"I have thought about what a Buddha is for a long time. I feel that this Buddha statue is not a Buddha, and taking refuge in a Buddha is not a Buddha either."
Long Chen slowly expressed his point of view.
But before Long Chen could finish speaking, Mojie got furious, stood up suddenly, pointed at Long Chen and yelled: "Long Cheng'en, you dare to slander Buddha, you will go to hell!"
Long Chen secretly laughed in his heart: It's this trick again, if you don't believe it, you will go to hell.
"Why should Master be angry? If what I say is wrong, Master will tell me what is Buddha?"
Long Chen threw the question back to Mojie.
Mojie didn't know how to answer, so he just said: "In short, it is wrong for you to slander the Buddha."
Long Chen pointed at the Buddha statue in confusion and said, "Does Master still think this is the Buddha?"
Mojie was silent and slowly sat down again.
"Then I will continue. If there is anything wrong, please ask the Master to correct me."
Mojie sat still, but he was very upset. The Buddhist teachings he heard from Monk Kongji couldn't answer Long Chen's question, so there must be something wrong.
Mojie's intelligence is not just bragging, he can see where the problem lies.
"In my opinion, this Buddha statue is not a Buddha, and the wood is not a Buddha. Only when we think it is a Buddha, then it is a Buddha."
"When we look at things with a Buddha's mind, everything is a Buddha, just like this refuge Buddha. I heard that it used to be called the Savior Buddha, and its appearance is different from the current refuge Buddha."
"Then if the current refuge Buddha is the only Buddha, then what was the former salvation Buddha?"
"So, no matter what the appearance of the Buddha statue is, if there is a Buddha in the heart, then it is a Buddha."
The appearance of taking refuge in the Buddha now was actually determined by the master of Monk Kongji.
Formerly known as the Savior Buddha, he has a kind appearance and kind eyes, and means to save all sentient beings.
Mojie's heart was shocked and he couldn't help but murmured to himself: "If there is a Buddha in my heart, that is the Buddha."
Seeing that Mojie had some insights, Long Chen continued: "If there is a Buddha in your heart, everyone is a Buddha; if you have compassion in your heart, everyone can be saved."
"Buddha is the Buddha's heart, and Buddhism is the method that allows people to see their own Buddha's heart."
"This is my personal perception. I also know that it is very different from the Buddhist teachings of Master Kongji. I am not sure whether it is right or wrong. I would like to ask the Master for guidance."
Mojie was currently fighting between heaven and man in his heart, and he kept asking himself whether what Long Chen said was correct.
Monk Kongji said that the Buddha means taking refuge in the Buddha, and the Dharma is the method that persuades people to respect and take refuge in the Buddha. Any doubts are heresy.
But if we follow what Monk Kongji said, the question just now cannot be answered.
If you can’t even answer what a Buddha is and what the Dharma is, then are there any Buddhas in this world?
The expression on Mojie's face was changing, and Long Chen knew that he was struggling in his heart at this time.
Long Chen didn't push him, he just sat cross-legged and meditated on the spot, thinking with Mojie.
time passes slowly
Until the sun rose the next day, Mojie was still thinking hard.
Long Chen slowly opened his eyes and said slowly: "It seems that the Master can't answer my doubts. I have a special status and cannot go to Zhaoti Temple to consult Master Kongji in person. So I asked the Master to consult on my behalf."
Mojie was exhausted both physically and mentally, so he clasped his hands and said, "My Buddha is merciful, so this poor monk will definitely ask a question for the general."
Long Chen picked up the three brochures beside him and said: "This is some insights I gained when I was studying Buddhism. I gave it to the Master. Please correct me if there are any inaccuracies."
Mojie quickly got up and took it. One was the "Tan Sutra", the other was the "Diamond Sutra", and the other was the "Heart Sutra".
Mojie had never seen these before and thought they were really written by Long Chen.
"The poor monk must read it carefully."
Long Chen stood up and bowed: "As a general of the Great Zhou Dynasty, I will go all out in the competition tomorrow, and I also ask the mage to be prepared."
Mojie returned the greeting and said, "I understand, general. Don't worry, general."
Long Chen left the Refuge Temple first and returned to Long Shuai's Mansion.
Mojie sat down on the spot, opened three books and studied them.
In the past, Mojie would never have read such a thing. It was an heretical book.
But what Long Chen said was so subtle that Mojie's heart was already in a state of confusion. He was eager to know why there was something wrong with the Buddhist teachings he had learned.
"Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, walking in the deep Prajnaparamita for a long time, saw that the five aggregates are all empty."
After reading the "Heart Sutra", Mojie's face was full of shock. This sutra is so subtle, and it clearly explains that all things are empty.
Mojie opened the "Diamond Sutra" again and read: "All conditioned dharmas are like bubbles in dreams, like dew or lightning, and should be viewed in this way."
Mojie felt that his level of Buddhist practice had suddenly improved, his heart suddenly became enlightened, and his consciousness became clear.
All the attachments I had in the past seemed to be suddenly let go, as if I had suddenly climbed to the top from the foot of the mountain and had a panoramic view of all the mountains in the world.
"General Long's Buddhist attainments are so profound."
Mojie couldn't help but admired.
At this time, Mojie concluded that Long Chen was actually a Buddhist believer. If he did not sincerely believe in Buddhism, how could he have such profound insights.
In his heart, Mojie even felt that Long Chen's Dharma was higher than Kongji.
But Mojie respected Monk Kongji very much. As soon as this idea came up, Mojie immediately rejected it and did not allow himself to question Monk Kongji.
Looking at the sun outside, Mojie carefully collected the three books and returned to the capital posthouse.
After entering the east gate and walking on the street, the people saw Mojie and worshiped him one after another.
"Master, you have mercy and save me from the sea of suffering."
An unkempt beggar prayed to Mojie, his eyes full of piety.
Mojie was stunned for a moment. Logically speaking, he should persuade the beggar to believe in and take refuge in Buddhism, and then he would be blessed.
"The Dharma is in the heart, and the donor can save himself."
After saying this, Mojie was shocked and secretly screamed that he had been brainwashed by Long Chen.
"Master, I need the protection of the Buddha to transcend myself. How can I get out of the sea of suffering on my own?"
The beggar didn't understand.
Mojie didn't explain much and hurried back to the post house.
Mojie thought to himself: This Long Chengen is indeed treacherous, and I have fallen under his spell.
Mojie was not a fool and realized something was wrong.
There will be a competition and debate tomorrow. If you waver in your belief at this time, you will definitely lose tomorrow.
"What a good Long Chengen, he is indeed very cunning!"
Back at the post house, Pu Xuan and Hong Zhi were walking around in the yard.
"Master nephew, where have you been? Why haven't you returned all night?"
The two of them were very anxious, with reproach in their tone.
Mojie sneered and said: "I went to meet Long Cheng'en, and this guy is indeed very cunning. He actually wants to confuse my mind."
Hong Zhi said in surprise: "Having trouble with your mind? Doesn't he know that you have a firm mind and are not deceived by the outside world?"
Mojie sneered and said, "It's okay, I've seen through his trick."
Pu Xuan nodded and said: "That's good, you have a good rest and will face Long Chengen tomorrow."
Mojie returned to the room, threw the three books on the table, and sneered: "Here's a heretic."
Picking up the fire albums on the table, Mojie hesitated for a long time, and then with one final blow, he burned the three books.
"I will make you look good tomorrow!"
Mojie swept the ashes into the trash can.
After eating something, Mojie rested his spirit and prepared for tomorrow's battle.
