When only Mu Jingrou was left, seeing her hesitation, Ling Qing spoke directly to the others.
"Everyone go about your business. This talisman will be made in a few days."
"Thank you, Master!"
After Xiaoqian and others heard this, they thanked obediently and left.
At this time, only Ling Qing, Yan Chixia and Mu Jingrou were left in the main hall.
"How do fellow Taoists feel during this time?"
"Life is worse than death..."
A trace of fear flashed in Mu Jingrou's eyes, and then she hesitated and said.
"But it's better than dying."
It is instinct to fear death and survive. After so many days of torture, she has changed a lot. .
No different than when he was trapped in the Nether Passage before, even if he had evil thoughts in his heart.
He kept cursing Lingqing, thinking about how to peel his skin and cramp him, and burn his soul with fire.
As long as you don't want to escape and attack the formation, you will basically not be tortured by the evil spirit.
But now that he is restrained, as long as he has evil thoughts in his heart, his soul will be eaten by the evil spirit.
This was a hundred times more painful for her than being in the passage.
At first, after hearing Lingqing do his homework, he had evil thoughts. Sometimes when he saw that Xiaoqian and others were not as respectful to him as before, he felt angry in his heart.
Then the chains will be triggered to ban the cultivation, and the soul will suffer from the evil spirit.
After doing this three times, my mind became more peaceful.
Gradually, I was able to tolerate the gap and learned how to calm my thoughts.
Even if you cannot turn evil thoughts into good thoughts, you must at least prevent evil thoughts from arising in order to avoid torture.
Later Lingqing saw that her character had indeed changed, instead of becoming more obsessed with the devil.
Then she was allowed to choose a lotus platform from the lotus pond and teach the nectar purification method.
Start to cleanse your sins and transfer them to the lotus platform.
But after all, her sins were very serious, and when she was washing her karma, her sins were often steaming up, and her mind was filled with evil thoughts.
However, once this happens, he will be chained and banned from cultivation.
However, with the change of mind and the transfer of bad karma, the situation has greatly improved.
Now I can recite sutras and do exercises with everyone.
He is increasingly different from the fierce and arrogant tree demon grandma before.
"It should be noted that since eliminating evil is a good thing, now the good seeds are growing in the hearts of fellow Taoists."
Lingqing naturally knew the changes in her during this period, nodded and continued.
"Although I have endured a lot of hard work, my fellow Taoist has indeed achieved extraordinary results, which is admired by this poor Taoist.
After some training, fellow Taoists will understand the value of life, and will no longer wantonly look down on sentient beings in the future.
This is also the merit of your mind. "
"I understand." Mu Jingrou nodded in agreement.
"Stubborn iron needs to be tempered by real fire. I will not deceive you."
Yan Chixia looked at Mu Jingrou and nodded in approval.
"Previously, a certain family thought that Taoist brother was so laborious and laborious.
If you rely on a certain family, you can kill it with one sword, and it will be over.
But it can indeed be said that the tree demon in the past has been killed by Brother Dao.
However, unlike a certain family, Brother Dao can still create a thousand-year-old demon spirit with good intentions. "
Then he praised Lingqing: "Fellow Taoist is really compassionate and compassionate."
"Haha, Brother Taoist, that's wrong."
Ling Qing heard his praise, but shook his head and laughed out loud.
"Pindao is just a self-trained Taoist. He may have some small kindness in his heart, but he doesn't really have any great compassion."
"Brother Dao is too modest."
Yan Chixia couldn't help shaking her head and laughing after hearing this.
"This poor Taoist really has no self-effacement, because this is the way that a poor Taoist practices, and he cannot achieve the great mercy that can save the world."
Ling Qing looked at him and said seriously.
"Even if he saves the common people, it is probably because it is beneficial to the poor Taoist's own practice, rather than because he is truly benevolent and compassionate and has the common people in his heart."
Yan Chixia was stunned when she heard this. In fact, Lingqing had said it more than once before.
I am just a Taoist who cultivates his own way and saves himself. He really has no intention of caring about the world and saving all sentient beings.
He originally thought that Ling Qing was just being self-effacing because of his lack of strength. He never thought that he would be so solemn today, which shows that he is not self-effacing.
"May I ask the master of the temple, what is good and evil?"
After many days of being tempered by the devil, she had to figure out what she should do naturally so as not to trigger the restriction of the chain.
But I don’t understand why they are divided in this way, why this is good and that is evil?
"That's a good question."
Ling Qing flicked the fly whisk, praised it, looked at Yan Chixia and said.
"Brother Taoist, what do you think is good and evil?"
"A certain family studied poetry and books since childhood, and rarely admired chivalrous spirit. They believed that they had a noble and chivalrous spirit.
During the Zhengde period of Wuzong, there was a Confucian saint named Yang Yangming, who was highly respected by a certain school.
He once said this:
There is no good or disgusting body, and there are good and evil actions. Knowing good and evil is conscience, and doing good and eliminating evil is qingwu. "
Yan Chixia thought for a moment and then spoke.
He has only been a Taoist priest for a few months now, but he studied Confucian classics for decades before, so he has already determined what is good and what is evil in his heart.
Then he saw that Mu Jingrou was a little confused, so she explained patiently.
"What this says is that there is no good or evil in the heart, and it is determined by the movement of the mind.
It is self-attachment and accumulated habits that cause the distinction between good and evil.
Since the mind comes from the heart, if you want to know good and evil, you should not be attached to yourself, return to your original mind, and learn from it.
It should be understood that following the laws of nature is good, and being moved by Qi is evil. In this way, good and evil come from one's own mind.
Then, you should do good and avoid evil, purify your mind, and develop a conscience to understand morality.
Then we can clearly observe that the Tao is manifested by virtue, and virtue can transform into the principle of growth and nourishment of all things. "
At this point, he spoke with determination, looked at Mu Jingrou and concluded.
“So Yang Mingxin’s theory: following the laws of nature is good, and being moved by Qi is evil.
Good and evil are in one's own mind, and everyone's understanding of heavenly principles is different.
When everyone reaches a consensus on good and evil, it can be called a moral guideline.
If this goes against morality, it is evil, and if it follows morality, it is good. "
"Then what I did in the past, was it good or evil?
Those girls in Xiaoqian were not killed by me, except for a few people who were forcibly killed by me.
The rest are due to their inability to withstand the temptation and the greed and lust in their hearts.
Those who are greedy for money and lust are supposed to be against morality and do evil things.
The essence and blood of people like this can also help me refine the essence and blood of Yaksha.
It can be seen that even Yasha, who is a ghost and god in the underworld, does not object to me killing them.
Then if I kill them, am I eliminating evil? "
After listening to his remarks, Mu Jingrou felt that she had just understood the difference between good and evil, but she was a little confused again.
"Then what I did was good or evil? If it was evil, how much evil was it?"
"This... a certain family can be said to have killed countless people in the past, even the bags used to hold the heads.
It’s all because there are too many people pretending to be, and the climate has been cultivated.
It is said that those people you killed did have a right to die, but you did have evil obstacles in your body.
If you follow a certain family to kill, that family is confident that they don't have such sinful karma as you. "
Yan Chixia hesitated for a moment, "As for why this is the case, it is not something that a certain family can explain."
"I wonder if the temple master can help me understand my confusion?"
Mu Jingrou saw that although Ling Qing was silent, she was not as confused as Yan Chixia, so she asked.
Seeing her doubts, Lingqing didn't answer directly, but changed the topic.
"Both of Pindao's parents died when he was young, and only his family ancestors took care of him.
For this reason, the ancestors of the family were obsessed with maintaining their health and prolonging their lives in order to be able to marry the poor and have a family. However, they died when they were old.
Later, with the support of the elders in the clan, Fang learned some principles, but he continued to live in confusion.
Only if you don't give up for your family ancestors and relatives can you avoid falling into the wrong path.
Because of this experience, Pindao just wants to live and has no intention of loving others.
He doesn't care about good or evil, he only doesn't abandon others because he loves them.
Later, he acquired a natural art by chance. What he was looking for was a way to gain power from the nature of heaven and earth.
However, the behavior of heaven is permanent, and it does not exist for Yao or perish for Jie. In the words of Duke Yangming, it can be said that it is a body without kindness or disgust.
Naturally, there is neither good nor evil in heaven and earth, and power cannot do good or evil. Therefore, good and evil are all determined by the mind of a poor person.
However, although the thoughts of good and evil in Pindao's heart were uncertain, with this power, the thoughts of his family ancestors inspired Pindao's thoughts of immortality.
However, although this technique is wonderful, it is only a way to prolong life, but not a way to immortality.
Then I heard that there are many people who practice immortality and Taoism in ancient temples in the mountains, and they have a magic formula for immortality.
Immediately he went to ask for it. Fortunately, the master was merciful and put it behind the door wall. He started chopping firewood and taught him the magic recipe and taught the poor moral principles.
From then on, I realized that immortality is precious and there is no way to measure people.
Now we know that all sentient beings have spirituality. We should cleanse ourselves, abstain from delusion, and cultivate our moral character.
When you realize that you have kind thoughts in your heart and pursue immortality, you should unite your heart with kindness to save yourself and others. "
After recalling the past in this life for a while, he made his mind clear and clear, and his spirit suddenly felt like he could see the moon through the clouds.
Then he refreshed himself, shook the dust in his hand, and smiled again.
"You were doing well here. Although you killed people, you didn't provoke Pindao.
However, Pindao came to my door and used himself to seduce Xiaoqian and others and you to kill me. Is this the same as your seduction with wealth and sex? "
"This..." Mu Jingrou didn't know what he meant for a moment, so she hesitated and didn't speak.
“She uses wealth and sex to lure greed into others’ hearts, and then kills them.
And you used your own life to seduce the greed in her heart, and then you can say you killed her. "
Seeing that Mu Jingrou was not able to answer, Yan Chixia thought for a while and said.
"It seems there is no difference, but the result is one evil and one good, so naturally there is a difference."
"exactly."
Ling Qing nodded towards Yan Chixia, then looked at Mu Jingrou and asked.
"Then do you know what the difference is?"
"Is it because I killed them and you didn't kill us?"
She thought for a while and said the differences that could be seen with a clear eye.
"Although there is, it is not the main thing."
Ling Qing nodded, shook his head and said.
“The most important thing is the heart, the thoughts of good and evil.
A gentleman once said something like this:
If you have the intention to do good, you will not be rewarded even if you do good; if you do not have the intention to do evil, you will not be punished even if you do evil.
It can be seen that whether it is good or evil depends entirely on the goodness and evil of the mind.
However, if you do evil unintentionally, even if you are not punished, it is still evil and has its sins; if you do good intentionally, although you are not rewarded, it is still good and has its virtues.
Therefore, Taoism has a saying: Do no evil, practice all good deeds, do not fall into karma, and always live in a prosperous age.
Furthermore, unintentional goodness is the highest goodness.
Because he often advises people: Just do good deeds and don’t ask about the future.
However, unintentional evil is a small evil, but intentional evil must be the ultimate evil. Do you understand this? "
"The temple master said that it was just because Taoist Chixia killed people with good intentions in order to eliminate evil.
And it is not out of evil intentions, so not only is there no fault, but it is meritorious.
And I kill people out of disgust, just for my own selfishness, all out of evil desires, so there is no merit or fault.
Therefore, although they are both murderers, they are different from good and evil. "
Mu Jingrou thought for a while and said, having a slight understanding of what Ling Qing meant.
"And the behavior of the temple master is actually no different from that of Taoist Yan. It's just that he didn't really kill us, but prohibited us from doing evil."
"Of course, the reason why Pindao says he doesn't have great compassion is also because of this heart."
Ling Qing nodded, flicked the whisk in his hand, and continued.
"This principle of saving people immeasurably has been learned and understood by Pindao.
However, although the reason is clear, it does not mean that it can be done.
A poor person loves himself more than he loves others, and his heart to save himself is better than his heart to save others.
What you think and do will not violate Master's teachings, but as long as it does not violate Master's teachings, everything you think and do will always put yourself first.
Pindao is a self-cultivation person, and the good and evil he does are all based on the laws of nature in his heart.
When a poor person acts in accordance with the laws of nature in his heart, he is doing good deeds.
If it is done due to the will, it will harm the practice and be evil.
As long as it can help poor people practice, poor people actually don't mind.
Pindao took in Xiaoqian and others, suppressed you, and now wants to save you, although he can be called a good deed.
But Pindao's original purpose was not for you, nor for those who were harmed by you, but for Pindao himself.
However, since this is the case, it is done with intention, and it will naturally fall into place.
So there is only small kindness, but no great compassion.
And as I told you before, although Pindao has a kind heart, he only pays it to those who have kind thoughts in his heart.
There are many powerful ghosts trapped in the earth evil tree. Since poor Taoist people seek this kind heart and merit, why don't they save them?
Because he has no good intentions and cannot be saved by poverty, he will not cause trouble.
Only those with good intentions in their hearts can save themselves by abandoning evil and promoting good. How can they save those who have no good intentions in their hearts?
Just like you did before, if you insist on having your own way, you will never change it until you die.
Although you are helpful to the poor Taoist, the poor Taoist can only send you ashes and send a little bit of your true spirit to a clean reincarnation.
Rather than being presumptuous. "
…
Between heaven and earth, humans, gods, ghosts and monsters have their own laws of survival, and each has its own laws of nature.
As a demon, you have no problem eating dead people, but you don't do the ways of heaven.
It’s okay to eat living people, and I don’t do the ways of heaven.
Just because the demon's laws are like this.
So there are things like forced mating.
It’s karma if it’s done by humans, but it’s natural if it’s done by demons.
But after a demon has a human heart, it needs to be calculated according to human laws.
When it is like before, there is no sin in the first place.
But just because his mind has changed, he will have sinful karma.
As a demon, Mu Jingrou was born a demon.
Originally, it was okay to kill someone, as long as she thought it was the natural justice in her heart.
But she and the monks in the temple learned a lot about benevolence, righteousness and morality, and learned a lot of principles of life, so she cultivated her heart.
But this also became a restriction that bound her.
When she acts with a demon mentality and human means, she will naturally cause sin.
Just like the Ghost King of Yin Mountain, he broke through the underworld, opened up the two realms of yin and yang, and wanted to reverse yin and yang.
His actions are neither good nor evil to heaven and earth.
For him, it is based on his own natural principles, and he is doing good rather than evil.
But there is a difference between gods, humans, ghosts and demons. For heaven and earth, for him, he is doing good deeds.
But for humans, that's doing evil.
This is a fight between racial distinctions and has nothing to do with good or evil.
As for gods, humans, ghosts and demons, they distinguish between good and evil, treat everyone equally, and reach an infinite realm.
Lingqing might be able to gain enlightenment in the future, but now he only seeks to save himself.
If you can do it and others are willing to believe in you, you may be able to help them.
But it is too early to say that he is compassionate.
Immortal and Immortal, since they have personal characters, there is still a difference between closeness and distance.
Note: I originally wanted to post it in the main text, but it was all preachy stuff and there were too many words, so I gave up.
Most importantly, there are many things I want to express that I haven’t finished writing yet, such as the analysis of gods, humans, ghosts and monsters.
Let’s just post it as a side story and add more when I have time.
To sum up, Lingqing is not a saint, or even a moral model.
He just wants to live forever.
The reason why he punishes evil, promotes good, and saves others is because doing so is beneficial to him, and the teacher's teachings prevent him from doing evil.
To save all sentient beings? Let’s wait until he becomes a saint.
Of course, this saint is not the kind of saint who just talks about grievances against so-and-so and thinks so-and-so is innocent.
But a saint who can really solve things and calm resentment.
If you want to be a saint, you must take practical actions.
It is a virtue to work hard and do it sincerely, and it is a virtue to do what you say.
Otherwise, no matter how much you say, it will just be nonsense.
