Li Shimin looked suspicious. Whether it was Buddha or Tao, which one could not be fully understood by others even if they spent their entire lives? How many days have you studied it? You have the nerve to say it! However, Li Shimin did not interrupt Li Mu. He was so proud of his arrogance and inexplicable confidence.
, Li Shimin was used to it and ignored him, saying: "Say it quickly."
"Then I would like to express some brief opinions." Li Mu cleared his throat and said: "If you want to know why there is such a difference, you must first understand what kind of ideas Buddhism wants to advocate. Chen's conclusion,
Buddhism pays attention to exploring the progress and enlightenment of human soul and morality. The purpose of their followers' practice is to transcend life, death and suffering, to cut off all worries, obtain liberation from life, and reach a state of enlightenment."
"Therefore, people often see through the world of mortals and become a monk after experiencing suffering. Behind the appearance of great enlightenment, it is actually a behavior of escaping reality. This kind of escape can be seen in various Buddhist scriptures, but it is just beautified.
For example, cultivating the blessings of the next life is very typical. Who has seen the afterlife? Who knows what the afterlife is like? The monk who said these words did not know it himself. They could not change this life, so they compromised with this life.
, to cultivate the afterlife? It’s just an excuse.”
"At the same time, Buddhism pays attention to the reincarnation of cause and effect. Buddhism believes that "good will be rewarded with good and evil will be rewarded with evil." Therefore, they believe that those who cause war will one day reap the consequences, so they do not need their help. As just said
, this is also a kind of escape. They have no ability to save the troubled times, and they don’t even want to try hard. I don’t like this kind of negative attitude very much. I think that no matter how small the possibility is, as long as they make positive efforts, they can
You can give it a try. Miracles always exist. If you don’t try, you will never know whether you can succeed.”
"And if in the prosperous times, because many emperors needed Buddhist ideas to educate the people, it would become normal for monks to go down the mountain. When Buddhism became a tool of emperors' rule and received certain support from the court, there would naturally be more temples.
, there are more monks. There are more occasions where they need to appear, and there is no need to escape. Naturally, they will 'go down the mountain'."
Li Shimin nodded and said, "What about Taoism?"
"The thoughts of Taoism are completely different from Buddhism. Taoism pursues "Tao", and the so-called "Tao", as I understand it, is a way to solve problems. For example, it is said that 'obtaining the Tao becomes an immortal', 'makes a difference between life and death', 'helps the world'
Saving people, etc., every ability is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Therefore, if you want to obtain this ability, you must study hard."
"Taoist people mainly believe in Taishang Laojun. This person is a god who refines elixirs in the sky and can refine all kinds of elixirs. According to legend, taking one elixir can extend your life for hundreds of years. In the past, Peng Zu lived eight hundred years.
It's because he took eight elixirs." Li Mu was talking nonsense, but he kept looking at Li Shimin's expression from the corner of his eye, and saw the desire in his eyes when he heard "one elixir can extend life for a hundred years", and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised,
He continued: "In prosperous times, when the country is peaceful and the people are safe, the country is prosperous and the people are strong, and the people's lives are worry-free, there will naturally be many people pursuing immortality. However, there is no record or conclusion on the method of immortality, so you can only study it yourself."
"Whether it is to have the 'Tao' to solve problems or to achieve 'immortality'. No matter what the purpose is, they all have one thing in common, that is, they need a quiet environment, and the busy city is naturally not their first choice. Therefore,
In the prosperous times, Taoist priests often retreated to the mountains and forests to work hard to achieve their goals."
"And in troubled times, it is a good time for Taoist priests to show what they have learned. For example, for doctors like Dr. Sun, in troubled times, there must be more people who need doctors than in prosperous times. The same is true for other 'Tao's"
.”
After listening to Li Mu's words, Li Shimin's doubts were not resolved. He frowned and asked: "According to what you said, the Buddha's way is not good or bad, it's just different ideas. For the emperor, the Buddha is more important than the way. Why do you
But you don’t like the Buddha, but during the conversation, you admire the Tao?"
"This is about to get a little deeper." Li Mu smiled and said, "Let me give you an example. Your Majesty, I would like to ask Your Majesty, do you prefer a person who conquers the country or a person who sits on the country?"
Li Shimin smiled casually and said: "Of course it's the one who conquers the country, and sits on it? Sitting back and enjoying the success is not what I want, and it doesn't mean anything."
"I think so too." Li Mu nodded in agreement and said: "Your Majesty, life is about experience. When you encounter problems, solve them, give and receive, this is the normal state of life. Everything is ready-made, so it doesn't matter.
That makes sense."
"Buddhism is certainly a good tool for emperors to rule the people, but it is nothing more than a means to fool the people. Your Majesty should understand one truth, that is, the people cannot be bullied."
"Buddha, is this deception?"
"It doesn't have to be complete deception, but there must be hypocrisy."
Li Shimin frowned: "Where is the hypocrisy?"
"I won't give you any superficial examples. Let's just say that I, the Buddha, are compassionate and cannot bear to kill."
"What's the problem?"
Li Mu smiled and said: "There is a short story recorded in the Buddhist scriptures to show the power of the Buddha. The Buddha once said that there are countless living beings in a bowl of water, and these living beings form a world. Therefore, there is a poem praising the Buddha.
Look at a ladle of water, forty-eight thousand insects. A flower, a world, and a leaf, a Bodhi. But I would like to ask, does the Buddha drink water?"
Li Shimin frowned.
"My Buddha is compassionate and should not kill. But in a gourd of water, countless living beings are born. When the Buddha drinks water, he kills. Can a Buddha who kills living beings be considered a Buddha? Isn't this contradictory?"
Li Shimin laughed and said: "You always have something to say. In terms of sophistry, you are unparalleled in the world. However, Tao is not always good, so why do you like it?"
"I don't just like Tao, I just like the idea of 'Tao'," after a pause, Li Mu added: "Or the spirit."
"I just talked for a long time, and I don't know if I made it clear. What I want to tell your Majesty is that if you act according to Buddhist ideas, you can better control existing resources, but in fact, you cannot create new value. Because
Buddhist thought itself does not have the ability to solve problems like Taoism. Taoism is different. Tao is the way to solve problems. Taoists will continue to study various "Tao", which will make the "Tao" develop better
, deeper. As for this medical skill, there are many records in ancient and modern history books, and many Taoist priests are very good doctors. Their Taoism is this medical skill."
"I prefer Taoism because I am also such a person. I like people who face problems and rise to them. I also like people who can solve problems. People who can study tirelessly in a field that they are good at.
, no matter in any field. This is also the reason why I had a feud with Confucius and Wei Gong before, but later relaxed. They are both persistent people. If they are persistent for their own ideals, there is no right or wrong."
"Nowadays, the Tang Dynasty is waiting to be revitalized. The people are far from living and working in peace and contentment, and it is not yet time to use Buddhism to educate the world. What is needed now is the 'Tao' to solve problems, because it is conceivable that they will inevitably encounter many problems.
I do not hope that the government and the public will all be Taoist priests, but I hope that the government and the public can develop a kind of atmosphere, that is, when encountering problems, do not run away, face them head-on, as long as you keep trying, do not be afraid
With a failed heart, the problem will eventually be solved one day. But if the thought of escaping drags the problem off again and again, it will never make progress. The prosperous scene of the Tang Dynasty will also be delayed further and further, and even
You’ll never see it again.”
Li Shimin stared at Li Mu with his eyes like a torch and said, "Are you asking me to follow the Tao but stay far away from the Buddha?"
Li Mu shook his head gently and said: "How dare I teach your Majesty how to do things? I just want to give your Majesty a suggestion. Whether it is Buddha or Tao, they are just tools in the hands of the emperor. Tools are for use, not for
Tired of this. Today’s temples have reached the level of shaking the foundation of the country. If you want to implement the New Deal, you must suppress the Buddha. This is like blacksmithing. When you need a big hammer, use a big hammer. When you need a small hammer, use a small hammer.
Hammer. As long as the thing is punched out, the process is not very important."
Li Shimin nodded: "I understand, but you still need to explain to the queen."
"I'll go now -" Li Mu said, and was about to bow and leave. Suddenly, a voice came from the door: "No need, I have already heard it."
Li Mu turned around and saluted. Queen Changsun helped him up and said: "Li Mu, I am not here to raise an army to accuse you. What you did is for the sake of the country of the Tang Dynasty and to bear the bad name for His Majesty. I am here."
I'm here to thank you for coming. I've heard most of what you just said. Every word is very reasonable. At your age, you are really worthy of being able to think about things so clearly.
The word genius is gone."
"Thank you for your compliments, Queen."
Empress Changsun smiled and said: "As for the things in this palace, they are just to clear up my doubts. I know that my illnesses occur from time to time, and they may not be caused by praying for blessings.
It was committed, but it cannot be blamed. Zhinu and Jinyang were raised by the imperial doctor of the Imperial Hospital, and they have little connection with Ci'en Temple. It is just what people say, and the palace is inconvenient to explain it, so it becomes their excuse.
Yes. You must remember it in the future, and you must not have any scruples for your status, whether it is the uncle of the country or me, the queen."
"This -" Li Mu didn't know whether Queen Changsun's words were true or false, so he hurriedly bowed and said, "I'm afraid it's inappropriate, this goes against the rules of a monarch and his ministers."
"You are His Majesty's minister. It is the way to be a minister to be loyal to His Majesty and fulfill your responsibilities for the Tang Dynasty."
Li Mu looked up at Empress Changsun and saw that her expression was sincere and did not seem to be sarcastic. She was really impressed. Otherwise, later historians praised Empress Wende of the Tang Dynasty as the most virtuous empress in ancient and modern times. She was reasonable and reasonable.
The strength is enough to bear the burden.
Empress Changsun gave her face, and Li Mu did not hesitate to praise: "The virtuous empress is a blessing to your majesty. In the future, your majesty will become the emperor of the ages, and I am afraid that half of the credit will go to the empress."
Empress Changsun smiled and said: "I came here specifically not to listen to your compliments. You should go to work quickly. I and Your Majesty have some other things to talk about."
"I excuse myself."
Li Mu saluted Li Shimin and Queen Changsun respectively, and followed Eunuch Gao out of the palace. Looking at Li Mu walking out through the window, Li Shimin said angrily: "Did you hear what that kid said? I just came back to my senses,
These words are complimentary to you, but they are also sarcastic to me! What do you mean by this kid? His heart is to be punished!"
"Why does Your Majesty care about this?" Empress Changsun looked at Li Shimin and said seriously: "I am here. In addition to comforting Li Mu, I have one more thing to ask of Your Majesty."
"What's the matter?"
"Your Majesty, please give me instructions to my brother."
"Auxiliary machine?" Li Shimin was a little confused and said: "I heard from senior officials about the auxiliary machine, but they just stopped Li Mu for a while, but this is excusable. He is your brother, a child slave and
Uncle Jinyang, what’s wrong with worrying about you and your child?”
"He shouldn't use this as a basis to blackmail Li Mu. As I just said, this is not the way to be a minister."
Li Shimin frowned and said angrily: "As a family, you are always talking about how to be a minister. Aren't you tired of it?"
"First emperor and minister——"
"Okay!" Li Shimin's tone was a little serious, interrupting Queen Changsun's words, and said: "I know what you are worried about, but you also have to have confidence in me. Am I just a decoration? I can make the auxiliary machine family dominate.
, a relative has seized power? It is impossible for anyone to be without ambition, and the same is true for the auxiliary machine, but I am confident that I can subdue him."
"But……"
"I know, what you are saying is that the auxiliary machine is a few years older than me. He will be dead long before my funeral. Changsun Chong is quite a talented person, but with Li Mu here, he is destined to be unable to make waves.
.”
"What about Li Mu? Who can convince him?"
"So, the one who is most worried is Li Mu."
Li Mu's shadow could no longer be seen outside the window, so Li Shimin withdrew his gaze and turned around. Whether it was because of the light, his face looked a little gloomy.
Li Shimin walked a few steps and came to the desk. He picked up his pen and wanted to write an imperial edict.
Feibai outlines it on the rice paper, and the words are like knives.
"I have thought about it. If no one can convince Li Mu when I am buried in heaven, then he can follow me into the mausoleum. The king, the king, and the minister have a beginning and an end. It can be considered a good story."
Empress Changsun looked at Li Shimin in shock. At this moment, she felt that her husband was a bit strange. The young general who used to have white robes and silver armor and rode horses to kill enemies could not be seen at all. When did he become like this?
Are you cold-blooded? Can you say such a natural and unreasonable thing in an understatement?
Empress Changsun tried hard to recall when exactly Li Shimin became like this. She recalled before Li Mu came, before the war to destroy the Turks, and that night with the blood moon in the sky...