“Why did I want to practice in the first place?”
When Pei Wende asked this question, Zen Master Lingyou was obviously stunned for a moment.
"Actually, I just wanted to lighten the burden on my family at first, so I got ordained as a monk at Longxing Temple in Hangzhou."
This reason is very real and in line with the national conditions of this era.
Monks with official ultimatums can not only eat royal grains, but also have land in their name that pays little or no tax.
Therefore, in order to avoid complicated taxes and labor, many middle-class families usually send their children to become monks, or attach their own properties to temples.
Anyway, in this era of war and chaos, one more identity means one more way out. Those families with more children can be said to be very open-minded on this point.
However, after all, Zen Master Lingyou is different from those "monastics" who simply mix their identities.
During his time as a monk, he was really studying Buddhist scriptures and Buddhist scriptures, and in the process he discovered what he really wanted.
"During the days of practicing in Longxing Temple, I have been thinking about a question..."
"Am I going to be trapped in a small temple for the rest of my life, living a life where I can see the whole world at a glance?"
"I don't want this. I want to see a wider world. I want to live longer than anyone else and see more things I've never seen before."
"This is the opportunity for me to enter Taoism, and it is also the motivation for my long-term practice."
Zen Master Lingyou told the story of his entry into Taoism without reservation, just like his master once told the story of his entry into Taoism.
"Wait, why does it sound like something's wrong with me?"
After listening carefully to Zen Master Lingyou's speech, Pei Wende suddenly realized that his master's lineage seemed different from what he had imagined.
Not to mention compared with the orthodox and mainstream lineage of Zen Buddhism, even some branches of Tantric Buddhism seem to be less... casual in philosophy than our own lineage?
"Master, didn't you say that we are from the lineage of ascetic monks who cultivate in Tianzhu?"
"But why do I feel that what you are talking about is a bit like Taoist thought?"
"Especially the pursuit of immortality. Isn't this a typical Taoist thought?"
Even Pei Wende, who has never been exposed to any serious Taoist sect, knows that "eternal life and long-term vision" is the concept of most Taoist monks.
It has no resemblance at all to the "universal salvation of all sentient beings and reincarnation" advocated by Buddhism.
"That's why I said that 'most' of my abilities come from the ascetic lineage, not 'all'."
"In fact, if we really want to calculate it, what I have learned in my life as a teacher is so complicated that even I don't know which branch of the sect I should be included in."
"But speaking of the one who had the greatest influence on me as a teacher, it was Zen Master Huaihai from Baizhang Mountain in Hongzhou."
When saying this, Zen Master Lingyou hesitated for a moment before continuing to speak calmly.
"Not to mention Taoism, Buddhism, and even Confucianism, as long as they are beneficial to our practice, is there any difference between them?"
The original tantric ascetics certainly did not have the concept of "eternal life and long-term vision".
Because what they pursue is the next life and karma, and they do not expect to live long in this life.
But after being introduced to the Central Plains for so long, the original group of tantric ascetics were almost dead.
The methods of cultivation that have been handed down have evolved over several generations, and have naturally incorporated some ideas from Taoism, Confucianism, Yin-Yangism, and even Dharma and Mohism.
This is the evolution of natural laws and is the only way for any ambitious latecomer.
Taking advantage of the strengths of hundreds of schools of thought and becoming one person is what a true Taoist should do, what he can do, and what he must do.
"Everything is changing, and so is our practice..."
"The 'end' that our predecessors cannot reach is the 'peak' that our successors will climb."
Zen Master Lingyou's plain tone was full of arrogance and arrogance that Pei Wende had never seen before, and his skinny body seemed to grow taller at this moment.
This familiar scene made Pei Wende couldn't help but think of Hui Ji at Mulian Temple. At that time, Hui Ji seemed to have a similar arrogance when he defeated the demons.
"It seems that there is a reason why you would accept me and senior brother as your disciples."
It was obviously a remark that a normal person would consider rebellious, but in the mouth of Zen Master Lingyou, it seemed to be just a common phenomenon. It is no wonder that Pei Wende complained about his master so much.
Compared to Pei Wende, whose soul comes from the 21st century, Zen Master Lingyou now behaves more like a true "traveler".
Thinking of the arrogance that his senior brother often uttered, Pei Wende suddenly realized that his arrogance and conceit seemed to be from the same origin?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Tongqing Temple, in the Buddhist Scripture Pavilion which is not that big.
"Heaven is going to entrust this person with a great responsibility, but his determination must be hardened first..."
The arrogant and conceited Huiji in Pei Wende's impression was currently copying various books in the Sutra Pavilion.
These include but are not limited to Buddhist scriptures, Taoist scriptures, Confucianism, Legalism, and even some unofficial histories and legends. The richness of its content is no less than that of some large family collections.
What Huiji is doing now is to read and copy these unique books, and use the strengths of other schools to perfect the path he will take in the future.
After all, Huiji is not a newbie like Pei Wende who has not yet started. He has already gone through the path that ordinary practitioners have to take.
Having seen the people of Ming Dynasty who were living in dire straits along the way, they understood the determination of the current Holy One to destroy the Buddha...
Huiji, who was already talented and intelligent, decided to break the precepts and start over from scratch on the path of spiritual practice and life - if a practitioner doesn't do anything in the world, why should he enter the world to practice?
"The Hinayana Buddhism can only save oneself, but can the Mahayana Buddhism really save the world?"
With a look of unwillingness and thought flashing in her eyes, Huiji felt that she might go to Ci'en Temple in Chang'an in the future.
There is the Mahayana Sutra left by Master Xuanzang. Even if it cannot solve all the problems, it will certainly be able to solve some of the doubts in my heart.
"Revolution in the secular world must originate from the secular world..."
As if she suddenly felt something, Hui Ji, who was copying scriptures, turned her head and glanced at Pei Wende's position.
"Finding the path and direction is just the beginning. How to spread the right ideas widely is the most important thing."
“It’s hard to enter Taoism, but it’s even harder to preach!”
Thinking like this, Huiji couldn't help but think of a previous chat with Pei Wende, and they happened to talk about how to spread their opinions without leaving any trace.
"I annotate the Six Classics, I annotate the Six Classics..."
"In the words of that kid, it's like pulling the skin of a tiger, trying to push the general trend, bringing in private goods, and using 'political correctness' to export your own views."
—Recommendation ticket—/—Monthly ticket—
