Who Can Go to Paradise? New Book, Please Collect

Who Can Go to Paradise? New Book, Please Collect

Great Luo Dao Discussion Hall.

With a single sentence—"I am the Dao"—he won the acclaim of the entire hall.

It was not because Lu Changsheng's answer had been especially complete, but because he had established a kind of confidence.

Xuanxin Dharma Master had come to Central Province and debated Buddhist teachings, defeating every prodigy in Central Province.

He was building his Invincible Heart.

Step by step, he had made his way to the Great Luo Holy Land. Every victory strengthened his confidence and reinforced his conviction.

Now that he had arrived at the Great Luo Holy Land, Xuanxin Dharma Master's confidence had become flawless.

And debates over doctrines in a world of immortals and martial arts were no simple contests of words.

More importantly, one had to crush the other party's confidence and make the enemy doubt their own convictions. Only then could it be considered a victory.

Otherwise, if it were merely a battle of words, there were many sophistries that could leave people unable to answer.

Thus, in such debates of doctrine, the questions raised had to be connected to one's own or the other party's "Dharma."

And the answer given by the other side first had to strike directly at the heart of the matter, then use their own "Dharma" to explain your "Dharma."

Only a perfect explanation counted as a correct answer. If the explanation was imperfect, it could not be called correct.

Xuanxin Dharma Master had come to the Great Luo Holy Land.

Lu Changsheng's very first question had been: What is Buddha?

It seemed like a rather difficult question.

And Xuanxin had given a corresponding answer: Those who ferry others across are all Buddhas.

He had used his own Buddhist teachings to explain Lu Changsheng's question.

And his answer had not been bad.

Though Lu Changsheng believed it was wrong and proposed a better viewpoint, that did not prove anything.

Xuanxin's confidence remained intact!

Losing one round was nothing.

Then Xuanxin turned Lu Changsheng's question around and asked it back. In truth, at that moment, Xuanxin had already laid a trap.

Because the perfect answer was: All living beings are the Dao.

If Lu Changsheng answered with that sentence, it would mean that Buddhism and the Dao shared the same origin.

But if Lu Changsheng did not answer with that sentence, Xuanxin would give such an explanation, meaning the situation would end in a draw.

Perhaps some people could not see this, but the upper echelons of the Daoist sects understood the situation clearly. That was why they were somewhat tense, unsure how to break the deadlock.

Yet unexpectedly, Lu Changsheng said, "I am the Dao."

That sentence not only established Lu Changsheng's Invincible Heart, but more importantly, it perfectly shattered this setup.

No—even from the very beginning, Lu Changsheng had been laying a trap.

He had been waiting for Xuanxin to take the bait, and Xuanxin had indeed taken it.

Not only had he taken the bait, he had even helped Lu Changsheng build his confidence!

It could be said that this was a battle of exceptionally high-level strategy.

One question, one answer—wisdom without end.

Xuanxin had lost, and he had lost the first round miserably.

That was why Xuanxin's expression had changed.

Within Little Thunderclap Temple in the Western Desert, when Master Puzhi saw this scene, he could not help pressing his palms together. "Great wisdom."

The monks remained silent. Xuanxin Dharma Master, who had always looked down upon all beneath him in invincible pride, had actually lost. Though it was only the first exchange of questions and answers, it carried the feeling of an unfavorable start.

Little Thunderclap Temple was able to see the scene within the Great Luo Holy Land only because the Great Luo Holy Land had not severed this Buddhist connection. Otherwise, Master Puzhi would have been unable to witness this scene. This had been permitted.

Great Luo Holy Land.

Lu Changsheng did not appear especially delighted. On the contrary, he remained calm, and even treated the opponent before him with great seriousness.

After all, this man had debated his way to the Great Luo Holy Land, defeating the Nine Great Holy Lands and countless aristocratic clans in succession. How could such a person be underestimated?

One could be confident!

But one absolutely could not become overconfident.

Lu Changsheng feared nothing, but neither was he blindly reckless.

"Such great wisdom! This little monk has been taught."

Xuanxin rose to his feet and performed a grand Buddhist salute toward Lu Changsheng.

The second Dharma debate began.

This time, Xuanxin asked the question.

"Human life has eight sufferings: birth, old age, sickness, death, love, hate, separation. My Buddha has supreme scriptures that allow people to transcend suffering and reach the other shore. What method does the Daoist school have to free people from suffering?"

Xuanxin asked this as his second question.

Lu Changsheng answered without a moment's thought.

"The Law of Nature!"

"What is the Law of Nature?"

"Let nature take its course!"

"What does it mean to let nature take its course?"

"When born, live life to the fullest. When old, enjoy one's remaining years. When ill, keep one's thoughts broad and open. When dying, return to one's roots like fallen leaves. When in love, love with earth-shaking passion. When hating, learn to let go. When parting, learn to cherish. When resentful, learn to remain calm. When one cannot obtain what one seeks, learn to move forward. When the five aggregates blaze fiercely, understand wisdom."

"Buddhism guides people across, making the world forget the eight sufferings. Daoism is different—it makes people remember the eight sufferings, understand the eight sufferings, able to take them up and able to put them down. This is the profound method of the Daoist school."

Lu Changsheng spoke calmly.

Everyone praised him lavishly.

Xuanxin had used the eight sufferings as his subject, praising Buddhism's supreme scriptures.

Buddhism's way of dealing with the eight sufferings was to forget all vexations, believing that people suffered because their attachments ran too deep.

But Lu Changsheng's answer was even more brilliant.

He believed that the eight sufferings of life were things one had to pass through. Rather than rack one's brains trying to let them go, it was better to take them up and fully experience birth, old age, sickness, death, love, hate, and separation.

If it was love, then love with earth-shaking passion.

If it was hatred, then learn to let go.

If it was resentment, then temper oneself and press forward.

If it was separation, then understand how to cherish.

Forgetting was an escape.

Only facing it bravely was the truth.

This insight into Zen left everyone in endless admiration.

Xuanji Dharma Master could not help drawing a deep breath. He pressed his palms together once more and said, "Amitabha. Benefactor, you truly possess great wisdom. This humble monk has learned much."

He truly had learned much.

He wished for the world to forget its troubles, believing all three to be empty. Yet Lu Changsheng had instead pointed directly at the heart. His realm and wisdom were both greater than his own.

He was utterly convinced.

Very soon, Lu Changsheng posed his second question.

"A fishmonger lived beside an eminent monk. Every day, the fishmonger slaughtered fish, committing grave karmic sins. Every day, the eminent monk recited scriptures for all living beings. One day, the fishmonger and the eminent monk agreed to rise early. Each day, the eminent monk rose early to recite scriptures and pray for blessings for all living beings, while each day, the fishmonger rose early to slaughter fish, his hands stained with blood."

"May I ask, Dharma Master: after they die, which of the two may enter paradise?"

Lu Changsheng asked this question.

The moment those words were spoken, everyone was dumbfounded, frozen like wooden chickens.

Did this question even need an answer?

Surely the eminent monk could enter the Western Paradise?

After winning two rounds in a row, was he going easy on his opponent?

Was he displaying the bearing of the Daoist school?

It was good, certainly, but it was also rather risky.

No one knew what to say.

Yet some believed that the question was far from so simple.

Xuanxin Dharma Master pondered earnestly.

But he only had One Incense Stick's Time.

In the end, Xuanxin Dharma Master slowly spoke.

"The fishmonger went to the Western Paradise."

His answer left everyone completely bewildered.

It was practically a question that handed him the points, yet he had still answered wrong?

"Why?"

Lu Changsheng asked calmly.

"I can guess it, but I dare not say it."

Xuanxin drew a deep breath and answered thus.

"Why don't you dare speak?"

Lu Changsheng asked.

"It concerns the foundation of Buddhist Dharma. It cannot be spoken, cannot be voiced, cannot be guessed."

Xuan Xin looked at Lu Changsheng and answered thus.

"If you do not answer, then you lose!"

Lu Changsheng looked at Xuan Xin and said.

"It is only the second round."

Xuan Xin replied.

Lu Changsheng could not help but nod.

The crowd, however, was utterly lost, as though surrounded by clouds and mist.

They had no idea what the two were talking about.

Then Great Luo Elder's voice rang out.

"In the second round, Xuan Xin declines to answer and is deemed to have lost. Lu Changsheng will provide the answer."

As his voice rang out, Lu Changsheng answered the question.