Chapter 1589: Chapter 55: Asking Buddha

“Fachuan Sect Head has the intention.”

Victorious Venerable raised his palm in front of his chest and slightly bowed, saying softly, “But there’s no hurry to capture the Devil Lord, the grave crimes he has committed will eventually meet their retribution.”

“Justice is clear, karma is rewarded.”

Fachuan nodded with a smile and said, “Liaoyin senior brother, please!”

The group of Zen masters climbed up, and soon they had toured all thirty-seven levels of the Floating Pagoda. The high monks reached the debate venue at the summit of the pagoda with poise and took their seats.

For the high monks of the eight schools, the Jifeng Zen Assembly had long lost its mystique, yet they still willingly participated every year because this type of clear, disputative assembly truly aids in their mentality and cultivation.

This process of collision, acceptance, and amalgamation of one’s nature is called debating Chan in Buddha’s Country and discussing the Tao in Xuanji Sect.

Especially the communication with peers of the same realm, and the clash of different perspectives, would often enlighten one remarkably.

However, as they aged, the number of people they regarded as peers dwindled, making each opportunity for exchange extremely precious.

For these monks who have renounced the secular world, the importance of a fellow Taoist exceeds that of a life partner; thus, even if they meet only once a year at the assembly, they still regard each other as old friends.

This kind of friendship based on shared ideals is even more precious than kinship in the secular world, but in the end, a fellow seeker is just that.

Walking the same path for a long time, it is ultimately about parting ways.

For the Buddhist Sect, which pursues eternal immortality and establishing teachings beyond the mundane world, how to transcend this shore is an everlasting topic.

And to achieve this goal, what they let go of is not only worldly familial ties but also their own emotions.

At the summit of the Floating Pagoda,

a monk who had long been meditating at the top of the pagoda looked as old as a rock battered by wind and rain. His dark red robe enveloped his body, dragging on the ground, almost burying itself in the soil. His hunched back resembled a rocky ridge, his face covered with numerous wrinkles of vicissitude, and his meter-long white eyebrows hung down from his cheekbones, seemingly merging with the surroundings.

Every monk who reached the top layer of the Pagoda first bowed to the old monk because this figure, who seemed too old to open his eyes, was the strongest saint of the Vinaya School, known as the South Heavenly Buddha.

Although his philosophy of cultivation has not been widely accepted by the Vinaya School, his profound cultivation was unquestionable.

Even the Four-sided Buddha Lord of Wuxiang Zen Temple once stated that in terms of cultivation depth, the South Heavenly Buddha was the highest in today’s Buddha’s Country.

Perhaps sensing the arrival of many unfamiliar presences at the summit, the South Heavenly Buddha, who previously seemed like a wax statue, suddenly came to life. First, his long, beard-like eyebrows moved, then his wrinkled eyelids lifted, revealing bright yet vicissitude-filled eyes that captured all the light in the room.

Just by looking at these eyes, one would never guess that the South Heavenly Buddha was already 600 years old. His eyes, having witnessed numerous vicissitudes, were as sincere as a youth’s.

“What is it that we cultivate in Buddhism?”

As the high monks and venerables had just settled on their mats, an unfamiliar Sanskrit chant arose in their Sea of Consciousness.

Undoubtedly, within this realm of Buddha, the only one capable of sending this thought power into the Sea of Consciousness of all venerables was the South Heavenly Buddha alone.

Typically, before the main debate of the Jifeng Zen Assembly, there would be a pre-debate to select the speakers for the debating Chan, but unexpectedly, monks of their realm still had to go through this.

The question posed by the South Heavenly Buddha was simple, and many high monks subconsciously wanted to speak immediately, but just as they raised their heads and met the sincere eyes of the old monk, they hesitated and lowered their heads again.

If this question was asked to a novice monk just entering the Chan gate, they would answer without a second thought: to cultivate for the next life, to transcend reincarnation.

But for monks at the level of the Floating Pagoda, they could no longer assertively answer in such a manner.

Being able to cultivate to the realm of Great Zen Master, they could touch the core of Buddhist teachings and understood how illusory the concept of the next life was.

Letting them believe in the next life like the novices was impossible–so what exactly are they cultivating in Buddhism?

This sudden questioning in Sanskrit momentarily bewildered all high monks present.

Born in the Pure Land of the Buddha’s Country, grown in the Paradise Rainforest, since birth, they have been bathed in the light of Buddha.

Growing up in such an environment, cultivating Buddhism had become as natural as breathing.

However, as their realms advanced, this natural cultivation had mixed with many other elements.

Whether it be combat, doubt, fear, or honor,

These elements had tainted their hearts towards Buddhism, making it no longer pure. Speaking to ordinary disciples, they could naturally boast that their hearts towards Buddhism were as unchanged as before, but facing the eyes of the South Heavenly Buddha, they could not utter these words.

Thus, a seemingly simple question had unexpectedly stumped the high monks and venerables of the Eight Schools of the Buddha Country, leaving the summit of the Floating Pagoda in a silence so deep that a pin drop could be heard.

“Buddha’s Country scriptures amount to eighty-four thousand volumes; they’re merely expedient methods, not the path to becoming a Buddha.”

Suddenly, a voice rose in the silent hall, it was Yanshan with a skin clear as glass who answered, “If there is no path to becoming a Buddha, what then is there to cultivate in Buddhism? The old monk’s question is incorrect!”

Hearing Yanshan’s response, the corner of the South Heavenly Buddha’s mouth seemed to lift, yet also not. Another chant was heard.

“If not cultivating Buddhism, then what are you cultivating now?”

“Cultivating illusions.”

“What are illusions?”

“Anything with form is an illusion.”

Words blooming like a lotus, with the booming sound of Buddha, Yanshan had barely finished speaking when the hall erupted with the bellowing of heavenly dragons and the lamenting of dragon maidens, a multitude of extraordinary visions, startling all Zen masters and causing their Dharma Aspects to tremble.