Journey to the West: Beginning with the Apprenticeship of Bodhi Patriarch

Chapter 217: Cultivating the next life, Laojun invites you again
The story shows that the Immortal is in front of the thatched cottage, talking with a man about "cultivation".

When Jiang Yuan heard the man say, "Practice must be one of the two, either Buddhism or Taoism," he laughed and said, "How can practice be limited to this? There is no other way of practice than Buddhism and Taoism. How can you say that practice must be this way? It is unacceptable."

The man said, "If so, what should we do in cultivation?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Practice is to cultivate the truth and the mind. There is no need to stick to the theory of Buddhism and Taoism."

After hearing this, the man asked again, "You don't have to stick to Buddhism. Is it to cultivate the mind? I don't know what cultivation is, but if you cultivate Buddhism, there are scriptures to read and methods to learn. There is always a way to learn. But if you talk about cultivation, it's like looking at the moon in the water."

Jiang Yuan didn't comment. Seeing the man talking like this, he smiled and asked, "Do you like practicing?"

The man replied, "I just enjoy practicing."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Since you like to practice cultivation, there must be a destiny between us now that we meet. I don't know what trivial matter has troubled you. If you can tell me, maybe I can help you solve your troubles."

The man said, "Since you asked me, I might as well tell you something to relieve your boredom. I am originally from Qingshi Village at the foot of the mountain. I have already told you this. My name is Luliang. I am troubled by trivial matters at home. I have an old mother and a wife. The family's livelihood depends on me. But I like to practice cultivation and often read Buddhist scriptures and Taoist books. Sometimes I am so engrossed in them that I don't wake up for a day or two."

Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded without answering.

The Bull Demon King stepped forward and asked, "Since you enjoy practicing, why do you have such troubles?"

Lu Liang shook his head and said, "It is precisely because I enjoy practicing that I have so many troubles."

The Bull Demon King asked, "How can you say that practicing Buddhism will lead to troubles?"

Lu Liang replied, "My mother is old, I have four children, and my wife has to take care of the family, so I am the only one who works and supports the whole family. I like to practice, so I must put some energy into practice and not take care of the whole family. My wife and I often disagree about this. My wife said that my practice is useless and it is all an illusion. I should do more to make a living to support the family, but I don't want to give up. That's why we had a dispute. It made me angry and I came to the mountain to find peace and quiet, and I met you practitioners again."

The Bull Demon King was startled and said, "I didn't expect you to say that spiritual practice leads to troubles. It is because of this that I said too much. As the saying goes, 'It is difficult for a judge to judge family affairs.' I cannot comment on the affairs of your family."

Lu Liang smiled and said, "That's exactly the point."

As he spoke, he looked at Sun Wukong and the others with some envy, and said, "You can travel around, have countless hours to read Taoist books and Buddhist scriptures, and practice wholeheartedly. I really envy you."

Upon hearing this, Bull Demon King and Sun Wukong did not know how to respond. They knew that family affairs were difficult to manage, spiritual practice was important, and the Dao was mysterious. But they could not persuade others to practice and abandon their families. If the family was prosperous, the parents were healthy, and the children and grandchildren were grown up, that would be fine, but he was the head of the family, how could they persuade him?

Jiang Yuan stepped forward and said, "I never thought that your troubles would come from this, but I don't know what you are thinking now."

Lu Liang shook his head and said, "We have been arguing for a long time, and I am angry. But after meeting and talking with you, we have been separated for a long time. I will go home later. As for cultivation, I will no longer practice it. Maybe it is not my destiny to take this path. My family is poor, my relatives are old and my children are young. This is my fate. I cannot blame others. When I go back, I will burn the Buddhist scriptures and Taoist books, and focus on my family to avoid disputes."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "If that's the case, are you willing?"

Lu Liang shook his head and said, "What can I do if I am unwilling? My family is the most important thing. I have no destiny to practice cultivation, so I should recognize this."

Jiang Yuan said: "If you really enjoy practicing cultivation, this is not enough to teach you to give up practicing cultivation."

Lu Liang asked: "If I don't give up cultivation, my family will be in trouble. How should I choose? If I am asked to abandon my mother, wife and children at home because of cultivation, I cannot do it."

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "I'm not telling you to abandon your wife and children at home."

Lu Liang asked, "Is there really a way to achieve both?"

Jiang Yuan said: "It is rare to have both in this world."

Lu Liang asked again: "If this is the case, why do you want me to not give up my practice?"

Jiang Yuan smiled and asked, "Does cultivation have to be done in this world?"

Lü Liang was confused and asked, "If we don't practice in this world, how can we practice?"

Jiang Yuan said: "Do you know that cultivation is not for the purpose of cultivating Buddhism or Taoism, reading Buddhist scriptures or Taoist books, no matter how many you read, how can you learn the door from them? Cultivation must be based on cultivating the mind, but if you cultivate your mind, you will have an original intention that will not change. If you cannot cultivate in this life, you will have a predestined method to cultivate in the next life."

Lu Liang said, "How can I take the afterlife seriously?"

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Why can't we take it seriously in the next life?"

Lu Liang pondered for a long time and said, "Waiting for the next life to practice cultivation may sound absurd, but if you think about it carefully, it seems to be okay."

Jiang Yuan said: "As long as you have the original intention, do not lose your original appearance, and practice with all your heart, you can practice in the next life without any problem."

Lü Liang was skeptical and asked, "I have a question. Will I still be me in the next life? I heard that in the next life, I will not have my appearance or my heart. How can I be myself?"

Jiang Yuan said: "You worry too much. But you are sincere and your true self will not change. Even if it lasts for eternity, you will still be you."

Lu Liang asked again: "Sir, but if I think about it, I feel anxious, but the fear is that I am not me."

Jiang Yuan pointed at Lu Liang and said with a smile: "How do you know that you now are the real you?" Lu Liang seemed to understand something in a trance.

Jiang Yuan said no more and watched Lu Liang quietly.

Lu Liang stood there thinking for a long time, then suddenly raised his head and said: "Sir, I understand. In this life, I have to take care of my family, but my original intention remains unchanged. I will definitely practice in the next life. I am just waiting for the next life."

Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded.

Lu Liang bowed to Jiang Yuan, and then went down the mountain without any intention of going to the top of the mountain.

Jiang Yuan watched Lu Liang leave.

Sun Wukong said: "He is a person who is willing to practice, but he does not understand it, and he has no way to practice it."

The Bull Demon King said: "He cannot cultivate now, but if he cultivates in the next life, it may be possible."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan smiled and shook his head, then turned around and was about to go to the thatched cottage to talk to Laojun.

Zuo Liang stepped forward, hesitated for a long time, and asked, "Wait a minute, sir."

Jiang Yuan turned to look at Zuo Liang and said, "Zuo Liang, what are you confused about?"

Zuo Liang said, "Sir, Lü Liang needs to cultivate in his next life, but I wonder if I need to cultivate in my next life?"

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "He has not yet arrived at the Dharma, so he needs to cultivate for the next life. You have already arrived at the Dharma, so why can't you cultivate for the next life as well?"

Say it.

The real person walked towards the top of the mountain.

Zuo Liang stood there, at a loss as to what to do.

Sun Wukong stepped forward and said, "Zuo Liang, you should just follow my elder brother to practice. Others practice, they must keep their original intention, so after several generations, they can have the karmic affinity to fulfill their wishes and practice. But you are different. Your ancestors for several generations have established karmic affinity with you. In addition, you have a clear mind and practice with all your heart, so you have this karmic affinity to follow my elder brother to practice."

Zuo Liang's heart sank when he heard this, knowing that he was blessed by his ancestors, and that was why he had the fate he had today. He asked, "Grandpa Buddha, do you know my ancestors?"

Sun Wukong nodded and said, "Of course I know you. I know one of your ancestors, but not as well as you, my eldest brother. As far as I know, my eldest brother knows more than ten of your ancestors."

Zuo Liang said, "Grandpa Buddha, how is my ancestor?"

Sun Wukong pondered for a long time and said, "Your ancestor was kind-hearted. He used to live in Lingtai Fangcun Mountain in Xiniuhezhou and was a neighbor of my master. Your ancestor often said that he wanted to chop more firewood so that he could return to his hometown. Later, your ancestor returned home and left the mountains. His hometown is Nanzhanbuzhou."

Zuo Liang heard this and continued, "As Grandpa Buddha said, later on, there was my lineage?"

Sun Wukong nodded and said, "That's right."

Zuo Liang asked again: "Grandpa Buddha, since my ancestors live next to the Immortal Palace, why don't they practice cultivation?"

Sun Wukong smiled and said, "Everyone has their own aspirations. It's hard to say. But it's because your ancestors never practiced cultivation that you have the fate you have today."

Zuo Liang was greatly moved when he heard this.

……

But when Jiang Yuan arrived at Laojun's thatched cottage, he saw that the door of Laojun's cottage was wide open and Laojun was sitting cross-legged inside.

Jiang Yuan walked to the door, bowed and said, "Old Lord, now that the mission has been accomplished, I have come to report."

The old man invited the immortal to come in, and then said: "I already know everything about this matter, but I have to trouble you with your heart."

Jiang Yuan said: "Not worthy, not worthy."

Laojun said: "Guangxin is well versed in the truth, but I still have something that I need your help with."

Jiang Yuan bowed and said, "Please tell me, I will do my best to help you, and I will not dare to disobey you."

Laojun said: "I am talking about the man from before. That man and I have some affinity, but I am afraid that his true self has been lost, so I came to help him. His affinity is not in this life, but in the next life. At that time, he still needs someone to help him, but I am afraid that I will not have the time at that time, so please be generous and help him in the next life."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan readily agreed.

Laojun laughed again and said, "That man has a predestined relationship with me, and also with your disciple Chongyang, Guangxin. You deserve to save him."

(End of this chapter)