In the Longyuan Academy, two carriages, led by the guards, drove all the way into the hall before stopping in front of the living room. Immediately, a kind-faced, kind-eyed, enlightened monk with Dharma appearance stepped out of the carriage.
Li Tai stood at the door of the living room. When he saw the two old monks getting out of the car, he raised his hand and said with a smile: "I know that the two masters are elegant and like to be quiet, so I specially set up a banquet at home to welcome them. The hall is simple, so please forgive me."
The two old monks originally looked calm and graceful, but when they saw Li Tai, they immediately broke down. They hurriedly raised their legs and walked forward, and then bowed to Li Tai at the foot of the steps. One of the old monks
The monk even said respectfully: "Tang Gong is the supreme Dharma King in the world. His body is dazzling with Dharma. The old monks are all protected by Tang Gong's glory. When they are summoned, it is no different than listening to the Buddha's voice!"
The other old monk's posture was a little more reserved. Although he didn't say such disgusting flattery, he nodded in agreement.
The names of these two old monks are Master Hongyi and Master Tanjing respectively. They are both Samana monks whom Li Tai used to regain in his early years. They were arranged to run the Buddhist temple on his behalf in northern Shaanxi. Li Tai planned to make money from Samanas before.
It is to let them, as internal leaders, set an example first and set a tone for attracting money, so that other Buddhist temples will follow suit.
This time at the great debate on Buddhism and Taoism held in Chang'an City, although the two old monks did not appear on the stage to debate, they also participated in it and acted as Li Tai's informants to influence the progress of the debate.
The reason why Li Tai chose to summon the two people in his own academy rather than in an official office was of course to deceive others.
Erwuzi is always disliked, and there are many officials in the Western Wei Dynasty who are devout Buddhist believers. Although there are many people in the court who speculate and feel that Tang Gong wants to engage in ascetics, but this kind of thing
I would rather let people know than see. Covering up a little bit can be regarded as respecting everyone's beliefs.
"How is the progress of this sutra debate? How do all the eminent monks who participated in the sutra debate feel at the moment?"
After welcoming the two of them into the hall and sitting down, Li Tai asked with a smile.
"The situation is very unfavorable. The scholars of the Southern Dynasties have exquisite mystical meanings that are extremely difficult to refute. The mages have tried their best to break through the encirclement, but in the end they have not been able to defeat the mystical method. So far, they are somewhat helpless, but they are just worried every day."
After hearing Li Tai's question, the two old monks looked at each other, and each sighed with a worried look on his face. Then Monk Hongyi answered. Although they are the second and fifth generation of ascetics, they have experienced so many years of practice.
Of course, I also hope that Buddhism can be carried forward.
Li Tai had little faith and emotion in this matter, and the result was not what he expected.
The local integration and development of Buddhism is a long process. Although it was very popular during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the development of its theory of scriptures did not make significant progress until the Tang and Song Dynasties. Although the discussion of metaphysics and Taoism also flourished in
During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, it was developed from local culture. When it comes to the level of logic and dialectics, the current Buddhism is still a bit inadequate.
The current development of Buddhism is similar to the later public accounts in the era of self-media that blindly seek traffic. All kinds of exaggeration and bizarre, taken out of context, creating atmosphere and rhythm are professional. As for the real logic and truth, there may be some but not much.
If you leave this kind of thing indifferent and let it develop, its momentum of development will be very strong. But if you can't help but take a closer look, it is an unreasonable phenomenon. If you really want to use reason to explain it, they themselves will be confused.
Zhou Hongzheng and other people from the Southern Dynasties, who Li Tai arranged to compete with these eminent monks, were truly knowledgeable in the three religions and were the first-class academic scholars in the world. They were not only proficient in metaphysics and Yili, but also had a deep understanding of Buddhist classics, and their attainments may even be higher.
Beyond these eminent monks from Guanlong, how can these eminent monks win the debate if they can argue with reasonable arguments or if they are unreasonable or unreasonable?
"In this case, do these eminent monks have any plans on how to end this?"
Li Tai then asked again. This time the debate was not as simple as admitting defeat if you couldn't argue, because it was related to the development prospects of the two major religions, Buddhism and Taoism, in the Western Wei Dynasty.
The reason why the monks actively donated materials and sought the qualification to participate in the debate was because they were tempted by the prospect of a dominant Northern Qi Buddhist family directly monopolizing religious beliefs.
They also dreamed of replicating this situation in the Western Wei Dynasty. In this way, the monks who promoted this change could not only occupy a place in the history of religious development, but also their actual benefits could be greatly increased, not to mention returning.
There will be blessings and rewards after the great Dharma.
But the problem is, if all of this is to be realized, the prerequisite is to win the debate on Buddhism and Taoism. But now they can't win at all, so their original intention to make Buddhism great will become self-destructive stupidity.
This is a move, and this opportunity for self-destruction was bought by them with their own real money!
The two monks looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly. Those monks who participated in the debate were worried about this. Although they could not win the debate, they just gritted their teeth and refused to admit defeat, just wanting to delay it forever.
When Master Tanjing saw Li Tai frowning, he cautiously said: "Does Mr. Tang really want to destroy the temple and extinguish the Dharma? These monks have not mastered the Dharma and should be punished. However, the Dharma of ascetics can educate all people, and it has its merits after all.
Ah. If it is destroyed once, it will not only be the ascetics and monks who will be harmed, but also the believers from all walks of life will probably be unstable... Why not, it is better to spread the word to all the temples, and follow the previous plan, and visit another master with profound Buddhist teachings to come to the capital.
Come to argue?"
This monk really had some Buddha nature. In order to maintain the qualification of Buddhism to spread Buddhism in the Western Wei Dynasty, he directly suggested to continue to expand the scope of exploitation. He could also see that Tang Gong did this just to raise money and food, and to prevent Buddhism from being harmed.
Banning the destruction, asking a group of temples to crowdfund and pay protection fees, and just letting the debate continue is a plan worth considering.
After Li Tai heard this, he waved his hand. He was embarrassed to hear this ugly look. Moreover, such a strategy was destined to be a one-shot deal. Afterwards, everyone realized that this was a sinkhole. Who would rush to be the first?
Jump in?
Of course, it is not in line with the current needs of the Western Wei Dynasty to maintain social stability and vigorously develop internal affairs to seize and completely destroy and ban Buddhism now. With all the wealth, resources and labor possessed by Buddhism released at once, the hegemony can effectively
Only a small part will be absorbed and digested.
He still remembered that when Master Tanjing's Guangming Temple was built in Qinzhou, Longyou, there was an account in the Guangming Temple. What was recorded was that the temple colluded with a group of local powerful people and transferred benefits. Therefore, once a complete ban on Buddhism was issued,
After the decree to destroy the Buddha, the temple's assets will quickly flow to the countryside and be hidden again in another place.
Banning Buddha is already an act that can cause serious instability at all levels of society. If we continue to expand the scope of the attack to trace the flow of assets and include local powerful people, it will basically be like digging a hole to bury ourselves.
So the next step is to instigate them to fight among themselves, thereby gradually squeezing the temple's assets and establishing new control rules. If the court can effectively control the temple through decrees and rules, then Destruction of the Immortal Buddha will not be important.
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After all, it is much easier to raid an illegal Buddhist temple than to collect rent from thousands of households, and the harvest is much more impressive. They are all piglets raised in their own pig pens, and they will not be fattened until they are killed.
, you have to stare at the roasted suckling pig?
After pondering for a while, Li Tai looked at the two monks and said: "When you return home, you can tell the eminent monks that the reason why Buddhism is unclear now is not necessarily because the masters are not good at studying the Dharma, but that the signs of the end of the Dharma in this world are getting stronger. Samana
It is filled with dirt and dirt, causing the Buddha to fall into oblivion and destroy the Dharma. If you want to promote the Dharma, you must correct yourself!"
After Monk Hongyi heard this, he suddenly understood. He immediately leaned over and asked, "Excuse me, Mr. Tang, if the ascetics want to save themselves, how should they correct themselves?"
"The method of self-rescue lies in one's own mind. All the eminent monks and masters are deeply immersed in the Dharma. I am only briefly stating my own opinions to introduce others."
Li Tai said with a smile: "For example, nowadays there are many evil spirits and demons who are greedy for the world. The Buddhist style is so strong that they dig ditches and erect fences to build a temple. They use their evil and heretical doctrines to confuse the villagers. Outsiders don't know the depth of their ways, so they join the sect one after another.
For a long time, they regard themselves as moral, making it difficult for people to distinguish the true from the false..."
While listening, Monk Hongyi adjusted his sitting posture uncomfortably. Why did he suddenly feel like he was sitting on pins and needles? Are you sure Tang Gong's words are not about our Shifo Temple?
Of course, the Shifo Temple does not belong to heretics, because it was established with the permission and instructions of Duke Tang. From then on, all existing and new Buddhist temples in the Western Wei Dynasty must be evaluated and approved by the Bafu before they can exist, otherwise
All banned!
Of course, this cannot be said by Li Tai. It must be taken the initiative by the eminent monks who participated in the debate. These eminent monks were selected with real money, and their religious status and Buddhist level are also among the best in the entire Guanlong area.
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Now Li Tai gives them two choices, either you will become eternal sinners who failed to debate scriptures and destroyed Buddhism and Dharma, or you will lead a staff to establish a religious committee and cooperate with the overlord to manage all the temples in the territory!