Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4743 Buddha Heart and Buddha Nature

Yin Wencao said, "I heard that it was proposed by Shangshu You Pushe, Yueguo Gong Fang Jun, and the ministers unanimously seconded the proposal. Your Majesty approved it and ordered Jingzhao Yin Ma Zhou to take the lead in piloting it in Jingzhao Prefecture, select the pros and cons, and find out the advantages and disadvantages, and then improve it before implementing it throughout the country."

"Emperor Taizong once praised his second son as a 'prime minister'. I didn't expect that he would have such decisiveness in just a few years. The court has added another capable minister, which is a blessing for the empire."

Yin Wencao nodded. He was a "technically-oriented" talent, and was amazed by Fang Jun. The subjects he compiled and disseminated, such as "Mathematics", "Geometry" and "Physics", had long been regarded as the benchmark by knowledgeable people all over the world.

"If before, I would definitely advocate against this decree. The size of Buddhism has long surpassed that of Taoism. If the tax rate is increased for everyone, won't we be even weaker? But now that we have decided to pass on knowledge to Taoism, it doesn't matter how much land or how many believers we have. We just need to follow the upper-class route. Moreover, I heard that this tax reform is not to simply increase the tax rate, but to determine the tax rate based on the amount of land."

Cheng Xuanying was slightly stunned, pondering the key point. Although he claimed to have "become a monk for the sake of Taoism", he was not detached from worldly affairs and was well aware of the major events in the world.

The tax system implemented in the Tang Dynasty at present is the "rent and labor system", which to put it bluntly is the two-way taxation of land and population. The basis of land taxation is the "equal field system", but now that the country has been established for a short time, the situation of land annexation in various parts of the country has become very serious. This time, the "measurement of land in the world" controlled by Xu Jingzong has measured that a large amount of land has been annexed and occupied by aristocratic families. Countless farmers have become "family without permanent property" and have to rely on aristocratic families, either renting or making contributions. The amount of land on the books has been massively reduced. Not only have these farmers who have lost their land suffered a hard life, but the state's tax collection has also been greatly reduced.

If we cut out all those messy things and only leave one criterion: paying taxes based on the amount of land and the quality of the soil, wouldn't everyone be happy?
The imperial court did not have to go to great lengths to monitor under whose name the land was held. It only had to ensure that the aristocratic families did not hide the land.

The common people no longer have to worry about losing their land. Those who have lost their land can go to the city to work, or they can rent land from aristocratic families to cultivate it, so they don’t have to pay land taxes even if they have lost their land…

"If this method is implemented throughout the world, the prosperous era can last for a hundred years! Fang Jun's strategy is enough to be recorded in history."

Cheng Xuanying praised it highly.

Yin Wencao asked: "Does our Taoist sect respond to this policy of the imperial court?"

Cheng Xuanying smiled and said, "As you said, we are not satisfied with the world occupying famous mountains and rivers to build temples, nor do we want to fool the people and harvest believers. Why do we need so much money? We just need to be ruthless and take root to study, and don't worry about other things."

Compared with the prestigious and influential status of the "state religion", the number of Taoist priests who are truly registered is far from matching its huge size. This is also the reason why Taoism is at a disadvantage in the competition with Buddhism. The threshold of Taoism is too high, and not everyone can enter if they want to.

The small number of people means less expenses. Taoists do not have the habit of building Taoist temples on a large scale or lavishing gold and powder on gods. The industries they have are fully capable of supporting the normal operation of the entire Taoist sect.

Yin Wencao also had this idea: "Your Majesty has built several Taoist temples in and outside Chang'an to help the Taoists boost their reputation. After they are built, the Taoists will no longer build Taoist temples easily."

Cheng Xuanying nodded repeatedly: "That's exactly what it should be!"

*****
The predecessor of Da Ci'en Temple was Jingjue Temple built during the reign of Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei Dynasty, which was later destroyed in the war. During the early Sui Dynasty, Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty rebuilt Wulou Temple on the original site, which was also destroyed in the war.

Today, Da Ci'en Temple has been rebuilt on the site of Wulou Temple. Its scale and specifications are the best in the world. "Its materials are made of calcite, cypress, oak, camphor, and palm, and it is decorated with pearls, jade, red, ochre, and gold and emerald." The temple has nearly 1,900 rooms, "multi-story buildings, halls, cloud-topped pavilions, and bridal chambers."

When Master Xuanzang returned from India to live here, he gathered monks from all over the world who were proficient in Sanskrit and Buddhism to translate the Indian Buddhist scriptures, so it became the center of Buddhism in the world.

The left side of the courtyard, shaded by towering ancient trees, is the most core area of ​​Da Ci'en Temple: the Sutra Translation Institute.

In the afternoon, the dense branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees block out the sun. Even in midsummer, the ground is covered with thick shade and the air is cool. Only the occasional chirping of cicadas among the treetops breaks the tranquility of the temple. The rich fragrance of tea wafts out from the open windows, and the birds perched among the branches and leaves flap their wings and chirp crisply.

Inside the monastery, Xuanzang, dressed in moon-white monk's robes, was sitting cross-legged on a cushion with his eyes slightly closed. Opposite him, an old monk in patchwork robes with a sad face was kneeling, looking relaxed and contented. It was the monk Yibao who had appeared in the Lishan Farm.

There was another monk sitting opposite the two of them. He had a handsome face and fair skin, and looked to be close to fifty years old. However, his features were clear and bright, and his eyes were bright, making it difficult to estimate his exact age...

The monk was sipping tea from a cup, enjoying himself.

There were a few cicada chirping outside the window. Yi Bao raised his hand to pour tea into the monk's cup and asked with a smile, "I wonder if this tea suits my taste, Senior Brother?"

The monk smiled, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. His voice was as clear as the sound of spring water, very pleasant to the ear: "Although this is my first time to taste stir-fried tea, the way to stir-fried tea is bitter at first but sweet later, just like the experience of practitioners like us, bitter in this life but sweet in the next. We are not afraid of hardships and are willing to accept them. The person who invented this way of writing must have a clear Buddha nature and a deep wisdom."

Yi Bao was slightly stunned: "Brother, you have never tasted stir-fried tea?"

The monk smiled even brighter: "I have lived in Shuangfeng Mountain for twenty years and have not set foot on the earthly land. I have been listening to the teachings of my master and being influenced by the Dharma. I am immersed in it and cannot extricate myself. How can I care about such food?"

Yi Bao sighed that he was not as good as him: "Brother, you have a sincere heart towards Buddhism, and you have inherited the teachings of Zen Master Daoxin. One day you will be able to establish a school and spread Buddhism."

Hearing the monk talking about "Master", Xuanzang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, finally opened his eyes and asked softly, "When I was young, I traveled thousands of mountains and rivers to Shuangfeng Mountain to worship Zen Master Daoxin. With the guidance of the Zen Master, many of my previous puzzles were suddenly enlightened. After that, I practiced for several years to hone my mind, and then I started my journey to India to seek Buddha. I have always been grateful to the Zen Master. But after returning from seeking scriptures, I was eager to translate them, so I had no time to go to Shuangfeng Mountain to worship. I was worried and often couldn't sleep well... I wonder how the Zen Master is doing?"

This monk is naturally Hongren, a disciple of Zen Daoxin...

Hongren put his hands together, suppressed his smile, and said respectfully: "Master is pure and inactive, and has profound Buddhist teachings. He has long transcended the mundane world. His body is like smoke and mist that gathers in the morning and disperses in the evening. It is not worth lingering on."

Xuanzang and Yibao were filled with awe. Although they had only heard of Hongren and had just met him, from his expression, bearing, speech and behavior, they could tell that he was a master of Buddhism and had profound cultivation. He was indeed the successor of Zen Master Daoxin. It was said that Zen Master Daoxin intended to pass on his Dharma to him so that he could take over the Zen lineage...

Yi Bao couldn't help but ask, "Brother, you have come down from the mountain to Beijing to unite the Buddhist sect to join in the great event. I wonder what you think?" He sighed and said helplessly, "The Taoists are pressing hard, and with the help of the royal family, their evil flames are getting stronger and stronger. If the Buddhist sect cannot deal with it properly, its influence will inevitably weaken, resulting in a sharp decrease in believers. As one grows stronger while the other shrinks, it will be difficult to compete with them!"

Xuanzang frowned: "As long as the Dharma is clear and the Buddha's light is universal, there will be believers who will gather and defend the Dharma. Why do we have to be so petty and put the cart before the horse?"

He does not think much of the current competition between Buddhism and Taoism. There are many kinds of people in the world. Since there are Buddhism and Taoism in the world, and their beliefs and doctrines are quite different, it is natural and understandable to believe in Buddhism or worship Taoism. All we can do is to promote Buddhism and save all believers. If we haggle with Taoism for the sake of winning over believers, then what is the point of winning over these believers?
Yi Bao, however, did not think so. "The conflict between Buddhism and Taoism is not an isolated case. Since ancient times, once Taoism wins over Buddhism, it will be slaughtered. Master, have you forgotten the tragedy recorded in the Buddhist scriptures during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty? More than 40,000 temples were destroyed, 3 million monks and nuns were ordered to return to secular life, the wealth accumulated by Buddhism for hundreds of years was wiped out, the Buddha fell into the wild, and his golden body was broken into pieces... Master, despite the difficulties, went from India to seek the true scriptures, and the world was shocked. The prestige of Buddhism was greatly boosted, and Emperor Taizong even ordered the construction of this Da Ci'en Temple. However, even so, it is far from recovering the grand occasion of the past. If Buddhism is suppressed by Taoism at this time, it will be difficult for Buddhism to find a chance to turn things around within a hundred years. How can it glorify its ancestral temple and promote Buddhism?"

Behind every large-scale "anti-Buddhism", there is the shadow of Taoism. The so-called "purity and inaction" and "following one's nature" are just a cover for Taoism to fool the people. Those Taoists can marry and have children after practicing. How can they "ascend to heaven" and "enter the fairyland" when they are still connected to the world and their six senses are not pure?

Xuanzang sighed and shook his head: "My lifelong wish is to translate Buddhist scriptures and spread Buddhism. Don't do such petty things as these."

I am not interested in getting involved in your pursuit of fame and fortune. I just want to translate Buddhist teachings quietly. Please don't bother me.

Yi Bao looked at Hong Ren again.

After the Northern Zhou Emperor Wu of Yuwen Yong destroyed Buddhism, Sengcan followed the Second Patriarch Huike to live in seclusion in the south, traveling between Sikong Mountain and Tianzhu Mountain for fifteen years, which led to the popularity of "Zen Buddhism" in the south and had a huge influence. Later, Sengcan's followers were more religious than their master. Shuangfeng Mountain where he lived was even recognized as the "Southern Ancestral Temple of Buddhism". With the support of Hongren, Buddhism could at least be invincible.

However, Hongren smiled and shook his head: "I went to Beijing this time to participate in Buddhist events such as the Ullambana Festival, and also to be entrusted by my master to give Sun Simiao the prescription for treating plague and mustard cake that can cure scabies. I will not care about other worldly matters."