Today, I Shall Teach You Mahayana Buddhism—New Book, Please Collect

Today, I Shall Teach You Mahayana Buddhism—New Book, Please Collect

Great Luo Holy Land.

Dao Discussion Hall.

Everyone fell silent.

Xuan Xin had already admitted defeat, yet doubts still lingered in his heart. He wanted Lu Changsheng to resolve them for him. If those doubts could not be dispelled, they might give rise to a heart demon, ruining all his cultivation in a single stroke.

"Wise One, Xuan Xin does not understand. Why is Buddhism meant to guide people toward goodness, and Daoism also meant to guide people toward goodness, yet the two cannot coexist? They are clearly both among All Righteous Paths Under Heaven, so why are they like water and fire?"

Xuan Xin spoke up and asked.

He voiced the doubts in his heart.

In truth, this question seemed simple, but it was fraught with danger.

The incompatibility between Buddhism and Daoism was not truly because their doctrines differed. More of it was mixed with selfish desires. Just as every nation hoped its people could live and work in peace and contentment, yet why were they not all united?

Why?

For the sake of one's own selfish desires.

If Xuan Xin asked such a question and Lu Changsheng answered it in that manner, he would, invisibly, be disparaging the Daoist sects—and such an answer would not be accepted by the world.

Moreover, Xuan Xin's question carried a fearless resolve. There was no power, fame, profit, or wealth in his eyes—only Buddhism. He possessed an innocent heart; it was merely that his obsession ran too deep.

Red leaves drifted across the sky.

Everyone was very quiet.

Lu Changsheng looked at the azure sky. His peerless features intoxicated countless women.

"The teachings differ."

Lu Changsheng gave those three words in reply.

"How do they differ?"

Xuan Xin looked at Lu Changsheng devoutly.

"Buddhism has eighty-four thousand teachings and may save all forms of sentient beings. Whether good or evil, ugly or beautiful, so long as one sincerely turns to the Buddha, the Buddhist sect will guide them across. This is an act of supreme goodness."

"Yet though Daoist teachings are boundless, they save only those with affinity."

"Buddhism says: Lay down the butcher's knife, and become a Buddha on the spot."

"Daoism says: Those steeped in slaughter shall be punished by Heaven and exterminated by Earth."

"Buddhists cultivate for the next life, with karma as their foundation."

"Daoists cultivate for this life, with affinity as their foundation."

"This is where they cannot coexist, and it is also the root of it all."

Lu Changsheng answered with the supreme Zen meaning of Daoist and Buddhist teachings.

The Buddhist sect chiefly cultivated for the next life, turning the good intentions of this life into blessed rewards in the next.

But the Daoist sect was different. It believed neither in the next life nor in past lives, seeking only this present life—to live it gloriously and spectacularly.

"What is affinity?"

Xuan Xin continued to ask.

"Affinity lies in the heart."

Lu Changsheng answered. The meaning was simple: affinity lay in the heart. Whatever you believed to be affinity was affinity, in keeping with the Daoist Zen meaning of following nature's course.

"What is affinity?"

Xuan Xin asked again.

"When affinity comes, it goes! When affinity gathers, it scatters! When affinity arises, life is born! When affinity falls, life is extinguished! All laws arise from affinity! All are bound by affinity! When affinity comes, it is decreed by Heaven! When affinity leaves, it is seized away by man! Sow such a cause! Reap such a fruit! All is created by the mind."

Lu Changsheng spoke word by word, each brimming with Zen meaning.

Xuan Xin's face was full of bitterness. He still did not understand.

"This humble monk still does not understand."

Xuan Xin spoke bitterly.

"It is not that you do not understand. It is that you do not wish to understand; you are unwilling to understand."

Lu Changsheng sighed.

"No, this humble monk truly does not understand. Please tell this humble monk, Wise One—why can Buddhism not be spread throughout the world? Because of selfish desires? Because of power?"

As Xuan Xin spoke, Buddhist light around him surged into the heavens. In his eyes were obsession, madness, delusion, confusion—and the signs of falling into demonic deviation.

The Ten Thousand Character Buddhist Seal had gradually darkened.

Terrifying Buddhist power transformed into one grotesque and terrifying Buddha after another, pressing down upon Lu Changsheng.

But—

Boom!

Purple qi swept in for thirty thousand miles, innate yin and yang coiled around him, and statues of Literary Sages across Central Province came alive one after another. Vast righteous qi descended from the heavens like comets. Lu Changsheng was wreathed in the qi of yin, yang, and the five elements, sheltered by purple qi and bolstered by the power of the Literary Sages of the world. The three phantoms behind him grew ever more solid.

The ferocious Buddha was directly and completely suppressed, making countless people breathe a sigh of relief.

At that moment, seeing this scene, Lu Changsheng could not help but sigh.

He rose to his feet and gazed into the distance, utterly unafraid of the Xuan Xin who was about to fall into darkness.

Yet perhaps because compassion had stirred within him, Lu Changsheng ultimately spoke.

"Xuan Xin, do you wish to know why the Buddhist and Daoist paths cannot coexist?"

"Xuan Xin wishes to know. I beg the wise one to impart the Dharma."

Xuan Xin knelt on the ground, devout beyond measure.

"Because the Buddhist teachings you have learned are Hinayana Buddhism."

Lu Changsheng spoke slowly.

Yet those words alone caused an enormous uproar!

"Impossible!"

"You must not speak recklessly."

"Those words cannot be spoken."

"Hiss!"

Countless experts blurted out at the same time.

In a doctrinal debate, one could criticize viewpoints, one could criticize Buddhist teachings, but one must never attack the very core of them.

Lu Changsheng could say that a certain scripture or doctrine was wrong, but he absolutely could not say that Buddhism itself was wrong. And yet now, Lu Changsheng was claiming that what Xuan Xin had learned was Hinayana Buddhism.

Such words were simply a condemnation that struck at the heart.

One had to know that Buddhism was the second greatest faith in the world, terrifyingly powerful and possessed of an immensely profound foundation.

If one truly touched their bottom line, it would bring tremendous trouble. The Daoist sect might be powerful, but Lu Changsheng truly should not have said those words.

Western Desert.

Voices erupted one after another.

"How presumptuous!"

"This boy is far too arrogant! He actually dares call what we have learned Hinayana Buddhism?"

"Hehehe, how laughable, how laughable! A disciple who has cultivated for merely three years is actually this arrogant, calling us Hinayana Buddhism."

Countless Buddhist experts flew into a rage.

All because of the words Hinayana Buddhism.

It was like two mighty dynasties holding a contest: the stronger dynasty won, yet mocked the other as a petty kingdom. Naturally, the entire nation would be enraged, because what was at stake was not personal dignity, but the dignity of a nation.

To Buddhism, Lu Changsheng's single phrase, "Hinayana Buddhism," was an extreme humiliation.

And it was not Xuan Xin he had humiliated, but the entire Buddhist sect.

Within Little Thunderclap Temple.

Inside the Great Hero Hall, all thirty-three thousand Novice Monks revealed angered expressions as arrogant voices rang out one after another.

Yet Abbot Puzhi said nothing. Instead, he merely watched in silence.

Great Luo Holy Land.

Qingyun Daoist's expression turned somewhat grim.

The implications of Lu Changsheng's words were far too great. If he could not provide a perfect answer, it would invite a catastrophe of monstrous proportions.

"Headmaster!"

Someone spoke, looking toward Qingyun Daoist. It was the Hall Master of the Hall of Punishments, transmitting his voice through divine sense.

"Transmit my order: activate every Dharma Protection Array. Great Luo Holy Land is entering a state of war readiness. If anyone makes the slightest rash move, kill without mercy! At the same time, protect Changsheng with all your strength!"

Qingyun Daoist transmitted the command with an icy expression.

"I obey the Dharma decree!"

The other accepted the order and immediately departed.

The upper echelons of the other holy lands within the hall also wore expressions of shock.

They truly could not understand why Lu Changsheng had done this.

He had obviously already won. If Xuan Xin fell to demons, then so be it—there had been no need to do this at all.

At the same time, everyone wondered what gave Lu Changsheng the confidence to call Buddhism Hinayana Buddhism.

But the world knew that, no matter what, today's doctrinal debate was destined to shake the world.

And within the Dao Discussion Hall...

Xuan Xin knelt on the ground and asked with utmost devotion.

"What is Mahayana Buddhism?"

Lu Changsheng looked quietly at Xuan Xin.

He pondered for a moment.

Then he spoke.

"Causes arise and fade; when fate arrives, all gather! Since our fate has come, today, I shall impart Mahayana Buddhism to you."

After saying this, Lu Changsheng looked toward the west.

Then he spoke.