Chapter 215

215. Chapter 213 Zhi Dun enters the temple, attains Buddhahood on the spot

Because they had been investigating and gathering evidence everywhere these days, nobody really paid attention to the online news.

Xu Tiancheng and the others, looking at those online comments, only then learned the full story: 'Good grief, earlier there were omens all over the place, and now there are strange happenings at the imperial mausoleum—could it be that Qin Shi Huang really intends to resurrect?'

Although this was just a joking remark by ordinary people outside, the 749 Bureau, having encountered so many strange things, sensed something different about it.

Wang Xuehao wore a thoughtful expression, 'I always feel that something is off.'

Yao Ruotong also nodded, 'I also think these things are really too strange, and the timing is somewhat coincidental—all of them have happened recently.'

Everyone's expression grew somewhat solemn; in recent years they have encountered far too many strange phenomena, and the frequency of occurrence has been continually increasing.

Although the outside crowd was just joking, the 749 Bureau's heavy responsibility made them feel ever more strongly that some great secret might be hidden behind the scenes; although it cannot yet be revealed, they seem to be getting ever closer to the truth.

……

Ye Qin was completely unaware, for the First Emperor's taking up residence at the Upper Purity Temple had caused all sorts of omens to appear at the imperial mausoleum, thereby stirring up a great commotion online.

At this moment he had already set out from Mount Tai, heading south all the way, and arrived at the wild temple where he had once encountered Zhi Dun.

Now the wild temple is even more desolate and dilapidated, with broken walls and ruins everywhere, hardly any intact spot to be found.

Ye Qin surveyed the surroundings, his expression somewhat nostalgic; an ancient simplicity permeated the wild temple, lending it an extraordinary air.

Nascent Soul, exiting the aperture.

……

The years turn, the seasons change.

In the ancient temple, Zhi Dun had grown old and frail; in his hand he held not a rosary or wooden fish, but a bronze ancient sword, sitting cross-legged on a futon.

His back, once straight as a green pine, had long since become stooped; his temples were completely white, all traces of wind and frost, his face etched with deep grooves showing the mercilessness of time—only his eyes remained bright as ever.

The disciples beside him had slightly reddened eye sockets, their voices choking as they said, 'Master—'

Zhi Dun shook his head, turning the beads in his hand, his expression neither sad nor joyful: 'Plants flourish and wither in their own time; all things take their ease and obtain what they deserve; flowers bloom and fall, the seasons turn—this is perfectly normal, so why should anyone grieve for me?'

Although he said that, everyone's expression revealed reluctance.

Zhi Dun struggled to rise from the futon; the nearby disciple, seeing this, quickly reached out to help, but Zhi Dun refused, saying, 'I have not yet reached the point where I cannot walk.'

He walked with unsteady steps to the courtyard, where a towering ancient tree had grown a green canopy, shedding a cool shade upon the ground; a breeze blew, and the leaves rustled incessantly.

This ancient tree has considerable history, having existed here even before the temple was built; the rings on its trunk are too numerous to count, and Zhi Dun's favorite thing was to sit in meditation beneath it, quietly gazing at the sea of clouds and listening to the wind.

'Gather all the disciples; I will recite sutras and expound the Dharma.'

Upon hearing this, the disciples beside him showed worried expressions, 'But Master, your health—'

Zhi Dun waved his hand, his gaze firm: 'I know my own condition; there's no need to worry.'

He sat upright at the center of the ancient tree, straightening his stooped frame, appearing exceptionally vigorous, as if renewed with vitality; yet the surrounding disciples wore sorrowful faces, knowing this was Zhi Dun's final flicker of life.

Perhaps this was Zhi Dun's last lecture on the sutras; everyone treasured it especially, listening with utmost care, fearing to miss even half a sentence.

'Guanyin, when practicing the profound Prajnaparamita, perceives that the five aggregates are all empty, relieving all suffering. Shariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form; the same holds for feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness.'

But after only a brief moment, Zhi Dun began to lose strength, a fit of coughing burst from his throat, causing the disciples to worry greatly.

A leaf slowly fell onto Zhi Dun's shoulder; he reached out and picked it up, compared to the fresh green leaves on the branches, this fallen leaf was dark in color, obviously aged.

Zhi Dun placed the leaf on the ground and softly uttered a Buddhist invocation.

'Amitabha, this person is like a fallen leaf—when the time comes, the leaf drifts down to make room for new growth, and a person also reaches the moment to depart; this is the way of samsara.'

The disciples' eyes filled with sorrow as they looked upon Zhi Dun, reluctant to let go.

Compared to their grief, Zhi Dun's expression was calm, possessing a broad-mindedness that had seen through life and death: 'Where there is life, there must be death; otherwise the heavenly way would lose balance, the seasons would fall into disorder, and the human realm would descend into chaos—every person must undergo this process.'

The disciples gazed at him with reverence, saying, 'Master, your realm is profound; we cannot comprehend it.'

Zhi Dun showed a wistful expression, as if recalling something: 'What claim do I have to a profound realm? If we truly speak of realms, that one is far above me—alas, in this life I fear I will never meet them again.'

The disciple beside him showed a curious look, 'The person you spoke of—wasn't that the one who gave you the ancient sword some years ago?'

Zhi Dun never revealed Ye Qin's identity; if he said the sword was given by a snake, the disciples would not believe him, so he remained silent, and everyone simply assumed it was a person.

As for this person's origin, it is a mystery, and their background is especially enigmatic; although they had heard Zhi Dun mention it before, they did not speak of it much.

Zhi Dun nodded, 'In my life I have only one regret: not being able to meet this person again to discuss Buddhist and Daoist matters; if we could meet again, that would be death without regret.'

The other disciples, though willing to help, knew nothing about this 'person', let alone how to assist Zhi Dun in finding them.

'Master, why don't you tell us? Perhaps we could help you find them.'

Zhi Dun shook his head, 'You won't be able to find them.'

He pondered for a moment, 'Please step back; let me stay here quietly for a while.'

The disciples withdrew one by one; beneath the towering ancient tree only Zhi Dun and his ancient sword remained, leaves falling softly, just like his life swiftly ebbing away.

Zhi Dun gazed at the drifting white clouds, his hand stroking the ancient sword as if, through the blade, he sought that mysterious green shadow; the sword was meticulously maintained, clearly tended with care by Zhi Dun.

Just as Zhi Dun was recalling the past, the sword suddenly began to vibrate and emitted a clear, ringing sound.

'Clang!'

An ancient simplicity welled up before him; the bronze sword seemed to sense something, its trembling grew more frequent, and finally it slipped from his hand, racing off toward the southeast as if it had acquired a life of its own.

Zhi Dun widened his eyes in disbelief at the sight before him—he had never seen an ancient sword behave so strangely; in the past several decades it had been just an ordinary sword.

In the next second, amidst flashing green light, the silhouette of an ancient Daoist temple appeared in midair—red walls, green tiles, curling incense, as if wreathed in auspicious clouds and drifting purple vapor, exquisitely crafted, leaving one feeling utterly miraculous.

The faint scales appeared before his eyes, exactly as they had been when first seen, never having undergone any change.

He finally understood why the ancient sword kept humming and vibrating—the sword was sentient and sensed the return of an old friend.

Zhidun was filled with myriad emotions, palms together he bowed to Ye Qin, saying, "Long time no see, please accept this monk's bow."

It seems heaven heard his inner voice, for it allowed him, on his deathbed, to see Ye Qin.

The enlightened monk revered by the world, before Ye Qin, merely called himself a humble monk.

Recalling the scene of those lofty discussions years ago, the profound Buddhist teachings were vivid in his mind; Ye Qin's words gave Zhidun much inspiration, drawing the essence of other doctrines to enrich his own Buddhist theory.

If it weren't for Ye Qin, Zhidun could never have reached this point today, nor could he have produced famous treatises such as the 'Ji Se You Xuan Lun' and other viewpoints, becoming a monk revered by all.

"Back then, I was deeply inspired by Your Excellency, which let this little monk understand the true essence of Mahayana Buddhism; I never expected that after being apart for several years, I would have the fortune to see Your Excellency again."

"Ye Qin scrutinized Zhi Dun, asking, 'Master, do you know why I have come today?'"

"Zhi Dun shook his head, saying, 'This little monk does not know.'"

"Compared to the Daoist pursuit of longevity, Buddhism does not emphasize these; rather than saying it is death, it is better to say it is nirvana."

"The Buddha's death, having taken in the transformation of the deluded realm and entered the enlightened realm, having perfected all virtues and extinguished all evils, is thus called nirvana; later generations came to refer to the death of monastics as such, taking this as the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice; it is said that some eminent monks, after nirvana, still produce relics."

"From this we can see they do not pursue the flesh, but seek a higher level of the spiritual realm; Ye Qin also is not sure whether Zhi Dun is willing to enjoy this alternative longevity."

"'Master, your Buddhist Dharma is exquisite, and the Mysterious is used for Buddhism, uniting the two traditions of Buddha and Dao; I wonder if you would like to see how later Buddhist studies develop?'"

"Zhi Dun's gaze stared blankly; after a moment he understood the meaning of Ye Qin's words, his breathing slightly hurried."

"As for this place, Zhi Dun has no lingering attachment; originally he had prepared himself to face death calmly, and in Mahayana Buddhism death does not mean an end."

"But Ye Qin's words also opened another train of thought for him: if he could witness a new vast world, how should he proceed?"

"'This little monk's greatest wish is to learn the supreme Buddhist Dharma, so that people may escape the sea of suffering; if I could glimpse the later development of Buddhist studies to enrich myself, that would indeed be a great good.'"

"'I wish to follow at Your Excellency's side!'"

"Auspicious clouds surged, mist roiled, the Daoist temple in midair emitted a brilliant divine radiance, even the surrounding clouds were tinged with a pale gold, extending downward toward Zhi Dun, as if heaven were moved by his words and lowered a ladder to ascend."

"Zhi Dun made a reverent bow; a hazy white mist enveloped his body, he felt his body lighten, his whole person seemed to float up; looking back, beneath the great tree stood a figure identical in appearance to him, motionless."

"In the Shangqing Temple, incense curled gently; entering the main hall, one saw behind Zuoci another monk added, sitting cross-legged with palms together, though his eyes were tightly shut, his expression was one of compassion for the world, a faint golden light circulated, making his countenance look solemn and striking."

"The disciples inside the temple were unaware of the strange occurrence in the courtyard; when they went out to look."

"A gentle breeze blew, white clouds drifted lazily; beneath the towering ancient tree, Zhi Dun's eyes half-closed as if asleep; at that moment, a faint shadow flew out from within his body and vanished into midair."

"Everyone's gaze followed, and they discovered that there actually stood an ancient Daoist temple in midair; the temple was antiquated and fragrant, standing on the clouds like the celestial palace of the ninth heaven, giving a sense of ethereal mystery."

"At this moment, as Zhi Dun's illusory form rose higher, a distant Buddhist chant sounded; amidst flashing golden light, a great Buddha appeared behind the Daoist temple, standing tall between heaven and earth, as if the Buddha himself had descended."

"'Amitabha!'"

"With a Buddhist sound, the giant Buddha pressed his palms together, then spread them, personally dragging Zhi Dun's illusory form into the Daoist temple."

"The disciples gaped, unable to believe what they saw, thinking they were hallucinating; they couldn't help rubbing their eyes, asking, 'What is the cause of this?'"

"First, not mentioning how a Daoist shadow suddenly sprang from Zhi Dun's body just now, and what is the situation with that Daoist temple hovering in midair?"

"'Cry—'"

"Suddenly, a clear crane cry rang out from the air, like the resonant sound of jade stones striking in the mountains, making hearts tremble and recalling the disciples' thoughts."

"Only several white cranes were seen circling above, carrying countless purple vapors, encircling the Daoist temple; under the sunlight, each feather shone with brilliant light, they kept calling, and in their animal pupils flickered a reluctant light."

"Immortal cranes encircled, the purple vapors surged mightily; all the disciples looking at this scene were for a moment unable to come to their senses."

"'How could there be so many white cranes.'"

"'The white cranes look somewhat familiar.'"

"'Aren't these the ones the master once raised and then released?'"

"'I still remember that one of them had an injured leg with a scar, and another had a broken wing; when it flew, it was somewhat unbalanced.'"

"Everyone carefully observed; each feature matched the white cranes overhead exactly—these were precisely the ones Zhi Dun had formerly raised."

"The disciples were puzzled, not knowing why the released immortal cranes suddenly returned and lingered in the sky for a long time without dispersing."

"Everyone hurried to check Zhi Dun's condition; he had no breath, yet his demeanor was peaceful, even the corners of his mouth bore a faint smile, clearly he had departed calmly."

"'The master has entered nirvana!'"

"All the disciples showed sorrowful expressions, bursting into restrained sobs; those white cranes also let out a few mournful cries before heading westward."

"The Daoist temple in midair faded like an ink painting, as if an invisible pair of great hands wiped away its traces; after a moment it had already returned to calm."

"Yet the people remained unable to recover their senses for a long time."

"A disciple could not help muttering to himself, 'Was the white silhouette we just saw the master's soul, and those white cranes came to receive him?'"

"Everyone personally witnessed that the white shadow flew out from within Zhi Dun's body; such a phenomenon simply cannot be explained by ordinary reason, and there are those white cranes that suddenly flew back and now hover in midair."

"'It must be so; the master's Daoist arts are profound, and at the brink of death he penetrated Mahayana Buddhism, thus being led away by the Buddha.'"

"'The master previously told us, the four seasons cycle, heavenly principle is constant, life and death are inherently one.'"

"'Surely the master is indeed an enlightened high monk; for him, death is not a bond of the flesh but rather another kind of liberation.'"

"'The master has already become a Buddha standing on the earth.'"

"This view was acclaimed by the many disciples, and it somewhat eased the sorrow over Zhi Dun's passing."

"The various miraculous events that occurred before Zhi Dun's nirvana also spread to the outside world; others were half-believing, half-doubting, because they had not personally witnessed such wonders."

"'What immortal Dao in the void, and those white cranes coming to receive him—I think it's simply a fabrication by Zhi Dun's disciples seeking fame and profit.'"

"'A true eminent monk's nirvana should leave behind relics, shouldn't it?'"

"'That is mistaken; Master Zhi Dun's Buddhist Dharma is profound, naturally it cannot be explained by ordinary reason; we should always maintain a reverent heart.'"

"Some also believed the disciples' account, thinking that Zhi Dun had attained the Dao before death, thus causing such phenomena; the two sides even erupted into fierce argument."

"Opinions diverge; no one knows the truth, leaving endless mystery and legend for posterity."

"The lingering bell tones and sutra voices intertwined; the river of time again stirred up ripples; no one noticed a dark-green figure slowly sinking into it, shuttling between reality and the past. (End of chapter)"