Fang Shiwen raised his brows and was quite surprised when he heard Zhang Yan's answer, and then asked: "So, Master Zhang throws out the overt and dark narrations in "Journey to the West", but lets the disciples in the sect understand it on their own? What if?
What should they do if their understanding goes awry? For example, they pursue the Buddha’s light and universal enlightenment but despise the laws of heaven?”
They are all telling "stories", but Fang Shiwen's words have nothing to do with the "story".
And Fang Shiwen is not worried about whether Zhang Yan will understand. In his opinion, the so-called "Journey to the West" must be a warning work passed down from the ancient world, but it was disguised by Zhang Yan as a "story"
Showing people, avoids the embarrassing problem of the great world disappearing from its peak to now.
But Fang Shiwen didn't care. He was sure that he had an insight into the little tricks of the cliff mountain. The great world of prehistoric times has long disappeared. He understood what the cliff mountain did, but he couldn't just listen to it as a story. Otherwise, wouldn't it look like Dahongtian was too big?
Are you too stagnant to even guess these things?
Zhang Yan leaned back in the chair behind him with complicated eyes.
"It seems that Elder Fang has not read "Journey to the West" thoroughly enough. Whether it is Heaven or Xitian, it is all in the book, so what does it have to do with reality? Heaven is only superficial, Xitian is hypocritical and selfish, and even Xuanzang can do it from beginning to end.
It is difficult to conquer the world if you only take good care of yourself. Even Sun Dasheng can only act like a fool and wallow in mischief, and finally be trapped by Lei Yin.
With such an ending and such a style, how can the disciples of Duoya Mountain yearn for it? They are just summarizing the gloom and hardships involved, keeping it in mind, and warning others."
These questions raised by Fang Shiwen are entirely based on the fact that "Journey to the West" was initially regarded by Zhang Yan as a "fun" story to coax his disciples. Although as his spiritual practice improved, the things in "Journey to the West" are no longer
As "false" as it was at the beginning, it became "realistic" on the contrary. However, Fang Shiwen's perspective of understanding still caught Zhang Yan off guard.
However, Zhang Yan's own understanding of "Journey to the West" aside, he didn't know much about the various versions he had heard. It was more than enough to deal with Fang Shiwen.
It's just that Zhang Yan needs a way of thinking that can follow Fang Shiwen's words to answer.
Heavenly Court and Xitian are actually the two major forces in "Journey to the West". The former is the "institution" introduced by Taoism to manage the three realms. The latter represents Buddhism and is the base camp of the latter.
But in Zhang Yan's understanding, although Tianting is an institution introduced by Taoism to govern the three realms on its behalf, it does not represent the entire Taoism, and can even be regarded as just the tip of the iceberg of Taoism.
When watching "Journey to the West", for disciples with relatively little experience, what they see is Sun Dasheng's rebelliousness and the fantasy and interest of Nine Nine-Nine and Eighty-one Difficulties, and what they experience is the mountain-moving and sea-reclamation in spiritual practice and the hardships and dangers of the journey.
After having a little experience, what I saw when watching "Journey to the West" was the game and innuendo. I understood that the world is not black and white, let alone good and evil at a glance.
Later, when you have made some achievements in your Taoist heart and cultivation, you will look back at "Journey to the West" and you will find that, oh, it turned out to be just a show for the world. All the participants in it were
It's like a fighting dog in a fighting ring. It bites or attacks out of its own control. It's just a tool for the game between the two sides watching coldly from the outside.
Zhang Yan practices Taoism, so he is not interested in Buddhism. He has not even studied it carefully. Anyway, I will not take that path, so what is the point of understanding it?
So when Fang Shiwen stood on an issue entirely based on "Journey to the West", he did not stand on either side of Heaven or the West.
Facing Zhang Yan's answer, Fang Shiwen was stunned for a moment. Then he said curiously: "So, Master Zhang thinks that Tianting and Xitian are not worth mentioning?"
"Elder Fang, how can spiritual practice be so either good or bad? For reference, use the good ones and throw away the bad ones. You have to piece together a path that suits you. Otherwise, you will forcefully follow the old path of others. It’s not suitable for you. Over time, obsession will arise. How will you resist the invasion of the heavenly calamity? Let alone resist the external demons and maintain your Taoist heart.”
Fang Shiwen understood what he understood this time. So he smiled and said: "So the inheritance of the Zhang clan leader is to take the essence of Heavenly Court and Xitian and discard the dross? Is it considered that the strengths of all the families are gathered together to form a new sect?"
Zhang Yan did not answer questions honestly this time. Instead, he asked: "Isn't Haoxue Sect's practice method based on the strengths of other schools?"
Fang Shiwen laughed and did not continue the topic because he felt that he had got the answer he wanted. That is, what is the origin of the inheritance in Zhang Yan's hands in the great world.
After that, Fang Shiwen shifted the topic from "Journey to the West" to the business negotiations that had been at loggerheads for the past few days. Although he ignored Li Yan's request for an audience, Fang Shiwen also knew about the difficulties encountered in the following negotiations and knew that he had to solve them. In fact, it depends on the attitudes of himself and Zhang Yan.
"I heard that Li Yan said that there have been a lot of disagreements about business and trade recently, mainly focusing on the paving of trade routes and the issue of fixing an intermediate token. Generally speaking, Guizong still does not agree with free trade, and is more inclined to control it.
Clan Leader Zhang, to be honest, we all understand your sect’s concerns, but from now on we are in the same alliance and belong to our own people. It is not appropriate to be so cautious. It will make it easier to create barriers for ourselves and add obstacles to the future of the Wild Heaven Territory. It plays a very bad role in hindering the evolution of
Fang Shiwen's words gave Zhang Yan a sense of déjà vu.
But no matter how sweet he talks, you only need to keep an eye on the benefits you can get and the price you will pay. If you believe the pie that others draw for you, then the pickles in your hand will have to be taken away.
"Elder Fang, the freedom we understand is freedom that is established without causing any impact on the Desolate Sky Territory. If we do nothing and ignore the impact, the Desolate Heaven Territory will only be overwhelmed by the impact of commodities and trade from more than ten worlds at the same time. It will cause destruction. Not to mention the resource circulation system of the Wild Sky Territory itself, it will also cause the worlds in the alliance to not enjoy the same high-quality treatment in the Wild Sky Territory. Isn't this a big problem?
In fact, I don’t think the views I have been struggling with these days should be so serious. Besides, just because it has been done that way in the past does not mean that it is the best and most suitable. The Desolate Sky Territory is new to the alliance and trying new methods to be in harmony with the times. By demarcating a special trade area and then fixing an intermediate token, doesn’t this mean that we are not “free”?”
"Haha, what Master Zhang said is exactly the same as that of the members of your sect. Let's be honest. If Master Zhang really does this, Da Hongtian will not be able to explain it to the remaining allies."
"Explain? Elder Fang was joking. Da Hongtian doesn't need to explain to anyone at all. Because the Wild Sky Territory is already worthy of this preferential treatment. Isn't it?"