Chapter 192: Jin Chanzi Asks About Cultivation

"I..." Fa Neng was completely unable to speak.

In his view, these remarks by Master Liaochen were simply heretical; what he said completely overturned all the understanding Fa Neng had built up over the past twenty years.

To Fa Neng, the seven emotions and six desires were obstacles, and birth, old age, sickness, and death were suffering; only by severing all of this could one attain purity and freedom.

Yet Master Liaochen said that this was the very foundation of humanity, the essence of life itself.

The key was that he actually felt what Master Liaochen said seemed to make sense.

His innate Buddha-heart wavered for the first time.

"Then... then according to your view, Master, what should be done?" Fa Neng's voice carried a trace of confusion and helplessness.

For the first time, he felt his faith in the Buddhist teachings he had upheld for twenty years waver.

Su Chen had been waiting for these very words.

"Your problem cannot be solved by simply seeking the true scriptures. As of now, you haven't even figured out where you are going."

Su Chen stood up, hands behind his back, gazing at the crescent moon in the sky.

"You are like a lost traveler who cannot even see the path beneath his own feet, yet you are single-mindedly thinking of finding a Land of Ultimate Bliss for the world. Do you think you can find it?"

"Even if you endure thousands of hardships and truly reach the Western Heaven to obtain the true scriptures, how can you use a scripture that even you yourself cannot understand to save the world?"

Su Chen turned around, his gaze calmly fixed on Fa Neng.

"Since your cultivation is insufficient, why not stay at my Pudu Temple for the time being? Carry water, chop wood, grow vegetables, and cook with me."

"When the day comes that you truly understand what sentient beings are, what Buddhist teachings are, and what the Other Shore is, then it will not be too late to decide whether you still want to go to the Western Heaven to seek those true scriptures."

"Otherwise, even if the true scriptures were placed before you, you might not recognize them. Even if the Buddha stood before you, you might not know him. How is seeking scriptures in this way any different from climbing a tree to catch a fish?"

Su Chen's words were neither hurried nor slow, yet every word was a gem, carrying a persuasive power that one could not resist.

Fa Neng stared at him blankly, his heart filled with hesitation.

Stay behind?

Give up the journey to the West?

How could that be! He had made a grand vow; if he gave up halfway, wouldn't he be ridiculed by everyone in the world?

But...

Master Liaochen's words were also perfectly reasonable.

In his current state, he was indeed filled with confusion, unable to even figure out the most basic questions. If he were to rush off like this, could he really obtain the true scriptures?

He fell into an internal struggle.

On one side was the ideal and vow he had insisted upon for many years.

On the other side was the incisive guidance and advice from the high monk before him.

How should he choose?

In the courtyard, only the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves remained, rustling softly.

A long, long time passed.

Fa Neng's tightly clenched fists finally slowly loosened.

He raised his head, his originally confused eyes becoming much clearer.

He stood up, walked to Su Chen, pressed his palms together, and bowed respectfully to Su Chen.

"Master's words have enlightened this disciple, as if waking from a dream."

"This disciple was foolish; the past twenty years were like a dream. Today, having heard Master's teachings, I finally know where the Great Dao lies. This disciple is willing to stay at Pudu Temple and follow Master in cultivation!"

Su Chen reached out and helped Fa Neng up.

"Here, there is no master-disciple status, only fellow travelers on the Dao. If you are willing to stay, then stay."

He paused, then added, "However, in my Pudu Temple, everything must be done by oneself. Starting tomorrow, follow me and begin by learning how to grow vegetables."

"Yes!" Fa Neng nodded repeatedly.

He did not feel at all that it was wrong for a monk with the grand vow of going to the Western Heaven to fetch scriptures to learn how to grow vegetables.

In his view, every word and action of this Master Liaochen before him contained supreme Zen wisdom.

Having him grow vegetables must surely have a profound meaning.

Looking at Fa Neng's eyes, Su Chen knew that his first step in transforming Jin Chanzi had succeeded.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Fa Neng woke up.

He walked out of the meditation room and found that Su Chen was already busy in the vegetable patch in the backyard.

In the faint light of dawn, that figure in a simple monk's robe was holding a hoe, loosening the soil with focused, rhythmic motions.

"Master, good morning." Fa Neng walked up and bowed respectfully.

Su Chen stopped his movements, glanced at him, and nodded: "Morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Thanks to Master's blessing, this disciple rested very well last night." Fa Neng replied. After figuring things out last night, he had indeed slept very well.

"Hmm." Su Chen pointed to a hoe in the corner of the wall. "Since you're awake, don't be idle. Go turn over the soil over there as well."

"Yes, Master!"

Fa Neng responded, excitedly picked up the hoe, and began to work, imitating Su Chen's movements.

However, the ideal was full, but reality was harsh.

He had grown up in a temple; although he had done some chores, this was his first time doing proper farm work.

He swung the hoe and struck down with force; before long, he was drenched in sweat and panting.

He looked at himself, then looked at Su Chen beside him, who was calm and composed as if he hadn't used any effort at all, and his face couldn't help but burn.

"Master, this disciple is clumsy..." he said with some shame.

"Hoeing the ground isn't just about using brute force." Su Chen stopped, walked to his side, took his hoe, and demonstrated personally.

"Look, your hand should grip here, and your waist should provide the force..."

As he spoke, he easily turned over a patch of soil.

Su Chen returned the hoe to Fa Neng: "Try again."

Fa Neng nodded, half-understanding, and followed Su Chen's guidance, adjusting his posture to start again.

This time, although still clumsy, it felt much smoother.

The morning passed in labor.

When Su Chen called him to eat, he was surprised to find that he had already turned over a small patch of land.

Breakfast was still simple green vegetables and rice.

But as Fa Neng ate, he felt it was even more delicious than last night.

After the meal, Fa Neng asked a question.

"Master, this disciple has something I don't understand."

"Speak."

"This disciple doesn't understand, as monks, why must we do these mundane tasks like hoeing the ground, growing vegetables, carrying water, and chopping wood? Shouldn't we spend all our time chanting scriptures, meditating, and contemplating the Dao?"

This was the philosophy he had been instilled with since childhood: cultivation should be about green lamps and ancient Buddhas, chanting scriptures and contemplating Zen.

Hearing this, Su Chen looked at Fa Neng and asked: "Let me ask you, what is cultivation?"

Fa Neng thought for a moment and replied: "Cultivation is self-cultivation and character building, clarifying the mind and seeing one's nature, and finally attaining supreme Bodhi."

"Well said." Su Chen nodded. "Then let me ask you again, what do you think a Buddha is?"

"A Buddha is a supreme wise one who is self-awakened, awakens others, and has perfected awakening and conduct." ===== CHAPTER 193 =====