Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

Upon hearing this, the Venerable Ananda, who was standing beside the Buddha, clasped his hands together and proclaimed loudly:

"Where is Venerable Upali? The Buddha asked about the precepts."

As soon as he finished speaking, a solemn-looking monk walked out from the side of the hall.

He wore ordinary monk's robes without much decoration, but his eyes were bright and clear, revealing a solemnity.

He was none other than Upali, one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known as "foremost in upholding the precepts".

Upali first bowed deeply to the Buddha, then slightly bowed to the saints in the hall, before standing solemnly in the hall and unfolding the scripture in his hand.

His gaze was sharp as lightning, sweeping over Bai Susu who was lying prone on the ground. His voice was calm:

"According to the fundamental precepts of my Buddhist school, and the detailed rules for offering to Dharma protectors, monasteries, and deities."

Anyone who steals offerings from the Buddha, whether incense, flowers, lamps, candles, fruit, or music, has already violated the precept against stealing. Moreover, since it is the theft of the Three Jewels, the sin is compounded.

Disrupting Buddhist offerings severs the field of merit for sentient beings; the karma associated with this is no small matter.

Upali paused briefly, then continued:

"According to the law, he should be beaten to death, his demonic form shattered with a vajra, and his soul scattered, so as to serve as a warning to others and to uphold the law."

"With the purity of complete offerings, we protect the dignity of the Dharma."

Upali's voice still echoed in the temple.

Bai Susu's face was ashen; she felt her soul grow cold and all hope vanished.

Two Vajra warriors guarding the front of the hall moved at the sound of the command, silently stepped forward, and prepared to seize Bai Susu.

"Wait a minute."

On the lotus throne, the Buddha suddenly raised his palm, his five fingers outstretched, in a soothing gesture.

Its movements are very slow, yet they possess immense power.

The two Vajra warriors immediately stopped in their tracks, bowed, and returned to their original positions as if they had never moved.

The saints in the hall narrowed their eyes slightly, but no one made a sound, all knowing that there must be more to come.

really.

Jin Chanzi stepped forward, clasped his hands in prayer, bowed, and said:

"May Buddha forgive me. This demon's crime certainly deserves punishment. However, I, as a disciple, also bear some responsibility for the cause and effect of this matter."

The Buddha said gently, "Tell me your story."

Jin Chanzi said slowly, "In the past, when I was meditating in the temple, I often saw a white mouse sneaking between the bases of the sutra pillars."

Although it is an anomaly, it possesses inner spirituality and its eyes have a clear light.

When the disciple felt compassion, he would sometimes feed it with leftover candle wax and incense, intending to create a good connection.

However…

Jin Chanzi paused slightly, his gaze falling on Bai Susu, as if reminiscing or reflecting on himself.

"However, I only provided food and drink, but did not teach or guide them with the right mindfulness of the Buddha's teachings. I did not teach them to uphold the precepts, cultivate themselves, understand cause and effect, or sever greed and delusion."

Over time, this only fuels their appetite and makes their gluttony grow stronger.

The calamities of today, if traced back to their source, are they not the result of my past neglect of education and upbringing, which sowed the seeds of evil?

This disciple dares not forget these transgressions, and is willing to accept responsibility. I humbly beg the Buddha for his wise judgment.

Jin Chanzi is a naturally born and nurtured cicada, possessing a compassionate and wondrous appearance.

His act of feeding the innocent little demon out of compassion was a great blessing to that ignorant little demon, but it also unknowingly sowed the seeds of today's fate.

The hall fell into complete silence.

All the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas knew that Jin Chanzi had always been trusted and respected by the Buddha. At this moment, he frankly confessed his faults to a little demon, and his words were sincere and not pretentious.

This sense of responsibility and self-reflection drew praise from many venerable figures.

After hearing Jin Chanzi's words, Buddha smiled and slowly said:

"That's so good, Jin Chanzi.

You can clearly discern cause and effect in the smallest details, and you can know that if you raise children but do not teach them, the fault lies in giving. This is true wisdom and true compassion.

Greed, anger, and ignorance arise from delusional thoughts and are also caused by conditioned phenomena.

Now that you know the previous cause, and yet you have this intention, this cause and effect is different.

The Buddha's words were not a reproach, but rather an expression of praise and understanding.

Jin Chanzi clasped his hands together and bowed again, then returned to his original position, his expression unmoved by his words.

Immediately, the Buddha's gaze slowly turned to Chen Jiao, who was sitting at the lower end.

The myriad auspicious colors and rosy clouds inside the hall seemed to converge and condense at this moment, gathering in the eyes of the Buddha, and peacefully reflecting on the Jingfa Zhenjun, who was wearing a black cloak and jade crown.

"Amitabha.

Jingfa Zhenjun, you have received the decree of the Great Heavenly Venerable to patrol the four directions, uphold the Heavenly Laws, suppress demons and evil spirits, and your merits are great throughout the universe.

You personally witnessed the capture of this demon and understand its true nature. I wish to hear your opinion on its fate.

As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes in the hall, whether open or hidden, focused on Chen Jiao.

Bai Susu lay prostrate on the ground, her heart already filled with despair.

Hearing the Buddha's tone soften and seem to hold a glimmer of hope, a slight light suddenly appeared in his dim eyes.

She subconsciously stole a glance, timidly looking at Chen Jiao sitting upright to the side, and silently made a vow in her heart:

"If I am spared this time, even though the True Lord does not appreciate such offerings, I will recite the sutras day and night, and be grateful for your kindness..."

Chen Jiao met the Buddha's inquiring gaze with a calm expression, understanding the situation perfectly.

The Buddha had the intention not to kill, and Jin Chanzi also took the initiative to assume part of the cause and effect.

The purpose of asking this question now is merely to find a satisfactory reason for a lenient sentence, and also to test one's own character and understanding.

Chen Jiao rose, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and calmly said:

"Return to Buddha."

I often hear that the Buddha's teachings are vast, based on compassion and the fundamental purpose of guiding and liberating beings.

In the past, the Buddha sacrificed himself to feed a tiger and cut off his own flesh to eat an eagle. His actions were not to condone evil, but to demonstrate his great compassion and to use his boundless vows to guide the stubborn and awaken the ignorant.

In my humble opinion, criminal law aims to deter future offenses, while the essence of Buddhism lies in helping people overcome difficulties and resolve problems.

This demon is guilty of stealing food; however, since it has developed intelligence and was once fed by a Buddhist disciple, it has been able to come close to the Dharma, and perhaps a trace of its Buddha-nature has not been extinguished.

Should they be executed on the spot under the vajra as a warning to others? Or should they emulate the Buddha's compassionate guidance in the past, granting them a glimmer of hope to atone for their sins and cultivate themselves, to observe their future actions...?

All of this stems from the Buddha's single thought of compassion and wisdom.

The Buddha listened quietly, his smile deepening.

After Chen Jiao finished speaking, the Buddha slowly nodded, his voice resounding throughout the hall, the chanting echoing:

"Excellent, True Lord, you know me, and you also know the true meaning of the Buddha's compassion. The Dharma is like thunder to punish evil; the mind is like the void to embrace good and evil."

The Buddha slightly raised his gaze, as if piercing through the halls, recalling events from a distant past, his voice deep and resonant:

"Years ago, I saw a starving tiger on the verge of death, with its cubs waiting to be fed. I felt compassion and gave up my life to feed them."

His concern was not merely for the hunger of a single tiger, but for the suffering of all beings. He wished to exchange his life for a moment of life, so that they might have the opportunity to hear the Dharma in their next life.

I saw a giant eagle hunting its prey, and out of pity for all living beings, I cut off a piece of its flesh and ate it.

What is relinquished is not merely the physical body, but the attachment to self, to prove the compassion of non-self.

Even ants cherish life, let alone this demon with a little bit of intelligence?

It is easy to execute someone, but difficult to cultivate compassion; it is easy to sever ties, but difficult to guide them towards goodness.

Upon hearing this, all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats in the hall joined their palms in praise:

"Namo Amitabha Buddha! The Buddha's compassion extends to all living beings!"

The Buddha smiled, his gaze sweeping over Bai Susu, and finally uttered a verse:

"Fish are raised in stagnant water but never fished; deer are fed in deep mountains in the hope of immortality."

White rat, you have stolen incense, flowers, and candles, ruining my offerings. Your crime is not light and you shall be executed according to the law.

However, Jin Chanzi had failed in his duty of education, and Zhenjun had compassionate words.

I now open the door of convenience and offer you a glimmer of hope.

I send you into the mortal world to cultivate yourself diligently, do good deeds, and accumulate merit to atone for your past transgressions.

From then on, Jin Chanzi would observe his conduct with his Dharma Eye, guiding him towards goodness and preventing him from going astray again.

Bai Susu felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and kowtowed repeatedly, sobbing uncontrollably.

"This little demon...this little demon kowtows to thank the Buddha for his mercy!"

I bow in gratitude to the True Lord! I bow in gratitude to the Buddha's disciple! I will certainly follow the Dharma's instructions, descend to the mortal realm to perform good deeds, repent, and reform myself!

The Buddha nodded slightly and said no more.

Jin Chanzi clasped his hands together and accepted the order, saying, "This disciple will obey the Dharma's decree and will always use my Dharma Eye to observe and guide them onto the right path."

This case is now temporarily closed.

Buddha's gaze swept over Chen Jiao, Li Jing, and the others again, and he smiled:

"The evil spirits have been dealt with, and the cause and effect have been temporarily resolved."

"You have all traveled a long way and have had a long journey. Now that the Lotus Assembly is about to begin, please take a seat and listen to the profound Dharma together."

Chen Jiao and the others bowed and agreed, then withdrew.

Outside the hall, the conch shell rang out, and the bells and chimes played melodiously.

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