Chapter 233: Holding the Buddhist girl hostage to control Buddhism?
From curiosity to doubt and then to questioning.
This is how most Buddhist practitioners today view Guru Padmasambhava.
Many people in the Buddhist community suspect that Master Liansheng has a shady background.
Otherwise, how could a 16-year-old person have the cultivation level comparable to that of a century-old monk?
They even secretly suspected that Master Liansheng might be one of the incarnations of the Seven Evil Lords.
This can also explain why the seven sinners who were imprisoned in Kiyomizu Temple disappeared without a trace after the battle of Kyoto.
As for the death of Master Liaojie and the handing over of the responsibility of guarding the seven evil lords to Master Liansheng, that is easier to explain.
Because Master Liaojie was unable to convert the seven evil masters, he was instead influenced and corrupted by them.
Therefore, after handing over the duty of guarding to Master Liansheng, he had lost his usefulness and naturally had to die.
Kiyomizu Temple, perhaps they were deceived, or perhaps they were also polluted and corrupted.
There are all kinds of questioning opinions within Buddhism.
Although people often say that the clear will be clear and the turbid will be turbid.
But this is like a river. When sewage is injected into it, although it will gradually return to its original clarity over time, it is inevitable that it will be turbid for a period of time.
Master Padmasambhava, this is the case right now.
Those who seek clean water will naturally be attacked by muddy currents and splashed with dirty water.
As monks of the Shingon sect who were all from the lineage of Master Kukai, they naturally stood on the side of Master Padmasambhava, so he had reached a simple consensus with the other abbots.
That is, do not interfere with Master Padmasambhava's path of practice. In another 10 years, with Master Padmasambhava's talent and qualifications, he might become the founder of the Shingon sect.
At that time, the Shingon sect will naturally be able to suppress the Pure Land sect, the Nichiren sect, the Tentai sect and other sects.
Now that the Buddha's daughter has appeared in the world, their original plan has been disrupted.
"Master, we can't hesitate any longer. If we don't go, other temples will also contact Master Liansheng."
"We are from the same lineage as Master Liansheng, Master Kukai, and we are neighbors not far away. We should always go and say hello."
"We must also remind Master Liansheng to be careful of those people in the Buddhist community who have ulterior motives."
Faced with such unanimous voices, the hiking host could only nod in agreement.
"Let's go visit Master Liansheng tonight."
At 9 o'clock in the evening, the abbot of the hiking tour led two monks to visit Weilian Ancient Temple.
When they arrived, Pinggong Chiye was reviewing his lessons at home.
After receiving Ruyi's news, he changed into a monk's robe and went to Weilian Ancient Temple.
Ruyi left the person in the side hall instead of taking him to the monks' quarters at the back.
"Namo the Great Compassionate Vairocana Buddha."
The abbot of the mountain performed the ritual and chanted the Buddha's name, and Pinggong Qianye also returned the ritual.
"I have met Master Liansheng while hiking. This should be the first time we have met in a temple."
The abbot smiled and said, "Adachi District, Sojiji Temple, and your temple are both from the same lineage of Master Kukai of the Shingon sect."
"This humble monk Liansheng greets the abbot of Xingshan."
Heimiya Chiya naturally knew about the Soji-ji Temple located in Adachi Ward. Adachi Ward is very close to Arakawa Ward. Both are Soji-ji Temples of the Shingon sect’s Master Kukai’s lineage, and the mountain is called “Gochizan Henjo-in”.
The main deity enshrined in the temple is the statue of Master Kukai. There are many buildings in the temple and it is visited by many tourists. It is far from being comparable to a small temple like Weilian Ancient Temple.
This hiking monk is the abbot of Zongchi Temple.
Although Weilian Ancient Temple and Zongchi Temple are not far away, there is almost no communication between the two temples.
There is an unspoken gap between family temples and these formal monastic temples.
In Buddhism, there are generally two factions when it comes to family temples.
The radicals believe that family temples should be banned and should not be passed down any further, lest people misinterpret the true meaning of Buddhism and go astray.
The moderates believed that the radicals’ ideas were too moderate and that family temples that were severely secularized should be uprooted and destroyed.
There is no way around this. In a formal Buddhist temple, the monks eat vegetarian food, chant Buddha's name, and keep their minds pure and observe the precepts.
Family temples implemented the "meat-eating wife system", which allowed people to not only break the precepts and eat meat, but also marry and have children and indulge their desires.
Such temples can actually be called monks just like me. I even have to face the doubts of the world because of their existence.
Buddhist disciples are only practicing Buddhism, not really becoming Buddhas.
It is normal to have doubts and hatred towards family temples because of this.
"I am here for the Buddha's daughter's business."
After a brief greeting, the host of the hike directly explained the purpose of his visit.
"Buddhist girl, you naturally belong to our temple." Pinggong Qianye tried to announce this matter in a gentle tone.
This was a Buddhist girl created by him personally, and he would never allow anyone to harm her.
"What I want to talk about is not the issue of the Buddhist girl's belonging."
Abbot Xingshan smiled and said, "The appearance of the Buddha Girl has a great impact on the entire Buddhist community. If the real Buddha or Bodhisattva does not appear, she can definitely become the symbol of the entire Buddhist community."
"Symbol?"
"Yes, a symbol." The abbot nodded and continued, "Now demons and monsters are rampant everywhere, and there are many sects within Buddhism, which are hostile to each other and are caught in internal friction."
Pinggong Qianye had some understanding of what the host of Xingshan meant, but he did not speak out. Instead, he wanted to see what the host of Xingshan had to say.
"If we can govern the major Buddhist sects in the name of the Buddha Girl and clench our five scattered fingers into a fist, I believe we can eliminate all the demons and monsters in the world and bring peace and happiness to the people of the world."
Seeing that Pinggong Qianye had no objection, Master Xingshan said: "The Shingon sect should be the leader of all Buddhist sects. We are willing to follow Master Liansheng and revitalize Buddhism together."
Does this mean that he wants to use the Buddhist girl to control Buddhism?
His ambition is indeed very ambitious.
It's just that you've chosen the wrong person.
The Buddhist girl you are talking about is actually half of Qingxingdeng's body. Once this is known by someone with ulterior motives, it will easily lead to disputes.
Judging from Qing Xingdeng's personality, he would never obey orders obediently.
If Qingxingdeng were really allowed to rule Buddhism in the name of a Buddhist woman, she would inevitably become the biggest source of unrest in Buddhism.
Pinggong Qianye felt a headache when he thought of Qing Xingdeng, as a Buddhist woman, commanding the Buddhist community.
"As a Buddhist woman, I still need to practice and cannot take on such a big responsibility." Pinggong Qianye politely refused.
"We are not in a rush. We can wait for 10 or 20 years."
"So, Master Xingshan came here to ask for my thoughts?"
The hiking host silently agreed with this statement.
"If you can really wait, I will definitely give you a result in 10 years."
Hiramiya Chiye delayed the time to 10 years later. After another 10 years, it is estimated that the situation will be completely different.
The abbot of Xingshan showed a look of joy, which meant that a simple consensus had been reached between Zongzhi Temple and Master Liansheng.
Even though it takes 10 years, for a Buddhist sect that has been passed down for hundreds or even thousands of years, a mere 10 years is really a short time.
"Master Liansheng, can I go and see the Buddha girl?"
"It's not convenient. The Buddhist girl is currently in deep sleep and I don't know when she will wake up."
"In that case, we will not bother Master Liansheng any more."
Abbot Xingshan stood up and was about to say goodbye and leave. Before leaving, he told Pinggong Qianye to be careful of possible troubles from other Buddhist sects in the future.
Those people would not be willing to leave the Buddhist girl in Weilian Ancient Temple. Conflict is foreseeable.
Pinggong Qianye thanked the host for his kindness and watched them leave in the night.
"Pinggong, are you really planning to use the Buddhist girl to control the Buddhist sect?"
Akechi Mitsuhide came over curiously. He was also familiar with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and was not unfamiliar with the story of using the emperor to control the princes.
After listening for a while, he understood the purpose of the hiking host's visit.
"Do you think this will be a good thing?" Hiramiya Chiye threw the question to Akechi Mitsuhide, Ruyi and others for them to think about.
Finally, they all agreed that this was by no means a good thing, but rather the source of trouble for Buddhism.
Throughout history, it is not uncommon for major religions to use the name of God to eliminate dissidents.
Buddha appears today, and disaster begins today.
(End of this chapter)
