Chapter 779
Bodhisattva, please tell me! Is everything written in the Buddhist scriptures just nonse
She paused, her voice softening slightly, but her eyes remained sharp, and her words became even more impeccable. Her dignified and authoritative demeanor left no room for criticism: "Many disciples are already protecting you on your journey to the west. If there are any calamities, you should try to overcome them together, rather than relying on such evil and heretical pills to take shortcuts."
She pointed to the sky, then to Tang Sanzang's heart, her voice regaining its ethereal and compassionate quality, as if her previous rage had never existed: "The journey to the West to obtain the scriptures is protected by all the Buddhas; sincerity is key."
Tang Sanzang, do not be tainted by worldly dust; turn back and you will find the shore. Do not take elixirs; if you do, you will forget who you are, and how can you then proceed on your journey to the West?
This set of talking techniques is her most treasured skill.
The compassion contains admonition, and the admonition contains a subtle threat, which makes Buddhism seem vast and unfathomable, while leaving the listener with no logical faults.
It sounds like every word is for your benefit and plans for your future, but upon closer inspection, it's all about constraints—you can't resist, you can't question, you can't take shortcuts, you have to follow the pre-arranged route with difficulty, and you can't deviate even a step.
But she forgot that the monk in front of her had already heard her spout a whole bunch of similar platitudes at the Water and Land Assembly.
Moreover, this monk had personally witnessed Guanyin Bodhisattva's refusal to honor the promise of a million merits after only receiving half of it.
"Buddha!"
Tang Sanzang suddenly spoke again.
His voice was much deeper than before, no longer like a roar, but with a restrained quality, as if each word was squeezed out from the depths of his teeth: "This humble monk became a monk at a young age, began reciting Buddhist scriptures at the age of three, and started reading sutras at the age of five."
This humble monk has thoroughly studied the true scriptures. The Buddha is compassionate, without self-image or attachment to sentient beings. The distinction between Buddha and demon lies solely in whether they have committed evil deeds, not in the method they practice!
The expression on Guanyin Bodhisattva's face froze slightly.
Tang Sanzang raised his head and looked directly into Guanyin Bodhisattva's eyes. This action was quite offensive; for a mortal monk to look directly into the eyes of a Bodhisattva was a great disrespect, but at this moment he no longer cared about anything.
His eyes held anger, resentment, and a trace of the devotion to Buddhism cultivated over decades of immersion in Buddhist scriptures.
His clasped hands trembled slightly, but his voice grew increasingly firm: "We Buddhist disciples, those who cultivate Mahayana Buddhism, all know that all beings are equal. If demons and Asuras can sincerely turn to good and take refuge in our Buddha, they will naturally attain liberation! This is what the Buddhist scriptures mean by 'laying down the butcher's knife and instantly becoming a Buddha,' this is the boundless compassion personally proclaimed by the Bodhisattva! How many times have I copied and memorized those principles in the scriptures at Jinshan Temple? Are they all false?"
He took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently, and almost from the depths of his throat, he exhaled his deepest confusion: "If that's the case, this humble monk only wants to use the power of Asura to protect himself. In essence, I still want to go to the Western Paradise to obtain the scriptures, and I still want to bring blessings to all living beings! Even if this humble monk takes the Asura Annihilation Pill and gains supernatural powers, this humble monk is still Tang Sanzang, still the monk who vowed to obtain the true scriptures! Even Asuras can become Buddhas, so why should this humble monk who cultivates the path of Asura be considered a demon?"
The more Guanyin Bodhisattva listened, the uglier her expression became.
Tang Sanzang raised his hand, pointing at Guanyin Bodhisattva, his fingers trembling violently with excitement. His voice was hoarse, yet he refused to stop speaking: "The Bodhisattva just said that if I take this pill, I will fall into the demonic path and become a madman. But my heart is devoted to Buddha. I recite the Buddha's scriptures, walk the Buddha's path, and seek the Buddha's true teachings. What does my cultivation method have to do with the Bodhisattva? Why should I necessarily fall into the demonic path? If I don't take the Asura Annihilation Pill, and rely on these two legs to walk on the road, any tiger demon could easily carry me away. Who can I cry out for justice to then!"
He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, spitting as he spoke, his voice rising higher and higher, almost hysterically demanding, "Speak, Bodhisattva! Wasn't the Bodhisattva quite eloquent just now? Why is he mute now!"
The wind blew across the rocky beach of Yingchoujian Gorge, and the roaring sound of the rushing water became the only background noise in this empty valley.
Guanyin Bodhisattva stood quietly on the golden lotus, remaining silent for a long time.
Her face remained dignified, but that dignity had become a thin shell, beneath which lay turbulent emotions and an unspeakable weariness. Her lips moved, then tightened again.
His fingers clenched and unclenched inside his sleeve, then finally settled into a stiff position.
"No means no."
Seven characters.
No more, no less, no explanation, no reason, no Buddhist scripture references, not even a trace of compassion.
Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at Tang Sanzang coldly, her eyes showing neither anger nor pity, only an absolute and unquestionable authority.
I'm not going to reason with you anymore.
Because there's no way to explain it.
The things said in Buddhist scriptures—laying down the butcher's knife and becoming a Buddha on the spot, all sentient beings are equal, even Asuras and demons can become Buddhas, the boundless compassion of Mahayana Buddhism to universally save all sentient beings—these words are truly written in the classics.
Every sentence has its source, every chapter has its record, and every scripture has repeatedly expounded upon it.
Tang Sanzang expounded these principles at the Water and Land Assembly, and the elders of Jinshan Temple spent their entire lives explaining these principles to believers. Countless Buddhist disciples throughout the world believe in these principles.
But that's just something written on paper.
The virtual world exists in our imagination, used to soothe the desires of mortals. The compassion and tolerance in the scriptures are like the moon in the sky—round, bright, and beautiful, but forever out of reach.
In the real world of Buddhism, people are still divided into different classes, merits are still calculated, and those destined for calamity are still made to suffer.
If Tang Sanzang were to obtain the Asura Annihilation Pill, things would completely fall apart.
First of all, the power of Asura is not an ordinary supernatural ability; it is the strongest racial talent in the Six Paths of Reincarnation. If Tang Sanzang truly fused with the power of Asura, he could do whatever he wanted, easily overturning mountains and seas, and most demons would run away at the sight of him. How could the eighty-one tribulations be arranged then? The demons wouldn't dare to capture him, the tribulations wouldn't be complete, and how could the Journey to the West continue?
Secondly, sending a monk with the power of an Asura to Mount Ling to seek the true scriptures is a huge joke in itself. What kind of place is Mount Ling? It is a pure land of Buddhism, a place where all Buddhas pay homage, and the source of Mahayana Buddhism.
The thought of a malevolent Asura entering the main hall of the Buddha Temple and seeking scriptures from the Buddha is enough to send chills down one's spine.
Furthermore, the design of the eighty-one tribulations has a very core premise—Tang Sanzang must be an ordinary person who is powerless to even kill a chicken.
Only when Tang Sanzang is weak and helpless enough can he be captured by monsters in every tribulation, making Sun Wukong go to great lengths to rescue him, thus highlighting the immense difficulty and preciousness of the journey to the West.
Without the contrast of Tang Sanzang's weakness, the preciousness of the supreme Buddhist teachings could not be demonstrated.
Most importantly, it was ordained by Heaven and Earth that Tang Sanzang was destined to face this calamity.
He was no ordinary monk; his previous incarnation was Jin Chanzi, and his reincarnation and journey to the West were part of a great calamity. This calamity involved an extremely vast amount of merit, and the plans of the two major powers, Heaven and the West, were all centered around Tang Sanzang.
If Tang Sanzang could not maintain his purity and lost the special characteristic of "cultivating enlightenment in a mortal body", then it would be difficult to accumulate much merit during the great calamity.
He must remain unchanged. He cannot possess the power of Asura, nor the power to transcend suffering; he must be like a chess piece, obediently following the predetermined path.
But can these words be said to Tang Sanzang?
No.
Not a single word can be spoken.
So there are only seven words: "Cannot means cannot".
Tang Sanzang was stunned for a moment, a look of confusion flashing in his eyes, followed by disappointment, and then anger. Those seven words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, chilling him to the bone.
He just quoted extensively from scriptures and doctrines, bringing out the core concepts of equality and compassion in Mahayana Buddhism, thinking he could convince Guanyin Bodhisattva and prove that his taking the Asura Annihilation Pill was in accordance with Buddhist principles.
As a result, Guanyin Bodhisattva didn't even bother to explain, and simply said, "No means no."
Isn't this telling him that the words in those Buddhist scriptures are all false?
Guanyin Bodhisattva ignored Tang Sanzang and turned to face Lin Zhu.
Her gaze fell on Lin Zhu's face. The person she hated so much yet couldn't do anything about was still in the same position as before, with his arms crossed in front of his chest and a dazzlingly bright smile on his face.
There was no malice or mockery in that smile, only pure, undisguised jest and the thrill of watching a good show.
It's as if they're saying: Keep acting, I'm watching.
When Lin Zhu put the glowing red Asura Annihilation Pill back into his sleeve, the smile on his face never disappeared.
He knew better than anyone that giving Tang Sanzang such a high-level elixir would only bring him trouble.
If Tang Sanzang truly possessed the power to overturn rivers and seas, all those subsequent tribulations would become a joke—the demons couldn't capture him, the tribulations couldn't trap him, and he couldn't even gather all eighty-one tribulations. Wouldn't all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the Western Paradise collectively jump up and down in anger? At that time, the first person the Buddha would deal with would be Lin Zhu.
There's no need to even calculate the costs; it's clearly a losing proposition, and Lin Zhu certainly wouldn't leave himself with such trouble.
Moreover, these people all misunderstood one thing.
The true purpose of that Asura Annihilation Pill wasn't some heaven-defying effect like gaining Asura power or a surge in combat strength. To put it bluntly, it was a laxative. A higher-grade laxative, a more potent laxative, but ultimately, it was still a laxative.
Those things like the soaring evil aura, the flowing red light, and the dark red patterns that look alive are all just appearances. They are special effects that come with the system when it is produced. The visual effects are amazing, but the actual effect is not much different from that of croton oil.
However, this was a beautiful accident. Guanyin Bodhisattva was so frightened by the evil aura of the elixir that she lost her composure, while Tang Sanzang was so captivated by the name of the elixir that he was completely mesmerized. The two of them, one desperately trying to stop the other from eating it, were in a huge commotion.
Lin Zhu watched this good show from the sidelines, and was in a very good mood.
And coincidentally, he can also take this opportunity to handle some other matters.
Guanyin Bodhisattva stood on a golden lotus, her appearance still cold and aloof, as dignified as a statue enshrined in a temple.
But her lips didn't move; a whispered message had already reached Lin Zhu's ears. Her tone was completely different from her cold exterior, carrying an barely suppressed anger and helplessness.
"Lin Zhu, you've gone too far this time."
Lin Zhu didn't even raise an eyebrow, maintaining that lazy smile as if she hadn't heard anything.
Guanyin Bodhisattva's voice continued to drift over, speaking faster than usual, clearly indicating her anxiety: "Even if you have done a good job persuading the White Dragon to return, you can't act so recklessly."
You know perfectly well that Tang Sanzang is destined for tribulation; he must remain a mortal to complete these eighty-one tribulations. And yet, you directly pull out a Shura Annihilation Pill—are you trying to make him instantly transcend his mortal realm?
She paused, a hint of threat creeping into her voice, but it sounded weak and forced: "If Buddha finds out about this, he'll definitely take action against you. Don't say I didn't warn you; you'd better not make a mistake."
Lin Zhu slowly turned his head and glanced at Guanyin Bodhisattva.
He didn't use telepathy; he just opened his mouth and spoke, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for Guanyin Bodhisattva to hear: "Bodhisattva, there's nothing I can do about what you're saying."
He shrugged, looking completely innocent, but the smile in his eyes was impossible to hide: "You know me, I'm just too soft-hearted."
Just now, Tang Sanzang was clinging to my leg, crying like that, with snot and tears streaming down his face, begging me for a way to save his life. How could I possibly refuse? I really can't bear to hear such pleas; my heart softens when I hear them, and when I soften, I want to help.
This habit of mine has been with me for years, and I can't break it.
Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression changed several times.
She knew Lin Zhu too well. Every word he uttered was barbed, yet you couldn't find a reason to refute it. Even Guanyin Bodhisattva wouldn't believe a single word of his nonsense about being "soft-hearted."
But she wasn't in the mood to argue with Lin Zhu right now; she had to keep things under control.
Having dealt with Lin Zhu so many times, Guanyin Bodhisattva had long since figured out a pattern—going against Lin Zhu would never end well, and taking a hard line would only make her more passive.
The only way to get Lin Zhu to back down is to lower your stance and give him a way out within reasonable limits. As long as the way out is given appropriately, Lin Zhu usually won't push things too far.
She took a deep breath and sent a telepathic message again, her tone much gentler, even with a hint of negotiation: "Lin Zhu, take back the red Asura Annihilation Pill and give the blue one to Tang Sanzang. I'll pretend I didn't see this."
She felt aggrieved after saying that. The dignified Guanyin Bodhisattva, the lord of Mount Luojia, and the person in charge of the journey to the West, actually had to discuss such matters with a prison god and had to compromise by saying "pretend I didn't see it".
But there was nothing she could do; that was the situation—she had no way to deal with Lin Zhu. She couldn't beat him, she couldn't reason with him, and threats were useless. The only thing she could do was try to minimize her losses.
Lin Zhu's smile deepened, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.
He felt that Guanyin was even more cowardly than he had imagined.
When the Asura Annihilation Pill was first taken out, Guanyin was so frightened that she rushed down from the heavens as if the sky had collapsed. Now, she has lowered her stance, only wanting the blue one, and pretending she didn't see the red one. (End of Chapter)