"The poor monk Lobsang Drapa, pays homage to His Majesty the Ming Emperor." At this time, in the main hall of Prince Su's palace, a dignified man wearing a yellow hat and yellow monk robes, who looked to be in his forties, stood in the middle.
, facing a man in his twenties standing directly in front of him, he bowed and saluted.
This man is none other than the founder of the Gelug Sect (Yellow Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism, one of the most important masters in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, Tsongkhapa who taught many outstanding disciples, and his dharma name is Losang Drakpa. Because he was born in
Tsongkhapa, so believers respectfully call him Tsongkhapa.
Yunxi was a little surprised when he saw him. 'He is only in his forties, but he can achieve such a big name? He surpasses many long-established masters?'
Yunxi was confused for a moment, but soon calmed down. He had already sent someone to check, and it was indeed the Yellow Sect he founded. It now also has a great reputation in Tibet. Although he looks younger, he can only say that he is
He is truly gifted.
"The poor monk Luosangzhapa has met the imperial concubine Chen of the Ming Dynasty." When Yunxi was thinking, he saluted Xu Miaojin again.
"Master Tsongkhapa, you don't need to be polite, please get up." Yunxi came back to his senses and said. After Tsongkhapa died, he asked Wang Gong to bring him a chair for him to sit down. Tsongkhaba saluted again and sat down.
to the chair.
"Master Tsongkhapa, it's been a long time. I heard about the master's reputation four years ago and have always wanted to see him, but I didn't want to be able to see him today." Yunhe said with a smile.
"His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, three years ago, Your Majesty sent someone to summon the poor monk to visit the capital of the Ming Dynasty. The poor monk was going to go at that time, but he didn't want to suddenly fall ill and find it difficult to make the trip, so he sent the poor monk's disciple A, Cao Jie.
Go to the capital in place of the poor monk," Tsongkhapa said.
"I have heard the messenger talk about it. This disease is really a pity. If not, I would have discussed it with the master three years ago."
"But fortunately, it's not too late now. I had an enlightenment three years ago after listening to Jia Cao Jie's lecture on "The Solemnity of Present Vision". His disciples are all so great. As a master, Tsongkhapa is of course more proficient in Buddhism. I have long thought
Let’s listen to the master’s explanation of Buddhism.” Yunxi said.
"Your Majesty felt enlightened after listening to Jia Cao Jie's lecture on the Solemnity of Present Observation. He is willing to listen to the poor monk's explanation of Buddhism. This proves that Your Majesty has a good connection with Buddhism. It is very good." Tsongkhapa said.
"Master, you don't have to specifically use the words of Chinese Buddhism to speak to me. I know that your Tibetan Buddhism does not say such words as 'good, good, good,'" Yunxi said with a smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Hearing this, Tsongkhapa's heart fluctuated slightly. He had always heard that the emperors of the Central Plains were domineering, but when he saw that Yunxi was so humble, he couldn't help but have a good impression of Yunxi. But after all, he was a famous person.
The Buddhist master still had basic self-cultivation, but he did not show it on his face, but began to explain Buddhist scriptures to him.
"Your Majesty, the Avatamsaka Sutra says..., the Surangama Sutra says...," Tsongkhapa explained very seriously.
Yunxi gradually became fascinated by what he heard. Tsongkhapa is indeed a master of Buddhism. His understanding of Buddhist classics is beyond the reach of ordinary monks. His explanations in fluent Chinese are profound and simple. Not only him, but also not only Xu Miaojin, but also standing aside
The serving eunuchs all listened with rapt attention.
After a while, Tsongkhapa finished explaining the second volume of the Diamond Sutra, and stopped to drink water to moisten his throat. Only then did Yunxi come to his senses, and sincerely praised: "Master is indeed a master of Buddhism, although I am not
Even believers of Tibetan Buddhism are fascinated by it. If the master can always explain Buddhist scriptures by my side, maybe I will start worshiping Tibetan Buddhism."
"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. In fact, the poor monk's understanding of the Buddhist scriptures is just a family's opinion. Although it is not wrong, there may be places where he failed to understand the Buddha's deep meaning. Even the poor monk himself sometimes has new feelings when he re-reads the Buddhist scriptures." Zong
Kaba said.
"The master is too humble. I have also listened to several Buddhist masters from the Central Plains explaining Buddhist scriptures. From my point of view, they are not as good as the master." Yunxi said.
This was not easy for Tsongkhapa to answer, so he did not answer it. Instead, after Yunxi stopped talking, he asked: "Your Majesty, do you still want to hear the poor monk explain that Buddhist scripture?"
"What I just listened to are all the classics of Tibetan Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism. I want to hear the master explain the classics that Chinese Buddhism does not have but Tibetan Buddhism has. For example, there is a "Bodhi Path Torch", which is said to be
What did the Indian Buddhist master Atisha do?”
"Your Majesty, the Bodhi Path Paragraph was indeed written by Venerable Atisha."
"This classic is unique to Chinese Buddhism. What does it say?"
"This classic talks about the concept known as the 'Three Scholars' Path.' Today, the 'Three Scholars' Path' is an important theory of Tibetan Buddhism."
Tsongkhapa explained in detail: "The 'Three Scholars' in the Three Paths refer to the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class, which are the three levels of human beings. The lower class is in the lower class, with the purpose of liberating the sufferings of this world and seeking happiness in this life.
.Those who are on the lower path can only take refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and then they can take one step up in the Six Paths - escape from the three evil realms of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals, and be reborn in the three good realms of humans, asuras, and gods after death.…
…This is the first step in spiritual practice.”
"Then comes the practice of the Way of the Middle School. The purpose of the Way of the Middle School is to reach the realm of Nirvana. What you need to practice is the three disciplines of precepts, concentration, and wisdom. ... Determined by the precepts, and wisdom from concentration, you will enter the world of Nirvana. At this time, the practitioner has already
You can become a Buddha by yourself, but you are not yet able to reincarnate into the world and teach sentient beings."
"But whether you are on the middle or lower path, you are all in the six paths of reincarnation. To become a Buddha, you not only liberate yourself, but also save all sentient beings. This requires arousing bodhicitta, practicing charity, observing precepts, patience, diligence, and meditation.
Through the 'six perfections' of wisdom, one can obtain the supreme Buddha's path. In this way, one can not only save oneself, but also save others, and escape from the suffering of the six paths of reincarnation... This is the third step of practice - the path of the superior monk."
"According to what the master said, that person has an afterlife and can be reincarnated?" Yunxi said after listening to Tsongkhapa's detailed explanation.
"Your Majesty, although ordinary people have an afterlife, they can only reincarnate after death and lose the memory of their previous lives. However, those who have practiced the Way of the Supreme Being can separate their souls from their bodies and transfer them to the body when it is about to age and die.
In another new body. This is reincarnation, which means that the soul of a respected person who has achieved success in cultivation can live forever." Tsongkhapa answered.
"I see," Yunxi said with a smile, "I always felt unclear when reading Buddhist scriptures myself, but now I understand after listening to the master's lecture."
After that, Yunxi asked a few unclear questions about the teachings of the Gelug sect. Upon hearing this question, Tsongkhapa immediately became excited and said loudly: "The teachings of our Gelug sect are different from those of other sects.
. Pay attention to clear rules and precepts, and never violate them."
"Since the Us Tibetan country was in chaos more than a hundred years ago, the temple organization has been disorganized and the disciplines have been lax. The monks have no one to restrain them. They do not chant sutras or practice Dharma. Instead, they marry and have children, and they indulge in debauchery. The upper-level monks take advantage of their privileges and use their privileges to cultivate secrets.
They solicited women from the people for them to commit adultery. These lamas who practiced tantra did all kinds of evil. One of them, named Sakya Monk, came to the Central Plains and taught the Supreme Tantric "Hevajra" initiation to Emperor Yuan, and taught the double cultivation method (double body).
, it is pleasure to take women for adultery, and even expose the nakedness of men and women. The king and ministers declare the name of prostitution as a state where everything is not hindered. There is also an evil method called "He Zhu", which arbitrarily ravages women, called He Zhu, and kills people.
Taking the heart and liver alive is called execution."
"The poor monk was extremely distressed when he saw this, and was determined to reform. The poor monk stipulated that first of all, monks must take the ordination, strictly abide by it, be single, not marry, not engage in worldly affairs, and keep the monastery clean."
"Secondly, there are the two schools of concentration and wisdom. Concentration is to restrain one's mind and not let it wander, and wisdom is to increase wisdom and not be ignorant of the way to liberation. Therefore, there is no concentration without precepts, and wisdom cannot arise without concentration. The two schools of concentration and wisdom are about learning.
Practice.”
"The third is to rectify the style of study and completely change the style of exaggeration, falsehood, arbitrary tampering, etc...."
Tsongkhapa spoke very passionately in this passage. He was very sad for those monks who violated the rules and precepts, and believed that their actions had greatly harmed Tibetan Buddhism. If nothing else, it is because of these people's wanton behavior that today
The Han people in the Central Plains still had many misunderstandings about Tibetan Buddhism, and it was difficult to preach. It was in order to change this phenomenon that he founded the Gelug Sect himself.
Yunxi also listened in awe. It was completely thankless for Tsongkhapa to do this. He was already a very famous master and there was no need to do these things. However, for the future of Tibetan Buddhism, he still started to rectify the precepts without hesitation.
People with ideals are always worthy of respect.
He said: "If all the monks in the world are like masters, why worry about Buddhism not flourishing!"
"Your Majesty is so complimentary. This poor monk just did what he could." Tsongkhapa said humbly.
The two exchanged a few words, and Yunxi finally said: "Master Tsongkhapa, I am very moved by what you have done. I remember that in Tibetan, lama means guru. Come and prepare an edict."
"According to the edict of the Emperor of Heaven, Tsongkhapa, the Buddhist master of Us Tibet, who has done good deeds..., was consecrated as the Tathagata, the great treasure of the West, the great benefactor of the West.
The free-spirited Buddha leads the world in Buddhism, the ordinary Wachi Latral Jebtsundampa Lama, and bestows a seal, gold, silver, banknotes, colorful coins, cassocks woven with gold beads, gold and silver utensils, and pommel horses. I admire this." The imperial edict was drafted.
After finishing, a eunuch with a loud voice read aloud.
"The poor monk thanks His Majesty the Ming Emperor for his kindness." Tsongkhapa saluted again and said with a happy look on his face. Although Tsongkhapa was a very noble monk who devoted himself to the study of Buddhism, he was not a fool.
He was canonized as Jebtsundamba Lama, and as his fame increased, the influence of the Gelug Sect would also increase rapidly, which would be of great benefit to him in spreading his sect.
But what he didn't notice was that Yun Xi also had a happy look on his face, not just a look of being moved.
