The Three Teachings Converge into One: The Path of the Mortal and the Saintly is the Same

Poetry:

Thunderous sounds reverberate through the sea of ​​consciousness, shaking the very soul; a hundred years of cause and effect are discussed in a single day.

My loving mother, her hair now streaked with gray, weeps tears of blood; only now do I realize that the bond between immortals and mortals is difficult to sever.

"Qingxuan, you fool!"

The voice was neither loud nor harsh, yet it carried a penetrating insight that seemed to penetrate three lifetimes.

The profound power that illuminates the origin is like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain.

Like the dawn breaking through the darkness...

It instantly calmed the raging waves in Su Qingxuan's sea of ​​consciousness.

It gently enveloped, soothed, and smoothed away the pain, guilt, and anger that almost tore his soul apart...

The flames around him gradually died down, and his Dao foundation was silently repaired.

Su Qingxuan trembled violently and abruptly looked up.

An expression of disbelief appeared in his eyes.

He recognized the rhyme.

A hundred years ago, when he first opened the Dharma altar at Sancai Peak and expounded the true secrets of the Three Ones.

He had sensed several supreme thoughts that surpassed the Great Luo and transcended all heavens, casting their attention from the far distance.

One of them is pure and natural, with the ethereal charm of the Great Dao's origin.

He is the Supreme Celestial Venerable of Taoism;

A majestic and all-powerful ruler, like the pivot of heaven, must be the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court;

But this path is one of boundless compassion and ocean-like wisdom.

A thorough understanding of cause and effect is the highest principle of Buddhism.

Buddha!

"Buddha..." Su Qingxuan murmured in his mind.

My mind is still immersed in the intense pain and confusion, and I am unable to clear my head for a while.

"Listen carefully, listen carefully."

The Buddha's voice was peaceful and gentle, each word spoken clearly.

Like a clear spring flowing, it washes away the dust and blood stains from his Daoist heart.

"Does the pain, the wound, the heart-wrenching pain, the excruciating grief in your heart right now feel unfamiliar?"

"Is this not the kind of feeling one would expect from someone at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, someone who has achieved harmony among the three teachings?"

Su Qingxuan was stunned.

Yes, this was precisely his greatest confusion and fear.

With his cultivation level, even if his closest relatives were in trouble, he should not have lost his composure like this, wavered in his Dao heart like this, and be in such... unbearable pain.

The intensity of the pain far exceeded common sense, as if some invisible rule was forcibly amplifying his feelings.

"Because this pain is not 'outside'," the Buddha said slowly.

His voice carried boundless compassion and a faint sigh.

"This is the suffering your parents endured a hundred years ago because of you."

"What?" Su Qingxuan's soul trembled violently.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the scenery shifted and changed.

It was not that the Buddha forcibly instilled it with his power, but rather that his own karmic memories were triggered.

Guided by the Buddha's words, they automatically emerged, vivid and lifelike.

He "saw" it—

In the spring when I was eight years old, the peach blossoms were just beginning to bloom.

He was thin and small, carrying a small book box on his back, standing at the entrance of the village.

His mother, Liu, knelt down and straightened his clothes.

Her fingers trembled slightly, her eyes brimming with tears, yet she forced a smile:

"Xuan'er, take care of yourself while you're out. Wear more clothes if you get cold, and eat when you're hungry..."

Before he could finish speaking, he choked up and could no longer speak.

Father Su Wenyuan stood to one side, his face solemn.

His back was ramrod straight, and he only patted him on the shoulder:

"A good man's ambition lies in all corners of the world. Go forth, and do not worry about home."

But as he turned around and took his first step, he clearly heard something behind him...

The father let out a heavy sigh, almost inaudible.

The mother abruptly turned her face away, her shoulders trembling silently.

That day, the spring breeze caressed our faces, yet the wind itself was bitterly cold.

Ten years later, he became famous at a young age, entered the imperial court as an official, reformed the bureaucracy, offended powerful figures, and survived several assassination attempts.

When the news reached Qingxi Town, even though it had been embellished, how could the parents not know the danger involved?

From then on, my mother ate vegetarian food and chanted Buddhist prayers year after year, and the ever-burning lamp in front of the Buddha never went out again.

In my father's study, beneath the plaque inscribed with "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision,"

He often sat alone by the window until dawn, his book untouched all night.

The first strand of white hair at his temples quietly appeared at that time.

A few years later, he was appointed to a critical mission and led his troops on a northern expedition.

The borderlands are bitterly cold, and war rages across the land. They have fought many battles and faced life and death many times.

When the good news arrived, the entire town of Qingxi was deserted as everyone cheered.

In the old Su family house, his mother, clutching his childhood clothes, cried until she fainted.

It was tears of joy, but also the release of years of lingering fear and sleepless nights.

Holding the news of victory, tears streaming down his face, the father bowed three times to the heavens, murmuring:

May our ancestors bless my son, may he be safe and sound... and return safely...

That night, the candles in his room stayed lit all night long.

After the Northern Expedition succeeded, he returned home in glory, but only for a few months.

When his visit to his family was about to end, he returned to the capital once again.

The Western Regions were in turmoil, and he was needed to go on a mission to appease them and reopen the Silk Road.

On the day I left Beijing, my mother's eyes were swollen from crying. She rubbed her hands and kept repeating the same sentence:

"Xuan'er, come back soon... Mother will make you your favorite osmanthus cake..."

The father came to the Qingxi River alone.

That was where his father used to take him fishing and preach when he was a child.

The father came to the riverbank, said nothing, and just stared intently at the Qingxi River, motionless.

In his father's eyes, there was pride, worry, and reluctance.

A thousand words can be summed up in one sentence: "Take care!"

Su Qingxuan embarked on a grand mission to the Western Regions, and as he looked back with a start, he suddenly realized...

But it was as if I could see my parents supporting each other, standing in the bleak autumn wind, motionless for a long, long time.

That parting turned out to be a final farewell.

After ten years of development in the Western Regions, communication between East and West was established, trade routes were reopened, and nations from all over the world came to pay tribute.

His fame is known throughout the world, and his achievements are unparalleled.

But how did the parents at home survive during those ten years?

Fragments of memory flicker:

My mother often stares blankly at the western horizon, sometimes for half a day at a time;

The father flipped through the letters he had sent home over the years again and again, until the edges were worn.

The two elders' health gradually deteriorated amidst endless longing and worry...

Finally, the news of "ascending to heaven in broad daylight and becoming an immortal" spread back to Qingxi Town like a thunderclap.

The last scene in my memory is becoming clearer and clearer:

The Su family courtyard.

Father Su Wenyuan held the letter from the capital.

The news of "Su Sheng's ascension to heaven, auspicious omens descending from the sky," described in the most ornate language, stood stunned in the courtyard.

On the horizon, the setting sun was like blood, casting my father's shadow long, very long...

He remained motionless, as if he had become a statue.

After a long while, a single, cloudy tear slid down his cheek.

The drop of the victory report landed on my hand, spreading the ink into a blot.

He didn't wail or scream; he just stood quietly, gazing in the direction his son had "ascended."

Overnight, his hair, which was originally just gray, turned completely white.

That straight, pine-like back also began to hunch slightly.

It felt as if not just one night had passed, but decades of energy and vitality had been drained away.

"Xuan'er... has become an immortal... good... good..."

He muttered to himself, his voice dry and hoarse, a smile on his face.

But all he could see was a desolate emptiness in his eyes.

"The mortal and immortal realms are forever separated... The mortal and immortal realms are forever separated... We will never... see each other again..."

Inside the room, the mother, Liu Shi, was crying out in heart-wrenching sobs.

I wandered through the doors and walls, lingering in the empty old house.

"My son... how could you leave like this... how could you leave your mother like this..."

The cries, one after another, were heart-wrenching and heart-wrenching, continuing day and night for three whole days.

On the third day at dusk, the crying stopped abruptly.

A maid rushed in in a panic and found the old lady collapsed in front of the Buddhist shrine.

Eyes closed tightly, two bloodstains at the corners of the eyes still wet.

He clutched tightly in his hand a string of longevity locks he had worn as a child, now barely clinging to life...

Although his life was saved through treatment, his eyes...

From then on, his vision became blurred and he could no longer see clearly.

The screen then shattered with a deafening crash...

Su Qingxuan trembled with fear, tears streaming down his face.

So it turns out... so it turns out that behind his glorious "ascension" was the devastating loss of his parents!

The white hair, the blood and tears, the desolate emptiness, the heart-wrenching cries…

For a century, he had never dared to think about it in detail, or rather,

Subconsciously, I avoided this heavy guilt!

"Now, do you understand?"

The Buddha's voice rang out at just the right moment, compassionate yet with a profound understanding of the ways of the world.

"The excruciating, heart-wrenching pain you feel right now..."

It did not come out of nowhere.

That was the pain your parents endured a hundred years ago because of your travels, conquests, separations, and even your eventual "ascension."

You failed to fulfill your filial duties as a son, causing your parents endless worry, fear, and longing.

All of this becomes karmic force, entangled in the cause and effect between you and your parents.

"All phenomena are empty, but cause and effect are not."

The Buddha's voice grew ever more profound, as if expounding the most fundamental laws of the universe.

"You have devoted yourself to the well-being of the people, and your heart is commendable and your actions are worthy of respect."

Your parents understand you, support you, and are proud of you; this is fate.

"However, you left home at the age of eight and spent your life on the battlefield, never having the chance to fulfill your filial duties at my side."

Unable to say goodbye at the end of his life, even his "ascension" became a final farewell.

To cause parents the excruciating pain of separation is 'karma'.

The intertwining of karma and relationships is the 'cause and effect' between you and your parents.

"This cause and effect is not punishment, but a manifestation of the natural order and ethical norms."

Parents love their children, plan far ahead for them, and are also worried and heartbroken for them.

Children receive kindness from their parents and should think of repaying that kindness; this is the foundation of human relationships.

"Although you have a great vow to save the world and follow the great path of the sages,

However, I have indeed failed in my duty to my parents.

This debt will not be incurred because of your status, even if you are a "saint on earth".

Even if it disappears as a "celestial immortal," it will always be there, like a shadow.

Su Qingxuan was deeply shaken and murmured:

"Therefore... therefore, today our parents are suffering in the netherworld."

My heart is breaking; is this the manifestation of cause and effect?

Is it... the result of the seeds I sowed years ago that I am reaping what I have today?

"Yes, and not entirely."

The Buddha slowly said:

"Your parents' souls are trapped in the netherworld, suffering from demonic chains. This is the work of external demons, a conspiracy, and a calamity."

But you can feel this pain, and the pain is so great that it shakes the foundation of your path.

Even a Golden Immortal cultivator couldn't control himself; this 'feeling' itself...

This is the cause and effect you need to resolve; it is an inevitable 'kalpa' on your path to enlightenment.

"This tribulation is called the 'Tribulation of Familial Kindness.' It is not imposed by external demons."

Rather, it is the result of your own karma and the test of the Great Dao.

It makes you personally experience the suffering your parents endured because of you.

You must confront this debt of guilt, and face the pain and choices.

It is understood that the "Great Way" and "human relations" are not separate, and that "helping the world" and "filial piety" can coexist.

You must also understand that even immortals and gods have attachments they cannot sever.

Even saints must confront the flaws within themselves.

"You must save yourself from this calamity."

Even the most holy, the most venerable, and the Buddha could not bear it for you.

I cannot change it for you. This is the way of Heaven.

Every drink and every bite is preordained.

Your heartache today is the end of past causes.

Only by accepting it calmly, facing it clearly, and making a choice can we succeed.

Only then can one gain enlightenment amidst tribulations and mend the gaps in one's mind.

Only by establishing a solid foundation can one achieve true perfection and reach a higher realm.

The Buddha's voice gradually faded away:

"Qingxuan, remember this: rescuing your parents from the netherworld is both an act of filial piety and a way to avert calamity."

How to proceed and how to overcome obstacles are all within your control.

However, before taking any action, one should think things through carefully and plan thoroughly before proceeding.

The Heavenly Court rules over the Three Realms, and the Underworld is also under its jurisdiction.

This matter…

The voice faded away and eventually disappeared.

The compassionate light of Buddha that enveloped the sea of ​​consciousness also quietly dissipated.

Su Qingxuan stood there, stunned, her face still wet with tears.

His gaze, however, had gradually shifted from initial madness and pain to profound understanding and heavy clarity.

The Buddha's words were like a sudden awakening, or like the morning bell and evening drum.

It dispelled the fog and obsession in his mind.

He understood that his pain today was not without reason.

Rather, it is the result of a cause planted a hundred years ago.

This is not an injustice from heaven, nor a cruel trick of fate.

Rather, it is a cycle of cause and effect, and the way of Heaven is impartial.

He will eventually have to repay what he owes his parents;

His parents wanted him to experience firsthand the suffering they had endured because of him.

Only then can one truly understand and truly put an end to things.

He must endure this pain. He must overcome this tribulation.

The way to overcome tribulation is to rescue one's parents, make up for past debts, and settle karmic debts.

Just as his mind was racing, sorting out his thoughts...

Another clear and peaceful voice, like the primordial voice of the Great Dao, also resounded in his sea of ​​consciousness:

"Now that the foolish child understands cause and effect, how should he act?"

Su Qingxuan's heart tightened, and he responded respectfully:

"Disciple Su Qingxuan respectfully listens to the teachings of the Supreme Celestial Venerable."

This Dharma sound is none other than the supreme being of Taoism, the Supreme Celestial Venerable of Taiqing.

"I have already sensed something about the affairs of the netherworld."

The voice of the Supreme Celestial Venerable was neither joyful nor sorrowful, as if he were stating an ordinary matter.

"You can sense your parents' suffering because of the bond of blood, and it is also a manifestation of your destiny."

However, the underlying cause of this matter is likely more than just a simple personal grudge.

Demonic chains imprison souls, extracting their power; the underworld officials are imbued with demonic energy...

Such methods have crossed the line.

"Your desire to save your parents is a child's duty and also a necessity to resolve the cause and effect."

However, the Netherworld is a crucial place for the cycle of reincarnation in the Three Realms, with strict order and its own laws.

Although you are the master of the Three Palaces and a peak Golden Immortal, you have no duties in the Netherworld.

Venturing into the underworld and disturbing the souls of the dead is a violation of heavenly law and gives others ammunition to criticize you.

At that time, let alone saving their relatives, they themselves might also find themselves in a passive position.

It even implicated the Sanyi Palace, misleading the three religions from uniting into one great cause.

Su Qingxuan's heart sank; this was exactly what he had been worried about.

In my anger just now, I did have the thought of recklessly forcing my way into the underworld, but now, upon calm reflection, I realize that it was unwise.

"Please, Heavenly Venerable, enlighten me." He earnestly sought guidance.

"The Lingxiao Palace, the Haotian Golden Palace."

The words of the Supreme Celestial Venerable are concise and to the point.

"The Heavenly Court governs the Three Realms, and even the Netherworld is under the jurisdiction of the Jade Emperor."

Your parents are kind and virtuous people, possessing great merit; they are truly saintly parents.

According to the law, he should enjoy heavenly blessings, but he is inexplicably trapped in the netherworld and suffering.

This is a dereliction of duty by the underworld and a violation of heavenly laws.

You may ascend directly to the Heavenly Palace, meet the Jade Emperor, explain what you have seen, and report your grievances.

"May the Heavenly Court uphold justice, thoroughly investigate the Underworld, and rescue your parents."

A glint flashed in Su Qingxuan's eyes.

That's right! Trespassing in a private capacity is illegal.

However, if one reports to the Heavenly Court and obtains an imperial decree, then one is acting on imperial orders to investigate the case, which is perfectly legitimate!

At that time, not only will the obstacles to saving relatives be greatly reduced, but this opportunity can also be taken advantage of.

Investigate whether there are any evil collusion within the Netherworld and uncover the mastermind behind it all!

"However..." He still had doubts.

"I am but a humble person with little influence. Although I have the foundation of the Three Ones Palace, I may not be able to reach the ears of the Emperor."

Furthermore, matters of the underworld are far-reaching; would His Majesty the Jade Emperor issue an edict to thoroughly investigate the matter of his disciple's parents?

"Qingxuan." The voice of Taiqing Tianzun seemed to carry a faint smile.

"You underestimate yourself, and you also underestimate the Jade Emperor."

"You promoted the unity of the three religions, harmonized the atmosphere of the celestial realm, integrated the Sword Sect, subdued the Loose Immortal Alliance, and spread the Dao in the celestial realm."

From the perspective of the Heavenly Court, this is of great merit to maintaining order and stability.

The Jade Emperor had been watching closely for some time and had even secretly provided you with favors; otherwise, what do you think...?

You stormed the Heavenly Palace to plead with the God of Wealth, and the Jade Emperor sided with you.

The Sanyi Palace has enjoyed a hundred years of prosperity, free from disasters and calamities.

No truly top-tier powerhouse came to challenge them...

Are these... solely due to your cultivation level and the power of the Loose Immortal Alliance?

Su Qingxuan suddenly realized.

Yes, over the past century, the conservatives have made numerous moves,

However, they never dared to truly break off relations and launch a devastating attack.

He originally thought it was because of his thorough planning and the gradual accumulation of power.

Looking back now, it's possible that there was quiet support from higher levels.

"The unity of the three religions will usher in a great harmony across the three realms. If this ideal is realized..."

The barriers between the three realms have dissolved, sectarianism has been broken down, and good and evil are now clearly defined.

A well-ordered system is most conducive to the Heavenly Court's rule and the maintenance of stability in the Three Realms.

This is what the Jade Emperor is pleased to see, and it is also the deeper reason why he is willing to help you.

Taiqing Tianzun points out the key point:

"Your rescue of your relatives may seem like a private matter, but it is actually related to the laws of the Three Realms."

If there are indeed underworld officials colluding with demons to establish private prisons.

Torture of virtuous souls is a grave sin that shakes the very foundation of reincarnation and disrupts the order of Yin and Yang! How could the Jade Emperor stand idly by?

"Go to the Lingxiao Palace and frankly state your case, revealing everything you have seen, heard, guessed, and thought."

He made it clear that this was not merely for personal reasons, but also to uphold the dignity of Heaven and eliminate potential threats from the underworld.

With the Jade Emperor's wisdom, he will surely grant your request, and perhaps even...

"It will give you greater authority to act."

The voice of the Supreme Celestial Venerable faded into the distance:

"Remember, this trip to Lingxiao Palace is to petition and to state our position."

Let the Heavenly Court and the Three Realms know that you, Su Qingxuan,

They are not people who only know how to bury themselves in Taoist cultivation and are ignorant of worldly affairs.

You have the love of your parents in your heart, and you also have the law in your heart.

They dare to risk their lives for their loved ones and are even more willing to rid the world of evil.

You should carefully consider the implications of this... Now, go.

The lingering sound faded into nothingness.

In the courtyard, the moonlight remained cold and clear.

……

Under the Bodhi tree, Su Qingxuan slowly opened his eyes.

Immediately, he sent a telepathic message to summon everyone.

His eyes were still bloodshot, and his grief remained, but the madness and chaos had faded.

Instead, there is a frozen calm and a deep-sea-like determination.

His face was still pale, but his Dao foundation was stable and his breathing had calmed down.

The chaotic spiritual light surrounding his body completely subsided.

However, the invisible chill and oppressive aura emanating from it were three times stronger than before.

Like a volcano about to erupt, its surface is calm, but within it surges a destructive power.

"Young master, you..." Lin Wanqing had already come to his side.

She spoke cautiously, her eyes filled with worry.

Su Qingxuan slowly shook her head at her and at everyone in the courtyard.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and straightened his slightly disheveled robes.

The movements were slow but firm.

Each adjustment felt like a chance to rebuild a broken Dao heart and integrate the causes and effects of enlightenment.

"I'm fine," Su Qingxuan said, having regained his usual composure.

"Just now, the Buddha and the Supreme Celestial Venerable Taiqing have both transmitted their voices to enlighten me."

He spoke of the Buddha's teachings on cause and effect and calamities, and of the matter of the Supreme Celestial Venerable requesting permission to ascend to the heavens.

Speak concisely, omitting details and focusing only on the key points.

Upon hearing this, everyone displayed expressions of realization, shock, and complex emotions.

Yun Miaozi sighed, "So that's how it is... The cycle of cause and effect, retribution is inevitable."

"The fact that the Palace Master was able to receive guidance from two supreme sages and understand this calamity is truly a stroke of great fortune amidst misfortune."

"Young Master, what should we do now...?" Xiao Lingxi asked anxiously.

"Proceed separately as originally planned."

Su Qingxuan's gaze swept over the crowd, his expression clear and organized.

It was as if he had instantly transformed back into the all-knowing and all-powerful Lord of the Three Palaces.

"Elder Yunmiaozi, contact your old acquaintances immediately and investigate the details of that prison."

Be extremely careful; do not alert the enemy.

"Elders Longyuan and Lingxu are stationed in the palace, activating the grand formation to safeguard the foundation."

"Wanqing, Lingxi, Lingyue, Chiying, palace affairs proceed as usual. Reassure the people and guard against spies."

He paused, gazing towards the endless depths of the eastern sky.

That place is the highest point of the Thirty-Three Heavens, where the Lingxiao Palace is located.

"And I," Su Qingxuan said slowly.

"Now go to the Lingxiao Palace to see the Jade Emperor and request his decree—"

Enter the underworld! Save my parents!

Investigate the wicked! Uphold the law!

It is:

With the heart of Buddha and the spirit of Tao, the flames of illusion are extinguished; the raging waves are temporarily calmed in accordance with the imperial decree.

If the netherworld blocks the way to save loved ones, I dare to borrow the might of Heaven to sweep away the source of evil.