This time, the martial arts competition saw the Vinaya Sect monks take a step back.
Immediately, the abbot of Jingye Temple requested an audience with Lu Yuan Bodhisattva. Zen Master Zixing arranged for them to stay in the monk's quarters first, then turned to inform Simon.
In the afternoon, the sun was warm, and Simon was practicing on Lian Tian Peak.
The area near the residence was bustling with people, not a good place for practice, so he went to a mountain peak rarely visited by tourists to find peace.
Zen Master Zixing knew where he practiced, so he easily made his way to Lian Tian Peak.
Simon stood in a left bow stance, one hand raised, one hand pressed down, maintaining this posture, as still as a mountain rock.
This form imitated Supinda Arhat, also known as the Pagoda-Holding Arhat.
The left hand raised represents holding a pagoda, and since pagodas enshrine Buddha's relics, holding a pagoda signifies chanting Buddha's name.
The right hand pressed down forms the Abhaya Mudra, representing wisdom and insight, and a compassionate holy heart.
He meditated on Supinda Arhat, filled with immense joy, a smile on his face.
Simon faithfully followed the instructions, not daring to alter them. Luohan Skill, as a foundational high-level martial art of Shaolin, when cultivated to mastery, can forge a Vajra body. Vajra inner energy circulates more smoothly, capable of dispelling cold and evil with pure Yang energy, and opening the wisdom eye to see at night.
Regarding the principle of inner energy growth, Simon had not yet fully grasped it, so following the path of his predecessors was a good way to progress. When he later gained a higher perspective, he could then research martial arts suitable for himself, which would yield twice the results with half the effort.
The abbot observed from the side. The Bodhisattva appeared as a young monk, looking quite ordinary, which somewhat moved the monk. The previous manifestation of the Bodhisattva was too solemn, making people hesitant to approach. Now, he was very approachable. The manifestation of infinite wondrous forms for the salvation of all sentient beings was indeed because people were too attached to appearances.
Zen Master Zixing used his Dharma Eye and mind to observe the Bodhisattva's martial arts. He saw a intense ball of light flickering before him, almost unable to discern anything else. Within this flashing human-shaped outline, there were dimly visible dozens of figures, some standing, some moving. Those standing touched the sky, those moving shook the earth, their imposing aura inspiring awe.
The abbot withdrew his Dharma Eye and stood quietly.
Each of Simon's forms took two quarters of an hour. Completely engrossed in his practice, he didn't notice an extra person beside him. Zen Master Zixing, having reached the realm of returning to simplicity, was like a withered tree with a dead heart, no different from a roadside stone. So, by the time a round of Luohan Skill was completed, the old Bald Donkey was almost smoking from the sun.
Simon brushed off his clothes, sweat flying like dancing butterflies, vanishing into light in the air.
"Abbot, what do you need me for?"
"Bodhisattva has made further progress, which is cause for joy and celebration." Zen Master Zixing put his palms together in a salute. "This time, our Shaolin won the competition, but Abbot Rukong of Jingye Temple wishes to meet you, so I came to inform you."
"Take him to my residence. I'll be in my room before dinner."
Zen Master Zixing bowed and left, leaving behind the silent mountain wind.
Gazing into the distance, the weather was truly beautiful.
The sky was as blue as an ocean, with clouds like islands. A gentle breeze blew ceaselessly, and the cloud islands moved softly, like lazy giant beasts, but they were very silent, rarely making a sound.
If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, who would believe that these soft, delicate clouds could unleash the roar of thunder?
Simon's thoughts wandered. People say freedom is like a gentle breeze and flowing clouds, but this freedom is imposed by humans, just like all problems. If there were no thoughts, there would be no problems.
Only by making no-thought one's thought can one attain liberation.
Everything is natural; letting nature run its course is the Way of Heaven.
The great Eastern philosophy is always a vast system that aligns with the evolution of the universe, neither clinging to the past nor resisting the future.
Where in life is there not Zen?
Simon sat cross-legged, his mind retreating within his body.
In a hazy dark world, inner energy, like a long dragon, flew across the sky, circling and moving around a massive mountain in the void.
A single mountain peak, no matter how grand, would eventually be leveled by time. As an isolated entity, detached from the system of cosmic evolution, it would be abandoned in the sands of history's corner.
How is Mount Sumeru described in Buddhist scriptures?
Mount Sumeru is the center of the world, square in shape, surrounded by eight mountains and eight seas.
As an eternal pillar of heaven, Mount Sumeru is a symbol of all greatness, and can also be extended to represent unwavering faith.
So, what is the cycle of the world?
Formation, dwelling, decay, emptiness—the birth, development, decline, and destruction of a universe are, of course, inescapable.
Such philosophical, generalized summaries are, of course, undeniable truths. But if one uses them as a basis to present flawed data to corroborate the truth, that is quite laughable.
The predecessors had said all there was to say about the truth, and that truth was "inexpressible." Later generations insisted on expressing it fully, creating a so-called rigorous system to explain the origin of all things. This was not progress, but a regression.
Confucius spoke of benevolence, Laozi spoke of the Dao, and Shakyamuni spoke of Zen; all were one. They were too outstanding, leaving no path for later generations, who could only borrow the names of these three masters to discuss the mysterious and the strange, introducing mysticism and turning thought into religion.
A universe has destruction and rebirth; all things and principles are the same. When old theories are no longer timely, their essence should be extracted early, and the dross removed.
Simon vaguely had a plan for the future of the Buddhist sect, provided he could become that decisive Buddha.
But how could a human be a Buddha?
Buddha is the entire universe.
So what he needed to do was not to embody the universe; he only needed to be stronger than everyone else, then his teachings would be the Buddha-dharma.
It must be said, this was a kind of sorrow.
What limits one's vision is the mind.
All conditioned phenomena are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow, like dew or a flash of lightning; thus, they should be contemplated. If you see all forms as no-forms, then you see the Tathagata.
Simon fell into deep meditation.
He saw the Indra's net again; it was an attribute of superior affinity, representing the evolution of all causality.
Previously, he had only glimpsed a corner of it. This time, Simon's mind was stronger, and he yearned for more. He reached out, or rather, extended his consciousness, to touch this Indra's net.
The scenery changed in an instant like a torrent.
It was magnificent like a surging ocean of light with shimmering ripples, and ethereal like layers of colorful clouds transforming into hundreds of birds in the wind.
The mortal world rolled on, plants withered and flourished, massive amounts of colors rapidly shifted, and his eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind were all bewildered.
Simon felt as if he was moving, yet also frozen in the void.
All his senses were transmitting mixed information; nothing could be trusted.
Even consciousness was not a reliable support for navigating the illusion.
Only that subtle superior affinity thread, in the unseen, pulled him, slowly drawing him closer to that great existence, his Sambhogakaya.
Finally, everything disappeared, and he fell into a warm embrace.
...
His meditation ended, and Simon frowned.
He felt as if he had touched his Sambhogakaya, but his memories were chaotic, filled with redundant information.
What exactly did he encounter behind the Indra's net?
Examining himself, nothing had changed.
Looking again inside the Pure Land Pearl, the blurred form of the Buddha statue, backed by Mount Sumeru, was now perfectly clear, hands forming the Dhyana Mudra, solemn and dignified.
A will more sublime than Mount Sumeru resided within the Buddha statue, governing the four directions and dominating the three times.
This was precisely Simon's Sambhogakaya.
With the Sambhogakaya guarding it, the Pure Land Pearl shone like a diamond within the superior affinity.
This harvest was an inexhaustible treasure.
Perhaps he could explore it for a lifetime.
Simon sighed and stood up, returning to his residence in the temple.
The abbot of Jingye Temple had already been waiting there for a long time.
"Are you Lu Yuan Bodhisattva?" The Vinaya Master Rukong saluted with palms together.
"I am Lu Yuan." Simon's appearance was just that of a young, unremarkable bhikshu.
The Vinaya Master Rukong's expression was serene, and he did not presumptuously judge, stating directly: "I hope Bodhisattva will bestow the True Dharma and propagate the Buddhist Way."
"Good, first go and burn all the scriptures in your temple to ashes, then you can obtain the Dharma."
The monks were greatly astonished.
Zen Master Zixing hurried over and whispered, "Bodhisattva, why do you say such a thing?"
Simon formed the Dharma-teaching mudra and said calmly, "Because I have become a Tathagata, I shall be the World-Honored One."
After these words, the monks vaguely saw a great Buddha before their eyes, extending a palm, and within it, the universe arose and perished, cycling endlessly, without end.
Such a wondrous state transcended the ordinary mental realm.
All the monks praised in unison:
"Namo Lu Yuan Immeasurable Light Bodhisattva!"
"Namo Lu Yuan Immeasurable Power Bodhisattva!"
"Namo Lu Yuan Immeasurable Holy Bodhisattva!"
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