Chapter 40: Enlightenment on the Shurangama Mantra

Xu Jia said to Hu Jinhua, "Tonight, you take Lvejue to that Liu Wenpo's place, topple her Ying Ta, and collect these Infant Ghosts."

"Lvejue counts as a 'minor god' or 'wild god' type. Although Jijuezi Mountain has no fame, is not tall, and has no legends, it is a Mountain God nonetheless."

Hu Jinhua had no complaints.

If a minor god like Lvejue transcends one hundred vengeful ghosts, the Underworld might just incorporate him into the local City God and Earth Deity system; at the very least, he could manage to become an "Underground Lord."

Although this Jijuezi Mountain is not large, it is close to villages, and nearby villagers occasionally go up the mountain to gather herbs and collect dead branches for kindling.

Becoming an Underground Lord recognized by the Underworld, while not even a "Ninth Rank God," is still a legitimate official position, even if it is "outside the regular ranks."

It is just like the human dynasty; only the Ninth Rank and above are officials, but imperial power does not reach the countryside, circulating only at the county level. In the countryside, operations rely mainly on the gentry, the scholars, and the grassroots Personnel Officials.

As for the Great Ning Dynasty, ten households share one well—meaning ten households share the drinking water from one well—and there is a "Shihuzhang" responsible for assisting with tax collection and mediating conflicts in the area of this well.

Five wells make one "Yi," which is fifty households, and there is an "Yi Chief." The Emperor grants "food-Yi" to those who have obtained titles; for example, granting "ten Yi" means the tax revenue produced by five hundred households is bestowed upon him.

Of course, this is a salary of food-Yi "without a fief," and he himself has no right to interfere in how much tax is collected.

Five Yi make a "Li," with a Li Chief appointed; five Li make a "Ting." For instance, if one is enfeoffed as a "So-and-so Ting Marquis," it means one has a fief there.

Five Ting make a "Xiang," and after the Xiang comes the County.

As for naturally gathered "villages," there is actually no position of "Village Chief."

However, villages are basically people of the same surname, with the clan as the priority; they only elect the virtuous and respected to be clan heads or clan elders, whose status is also very lofty.

This Underground Lord is similar to this kind of rural power structure; after ultimate evolution, it becomes an "Earth Deity," attaining an official rank.

Do not underestimate the Earth Deity; the Underworld does not set up an Earth Deity for every village, and the levels are divided into many grades. The lowest level can still govern an area of ten miles.

And Jijuezi Mountain, plus the scattered village households at the foot of the mountain, does not even cover ten miles.

Being able to manage a lowest-level "Underground Lord" position is already enough to establish a "sacrificial site" and have hope of climbing higher.

However, this Jijuezi Mountain is just like this; it is neither a famous mountain nor a Dragon Vein. If the Fox Immortal Hall rises, perhaps this place could even become a "famous mountain for spirit-mounting."

Hearing Xu Jia say he wanted to topple the Ying Ta, Hu Jinhua nodded repeatedly, not feeling that she had too much on her plate.

After finishing with Hu Jinhua, Xu Jia became concerned about the situation of Hu Duxiu, Hu Butang, and Hu Delu: "Have you listened to Hui Zhuo's lectures? Have you learned the principles of being human?"

Hu Duxiu hesitated for a moment and said: "Some of it I don't understand; I always feel like it's all hazy. Although I listen earnestly, I forget it as soon as I hear it. Instead, I feel that being human is so troublesome; it's not as good as being a fox, with so many rules."

"Uncle Jinhua wants us to grow vegetables here, so we clear the fields, weed, and catch insects; doing these things makes us happier."

"At night, we can also go to the mountain to play with the foxes that haven't become spirits."

"Is that so?" "This is not your fault. You have just learned the art of illusion, initially understood human nature, and have not yet opened your wisdom and spiritual apertures. It is normal that you cannot take in those written principles. Then, start by imitating human behavior," Xu Jia comforted.

"Since you cannot sit still for long, start with growing vegetables. Laboring through the four seasons, sowing seeds, and raising seedlings—there is great learning in this farming."

"Or raise some chickens. Once you raise chickens, your animal nature will be stimulated. After all, it is a fox's nature to eat chickens, but if you can restrain your instincts and understand to wait until they are grown to eat them, or go to harvest eggs, then that exercises human nature."

"What I have said is a reference, but it does not mean you don't have to listen to or learn anything else. You must also listen to what Hui Zhuo says; you cannot say you don't listen just because you don't understand."

"In the Dharma Realm, thoughts move especially fast. All things are difficult at the start, but one only needs to be willing to put in the effort. In your spare time from growing vegetables and raising chickens, you can also ponder the principles within them."

The three fox spirits nodded very obediently. After all, they were only foxes that had lived for eight or nine years; by small-year reckoning, they were only fifty years old, not as old as Hu Jinhua, who had lived for fifty years. Wisdom and experience require time to accumulate; forcing growth is difficult.

Seeing that they still had blank expressions and were nodding incessantly, but their eyes were vacant—a clear, pure stupidity—Xu Jia knew that their brains were not fond of moving. After all, a fox's IQ is ultimately different from a human's.

"Humans have seven apertures, and foxes do too. I have heard it said that all living things with seven apertures can cultivate, but besides the outer seven apertures, there are the heart-apertures of the heart and the spiritual apertures in the brain."

"Since these two apertures of yours are not open, no matter how much I say, you won't be able to take it in. You still need to read more Daoist scriptures and Buddhist scriptures to attempt to open your apertures."

"You come from a Wild Fox Zen background. Although you have now changed to Shamanism cultivation methods and used the God Immortal lineage to establish temples and societies, your original roots and nature are those of the Miscellaneous School and heterodox paths. Since you cannot understand or learn the orthodox Dharma, I will not be restricted by sects and will teach you some Buddhist Dharma."

"As the saying goes, the Shurangama Mantra is for enlightenment, and the Lotus Sutra is for becoming a Buddha. In the Shurangama Sutra, there is a Shurangama Mantra specifically suited for you strange beings to open your apertures and increase your wisdom. You must follow along and recite it well, keep it in your hearts, and recite it a few times when you have nothing to do."

Immediately, Xu Jia became solemn, and strange mantra sounds issued from his mouth, mostly using the method of brain-cavity resonance. This is the "spirit-using" method of mantra recitation, mobilizing the spirit; the mantra's syllables can cleanse the soul and possess inconceivable power.

The full text of the Shurangama Mantra is extremely long, containing Sanskrit mantras for paying respects to many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and deities.

Xu Jia only selected one section from it.

"Namo apoluoshidan. Banlodi. Yangqiluo. Salaopo. Butuojieluohuo. Nijieluohuo. Jiejialuohuoni. Balubidiye."

This section of the mantra has the meaning of subduing vengeful demons, arising contemplative wisdom, and enabling one to reach the other shore and attain equal and proper enlightenment. It represents all Mahayana lineages, the supreme lineages within the Three Vehicles, and other holy masses, as well as the fruit of the Prajna Bodhi path.

Although Xu Jia was "taking things out of context" and intercepting this section without regard for what came before or after, it actually fit the original situation of the three foxes.

They could not learn, but their imitation ability was quite good. Following Xu Jia, they pronounced it over and over again, their voices strange and sharp. Xu Jia corrected the errors in them. After nine times, tireless and patient, the Single-Testicle Fox Du Xiu was already able to recite it correctly. Thus, he was immensely proud and helped Xu Jia correct the Lame Fox Bu Tang and the Bald-tail Fox Delu.

These three foxes were usually on par with each other and did not feel the others were much better than themselves. Now that one was showing off, the other two were unconvinced and also deliberately memorized it.

It was just that the more deliberately they recited this mantra, the less they grasped the method, and the easier it was to make mistakes. One must have a peaceful state of mind to be stable and error-free.

Seeing that their wisdom was lacking but they could make up for it with diligence, Xu Jia stopped caring whether they learned or not and left that place, wandering on the street market on his own.

(End of chapter)