Tao Yuanming sighed: "Buddhist theory talks about the equality of all living beings and reincarnation, but isn't it actually about competing with the country for profit and snatching manpower and land from the king? To put it bluntly, they are just a group of people with shaved heads and cassocks. It’s just a noble family, what’s the difference between it and Huang Lao’s way?”
Doupeng smiled slightly: "There are two biggest differences. One is not killing, and the other is not paying taxes."
Tao Yuanming's face changed slightly, and he murmured to himself: "Don't kill, don't pay taxes. The first one is easy to understand. Buddhism teaches that you should live without fighting against the world. Killing people is a karma. After death, you have to go to hell to suffer and atone for your sins. Of course , these can only be used to deceive those foolish village women, after all, no one can predict what will happen after death."
Doupeng shook his head: "You only see the hypocrisy of Buddhism, but you don't want to think about why so many people believe in it, even emperors, generals, and even great devils like Shi Hu or Yao Xing Such hypocrites also openly believe in Buddha. These barbarian monarchs are all horse kings, and they kill without blinking an eye. Why do they believe in this the most?"
Tao Yuanming nodded thoughtfully and said: "Perhaps they killed too many people and their hands were full of blood, so they wanted to ask for peace of mind."
Doupeng sighed: "If only it were that simple. People like Shi Hu and Yao Chang, who kill countless people and massacre countless cities, will end up in the eighteenth level of hell no matter how much they worship Buddha. It is impossible to believe this in their hearts. But their belief in Buddhism is another kind of benevolence and righteousness. Not killing animals naturally includes not killing people. They are a foreign race and are not from the Central Plains. They cannot accept our Confucian Zhou rituals for a while, otherwise It may alienate the people of this tribe.”
"Because our own people will say, if these Han people are better than us, and if what they believe in works, how can they defeat and conquer us? Why should we learn from losers? But accept this set of Buddhist ideas from Tianzhu , then you can achieve disguised benevolence and righteousness, and you can stabilize both your own people and the Han people at the same time. After all, the Hu people have never fought with the Tianzhu people, so there is no distinction between them."
Tao Yuanming laughed: "Isn't that hypocritical benevolence and righteousness? All religions in the world, no matter how many schools of thought, all want to persuade people to do good and not to kill and rob. There is no difference in essence. But as emperors and generals, they have Which one can do it?”
Doupeng shook his head: "So, I use thunderbolt methods, but I have the heart of a Bodhisattva. I fight to destroy the country in order to pacify the world, save the people from water and fire, and turn long-term pain into short-term pain. But I can't bear to kill in my heart, so I have Buddha in my heart." , hoping to atone for his sins. This is for his people. To put it bluntly, it is to make the people believe that their monarch is a good man. Even if he has to kill people and fight, it is to end the long-term war caused by division. For To destroy enemy countries, end wars, and pacify the world, temporary conscription of troops and tax increases can be tolerated. This is why these Buddhist disciples quickly became one with the Hu emperors, and even became great national masters. .”
Tao Yuanming nodded: "That makes sense. In troubled times, all living beings are suffering. If the emperor didn't make himself the reincarnation of gods and Buddhas, with the heart of a Bodhisattva, I'm afraid many people would have risen up and resisted. Promise If people accumulate virtue and do good deeds in this life, they will receive less karma after death. This is a good way to appease people's hearts. But the second point mentioned by the Lord is that if you enter Buddhism, you don't have to pay taxes. Isn't this just a matter of competing with the king for profit? It’s the same thing as aristocratic families.”
Doupeng smiled slightly: "Yes, Buddhism helped the emperors to appease the people, persuade the people to be virtuous and do good, and make the people believe that enduring hardship in this life is to eliminate karma in the past life and accumulate blessings for the future life, so when encountering injustice, Don’t resist, just accept it, so that you can cultivate and eliminate karma and enjoy happiness in the next life. As you just said, no one knows what happens after death or the afterlife. You can just deceive yourself and others for the sake of a vain dream."
Tao Yuanming said disdainfully: "But he deceived again and again, but in the end he was still deceiving himself. Even Kumarajiva was just wearing a cassock, but actually it was for himself. Of course, he deceived too many people and deceived himself. He believed that he would become a Buddha, so he hated Lu Guang and Yao Xing who broke his practice the most. He even did not hesitate to collude with Liu Bobo to help him get revenge. If the world knew the true face of this holy monk, I am afraid that his ideal would collapse."
Doupeng said calmly: "But there are still many real ascetic monks in this world who truly believe in Buddhism. A very small number of people are truly firm in their faith, and more people do it for the benefit of reality. Just like Kumarajiva What's more, he is now a holy monk, a great master respected by everyone in the world. He enjoys a higher honor than a human king, and he does not have to bear any worldly responsibilities. He does not need to be responsible for the life, death, wealth and honor of his people. This kind of existing Where can I find good things that have benefits and reputation without offending others?"
"However, Kumarajiva is still the same as the children of the aristocratic family. He still has to eat the fireworks of the world. He still has to have food, clothing, shelter, food, drink, and toilet. He still needs people to serve him. He cannot rely on the servants and tenants in the manor like the nobles of the aristocratic family. To serve yourself, you can recruit disciples and let the young monks in the temple do these things. What do you think is the difference between these young monks and the tenant farmers in the family manor?"
Tao Yuanming laughed: "They don't have to pay taxes or levy. Apart from not being able to marry and have children, their lives are actually much more comfortable than ordinary people in reality!"
Doupeng nodded with satisfaction: "Then tell me, why do these young monks live so comfortably? What are the advantages and disadvantages compared with Liu Yu's model of teaching farmers and tutors?"
Tao Yuanming said seriously: "Liu Yu's plan, although the land is allocated to the people, they still have to pay taxes. According to the current tax law, each family has to pay five shi of grain a year, and each family has to pay four bolts of cloth a year. , In addition, Ding Nan has to serve the country for twenty days. But as a monk, you don't need these. The temple takes care of your food and clothing, and you don't have to pay a grain of rice. You just need to work as instructed, and you don't need to go to war. There is a risk of death. Although you cannot marry, have children, eat meat and drink wine, to be honest, it is still much better than being an ordinary citizen. After all, the country needs the people to pay taxes to support the officials, and it needs the people to join the army to protect their homes and the country. You don’t need that to be a monk.”
Doupeng's eyes flashed coldly: "Yes, that's what happened. Liu Yu allocated land to the people because he still wanted to make the country strong and let the people fulfill their obligations to the country, so he still wanted to The only way to break down Liu Yu's rhetoric about collecting taxes from small groups is to start wars, kill animals to create karma, and increase taxes and gifts for the purpose of fighting, and use small groups to expand the army. The Buddhist theory of writing articles, not fighting against the world, and doing good deeds to save people is the best weapon to attack him!"
