Chapter 175: Debate Among the Three Religions

"The poor monk taught the Dharma for three days, one sutra per day. Today I will teach the fundamental sutra of my Buddha..."

"The bad karma of the past was all caused by greed, anger and ignorance..."

"Eliminate all heart poisons and cultivate the supreme wisdom..."

“…Everything happens according to karma!”

The sound of Miao Shan's sermons spread outside the square and drifted for miles in the wind, as if whispering in the ears of passers-by.

Under the blessing of Buddhism, the murmur makes people feel comfortable all over, and they can't help but gather in the square. But within a short time, the square was crowded with people, many of whom were listening to the scriptures on the walls, trees, and rooftops.

Miao Shan explained the wonderful points and pinched the Dharma seal with his hand. Suddenly the sky was filled with flowers and golden lotuses surged from the ground.

Seeing this, the Buddhist believers in the field sat cross-legged on the ground and recited Buddhist scriptures.

Many listeners who did not believe in Buddhism immediately felt some respect for the Buddha when they saw this vision.

Only the monks listening to the sutra couldn't help but curl their lips, it was just a more mysterious illusion.

Among them were several unruly Taoists and scholars, shouting for the Immeasurable God and the Master, and making strange noises.

Miao Shan turned a blind eye to this and had become accustomed to it. Traveling eastward for millions of miles, he met devout believers, evil Buddhas and even enemies of the Buddha who destroyed the Buddha.

When you meet this kind of person, just pretend they don't exist and ignore them. .

"...Such a perfect practice will lead to the attainment of Buddhahood!"

A sutra was taught for nearly two hours, and those who stood to listen did not feel tired at all. Instead, they felt as if they were drinking ice water in the summer, the warm sun in the winter, and the warmth of their wives and children.

Miao Shan's voice gradually faded away, and the audience woke up from the sound of preaching, feeling reluctant to give up in their hearts.

There were some strange people in the crowd, but they knew that the real drama had just begun.

really.

As soon as Miao Shan finished speaking, two old men appeared on the stage.

Among them, the thin old man said with a pleasant look: "Zen Master, I have learned a lot from listening to your lectures. Could you please help me clear up a few questions?"

The fat old man's words were rather aggressive: "I am a late Legalist, and I have a few Buddhist cases that I would like to ask a divine monk to judge."

As soon as the two people appeared, the people who were originally making noises suddenly became quiet.

"Hiss! It turns out to be Mr. Yan and Mr. Shang. These two haven't shown up for decades. What's the background of this monk?"

Zhang Cheng's eyes were flashing with light and he was calculating with his fingers, but he couldn't understand Miao Shan's details at all.

Zhou Yi said slowly: "I heard that he is the great disciple of Arhat, and he has an extraordinary status in the Buddhist realm."

"Um?"

Zhang Cheng raised his eyebrows and asked doubtfully: "Old Zhou, where did you get the news?"

It was Zhou Yi who asked Zhang Cheng for information. After all, it had only been a few years since he had become a god, and his network of connections had not yet been expanded. Zhang Cheng is a three-hundred-year-old god-refining expert. He has a wide circle of friends and can basically know anything new.

Zhou Yi had already thought of the reason: "I have gained a lot in alchemy in recent days, and I learned about it from several fellow Taoists who asked for elixirs."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Lao Zhou is amazing. He has extraordinary understanding, merits and virtues, and he is also proficient in alchemy... given time, he may not be able to become Yang Shen."

Zhang Cheng clicked his tongue in surprise, his expression unabashedly envious.

Ordinary people make friends by reciprocating courtesy, and gradually they develop friendship. The alchemist is a distinguished person, and there are many people who are rushing to make friends, and the network of connections can easily exceed that of others accumulated over a hundred years.

The two of them spoke without concealment, and Miao Shan, who was always paying attention on the stage, couldn't help but look weird.

Are all the true immortals today so stubborn?

Miaoshan kept thinking about whether the incomprehensible people he met on the road might be hidden true immortals, and whether they had offended each other.

Mr. Yan noticed that Miao Shan’s expression did not belong to him and asked doubtfully: “Zen Master?”

"This poor monk has come to this precious land for the first time. He is a little acquainted with life, so I would like to ask the layman to pay attention."

Miao Shan casually made an excuse and continued: "I wonder if lay people have any doubts after listening to the scriptures?"

"I'm confused. The monks are not engaged in childbirth. They spend their days meditating and reciting sutras. They claim to be charitable to the public, but they are supported by believers. They are like moths in the country."

Mr. Yan, with a smile on his face and his words like a knife, asked: "What does Zen Master mean by this?"

"What the layman said is not unreasonable, but..."

Miao Shan said: "The common people are farming on the land to get rice, millet and wheat. I, the Buddha, are farming on the hearts of people, eliminating karma and guiding people to do good. The two have different divisions of labor, but they are actually the same!"

"What Zen Master said about cultivating the human heart is not for the purpose of eliminating karma? It is not for the sake of one's own cultivation. The greatest benefit still falls on oneself!"

Mr. Yan said with a smile: "Since you are practicing for yourself, don't preach about saving others. It's too hypocritical. It's just about saving yourself!"

Wow!

There was a commotion in the square.

The fundamental concept of Buddhism is to save others. After the old man explained it, it became selfish to save oneself.

Some of the believers suddenly turned pale, and they were so emotional that they even rushed to the stage, pulled the old man down and beat him up, so that he would understand what physicalization meant.

Flashes of spiritual light, Taoist body-fixing techniques, or Confucian techniques stabilized the crowd.

At this time, lectures on scriptures have turned into debates on scriptures. One side is the pillar of Confucianism, and the other side is the Buddhist monk.

Ordinary people only hear that Mr. Yan's words are as sharp as a knife and that he is a monk with superb conduct. What they see is the confrontation between Confucian and Buddhist ideas.

Miaoshan pondered for a moment, then changed the subject and said, "The layman is very impressive. Can you tell me your name and identity?"

"The old man Yan Wenshan was once the headmaster of Yujing Academy!"

In the crowd where Yan Wenshan's name was preached, there was no need for the monks to stop the chaos, and the place suddenly became quiet.

Miaoshan continued to ask: "Has Mr. Yan ever served in the imperial court?"

Yan Wenshan replied: "I have been an official for decades, and have been the chief and assistant of the six ministers and cabinets."

"A poor monk once listened to a great Confucian's lecture on the scriptures. Scholars must have a great wish to govern the country, bring order to the family and bring peace to the world."

Miao Shan said slowly: "Students are not engaged in production, but also practice in the process of running a country and a family. I wonder if they are selfish?"

Yan Wenshan pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "I admire you! Zen Master is so eloquent!"

"Amitabha!"

Miao Shan proclaimed the Buddha's name and said: "Buddha's salvation of people is practice, and salvation of oneself is also practice. Mr. Yan is in the phase!"

"Haha! The monk is interesting. I want to see this guy's hypocrisy, but I can't tell him."

The laughter of Mr. Shang, a disciple of Legalism, was cold: "Today I finally met a more hypocritical guy, let him learn a lesson."

Yan Wenshan snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves and wanted to leave, but he still stayed. He would like to hear how old man Shang debated scriptures with Miao Shan.

Legalism is far inferior to Confucianism in debates on scriptures, so how does it compare with Buddhism?

Miaoshan asked: "I wonder who the old gentleman's last name is?"

"The old man Shang Xing, the non-negotiable Shang, the punishment of capital punishment!"

Shang Xing said: "I am an old man with little talent and little knowledge. I have never been an official and only studied some criminal laws. In recent days, I have encountered several cases and I am quite confused..."

"Please also ask Mr. Shang to speak!"

Miao Shan looked solemn and prepared.

Legalism is different from Confucianism in that it involves legal judgment. If you give the wrong answer today, it is unlikely that it will harm people's lives.

"A few days ago, Six Gates searched Pudu Temple in the western suburbs and found several criminal thieves working as monks in the temple."

Shang Xing said: "The oldest one among them is over ninety years old. He committed evil fifty years ago and was just taking it easy to kill families and butchers. The one with the biggest crime is a rebel leader who broke into the county and massacred the city thirty years ago..."

"The latest person who entered the temple was only three years ago. He was a flower picker. Once he had an epiphany, he became a Buddhist monk!"

"When the Six Gates police were arresting him, the host even threatened him with death, saying that since he put down his butcher knife and escaped into Buddhism, he should not be punished by the laws of the earthly world!"

"According to the laws of Daqian, harboring criminal thieves is a crime, and harboring rebel thieves is a crime of confiscating the family and exterminating the clan,"

"Zen Master, do you think this host should die?"

Miao Shan frowned. Shang Xing asked not whether those monks should die, but the abbot of Pudu Temple.

It is true that Buddhism harbors some filth and evil. Miao Shan has never supported this. He simply said that it should be beheaded, and it can also show the purity of Buddhism.

To say that execution is inappropriate is a direct violation of Daqian law. Why is it not illegal for monks to harbor criminals? It can easily arouse the resentment of the general public and be harmful to the spread of Buddhism in the future.

He said that he should be beheaded. Not only did he appear to have a cold heart, but he also chilled the hearts of his fellow monks.

What's more important is that after being certified by the Buddhist monks, Daqian will definitely make this a solid case. In the future, if a criminal thief is found in the temple, he will be punished according to this case.

It’s nothing more than harboring them. There are many Buddhist monks whose origins are unknown. Who knows if they are criminals?

If the imperial court were more evil-hearted, they would deliberately let a few criminals become monks, and then they would come to investigate...

The sound of Shang Xing reached the ears of the people listening to the scriptures in the square, causing a buzz and constant discussion. Compared with belief in Buddhism, the law is fair and rigorous, and is more concerned by the general public.

Yan Wenshan put his hands on his hands and smiled: "Interesting! Old Xingtou, how did you come up with this argument?"

"Unlike you, I have never thought about the outcome of the debate. I just found that the law is not strict and it is difficult to punish evil. Today, there are foreign monks here, so I came here specifically to ask for advice."

Shang Xing spoke in a serious voice, like the sound of steel friction and collision: "Confucianism talks about governing the country every day, so it is better to be more pragmatic."

"snort!"

Yan Wenshan snorted coldly and said nothing more.

The main contradiction today is Miao Shan, otherwise according to his temper, he would definitely be speechless by quoting the scriptures about Shang Xing.

"Mr. Shang is so kind!"

Hearing this, Miao Shan showed a look of shame on his face: "Although the presiding officer does good deeds, he also indulges in evil. Good deeds do not offset karma, so they should be punished according to the law!"

"Thank you Zen Master!"

A slight smile appeared on Shang Xing's stiff face. He obviously won, but he bowed and saluted.

Miaoshan's words give the Daqian Law something to rely on, which will inevitably greatly reduce the number of hidden criminals in the temple, which can be said to be of immeasurable merit.

"Mr. Shang doesn't need to be polite. The poor monk is also greedy and wants to protect the host."

Miaoshan said: "Fortunately, sir, he only enlightened the poor monk with his words of punishment, and almost caused karma."

One monk, one Confucianism and one Dharma, one victory and one defeat, it can be said to be a draw.

In just a few sentences, it seems to be more insipid than the extravagant sermon. However, in the ears of monks, it is no different from the theory of the road, which is ten times and a hundred times more mysterious than preaching the scriptures.

In terms of far-reaching influence, good-sounding scriptures are not as good as a few lines of debate.

"Today's lecture is over. You can come back tomorrow. In three days, the poor monk will continue his journey eastward..."

After Miao Shan finished speaking, he was about to leave when suddenly, a figure stood up near the bottom of the stage.

If it were an ordinary position, Miao Shan might not notice it, but it happened to be the seat next to the real immortal, and the relationship between this person and the real immortal Yanxiao Yanyan was obviously extraordinary.

"The Zen master stayed behind, but the young monk refused to follow the rules. He has some unclear Buddhist teachings, and I would like to ask for advice."

Zhang Cheng had his hands clasped together, his posture was upright, and his expression was respectful. Unfortunately, the large bodhi shells on the ground and the tin stick rolled down under the chair made it difficult for people to believe that he was a devout Buddhist.

Miao Shan said with a pleasant look, "Master Bujie, please tell me?"

Zhang Cheng said: "The young monk just wants to ask, can you gain immortality by practicing Buddhism?"

"Immortality?"

Miaoshan's mind trembled, and she concluded that this person was under the instructions of the immortal. After all, he had told the immortal about the immortality of the Buddha just yesterday.

He carefully considered his words and said, "Buddhism is not for immortality..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Cheng took off his bright yellow monk's robe, revealing the dark blue Taoist robe underneath.

"Monk?"

"Taoist?"

"Zhang Zichang?"

"Then it's okay..."

There were several spiritual masters in the audience, and they were no longer surprised when they recognized Zhang Cheng.

"..."

Miao Shan pretended not to see it and continued to talk to herself: "But practicing Buddhism can make you immortal!"

"Oh! Why is it windy? It's a bit cold!"

Zhang Cheng said, put on his monk's robe again, put his hands together and said: "Amitabha! I thank the Zen master for solving my doubts. I will practice Buddhism diligently in the future."

"Master Bujie, I see that you are extraordinary, so I have to give you some advice."

Miao Shan's voice reached everyone's ears: "Color is emptiness, you are a skeleton, don't go to Chunfeng Tower in the future, so as not to ruin your Buddhist practice!"

"Hahaha!"

A burst of laughter broke out in the crowd. Everyone knows that Chunfeng Tower is a first-class brothel in Luojing.

Zhang Cheng was not ashamed, but showed a happy expression on his face.

"As expected of a Buddhist monk, you think I am extraordinary? I think so too!"

"..."

Miao Shan disappeared silently. Talking to Zhang Cheng was more tiring than Yan and Shang.

Mr. Shang nodded slightly to Zhang Cheng, performed the law of relocation, and returned to the Jixia Academy.

Mr. Yan praised: "You are a good kid, you can visit Yujing Academy when you have time!"

The first day of the divine monk's lecture ended with this.

The wonders of the golden lotus falling from the sky, the strange visions of the sky, the mystery of Buddhist scriptures, and the debates between Buddhism, Confucianism and law immediately spread throughout the streets and alleys of Luojing.

The number of people listening to the sutras on the second day increased several times and filled the entire Shangshanfang.

The Beijing government sent people to maintain order, and their attitude was much better than yesterday's indifference.

Miaoshan took the great disapproval of Buddhism and accepted the law of the Great Exploration, which was recognized by the court officials. It is indeed different from Yunzhou Buddhism.

Of course, the most widely circulated is never serious things. Who has nothing to do to read serious news? Gossip is the most interesting.

After Lü Tiancheng, Luojing has another god, named Master Bujie. Just hearing this name is unusual, he does not abstain from alcohol, meat, or sex.

Some smart storytellers have begun to tell the legend of Master Bujie.

There are many themes, such as replacing the protagonist of a banned book with Master Bujie, and after modification and compilation, it has become a new story that is popular.

Zhang Cheng is not ashamed of this, but proud of it.

"It is rare for me, Old Zhang, to live forever, and there is no great work to be passed down. If I want to prove that I have been in the world, this is a way!"

"Lü Tiancheng and Master Bujie are the marks left by Old Zhang, and they will live on in my place!"