bookbashuk Chapter 10: Did Buddha ever save you?
Chapter 10: Did Buddha ever save you?
Chen Fan shouted at the top of his lungs, and the surrounding people were immediately attracted.
"Taoist priest, is it really free?" an older woman asked, still somewhat doubtful.
"No money required!" Chen Fan said generously. "I cultivate merit, money is just an external thing."
He poured out a pill and handed it to a man who looked emaciated: "Brother, I see you are deficient in both qi and blood. Here, try this."
After taking the pill, the man felt a warm current flow through his body, and he instantly felt refreshed; even his backache disappeared.
"Amazing! This is truly a miracle drug!"
This caused an uproar among the crowd, who surged forward.
As Chen Fan distributed the pills, he guided the distribution with words.
"Fellow villagers, do you know why you're sick? It's because of your constant worship of Buddha! You've given all the money you've worked so hard to earn to the clay sculptures in the temple, while you yourself are starving and freezing. Of course your health will collapse!"
"What is Buddha? Buddha is a vampire! He wants your incense offerings and your money, but he can't give you a single grain of rice or a single piece of clothing!"
"But we Taoists talk about carefree living, about being at ease, about enjoying life in this very life!"
His words were simple and easy to understand, and they hit the nail on the head regarding the pain points in people's lives. In an instant, the crowd was stirred up.
"The Taoist priest is right! We pray to Buddha every day, yet our lives are still so miserable!"
"Those monks from Huasheng Temple are all eating so well, their faces are shiny with oil, while we can't even get a sip of hot soup!"
Just as Chen Fan's "personal presentation" was in full swing, he suddenly felt two unfriendly gazes fall on him.
He followed his instincts and saw two people in the crowd: a simply dressed woman and a kind-looking young man, who were staring at him coldly.
Although they disguised themselves well, the woman's faint aura of Buddha and her compassionate nature could not be concealed.
[Ding! Warning! Guanyin Bodhisattva and Huian Xingzhe (Muzha) have been detected nearby!]
The system notification confirmed Chen Fan's guess.
Wow, speak of the devil and he appears!
Guanyin clearly noticed Chen Fan, this "oddball," and she parted the crowd, leading Muzha over.
"This Taoist priest seems to have some skill." Guanyin's voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.
"But in this capital city of the Tang Dynasty, to openly slander Buddhism and mislead people—aren't you afraid of retribution, Taoist priest?"
Chen Fan smiled.
"Madam, you're mistaken."
"What is Buddhism? What is the human heart? I only see the suffering of the people, so I lend a helping hand. Buddhism wants golden statues, while Taoism provides food and clothing. Which do you think the people need more?"
He pointed to the people around him who were grateful to him.
"Besides, I was just telling the truth. How did that become inciting people? Has Buddhism become so domineering that it can't even tolerate the truth?"
"You!" Mu Zha roared in anger and was about to step forward.
"Muzha, step back." Guanyin stopped him.
She gave Chen Fan a deep look, her gaze eerily calm.
She knew she couldn't bring herself to do it here today.
This city of Chang'an is protected by dragon energy, and this young Taoist priest has clearly won the hearts of the people.
Taking action here will not only bring no benefit, but will also damage the reputation of Buddhism in the human world.
"What a sharp tongue," Guanyin said coldly.
"I hope your skills are as sharp as your words."
After saying that, she didn't linger. She turned around, took Muzha, squeezed out of the crowd, and hurriedly left.
Looking in the direction she left, it was Huasheng Temple.
Chen Fan knew that Guanyin was getting anxious and was about to take action against Tang Sanzang ahead of schedule!
"Great Sage, the show is about to begin!" Chen Fan transmitted his voice to the bee on his Taoist crown.
"That woman's gone?" Sun Wukong's voice was filled with excitement.
"She's gone, heading to Huasheng Temple. I bet she's going to give that monk some special training tonight, provide him with equipment, and release the pilgrimage mission while she's at it."
"So what do we do?"
"Don't rush." A mischievous smile appeared on Chen Fan's lips.
"We'll sabotage her tomorrow with the equipment she gave her!"
Early the next morning, news spread throughout Chang'an.
The young Taoist priest in the west of the city, who gives away medicine for free, is going to publicly challenge the abbot of Huasheng Temple, Master Xuanzang, and debate the Dharma with him in public!
The topic of the Dharma discussion was even more explosive: to save people from suffering and distress, should we rely on the Buddha in the Western Paradise or on our own hands?
The entire city of Chang'an was in an uproar!
The word spread quickly among the people, and before the time for the Dharma discussion even arrived, the entrance to Huasheng Temple was already packed with people.
Meanwhile, inside the meditation room of Huasheng Temple.
Tang Sanzang, also known as Chen Xuanzang, was sitting cross-legged.
Before him lay a shimmering, colorful brocade robe and a nine-ringed tin staff.
On his head, there was now a bright gold headband...
Last night, Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared to him in his dream, telling him about his past and present lives, as well as the important mission of obtaining Buddhist scriptures from the West.
He also bestowed upon them these two Buddhist treasures.
As for the golden headband, Guanyin Bodhisattva said it was a treasure that could help him calm his mind and resist inner demons.
Chen Xuanzang believed it without a doubt and put it on immediately.
"Master, that evil Taoist priest is challenging us again!" A young monk rushed in, flustered.
Chen Xuanzang slowly opened his eyes, his expression calm.
"Amitabha Buddha, since he wants to discuss this, then this humble monk will discuss it with him, so that he may witness the vastness and profundity of my Buddhist teachings."
Having said that, he donned a kasaya, held a tin staff, and walked out of Huasheng Temple, surrounded by a group of monks.
A high platform had already been erected in the square outside the temple.
Chen Fan, dressed in a blue Taoist robe and holding a whisk, had been waiting for a long time.
He smiled slightly when he saw Chen Xuanzang come out.
"Master Xuanzang, you've finally come out."
"Amitabha." Chen Xuanzang clasped his hands together. "Daoist Master, you insist on discussing the Dharma with this humble monk. May I ask what you wish to discuss?"
"It's very simple," Chen Fan said, pointing to the huge crowd of people below the stage.
"Today, let's not talk about those vague and ethereal scriptures and doctrines, but only about the hardships of the people."
"Tell me, if the Buddha is so compassionate, why does he remain unmoved while watching sentient beings suffer?"
Chen Xuanzang frowned: "This is the calamity of all living beings; it is not that the Buddha is not compassionate."
"What a calamity!" Chen Fan laughed. "You mean, the people deserve to suffer?"
"The Buddha said that all beings are equal. Why is it that you monks can sit back and enjoy the offerings of incense without engaging in any productive work, while ordinary people have to toil and go hungry?"
"This...this is the offering of believers, their devotion."
"What utter nonsense about piety!" Chen Fan cursed outright. "That's nothing but a pie in the sky! You use some vague afterlife to swindle them out of their hard-earned money in this life!"
"You!" Chen Xuanzang's face turned red with anger.
Chen Fan didn't give him a chance to catch his breath and continued to ask questions.
"I ask you, has your Huasheng Temple ever given even a single grain of rice to the beggar outside its gate?"
"I ask you, how many people's entire year's harvest would it take to buy this robe you're wearing?"
"I'll ask you again! You keep talking about saving all sentient beings, but you've never even experienced their suffering. What makes you think you can save them?!"
Chen Fan's voice grew louder and louder, like a heavy hammer striking Chen Xuanzang's heart.
Chen Xuanzang was speechless when asked these questions. Although he was well-versed in the scriptures and had a profound understanding of Buddhism, he had never thought about these issues before.
His faith began to waver at that moment.
Seeing his wavering expression, Chen Fan knew that the time was almost right.
"Master Xuanzang, I see that you are also a person with wisdom, but you have been blinded by the hypocrisy of Buddhism."
"How about we make a bet?"
"Let us both change into beggar's clothes, without a penny, and go to all the temples in Chang'an to see which one will give us a meal."
"If even one company agrees, I'll admit defeat!"
Chen Xuanzang was stunned.
Looking at Chen Fan's confident eyes and then at the murmuring crowd below the stage, he nodded as if possessed.
"Very well, this humble monk will take your bet! The Buddha saves all sentient beings; how could he stand by and watch someone die?"
Sun Wukong, who had been waiting impatiently for a while, immediately conjured up two sets of tattered beggar's clothes upon hearing this.
Thus, a peculiar scene unfolded in Chang'an.
Two "beggars," one a highly virtuous monk forced into the role and the other a "Taoist priest" deliberately looking for trouble, embark on a performance art-like "alms-begging" journey.
The first one is Longxing Temple in the east of the city.
Upon seeing the two beggars, the monk, without saying a word, immediately summoned the martial monks, who then used their sticks to drive them away.
"Get out! This is a sacred Buddhist sanctuary; how dare you vile people like yourself enter!"
The second one is Baozha Temple in the south of the city.
The young novice monk at the door didn't hit anyone; he just pointed at the donation box.
"Want to eat? Sure, but first, donate some money for incense oil."