Zhou Hexuan stayed at Nanputuo Temple for three days because he liked chatting with Master Taixu. Of course, during this period he also participated in the Buddha Bathing Festival in the temple and gave a patriotic speech to the monks at the Buddhist Academy.
The theory of the great monk Taixu is very interesting and he has unique insights into Buddhism. He firmly opposes the theory of "reincarnation and liberation" and believes that everyone can become a Buddha as long as he breaks the prison.
This is a typical "Zen" thought, but it goes beyond that. Because he also called on the monks to actively join the world, be self-reliant, and work hard. He even combined patriotism with Buddhist practice and called on the monks to work hard to create a pure land on earth.
What Zhou Hexuan is most interested in is the historical viewpoint of Monk Taixu. He regards the entire history of mankind as a "history of freedom and anti-freedom" and created an atypical Buddhist work "Historical View of Freedom".
This was the first time Zhou Hexuan knew that someone actually used Buddhist perspectives to explain historical development.
When leaving Nanputuo Temple, Zhou Hexuan asked Monk Taixu for two copies of "Freedom of History" as a way to relieve his boredom during the trip.
on board.
Yu Peichen was so angry that he almost threw the book into the sea and said angrily: "Monk, that's just a monk!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Zhou Hexuan couldn't help laughing: "Master Taixu's views are very interesting."
Yu Peichen retorted: "It's not interesting at all, it's just an unwarranted smear against communism!"
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "You can use stones from other mountains to attack jade. It is not an interesting perspective to explain communism from a Buddhist point of view."
Yu Peichen was so angry that she refused to speak anymore because "The View of Free History" stimulated her too much.
Zhou Hexuan found it particularly interesting to read. He completely read Master Taixu's "Freedom of History" as a historical work rather than a serious Buddhist work.
The whole book is divided into five parts. The first part summarizes the history of human freedom and anti-freedom. The second part expounds the principles of ancient autocracy. The third part expounds the modern freedom movement. The fourth part discusses the Buddhist view of liberalism.
The five parts explore world education, social economy and international politics under the liberal historical perspective.
It is hard for you to imagine that this book was written by a monk.
It is normal for the book to mention Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Confucius, but he also mentions Jesus, the Garden of Eden, the Stone Age, primitive civilization, domestication and breeding, early temples, Lydia (ancient Middle Eastern country), Sumada (Mesopotamia)
Early peoples of the Asian Plain), Wales (author of "Outline of World History"), Marx, Egypt, India, Mongolia...
Regardless of whether his thoughts and views are correct, based on these contents alone, we know that Monk Taixu is a great scholar who is proficient in world history.
What made Yu Peichen angry was the book's discussion of communism. The title of that chapter was "Materialist Communist Imperialism and Its Opposition to Freedom."
"Freedom" and "Imperialism of Self-interest and Anti-Freedom".
In these three chapters, Master Taixu slanders all the major powers in the world and calls the Soviet Union's political system imperialism.
Let’s just excerpt a few paragraphs about communism
"The socialism that emerged after the modern materialist science developed, there are about three schools: those with a state government, Marxism, communism and Guild-Socialism; those without a state government, there is anarchy.
Communism - Anarchism; the slogan of the anarchist party is: Our party has no motherland, the earth is the motherland; our party has no God, freedom is God; no God, no country, no government, no private property, but freedom in
It’s just the earth.”
"Therefore, Guild and Anarch are both free men and not materialists. This is not the case with Marxist communism. It advocates a war between the working class and the bourgeoisie based on historical materialism, and the labor class seizes the national government and takes sole control of political power in order to realize communism.
The system is social. So there are other reasons, and the red materialist communist imperialism takes advantage of the opportunity to appear."
Based on the above content alone, we know that Monk Taixu is also very knowledgeable about communist theory, and at least he can distinguish the many factions of communism.
He also tried to make trouble for the Soviet Union, believing that the means of production and labor were material, and the theory of communism was also materialistic. But when placed in a country, it soon became a spiritual weapon and was dominated by the Soviet party leaders.
Exploitation, just like the Christian church controlling the beliefs of its believers. Although the Soviet people overthrew the rule of Tsarist Russia, they took another unfree path.
As a believer in communism, Yu Peichen was naturally angry after reading these contents.
Of course, Monk Taixu not only hacked the Soviet Union, he also criticized all the world powers. Perhaps because he was afraid of being banned, Monk Taixu took the opportunity to brag about the Three People's Principles, but he also pointed out that the Three People's Principles were not complete and needed to continue to work hard.
OK.
After Zhou Hexuan finished reading this book "View of the History of Freedom", his biggest feeling was that Monk Taixu was a utopian socialist... Well, to be precise, he was a utopian Buddhist. He wanted to create a utopian Buddhist country.
That is the pure land on earth!
In this Buddhist country, we do not want to force everyone to believe in Buddhism, or even not believe in Buddhism, but we want to make everyone free, happy, fed, clothed, and free from oppression.
Well, it is almost the same as the ultimate ideal of communism.
If placed in the ancient society hundreds of years ago, Master Taixu would probably have become a Zhang Jiao-like figure. He even put forward his own educational, economic and political propositions. Although these propositions may seem naive, some of the contents are also bright.
Seeing Zhou Hexuan laughing, Yu Peichen asked worriedly: "Does Mr. Zhou agree with the theory of that monster monk?"
"Of course I can't agree with it. I just think his thoughts are very interesting," Zhou Hexuan said. "To explain the entire history of mankind and the political situation of the world from a religious perspective is something I have never encountered before. Some of his views are very inspiring to me.
.”
Yu Peichen said: "But many of his views are nonsense!"
Zhou Hexuan nodded and said: "It is indeed nonsense. Your understanding of him is correct. From a certain point of view, he is a 'demon monk'. If placed in a feudal society, he might become another Zhang Jiao. But his mind is very healthy.
He is bright from beginning to end and will never become a cult leader. How can I put it this way? This person combines Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, utopian socialism, liberalism, pacifism, materialism and communist ideas.
Together, and being able to justify it to a certain extent, it is very rare and valuable.”
"The more this happens, the more dangerous it is. It is so confusing to people," Yu Peichen said in a panic. "I was convinced by the discussion in the first few chapters of his book. It wasn't until he slandered communism that I woke up.
"
Zhou Hexuan corrected him: "He did not slander communism, he attacked the Soviet political system."
