The disaster of the world begins with Dongfang Bubai

Chapter 185: Gods and Buddhas everywhere, living in the world, yet high above
"Buddha, why have I never heard you mention this matter?" Guanyin asked doubtfully.

"Xuanzang, do you still remember the incident at the Tongtian River where you tried to steal the Mahayana Sutra?" Tathagata asked Xi Mingzhang.

"I have a bad memory. I only remember that before the two venerables, Kasyapa and Ananda, received the Buddha's order to teach the sutras to the five of us, they began to ask for some favors, that is, gifts."

"They said that without gifts, they would not teach the sutras. Even if the incident was brought to the Mahavira Hall, the Buddha ordered the two venerables not to make things difficult for them. But the sutras that were taught privately were all wordless."

Xi Mingzhang clasped his hands together, lowered his eyebrows and said:
"I'm sorry to make you laugh, Buddha. Whenever I think of this, I can't help but babble. After all, I traveled all the way west, relying on begging and picking fruits to fill my stomach. How could I get anything from others? Ananda's words, "No one can give me anything, so I should go back to where I came from," really chilled me to the core. I still remember it vividly."

As soon as these words were spoken, Ananda in the hall felt as if he was sitting on pins and needles, as if a thorn in his back and a fishbone stuck in his throat. Most of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Arhats remained silent, but they felt that his posture was extremely familiar, and it was indeed the Jin Chanzi from before.

"Xuanzang, a great catastrophe is approaching, and business matters are more important." Guanyin tried to smooth things over.

Upon hearing this, Xi Mingzhang said bluntly:

"What the Buddha just said should be that there were men in black who stole the scriptures in Tongtian River. I think the mastermind behind it is the one who caused the disaster today."

The Tathagata nodded:

"Bad luck has come. We are not strong enough to fight this demon. Remember, do not act rashly. Stay calm and wait for the bad luck."

"Buddha, are we just going to sit here and wait to die?" Guanyin was puzzled.

"Buddha has mercy on me. You must remember what I just said."

At this moment, the sacred mountain was covered with dark clouds, lightning and thunder, and extremely dense demonic energy was pressing down.

"Who is this evildoer who dares to trespass into Lingshan?"

The Dharma Protector Vajra outside the main hall looked at the four evil men with deep demonic nature and immediately shouted loudly.

These four monsters, one is bald and wears a hood, one is dressed in black and wears a black hood, leaving only his two eyes exposed, and the two under him are tall women with charming and evil aura.

"Monster? What monster? We are the four Dharma protectors under the seat of Buddha Wu Tian, ​​Black Robe, Giant Scorpion, Ying Yao and Holy Envoy Black Lotus. We are here in accordance with the law to take over Lingshan." The man in black robe shouted loudly.

“What Buddha Wu Tian? In my Buddhist sect, there is only Buddha Tathagata.” A Dharma protector Vajra replied loudly.

"Tathagata? Hahaha." The black robe laughed mockingly, and Ying Yao smiled seductively:
"Your place will soon have a new owner."

"You bold monster, what you are talking about is nonsense." Many Dharma protectors rushed forward and were about to kill the people in black robe when a purple light fell.

The Dharma protectors outside the Great Leiyin Temple were all knocked to the ground due to the shock.

After the purple light dissipated, a man in a black robe, with disheveled hair and his hands behind his back appeared.

He led the four demons into the main hall with great fanfare, his deep eyes looking upwards, and said:

"Tathagata, I am back. I told you five hundred years ago that I would come back."

"Now the time has come. Do you want to leave by yourself, or should I send you off?"

"This is just a calamity, no need to say more." Tathagata's expression remained unchanged.

"Yes, you are doomed, just like five hundred years ago, you threw me into the abyss of darkness." Wutan said indifferently.

"Although you have comprehended the fate of the calamity, you will never understand that if your good thoughts are never activated, then you will be the one who cannot escape the calamity. This is your destiny, not mine." Tathagata spoke meaningfully.

Wu Tian turned a deaf ear and said:

"I bet you'll never come back."

"Just as I cannot resist fate, when that day comes, you will also be unable to resist it." Tathagata slowly ascended into the air and recited a Buddhist verse:
"All are of one mind, except for that one with two minds, the black-robed Sakyamuni, who rules over the three worlds."

"The true spirit is cast into the Buddhist family, and is reborn into nirvana, returning to the Buddha's land."

“Only with you and me can this disaster be resolved. The world will be clear and bright, and our two hearts will be united.” A black lotus platform appeared under Wu Tian’s feet. He regarded the Buddhas, saints, Bodhisattvas and Arhats in the hall as nothing, sat in half-lotus position where Tathagata used to be, and looked at everyone with deep eyes.

"The Tathagata has passed away. Since the Buddha Wu Tian has taken charge of Lingshan, who among you is willing to convert?" The black robe suddenly asked. Seeing that the Buddhas remained silent, he continued:

"I ask again, which of you is willing to convert?"

Ananda looked around and found that everyone was indifferent. Then he thought of the disaster that Kasyapa had suffered and was afraid that he would follow in his footsteps. He quickly stood up, knelt on the ground and said:
"I have seen the Buddha Wu Tian, ​​and I am willing to convert to Buddhism."

"Okay, a man who knows the times is a hero. You stand up and stand aside." Wutan said with a smile.

"Thank you, Buddha."

"How is it? Is there anyone else who wants to convert?" Wu Tian asked softly.

Seeing that no one was paying attention, Ananda immediately felt that it was time for him to show off, so he stood up and said to Guanyin and others:

"My fellow Buddhas, saints and bodhisattvas, the Tathagata Buddha has passed away. The Wu Tian Buddha has forgiven us for our past grudges and has chosen us according to our abilities. He is willing to take us in. This is our blessing!"

Xi Mingzhang smiled and clasped his hands together towards Wu Tian:
"The great monk said he took refuge, what do you want the little monk to take refuge in?"

"Convert to me, of course."

"what do you?"

“I am the Buddha.”

Xi Mingzhang remained calm and said:
"The Buddha is self-aware, aware of others, and has perfect awareness and practice. Self-awareness belongs to the Hinayana, but only seeks to improve oneself."

"Awakening others is a bodhisattva, with a compassionate heart, who teaches sentient beings on his own initiative and becomes an uninvited friend."

"When one's awakening and practice are complete, one can be called a Buddha. Completeness does not refer to the number of lives saved, but to the nature of the mind. The so-called nature of the mind has three kinds of afflictions. The first is the affliction of views and thoughts. Those who are aware of themselves have eliminated the afflictions of views and thoughts. Those who are aware of others can also eliminate the dust and sand, and transform others through their own actions."

"The fundamental ignorance, the ignorance of the dust and sand of views and thoughts is completely eliminated, and the fundamental ignorance is eliminated to achieve Buddhahood."

"You are worthy of the title of Tripitaka. You are very familiar with the meaning of Buddhist scriptures." Wu Tian said with a smile:
"Buddha means enlightenment, a person of great wisdom, great compassion and great power. I am a person of great compassion and great power. Is there anything wrong with calling myself a Buddha?"

"Not yet." Xi Mingzhang uttered two words.

After Wu Tian heard this, the smile on his face became more intense, and he said:

"Then what's wrong with you, a little monk, converting to Buddhism as a great monk like me?"

"In the past, do you know how I was banished by the Tathagata Buddha to be a mortal for ten lifetimes?" Xi Mingzhang answered without thinking, "For being disrespectful to the Dharma."

Wu Tian sighed:

"Those who disrespect the Buddha's teachings will be condemned to the three evil realms forever. This sin is even more serious than the sin committed by Sun Wukong when he caused chaos in Heaven."

"Now that you have ascended to heaven, occupied the underworld, and entered the Buddhist world, you should have a deep understanding of the four words 'harbouring filth and dirt.'" Xi Mingzhang said in a calm tone, gently:

"For example, I feel that there are so many gods and Buddhas in the world, but they are so high up, not concerned about current affairs, and do not understand reason. They are all incompetent people."

Wu Tian laughed loudly towards the sky:

"Hahaha, Xuanzang, no wonder you were punished by Tathagata to be a mortal for ten lifetimes."

"Since you know that both the heavenly world and the Buddhist world are full of filth, why do you still accept Ananda, a sinister and sneaky Buddhist?"

While Xi Mingzhang was speaking, he snapped his fingers and Ananda's body stiffened and turned into ashes.

(End of this chapter)