Therefore, Fangzheng was determined not to go up no matter what!
Fangzheng said, "Thank you for dispelling This Penniless Monk's doubts, but This Penniless Monk still refuses to participate."
"Abbot Fangzheng, there has to be a reason for your rejection, right?" someone immediately asked indignantly.
Fangzheng said matter-of-factly, "Just as Venerable Yi Xing said, rules are rules. How can they be abolished because of This Penniless Monk? There was no need to fight for this spot. Furthermore, This Penniless Monk has read very few scriptures, and even fewer have comprehended them. There's nothing much to say even if I go up. " With regards to this, Fangzheng did not plan on hiding it. It wasn't scary to be uncultured, but it was scary to be uncultured.
Everyone looked at each other in dismay. After so many years, this was the first time they had encountered such a person. Usually, everyone would fight for it, but this time, no one was willing to go. Could it be that he didn't have any stock in his stomach? Too embarrassed to go on stage? You still want to say that you haven't read the scriptures? If you haven't read the scriptures, how can you say something so reasonable?
Although this was what they thought, no one said it out loud.
With this in mind, the way everyone looked at Fangzheng turned a little complicated. Some were gratified by Fangzheng's frankness, while others believed him. Therefore, they were disappointed that Fangzheng didn't live up to their expectations. He had already crossed the river on a reed, so why couldn't he properly study the Buddhist Dharma?
Zen Master Baiyun spoke once again, "Abbot Fangzheng, are you sure you want to give up?"
Fangzheng immediately nodded. "Yes, give up."
Zen Master Baiyun nodded and said, "In that case, Venerable Yi Xing, I'll leave it to you."
When Yi Xing heard this, he smiled slightly, put his palms together, and said, "Disciple obeys."
When Hong Jin saw this, he was overjoyed. He still felt like he was in a dream when the First Walker went up on stage and began his lecture. From his point of view, there was absolutely no chance. To his surprise, Fangzheng had taken the initiative to give up. This was like a pie falling from the sky! However, Hong Jin had more thoughts on his mind. As he looked at Fangzheng who was listening to the scriptures, he mumbled inwardly, "Is being steadfast and magnanimous, or is there nothing in him?"
On the stage, Yi Xing was lecturing the Avataṃsaka Sūtra! At his age, there was a limit to what he could comprehend. However, Yi Xing was smart enough to avoid talking about the Avatamsaka Sūtra as a whole. Instead, he focused on one point.
"I've been reading the Avataṃsaka Sūtra day and night and have gained some insights. Especially the phrase 'one is many, many is one' mentioned in the scripture. Most people were deceived by the numbers, but they didn't know that the one and many here represented more than just numbers. Instead, it was one and ten thousand, ten thousand returning to one, one transforming into ten thousand returning to heaven and earth. Between the heavens and the earth, my heart is the only one. All the laws of the heavens and the earth are evolved from my heart. With my heart, all the laws will be born … "Yi Xing spoke eloquently for a full 20 minutes. He thoroughly explained the concept of the only one heart and controlling all laws.
Hearing this, everyone nodded and praised him inwardly. There was even applause from time to time. This was a treatment that the abbots did not receive when they were lecturing on the scriptures.
When Yi Xing finished his speech, he stood up and bowed. Everyone gave him a thunderous applause!
Hong Jin was so excited that his hands were almost swollen from clapping.
Yi Xing was very pleased with the reaction of the monks beneath him. However, he would more or less glance at Fangzheng who was applauding as well.
Zen Master Baiyun said with a smile, "Hong Jin, your Golden Bamboo Convent has a successor in the future."
Hong Jin laughed heartily and said, "Of course, of course …"
When the crowd saw Hong Jin laughing so happily, they also smiled in understanding. Despite the argument from before, everyone was still friends after the argument. They were happy for Hong Jin from the bottom of their hearts.
Zen Master Baiyun said to Yi Xing, "Yi Xing, do you have anything to say?"
Yi Xing pressed his palms together and bowed, "This Penniless Monk only spoke of his personal insights. This Penniless Monk wishes for Abbot Fangzheng to comment on it."
The moment that was said, everyone was stunned. No one expected Yi Xing to make such a request. But soon after, everyone was enlightened …
"This Yi Xing sure knows how to conduct himself. He is using this opportunity to let Fangzheng share his insights on stage and become famous together."
"He has a Bodhisattva's heart and good perceptivity. His future is limitless …"
…
Everyone believed that Yi Xing was repaying Fangzheng's kindness but they did not know that Yi Xing's true intention was to probe Fangzheng's depth!
Fangzheng was instantly dumbfounded. He was being asked to go up again? He had been hiding all day and in the end, the blame was thrown back at him! He had heard of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra and had read it. However, he had only read a tiny bit. After all, the Internet was filled with fragmented information. It was too difficult to read the entire scripture.
However, Fangzheng was gratified that Yi Xing could say anything wrong. He insisted on saying that one is many and many is one! Back then, Fangzheng had read that section and had gained some insights of his own. However, as he had read too little of the scripture, he did not know if his insights were correct. After all, his insights were gained while he was on the mountain. He had gained insights while looking at the mountains, the water, and the rocks. He had not gained insights from reading the scriptures. He had checked the insights of others on the Internet, but no one had the same insights as him.
Therefore, Fangzheng was a little uncertain.
Now that Yi Xing had come knocking on his door, Fangzheng had no choice but to bite the bullet.
Yi Xing felt a little regretful seeing Fangzheng really go up on stage. He pondered, "Does he really have the ability? But even if he does, I'm doing it out of goodwill. He can't blame me. If he doesn't have the ability, hmph … I'll just expose him. "
Fangzheng went up the stage and bowed to Zen Master Baiyun. Then, he pressed his palms together and bowed to everyone. Following that, he sat cross-legged and took a deep breath. He smiled faintly and thought to himself, "There's really no other way. I'll just shut my eyes and speak blindly. If it succeeds, I'll succeed. If it doesn't, there's nothing I can do about it."
Therefore, Fangzheng said, "This Penniless Monk has a different view of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra's' one is many and many is one '."
The moment that was said, everyone was stunned. To say that he had a different insight was equivalent to a duel with Yi Xing! Immediately, all of them turned spirited. They wanted to see what Fangzheng could figure out!
Fangzheng said, "Buddha says that all life is suffering, but where is the suffering of all life? One Finger Monastery, which This Penniless Monk lives in, is extremely remote. The number of people who come up the mountain every year can be counted on one hand. This Penniless Monk's master passed away last year. Now, This Penniless Monk is left alone. This Penniless Monk can only accept the empty monastery and ponder over things he does not understand. Until one day, a wolf and a squirrel entered This Penniless Monk's life. Only then did This Penniless Monk see the light! Wolves are happy when they are full. Squirrels are happy when they have something to play with. Every day is carefree and carefree. But humans are different. Humans suffer when they are hungry. Even if they want to eat well when they are full, they will still suffer. Not having children is suffering, but having children makes them suffer because they are tired … All life is suffering, but beasts are happy alone? What do you mean?
Just as Venerable Yi Xing said, all Dharma originates from the heart. All phenomena originate from the heart. Everything originates from the heart. There is only one heart, but the heart can evolve into endless worries. Therefore, Buddha says that one is many and many is one. This Penniless Monk believes that by abandoning those worries and transforming the myriad of worries into a pure heart, only then can one truly be liberated and obtain great freedom! "
The moment Fangzheng said that, everyone was collectively dumbfounded. There was silence and even shock!
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