Chapter 881: If you are quite a monk, you must pass the qualification examination for monks and nuns
Ever since His Majesty Li Yuan's last edict, the "Edict on Sha Tai Buddhism" was promulgated, the entire Buddhist community in Chang'an has fallen into panic.
Although the edict stated that among the monks 'there are those who diligently practice and observe the precepts, and are ordered to live in large temples and receive food and clothing from officials', but after a few years ago when Fu Yisha eliminated the Fahua Sect, everyone saw that,
This diligent practice and observance of the precepts is actually a very difficult goal to achieve.
Fahua Sect had at least 2,000 monks in Chang'an at the beginning, but after they were eliminated by Fu Yisha, how many are left now?
Five!
Thinking of this kind of elimination rate that can no longer be described as terrifying, these eminent monks in Chang'an felt that their hearts were beating constantly, so all the eminent monks with some connections were rushing around the houses of the powerful during this period, just to find out the prince.
What specific plan did His Highness Li Shimin have, but basically he got nothing.
Just when the hearts of the eminent Buddhist monks in Chang'an and even the world were like fifteen buckets fetching water, Prince Li Shimin finally updated the method of Sha Tai and these monks under the spotlight.
take an exam!
In other words, from now on, if all monks want to continue to engage in this very lucrative career, they must take the monks and nuns qualification examination personally hosted by the court. Moreover, the examination is not a game that determines victory or defeat, but is divided into
Only monks who have passed three consecutive rounds of examinations on scriptures, character, and precepts are eligible to continue to be monks.
…
After Li Shimin's method was announced, it was like a stone that stirred up a thousand waves, and all the monks in Chang'an exploded when they saw the announcement.
"You actually have to take an exam to be a monk... Are you kidding me? If a certain person has the ability to take the exam, then he takes the imperial exam. Why do he still want to be a monk?"
"Um... I don't even know the Chinese characters. Is it okay to memorize the scriptures during the scripture exam?"
"Forget it about the scripture test, I would like to ask how to test the character and precepts?"
"..."
"Everyone, please be patient!"
Faced with the murmurs of the monks, the two guards responsible for guarding the edict did not answer any questions. Instead, they pointed with their hands towards a line of small words below the edict.
"You will naturally know when you take the exam tomorrow. Asking so-and-so now is useless, as so-and-so doesn't know anything!"
Although the monks present were very dissatisfied with the answers of the two captors, they still did not dare to make any extraordinary move due to the deterrence of the government troops standing upright around the captors with swords and guns in their hands.
We can only go back to each temple in silence.
"Master Dharma Sutra!"
On the night of the day he saw the announcement, monk Huiyuan of the Kushe sect quietly came to the Great Zen Temple at night and found the monk Dharma Sutra of the Chengshi sect, who also belongs to the "Ten Great Virtues", to discuss countermeasures.
"How do you think Li Shimin, Hu'er, tested the three so-called scriptures, character, and precepts?"
"The poor monk doesn't know!"
Regarding Monk Huiyuan's words, Monk Dharma Sutra shook his head helplessly.
"But judging from the situation when Fu Yi eliminated the Fahua Sect, I am afraid that making things difficult is inevitable..."
"Yes! This is another great calamity for my Buddhist sect..."
Having said this, the worried monk Huiyuan looked at the Dharma Sutra monk with a hint of hope.
"By the way! Isn't the nephew of Monk Du Shun a close confidant of Li Shimin? Does he know something that others don't know?"
"After knowing the news, a certain person immediately sent a letter to inquire, but he..."
The Dharma Sutra monk shook his head again and recited the Buddha's name!
"Namo's master Harivarman!"
"Oh...it turns out that Monk Dushun doesn't know about it either!"
Monk Huiyuan first nodded with a heavy face, then turned his eyes and asked thoughtfully.
"By the way! Master Dharma Sutra, do you think that Master Du Shun really doesn't know, or does he have other ideas? After all, looking at Hu'er and Li Shimin's actions, he probably won't order all the monks and nuns like Zhou Wu.
Return to secular life, but some monks will remain..."
"Who knows this..."
Monk Dharma Sutra gave a bitter smile.
"Monk Du Shun is a man of radiant wisdom. How can you and I guess what he is thinking?"
"Brother Dharma Scripture!"
Monk Huiyuan thought for a moment, and then whispered.
"Why don't you wait a little longer? Since that Hu'er Li Shimin asked me to wait until tomorrow to take the exam, I won't go..."
Before Monk Huiyuan finished speaking, they heard a commotion coming from outside, and then they saw a young novice running in in panic.
"The abbot is in trouble, there are many soldiers outside!"
"Many soldiers?"
Monk Huiyuan and Monk Dharma Sutra looked at each other, then walked out of the door one after another and looked towards the front yard of the temple. They saw the front yard was brightly lit, and there was a faint sound of noisy people.
"His Highness has ordered that before tomorrow's exam, all monks must participate..."
"The front and back doors are blocked, so you can only go in but not out!"
"The wall must also be surrounded. These monks must not be allowed to escape..."
"..."
Monk Huiyuan and Monk Dajing looked at each other with disbelief in their eyes.
Are they going to take the qualification examination for monks and nuns, or are they going to the Dharma field?
…
On the second day, after having breakfast, the great monk Huiyuan, who was blocked in the Zen Temple, was escorted by the soldiers who besieged the temple with swords and guns. He followed the great monk Dharma Sutra and the people in his temple with great concern.
The remaining monks came to Gwanghwamun.
Along the way, Monk Huiyuan and Monk Dharma Sutra also saw many monks from other temples, just like them, heading towards Gwanghwamun under the protection of soldiers lining up, and Gwanghwamun's
There was a long queue in front of the door.
"Do you know the words?"
From a distance, Monk Huiyuan heard the voices coming from the soldiers in front of Guanghua Gate.
"If you know me, sign your name or Dharma number here, then go to the side to check and you can enter."
"Well……"
When he saw that he was about to sign, the monk at the front of the line immediately shook his head honestly.
"do not know!"
"I don't know the words..."
The next moment, Monk Huiyuan heard the soldier wave his hand with contempt.
"Then why do you want to be a monk? Go and stand over there. Someone will take you to Jingzhao Mansion to register in a while. You will return to secular life in the future!"
"..."
Upon hearing what this soldier said, Master Huiyuan was speechless and choked up.
"You can't be a monk if you don't know how to read. What's the truth?"
"nonsense!"
The next moment, Monk Huiyuan heard a voice coming from the side. He turned around and saw that it was a Taoist priest wearing a blue robe, with the word Taishi embroidered on his sleeves.
"Monk is an important profession to save all sentient beings. How can you save sentient beings if you don't even know the word? Have you ever heard of any gods or Buddhas who are illiterate? By the way, don't say anything to a poor Taoist about the equality of all living beings. All living beings are equal.
What we rely on is Buddha nature, not culture. And what we rely on to save all sentient beings is not Buddha nature, but culture."
"..."
Monk Huiyuan blinked silently.
What the other party said made sense, but he didn't know how to refute it for a moment.
"correct!"
Seeing that Monk Huiyuan was speechless, the Taoist priest opened his mouth and continued.
"When you enter the door later, you'd better take out whatever scriptures you are carrying, otherwise you will be regarded as cheating. I see that you two monks are quite young, so I advise you to save some face for yourself.
Don’t wait until you find it and it won’t look good!”
After saying that, the Taoist priest walked in a hurry towards the Gwanghwamun Gate.
"..."
Seeing the Taoist priest's retreating figure, Monk Huiyuan was speechless and choked up.
"It's really...what a shame!"
I don’t know if it’s because Monk Huiyuan and Monk Dajing are too old. After waiting in line for almost an hour, the soldier responsible for checking them just glanced at them casually.
After patting his sleeves, he let them enter the pear garden in Xiyuan, saving a lot of embarrassment.
That’s right!
This Liyuan was the place where Tang Xuanzong later taught the opera troupe. Later, the opera actors were called Liyuan disciples and it was here. However, the current Liyuan has not been used for this purpose. It is just an inconspicuous place in Xiyuan.
It's just a place.
After entering the Liyuan, Monk Huiyuan and Monk Dajing first saw a dozen white buildings in the Liyuan, as well as large characters written in eye-catching red paint on these buildings.
‘The first (second, third, fourth...) examination room of the scripture examination’
"This is where the Scripture test takes place!"
After seeing the large characters in red paint, Monk Huiyuan and Monk Dharma Sutra immediately turned their attention to the houses in front of them that looked similar to the Feitian Castle outside the city, and seemed to be built with white clouds in the sky.
Looking from a distance, you can see that these houses are very spacious, each of which can accommodate hundreds of people. After the two of them took a few steps to the side, they looked in through the window and could vaguely see
The room is decorated with tables one by one, and behind the tables sit rows of monks.
"Senior Brother Dharma Scripture..."
Monk Huiyuan looked at the monks in the room who were writing furiously, some were in a daze, and some were grabbing the ground with their heads, and said to the Dharma Sutra monk beside him.
"Isn't this scripture test the same as the questions Fu Yi gave to the monks of the Fahua Sect?"
After hearing his words, Monk Dharma Sutra suddenly felt a little uncertain.