Under the sky

Chapter 291: Brightness in front of the Buddha

"The leader of the boat has agreed to borrow the passage," Juewen said, "but the leader of the boat has also made it clear that Wudang will not participate in the war."

After receiving the certificate, Mantou respectfully presented a booklet: "The food and grass are sufficient, and everything including mules, oxen, horses, and equipment is in the account."

The Jinmao Shijue said: "Henan has summoned a total of 7000 monks and soldiers, [-] civilians, and [-] medicine monks. They are all ready to go according to the abbot's instructions." He paused and asked, "When does the chief plan to send out troops?"

Juekong listened quietly and finally said, "I'm going to see the abbot."

He left Puxian Monastery. Nowadays, it is not difficult to distinguish between regular and lay monks. Most of the lay monks have begun to grow their hair. However, compared with many lay monks outside the temple who have returned to lay life, the lay monks in Shaolin Temple are much more restrained and still wear monk robes. Although it is inevitable to look at Dressed in a nondescript manner.There are also mature monks. Maybe they are older, maybe they have listened to the scriptures more, and they are in awe. Maybe this is the emperor's feet after all, and they dare not make any mistakes, so they still go around with their bald heads.

As for the lay monks and abbots of the four courtyards and eight halls, Juekong didn't raise his head or lower his head to see each other. Juekong didn't even grow his hair, and the others didn't dare to make a mistake. This made Juewen breathe a big sigh of relief.He originally devoted himself to Buddha, but he fell into the category of lay monks. If Juekong and others also grew their hair, he would become an alien with a bald head.

Juejian's several measures in the past two years have been widely controversial among monks, but have been well received among lay monks.First, brothels were opened widely, and then the family members of lay monks were allowed to visit relatives in the temple. In August, the rule that non-monks were not allowed to enter the temple was abolished. Almost all lay monks were happy for it, and many lay disciples who had not yet been ordained were also grateful.

Although most of the orthodox monks are hesitant about the entry of lay disciples into the church, many orthodox monks believe that from now on the secular and orthodox will be clear, which will eliminate the worries of lay monks destroying the Three Treasures.When Jue Guan proposed that lay monks change their names, it was to distinguish between the orthodox and the secular. Now that the rule that non-monks are not allowed to enter the church has been abolished, lay disciples and Buddhist disciples have gone their separate ways, and there is no need to worry about the respect between orthodox monks and monks.

For a time, Jue Jian's reputation grew. Some people thought that he was the best abbot in the 50 years since the Shaosong Controversy. Some even thought that Jue Jian might be the most courageous and capable leader in Shaolin since the Nine Families divided the world.

The main hall is full of Sanskrit chants, but there is an aura of tranquility and the scent of sandalwood is astounding.Jue Kong has been smelling this scent for too many years, from liking it at first to hating it later, but now it feels like living a day without smelling sandalwood.He looked up at the towering Buddha statue. The Tathagata was still looking down at all living beings with his kind brows lowered.

He came to wait outside Abbot Juejian's study. The disciples who served him had already announced the news, and someone came forward to greet him: "Please, sir."

Juejian was reviewing official documents. When he saw him arriving, he stood up to greet him and said, "Please take a seat, first of all."

Before Juekong could speak, Juekong said: "The poor monk heard that the monks and soldiers have enough food and fodder. News came from the Beggar Clan that leader Xu personally led the troops from Jiangxi to invade Hengshan and were heading to Changsha. The Beggar Clan and Dian Cang were on both sides. Attacked from a flank, Hengshan Mountain is in danger, and we must rush to help as soon as possible."

"I do not agree with rushing to Hengshan." Juejian's move completely disrupted Juekong's plan, and he had to remonstrate again.

"This issue has been discussed several times by the four councils." Juejian said, "The Kunlun Council is the cornerstone of the Nine Families. On that day, the first representative, Shaolin, elected Hengshan as the leader. Shaolin must support him. If there is any dissatisfaction, it must be discussed in the Kunlun Council. Ruling. If Hengshan is not saved, Head Li will be forced to abdicate, and the prestige of the Kunlun Council will be lost. Can the nine families still be at peace?"

Juekong said: "If Hengshan is unable to withstand the joint attack of the two families, Alliance Leader Li will eventually be constrained. That is not a Shaolin battlefield."

Juejian said, "If Chief Juekong wanted to stop it, he should have stopped it earlier. Now that the troops, horses, food, and supplies are all ready, there is only one order left to send out troops. Don't you think it's too late to say you can't send out troops now?"

"The [-] soldiers and horses should not go south, but should go north and east." Juekong finally revealed his plan, "First retake the Gu Cemetery, and then march into Songshan. This is what Shaolin should do."

He originally planned to take advantage of the chaos in the south to regain control of Gufendi and Shaolin in Shandong, and completely eradicate the Songshan sect.

Juejian was surprised and said: "Since the First House has this idea, why didn't it be mentioned during the discussion among the four houses?"

"It was not the right time at that time," Juekong said. "Now the war between Huashan and Qingcheng is raging. It is said that Huashan has crossed Bazhong. Once the troops are launched, it cannot be stopped. It is the right time to attack Solitary Cemetery. Then use Songshan Su Changning will definitely not accept the decision to depose the head of Songshan of the Su family on the grounds of arrogance and disobedience to Kunlun consensus. Shaolin can directly take Jinan, while Huashan is trapped in Qingcheng and can do nothing."

Juejian said: "The solitary grave site has always been controversial. To assist Hengshan, Head Li will definitely appreciate it. The solitary grave site can be decided upon discussion. As for Songshan, it is originally under the jurisdiction of Shaolin. Although Su Changning is not convinced, it is difficult to do anything. The first one, When soldiers march into Songshan, they are fighting against their own people."

Juekong said: "If the solitary cemetery can be decided upon through discussion, there is no need to delay it for 90 years. After the Shaosong dispute, Songshan was no longer under the control of Shaolin. This is a major event within Shaolin. As for Hengshan, Wudang and Tangmen can Just sit back and watch, even Shaolin can do it.”

Juejian sighed, stood up and walked to Juekong, saying: "Master Juekong, I know that more than fifty years ago, your father died in the Shaosong dispute. Although you are not a righteous monk, you must know how to put down these two words before you can get it." relief."

Juekong said, "Abbott, you think I advocate the invasion of Songshan Mountain for personal revenge?" He shook his head, "The fire in Mujiazhuang was set by Master Ziqiu, not Songshan Mountain."

"There are rules in the world. The rules of the nine families are based on the Kunlun consensus. Maintaining the prestige of the Kunlun consensus is the most important thing. If you want to take Gu Cemetery and regain Songshan Mountain, you must follow the rules." Juejian said.

"From the moment Dian Cang sent troops to invade Hengshan, the rules agreed upon by Kunlun were useless." Juekong said, "Shaolin can only gain a foothold in the world by striving for strength."

"So it is even more important to maintain the prestige of the Kunlun Council." Juejian said, "Didn't the more than thirty years of war after King Nu's death not teach us enough? If Dian Cang is really ambitious, Shaolin will not be afraid of him."

"It doesn't matter if we give way to Jiehua Mountain in the west, Songshan Mountain in the east, or Shaolin?" Juekong said, "Hengshan Mountain is thousands of miles away from Shaolin, and we still need to take a road. How to eliminate hidden dangers first, and then work hard to become stronger?"

"The dispute between the orthodox and the secular has made Shaolin weak. The poor monk has been exempted from the rule that non-monks are not allowed to enter the hall." Juejian's tone suddenly slowed down and he sighed, "The leader thinks that the poor monk has ulterior motives for all his actions?"

Juekong didn't shy away from it: "In the past two years, the abbot has become completely different. I don't know why."

Juejian closed his eyes and meditated, then stood up and said, "Please come with me, sir." After saying that, he left, followed closely by Juekong.The two walked around the back corridor and walked out of the Main Hall. This road led to the Metta Pagoda behind the Main Hall.

During the previous dynasty, Shaolin experienced wars and was burned down. It was rebuilt during 30 years of melee, and it took another 90 years to reach its current scale.The Ciguang Pagoda was built by Abbot Luther after a consensus. The tower is seven stories high. The lower five floors are dedicated to the tablets of the monks of the previous generations. They are arranged according to their meritorious status. The higher the level, the higher the status. The sixth floor is dedicated to the first of the four courtyards and the eight abbots. The first five floors of the ashes and relics of others only have memorial tablets, and the ashes are all buried in the back mountain. Only the last two floors contain urns.

Juejian led Juekong up the stairs to the top floor.The place is brightly lit, and in the center is a pure gold statue of Tathagata about one and a half feet high. In front of the statue are the urns of successive abbots.In the past 90 years, Shaolin has had eleven abbots, and eleven jars are enshrined here.

Ci Guang Pagoda is not a forbidden area, but in order not to disturb the ancestors' purity, no one enters except for cleaning and worshiping monks on weekdays.Every year on the birthday of the Buddha, the then abbot would come to pay homage together with the abbots of the eight halls of the first four courtyards.

Juekong saw Juesheng's ashes altar, and he knew it was empty because Abbot Juesheng had said during his lifetime that the ashes should be dumped into the back mountain after death to accompany the monks.Not only him, but also many of the monks who served as abbot had their last words buried in trees or dumped into rivers after death.

Juejian lit a stick of incense and prayed respectfully with his hands together. Juekong also lit a stick of incense and prayed. Neither of them knew what the other was praying for.After the prayers were completed and the incense was offered, Juejian pulled out two futons and asked Juekong to sit down face to face with him.

"There are eleven urns here. They are the places where the eleven abbots have worshiped since the Kunlun Conference." Juejian pointed to the surroundings, "Please look at the first one. How many urns can it hold if it is so big here?"

The top of the tower has a square area of ​​tens of feet. If the urns of past abbots were to be placed, thousands of them could be placed. I didn't calculate them, so I just said: "A lot."

"Can this place be full before Shaolin is destroyed?" Juejian asked again.

There is almost no doubt about this issue. Even if an abbot serves for ten years, and even if the Metta Tower does not collapse, Shaolin cannot have a ten thousand-year inheritance.

"Is the abbot fighting with me?" Juekong asked.

"Since the poor monk took over as abbot, he has been busy with government affairs and has neglected his spiritual practice. Every time he thinks about it, he feels sweaty and frightened." Juejian said, "More than a year ago, the poor monk was bothered by government affairs. He thought of senior brother Juesheng and came in at night. When I arrived at the Ciguang Pagoda, the poor monk had no other thoughts but wanted to find a quiet place to leave all the worries and troubles of the past years behind and meditate."

"The poor monk is already over sixty, and in a few years there will be the 12th jar on this pagoda." Juejian continued, "The poor monk thought that with the size of the Ciguang Pagoda, it would not be able to fill it even after ten thousand years. . There is life and death. What exists in the world, how can there be immortality? Can Shaolin be passed down for thousands of years?"

"But if the Ciguang Pagoda has existed for thousands of years, can there not be a lay monk abbot on this tower?" Juesheng asked himself and answered, "Impossible. Not to mention that now lay monks have occupied half of the eight halls of the four courtyards, and the struggle between the orthodox and the secular has reached its peak. In the end, no matter who disappears or who grows up, for hundreds of years or thousands of years, there will eventually be a lay monk in Shaolin Temple who will become the abbot. Shaolin will eventually change. After the dispute between the poor monk and Shaosong, the successive abbots fought for only a moment, not a lifetime."

"Instead of doing this, why not abolish the old rule that non-monks are not allowed to enter the church? Is this the reason why the abbot suddenly changed his style in the past two years?" Juekong said, "Abbot Juesheng was not unaware of this during his lifetime, but he still had no determination to reform. .”

"One thought will make it clear, and there will be no hindrance. But the poor monk is not so decisive. How can the poor monk be so virtuous and capable of what Abbot Juesheng cannot do." Juejian clasped his hands together and raised the abbot Juesheng in front of him, still in respect.

"The poor monk and the poor monk have worked together in Puxian Temple for many years, and there have been many disputes. However, reforming Shaolin can only be achieved if the poor monk and the poor monk work together. The poor monk has never discussed the next matter with anyone." Juejian said. , "It is related to the thousand-year foundation of Shaolin. The poor monk hopes that the first one can help the poor monk for the sake of the previous abbots."

"Abbott, please tell me, I have my own opinions." Even though Juejian was moved by his feelings, Juekong still didn't reveal the slightest bit of words.

Juejian said: "Not being able to enter the church for non-monks is only the first step. Even lay disciples will inevitably compete with the monks for positions and compete with each other after more than ten years. As long as there is a difference, there must be a difference. Allowing lay disciples to enter the church will only delay the dispute. , so the poor monk plans to expel all lay disciples from the Shaolin Temple."

It was no secret that the upright monks wanted to expel the lay monks, but Juekong didn't expect that Juejian would say such a high-sounding thing and ask for his own help?He was not in a hurry to refute, he was always reticent and waited for Juejian to explain. "The Shaolin Temple only needs the land in Zhengzhou. From then on, Zhengzhou was under the jurisdiction of the Shaolin Temple. The area was only governed by monks and employed lay people as staff. The Shaolin Temple could not control the four provinces, but it could still control Zhengzhou. Although Zhengzhou is small, every year the Buddha celebrates his birthday. , the incense money for worshiping Buddha is enough to support the expenses of Shaolin Temple. If there is any shortage, Shaolin can provide some subsidies."

It sounds like you want to separate Shaolin and Shaolin Temple?

"Outside of Zhengzhou, the rules and regulations need to be reset and how to manage them needs to be clearly defined. Shaolin's rules for managing sects through temples can also be changed. From now on, Shaolin is a sect, and Shaolin Temple will return the purity of a thousand-year-old temple to teach martial arts, scriptures, and Taoism. Practitioners practice. Shaolin Temple is the Buddhist capital of the Nine Families, and Shaolin is still a sect of one of the Nine Families. Buddhas return to Buddhas, and seculars return to secularity. They only need to support each other, and there is no need to fight."

Even though Juekong was calm and mature, his emotions and anger were inexpressible, and his brows were not raised, his inner lake, which was as sinking as an ancient well, actually started to stir.

"What the abbot means is to completely separate Shaolin from Shaolin Temple?"

Juejian nodded: "This is exactly what I mean. From now on, the monks of Shaolin Temple will no longer be involved in secular affairs and concentrate on worshiping the Buddha. Shaolin is the barrier to protect the Shaolin Temple. The abbot of Shaolin only takes care of a county and protects the monks all over the world to practice without any worries. .”

The common people return to the common people, and the Buddha returns to the Buddha.Juejian is right. Even if lay disciples are allowed to enter the church, they will still compete with monks for positions in the future, and party struggles are still inevitable. However, the plan he proposed can indeed solve the dispute between the orthodox and the secular once and for all.After that, practitioners entered the temple to practice, and lay disciples managed the four provinces while protecting the Shaolin Temple. If this happens, Juejian will be the No. 1 reformer of Shaolin.

Juekong said, "Would Juekuan be willing?"

"The leader of Juekuan is old and it's time to abdicate. The poor monk will have a good discussion with him." Juejian said, "But the restructuring of Shaolin is not a trivial matter and requires the help of lay disciples. There will be entangled interests and confusion among people. The leader of Juekong, you Can the successors control the lay monks as well as you do? If the leader is not there, the poor monks will be powerless, and it will be difficult for the lay people to have such trust in the future."

Juejian put his hands on the ground and made a big salute: "The poor monk hopes that you, the leader, can help me to completely reform Shaolin, so that the orthodox and the secular people can work together to help Shaolin and promote our Buddhism." After a pause, he said again, "The poor monk has made up his mind. Waiting for the leader’s help.”

Juekong stared at Juejian. The two had been at odds for many years. Juejian had never been hypocritical to him and never bowed his head. But now he was willing to bow his head to reform Shaolin.He pondered for a long time and said: "If the abbot really cares about Shaolin, I will give my full assistance."

Juejian put his hands together and said, "Amitabha, everything this poor monk does is for the sake of the world and Shaolin."

Juekong also clasped his hands together: "I have no other words to say. I only obey the abbot's decree."

Returning to Puxian Yuan, Juekong finally gave the order: "Instruct Juezhu to lead eight thousand light cavalry to Changsha for reinforcements first, and the remaining 1 monk soldiers will advance slowly."

■

In this reform that has not happened in Shaolin for thousands of years, the person in the most embarrassing situation is the abbot of the Righteousness Hall, Suo Wen.

I feel embarrassed all my life.

Shaolin believes in Buddhism, and his family is wealthy. He is a branch of Zhenyuemen, a large sect in Hebei Province. He is also an only son and has been protected since childhood.He was interested in Buddhism when he was young, and wanted to become a monk before he was fifteen. His parents were shocked when they heard about it. It is one thing to believe in Buddhism, but it is another thing for his son to become a monk.

However, I heard that my determination was very strong and I only wanted to see the ancient Buddha of the Green Lantern.In the fifteenth year of his life, his parents couldn't resist their son and sent him to the local Kuxin Temple to be tonsured. However, they kept a close eye on this matter and deliberately allowed him to become a lay monk and abbot. If he changed his mind one day, he would immediately become a monk. Can marry a wife and have children.

This is how Jaw Hen became a lay monk.Among the brothers who were eating, drinking, whoring and gambling, he was the only one who diligently observed the precepts, practiced martial arts and chanted sutras, which seemed very embarrassing.Embarrassing is embarrassing. The Buddha said that cultivation is an individual matter. You can practice in a small local temple, as long as you don't hinder each other.However, he was efficient and good-looking, and was often sent to public affairs by his master. He also shared many government affairs in the temple with other monks, from pouring lamp oil to managing the accounting room. Although he had no interest in worldly affairs, he gradually rose through the ranks. The righteous monks said that he was very diligent Yingying, the lay monks thought he was boring, so this was embarrassing again.

Not only was this embarrassing, he was young at that time and a member of a powerful sect. Countless matchmakers tried to find a match for him, but he could only decline them one by one. At first he was said to have a higher eye than his head, but a few years later it was said that he was a wealthy man. The habit of Longyang is to make fun among the monks.

His excuses were useless, no one believed that a lay monk could clean himself up, so he had no choice but to ask to be transferred away from his hometown.When a new official takes office, he will inevitably have to deal with the wind and dust. A table of meat dishes and good wine can only be rejected in embarrassment. When asked about his wife and children, he said that he is dedicated to Buddhism.The other party would often burst into laughter, thinking he was making fun of the orthodox monk. When they found out that he was indeed a pious practitioner, he was transferred to another post with a transfer order. After several decades, he actually entered the church and became the abbot of the Righteousness Hall. In the past, those fellow apprentices who had been working hard but could not get promoted all asked him with beards and stares: "If you don't say you are concentrating on practice, why are your positions getting higher and higher?" He could only smile in embarrassment.

Is this what Lao Tzu said, "Do not fight but fight for the sake of greatness"?

He did things with the intention of cultivating, but his position became higher and higher. He originally thought that even if he died as a lay monk, he would still be a monk after all, and he would be worthy of the Buddha. Unexpectedly, when he was old, he saw the abbot giving an order: Lay monks returned to secular life one after another.

It's okay for now. All the four courtyards and eight halls are still monks. If Juekong, the leader of the group, also grows his hair, then he will be the only monk among the lay disciples. Wouldn't it be embarrassing again?

Seeing that the twelfth lunar month was approaching and the Chinese New Year would be coming soon, Juewen got up early that day and was in a good mood. As soon as he stepped into the Righteous Thought Hall, a disciple immediately came to report: "Master Jue Guan, please go to Guanyin Yuan."

That nest knife?The good mood I felt early in the morning suddenly disappeared.I don’t know what method Jue Guan is thinking of to make things difficult for his own people. Is there something unclear about the document he submitted yesterday that he wants to exploit?

After all, he was his boss, so even if he had no choice, he had no choice but to go and see him.

Unexpectedly, Woli Dao prepared tea and fruit snacks and waited for him to come. After a few words of greeting, Woli Dao changed the subject and asked a question.

"Abbot Juewen, you have been ordained for more than [-] years. Can you tell me, are you a regular monk or a lay monk?"

Jue Wen was stunned and said: "Why do we need to distinguish between the secular and the secular when doing things for Shaolin? Besides, there are no lay monks now, they are all lay disciples."

"Then do you want to return to secular life or continue to be a monk?" Woli Dao asked again.

Isn't this another trap?Jue Wen felt worried and said: "A poor monk will not return to the world."

Wo Li Dao nodded: "I used to make things difficult for you. There is no need to mention the past. You are devoted to Buddhism. You should know how to let go so that you will not be attached."

I only said that I was the first person to be kind and sincere, but I didn't think I was persistent.

Wo Li Dao continued: "I am over seventy this year. Old Beggar Peng retired at 65. I am too old now, so I will not talk to you about it, so I will tell you the truth. The abbot wants me to retire, and he wants to promote you as a The first one of Guanyin Temple."

Kyawen was surprised: "How come it's so sudden?"

"The abbot is planning big things. I don't know what he is planning, but obviously the abbot thinks I am in the way." Woli Dao sighed, "The abbot will issue a decree after the year, and I will not hinder him if I retire and return to my hometown. It's just that I want you Think about it, is Shaolin more important or Buddha more important? Are you a righteous monk or a lay disciple at heart?"

This question has not only been asked by Awakening, but also asked by Awakening himself hundreds of times.He devoted himself to the Buddha, but the righteous monks could not see his face. Many lay monks had close friendship with him. It was impossible for him to be as distinct from the lay monks as other righteous monks.

"Buddha is in the heart, and there is no distinction between the secular and the secular. In the past, the old monk was obsessed with it, but now that it is over, he can think more clearly." Wo Li Dao sighed, "I know you are afraid of Chuekong, but in the days to come, I hope you will be more Please help the abbot. I understand that the dispute between the orthodox and the secular is only temporary, while the Buddha is permanent. The crime of destroying the Buddha will be forever. I hope you will think twice."

Juewen quickly stood up and said respectfully, "Disciple, I don't dare."

Jue Dian nodded and said no more.

■

At night, I found that the abbot had not gone to bed.At midnight, he came to the Ciguang Pagoda again. The tower was as bright as day.

He walked all the way to the top of the tower, where a young man with tied hair was waiting for him. When he saw him, he stood up quickly, put his hands together and saluted.

"This disciple has met the abbot for unknown reasons."

Juejian nodded: "Let's reconsider the plan."

Ming unknown respectfully said: "Yes."

(End of this chapter)