The Sixth Patriarch Huineng stared blankly for a while before he replied: "If I follow Xue Qin to the capital, go to the palace to discuss Buddhist matters with the emperor, and explain the principles of Zen, I can indeed become famous all over the world, and I can also help myself." There are a lot of flashy and dazzling haloes on the Buddha's robes. However, the ancestors of our Buddhist sect are all of high moral character. They have never intended to ascend to the emperor to seek any glory and wealth, so as not to pollute the pure land of our Buddhism. That's it. Take our ancestors as an example. In the 17th year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty issued an imperial edict to summon the Fourth Master Daoxin to the palace to be conferred, but the Fourth Patriarch firmly refused and wanted to stay in the Shuangfeng Shandong Zen Temple to promote Buddhism. The Taizong Sect of the Tang Dynasty People used force to coerce him, but the Fourth Patriarch would rather die than give in when faced with a sword at his neck, and still did not change his original intention. Lao Na's master, the Fifth Patriarch Hongren, also had a similar experience. Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty issued imperial edicts many times to invite him to enter the country. He wanted to go to the palace to become a national advisor, and promised him unparalleled fame and fortune, but he was politely rejected by the Fifth Patriarch and decided to stay among the mountains, rivers, forests and springs."
Fahai struck up a conversation: "As the saying goes, accompanying the emperor is like accompanying a tiger. The emperor can change his face at any time and at any time, and many guests have become prisoners of war in the blink of an eye."
Huizhan waved his hands repeatedly: "That's right, Master, I can't go, I won't be able to go!"
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng: "As a teacher, I have decided not to go to Beijing. In addition to the reasons you mentioned, I also feel..."
Disciples: "What do you think?"
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng did not answer aloud, but walked to the corner, suddenly pulled up the daffodil on the rosewood table, hung it in his hand, and shook it.
Huizhan rushed to say: "Master, I understand."
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng: "What do you understand?"
Huizhan pointed at the narcissus and said: "This narcissus is originally a noble thing, but now its roots have left the soil and cannot absorb water and nutrients. Its time in the world is limited. Our 'Sudden Enlightenment' Zen explain……"
"That's it!" The Sixth Patriarch Huineng nodded and said with deep affection, "My Zen theory of 'Sudden Enlightenment' is to inherit the mountain Buddhism from my ancestors and should be rooted in the mountains, rivers, forests and springs, and in the vastness of the world." Among the common people of Li. It spreads widely among the people, so that it can be spread all over the world and continue for generations. If I stay in the palace for a long time, my Caoxi Zen bloodline will undergo qualitative changes and lose its true character. This Zen method It will become a tree without roots and water without a source. It will be like the great master Shenxiu who is attached to the imperial family, and it will transform into Beijing Zen and Guan Zen that have abandoned the people, and become nothing more than furnishings and decorations for the palace. This is also me The fundamental reason why the masters of the Zen sect were unwilling to appear in the palace."
"Yes, Master is right, you can't go, you must not go." The disciples unanimously agreed.
Zhichang spoke slowly at this time: "Master really shouldn't go to Beijing, but Wu Zetian is cruel and cruel, and everyone in the world knows it. If you refuse to go, you will deliberately resist the emperor's decree, and you will be charged with contempt for the emperor. This made Long Yan furious and brought disaster to Baolin Temple, Master and all the brothers." He looked serious as he spoke.
Only then did all the disciples realize the seriousness of the matter. You looked at me, I looked at you, and asked each other: "What should we do?"
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng thought for a while and said: "We must not let the imperial court's attempt to officialize my Caoxi lineage succeed, but using hard methods to disobey the imperial edict is undoubtedly hitting an egg with an egg. In martial arts, there is the art of using softness to control hardness. , this time we can use soft tactics to deal with it!"
Zhi Chang asked, "Master, what method do you have?"
"Listen to me." So, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng told him the method he thought of.
After hearing this, everyone praised it in unison.
The setting sun puts away its last rays of light in the Western Mountains, and the evening mist flows elegantly in the large and small ravines and streams of Caoxi.
The imperial envoy Xue Jian browsed around the Baolin Temple. After dinner, he still didn't see the Sixth Patriarch. He asked Fada, who had been accompanying him, dissatisfiedly: "What's the matter with your master? After receiving the order, the Sixth Patriarch was still there for most of the day." I can't see him, so you are so neglectful of me, a drinker who has come from thousands of miles away?"
Fada explained: "The Imperial Envoy is here for the first time, so I don't know anything about it. My master has been suffering from illness recently. When I heard about your arrival today, the Imperial Envoy, you supported your old, weak and sick body and led us to receive the imperial edict outside the mountain gate."
Xue Jian didn't believe it: "Is there such a thing? Are you lying to me?"
Fada looked horrified: "Lied to you? Imperial Envoy, you came south with an order. To lie to you is to lie to the emperor, and you will be punished with beheading and annihilating the family. Even if I dare to give courage to a poor monk in a water tank, I dare not do this." Do."
"It seems that this is the case." Xue Jian pinched his fat chin, and after pondering, he urged, "It's useless to talk more. Please take me to see your master immediately." His stubborn tone allowed no room for rejection.
"Okay, Imperial Envoy, come with me." Fada led Xue Jian through the long corridor, passed two side halls, and came to the abbot's room of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng.
The door to the abbot's room was open. Standing at the threshold, Xue Jian saw the Sixth Patriarch Huineng leaning on the bed with a wet white cloth wrapped around his forehead. Zhi Chang was feeding him porridge with a spoon.
Xue Jian stepped forward and asked with concern: "Master, how are you?"
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng looked at Xue Jian and did not answer immediately. His throat sobbed hard, as if he was swallowing the porridge that was choked in his throat.
After a while, he pointed to a wooden stool in front of the bed and said, "Your Majesty, please sit down."
Xue Jian was not polite. He sat down on the wooden bench and asked immediately: "Master, when do you plan to leave for Beijing?"
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng covered his chest with his hands, frowned and said, "The emperor summoned me to the capital. I am really flattered by the emperor's great kindness. It's a pity that I can't make the trip."
When Xue Jian heard that the Sixth Patriarch Huineng refused to go to the capital, his heart tightened. He raised his face and said in a warning tone: "Master, aren't you resisting the imperial decree? It should be noted that the emperor's opening of the mouth of gold is like throwing out the poison. The water cannot be taken back, and you deliberately resist the decree, what will this mean to Baolin Temple and you."
Huineng replied feebly: "I did not intend to resist the decree, but had practical difficulties."
Xue Jian asked: "What practical difficulties are there?"
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng let out a long sigh: "I have been living in the mountains and forests for a long time and have been invaded by miasma. I have been in my sixties for a long time. I am physically weak and have heart failure. In addition, I have recently contracted a cold and wind-cold disease. My hands and feet are paralyzed, and my movements are very inconvenient."
"This..." Xue Jianyin thought for a while and then came up with an idea, "If you have trouble walking, I can send a sedan to carry you to Beijing."
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng gasped while speaking: "Even if I go to the capital with you in a sedan chair, it will be thousands of miles away, and there will be many harsh mountains and rivers on the way. The wind and clouds will change unpredictably, sometimes it will be cold and sometimes hot, it will rain and then it will clear. It is so tiring to travel around. , How can I, an old, weak and disabled person, bear this? What I am most afraid of is..." He deliberately lengthened the end of his voice.
Xue Jian asked: "What are you most afraid of?"
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng shook his head helplessly: "I am most afraid that I will die of illness before arriving in the capital. By then, how will you return to the capital to reply to the decree?"
"Ah..." Xue Jian was startled and turned pale. He stood stunned for a long time.
Seeing his expression, the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng knew that his words were effective, and continued: "Besides, I am a grassroots man in the mountains and a poor monk. I know that I am ugly, my feet are a little disabled, and it is not convenient for me to move. I am not as beautiful as a god." Senior brother is so majestic, with long eyebrows and beautiful eyes, and an elegant look. If you are ordered to follow you to the capital, the people in the capital will see this description of the poor monk and despise Buddhism. My former teacher Hongren has already told the poor monk that in this life, I As long as I have a destiny with Lingnan, I can't disobey my teacher's orders!"
After hearing this, Xue Jian frowned, pursed her lips, and hesitated for a long time before she walked to the Sixth Patriarch's bed, knelt down on the ground, and begged with a grimace: "Master, please do it yourself It is difficult to disobey a master's order, but it should be noted that it is even more difficult to disobey the emperor's order from a lower official! The lower official came here with an order, flying thousands of miles, day and night, in order to invite you to go to the capital on a special trip. If you make an excuse not to go to the capital , how do you ask me to go back and pay the order? Master is compassionate and saves all sentient beings. Just save the official first."
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng got off the bed and helped Xue Jian up: "Master Imperial Envoy, I will not deliberately give you difficult problems."
