I was a charlatan in India

Within the space.

Arti stood on tiptoe, leaning over the edge of a ceramic pot that was far too big for her, and laboriously stirred the porridge inside with a wooden spoon.

Glug glug, glug glug...

The rising steam made her little face flushed red.

"Be careful not to get burned."

Shenhe offered occasional reminders while keeping an eye on the situation outside.

It was an adobe house in the south of the city, provided by the devout, scarred merchant.

Inside the room was a huge round table, with twelve people sitting in a circle, except for the head seat, which was empty.

The atmosphere between them was somewhat subtle.

Apart from Scarface and Round Face, I wasn't very familiar with anyone else.

Moreover, the house contained both Vaishyas and Shudras, who rarely interacted with each other.

From a modern perspective, that's the difference between a boss and a worker.

Let alone communicating, they basically never even see each other.

Even the direct superiors of a Shudra would only be the smarter Shudras, not a Vaishya.

The only thing that can connect them is their shared faith.

Shiva, the Great Deity.

These twelve people were believers carefully selected by Shenhe and visited by Arti.

They were either rich or had the ability to spread information; in short, they were useful to Shenhe.

Even gods are realistic.

The doctor finally arrived much later.

It wasn't about showing off; in fact, after receiving the divine oracle, he immediately pulled out his Vaishya robes and prepared to set off.

But before leaving, smelling the odor on his own body, he took another shower, and only then did he head to the scene clean and tidy.

Even with Shenhe's support, his house was still dirty and messy, and he always carried Dalit's stale smell.

We need to change this, otherwise it will delay important matters, and we might not be able to make cheap bread anymore.

Fortunately, the role he plays is of a high enough status that his lateness seems reasonable.

Once he puts on this robe, he becomes an ascetic on par with Mahata, Nishi!

The heavens said that this was his Dharma, and that the suffering of Dalit was his ascetic practice!

As for what Bodhidharma was, the doctor didn't know, and he didn't care.

As long as he does things well, he can remain a superior person, and might even go further!

Dry!

This grand gathering, convened by divine messengers and presided over by powerful ascetics, naturally received full attention from these devout believers.

Not to mention the divine messenger made a wish; if things are done well, money and health are nothing to worry about.

Even caste can be changed!

So the group of Vaishyas and Shudras looked at the Dalit doctor with great respect as he slowly and leisurely sat down in the main seat.

The doctor was deeply moved.

Normally, any one of the people present, even a random Shudra, could break his legs without any consequences!

Dalit is not a person.

This is a deeply rooted consensus in this land.

He himself came to believe this at some point.

However, everyone in the room now regarded him as the host of the meeting!

So even the Vaishyas are nothing special after all. Are they Kshatriyas, or even Brahmins...?

"Let's begin."

Shenhe's voice suddenly echoed in my mind.

Upon hearing this, the doctor quickly stopped his wild thoughts, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with ambition.

He spoke slowly, using a tone meant to deceive patients.

"The summons of you all today is not my intention, but a divine decree from Heaven."

The very first sentence sent a chill down everyone's spine!

This was a powerful ascetic who could rival Mahaśrāvaka.

It is said that he had long since transcended the ordinary and attained sainthood, receiving power bestowed by the heavens, and possessed wisdom that was among the best in the world, surpassing even the most eminent monks in the capital!

I never expected that I would have the opportunity to participate in the meeting he organized!

Not to mention there are only twelve people here, making the seats extremely precious.

Doesn't that mean I also carry some kind of divinely ordained mission?

Their hearts began to stir.

The doctor's gaze swept over everyone, and then, following the lines arranged by Shenhe, he got straight to the point.

"Nowadays, rumors are rampant and people's hearts are restless."

"People lose hope in the caste system, and people also lose their way in the new Dharma."

"However, this scene is not the end. What Heaven desires is that all people can connect with the true Dharma and attain perfection."

"Therefore, He is willing to open a visible and tangible door for us lost souls."

The round-faced businessman's Adam's apple bobbed.

That divine messenger once said that if you do a good job, you can become a Brahmin!

The scarred merchant clenched his fists even tighter.

This is a blessing from heaven, an opportunity that is rare to come once in several lifetimes.

He was determined to carefully savor the words of the ascetic elder, not missing a single one!

The doctor continued.

"The heavens have sent down a divine decree: the old name carries the old legacy, and the old steps remain entrenched in old suffering."

"We shall begin a new path under a new name; therefore, this gate shall be named..."

He paused, letting the silence spread throughout the room, and then slowly uttered the name.

"Mahakala".

The reason for choosing Daheitian was mainly because Shenhe lacked sufficient knowledge.

He cannot use Shiva's existing titles to make a mess, as that would be easily exposed by discerning people.

They dared not bestow titles arbitrarily, for in this world of extraordinary power, such a thing might bring about certain consequences.

Therefore, we can only use the titles that Shiva later evolved into to represent him.

In his memory, he only knew two kinds.

One is Shiva, which is the title that Shiva was first adopted and demoted after Buddhism flourished in the area.

This title likely already existed during the reign of King Ashoka, and many monks may have already been using it.

The other one is Daikokuten.

Some say this is a title for Shiva in Tantric Buddhism, meaning a guardian deity who "subdues evildoers," which barely fits with their own nonsense.

As for the later titles such as "Mahakala," Shenhe had never heard of them at all.

For someone who works in marketing to know these things is already quite impressive!

In Shenhe's eyes, Tantric Buddhism is just a bunch of autistic people, much like shut-ins. Even if someone tries to steal their title, they won't jump out and cause trouble.

Therefore, even if the origin of Mahakala is also unclear, it is much safer than using Maheshvara.

Besides, Shiva isn't their main deity, so it doesn't matter.

In addition, these guys also believe in Xiu Jinsheng, which is almost identical to what he planned to use to fool the guys in front of him.

He directed the doctors to begin popularizing his cobbled-together doctrines.

"This new Dharma has three meanings. Please listen carefully and keep them in mind."

"Firstly, do not fantasize about the next life, but only cultivate this life."

This is the most crucial element, which Shenhe stole from the Taoists.

Most current doctrines emphasize the practice of creating an afterlife.

However, in Shenhe's view, this pie-in-the-sky promise was too far-fetched and not conducive to explosive dissemination.

The afterlife?

He couldn't even wait fifteen days.

Give me maximum positive feedback!

Enjoy this life to the fullest!

Even if you do something for me, I'll make you guys have a blast!

The doctor explained, "If we cultivate diligently for a thousand years, we may be able to become Brahmins in our next life."

"But who will suffer hunger and hardship in this life for me?"

Something gleamed in the murky eyes of the back-scrubbing worker.

He was indeed a believer in the Great Heaven, but his life had been too bitter.

He had asked himself this question countless times, but he never got an answer.

"The Great Heaven said: Your karma in this life should be settled in this life, and your good deeds in this life should be rewarded in this life."

"Working hard to support one's family is a form of self-cultivation; fair and honest transactions are also a form of self-cultivation. This kind of self-cultivation means seeing the rice bowl and feeling the warmth."

The back-rubbing worker nodded repeatedly.

Secondly, individual efforts are not as effective as collective efforts; small acts of kindness can accumulate into great virtue.

Nish continued, "The strength of one person is limited, but the will of many can move mountains."

"The heavens not only accept believers who practice asceticism, but also accept all beings who support one another. This power flows like the Ganges River, never ceasing."

Whether or not one practices asceticism is irrelevant!

First, get my head up, and then someone will naturally curl up and go crazy.

If you start by asking someone to slap you across the face, you'll scare away a lot of people.

But if you lure them in first, and then set up a few exemplary figures who are incredibly diligent in their practice, see if they'll be eager to learn from you!

Expand your customer base relentlessly!

The scarred merchant nodded thoughtfully.

The ascetic practices are fucking terrifying!

Thirdly!

Nish's voice suddenly rose, he braced his hands on the table, leaned forward, and his piercing gaze swept over every face.

"Snapped!"

The round table made a crisp sound, as if stamping and authorizing the promises to come.