Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 185 [Originally there was nothing, so where could dust settle?]
The sound of bells pierced the sky, and Buddhist verses astonished the world—

"Thump thump thump~! Thump—thump—thump—~"

The deep, resonant sound of the Confucian Temple bell rang six times, echoing from the imperial city of Luoyang, like a surging tide.

The sound swept past rows of buildings and bustling streets, finally echoing loudly in front of the White Horse Temple.

Beneath the altar, the people who had been prostrating themselves and worshipping Buddha with fervor suddenly fell silent, as if the sound of the bell had cleaved the chaos.

They all looked up, gazing in awe at the solemn and majestic Buddha statue behind Jiang Xingzhou under the Bodhi tree.

"A Buddhist verse of national significance!"

A white-browed elder suddenly exclaimed, his voice hoarse, "No wonder...no wonder it was so enlightening, bringing tears to one's eyes!"

"It's...the Guardian of the Nation!"

Someone murmured, their fingertips trembling, their eyes reddening.

Among the crowd, a scholar, his eyes bloodshot, tears streaming down his trembling face, continued to mutter the four lines of verse, as if trying to etch each word into his very bones:
"The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind a clear mirror."

Keep it clean and dry frequently, lest it accumulate dust.
We!

"I have heard the truth today!"

His voice, though soft, was like a thunderclap, shaking the hearts of everyone around him.

Xu Shiheng, the Vice Minister of Rites, stood frozen in place, his knuckles clenched white beneath his wide official robe.

"The Buddha's enlightenment form... a national treasure-level Buddhist verse?!"

He muttered to himself, his face ashen, and his hand trembled slightly uncontrollably in his sleeve.

Jiang Xingzhou… Just who is this prodigy?!

It is common practice for scholars to study Confucianism, military strategy, agriculture, and Mohism. If their poetry and prose can reach the level of "governing the country," that is their lifelong pursuit.

Buddhist scriptures?
—The imperial examinations are no longer held!
A career in government is useless!
Why did Jiang Xingzhou devote so much effort and delve so deeply into this research?! He even managed to compose a Buddhist verse of national significance?!

Xu Shiheng's throat bobbed, and the veins on his forehead throbbed faintly.

Looking across the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, there are only a handful of people who can write the Buddhist verses that protect the nation, and they are all Buddhist masters in their seventies or eighties who have spent decades in seclusion and arduous cultivation to achieve this.

But this Jiang Xingzhou is a boy of fifteen or sixteen...

—What gives him the right?!

All around, the high-ranking officials from various departments cast subtle glances, all looking sideways at Xu Shiheng.

—Just now, who was it that confidently asserted that Jiang Xingzhou was ignorant of Buddhism and would surely be defeated by the monk Shihuai?

And now...

Jiang Jieyuan's Buddhist verse, of the highest caliber, appeared out of nowhere, stunning everyone present!

This is hardly a competition.

It's as different as clouds and mud; Jiang Xingzhou is a cloud in the sky, while Monk Shihuai is mud on the ground!
Even Master Xu can make mistakes!

The Vice Minister of War sighed deeply, his eyes filled with shock and emotion: "The body is Bodhi, the mind is a clear mirror. Day and night, we must polish it without ceasing."

Only in this way can one find one's true self.

Jiang Jieyuan's words can serve as a lifelong motto for us scholars!

He looked up at the sky and suddenly smiled bitterly: "Thirty years of hard study and all my life's work are not as insightful as Jiang Jieyuan's twenty words!"

After the words were spoken, the ministers and imperial relatives all seemed to be deep in thought, and the entire room fell silent.

Xu Shiheng's face turned ashen, and his fingers dug deeply into his palms from his sleeves.

This riverboat is so difficult to deal with!

Inside the Seven Treasures Carriage, Nangong Wan'er's eyes rippled slightly, like autumn water rippling.

She came to the White Horse Temple today only to observe the "Confucian-Buddhist debate" between the monk Shihuai and the Confucian scholars of the Imperial Academy, but unexpectedly—

To my surprise, I have witnessed such extraordinary Buddhist talent and such stunning Buddhist verses!

The beaded curtain of the carriage swayed slightly, revealing half of Nangong Wan'er's jade-like profile.

She gently raised her slender hand, her fingertips as smooth as jade, and softly called out towards the outside of the carriage curtain, "Commander Meng!"

Upon hearing the sound, Meng Zhan, a captain of the Imperial Guard, stepped forward and bowed, awaiting orders.

"After this debate..."

Nangong Wan'er's lips curled slightly, her voice clear and aloof, "Tonight, I cordially invite Scholar Jiang to come for a chat."

She paused briefly, then added, "I have some questions to ask you."

Meng Zhan's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart trembled!
Nangong Wan'er, who is usually very sparing with words, made an exception today and explained the reason!

What's even more alarming is that she used "respectfully request" instead of "command"!
Nangong Wan'er, the head of the imperial ladies-in-waiting and in charge of the inner court's secrets, actually used the word "respectfully invite" to a mere top scholar!
This subtle difference means a world of difference in attitude!
He almost thought he had misheard, but seeing Nangong Wan'er's calm expression, it was clear that she had not misspoke.

"Yes!"

Meng Zhan dared not look any longer, suppressing his shock, and quickly bowed in agreement, solemnly accepting the order. As he turned away, he couldn't help but secretly click his tongue in amazement.

Jiang Kuishou's strength is truly terrifying!

White Horse Temple.

Above the altar, the Buddha's light gradually faded, and the world returned to its clear state.

Jiang Xingzhou stood with his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering even without wind.

Suddenly, a page of the Bodhi Verse on Xuan paper floated down from the sky, and the moment it touched my palm—

"Buzz!"

The entire altar trembled!
The Xuan paper, as thin as a cicada's wing, now felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, its entire surface adorned with gilded Buddhist patterns.

Upon closer inspection, one can see that the writing on the paper sometimes transforms into the shadow of a Bodhi tree, and sometimes condenses into the light of a clear mirror, thus creating a Buddhist literary treasure of national importance!

"The Bodhi Verse."

Jiang Xingzhou looked at the Buddhist verse, his fingertips tracing the five characters on the paper, and felt the sounds of morning bells and evening drums echoing in his mind.

This Buddhist verse, "[Constantly wipe it clean, lest dust settle]," emphasizes gradual cultivation, practicing daily!

Thinking about the origin of this Buddhist verse, he couldn't help but sigh.

As Jiang Xingzhou gazed at the horizon, he seemed to see a legendary white-robed monk meditating alone by lamplight on a snowy night.

This verse was originally written by Shenxiu, the chief disciple of Hongren, the fifth patriarch of the Chan (Zen) school of Buddhism in China.

This senior Zen master dedicated his life to practicing the path of gradual cultivation and enlightenment.

Jiang Xingzhou gently stroked the "Bodhi Verse" with his fingertips, his eyes seemingly reflecting the rise and fall of Buddhism over a thousand years.

"It's a pity that Shenxiu encountered another Buddhist genius, Huineng!"

He suddenly shook his head and chuckled, his gaze piercing through the eaves and brackets of the White Horse Temple, as if he saw the figure of a Buddhist genius—the woodcutter Huineng from Lingnan—coming through the snow.

That year, snow fell on the temple.

Two of the most outstanding masters in Buddhism are battling it out with Buddhist verses!
Despite being illiterate, Huineng carved four astonishing lines on the wall of the Dongchan Temple in Huangmei with a wood-chopping knife.

With a single Buddhist verse of "sudden enlightenment," he defeated Shenxiu's painstakingly constructed method of "gradual cultivation and enlightenment" in one fell swoop, like a vajra pestle!
When the Fifth Patriarch Hongren passed away, he passed on his robe and bowl to Huineng.

Huineng was no match for Shenxiu's overwhelming power, so he inherited the mantle of the Fifth Patriarch and fled south, becoming the Sixth Patriarch. He built Baolin Temple in Caoxi and founded the Southern School of Sudden Enlightenment.

Shenxiu remained in the north, where he was appointed as the National Preceptor by imperial decree and became the "Master of the Law" in both Chang'an and Luoyang. He established himself as the Northern School of Gradual Cultivation.

At this point, the Chan (Zen) school of Buddhism split into two branches, the Northern and Southern schools, each practicing their own practices.

Jiang Xingzhou couldn't help but feel regretful about this.
All the thousands of monks at Baima Temple were staring intently at the page of Buddhist verses in Jiang Xingzhou's palm—the gilded Sanskrit text flowed in the sunlight, with the shadows of Bodhi trees swaying faintly, and the bright light of the mirror reflecting the vast universe.

Their eyes were filled with envy!
"[National Guardian] Buddhist Verse!"

The five elders trembled uncontrollably, like novice monks just entering the Buddhist order.

They looked at each other.

They both saw an almost frantic longing in each other's eyes—if this Buddhist verse were preserved in the White Horse Temple, it could ensure the temple's incense would burn for a thousand years!
It should be noted that Abbot Huiri himself, who devoted his entire life to writing the "Verse on Enlightening the Mind and Seeing One's Nature," was only in the [Mingzhou] region, yet he already received countless offerings and was promoted to abbot of Baima Temple, becoming a grandmaster in the Buddhist community.

The Buddhist verse "Wrathful Vajra" by the chief disciple Shihuai is only [Dafu], yet he has already been hailed as a rare Buddhist genius and rising star, a once-in-a-century talent at Baima Temple.

A monk at Baima Temple can be promoted to senior elder of the temple simply by writing a Buddhist verse in the style of Dafu.

Jiang Xingzhou's Buddhist verse, "[Zhenguo]", would be a treasure to be passed down for thousands of years in any temple within the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Unfortunately, this [National Protection] Buddhist verse was created by Jiang Xingzhou.

They didn't dare to force it.

However, what embarrassed them the most was that Jiang Xingzhou wore a jade pendant at his waist, identifying himself as a "Confucian disciple" rather than a Buddhist disciple.

They know very well that

Hundreds of thousands of people from the Great Zhou Dynasty stood outside the White Horse Temple, watching this scene with bated breath.

The nobles and commoners stood side by side, and the Confucian scholars of the Imperial Academy shared the same space with the imperial relatives and nobles. At this moment, they were all shocked by this earth-shattering struggle.

The outcome of this "Confucian-Buddhist debate" will have a significant impact on the future of Buddhism.

We must give the world an explanation!
Abbot Huiri's aged voice broke the silence, his robes trembling slightly in the evening breeze: "Today's 'Confucianism and Buddhism debate' has indeed resulted in the defeat of my senior disciple, Shihuai."

With his withered fingers slowly moving the prayer beads, the old monk suddenly bowed deeply: "Indeed, he was not defeated by Confucian classics."

Indeed, Jiang Tanyue's Buddhist teachings are so profound that we Buddhist disciples are utterly impressed. He conceded defeat!
However, they only acknowledge their defeat at the hands of Buddhism.

Suddenly, Abbot Huiri lifted his kasaya and, in full view of everyone, performed a deep bow to the scholar in the blue robe.

"Jiang Tanyue's Buddhist verses are in accordance with the true meaning of the Buddha Tathagata. In my eighty years of cultivation, I have never seen such a proud Buddhist disciple as Jiang Tanyue."

His voice suddenly choked with emotion, and the old abbot's eyes reddened. "I earnestly request that you, sir, join my White Horse Temple as a layperson. This old monk is willing to offer you the position of senior elder, to treat you with the respect due to a disciple every day, and to seek your guidance in the Dharma!"

As the last word fell, the sandalwood incense in the room suddenly intensified, as if a shower of celestial flowers was about to fall.

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience was in an uproar!

The 100,000 onlookers all gasped in astonishment—the dignified abbot of Baima Temple, the Buddhist master Hui Ri, was actually willing to ask a young Confucian scholar for Buddhist teachings with the respect due to a disciple!
"Amitabha."

Among the crowd, the five chief elders clasped their hands together, tears welling in their eyes, and exclaimed, "The abbot is so humble; he truly has a broad mind!"

However, Xun You, a Confucian scholar at the Imperial Academy, suddenly changed his expression, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists.

How could he not see?

Seeing how highly the old monk praised Jiang Xingzhou, it was clear that he intended to use the title of "Chief Elder" to completely bring Jiang Xingzhou into the Buddhist camp!
"What a brilliant move to strike at the heart of the problem."

Xun You felt a chill in his heart. "If Jiang Jieyuan agrees today, then he will be a member of the Buddhist community."

In that debate between Confucianism and Buddhism, the Confucian disciples of our Imperial Academy have suffered a complete defeat!

He couldn't help but feel anxious.

However, Jiang Xingzhou's Buddhist understanding was indeed extraordinary.

He was not qualified to stop Jiang Xingzhou from becoming the head abbot of Baima Temple.

Jiang Xingzhou stood with his hands behind his back, smiling as he looked at the monks, his blue robe fluttering in the wind.

Sure enough, it came!

Everything was exactly as he had anticipated—the White Horse Temple was indeed going to use the "internal conflict within Buddhism" to masquerade as a "debate between Confucianism and Buddhism."

Even if this Confucian disciple wins today, the Buddhist sect can claim it was an internal competition within the Buddhist sect, rather than a loss to the Confucian sect.

This was done to save face for Baima Temple and Buddhism.

"That's a brilliant plan!"

Jiang Xingzhou sneered inwardly.

However, this seemingly profound Buddhist verse was actually a carefully set trap, waiting for these eminent monks to walk right into it.

He has come to this Dharma altar today to discuss the "Confucianism and Buddhism"!
I'm not here to promote Buddhism.

Instead,

Establish authority, then destroy their spirit!
Jiang Xingzhou's lips curled slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "Esteemed monks, do you wish to learn the true essence of this 'Bodhi Verse'?"

"miss you!"

Before Abbot Huiri could even nod, the senior elders, thousands of monks, and novice monks of Baima Temple all looked on with eager anticipation.

This national treasure-level Buddhist verse can condense into the image of the Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi tree!
Who among Buddhists wouldn't want to practice this Buddhist verse?

"Really learning?"

Jiang Xingzhou stood with his hands behind his back, his piercing gaze sweeping over the monks.

"Really learn!"

Upon hearing this, the monk Shihuai was the first to kneel down with a "plop," prostrating himself on the ground with bloodshot eyes, "Disciple Shihuai is willing to learn!"

We humbly request Abbot Jiang to impart Buddhist teachings!

He knew that he had lost.

However, he must lose to a Buddhist master—losing to one's own master is not shameful. In this way, he can still stay at the White Horse Temple.

He absolutely cannot lose to the Confucian disciples, otherwise he will become a disgrace to the White Horse Temple and have no chance of recovery.

Jiang Xingzhou said calmly, "Is it sincere?!"

"With a pure and sincere heart, I will dedicate my life to practicing this Buddhist verse!"

The monk Shihuai raised his head resolutely and said solemnly.

He is ready to abandon the [Dafu] "Wrathful Vajra" Buddhist verses that he has been practicing for ten years and instead practice Jiang Xingzhou's [Zhenguo] "Bodhi Verse"!
—As long as Jiang Xingzhou is willing to impart the true essence of the method, he can enter the path!

If you don't take on disciples, he won't be able to learn!
"Since you all address me as disciples..."

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly chuckled softly, his fingertips forming a hand seal within his sleeve:

"Then please, esteemed monks—"

His voice suddenly became ethereal and resonant, each word evoking a connection between heaven and earth.
"Recite with me the true meaning of the Bodhi Verse—"

[Bodhi is not a tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand!]

With a wave of his hand, he spread out a sheet of Xuan paper in mid-air and began to write swiftly on it.

Before the Buddhist verse had finished speaking,

In an instant, the entire sky above the White Horse Temple was bathed in Buddhist light, and the sound of chanting filled the air!

Jiang Xingzhou was once again surrounded by 84,000 golden rays of Buddhist light, each ray revealing a Buddha image smiling with a flower in hand.

Within the eighty-four thousand golden rays, each Buddha image was vividly lifelike—

The Buddha sits upright on a lotus throne, with the white hair between his eyebrows emitting light that illuminates the entire three thousand great worlds.

The Bodhi Buddha image holds up a flower and smiles, the Bodhi tree beneath him sways and shines, and the fallen leaves are all scriptures;
The compassionate image of Guanyin lowers her eyes, her thousand hands and a thousand eyes flowing, sprinkling sweet dew upon the world;

The Vajra form, with its fierce eyes wide open, shakes the void with its vajra pestle, terrifying all evil spirits!
What's even more awe-inspiring is that these images are not illusions, but truly radiate supreme power, as if all the Buddhas have personally arrived!
"This is."

Abbot Huiri was horrified. The prayer beads in his hand suddenly broke, and the Bodhi seeds rolled all over the ground. "Eighty-four thousand Buddha images—manifesting simultaneously?!"

What level of Buddhist cultivation is required to reach such a state?!

"Puff-"

One hundred thousand believers knelt down in unison, and even the monks of Baima Temple were stunned into kneeling and bowing in worship!

The Confucian scholars of the Imperial Academy, however, turned pale.

Xun You, an elderly Confucian scholar from the Imperial Academy, turned pale and staggered back two steps in shock, muttering, "It's over... The Confucian school has been utterly defeated today..."

As the Buddhist chants resounded, the bells and drums of the entire White Horse Temple rang simultaneously, their sound shaking the heavens.

"This...how is this possible?!"

The monk Shihuai trembled all over and almost knelt on the ground.

He looked up abruptly and saw a cinnabar mole on Jiang Xingzhou's eyebrow, radiating a light more dazzling than the sun.

Jiang Xingzhou's voice, like a resounding bell, echoed above the White Horse Temple.

"[Bodhi is not a tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand...!]"

In an instant, the five abbots, a thousand monks, and hundreds of novice monks of the White Horse Temple unconsciously began to chant along.

The sound was like a tidal wave, shaking the heavens and earth, even causing the ancient cypress trees in front of the hall to tremble!

however--

Before the words were even finished, the monks' hearts skipped a beat, and they suddenly froze!
wrong!

The Bodhi Verse recited by Jiang Jieyuan just now was clearly "[The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind is a bright mirror]".

But at this moment, the sentence is surprisingly "[Bodhi is not a tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand]"!
A single word can make all the difference!

Not only are they different,

On the contrary!
This...this is the truth?!

However, at this moment——

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly raised his hand, and all 84,000 Dharma images instantly converged, transforming into a dazzling golden rainbow that shot straight into the sky!
He gave the monks no chance to catch their breath, and roared the mantra again in a voice like thunder: "—[Originally there is nothing, where can dust settle!]"

Although the thousand monks sensed something amiss, they had no time to ponder it deeply and chanted in unison like puppets: "Originally there is nothing, so where can dust settle?"

"boom--!"

Once the Buddhist verse was completed, the world fell silent.

Abbot Huiri's staff clattered to the ground, his mind buzzed, his face flushed, and he suddenly vomited blood.

His gaunt face twitched violently, and the words he had been silently reciting still echoed in his mind: "Constantly wipe it clean, lest it be covered in dust."

But what came out of his lips was a completely contradictory Buddhist Zen wisdom!
"puff--!"

He spat a mouthful of blood onto the apricot-yellow cassock.

The five chief elders were thrown into turmoil, as if struck by lightning; the higher their cultivation level, the more violently their bodies swayed.

The head elder of the Sutra Repository had blood seeping from his seven orifices, and his entire body was dimmed of Buddhist light.

The head elder of the Demon Subduing Academy staggered and fell—this was a sign of the collapse of a Buddha's heart!
The higher the cultivation level of the elders and high monks, the more severe the backlash.

The young novices, whose Buddhist knowledge was weak, fared slightly better. However, seeing the miserable state of the monks around them, they were terrified, some wailing and others bewildered.

(End of this chapter)