Master Kuchan was so smart that he immediately understood the trap in Xiao Feng's question, so he knew that he could never answer directly.
If you answer directly that you shouldn't, not to mention that the court will hate and suppress Buddhism even more, even the people in Jiangnan who have been tortured by Japanese pirates will not agree.
If you directly answer yes, it means that as a monk, you agree with Xiao Feng leading troops to kill people.
The reason why Xiao Feng killed the Japanese pirates was because the Japanese pirates killed the people of the Ming Dynasty. Isn't this just repayment of injustice?
"My dear friend, this question involves the imperial court. Buddhism does not involve itself in the world. The poor monk is a monk and cannot make arbitrary comments on the government. Please forgive me."
Zhao Wenhua finally felt relieved when he raised his voice. He secretly praised the old monk for being very alert. Xiao Feng, a bastard, was famous for digging holes for others!
"Since Master is not willing to discuss the affairs of the state arbitrarily, then the imperial court's respecting Taoism and suppressing Buddha is also the government's affairs. Why does Master want to discuss it arbitrarily?
Could it be that if government affairs don’t involve you, you won’t discuss it arbitrarily, but if it involves you, you should discuss it arbitrarily? How is this different from those selfish villains?
Everyone sweeps the snow in front of their own door, regardless of the frost on other people's tiles. When it does not concern them, the clouds are calm and the wind is calm. When it concerns them, they are furious. Is this the practice of a master? "
Master Kuchan was not only frowning at this time, but almost all the places on his face that could be wrinkled were wrinkled. His gray beard was trembling slightly, obviously he was not very calm.
"The poor monk has long heard of the master's power of speech, and when he saw it today, his reputation was well-deserved. However, the master's sophistry is just a trail.
The poor monk only said a few words to explain that Buddhism is the Great Way, which is self-evident without explanation. Are real people willing to listen? "
Xiao Feng smiled: "I don't want to listen."
Um? Everyone was stunned, and Zhao Wenhua almost jumped up. Why the hell didn't you follow the routine?
Master Kuchan was also stunned and looked at Xiao Feng at a loss. He didn't know what to say next. Should he just get up and leave? That doesn't seem to work.
When I was asked by Xiao Feng earlier, I hid here and there and refused to answer directly. Anyone with ears could tell that I was at a disadvantage. Now that I want to fight back, I can't stop speaking just because others don't want to listen.
"Are you really scared?"
"not afraid."
"Then why don't you want to listen?"
"Master, are you afraid if you don't want to listen?"
"Real person, if you're not afraid, you shouldn't be unwilling to listen."
Xiao Feng smiled slightly: "Master, I heard that outside Nanjing, on the Qinhuai River, ten miles of rouge washes the water, and half the city is woven into the sky. I have always wanted to see it. I wonder if Master would like to travel with me?"
There was an uproar in the hall. Where is the place on the Qinhuai River? Everyone knows that it is the largest mobile brothel in the Ming Dynasty. The flower boats are all hung with red lanterns with words!
Master Xiao actually wants to take Master Kuchan to visit the Qinhuai River! A Taoist priest takes a monk to visit a brothel. What a magical combination this is!
Master Kuchan really lost his temper this time, and his white beard was shaking wildly, but he was an eminent monk after all, and he quickly calmed down.
"It's a real joke."
"Master, don't you want to go?"
"Monks shouldn't set foot in a place where fireworks are happening. Naturally, they don't want to."
"Master, are you scared?"
Um? Are you waiting for me here? Ku Chan took a long breath and looked at Xiao Feng helplessly.
"Master, I understand what you mean. If you don't want to listen, I won't ask."
"I'm willing to listen."
"You...you just said you didn't want to listen."
"I didn't want to listen just now, but now I am willing to listen. When you get married to preach, will you stop preaching because others were unwilling to listen before?"
"This... of course not, but since the real person is willing to listen, why did he have to be so unreasonable before?"
"When you get married to preach, when you face a person who puts down your butcher knife and want to get married, do you have to ask him hard, since you are going to put down your butcher knife, why did you still hold it before?"
Kuchan closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing for a cup of tea. When he opened his eyes again, his expression and tone finally returned to calm, at least that's what it seemed.
"Ma'am, the evidence I want to say is that Buddhism comes from outside the world, but it is widely spread throughout the world and has many believers.
Take the Central Plains as an example. Throughout the dynasties, there have been many attempts to destroy and exterminate Buddhas. However, Buddhism has lasted for thousands of years.
The Taoist sect originated in the Central Plains, and there have been few attempts to destroy Taoism in the past dynasties. However, the Taoist sect in the Central Plains is still difficult to compare with the Buddhist sect, let alone outside the Central Plains, it almost never goes abroad!
The great road works but the small road does not work. This is enough to prove that Buddhism is the big road and Taoism is the small road! "
It was wonderful. Zhao Wenhua finally lost control and jumped up. Then when he saw Xiao Feng and everyone looking at him, he bent down and rubbed his legs in embarrassment.
"My legs have been cold recently, and I get cramps every now and then. Oops, it really hurts, hahaha, it hurts so much."
Xiao Feng looked at Ku Chan and saw him lowering his eyelids with a calm expression as if he was sure of victory. He suddenly laughed, which stunned Ku Chan.
"Why do real people laugh?"
"Master Kuchan, Buddhism has been talking about cause and effect for too many years, and it has gradually confused the relationship between cause and effect. It is said that if there is a cause, there must be an effect, and if there is an effect, there must be a cause, right?"
"That's it. Is there anything wrong with it?"
"The master took Buddhism to spread to many places and have many followers as the result, Taoism to not go abroad and stick to the Central Plains as the result, and reverse the effect as the cause, and concluded that Buddhism is the great road and Taoism is the small way.
Then I would like to ask Master, in the world are there more scholars or monks? "
Master Kuchan was stunned. Even a fool knows the answer to this question and must not talk nonsense: "Of course there are many scholars."
"Then according to the master, Confucianism has the largest number of people, so it is naturally a greater avenue than Buddhism?"
"This... cannot be said like this. Buddhism has experienced the destruction of Buddhas, but scholars are protected by the imperial court..."
"The First Emperor of Qin also burned books to enslave Confucian scholars, and the Five Husbands in China also killed people of high rank. Huang Chao rebelled against others and killed many scholars. Are you saying that in the recent Yuan Dynasty, not more scholars died than monks?"
"There are... although there are many scholars, but if we include the good men and women who believe in Buddhism and Taoism, there will be no fewer Buddhists than scholars..."
"Oh, if you don't have to be a monk or study, as long as you want it, then Buddhism will be completely defeated.
As the saying goes, everything is of inferior quality, but reading is good, we might as well conduct an on-site investigation. "
Xiao Feng raised his voice: "Everyone, please tell your conscience, do you want your son to study, or do you want your son to become a monk?"
This survey is actually meaningless. Except for a very few people, other people will definitely choose to let their sons study regardless of their conscience or any part of the body.
Master Kuchan helplessly looked at the one-sided answer and retorted unwillingly: "We are comparing Buddhism and Taoism. Why did you bring Confucianism into it?"
Xiao Feng smiled and said: "A Confucian who only practices worldly things can crush Buddhism in terms of numbers. Does the master still think that the number of believers and the size of the area can prove who is the big way and who is the small way?"
Kuchan was speechless, and it took him a long time to switch from offense to defense, because he realized that it was probably a stupid decision for him to attack from the beginning.
"The real person is thoughtful and sharp in his words, which puts the poor monk to shame. So among the real people, which one is bigger and which one is smaller, Taoism or Buddhism?"
Xiao Feng smiled: "If you ask me, of course Taoism is the big one and Buddhism is the small one."
If these words had just been said at the beginning, there would have been an uproar in the hall, but at this time everyone was already convinced by Xiao Feng, and they were waiting for him to continue in silence.
"Master, what does Tao mean?"
Master Kuchan is a knowledgeable and eminent monk. Naturally, he will not just read Buddhist scriptures. Otherwise, he would not dare to discuss Taoism with Xiao Feng confidently. He answered immediately.
"The principle of all things is Tao, and the origin of yin and yang in the heaven and earth is Tao."
"Among all things, is Buddha included?"
"Buddha is not among the Three Realms and Five Elements, so it should not be included."
"Does Buddha really exist?"
"Nature is real."
"Does Elysium really exist?"
"Nature is real."
"Why are the things that really exist not included in everything?"
"Buddha said, don't say it."
"Is a monk a human being?"
"Nature is human."
“Is man in all things?”
"Although monks are human beings, and although they are among all things, Buddhism is to take the Buddha out of the three realms and five elements to the bliss of the Western Heaven."
“Since a monk is a human being, he is bound by the Tao among all things.
According to the master, the Buddha and the West are not in the Tao. So if Buddhism wants to take the monks out of all things, it must first break through the shackles of the Tao. Is this right? "
Kuchan hesitated for a moment and nodded: "Of course."
"A monk is a human being and is born in the Tao. The Buddha is not in the Tao, but he wants to snatch the monk away from the Tao. The Tao does not rob people from the Buddha, but the Buddha robs people from the Tao. Is that so?"
"This... this can't be called robbery. How can it be called robbery when it comes to spiritual practice..."
"One is as good as water, benefiting all things without competing; the other is not in the Tao, but robs people from the Tao. Master, of these two, which one is like the great way, and which one is like the small way?"
Ku Chan worked hard to maintain his belief: "Shen Zhen, because all living beings are suffering, the Buddha wants to save all sentient beings. Let's go to the ultimate happiness together, from the hard place to the paradise, it seems that we can't call it robbery..."
Xiao Feng smiled faintly, stood up, and walked towards the crowd watching the excitement in the hall. Everyone didn't know what he was going to do, but they knew that his official position was huge, so they all lowered their heads in fear and backed away naturally.
However, the crowd was so packed that those in the back could not retreat, and those in front could not either. Xiao Feng walked up to a couple holding a child and looked at the four or five-year-old child with a smile.
The couple bowed to Xiao Feng with apologetic smiles on their faces, wondering what the governor was going to do. Xiao Feng reached out and touched the child's little hand and spoke lightly.
"Looking at your clothes, you don't look like you come from a wealthy family. This child is so cute, but it's a pity that he ends up in your family and suffers.
Let me take him to the capital. There are many rich people in the capital who have no children. Let me help you find a family to send him to. "
This was like a bolt from the blue. The young couple got up early and worked hard to get a good seat, just to eat a big melon. Unexpectedly, they ate the melon!
The child's mother hugged her son tightly and knelt down to Xiao Feng with a plop: "Sir, you can't do it, you can't do it!"
The husband was so frightened that he knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly: "Sir, sir, I only have one son, but I still expect him to continue his legacy. Sir, have mercy, sir!"
Xiao Feng frowned: "Your son is going to the capital to enjoy the blessings. It's a great thing to be away from a poor family like yours. Why don't you know what's good for you?"
The young couple did not dare to speak, but kowtowed to Xiao Feng desperately. Xiao Feng laughed, stretched out his hand to help the two of them up, and took out a piece of silver from his sleeves.
"I'm kidding you, this money is just for you. I can buy some delicious food for my child, and raise him well. He can study, practice Taoism, or become a monk. It's up to him."
The young couple was in shock. They suddenly got money again. They nodded in confusion and secretly swore in their hearts that they would never grab the first row again next time they watch the fun!
Xiao Feng walked back to the chair and sat down, looking at Ku Chan with a smile without saying a word. Ku Chan looked even more depressed than before.
"The poor monk understands what the real person means. It is just that the Buddha saves people voluntarily and not by force. Compared with this, the real person is still biased."
"Master, do you have a family?"
"There is no home for a monk, and there is no home for a monk."
"Do you have a family?"
Ku Chan raised his head in astonishment and looked at Xiao Feng's cold gaze. He suddenly realized that he was not quarreling with him, but was asking a real question.
"A poor monk came from a poor family. He went to the mountains to become a monk since he was a child. His parents have passed away long ago and he has no home."
"Do you become a monk voluntarily?"
"Of course it is."
"How old were you when you became a monk?"
"The poor monk was five years old at the time."
Xiao Feng stood up again and walked to the couple. The couple was about to cry without tears. Why did Mr. Xiao have to pluck out the wool of our sheep today?
Xiao Feng smiled broadly and said to the little boy in a soft tone: "My child, do you want to eat candied haws on a stick every day? Eat meat buns every day?"
The little boy swallowed and nodded: "I thought so."
The couple also understood Xiao Feng's intention, and they lowered their heads and did not dare to disturb Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng smiled more amiably.
"That man selling candied haws on a stick, come here!"
A vendor who relied on the candied haws to protect himself and grabbed a good seat quickly stepped forward and saluted Xiao Feng, and Xiao Feng threw him a piece of silver.
"I've wrapped this candied haws."
The vendor never dreamed that he would finish his work before those who were working hard in the crowd pushing carts and selling breakfast. He happily kowtowed to Xiao Feng with a smile on his face, accepted the money and left.
Xiao Feng took the big bundle of candied haws and said to the boy with a smile: "Do you believe in Buddhism? If you believe in Buddhism, I will give you these candied haws. If you don't believe in it, I won't give it to you."
The little boy pointed his fingers with his mouth and drooled: "I believe it, I believe it, I really believe it, can you give me the candied haws?"
Xiao Feng handed a bunch of candied haws to the little boy and patted his head: "Good boy, you are still too young to understand what voluntariness is.
In fact, many people don't understand what voluntary means when they grow up, because they have long lost the ability to judge what voluntary means. "
The couple looked at Xiao Feng in confusion. As Xiao Feng said, neither of them quite understood what Xiao Feng meant.
But Master Kuchan naturally understood. When Xiao Feng sat back on the chair again, Master Kuchan stood up tremblingly.
Although he was old, he was still energetic and healthy, but now he seemed to have grown old all of a sudden, as if the hardest bone that supported him had been taken away.
"True man, the poor monk is not good at teaching Buddhism, and his reasoning is poor and his words are poor. He is unworthy of Buddhism. But this is only the failure of the poor monk, not the failure of Buddhism.
The poor monk should practice in seclusion. If he gains something, I hope he still has more years to ask the real person for advice. "
Xiao Feng smiled calmly: "Master, you lost this argument from the very beginning."
Ku Chan looked at Xiao Feng, wondering if he was mocking him. Xiao Feng sighed softly, as if speaking to Ku Chan and himself.
"Some people say that Buddhism and Taoism have the same origin. When Lao Tzu left Hangu Pass in the west, he went to Tianzhu to preach. Therefore, there are many similarities between Buddhism and Taoism.
But Buddhism emphasizes the afterlife rather than this life; it emphasizes the nature of the mind rather than the body's behavior; it emphasizes cause and effect rather than temporary good and evil; it emphasizes emptiness rather than worldly affairs and human feelings.
Buddhism is not supposed to value fame and fortune, but the master is dissatisfied with the imperial court's belief in Taoism and suppression of Buddhism; Buddhism is not supposed to value victory or defeat, but the master is racking his brains to be better than me.
If the Dharma is boundless, all the monks can do is preach the sutras and sermons. Why should we care about who is higher and who is lower? Could it be that Buddhism and Taoism are two teahouses and restaurants across from each other, competing for customers?
Although the master's actions today are to promote Buddhism, it is inevitable that others will instigate and exploit him. He has become a knife in the palm of others. He has victory or defeat in his heart and has fallen into the inferior vehicle.
The Sixth Patriarch once said, "There is nothing in the beginning, so where can we cause dust?" Lao Tzu once said that a husband does not fight, so no one in the world can fight with him.
The two sects, who were originally unwilling to fight, are now quarreling and blushing here. The master should know why. "
Although Kuchan was originally defeated, he was still grudged in his heart. After listening to Xiao Feng's words, he sweated like rain and soaked the monk's robe.
He clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to Xiao Feng: "I have studied Buddhism for decades, but today I realize that I can only understand its form, but not its truth.
The Buddha's Dharma is boundless, and the poor monk should study it diligently. He hopes to meet the real person again someday. He will not argue about superiority and inferiority, but only discuss the way of heaven and earth! "
After the ceremony, he turned around, without even looking at the gaping Zhao Wenhua behind him, he laughed loudly, walked briskly through the crowd, and walked away.
Xiao Feng turned around, looked at Zhao Wenhua and smiled calmly: "Master Zhao, Master Zhao? I can't stay in Nanjing for long. Is there anyone else you want me to see?"
