Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2442: 216: Tianyin (Part 3)
“Amitabha, everyone, please calm down.”
The words of Buddha Tianyin caused the temple's monks to halt their actions and direct their attention toward him.
True Man Gai furrowed his brow lightly and expressed his displeasure:
“True Man Taiyi seeks to avert the catastrophe brought by the Supreme True Buddha, so he was compelled to cultivate this Dharma. As the ancient wisdom states, understand both your foe and yourself to emerge victorious in every encounter. What's the harm in that? It far surpasses the approach of you all, who stay confined here daily, ignoring the world's troubles.”
Clearly, True Man Gai harbored considerable grudge against these monks.
Nevertheless, Buddha Tianyin offered a serene smile and proceeded to send the monks away.
Within the temple's grand hall, just three individuals lingered, joined by Yan Poluo, who uttered with a faint sigh:
“True Man Gai, Layman Taiyi, I hope you won't feel offended. In this small thousand world, the dominant path is that of Small Mahayana, leading most of us to prioritize our personal enlightenment. Without the Supreme True Buddha's threat right at our threshold, they probably wouldn't agree to join me in setting up a formation against the foe.”
Upon catching these words, Wang Ba appeared lost in contemplation.
He knew that Buddhism distinguishes Small Mahayana from Mahayana; the first stresses individual salvation, whereas the second aims to ease the suffering of all sentient beings. One might call the former self-focused, the latter devoted to others' welfare.
From Buddha Tianyin's account, the monks' detachment from worldly concerns and their rare involvement in external matters stem from their Cultivation adhering to Small Mahayana, centered entirely on self-enlightenment.
A touch of confusion crossed Wang Ba's face as he inquired:
“Earlier, the High Monks declared the Supreme True Buddha's Dharma as a deviation, yet I'm curious about the specific oddity in the Supreme True Buddha's Dharma. In my own Cultivation, I've detected no anomalies, so out of genuine interest, I seek guidance from the Buddha Lord.”
Buddha Tianyin listened and smiled, responding with his own query:
“What practices have you followed?”
Wang Ba held nothing back and answered right away: “The Great Bliss Sutra, Liberation of Wisdom Sea Sutra, and Prajna Dharma Sutra, to name a few.”
Buddha Tianyin gave a nod after hearing this and remarked:
“These indeed represent true Buddhism, aligning with the traditions of the Middle Thousand World and Great Thousand World, posing no problems. Yet, the doctrines upheld by this sect diverge sharply from those in the Eastern Luli Buddha Realm.”
Curiosity got the better of Wang Ba, prompting him to ask:
“How do they differ?”
Buddha Tianyin articulated each syllable distinctly:
“The Supreme True Buddha follows the Mahayana Buddhism path.”
Wang Ba paused in surprise for a moment:
“Mahayana Buddhism? But the Supreme True Buddha's monks carry the three poisons within, acting with cold ruthlessness like Demon Cultivators—how can that embody Mahayana Buddhism?”
Buddha Tianyin gave a subtle nod, followed by a gentle shake of his head:
“It appears the Layman possesses deep insight into Buddhist principles, though scriptures may ring true in theory, their practice can veer astray.”
“The Mahayana way in Buddhism promotes salvation for all; only through vast calamities and ordeals do immense merits arise, leading to profound release. Without such trials, how could anyone attain Buddhahood?”
“On the other hand, Small Mahayana Buddhism might seem self-centered and narrow, but its practitioners concentrate on pure conduct, personal freedom, and reaching joy—thus, despite its unpolished appearance, it offers a reliable route; even if not every soul becomes a Buddha, it proves the authentic means for beings to save themselves.”
“Those pursuits of universal salvation, when driven by fixation, cease to be pure intentions and become rigid obsessions. As fixation takes hold, one's view constricts, making true universal embrace impossible.”
“Hence, in our Cultivation, we prefer to close ourselves off from the world rather than draw in countless woes for personal advantage.”
“Evidently, the Supreme True Buddha pursues a different course.”
A sudden clarity dawned on Wang Ba.
His earlier speculations matched the speaker's insights remarkably well.
Still, back then, his grasp of Buddhism in the Third Realm Sea lacked depth. Now, Buddha Tianyin's elucidation brought everything sharply into focus, evoking a line from an ancient Buddhist sage:
“The body is a Bodhi Tree, the mind as clear as a mirror stand. Always strive to cleanse it, never let dust settle.”
Regarding abrupt awakening, this verse is far simpler than those of lofty High Monks, yet it captures the exact route for common folk to find freedom.
The Small Mahayana Buddhism embraced by the Eastern Luli Buddha Realm's monks echoes a core truth akin to Mahayana Buddhism.
“So, you're implying the Supreme True Buddha's doctrines hold no inherent fault, but someone has deliberately twisted them at their foundation?”
Wang Ba found himself compelled to voice.
“The young friend grasps matters swiftly.”
Buddha Tianyin nodded approvingly.
However, Wang Ba's expression remained serious; after a moment's reflection, he gravely and carefully asked:
“This person—is it Tibo, by any chance?”
The mention of this name at last stirred a faint disturbance on Buddha Tianyin's serene features:
“Young friend… you truly know of this figure?”