As soon as this test paper came out, the knowledgeable people - Feng Can and Li Liang - couldn't help but change their expressions. They complained in their hearts. They looked up at the Prison Court and "Three Capitals" and winked frequently, but did not get any response, so they had no choice but to
Zhuang Huai looked at the test paper again with a grimace. Zhuang Huai also glanced at everyone in the hall, then his expression became solemn, and he closed his eyes and thought hard. As for Cheng An, he didn't understand anyway. He grabbed the penholder with his right hand and drew circles on the test paper.
I don't know what he wants to do.
If it were Zhao Ran three days ago, he would not be able to answer the test paper under normal circumstances. He has only been reading the Bible for two months, and it is not easy to memorize the "Tao De Zhen" without hesitation, let alone
Do you still need to annotate according to "Laozi Xiang'er Commentary"? Regarding the meaning of Tao, maybe he can still make some decent nonsense, but more than half of the first ten questions are definitely going to be confusing.
But now... After reading all the questions, Zhao Ran breathed a sigh of relief, secretly glanced at Jiang Gaogong, and then at Zhu Doudao, who was sitting on the futon with his eyes closed, feeling reassured.
"When the road rushes and is used, it may not be full. The abyss is like the origin of all things. It resolves its confusion, harmonizes with its light, and is the same as the dust. The pure and clear resembles or exists. I don't know whose son is the ancestor of Emperor Xiang." Zhao Ranti
With his pen, he first wrote down the first question silently, and then continued to write quickly according to the "standard" explanation in "Laozi Xiang'er Commentary": "The Tao values neutralization, and the neutrality is used. The will cannot be overflowing and violate the Tao.
commandment……"
This is Zhang Tianshi's explanation of the first sentence, which means that the most important thing in practicing the Tao is to be moderate, not to be arrogant and complacent, but to abide by the Taoist precepts. This is to force the philosophical description of "Tao" in the original text to something that Taoists should respect.
In terms of the rules of behavior, the intention is to unite the Taoism, but in theory it is forced and forced, which is "disdainful" by Zhao Ran, but "disdain" is "disdain". When answering questions, this is the standard answer.
"Tao, the sidewalk does not violate the commandments, and the abyss is as deep as the Tao... Emotions are immovable, joy and anger are not expressed, the five treasures are all in harmony with each other, and they are the same light and dust as the Tao..." What we talk about here is how to practice the Tao without violating the commandments, how to
consistent with the Tao.
After Zhao Ran finished answering the ten tacit questions and had just burned out two pillars of incense, he gathered his thoughts and started to answer the last tacit question.
"Nuity gives birth to nature, and nature gives birth to Tao. Therefore, Tao takes nothingness as its origin, nature as its basis, and Tao as its body. However, these three are all formless. If we look into the truth, they are vacuum. There is essence in truth, and it has no name.
. The saint will establish a religious trace and must not be without ancestry, so he calls nothingness as the ancestor of the Tao. In fact, the three bodies all meet one truth, and there is no form, which can understand all the wonders. Therefore, there is no ancestor in the cloud. There is no ancestor in the world.
also……"
Zhao Ran explained the origin of Tao, which is nothingness, nothingness, and nature. There is no hierarchical or sequential relationship between Tao. In order to educate the world and establish teachings, saints cited "nihility" as the ancestor of "Tao".
But "Tao" does not arise from "nothingness", so it is said that "the ancestors are restored to the ancestors". But the restoration of ancestors is also different, because the "ancestors" mentioned by Tao are not actually ancestors - because there is no sequential relationship, this is
Falling into the paradox of whether a chicken lays an egg or an egg lays a chicken. Of course, Zhao Ran can't say that this is a "conspiracy". His explanation for this must be quoted from the original text - "Mysteries are mysterious, and they are the door to all mysteries."
After answering the questions and burning the last half of the incense stick, Zhao Ran turned around and inspected it carefully, then stood up to hand in the paper and went out of the sutra hall to wait.
Cheng An had already handed in the test paper - he couldn't answer any of the questions. When he saw Zhao Ran coming out, he stepped forward and greeted him with a smile. While Zhao Ran was perfunctory with Cheng An, he was thinking about today's assessment. Just now
There is definitely no problem with the completed test paper, but the key point is that this is not the focus. The focus is still on the results of the negotiations between the prison and the "three capitals". Therefore, he is still uneasy to this day.
Soon, Feng Can, Li Liang and Zhuang Huai all walked out of the sutra hall. Zhuang Huai was thoughtful, while Feng Can and Li Liang were distracted.
In the Sutra Hall, the five test papers were presented to the Prison Court and the "Three Capitals". They glanced at them casually and made a judgment.
There was no need to talk about the Prison Court and the "Three Capitals". Jiang Gaogong, who was in charge of the Sutra Hall, directly laid out the priority of the evaluation. Cheng'an had a blank paper and ignored it. Zhuang Huai and Zhao Ran's test papers were placed in the first place. Li Liang answered correctly.
There were six questions and was rated as second class. Feng Can only answered four questions correctly and was rated as third class.
Zhuang Huai and Zhao Ran answered all the first ten questions correctly. The key difference lies in the last question of explanation of principles. If the difference is not extremely different, it would be difficult to judge. This is a matter of benevolence and wisdom.
The people in the hall, including the Supervisor, Luo Duguan, Yuan Duchu and even Zhang Dianzao didn't think anything of it. Only Zhu Dudao and Jiang Gaogong were secretly surprised, thinking that Zhuang Huai was indeed well prepared, and he got all the answers correct. Again.
Looking at the explanation of principles, Zhuang Huai's explanation is better than Zhao Ran in terms of solid foundation, strict and precise, and no falsehood. On the other hand, Zhao Ran's answer just skipped over some key points, and it is obvious that he has not done enough homework.
But now that it has reached this point, Zhu Duyao and Jiang Gaogong will definitely not tell the truth. As for the other people, although they have also felt this from the analysis of the article, they are not as familiar with the Taoist scriptures as the two of them, and can fully understand it.
difference.
Feng Can and Li Liang, who were favored by the Supervisor and Yuan Duchu, were immediately dismissed. They had no intention of competing and just let everyone watch it. The Supervisor then asked: "So, in your opinion, brothers, should Zhuang Zhuang be recommended today?"
Huai or Zhao Ran?"
Yuan Duchu said reluctantly: "Zhuang Huai seems to be more solid in his homework."
Luo Duguan immediately replied: "Zhao Ran's analysis is brilliant. He really went to a private school."
Zhu Doudao nodded to show his agreement, but he still didn't make it clear who was suitable. That meant that it was up to you to decide on the prison hospital.
The prison prison did not want to take responsibility for either Zhao Ran or Zhuang Huai, and said expressionlessly: "Go and ask the abbot for instructions." He held two papers and walked to the backyard.
The abbot was walking in the courtyard, slowly admiring the wintersweet blooming in the snow. When he saw the prisoner entering the courtyard, he smiled faintly: "What? Still can't choose?"
The Supervisor said respectfully: "Abbott, the exam is over. Among the five, Zhuang Huai and Zhao Ran answered the questions the best. However, they seem to be indistinguishable. None of the senior brothers can tell them apart. Please ask the abbot to take a look."
The abbot coughed slightly and shook his head: "It's not that you can't tell the difference, but you all just want to sell well and don't want to take responsibility."
The jailer lowered his head and said nothing, his face full of shame.
The abbot played with a wintersweet and said after a moment: "Since the test paper is difficult to judge, let's look at the others...for example, whose handwriting is better?"
The prison guard was stunned for a moment, not understanding what he meant.
The abbot said leisurely: "A few days ago, Huayun Pavilion Taoist Lin sent a letter to Xi Zhenwu Palace, saying that he wanted to see Zhao Ran's calligraphy. I haven't figured it out yet, but it seems that it should be today, haha...
…”
The prisoner was stunned for a moment, suddenly enlightened, and before he knew it, his forehead was covered with cold sweat.
The abbot said again: "Go and tell Zhao Ran and ask him to write a calligraphy carefully so that I can present it to Taoist Lin."
The abbot bowed: "Yes." Then he left Jiaziju. The abbot did not say clearly who he ordered to receive the ultimatum, but his attitude was already very clear. If he didn't understand it yet, then his tenure as a supervisor for more than ten years would be in vain.
I did it. On the way back to the Sutra Hall, I stepped on the snow on the ground. The prison house couldn't help but be secretly shocked. This Zhao Ran was not only involved with the Yuhuang Pavilion, but also seemed to have something to do with the Huayun Pavilion. He was really a human being.
Don't look at appearances. Fortunately, he is quite solid in his studies. Otherwise, if he had chosen someone else, wouldn't he have offended the monks in such hidden places as Yuhuang Pavilion and Huayun Pavilion?
I thought again, why didn’t the previous abbot tell me clearly? Could it be that I was too involved with senior officials of Sichuan Province and the abbot wanted to beat me up?
Thinking about it over and over again was not pleasant, so the prisoner returned to the sutra hall with worries, and hurriedly announced the result and ended the matter.
Zhao Ran, a Taoist priest who lives in the dormitory, due to his outstanding work and diligence, will be reported to the Xizhenwu Palace. In the first month of next year, he will receive an ultimatum and be registered as a Taoist chanting boy in the Sutra Hall of Wuji Yuan. This news spread quickly in Wuji Yuan.
It left countless people stunned.
Who is Zhao Ran? He was born as a poor farmer in Zhaozhuang, Shiquan County. He entered Wujiyuan in April of the twelfth year of Jiajing. He first worked as a fire worker in a small house, and then moved to a restaurant. Only eight months later, this guy actually
He is about to become a formal Taoist priest who has received an ultimatum! This, this, this, how can this be so embarrassing?
When Zhao Ran heard the result, he was stunned for a long time, with all kinds of mixed feelings, mostly excitement, mixed with a lot of surprise and disbelief.
Carrying the letter from Yuhuang Pavilion handed over by the prison, Zhao Ran hurried back to his residence, opened the fire paint, and saw only two fist-sized ink characters written on a piece of paper - Nonsense.