The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2022 - 1997: On Buddhism

The monk actually sought them out for a Zen conversation. He led them past the guest courtyard directly to his own residence and sat down under a Bodhi tree, inviting the three of them to sit down as well.

There were four stone stools, just enough for one person each.

After sitting down, the monk introduced himself, "I am Zhishen."

The three were astonished, "You are Master Zhishen." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The most famous person in the Guardian of the Nation Temple is the abbot, Master Zhi Ren, and Master Zhi Ren has a younger brother named Zhishen, who is also said to be an enlightened monk.

All three stood up and bowed again. Zhishen didn’t expect such courtesy and smiled even more, returning the bow before inviting them to sit down.

A bhikkhu brought Zen tea to them and poured tea, then bowed slightly and retired.

Master Zhishen, turning the Buddhist beads in his hand, saw the three of them bowing their heads and savoring the tea, surprisingly not eager to inquire about the reasons, and couldn’t help but curl his lips as he offered, "Have the three of you read any Buddhist sutras?"

Bai Shan thought for a moment and said, "I haven’t read much of the sutras, I have only copied the Sutra of Immeasurable Life, the Diamond Sutra, and the Sutra of Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Pledges."

Upon hearing this, Zhishen knew that these sutras were likely copied for the women in their family, as these three sutras are most commonly used for elevating, blessing longevity, and praying, with an average of seven out of ten being offered as these three sutras.

Zhishen smiled and asked, "Why doesn’t Benefactor Bai read the Surangama Sutra? It is a sutra of enlightenment,

This sutra is profound and splendid, only the Lotus Sutra and the Avatamsaka Sutra can be compared with it. You three benefactors are knowledgeable and have wise roots. If you can learn these three sutras, it will be of great benefit to your future merits and life."

The three of them sighed in unison, their faces full of worry, "Master, instead of letting us read, it’s better if you explain the wonderful verses and Buddhist principles to us. In the short term, reading seems impossible for us."

Master Zhishen asked, "Why?"

"Because we are busy!"

Manbao said, "I need to compile medical books, see patients at the Imperial Hospital, attend classes at the Medical Bureau, and attend my family’s teacher’s class, reading many, many books, making it really difficult to find time to quietly worship Buddha."

Bai Shan also nodded, "Indeed, and we believe it’s too early for people of our age to worship Buddha. As for calming the mind, reading other books can achieve that."

Zhishen smiled slightly, "Buddhist principles are profound, it’s not just about calming the mind. I see the three benefactors are eager to learn; how about I gift you these three Buddhist sutras?"

Before they could refuse, Monk Zhishen had someone fetch the three sutras for them. To their surprise, not only were these Buddhist sutras old editions, but they also had dense small annotations inside.

Even if they do not believe in Buddhist principles, they knew how precious such a sutra would be. After exchanging glances, they were about to decline.

However, Master Zhishen was very persistent, his smile slightly more solemn, "This poor monk merely wishes for the benefactors to understand Buddhist principles. Once the benefactors understand, you will know that our Buddha can relieve people in distress, it is not an evil cult that confuses people."

Only now did the three understand the reason behind this. They were not embarrassed at all, and Manbao frankly asked, "Master Zhishen, as a well-acclaimed enlightened monk now, have you managed to relieve your own distresses?"

Master Zhishen was taken aback, then shook his head, "Buddhist teachings are profound, and this poor monk has learned but a fraction; how could I have relieved my distresses?"

Manbao nodded, "I guessed so." Otherwise, why insist that they read the sutras? Just for this reason, he couldn’t match the abbot of Xuandu Temple or even Abbot Shouqing.

Master Zhishen was caught off guard by her words. To be honest, he’s been famous for a long time, interacting with both commoners and the affluent, but never had anyone said to him, "Hey, Monk, I think your understanding of Buddhism isn’t deep, you haven’t resolved your own distresses, right?"

Indeed, Zhou Man’s words, though just four words long, carried precisely that implication.

Bai Shan smiled and explained, "Master, my teacher once said, the Dao of the world is unfathomable, the universe is boundless, and no person in this world can comprehend it all."

Since one cannot comprehend it all, naturally there’s no talk of resolving all worldly distresses. Based on the books my father-in-law brought from the netherworld, they haven’t even figured out the questions, let alone resolved the distresses. So where are the enlightened monks, the enlightened people?

This is not just Mr. Zhuang’s view but also the view of the three of them.

However, expressing this view would offend many people, especially those from Buddhist and Daoist circles, so the four of them would only discuss among themselves in their private courtyard.

But since the topic led to this point, they didn’t mind sharing their perspective.

Bai Shan said, "There is too much knowledge in the world, some attained, some not yet, but human lifespan, wisdom, and energy are limited, so one should focus selectively. The knowledge of the world cannot be fully learned or studied."

Zhishen understood his implication, "Since the three of you are uninterested in Buddhist principles and do not understand them, how can you easily assert that Buddhism misleads people?"

Even Bai Shan and Manbao could hear the grievance in his words, and Bai Erlang couldn’t help but say, "We haven’t seriously studied the Buddhist scriptures, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know Buddhism. We shared our views on Buddhism without forcing anyone to agree."

Bai Shan glanced disapprovingly at Bai Erlang, but before he could speak, Zhishen said, "Lord Zhou debated Buddhism in court, causing the Emperor to treat Buddhism lightly, and since the Emperor is a role model for the world, isn’t this a form of coercion?"

"It’s about Buddhist principles!" Manbao emphasized, "I wasn’t discussing Buddhism alone, but the principles of both Buddhism and Daoism!"

Monk Zhishen: ...

"Historically, when emperors placed too much trust in Buddhism and Daoism, it was always problematic, sometimes causing the downfall of the country. As a court official, living off the Emperor’s stipend and the people’s offerings, naturally, I must consider the Emperor and the people. People’s beliefs are naturally free, but as the master said, since the Emperor is a role model for the world, representing Buddhism and Daoism, there are still Confucianism, Legalism, and the Hundred Schools of thought. He shouldn’t have excessive bias. Among the Hundred Schools, whichever is beneficial to governing the masses should be favored."

Manbao looked at Zhishen sitting across from him and said seriously, "And among these, Buddhism is the least likely to benefit the governance of the masses."

Zhishen hadn’t expected her to talk politics so directly, and seeing her so assertive, he smiled and asked, "Why is that? Buddhist teachings are profound. If all the people learned Buddhist teachings and turned to good, how much of the world’s disasters would be reduced?"

Bai Shan then asked quietly, "Don’t the monks in the Guardian of the Nation Temple experience the suffering of parting from loved ones, confronting hatred, being trapped in desires, and not attaining what they seek?"

Zhishen was struck by this and said, "They do; even this poor monk cannot escape these four sufferings."

"If monks chanting the sutras day and night in the temple cannot escape these four sufferings, let alone all the people," Bai Shan said, "As long as these four sufferings exist, and birth, aging, sickness, and death cannot be avoided, there will still be jealousy and conflict, and disasters in the world will not be reduced because of this."