Chapter 133 On Buddha
I have not studied the Buddhist scriptures enough, so it is difficult for me to debate with others.
Pinggong Chiye has always believed so.
He felt that he had not read many Buddhist scriptures and spent more time on cultivation.
Therefore, he evaluated himself as follows: cultivation first class, Buddhist teachings second class, and Buddhist scriptures and principles third class.
Now, he still evaluates himself in the same way.
Even though he had already defeated two monks in verbal battles.
This was not because his debating skills had greatly improved, but simply because the two monks' Buddhist knowledge was too poor.
But this is normal. How much profound Buddhist knowledge can a monk who can stand up for the demons and monsters kept at the foot of Mount Koya learn?
Moreover, he was the first monk to start the debate. If the debate was worth 100 points, the two monks just now would have scored about 1 point and 2 points.
Far from a passing score.
Many thoughts flashed through Pinggong Qianye's mind as he quietly waited for the next attack from the monks sitting in front of him.
And this debate is definitely just a beginning.
The turmoil caused by his act of almost killing all the monsters at the foot of the mountain seemed to be much bigger than expected.
It's just a minor disturbance, nothing to worry about.
"Sweeping the floor is afraid of hurting the ants, and the lamp is covered with gauze to protect the moths."
Another monk took over the debate. He said in a pious tone, "Buddhism emphasizes compassion and not killing. The monks who killed people at the foot of the mountain were too cruel no matter how you look at it. They didn't have the compassion that Buddhist monks should have."
"Our Buddha is merciful and can save the world with his compassionate heart."
Pinggong Qianye first confirmed this indisputable point before continuing: "I am also compassionate, but I cannot save the world like Buddha. I can only save people first. The piles of bones in the cave tell me that I should choose to comfort the souls of the dead in heaven by killing."
"Only after they have resolved this last obsession can they be free of worries and enter the reincarnation cycle."
"In addition to compassion, Buddhism also emphasizes cause and effect. The monsters harmed people first, which was the cause. They met me and were punished, which was the result."
"Karma will always pay off."
Pinggong Qianye's tone remained calm. He believed that he was upright and honest, and no matter how the debate went, he had the confidence.
"Since the monk is talking about cause and effect, don't you know that your current killing is the cause of killing, and it will definitely result in killing in the future?" said a monk.
"I have to bear the consequences of my own actions, and I will have to bear the consequences myself, without any resentment or regret."
"You, the monk, have killed too many people. How can this be your own fault? Your killing has stopped other monsters from changing their ways and has inadvertently harmed more innocent lives."
This argument made Pinggong Qianye silent for a while.
It’s not that he couldn’t refute it, but he thought of child trafficking cases in the real world.
The logic of not sentencing human traffickers to death is very similar to what the monk said at this moment.
As the monk said, if a monster that has harmed people wants to mend its ways and turn into a good person, it may learn that it will still die and be liquidated if it does so. In this case, it may give up the idea of mending its ways and continue to harm more innocent lives.
This situation exists, although it is less likely.
But can this be a reason for monsters to continue slaughtering innocent lives?
"May I ask, monk, if a monster truly wants to change his ways and become a good person, will he give up doing good because he is afraid of being held accountable for his past?"
The monk was stunned and looked a little ugly.
Pinggong Qianye continued, "If it is afraid and retreats because of this, then is its so-called repentance and change for the better a true confession or a false one?"
"Monsters are different from humans and lack education. You shouldn't use overly strict standards to demand monsters. Buddhism should lower the requirements appropriately, first guide them to be good, and then slowly educate them with Buddhist teachings." The monk tried to reverse his decline in words.
Pinggong Qianye smiled and said, "Why do you think that monsters lack education and are ignorant? Monk, you are clearly discriminating against the monsters' wisdom."
"..."
The monk was speechless for a moment and could only keep silent.
"When the Buddha was preaching in the Jetavana Grove in Savatthi, an evil ghost named Bisha appeared in Vaiśrava, killing countless people every day."
Another monk spoke up: "The Buddha used his power to bless the evil ghost, so that he could remember the karma he had committed in his previous life. The evil ghost immediately felt extremely remorseful and bowed respectfully to the Buddha's feet."
"The Buddha accepted his confession and then expounded on the subtle Dharma, which filled him with joy."
Hearing this, Pinggong Qianye frowned slightly. The monk continued, "Faced with an evil ghost that killed many innocent lives, the Buddha was able to convert it with compassion and give it a chance to mend its ways. Shouldn't we Buddhists learn from the Buddha's compassion?"
Pinggong Qianye has always found it difficult to deal with monks who are good at reciting stories from scriptures.
There are so many strange and bizarre stories in the Buddhist scriptures, some of which cannot even be explained.
He can save people on this side and subdue demons on the other side, and he can come up with a lot of principles for both.
Pinggong Qianye also did not like this kind of debate, but this was exactly what many monks who devoted themselves to studying Buddhist scriptures were best at.
They always like to use a story, an argument or a sentence recorded in Buddhist scriptures as the basis for their debates or actions.
They have scriptures to follow but ignore Buddhist teachings. This is the kind of people I am talking about.
There are countless examples of Buddha converting evil spirits, murderers, demons, etc. into good deeds.
Pinggong Qianye was silent for a long time. When a satisfied smile gradually appeared on the monk's face, he said very seriously: "Because He is a Buddha, but you are not a Buddha, and I am not a Buddha either."
"It is precisely because we have not yet reached the state of Buddha that we should learn from Buddha, learn from Buddha's compassion and mercy, instead of blindly beating and killing sentient beings who are willing to change their ways and become good."
Pinggong Qianye shook his head and said, "You are wrong. I am a Buddha, and you are also a Buddha."
"..."
The monk was obviously stunned for a moment, Pinggong Qianye no longer had any intention of debating with these people.
It's such a waste of time.
He is extremely determined in what he does and does not need to seek approval from others.
What do the so-called doubts they speak of have to do with me?
"I did not come to Koyasan to debate with you, and I do not need to argue with you about what I did."
Pinggong Qianye stood up from the ground, looked down at them from a high place, and said in a deep voice: "I am a Buddha, and you are not a Buddha."
"..."
The monks sitting on the ground just watched Pinggong Qianye turn around and leave, walking into the mountain gate of Kongobuji Temple.
"What an arrogant tone! Why does he think he is a Buddha?"
"At such a young age, he has misinterpreted Buddhism. The harm he has done is far greater than that of all the demons and monsters!"
"A monk as cruel and bloodthirsty as him should not be allowed to stay in Buddhism!" "He needs to give an explanation for slaughtering so many believers, no matter how eloquent he is!"
The monks gradually reacted and began to angrily accuse and curse.
"In order to spread Buddhism, we have spent more than ten years converting those demons and ghosts and making them convert to Buddhism, so as to demonstrate the compassion of our Buddha."
"And he, a monk who traveled from afar, shattered the situation we had worked hard to build for more than a decade."
"You should be punished! You should be punished! You should atone for this!"
The monks spoke fiercely and were filled with indignation.
"Tell Host Du Chen what happened here. I believe he will make a fair judgment!"
The monks quickly reached a consensus and left two monks here to guard, while the other group of monks left first.
From beginning to end, the old monk who was in the lead did not utter a word, but instead stared at Pinggong Qianye's back with a frown on his face.
Inside Kongobuji Temple, Heimiya Chiye sighed.
It really felt meaningless that those monks were debating with me over a group of harmful monsters, and they even thought that what they were doing was demonstrating the Buddha's compassion.
It's just ridiculous.
They are just sacrificing the lives of other innocent people to satisfy their own self-righteous mercy!
Can the compassion of Buddhism only be manifested in this group of demons and monsters that harm people?
They are not promoting Buddhism, but are going astray and misinterpreting Buddhism!
If this wasn't a society ruled by law, he would definitely make these Buddhist scums leave Koyasan on their stomachs.
I just don’t know how many people will believe in this kind of Buddhist teachings?
Does the Kongo Peak Temple in front of me also approve of this practice of raising demons and demonstrating the compassion of Buddha?
Kongobuji Temple is very large. This was Chiye Heimiya’s first time here, so she chose to follow the direction of the tourists and took a walk around.
When he entered the inner courtyard of Kongobuji Temple, monks came to greet him.
His attire was obviously different from that of ordinary tourists, and coupled with the debate just now, he had already attracted attention.
"Master, please follow me over here."
The young monk chatted with Pinggong Qianye for a few words, then led Pinggong Qianye to the monks' quarters at the back.
"Master, Monk Guozhong is waiting for you in the room."
"Good work."
Under the watchful eyes of the young monk, Pinggong Qianye entered one of the rooms decorated in an elegant and simple style.
I originally thought this was an antique room, but when I came in, I found that the interior had a very modern design.
There is even an automatic coffee machine.
Shouldn't monks like these drink hand-ground coffee or tea?
Pinggong Qianye sat opposite the monk Guo Zhong, who was in his early thirties, looked a little young, and had a sad expression, waiting for him to speak first.
"Monk who has come from afar, would you like coffee or tea?"
"Tea."
Pinggong Qianye always felt that the coffee in the automatic coffee machine was not tasty, and he didn't like the bitter taste of coffee very much.
"Drinking tea is good, it can calm your mind."
Kuninaka said with a smile, stood up, went to the small refrigerator at the back, opened it, and took out a bottle of green tea drink, Ito's classic green tea.
"..."
Pinggong Qianye took the bottle of green tea and looked at the coffee opposite that was emitting heat and aroma. He always felt that this scene was a bit strange.
"The monk has been causing quite a stir in Koyasan recently."
Monk Guozhong took a sip of coffee before he started talking.
"Perhaps it's because Mount Koya is too high, so it was blown by the fierce wind." Heimiya Chiye replied calmly.
Monk Guozhong looked at Pinggong Qianye deeply and said, "The monk is not only powerful, but also very eloquent."
The two chatted for a while, and Pinggong Qianye no longer concealed his true thoughts, "In a place like Koyasan, who has the final say, Buddhism or cultivation?"
The expression on Kuninaka Monk's face was slightly stunned. He suddenly had a premonition that something big was about to happen on Mount Koya.
This young monk who came from afar was obviously somewhat dissatisfied with the current situation in Koyasan because of the debate just now.
"Great cultivation."
Monk Guozhong thought for a while and finally gave his answer.
"I see. That's right. I also think it's foolish to debate Buddhism with those monks."
"..."
Guo Zhong Sengzheng heard the joy and strong confidence in these words.
Although the monk in front of him is so young, he has extremely strong self-confidence.
Could it be that the ignorant are fearless?
"The monk seems to have a lot of hostility."
"This is not resentment, but anger."
"Alas, monks should try not to bother with them."
"I don't care, you don't care, he doesn't care, then who should care?"
Monk Guozhong was speechless for a moment. From the brief conversation, he already knew the determination of the young monk in front of him.
The young monk was filled with rage, and he wanted to transform himself into a wrathful Myo-o and burn the entire Mount Koya with his rage.
"Why would Kongobuji allow the wrong behavior of raising demons and monsters at the foot of the mountain?"
"Alas, this is not something that Kongobuji can decide on its own. There are many other reasons and entanglements involved."
Kuninaka Monjo sighed and began to talk to Heimiya Chiye about the causes of the current situation in Koyasan.
(End of this chapter)
