Chapter 1,238 Seeing the heaven and earth, seeing all living beings, and seeing myself
Li Yan came to Hangzhou Bay and looked at the real East China Sea.
In later generations, there was an idiom called "breaking the Ao and establishing the pole", which is a metaphor for creating a new situation. It is also a famous myth and legend.
The original version is the dialogue between Yin Tang and Xia Ge in "Liezi". In fact, it is a conversation between two famous people about the heaven, earth, universe and all things.
The Nuwa clan refined stones of five colors to mend its gaps and cut off the legs of the Ao to establish the four poles."
Later, the legend of Nuwa mending the sky was filled in, and merged with Gonggong's touching the mountain to form a salvation myth. It turned into Nuwa refining the sky with five-color stones, killing the gods and turtles with their feet to support the four poles, calming the floods and killing wild beasts.
By unblocking the yin and yang and eliminating the adverse qi, all spirits can live in peace.
No matter which version, the divine turtle seems to be quite miserable.
However, according to its contribution to the heaven and earth, the divine turtle supported the four poles with its four legs, which was also a great merit. Later, it also became a tribe. Even the Three Immortals Island was supported on the turtle's back and became a pure land.
But are the three immortal islands still inhabited by immortals?
When Wukong knocked down the ginseng tree and went to the Three Islands and Ten Continents to search for immortals and medicine, the three stars of fortune, wealth and longevity lived on Penglai Island, Emperor Donghua lived on Fangzhang Island, and there were nine elders in Yingzhou. According to what the Nine-Headed Insect said, he was robbed in heaven and earth.
At that time, the Donghua Emperor's Cave on Fangzhang Island was the first to bear the brunt of the mist. The mist surged out, and Dongfang Shuo was unable to escape. The three islands were not located together, but the other two islands would certainly not be spared from the horrific impact.
, if you go out to sea to find the fairy island, will you fall into a trap?
Li Yan pondered for a moment. After contacting the ship at the port, he did not set off in a hurry. Instead, he rented a courtyard, took out the medicinal herbs, and began to refine simple elixirs. The medicinal materials were worshiped by the snake spirits in Qingfeng Cave, and monks often visited them.
When entering the cave, these fairies will treat them with vegetarian food, and they will also bring local specialties with them before leaving as a sign of respect.
The monks will not refuse. Just like when the scriptures were preached, Anuo and Gaye asked for personnel and affairs openly and honestly. These are the rules.
Li Yan accepted it, but he had already thought about the refining method. Although he did not have an alchemy furnace, he still had some tricks. He refined several bottles of elixirs in a few days and took them with him.
He made preparations here, and when he came to the port, the big ship was already waiting.
Li Yan and other traveling merchants boarded the ship, booked their cabins, and then came to the deck.
The long sail was raised, the waves rippled, and a familiar voice sounded: "Is this gentleman going to Beizhou for a study tour?"
Li Yan turned his head, and a middle-aged man dressed as a wealthy businessman came to him, bowed his hands in salute, and smiled warmly: "Your Excellency, Hu Zongxian, also known as Ruzhen. Seeing your extraordinary bearing, I admire you deeply. I apologize for disturbing you!"
Li Yan looked at this person who looked familiar but was actually a stranger. After introducing himself, he said, "I have other important things to do when I go to sea. I have no plans to go to Beizhou."
"Hu Zongxian" became even more respectful after hearing this: "Is it possible that you, sir, are a disciple of Buddhism and went to Fusang to exchange Buddhist teachings?"
Li Yan was noncommittal: "This time it is indeed related to practice."
"Hu Zongxian" immediately put his hands together and said with sincere joy: "With the master in charge, this trip will be smooth and smooth!"
"I am not a master, just a doctor. Now I have found a new patient, which is quite difficult. I would like to ask about the customs of various places..."
Li Yan was already used to the treatment he received from Buddhist cultivators. Since he met an "acquaintance", it was a good time to chat and learn about the situation in various countries.
The businessman Hu Zongxian came here to make friends, so he naturally smiled and recounted it. Unexpectedly, but reasonably, not only did the monsters eat fast and chant Buddha, but there was also peace among the countries of Dongsheng Shenzhou.
There is also a Japanese country here. Under the normal course of history, that country almost broke off diplomatic relations with the Ming Dynasty, but it sent eminent monks as envoys here to visit again and again.
For the sake of Buddhism, the Ming court lowered its profile and interacted with it. It did not even use the derogatory name of Japan. The official written name was Japan, and the more commonly used names were Fusang and Japan.
In this process, a very important change was that the imperial court lifted the maritime ban and allowed merchants from the two countries to trade, and the coastal areas were no longer infested by Japanese pirates.
With the prosperity of trade in various countries, there is an increasingly huge demand, and the shipbuilding industry is becoming increasingly developed. There are experienced craftsmen in shipyards everywhere, and even Beizhou people with more sailing experience have been hired.
The ships we boarded at this time were manufactured in this way. Large ships, which are rare to see in Nanzhan Buzhou, are just ordinary merchant ships here. Four or five ships can set off together to form a fleet for a long journey.
Li Yan listened to the sailing route and found that not only did he arrive at Fusang, but also the distant Beizhou could be supplied with supplies all the way. After years of traveling, he couldn't help but ask: "What about the storms on the way?"
Not to mention ancient ships, modern ships are at risk of being wrecked in storms. The Middle-earth Dynasty also once thought of attacking the Japanese country, but was buried in the sea due to the storm. Kublai Khan's Mongolian army is a typical example.
However, no matter how fast the current maritime navigation technology advances, reaching the Japanese country safely is the limit. If you want to cross the ocean again, it is almost impossible to survive.
Businessman Hu Zongxian said with a smile: "Sir, don't worry. As long as we sincerely respect heaven and worship Buddha, we will be blessed by Buddha. Last month, a fleet encountered a storm and saw that the ship was about to capsize. All the crew members prayed and woke up the next day.
Everything is as usual, safe and sound."
Li Yan shook his head: "At a critical moment of life and death, how can there be any sincerity in praying temporarily?" "It is precisely because of their previous disrespect that they encountered this dangerous danger. If they pray at that time, it is indeed insincere..."
Businessman Hu Zongxian did not think that anyone dared to question the Buddha. He only thought that this person was disdainful of the crew members. He agreed with it and sighed: "In fact, we laymen also have the intention to practice, but we are just sinking into the world and cannot go there.
The pure land of bliss!"
Li Yan said calmly: "There is happiness only when there is suffering. If everyone in the world enters the Pure Land, what kind of bliss can there be?"
Businessman Hu Zongxian was startled: "But my Buddha is compassionate and can save all living beings..."
Li Yan said: "The flowers are blooming and the fire is cooking oil. This is the most peaceful scene I have ever seen. People in the world are still praying for the Pure Land. It can be seen that Buddhism is so prosperous, but it is still difficult to cultivate their minds."
Businessman Hu Zongxian heard something was wrong this time and frowned slightly: "Mr., does he have a different opinion?"
Li Yan said: "It's just a little pessimistic."
"Since Pangu broke through the Hongmeng and opened up the distinction between the pure and the turbid, the balance between the pure and the turbid will lead to heaven and earth. If the turbid qi exceeds the pure qi, it will be a long way to eliminate demons, and the world will be uneasy. However, if the clean qi is rampant in the world, the turbid qi will not be at peace.
"Existence, that's not the scene of the human world." "But unfortunately, we are in the human world."
Businessman Hu Zongxian looked thoughtful, his expression slightly changed, and after a while he still shook his head: "What Mr. Sir said is quite Zen-like, and it is difficult for ordinary people like me to understand it, but if you talk about the distinction between pure and turbid, even if there is something wrong, now
It's already peaceful enough. If we want to change it, wouldn't it break this peaceful age... Why bother?"
"The fact that you can say these words is really different from others."
Li Yan looked at him and smiled, then looked up at the sky: "The obstruction of floating clouds is temporary, and falsehood can never replace the truth. In the same way, the true peace and tranquility of a person's mind cannot be shaken by external forces. There is no need to worry.
...Go!" Businessman Hu Zongxian opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing, bowed his hands in salute, and went away with his heart in mind.
For Li Yan, who has firm beliefs and is completely unwavering, this is just a small episode.
In the next few days, businessman Hu Zongxian visited again many times, while Li Yan just recharged his batteries.
Until one night, he suddenly felt a vague fluctuation in the distance.
"Sir! Sir!"
Just when the businessman Hu Zongxian felt uneasy for no reason and came over to knock on the door overnight, no one answered. A small boat that had been prepared for a long time landed. Li Yan stood on it, left the fleet, and headed quickly in that direction.
Go to Sanxian Island and look for the divine turtle.
The journey was very smooth. In just one day and one night, a huge silhouette appeared on the edge of the sea and sky.
Fairy Island has arrived.
Looking from a distance, Li Yan was still not sure whether this was the abbot, Penglai, or which one in Yingzhou, but he could already feel the aura that resembled a small turtle.
That island as far as the eye can see is alive.
Li Yan didn't hesitate, he immediately took out the elixir and took it, holding the Water Avoidance Technique with his hand, and dived under the sea water.
Sure enough, as he dived deeper and deeper, there were fewer and fewer marine creatures around him, and only a huge pressure became stronger and stronger.
Finally, an invisible barrier appeared in front of him, and Li Yan's body floated up and down in a circle of invisible bubbles. He solemnly saluted: "I've met Senior Shen'ao!"
Two giant "lanterns" lit up.
Shen Ao opened his eyes.
Facing such a giant beast, Li Yan couldn't help but hold his breath slightly.
Unless you see it with your own eyes, it is hard to imagine such an unimaginably big head. No wonder the back shell can support the immortal path, and its ancestor can even support the heavenly pole with its four legs.
The rumbling sound of Shen'ao did not stir up waves, but accurately reached the ears: "Where is this place?"
Faced with this straight-to-the-point question without any nonsense, Li Yan replied: "Buddhism has been distorted and tamed into a cage. It seems peaceful, but in fact it has no self." Shen Ao said: "Elaborate!"
Li Yan spoke with a heavy tone: "The turbidity is worse than the pure, the demons are evil, the filth is layer upon layer, the pure is better than the turbid, suppressing desires, overcorrecting, and the imbalance of the pure and turbid are all serious disasters in the world. Don't go to extremes!"
Shen Ao's huge eyes showed surprise: "What are you going to do?"
Li Yan said categorically: "To see the heaven and the earth, to see all sentient beings, and to see oneself, in order to pursue this path, we must find allies to remove the fog, let the pure and the turbid merge, and reshape the balance!"
After Shen Ao was silent for a while, the light flashed violently, but he blinked his eyes, and a palm-sized turtle appeared in front of him: "My brother, I entrust you to me, this world is neither true nor false.