Yinshan Record

Chapter 915 Washing Feet in the Pool of Merit (Part 1)
Monk Yunming's sharp eyes swept over Su Che.

This is the demonic disciple who brought about this karma; quite something.

The Buddhist and Taoist schools differ in that they do not judge people by their innate talent or destiny, but by their past lives' karma and the level of their inherent qualities.

Although it was just a quick glance, Monk Yunming could tell that the person before him, Yang Sui, already had deep roots of goodness and was a person with great fortune. What was even more rare was that he had the best aptitude and was destined to achieve great things in this life.

"It is truly not a blessing for the righteous path for such a person to fall into the hands of the demonic sect."

Monk Yunming sighed inwardly.

In fact, the righteous path is a very broad concept. Apart from the demonic sect, everyone can be on the righteous path.

"Esteemed sir, I have a question for you. If you can answer it, I will admit defeat. If you cannot answer it, then please return home and let this matter end here."

Since Master Yunming didn't call for a fight, Su Che went along with it.

"Please enlighten me, Master."

"In the heavenly realm, there is a kingdom called Bharata. In that kingdom, there lived a great elder named Varuta. This elder possessed one mountain of gold, two mountains of silver, and three mountains of copper. This elder was determined to give alms, and every day he would donate one-tenth of the gold mountain, two-tenths of the silver mountain, and three-tenths of the copper mountain. Tell me, how much time would it take for him to give away all of these mountains of gold, silver, and copper?"

After hearing this, Su Che pondered for a moment.

Zeno's paradox, right?

You bunch of bald guys, instead of studying Buddhism, you've started dabbling in math. That's not good.

“Great monk, I think Elder Varuda’s almsgiving is not sincere. If it is almsgiving, how can he be so stingy? Does he live in Bharata? I’ll go and teach him a lesson. Damn it, he has no sincerity in giving alms to the Buddha. I think he should be sent to the hungry ghost realm.”

"Um……"

Abbot Yunming coughed once.

"This is a difficult question, merely a metaphor. You may simply answer with a date."

“There will never be a day when one-tenth is taken each day, leaving nine-tenths. If one-tenth is taken from nine-tenths, nine-tenths will still be left. This will continue endlessly for generations to come, and we will never reach the day when all the alms have been given away.”

"Since such a day will not come, then you should go back, benefactor."

Su Che glanced at Cui Shouzhuo beside him.

"Is this allowed? Isn't this just bullying people?"

Cui Shouzhu shook his head and explained.

"That's how debates work. It has nothing to do with right or wrong. The key is to leave the other side speechless. That's how you win. Mr. Yang, you should think about it more."

It has nothing to do with right or wrong; it's about silencing the other party.

Do you guys in the West really play this crazy game?
Su Che glanced at the smiling monk and almost unleashed a barrage of profanities at him.

Speechless, huh? Does being verbally abused to the point of breaking your defenses count as being speechless?
call.

Su Che exhaled a breath of stale air.

"I've figured out this schedule."

"Oh?"

When the chickens have finished eating the rice and the dogs have finished licking the noodles, that day will have arrived.

Just kidding, that chicken could really eat that mountain of rice.

“The Buddha is merciful. When all sentient beings attain supreme enlightenment and the Dharma is universally delivered to all sentient beings, Elder Varuna will have given away all his wealth.”

Cui Shouzhou's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

My junior brother really is a monkey in disguise; he does have some tricks up his sleeve.

Buddhism teaches the salvation of all sentient beings. If all sentient beings are to be saved, how much time would it take?
There's simply not enough time to finish it all.

Even if you can't finish giving away all the gold in the mountain, you can never finish saving all sentient beings. Since that's the case, then it's just right to consider it accomplished in one day.

You, a great monk, are precisely the one who cannot go back on your word.

There's no reason for a monk to say, "There are countless sentient beings to save."

These lines belong to the villains.

Abbot Yunming paused briefly, then nodded.

“Mr. Yang’s words are indeed profound. Since you have said these words, it shows that you have wisdom and are willing to take refuge in Buddhism. Since that is the case, Yunming has no intention of stopping you from visiting the World-Honored One.”

Now it was Su Che's turn to be surprised.

"When did I say I wanted to convert to Christianity?"

“The master said that all sentient beings have the potential to be saved one day. The master is also a sentient being, so he should take refuge in the Buddha.”

"This counts?"

"Of course it counts."

"I also said I would attain the power of the Lord of the End Times and reign supreme over the outer void." "That is utter nonsense."

Monk Yunming shook his head.

"They were all said by me, how can you be so clear about the difference?"

"What you just said about the day when all sentient beings will be saved was said without malice, but came from the heart."

"Then that last sentence was also unintentional..."

"No, this is just you trying to win by being clever with words, not what you really mean."

Su Che was speechless for a moment. This group of monks... forget it, why bother arguing with them? Let's see the Tathagata of Good Virtue first.

"Then please have the senior monk lead the way."

“Excellent, excellent, please come this way, both of you.”

This core area of ​​the Hungry Ghost Realm is truly paved with purple-gold and is a Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Celestial maidens roam freely, phoenixes and peacocks soar through the air, celestial dragons dance among the clouds, and white elephants stroll beneath the seven-jeweled trees. The air is filled with Buddhist light; though different from the grand spectacle of the immortal realms, it reveals another path to liberation.

Su Che followed the senior monk as they walked, occasionally exchanging a few words.

"Master, I have a question: all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature. Does a turtle possess Buddha-nature?"

"Have."

"Since you have Buddha-nature, why turn into a turtle? Wouldn't it be better to become a Bodhisattva?"

“You are indeed wise, benefactor. This is all because that bastard knowingly committed the crime.”

"Master, Buddhism has nine fundamental Buddha lights. May I ask which of these nine Buddha lights ranks first and which ranks last?"

“Compassion, compassion, the Dharma realm is empty and still, Buddha’s light shines, Buddha’s light shines, I have no face to show, why talk about this?”

"Master, I've heard of an extraordinary practice called Joyful Zen. Have you ever practiced it?"

"This humble monk is of inferior capacity and cannot comprehend such profound and wondrous teachings."

"You say I have great potential, why don't I give it a try?"

“Compassion, compassion, benefactor, you should ask your wife.”

“Master, the hungry ghost realm is one of the three evil realms. Since you are so compassionate, why don’t you dismantle it and transfer the hungry ghosts to the human realm?”

"The realm of hungry ghosts also has its advantages. Hungry ghosts are born with supernatural powers that humans do not possess. Hungry ghosts are larger in size than humans. Hungry ghosts can attain enlightenment through the karmic connections of others and can be saved by the power of the Buddha, while humans must make their own vows to do so. The realm of hungry ghosts also has its advantages."

"Is this also true for animals and hell?"

"Exactly."

"With so many benefits, why doesn't the great monk go and cultivate in the animal realm?"

“Have mercy, this humble monk spends his days mingling with animals, and is no different from them.”

“Brother Cui, this monk is dishonest; he’s cursing you.”

"No, Mr. Yang, he was insulting you."

"This is the first time I've met him today. He said he hangs out with animals every day, which means I'm not an animal. You know him well, so you must be talking about yourself."

“I only see the master once every few decades, and I see beasts every day. I’m afraid the master is angry and cursing the Buddhas.”

"With compassion, it was my fault just now, and I repent to you both."

Despite Su Che's constant harassment of Yun Ming, the great monk, being good-natured, answered all his questions.

Before them, the Buddha's light shone brightly like the sun and moon, and the faint sound of endless chanting could be heard in the air.

Su Che knew in his heart that the place ahead was most likely the true body of the Tathagata of Good Virtue.

Such a powerful figure can change the world with extraordinary phenomena without even needing to manifest his Dao foundation. Moreover, the Hungry Ghost Path is his fundamental territory.

“Master Yunming, I also have a question.”

Su Che said softly.

"Please speak, benefactor."

"Buddhism teaches that all sentient beings should be saved. May I ask, can my ancestral master, the Primordial Holy Path, also save them?"

Upon hearing the question, Abbot Yunming's face turned ashen, and beads of sweat dripped down his face like pearls.

Upon being asked the question hastily, he almost lost control of his wandering thoughts for a moment.

In Buddhist scriptures, the Primordial Demon Lord is regarded as being formed from the combined inner demons of countless sentient beings. If all sentient beings were to be liberated, where would the foundation for the existence of these inner demons lie? Therefore, they would certainly not be liberated.

But the Primordial Demon Lord is also one of the living beings.

If the Primordial Demon Lord can save them, what can he transform the inner demons of all living beings into?
The opposite of inner demons, which one symbolizes the wisdom of liberation for all sentient beings?
This is a question that could desecrate one's ancestral graves. For Buddhist disciples who emphasize the "sutras, precepts, and treatises," although it is a seemingly innocuous question, it has an unusually powerful impact.