Man in the heavens, wins by lying down to prove the truth

Chapter 320 Five Hearts Absorb Five Elements, Seeking a Sacred Embryo
The Maitreya Descent Sutra states that Maitreya Bodhisattva will descend from the Tusita Heaven to the human realm, study the Way and attain enlightenment, and finally sit under the Dragon Flower Tree in the Flower Forest Garden of Ketu City to attain perfect enlightenment.

Zhou Cheng also foresaw the future, seeing that the future Buddha would appear. Therefore, he preached in Hualin Manor in Chitou City, expounding on the true path of the Golden Elixir and the Zen principle of meditation.

"I now follow the righteous path and will preach the Dharma at three assemblies. Those who listen to the sutras, hear the Dharma, receive predictions of liberation, and are thus liberated may attend the first assembly..."

Maitreya Buddha, with a dignified expression, turns the great Dharma wheel and beats the great Dharma drum, his voice resounding throughout the heavens and shaking all realms.

Meanwhile, on the back of Niuhezhou, Laozi rode an ox, with Bodhi Buddha in attendance. They saw the Lotus Sutra shining brightly and the Buddha's voice solemn in the direction of Chitou City, and they immediately knew that the future Buddha would be born.

"Namo Maitreya Buddha, who will descend to earth in the future..." Bodhi clasped his hands together and recited the Dharma name.

Upon seeing this, Laozi's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Excellent! If this continues for thirty-three years, the conversion of barbarians to Buddhism will be completed."

Thirty-three years have passed since I left Hangu Pass to spread Buddhism and Taoism. Now that I have achieved my goal, I will become a sage and return to heaven.

"Venerable Bodhi, your karmic connection has come to an end. Take care of yourself."

Laozi looked at Bodhi, who had served him for more than ten years, and offered his blessings and admonitions.

"Take care of yourself" has always been a neutral phrase, even carrying a slight connotation of blessing, but its usage has gradually changed over time.

"Respectfully bidding farewell to the Sage!"

Bodhi performed the disciple's salute, bowing respectfully with a solemn expression.

Laozi nodded and said, "Good," and then rode the ox towards the heavens.

"Boom..."

The heavens and earth roared, and purple clouds drifted. For the past thirty-three years, Laozi had emerged from Zhouyi, and wherever he went, Dao energy rose and purple clouds spread.

Boundless vitality spread out, especially in this barren Western Niuhe Continent. Wherever the road passed, grass and trees sprang up, sweet rain fell, nourishing all living beings and bringing forth new life.

In the west, there is the beautiful Lingshan Mountain.

On the lotus platform, the World Honored One and the Buddha joined their palms in reverence and chanted: "Send the Heavenly Saint to Heaven."

All the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, five hundred Arhats, three thousand Vajras, and countless monks and nuns paid their respects together, sending off the Heavenly Realm back to its rightful place.

This time, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are paying homage to the Way of Heaven, not to Laozi.

In the beginning of time, the Heavenly Dao was born, which transformed into Pangu to create the world before returning to the source, leaving behind a physical body as the Moral Heavenly Venerable, who controls creation.

In the beginning of time, heaven and earth collapsed, and the Dao took on a physical body, enlightening Nuwa to mend the sky. He left behind his physical body, becoming the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, who was in charge of teachings and enlightenment.

In ancient times, there was a conflict between the celestial beings and the human beings. The Dao became a physical body, enlightened Emperor Gaoyang, severed the connection between heaven and earth, and left behind a physical body, which became known as Lingbao Tianzun, who was in charge of killing and warfare.

Now, the Celestial Venerable of Morality has descended to earth, the Heavenly Way has reappeared, and Laozi Li Boyang has been transformed into a Buddhist. He should now return to the mortal realm.

This is the transformation of one breath into three pure beings. The Dao has no distinction between immortals and Buddhas, hence the Buddhas of Mount Ling also revere the Dao.

……

In Hualin Manor, Zhou Cheng had already sensed something. He looked at the ethereal purple figure ascending into the sky and bowed in greeting.

With the Taoist's passing, the Ancestor of the Dao, who had once met Zhou Cheng during the chaos of the main gods, could no longer be seen. Only Laozi remained in this world, no longer the Primordial Beginning of all realms.

“When the sage passes away, I will preach the Dharma on Mount Sumeru five hundred years from now. I hope the True Man will remember to attend.” The Buddha of the East smiled at Zhou Cheng.

Mount Sumeru, located in the center of the four continents, is the ruins left after Mount Buzhou broke apart. Many immortals and Buddhas have established their temples here.

Zhou Cheng nodded and smiled, "That's only right. Why hasn't Buddha returned yet?"

"Gone, gone."

The Laughing Buddha laughed heartily, and then the lotus platform rose and the golden body departed.

Zhou Cheng also breathed a sigh of relief, and then looked at the many servants who had followed him over the years in Hualin Manor.

"My connection with you two and three has come to an end. I must now depart. I hope you two and three will take good care of yourselves."

As soon as Zhou Cheng finished speaking, the three thousand attendants immediately kowtowed to him, saying, "Respectfully seeing off the Ancestral Master."

Among the three thousand attendants were those who practiced Taoism, those who meditated, and those who burned incense to forge golden bodies. In short, there were eight hundred unorthodox practitioners, all of whom were cultivators.

As for those who cultivate the righteous path of the Golden Elixir, there are none.

It wasn't that Zhou Cheng didn't pass on the knowledge; the Taoist priest had told Zhou Cheng about it.

The Way is right here, welcoming all who come; hence, Zhou Cheng's guidance to all beings is also in this way.

However, the Golden Elixir Path is difficult to cultivate, and only a handful of people can subdue their inner demons. Even fewer can persevere, and in the end, they all turn to the three thousand unorthodox paths.

Even unorthodox methods can lead to a righteous path, granting longevity and immortality, making one live as long as heaven and earth. If one can comprehend the source of the Great Dao, one can attain the Primordial Dao Fruit, which is indestructible through countless eons.

However, if one cultivates life without cultivating nature, even with exceptional talent, it will be difficult to attain the Great Dao and Supreme Enlightenment.

"Nowhere in this world is there more spiritual beauty than Dongsheng Divine Continent. I will subdue my five hearts and seek a place to cultivate the Golden Core Dao Heart." Zhou Cheng said, looking at Yu Yun and Taiwei Hua.

Yu Yun nodded: "Alright, I also plan to cultivate in seclusion and comprehend the Great Divine Dao Fruit in order to make further progress."

In this world, cultivators begin with those who possess both heaven and man, those who have perfect life and death are called immortals, those who live forever are called true men, and then there are the Primordial Ancestors and the Limitless Heavenly Venerables.

The so-called immortal immortals are only of the same lifespan as heaven and earth.

This world is not without a lifespan; 129,600,000 years is one kalpa, and each kalpa is a cycle of the world.

At that time, all the immortals in this world will return to nothingness.

Only those with the greatest divine power can survive the tribulation.

What is great supernatural power? One who masters a path and reaches the pinnacle of that path is one who possesses great supernatural power.

Mastering all paths and comprehending the primordial beginning is the only way to attain the ultimate Dao fruit of Hunyuan.

These great supernatural beings are already few and far between. Each one is a figure who can be called an ancestor or a revered figure. If they wish to ascend to the Heavenly Court, they become emperors; if they ascend Mount Ling, they become Buddhas; and if they worship the Three Pure Ones, they become great immortals.

As for those who have attained the Primordial Dao Fruit, they are extremely rare. Only the Three Sovereigns of antiquity, the Four Emperors of Heaven, and the Five Elders of the Five Directions can be considered to have attained the Primordial Dao Fruit.

Among all the Buddhas of Mount Ling, only those of the level of the Buddhas of the Three Worlds, such as the Buddha of the East and the Buddha of Dipankara, can attain a Perfect Enlightenment (Perfect Enlightenment is the Primordial Dao Fruit, and Supreme Perfect Enlightenment is the Limitless Dao Fruit).
As for the Great Dao of Limitless Primordial Chaos and the Supreme Perfect Enlightenment, there are only six: the Three Pure Ones, the World Honored One, Amitabha Buddha, and the Jade Emperor.

Among them, the Three Pure Ones are the embodiment of the Tao, and Amitabha Buddha is the source of Buddhism; both are born saints.

Only the Heavenly Emperor and the World Honored One attained this realm through countless eons of arduous cultivation.

"Very well, I also need the word 'purity' in my cultivation of the Golden Elixir Path."

Taiwei Hua nodded slightly. She had already subdued the restless mind and tamed the golden spirit. Next, she needed to tether a restless heart.

Her self-cultivation has led to fewer and fewer conflicts between her and Yu Yun.

……

The Eastern Continent of Divine Prosperity has always been prosperous, filled with the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, and teeming with life.

Therefore, the Three Pure Ones Taoist sect has been largely inherited from this. Even when the Buddha and Taoism of later generations talked about the Eastern Continent during their journey to obtain the scriptures, they would say that the people of the Eastern Continent respect Heaven and Earth, have a clear mind and peaceful spirit, and are full of virtuous people.

It should be noted that at this time, the Buddha and other Buddhists, in order to promote the teachings, did not speak in great detail.

The Great Tang Dynasty in Jambudvipa, which was originally a prosperous and humane society, was described by the Buddha as a place of greed, lust, lewdness, violence, and strife. It was a veritable battlefield of words and a sea of ​​evil.

The Western Continent of Hezhou, as described by Buddha and Taoism, is a place where people neither greedily kill nor cultivate their inner energy and spirit. Although there are no supreme beings there, everyone there enjoys a long life.

In reality, there were no demons causing trouble within the territory of the Great Tang Dynasty in the Southern Continent.

On the contrary, in Xiniu Hezhou, demons are everywhere and the people are like two-legged sheep. I didn't see many people who were not greedy or murderous and who cultivated their inner energy.

"This place is excellent, the ancestral vein of the ten states and the source of the three islands." Above the clouds, Yu Yun saw Huaguo Mountain at a glance. This place is extraordinary, and can be called the root of the earth. The first piece of land formed by the initial rise of pure air and the descent of turbid air was here.

Zhou Cheng smiled and said, "In that case, let's set up a temple here."

Taiwei Hua hesitated for a moment, then tugged at Zhou Cheng and said, "This should be the monkeys' home, right? Let's not get involved."

In the world of Taiwei Hua, the Journey to the West also exists, so Taiwei Hua has some knowledge of it.

"A monkey?" Yu Yun looked at Zhou Cheng and Taiwei Hua with some confusion.

Zhou Chengxuan then explained the existence of Journey to the West.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yun nodded: "Is it related to the flourishing of Buddhism? Never mind, let's find another place. It's not a good look to compete with a bunch of monkeys for a place of worship."

Zhou Cheng nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to another sacred place.

"This place is also good. When the Golden Crow landed, it transformed into the Donghe Spring here."

As he spoke, Zhou Cheng pointed to a celestial island. This island was not in this world, but was located in a blessed land, hidden from the world, where the Daoist spirit endured.

Within the fairy island, there are sacred mountains and divine waters, rare plants and celestial flowers, and all the spiritual essence of heaven gathers here, making it a holy land.

Of course, the most important thing is the mountain hot spring, which draws in the most yang energy of the world and combines with the momentum of the dragon from the east, making it the Donghe Spring.

Donghe Spring, being the head of the Nine Springs, aligns with the correct position of the East, absorbing all the myriad paths of Heaven and Earth, and containing the divine water of the Three Lights, which will help Yu Yun cultivate a great divine path fruit.

With a wave of his hand, Zhou Cheng vanished from the spot.

Within ten days, several pavilions appeared on the immortal path, all formed by the growth of ancient trees, blending seamlessly with the natural world.

Beside the pool formed by Donghe Spring, there grows a wondrous tree that transforms into a natural waterside pavilion extending into the lake, drawing in the spiritual essence of the three lights. Sitting within it to comprehend the Great Dao brings all sorts of mysterious benefits.

In the waterside pavilion, Zhou Cheng, dressed in a loose white robe, sat cross-legged on a futon, lost in meditation, immersed in the inner world.

The inner view, the gateway to the spleen.

The once boundless killing intent vanished completely.

The Heavenly Dao that was originally filled with murderous intent has, with Zhou Chengxiu’s compassionate heart, first transformed into the form of a malevolent ghost, then into the form of a compassionate being, and now into the form of an enlightened being who is neither sad nor happy.

"Fellow Daoist, would you be willing to come and help me?"

In response to Zhou Cheng's invitation, the old woman Huang laughed and said, "In the past, I was wicked and knew nothing of tolerance. I only knew how to kill and had no heart for the immortal path of valuing life."

"Having listened to your teachings for many years, I have now completely shed my evil ways and should follow you to cultivate a righteous path."

"But I don't know what tolerance is. If you don't understand it, I'm afraid you won't be able to help the master achieve enlightenment."

Forgiveness?
Zhou Cheng pondered for a moment and said, "You are my heart. If you don't understand, then naturally I won't understand either."

"As for tolerance, I once heard a wise man say that the heart is infinitely large, so it can be infinitely tolerant, which is tolerance."

Huang Po was taken aback by these words, and a thoughtful expression appeared on her usually expressionless face. After a long while, she said, "How can the heart be infinitely large? How can it be infinitely inclusive?"

In short, it is about selflessness.

Selflessness...

No self!

Huang Po said, "I understand, I understand, it's time to return to our places!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Primordial Light of the Mind Monkey, the Primordial Light of the Golden Duke, the Primordial Light of the Will Horse, and the Primordial Light of the Wood Mother all appeared, transforming into the four elements and taking the positions of metal, wood, water, and fire in the four directions, falling beside Zhou Cheng's primordial spirit.

"The absence of self is too easy; I cannot achieve it, I can only clumsily imitate a little."

As soon as Huang Po finished speaking, she vanished into a ray of light, ethereal and indistinct, as if she did not exist in the world and did not interfere with anything. Therefore, she was able to be infinitely inclusive, with those four hearts.

Thus, the five hearts were subdued, and the foundation of the Great Dao was laid.

The completion of the foundation of the Great Way signifies that this is only the beginning.

To obtain the Golden Elixir, one must first gather herbs, refine them, and nurture them before considering sexual intercourse to complete the elixir.

Each step is a cultivation of one's five minds.

The Mind Monkey cultivates stillness, the Golden Lord cultivates sincerity, the Will Horse cultivates purity, the Wooden Mother cultivates diligence, and finally, the Yellow Woman cultivates tolerance.

Gathering herbs means gathering the medicine of the heart with the five hearts, not seeking it from the outside, but obtaining it from the power of the heart.

This is somewhat similar to the Dragonless Heart Method of the Ancient Dust Sand, which cultivates mental power.

However, Gu Chensha's mental power has no distinction of mind; anyone with a strong mind can master it.

But gathering herbs won't work; one must cultivate inner peace until one has inner tranquility within, and this inner tranquility is the first medicine.

The four minds—the Monkey, the Golden Lord, the Horse of the Mind, and the Mother of the Wood—must cultivate four kinds of Qi. Here are four medicines: 'Black Essence', 'Rabbit Marrow', 'Wood Fluid', and 'Golden Essence'.

As for Huang Po's tolerant nature, she did not collect herbs.

Tolerance is the cultivation of selflessness; how can one gather herbs from nothingness?

Therefore, Huang Po's duty is to harmonize the four medicines. Because Huang Po is selfless, she can ensure that the medicinal properties of the four medicines do not conflict, thus enabling her to cultivate the right path.

Since it involves gathering medicinal herbs, there is a system of measuring the weight of the herbs.

People's hearts are different, so the herbs they choose are also different.

Zhou Cheng, for example, is steady but lacks decisiveness.

Therefore, one should obtain more 'golden essence' and use the energy of sincerity as a foundation to form a sacred embryo, which is most suitable for oneself.

Like Taiwei Hua, she does not lack courage, but rather a calm mind. Therefore, she should cultivate the tranquility of the mind and refine a black essence.

As for how much samadhi is involved, that depends on the individual's grasp of it.

"Calm down and gather herbs!"

Zhou Cheng let out a long breath, closed his eyes halfway, and began to gather herbs.

As the saying goes, time flies in the mountains, and one doesn't know the years have passed when the cold ends; hundreds of years have flown by in the blink of an eye.

……

On this day, the blessed land was covered in snow, and the world was filled with cold.

Only the gurgling spring water in the middle of the path still steams.

Rippling water, two fairies bathed and frolicked, their fair skin shimmering with moisture, warm and smooth as jade, crystal clear as glass, their exquisite curves radiant, truly captivating and mesmerizing.

"Yu Yun, that's enough... I cultivate the mind and must abstain from desires, yet you deliberately seduce my husband and disturb my cultivation!"

Taiwei Hua, dissatisfied, raised a wave of water, submerging Zhou Cheng and Yu Yun, who were in the act of lying in the lake. He suddenly felt weak all over and was panting heavily in the lake.

Yu Yun remained unfazed: "How could I not feel anything? This is the rites of the Duke of Zhou, which are in accordance with the true principles of Yin and Yang. I only inquired about the Dao, and I did not feel anything... Ah!"

Before the cold-faced fairy could finish speaking, her weakness was exploited, and she instantly lost all her power, begging for mercy repeatedly.

After a series of absurd events, the melodious sound of a zither echoed, and in the distance, cranes flew by and sang in harmony.

Taiwei Hua played the zither, Yu Yun played the flute, and Zhou Cheng sang in harmony, creating an atmosphere of ethereal beauty.

Suddenly, a streak of light flew over from afar, transforming into a young boy: "My lord, a young novice monk from outside the grotto has come with a note, saying that the Buddha of the East is going to hold the Dragon Flower Banquet and respectfully invites you to attend."

(End of this chapter)