Techniques and Dao

Chapter 105 The Origin of the Fairy Realm (1)

Master Ruokong said, "Benefactor, your magical arts are superb."

"How dare I? Venerable Master, are you insulting me?"

"This humble monk had no such intention." Ruokong still smiled, his face full of sincerity and not at all like he was deliberately mocking.

Master Ruokong placed the cups down and poured two cups of hot Zen tea from the teapot.

"Please use it, benefactor."

Hua Sheng carefully picked up a cup of tea; the temperature was just right, neither too hot nor too cold. This suddenly reminded him of the exquisite Da Hong Pao tea that Tai Shang Xiao Jun had treated him to during a leisurely stroll in the Xuanwu Divine Mountain when he first met Tai Shang Xiao Jun.

Thinking of this, Hua Sheng couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Master Ruokong also took a sip of tea and asked, "Haven't you let go yet, benefactor?"

Hanamori: "I want to go back. I miss my friends."

Master Ruokong: "Benefactor, where are you going, and where did you come from?"

"I want to go back to the Academy of Arts and Sciences."

“You should know that you can only stay in the monastery now.”

"But I want to leave."

"To think is to be obsessed."

"I'm looking for my friend, my immortal master."

"Friends and immortal masters are both obsessions."

"Shouldn't you be thinking about it?"

“You should neither think about it nor not think about it. You should let it go.”

"Put all of these down?"

“You should let go of yourself.”

How do I let go?

"When you have a thought, that is attachment. To want to do it yourself is attachment to self."

"If I don't want to think about anything, am I supposed to just follow the monks and chant sutras every day?"

"No. If you think you are being restricted or demanded by others, then that is attachment to the Dharma."

"So what should we do?"

"If attachment to the Dharma is completely broken, attachment to self can be extinguished; if attachment to self is completely broken, attachment to the Dharma can be severed."

"What do you mean?"

“You did nothing, yet you accomplished everything.”

"Isn't this the non-action taught at the Daoist Academy?"

"Different."

"Where do you think it's different?"

“Once this humble monk speaks, it will not be a true answer.”

"If you don't tell me, how am I supposed to know what the answer is?"

"Because it is not written down. Once my answer is spoken and put into words, it will all be wrong."

Hua Sheng was a little annoyed and said, "You can't convince me like this, I still have to go out!"

“You shouldn’t be persuaded by anyone; you need to realize it yourself.”

"That disciple is a cultivator, so why is he trapped here? What is the cause and effect behind this?"

“Since you are a cultivator, you should know that you shouldn’t have this question.”

"How can cultivation and spiritual practice fall under the purview of cause and effect?"

No, it won't.

"According to you, it's not that one is immune to cause and effect?"

“Because you asked the question,” Master Ruokong turned around. “By asking the question, you have fallen into the cycle of cause and effect. Not only have you fallen into the cycle of cause and effect, but you will also fall into the cycle of reincarnation.”

"why?"

Master Ruokong said, "Because those who cultivate the Tao are not exempt from cause and effect, but rather are not ignorant of cause and effect."

Hua Sheng sighed, "Fine. I accept my fate. Since I'm staying in this temple for a hundred days, it's not impossible. Venerable Master, is the Wi-Fi signal fast here?"

"Sir, the internet is down here."

"Master, you're being utterly inhumane!" "All is emptiness. The Wi-Fi signal is, of course, zero bars. Even if there were Wi-Fi here, there are no usable devices. For example, we don't have your Auspicious Mirror from the Daoist Academy. So, whether Wi-Fi is there or not, fast or slow, what difference does it make to you, benefactor?"

"Master, this isn't about being detached from worldly desires; it's about not even achieving the Four Modernizations yet!"

"Can't you live without the internet?"

"He won't survive."

"It seems that the first lesson you need to learn is to prove that you can live. Not only can you live, but you can live very well."

"I understand, Master. My attachment to wireless networks, does that mean I should be called 'net-obsessed'?"

"No, benefactor. What you are doing is still clinging to the law."

Ruokong's smile left Huasheng, who was opposite her, with no energy to argue.

"But then again, your bones are truly..."

"Is the abbot going to say that I have extraordinary bone structure?"

"No, it's just that the structure is classic."

Inside the Daqian Zen Temple, in Ruokong's meditation room.

Ruokong poured Huasheng another cup of tea.

Although the teapot was small, the tea inside was always warm. Not only warm, but also continuously flowing; no matter how many cups were drunk, the teapot was always full.

Neither too hot nor too cold, neither too much nor too little, neither too little nor too little.

This feeling was like the warm smile on Ruokong's face. No, perhaps it was more like a unique gentleness in his interactions with others. It made it impossible for Huasheng to be angry.

Besides, what's the point of getting angry? Hua Sheng thought to himself.

"Master, I have a question for you."

"Donor, please tell me."

Hua Sheng asked, "Why is it said that Daqian Temple is both in and not in Shengpingning?"

“My friend, the story is quite long.”

"This is also a question that puzzles me," Hua Sheng said with a wry smile. "If you can finish explaining it in ninety days, then Abbot, you might as well tell me about it."

Master Ruokong said slowly, "Since you don't mind, you can go to the place of the Five Grains Reincarnation first, because the story I want to tell has to start with the Sui and Tang wars."

Hua Sheng smiled and said, "No need to go. My kidneys are still fine."

Ruokong then slowly began to tell the story of Saint Pingning.

From the Three Kingdoms period, which began in 184 AD, through the Jin Dynasty, to the end of the Northern and Southern Dynasties in 589 AD, the world experienced the most frequent period of regime change in history, spanning a full four hundred years.

Over the course of more than 360 years, from the Wei to the Sui dynasties, and during the rise and fall of more than 30 large and small dynasties, these numerous new cultural elements influenced and permeated each other. Various forms of metaphysics, magic, and sorcery emerged in great numbers.

With the unification of the country by Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, the Sui Dynasty was entering an unprecedented period of prosperity. Emperor Wen's son, Yang Guang, was a man of both literary and military talent, capable in both military and political affairs, truly a rare genius.

During the five years of his reign, the Sui Dynasty reached an unprecedented peak in Chinese history. The number of households in the country was not surpassed until several hundred years later during the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, and even the famous Zhenguan era and Kaiyuan era could not match it.

However, just as the Sui-Tang war was raging, news suddenly broke that Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang, had died a violent death. Many rumors circulated that Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, had used sorcery to strangle Yang Guang, who was thousands of miles away.

When news of Yang Guang's assassination reached Luoyang, the officials there enthroned Yang Guang's grandson, Yang Tong, the Prince of Yue, as emperor, known historically as Emperor Tai. Yang Tong posthumously honored Yang Guang as Emperor Ming, with the temple name Shizu. The peasant rebel leader Dou Jiande posthumously honored Yang Guang as Emperor Min. In the same year, Li Yuan forced the puppet emperor Yang You to abdicate, establishing the Tang Dynasty. Li Yuan posthumously honored Yang Guang as Emperor Yang, using the extremely derogatory character "Yang." Ultimately, this left Yang Guang with an enduring reputation for infamy.

While Emperor Yang of Sui's death was undoubtedly due to his debauchery and loss of ambition, he undeniably created the early prosperous era of the Sui Dynasty, undertaking projects such as the construction of the eastern capital, the Grand Canal, and the invasion of Goguryeo. The Grand Canal, later known as the "Sui-Tang Grand Canal," spans more than ten degrees of latitude, traversing the fertile North China Plain and the southeastern coastal region. It served as a vital artery for north-south transportation in ancient times, playing a significant role in history.

Subsequently, it was precisely because of this river that the Tang Dynasty was able to survive during the An Lushan Rebellion. After the An Lushan Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty's control over its territory declined sharply. Although it lost Hebei and Henan, two major regions in terms of population and revenue, it still managed to maintain control over the Jianghuai region, which was the direct reason why the Tang Dynasty was able to survive for over a century. Relying on the canal system left by Emperor Yang Guang, the Jianghuai region became the Tang Dynasty's main source of income, directly acting as a lifeline.

If Yang Guang hadn't died a violent death, the Tang Dynasty might not have been able to seize power from the Sui Dynasty so quickly. Li Yuan was quite adept at sorcery. Therefore, after establishing the Tang Dynasty, he vigorously supported Taoism, honored Laozi as an ancestor, made Taoism the state religion, and took measures to promote Taoism and elevate the status of Taoist priests.

Emperor Gaozu of Tang decreed that "Taoism should be prioritized over Buddhism, and Laozi should be prioritized over Buddhism."

However, Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, did rely on magic spells, and therefore paid a price.

In 626 AD, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident. On the fourth day of the sixth month of the ninth year of the Wude era (626 AD), Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Qi, Li Yuanji, arrived at Linhu Palace and fell into Li Shimin's ambush. Li Yuanji, a veteran of countless battles, failed to fully draw his bow three times in a row, while Li Shimin killed Crown Prince Li Jiancheng with a single arrow. This was extremely suspicious, immediately reminding Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, of his own past actions, and leading him to suspect that Li Shimin had also secretly used magical techniques.

In fact, Qin Qiong, Li Shimin's top general, did not directly participate in the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Back then, Qin Qiong, disgusted by Wang Shichong's treacherous nature, joined the Tang Dynasty along with Cheng Yaojin and others. However, he still harbored resentment towards Li Shimin's actions and therefore refused to participate in this act of using sorcery to murder his brothers and force his father to abdicate. This "door god's" righteous actions have earned him immense respect from later generations, and for centuries, he has been revered as a door god, his image pasted on the doors of every household.

After Li Shimin took control of Chang'an, Li Yuan, well aware of the situation, recalled that three days earlier, on the first day of the sixth lunar month (Ding Si day), Venus appeared in the southern sky during the day, a sign that had been foreshadowed, and that it was a natural cycle. Therefore, he abdicated the throne and became the Retired Emperor.

Afterwards, Emperor Taizong of Tang, upon ascending the throne, reiterated that "my lineage originates from Laozi," and collected hidden and secret Daoist texts from the Jin and Wei periods, widely disseminating the Great Dao. Emperor Gaozong of Tang honored Laozi as the "Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Origin." Emperor Xuanzong of Tang actively promoted internal reforms within Daoism, striving to return Daoism to the glorious era of Huang-Lao thought.

However, the mystical arts are not something ordinary people can master. If such uncontrollable powers were allowed to circulate widely in the market, no one could guarantee that one of the Tang Dynasty emperors would one day fall victim to them. Therefore, withdrawing from the mortal world is a popular aspiration among those who have attained enlightenment.

Therefore, in the third year of Zhenguan (630 AD), the Tang Dynasty reached an agreement with the celestial realm. For immortals who had unfinished business with the mortal world, they could bring along Tang Dynasty residents with the ability to cultivate immortality to establish a small, remote area called "Shengping Ningyuan" on the southern border of the Tang Dynasty. The residents of both sides were not allowed to interfere with each other.

This is known in San Pyongyang as "the first year of the old calendar in the sacred realm".

In the same year, the Tang Dynasty inscribed the location of "Shengping Ningyuan" on an iron certificate, which was known only to the emperor of each dynasty. Every year, Shengping Ningyuan would send envoys to the capital to pay homage to the emperor and present him with generous gifts that were unknown to the outside world.

(End of this chapter)