The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 526 - 399, The World-Honored One Opens His Eyes (6k)_4

Mr. Yuan nodded and said,

"In Buddhist cultivation, there is a distinction between gradual enlightenment and sudden enlightenment. Both the Western Regions Ancestral Court and Master Xuan Yin hold the belief in gradual enlightenment, thinking that if one wants to cultivate as a Buddha, they need to accumulate diligent cultivation daily. However, the doctrine of sudden enlightenment favored by Long Shu Bodhisattva emphasizes spirituality, where one can become a Buddha in a single sudden revelation...

But Mr. Zhao takes this even further, believing that common people worshiping Buddha in their daily routine and everyday life, every action, can be cultivation. Sudden enlightenment is not limited to monks in Buddhist temples; even monks working in the fields can practice Buddha Cultivation, and can achieve sudden enlightenment..."

He quickly explained the gist of the idea before saying excitedly, freёwebnoѵel.com

"However, these are not important. As I mentioned before, Mr. Zhao is doing something great, the true meaning of which is that this sudden enlightenment doctrine has great benefits for the court! It is also advantageous for the Western Regions!"

Princess Wen Zhu's ears perked up, and Xu Zhenguan's face took on a serious expression:

"Mr. Yuan, please explain!"

Mr. Yuan said sincerely,

"Your Majesty, do you know that after the court banned Buddhism, many voices of dissatisfaction with the court arose among the people?"

Xu Zhenguan nodded and sighed, "When the court forbids the people to worship Buddha, naturally there will be grievances."

Mr. Yuan sighed,

"That's exactly it. The practice of worshiping Buddha has persisted for a thousand years and cannot be eradicated with a single edict from the court.

Your Majesty's ban on Buddhism was not out of dissatisfaction with the divine or the worshipping populace under Heaven, but rather because the monks of Divine Dragon Temple were reckless and presumptuous. Your Majesty's intention was to punish those impure-thinking monks...

However, the common people are unaware and only harbor dissatisfaction with the court... If mishandled, it's inevitable that this will alienate some people...

And Mr. Zhao evidently realized this layer, hence using today's Debating Scripture to promote the doctrine of sudden enlightenment... Once it spreads, the people will no longer need to go to temples to worship Buddha, and monks around the world do not necessarily have to congregate in temples to cultivate..."

Mr. Yuan spoke cryptically.

But everyone present was shrewd, who wouldn't understand?

What is it that the Divine Dragon Temple most makes the court apprehensive? Is it the group of powerful cultivators led by Xuan Yin? Yes, but not entirely.

Because powerful cultivators can be countered.

What the court fears is the assembly of monks from temples everywhere, which have gradually become an uncontrollable force.

It is because of this force that the Divine Dragon Temple dares to think about swallowing the Western Regions and pushing for integration.

Only with this force do Long Shu Bodhisattva and the Da Jing Master dare to act against the court.

Thus, after the Empress realized this, she took the opportunity of the assassination attempt on Zhao Douan to ban Buddhism.

But this "ban," if handled poorly, becomes a big problem; it might be possible to control the Divine Dragon Temple within the Capital, but what about the many temples in the Nine Roads and Eighteen Prefectures of Great Yu?

Keep them shut down indefinitely? If they are forcibly dissolved, it turns into an unruly force, one that might be exploited by the Eight Princes.

And the solution given by Zhao Douan is to refine the theory of the already existing but imperfect notion endorsed by Long Shu Bodhisattva.

Because the idea that 'everyone can suddenly become a Buddha' is too tempting for the faithful, once promoted, it will be readily accepted by the people.

Once this theory gains traction, it means that monks can practice at home, and don't necessarily need to cultivate in temples, which would significantly weaken the authority of temples led by Divine Dragon Temple.

It distributes the power of Buddha Cultivation from the control of the temples to everyone.

Moreover, with Mr. Zhao's high-profile criticism today, it's as if he's telling everyone that the court's ban on Buddhism is not about preventing you from worshiping Buddha or cultivating, but about dissolving the handful of people in charge of the temples.

Suppress temple worship, but allow folk rituals.

This would also greatly alleviate the people's hostility towards the court.

"Therefore... Mr. Zhao's actions are extremely astute; he is resolving the court's hidden dangers and calming public opinion, while at the same time, he is indirectly supporting Long Shu..."

Mr. Yuan stopped at that.

The Da Jing Master's escape meant that there was one less person inside the Divine Dragon Temple to counterbalance Xuan Yin.

So, by supporting Long Shu, it was tantamount to filling the gap left by Da Jing, ensuring the power in Xuan Yin's hands remained divided.

And the emergence of a new theory would make the already difficult task of integration even less likely...

"Mr. Zhao has gotten quite a lot out of this move."

Mr. Yuan sighed, his eyes showing a complex mixture of emotions.

Who could have predicted that just a few months ago, the little pawn he had casually sponsored, could now be sincerely addressed by him, a party leader, as "Mr. Zhao"?

The Empress's eyes shone with excitement.

Beside her, Princess Wen Zhu was already stunned.

"Now, we're only missing the most critical step - whether this argument can gain the approval of Buddha. If not, I'm afraid all of Mr. Zhao's efforts today might be greatly diminished or even wasted."

Mr. Yuan suddenly became anxious.

Then everyone realized.

Right.

This wasn't a lecture, but Debating Scripture. If Zhao Douan lost, then no matter how well he spoke, it wouldn't matter much.

With this thought, their eyes once again turned towards the square.

...

At this moment, Zhao Douan's lengthy speech had reached its conclusion.

Bian Ji's expression had completely changed; with his intelligence, how could he not guess Zhao Douan's sinister intentions? He could barely wait to interrupt.

"Zhao..."

"Cough cough," suddenly, the Red Sect Master spoke, beating Bian Ji to the punch and asked, "As you say, then what should ordinary monks do to cultivate?"

This assistance... cooperating with me like this?

Zhao Douan looked at the old monkey in surprise, pondered for a moment, then recited in a serious tone:

"To honor our parents with kindness, to show piety in our relationships with compassion.

To yield and maintain harmony between superiors and subordinates, to endure and thus prevent all malice from flourishing.

If one can create fire by rubbing wood, surely roots can flourish in silt.

Bitter medicine heals, and words that jar are often meant kindly.

To correct one's mistakes leads to wisdom; to conceal faults is not noble.

Our daily deeds bring boundless benefits, enlightenment is not bought with money."

He paused, Zhao Douan looked around at everyone and calmly said,

"Thus have I heard, when you see all forms as no-forms: you see the Buddha."

With that said,

The whole place went silent.

Suddenly, without any warning, ripples spread across the sky, and in shock, people looked up to remember that a gigantic Buddha's Head was still hanging above them.

In the next breath, someone exclaimed: "Buddha... has opened His eyes!!!"