Chapter 2525

After Tang Sanzang finished speaking, one could see that in the temple, strange expressions flashed across the faces of the five Daoists.

Master Eighteen said first, "I cannot agree with Master Xuanzang's point of view. You only know that the Dao follows nature, but you have not deeply understood the mysteries within it."

"And what you said about the heart having ten thousand possibilities returning to one—actually, your Buddhism has always focused on inner cultivation and never valued the external."

Tang Sanzang's expression changed slightly, and he looked at him, saying, "What Buddhism speaks of is not the 'cultivation of the heart' and 'nurturing of nature' that you Daoists speak of. Actually, what the Buddha speaks of is the afterlife. Everything in the world we are currently in is a sea of suffering; only by cultivating 'Nirvana' can one achieve true liberation in the afterlife."

When Tang Sanzang said this, the expression in his eyes remained incomparably firm.

The expressions on the faces of the other Daoists clearly changed, contrary to their previous enthusiastic attitude. It was clear that they had already sensed from Tang Sanzang's words that he did not agree with Daoist thought at all, and even believed that it was wrong.

And only Buddhist law was what he believed in without doubt.

"It is simply ridiculous. I did not expect Master Xuanzang to say such things."

"In the past, the Buddhist and Daoist families often had meetings to discuss the Dao, but I have never seen a monk as arbitrary in his words as Master Xuanzang."

That Master Chishen's face was somewhat angry at this moment, and he looked at Tang Sanzang and spoke.

"Master Chishen is right. I'm afraid Master Xuanzang has never truly respected the Daoist religion in his heart, right?"

"Buddhism speaks of the afterlife; our Daoist religion does not deny the saying of the afterlife, but the Daoist school has always focused on the present life."

Master Lingkong also stood up at this time, staring at Tang Sanzang, and spoke.

"That's right. According to your Buddhist saying, apart from the heart, the body is empty. Then why do you still eat grain?"

"As a human living in this world, shouldn't we focus more on the present life? Instead of that illusory afterlife?"

Master Fuyun also looked at Tang Sanzang at this time, speaking with intense words.

"Actually, if you want to talk about it, the present life is illusory; everything is like flowers in a mirror and the moon in the water."

"And only by reaching 'Nirvana' will the afterlife be true."

Tang Sanzang scanned everyone, still incomparably firm in his thoughts.

"The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao; then how do you know that the afterlife will not be the present life that has not yet arrived?"

"Is the afterlife you insist on, even if you suffer in this life, something you deserve, instead of trying to find ways to actively change it?"

Master Guzhi also looked at Tang Sanzang at this time, staring with his eyes, and spoke.

Tang Sanzang frowned for a moment. Under the joint rebuttal of several people, he felt somewhat at a loss for words, but his faith in Buddhist law in his heart had not wavered in the slightest.

He pursed his lips and said, "The afterlife is the afterlife; what is called the present life that has not yet arrived?"

"The afterlife is the Western Pure Land; it is fundamentally not the same state as the 'sea of suffering' we are currently in."

Master Eighteen immediately said again, "You have never been to the afterlife; how do you know that the afterlife is definitely the Western Pure Land?"

"What I see and hear—the joys, sorrows, and griefs of this life—all exist truly and concretely. How did it become the illusory flowers in a mirror and moon in the water in the mouths of you monks?"

Tang Sanzang raised his head, scanned everyone, his gaze still incomparably firm, and he said loudly, "The Buddhist scriptures have long had this saying; it is just that you vulgar people cannot see through it."