Chapter 432: with translation of chapter title

Lin Ke

Airisi

Its true meaning is that the three poisons of sentient beings blaze fiercely, covering the nature of true suchness.

Beam Mountain

What is called true suchness: 'true' means real, clearly not illusory; 'such' means constant, indicating no change. Speaking of its truth in all dharmas, ever constant in its nature, therefore it is called true suchness.

However, in the process of transmission, the concept of the degenerate age was both accepted and valued by the immortal-god civilization, yet also misinterpreted and rejected within Buddhist civilization.

The main manifestation is the two theories of 'Buddhist enemy' and 'Buddhist calamity'.

Buddhist civilization believes that before the degenerate age arrives, a great calamity will arise.

The one who stirs up this calamity is the Buddhist enemy, the enemy of all Buddhas, the enemy of the Buddhist Dharma.

Five Part Scripture

Buddhist Temple Warrior Monk Alliance

The "Five-part Scripture" in Iris's hand is said to be the future Buddhist scourge, the scripture written before her reincarnation.

"Heh..."

A sneer curled at the corner of her mouth, and Iris lightly waved her hand.

The yellowed scroll of the "Five-part Scripture" instantly turned to flying ash, drifting and scattering, disappearing between heaven and earth.

"Nonsense."

Iris scoffed at the idea of the Ciren Temple abbot labeling her as a Buddhist scourge.

She certainly did not consider herself some damn Buddhist scourge.

Having flung the yellowed scripture, Iris returned to her indifferent state and continued gazing down the mountain.

Burning the abbot of Ciren Temple to death with karmic fire of sin slightly vented the resentment pent up in her heart, but it was not enough.

She still needed a greater venting.

Coincidentally, Ciren Temple had just received a report about the Lotus Society, and the abbot died in the chief monk's quarters, which could fully push the impending turmoil to its maximum.

What the Lotus Society was about to face was not just a single Ciren Temple, but a siege by a coalition of warrior monks from over a dozen or twenty high-and-mighty Buddhist temples.

A flicker of complex emotion passed through Iris's eyes.

Once many things are set in motion, it becomes hard to slow them down.

When the thought arose in her heart of "I" and the set of actions she had taken after interfering with the ninth trial of the special ruin world, she decided to sow the White Lotus to purify the turbid world, and everything became a wild horse breaking free of its reins.

It wasn't that Iris couldn't control herself, but that she couldn't control the will of all beings; she could only guide them.

Now Iris is guiding sixteen girls onto a path of self-forgetting, guiding twenty-three women onto a path of washing or re-dyeing themselves, and guiding the oppressed and exploited common folk onto a path of rebirth through fire.

Self-forgetting in itself is a kind of harm.

Washing or re-dyeing in itself is a kind of cover-up.

Rebirth through fire: first undergo fire, only if not burned to death can one be reborn.

All of the above are sacrifices, the necessary sacrifices to achieve a great undertaking.

However, how many can undergo fire without being burned to death, and how many can welcome rebirth?

Iris knew that not many could.

Of those who joined early, eight or nine out of ten would die without a grave and be forgotten.

As for the so-called "Vacuum Homeland," it is not their homeland, much less a pure land, but a mere illusion.

After entering the Vacuum Homeland, these sacrificial people cannot obtain the peace, happiness, milk and honey they long for.

All they can obtain is the harsh reality of continued sacrifice.

The White Lotus's purification of the world was never intended for them, but solely for the White Lotus itself.

"Hoo..."

After a long exhale, Iris suppressed her wandering thoughts and stopped thinking about these matters.

As long as she doesn't think, she won't feel guilty.

No guilt means no pain.

Indifference, or numbness, is also a very good state.

When unrest began to stir at the foot of Liangshan, Lin Ke arrived at Guanglin Prefecture.

Yellow-earth paved the road, and lanterns and silk hung on the withered trees by the street.

No pedestrians were seen on the road; the nearby village dwellings were silent, only the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard.

Cooking smoke rose in wisps, and the aroma of food drifted about.

"What a splendid Buddhist pure land!"

Those who do not know the truth will surely utter such a sigh.

However, Lin Ke knew the true situation was certainly not like that, so he would not sigh that way; instead, he felt nauseated.

Serfs are serfs, oppression is oppression, fabricating these falsehoods to embellish peace.

Nauseated!

"Junior Brother, what's wrong with you?"

Monk Liaochen, while amusingly observing the tranquil and peaceful countryside scene, asked suspiciously.

Just moments ago, Monk Liaochen clearly sensed from Lin Ke an emotion different from his own.

It seems the junior brother has a completely different view of the surrounding scenery.

"Nothing much, let's continue on our way."

Lin Ke gave a casual reply, unwilling to discuss the matter further.

"Mm."

Monk Liaochen glanced dubiously at Lin Ke, then shook his head and went off to admire the peaceful, tranquil human Buddhist land by himself.

Put it down! Put it down!

Suddenly, a sharp hiss came from a nearby courtyard: 'Put the steamed bun down!'

A muffled boom sounded.

Monk Liaochen, who had trained in the martial monk's path since childhood, twitched his ears and immediately identified the sound as that of a stick as thick as a baby's arm striking a person's buttocks.

Wah! Ah!!!!!

A shrill but weak-willed cry immediately followed.

I told you to take it! I told you to take it! I told you to take it!

The sharp hiss, mixed with sobbing, echoed from the courtyard, reaching the yellow-earth-paved path that had been swept clean with water.

Accompanying it were the thuds of heavy, muffled blows—peng, peng, peng—and the shrill, weak-willed wailing.

Not long after, the sharp hiss and scolding stopped, the heavy muffled blows ceased, and the shrill, weak-willed wailing continued for a while before gradually fading.

Having achieved the heavenly ear ability, Monk Liaochen clearly heard a plaintive mutter: 'Mother, I'm hungry!'

Monk Liaochen felt as if struck by lightning.

Since being sent to the White Horse Monastery at age three, this was Monk Liaochen's first time descending the mountain.

The road from the White Horse Monastery to Guanglin Prefecture City had always been a smooth major road, with no villages or residences on either side.

All there were were inns built at intervals along the road, specifically for monks from various temples to rest, take a break, and eat hot meals.

Those on duty at the inns were all household slaves from the Guanglin Prince's Manor.

In short, Monk Liaochen had never set foot in the mortal world, never understood humanity.

He had always believed that the mortal world was not bitter, but a human Buddhist paradise.

Who would have thought...

Taking a deep breath, Monk Liaochen slowly closed his eyes, then slowly opened them.

In the blink of an eye, the heavenly eye ability had already been activated.

Monk Liaochen's eyes pierced space, pierced the courtyard walls, and saw everything in the small courtyard. In the kitchen, a woman with a face full of wrinkles and white-streaked hair hunched her body, weakly leaning against the wall, holding a bundle of firewood, silently sobbing.

Beside the stove, a scrawny child's grimy right hand clutched a steamed bun, gripping it tightly, unwilling to let go.

In the steaming pot, only the last steamed bun remained.

Not far from the kitchen, in a room, lay two people—one large, one small—on a bed covered with a straw-woven blanket, their faces pale and weak, exhaling more than inhaling.

Under the heavenly eye ability, Monk Liaochen immediately discerned that these two people had been reduced to this state by starvation.

Wafting cooking smoke, fragrant rice filling the air, tranquil and harmonious—human Buddhist paradise?

Monk Liaochen felt a sting in his eyes, quickly closed them, and thus shut off the heavenly eye ability.

This human world is too bitter; Monk Liaochen felt compassion and pity, unable to bear looking further.

Mm, unable to bear looking further.

Lin Ke took it all in, said nothing, and merely proceeded in silence.

Monk Liaochen soon reopened his eyes, his features instantly returning to calm, with no trace of emotion in his gaze.

He too entered a state of silent travel, no longer looking around, no longer gazing at the tranquil human Buddhist paradise.

On the contrary, the other monastery representatives behind him continued to retain Monk Liaochen's earlier enthusiasm.

They even voiced praise, proclaiming the boundless Dharma, the greatness of delivering sentient beings from the sea of suffering and guiding them to the far shore.

In this strange atmosphere, the entourage from the White Horse Monastery finally entered Guanglin Prefecture City, heading straight to the Guanglin Prince's Manor.

The sprawling Guanglin Prince's Manor was renewed inside and out, hung with lanterns and decorated with colorful ribbons; every servant's face glowed with genuine joy, offering the arriving White Horse Monastery delegation an exceptionally warm reception and profound respect.

Among them, a servant's figure made Monk Liaochen feel somewhat familiar, yet also strange.

Lin Ke didn't even glance at that servant, merely feeling a faint ripple in his heart.

Ghosts!

You've taken over Master Liaoxin's body, yet you come out so blatantly and swagger about!

Muttering to himself, Lin Ke, observing his nose and heart, calmly walked into the residence arranged by the Guanglin Prince's Manor for the White Horse Monastery monks.

Rooms were sufficient, one per person, quite tranquil.

However, just as Lin Ke sat down at the desk, the door was knocked.

Come in, senior brother.

Without needing his heart‑mind perception, just by listening to the footsteps, Lin Ke knew it was Monk Liaochen standing outside.

Creak.

The door swung open, Monk Liaochen entered, not sitting, just standing by the desk, looking at Lin Ke.

Senior brother, any business?

Lin Ke picked up a blank sheet from the desk, opened the inkstone, dropped some clear water, then took up the ink stick and ground it carefully.

Hmm.

Monk Liaochen nodded, 'I have some things I can't figure out; I want to ask junior brother what you think.'

If there's anything, senior brother, please speak freely.

Lin Ke ground the ink in earnest, not looking up, and casually said,

Monk Liaochen asked in a low voice, 'How do you view cultivation and worship, junior brother?'

The ink having been ground, Lin Ke selected a wolf‑hair brush, loaded it with ink, lifted the brush, and wrote the character 'cultivate'.

Then he said, 'Senior brother, in my humble view, cultivation means cultivating oneself; worship means worshiping others.'

Senior brother, you're dull; please explain in detail, junior brother.

Monk Liaochen clasped his hands together, bowed to Lin Ke, and sought instruction with utmost solemnity.

Lin Ke raised his brush again and wrote the character meaning 'to worship'.

Setting down the wolf-hair brush, Lin Ke rose, facing Monk Liaochen, one hand pointing to heaven, the other to earth, and said loudly: "If I were the Buddha, would my senior brother bowing to me make him attain Buddhahood?"

Monk Liaochen thought carefully, then slightly shook his head: "Cannot."

Lin Ke lowered his hands, first placed them together in prayer, then sat cross-legged on the ground, formed the meditation seal, and said loudly: "As a monk, diligently practicing the Buddhist Dharma and diligently cultivating merit, could I attain Buddhahood?"

Monk Liaochen thought carefully again, then slightly nodded: "Can."

After a pause, Monk Liaochen added emphasis: "But the hope is rather slim. The Buddhist Dharma is as profound as that of Master Wusheng, who only attained the Bodhisattva fruit and could not attain Buddhahood, thus he was reborn to continue cultivation."

Lin Ke smirked: "Senior brother, how do you know Master Wusheng cannot attain Buddhahood, and was thus reborn to continue cultivation?"

Monk Liaochen was startled at once upon hearing those words.

Yes, how does he know that Master Wusheng was reborn to continue cultivation because he could not attain Buddhahood?

In other words, how does he know this claim, and who told him this claim?

The more he thought, the darker Monk Liaochen's eyes became.

It is the White Horse Chan Temple.

It is the scriptures and records of the White Horse Chan Temple.

It is the oral tradition of the White Horse Chan Temple.

Huff… huff…

After taking several deep breaths, Monk Liaochen strove to adjust his state, but still could not calm down.

"Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha!"

Monk Liaochen pressed his palms together, recited the Buddha's name, hoping this would help him regain calm.

However, it was all in vain.

His heart remained unable to calm for a long time.

The reason is simple.

First came the impact of the earthly Buddha-land and earthly suffering; then, the things and objects he firmly believed in were shaken by Lin Ke, causing him to doubt everything he had studied since childhood.

This kind of ideological self-doubt arose extremely quickly, yet wanting to escape it is extremely difficult and slow.

Seeing this, Lin Ke did not let Monk Liaochen continue in such self-doubt, and calmly said: "Senior brother, don't think too much. I, your junior, am merely interested in the deeds of Master Wusheng; I have not found any solid records proving that Master Wusheng was reborn to continue cultivation because he could not attain Buddhahood—I just mentioned it casually."

However, Monk Liaochen did not take those words to heart; instead, his state of mind inexplicably calmed down.

This is quite strange.

However, the first thing Monk Liaochen did after his mind calmed was to change the topic, asking: "Junior brother, when we passed that village earlier, you didn't seem surprised by its true situation?"

Lin Ke remained seated cross-legged, looked up at Monk Liaochen, and asked with a slight smile: "Senior brother, do you know that the White Horse Chan Temple can be reached by taking the main road straight into Guanglin Prefecture? Why, then, did we turn onto that country lane at the last relay station? And who made this arrangement?"

"I don't know."

Monk Liaochen shook his head and answered honestly.

Lin Ke smiled: "I don't know either, but I suspect it is the handiwork of that Commandery Princess."

"Commandery Princess?"

Monk Liaochen exclaimed in surprise, then suddenly realized: "Indeed. I have long heard that the Commandery Princess loves to champion justice and redress grievances; it is very likely that she arranged this to test us as part of selecting a husband."

"If senior brother says so, then it is so."

A faint smirk flashed in Lin Ke's eyes; he gave a casual reply, then rose and said: "Senior brother, I, your junior, am a bit tired and would like to rest."

"Junior brother, rest well; senior brother, I'm leaving now."

Upon hearing the implied meaning from the string's sound, Monk Liaochen immediately proposed his farewell and turned sharply.

But just as he reached the door, Lin Ke called out again: "Senior brother, junior brother has a question he wishes to ask; I wonder if senior brother is willing to answer honestly?"

"Junior brother, ask away."

Monk Liaochen faced Lin Ke and gave a serious reply.

Lin Ke, without further ceremony, asked directly: "Senior brother, if there were an opportunity for rebirth, would you aspire to be reborn in the farming household you see today, or to be reborn in the White Horse Chan Temple as a monk who does not engage in production and enjoys the offerings of all the people?"

After a pause, Lin Ke added emphasis: "This question, senior brother, you need not rush to answer me."

"Answering yourself is sufficient."