge incident are too great to be involved in.

As Guanyin Bodhisattva's mount, his inexplicable tribulations have been completed, and he has even descended to the mortal realm as a demon. He has even received the endorsement of Luofu, a mid-level Buddha. The matter here is something that he, a mere person who has finally attained enlightenment, can only find out from Guanyin Bodhisattva. To put it nicely, he is a great mountain guardian deity; to put it bluntly, how could a gatekeeper possibly investigate such a matter?
At this moment, the black bear spirit wished he had never known of the existence of Lion Camel Ridge, let alone appeared in this terrifying place.

The Black Bear Spirit's definition of terror is not the Lion Camel Ridge, which was turned into a living hell by being eaten, but rather the great power that comes from various circumstantial events.

The sixth prince clearly hadn't expected that the black bear spirit, who had previously addressed him as his benefactor, would part ways with him so soon.

However, although he was somewhat surprised by this, he didn't care too much.

Who told us to come to the Buddha of Luofu for help?
After the Black Bear Spirit left, the Sixth Prince became even more earnest and said, "Buddha, that demon from the Lion Camel Kingdom is extraordinary in his methods and possesses great supernatural powers. I am no match for him. I beg you, Buddha, to have mercy on me and save my Lion Camel Kingdom from this peril."

Even after years of studying at Ruzhen Temple, the Sixth Prince and his entourage never forgot their obsession with restoring their kingdom.

Luo Fu sighed and said, "Foolish child. The Lion Camel Kingdom's calamity is due to a confluence of causes and conditions, and is ordained by fate. As a disciple of my Middle Vehicle lineage, you should know that all beings are equal, all things have a spirit, and humans are also among the masses."

"I am foolish and ignorant. Although I know the meaning of the Buddhist scriptures is vast and boundless, I am still unable to escape the mortal world. I do not seek immortality in this life. I only wish to restore the Lion Camel Kingdom and save my people from such a tragic fate." The sixth prince pleaded earnestly, tears streaming down his face.

"Do you know why, after studying under me for so many years, you have only mastered the techniques but not the methods? It is because you cannot let go of this sense of distinction." Luo Fu sighed softly.

But he knew that even if the sixth prince let go of his attachment to distinctions, he would still find it difficult to achieve the Great Dao and escape the cycle of birth and death in this lifetime.

However, since the Sixth Prince was indeed a disciple of the Ruzhen lineage and possessed considerable comprehension, though not exceptionally gifted, he was still a promising talent. Luo Fu didn't mind and offered him some guidance.

Unfortunately, the Sixth Prince ultimately chose to remain obstinate, or rather, compared to achieving the Great Dao and ending his own life, he cared more about restoring the Lion Camel Kingdom to its former glory.

This distinction also represents the difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.

The Theravada school of Hinayana Buddhism aims to liberate oneself from the cycle of birth and death and attain the Great Way; however, the Mahayana school of Mahayana Buddhism aims to universally liberate all sentient beings.

However, in Luo Fu's view, the Sixth Prince simply did not have the qualifications or ability.

His desire to restore the Lion Camel Kingdom and save his people was far too weak compared to his own capabilities.

Equality for all is merely a matter of personality; however, whether it is acquired wealth or innate wisdom, the differences between people are worlds apart.

The Sixth Prince's unmoved attitude was exactly what Luo Fu had expected. After sighing, he said, "Enough, enough. You must know that what you seek requires you to go through great hardships, but even if you encounter great hardships, you will still find it difficult to get what you want."

After a slight pause, without giving the Sixth Prince time to think, Luo Fu said directly, "I bestow upon you a decree. You may take this decree to the Underworld, where the truth will be revealed."

The moment he finished speaking, Luo Fu flicked his sleeve, and a refining seal suddenly flew towards the Sixth Prince.

The sixth prince hurriedly accepted the mudra with both hands.

But the moment he touched the Dharma seal, the scene before him instantly changed.

In the blink of an eye, he had already arrived outside the mountain gate from the main hall of Ruzhen Temple, with his entourage standing behind him.

"Your Highness."

He saw his attendants gather around him one by one, showing their concern.

The sixth prince took a deep breath and said, "The Buddha bestowed upon me the Lotus Seal, commanding me to carry this seal to the Underworld. You will protect me as I embark on my journey to the Underworld!"

The moment his attendants bowed in agreement, the Sixth Prince was already sitting cross-legged, activating the power of the Lotus Seal. With the blessing of the Lotus Seal, a wisp of his soul broke through the barrier between the human world and the underworld.

The scenery of the underworld is very different from that of the human world, yet this is clearly my first time entering the underworld.

But the sixth prince had no interest in the differences between the underworld and the human world.

Compared to the strangeness of the underworld, he was now more concerned about how to see the so-called outcome now that he had arrived in the underworld.

Just as the sixth prince was wondering...

A fleeting figure arrived gracefully. Bowing slightly to the Sixth Prince, it asked, "May I ask if you are the Sixth Prince of Lion Camel Kingdom, a disciple of the True Buddha?"

Startled, the Sixth Prince returned the greeting and said, "Indeed, may I ask who you are?"

"Your Highness need not concern yourself with my status." The newcomer smiled slightly and said, "I am merely here to guide Your Highness to the Underworld. Please follow me."

As soon as he finished speaking, the newcomer took the lead and headed towards the depths of the underworld.

Taking a deep breath, the sixth prince quickly caught up.

Despite being a living soul, the Sixth Prince was moving freely in the underworld, as if he were completely unaffected by the yin energy of the underworld.

With the help of this unknown guide, the Sixth Prince quickly ventured deep into the underworld. Along the way, apart from a vast number of wandering souls, he never encountered a single one of the legendary rulers of the underworld.

Whether it's the soul-reaping messengers, the judges of the underworld, or the ghost kings, underworld generals, or Yama, it's as if the entire underworld operates on its own.

Although the sixth prince was curious, he didn't dare to ask.

When they arrived at the eighteenth level of hell from the underworld.

A familiar yet unfamiliar, dazzling Buddhist light suddenly entered the eyes of the Sixth Prince.

Compared to the unfamiliar underworld, the familiar Buddha light made the sixth prince feel a sense of closeness.

The figure who claimed to be the guide vanished the moment the Sixth Prince saw the Buddha's light.

The sixth prince, suddenly inspired, quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This disciple pays respects to the Bodhisattva."

Indeed, at this moment, the one in the deepest part of the eighteenth level of hell is none other than Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, a renowned figure in Mahayana Buddhism.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is an absolutely authentic and legitimate figure in Buddhism, directly inheriting the Dharma lineage of the two Western Saints. Even the current Buddha, the World Honored One of Buddhism, may not surpass Ksitigarbha in terms of seniority within Buddhism.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva did not respond. He merely glanced at the sixth prince, and then a ray of Buddhist light suddenly flew into the sixth prince's eyes.

In that instant, the sixth prince's perspective split into countless forms, and he began to experience one after another of fateful encounters, life and death cycles.

From his perspective, he clearly saw one sentient being after another creating endless karma.

In Buddhism, karma is a very important concept. As the saying goes, "To know about your past life, look at what you are experiencing in this life; to know about your future life, look at what you are doing in this life." And at this moment, the Sixth Prince, through his myriad perspectives, was seeing the people of the Lion Camel Kingdom and their past lives.

All those past lives were ultimately settled in a small-scale reckoning in the Lion Camel Kingdom in this life. That reckoning was the result of the Lion Camel Kingdom being devoured by monsters and turned into a living hell.

It can be said that in the scene that the Sixth Prince was seeing at this moment, in the entire Lion Camel Kingdom, from the royal family and nobles to the powerful and wealthy gentry and the common people, no one had a grievance, and all those with feelings were guilty.

All of this is merely a matter of cause and effect, karmic debt and retribution.

In that brief moment, I witnessed countless scenes of people who had committed evil deeds in their past lives and were reborn in the Lion Camel Kingdom in this life.

When he finally came to his senses, before he could fully recover from the overwhelming emotions he had been experiencing, the Sixth Prince exclaimed impatiently, "Impossible! My Lion Camel Kingdom is clearly a place of peace and harmony, why would this be..."

"Do no evil, do all good. You have no chance to attain the Great Way in this life, but you can escape the retribution in the Lion Camel Kingdom. It is only because of the insignificant karma you created in your previous life that you are suffering this retribution in this life."

The sixth prince, upon entering the underworld, heard the voice of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva for the first time.

Although he practiced at Ruzhen Temple, the Sixth Prince was naturally clear about the various concepts of Buddhism. After all, in essence, the Sixth Prince could not be considered a disciple of the Pratyekabuddha vehicle. He did not awaken on his own, but practiced Buddhism through the Dharma at Ruzhen Temple. His practice was closer to the systems of Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism. In terms of his path of practice, he belonged to the Earth Immortal lineage in Buddhism.

So-called neutral karma refers to karma that is neither good nor evil, but rather karma created unconsciously in a state of confusion and drowsiness.

Karma is not just about actions. In Buddhist thought, karma can be divided into three types: physical karma, which is karma caused by definite actions; verbal karma, which is karma caused by speech; and finally, mental karma, which is karma caused by thoughts and intentions.

Although neutral karma is not explicitly evil karma that brings bad consequences, it leans towards evil in its neither-good-nor-evil nature. Even neutral karma that is done in a daze, merely waiting to die, is actually a waste of worldly resources. It is not evil to the individual sentient beings, but it is evil to the universe.

Creating negative karma does not necessarily lead to bad consequences, but that is only because the threshold has not yet been reached.

The sixth prince is a typical example.

His karmic retribution was the least severe, which is why he was able to escape from the monsters of Lion Camel Ridge. However, this does not mean that his karmic retribution can be easily erased.

Even if one were to be accepted into the lineage of Ruzhen Temple, due to the karmic consequences of one's own unresolved karma, one is ultimately destined not to attain enlightenment in this lifetime.

At first glance, these theories seem quite illogical.

However, the world of Journey to the West is a true realm of past lives and present lives, and the cycle of life and death.

The concept of cause and effect, and karmic retribution, across lifetimes is real.

Of course, this isn't about the hand; this kind of karmic retribution from past lives to the present is truly unbreakable.

Even the laws of Heaven can be broken by those truly powerful beings. The so-called inability to break them is simply due to a lack of strength.

Just like Tang Sanzang, who could easily help Liu Boqin, the hunter from Liangjie Mountain, to pass on his father's soul.

Without a doubt, Liu Boqin's father's soul was suffering in the underworld as punishment, but Tang Sanzang's salvation helped him to eliminate his sins.

The law of cause and effect, past and present lives, is like a strict legal net, and the right to interpret its provisions lies in the hands of Buddhism.

This is why, after Luo Fu understood the various causes and effects of the Lion Camel Kingdom, he was no longer as indifferent as before.

The monsters of Lion Camel Ridge devoured the people of Lion Camel Kingdom, undoubtedly committing their own sins. However, this karmic retribution is a consequence of the evil deeds committed by the people of Lion Camel Kingdom in their past lives.

Karma only accumulates, it never disappears. You can't take anything with you when you die, only your karma follows you.

Even the cycle of birth and death cannot erase the karmic retribution of marriage. As karma accumulates, one will eventually face the five turbidities of the world. This is a process of being born and dying, and it is also the cycle of heaven and earth.

As a Buddhist disciple, even though it was the Middle Vehicle lineage of the Pratyekabuddha vehicle, the Sixth Prince was still clear about it.

But knowing something doesn't mean you can accept it.

(End of this chapter)