Chapter 183: The Ambition to Subdue Demons, Carrying the Statue of Nagarjuna
Sword of wisdom?
The sword of wisdom in the hand of Manjushri Bodhisattva?
It is said that Manjushri Bodhisattva holds the "Sword of Wisdom" in his right hand and places the "Prajna Sutra" on the blue lotus in his left hand.
Holding the sword of wisdom, one can eliminate the afflictions of ego and thus destroy all ignorance and stupidity.
The sword of wisdom in front of him was obviously not the one in the hands of Manjushri Bodhisattva, but a sword of wisdom that had been held and blessed by many eminent monks and had gone through the baptism of time.
The abbot Kong Zhi was slightly moved. "Is it the sword of wisdom that has been collected in your shrine for a long time?"
“It’s only been collected for more than 200 years.”
"Iori Miyaji is willing to return this sword to Buddhism?"
Iori Miyaji shook his head and patted the sword box again, "I am just giving the Sword of Wisdom to Master Liansheng temporarily."
If his daughter had not kept asking him to do so, he would have been reluctant to give away the Sword of Wisdom, a treasure that had been in the shrine's collection for more than 200 years.
There are no more than 3 pieces in their entire Daigamiyama Shrine, which is very precious.
Moreover, the relationship between Shintoism and Buddhism is not very harmonious. Sending the Sword of Wisdom back to Buddhism would be tantamount to aiding the enemy.
Therefore, in order to convince the old priests in the shrine, he could only declare that this sword of wisdom was only temporarily given to Master Liansheng to hold.
Once Master Liansheng passed away, the sword of wisdom would still belong to their Daishinyama Shrine.
In the past history, Ogamiyama Shrine has done similar things.
It is equivalent to borrowing the hands of a great monk to continuously enhance the power of the Sword of Wisdom.
It's a win-win deal.
"Namo our teacher Shakyamuni Buddha."
Abbot Kongzhi chanted a Buddhist name and personally led Iori Miyaji and others to the back mountain. The explosion just now also needed to be investigated in a timely manner.
After walking through the path and arriving at the back mountain, we found that the mountain wall where the original stone cave was located had been completely destroyed and collapsed.
At this moment, there was still smoke and dust floating in the air, making it gray and obscuring the view.
Abbot Kongzhi also quickened his pace a little, and when he saw that his two senior brothers Kongming and Kongshan were still there, he felt relieved.
"Two brothers, what happened here?"
"Master broke the seal on the mountain wall and came out." Monk Kongming, who was holding the Dharma drum, replied.
The face of the host Kong Zhi suddenly changed, "But the Seven Sinful Lords broke the seal and came out?"
"rest assured."
Amid the smoke and dust, there came words that made Host Kong Zhi feel reassured.
Then, a skinny figure slowly walked out of the area covered by smoke and dust.
His walking posture was a little strange, his lower body was wobbly but his upper body was as steady as a rock, it seemed like he just wasn't used to walking.
"Kongming, Kongshan, nice to meet you, Grandmaster."
Kongming, holding the Dharma drum, and Kongshan, holding the Dharma bell on their shoulders, bowed their heads slightly in salute.
The host Kong Zhi's eyes were slightly red, and he also stepped forward to salute, "Kong Zhi greets the master."
The smoke and dust gradually dispersed, and the old face and dying body of Master Liaojie appeared in everyone's sight.
His face still retained a certain plumpness, but his legs had become so thin that there was only bone and skin attached to the bones, no flesh.
They looked like two bamboo poles that had been cut by a knife and could be easily blown down by a gust of wind.
He was wearing a brand new red robe, or rather, a robe that had been covered in dust for 20 years and was now being worn again.
The girl standing behind Iori Miyaji secretly glanced at Master Lejie's legs and gestured with her hands. Those were a pair of legs that were smaller and thinner than her hands, and there seemed to be traces of erosion by the wind and frost of the years on them.
Like shriveled chopsticks that have been squeezed for a long time.
Can you still walk with a pair of legs like this?
"I can still walk."
Master Liaojie spoke, as if he was talking to Abbot Kongzhi and the others, but also as if he was answering the questions in the girl's mind. She was so scared that she stayed obediently behind Iori Miyaji and put away her unnecessary thoughts.
"Master left the cave, so where are the seven evil masters?"
"I have passed on the Buddhist responsibility of guarding the Seven Sinners to Master Liansheng."
"Where is Master Rensheng now?" Iori Miyaji interrupted and asked.
"We are sealing the Seven Sinners. It will take some time."
Iori Miyaji thought to himself what a pity, the Sword of Wisdom was good at cutting but not good at sealing.
Holding the Sword of Wisdom was not enough to help Master Liansheng seal the Lord of the Seven Sins, so he was not in a hurry to find Master Liansheng.
"Master, how should we deal with the situation outside?"
"Is it serious?"
"It will soon become a paradise for demons and monsters."
Abbot Kongzhi answered very cautiously. He once sent his disciple to lead a team of monks to investigate the situation.
Just now, his disciple reported that there are already quite a few newly born demons and monsters wandering outside, and their numbers are increasing, and the situation is becoming more and more serious.
"Then kill them all!"
Master Laojie looked far into the distance at the center of Kyoto at the foot of the mountain. The thin and hunched figure was now surrounded by a terrifying murderous intent.
Iori Miyaji was horrified as he watched. This demon-slaying sword that had been sealed for 20 years was finally going to regain its former glory of slaying demons.
The dog god beside him subconsciously tightened its tail, and when he noticed the girl's eyes glancing at him, he pretended nothing had happened, moved his legs, and strolled around.
The nose moved slightly, but no longer smelled the scent of Master Liansheng. Master Liansheng should no longer be here, but went to some other quieter place.
"The sword box on your back, is it the sword of wisdom?"
After Master Liaojie finished chatting with Host Kongzhi, his eyes fell on the sword case on the back of Iori Miyaji.
"I came here specially to give it to Master Liansheng for his use."
"The Sword of Wisdom is indeed a good sword, but it is not suitable for exorcising demons. It is not suitable for me, but it is destined for Master Liansheng."
Master Lejie nodded, his eyes turned to the strolling Inugami, and finally fell on the girl.
"You will have good luck in the future."
The girl shrank back slightly, using the shadow of Iori Miyaji to block Master Jie's gaze towards her, and did not answer.
"My daughter is still a little shy, so please don't be offended, Master."
"rare."
Master Lejie nodded and shouted, "Kongshan, Kongming, follow me down the mountain to subdue the demons!"
"Kongshan and Kongming wish to follow the master down the mountain."
Master Liaojie gave a deep shout, and the two monks Kongming and Kongshan followed him down the mountain together.
Abbot Kongzhi and others also left the back mountain. The fact that Master Lejie did not mention it proved that Master Liansheng did not need a Dharma protector at this moment.
The returning Master Lejie made many old monks in Kiyomizu Temple cry with joy as soon as he showed up.
For 20 years, he alone, with great willpower and fearlessness, suppressed the seven evil lords and protected this pure land.
It can be described as immeasurable merit.
When seeing with one's own eyes the tortured, shriveled and emaciated body, even a young novice who has just entered Buddhism would be filled with admiration and even shed tears.
“Please bring out the statue of Nagarjuna.”
Master Liaojie did not greet any monks and went straight to the main hall where the Buddhas were enshrined.
"I will personally carry the statue of Nagarjuna on my back and suppress all the demons and monsters in Kyoto!"
Master Liaojie's voice was not loud, but it was extremely deafening, and even the monks watching could not help but be amazed.
Only some old monks know that this is the fierce style of the former demon-conquering master!
Host Kongzhi's eyes dimmed slightly, but he did not stop Master Laijie's actions.
In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Pang De carried the coffin to fight a decisive battle. At this moment, his master was carrying the statue of Nagarjuna Bodhisattva on his back. In addition to providing assistance, it also showed his determination in this journey.
Iori Miyaji and others were standing a little further away, and when they saw this scene, they were also shocked.
"Is Bodhisattva Nagarjuna very powerful?" the girl asked in confusion.
"Of course it's awesome."
Iori Miyaji said with emotion: "Nagarjuna Bodhisattva is listed as one of the two victories and six solemnities of Buddhism, and is also revered as the ancestor of the eight sects."
"The Sautrantika, Satyasiddhi, Vinaya, Samantabhadra, Dharmalaksastra, Avatamsaka, Tiantai, and Shingon schools all call Nagarjuna their founder."
"Kiyomizu Temple is the main sect of the Hosō school of Japanese Buddhism, and the status of Nagarjuna Bodhisattva is evident."
Seeing that the girl was still a little confused, Iori Miyaji, who wanted to show off his knowledge, continued, "I heard that Master Liaojie practiced the Madhyamika school, and the Madhyamika school revered Bodhisattva Nagarjuna as its founder, and took the Madhyamika Shastra and the Twelve Gates Shastra as its fundamental scriptures."
“It’s so complicated…”
After listening to Iori Miyaji's long speech, the girl, who had been somewhat interested at first, immediately lost interest.
Iori Miyaji looked at the girl gently and said nothing more. Buddhism has countless scriptures and numerous sects, so it is indeed very complicated.
But much of their Shinto classic knowledge is not necessarily that simple either.
Any religion that has existed for too long has a chaotic past.
Later generations can only try their best to straighten out the history and knowledge so that most people can accept and understand it more easily.
Master Lejie acted very quickly. After performing the corresponding Buddha-inviting ceremony, he carried the statue of Nagarjuna Bodhisattva on his back, walked out of the hall step by step, and went towards the mountain gate.
Following Master Liaojie closely were Monk Kongming holding the Dharma drum and Monk Kongshan holding the Dharma bell on his shoulder.
The other monks were left in Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and Abbot Kongzhi was responsible for the arrangements and management.
"I really want to see it."
The girl was tempted to follow Master Lajie out to take a look.
"No, it's too dangerous outside."
Prince Iori immediately dispelled the girl's idea. Even a great monk like Master Liaojie needed to carry the statue of Nagarjuna Bodhisattva out of the mountain gate, which showed how dangerous the situation he was going to deal with later was.
"But as a practitioner of the shrine, shouldn't you stand up in this situation?"
"I'll go help, you and Inugami stay here and stay with Host Soraji."
Iori Miyaji took off the sword box on his back, handed it to the girl, and touched her head. "When Master Liansheng appears later, you have to personally deliver the Sword of Wisdom to him."
"..."
The girl didn't say anything, but just held the sword case in her hands.
"Wang Wang!"
"Well, I leave it to you."
Iori Miyaji understood the meaning of the dog myth, gave a few more instructions, and then followed Master Liaojie and others towards the mountain gate.
(End of this chapter)
