The Secret of Reincarnation

Based on Li Qi's observations and understanding of the surrounding area, Nyingma is a sect of Buddhism.

They seem to have taken on the task of spreading Buddhism in the area, and people often come to spread various Buddhist teachings. However, in reality, this sect does not seem to focus on studying Buddhist Scriptures or Buddhist theories. They can even marry and have children. They seem to have only learned simple Buddhist sorcery and do not focus on the Dao Path.

Is it that these ordinary monks don't take it seriously, or what?

Well... everything should wait until a true Nyingma monk is found before we can discuss anything else.

With that in mind, Li Qi found another village settlement a few days later.

In this settlement, Li Qi found a monk who appeared to be a genuine Nyingma monk.

This was also the first monk he had ever seen to reach the eighth rank.

Unlike the monks of the Central Plains, this monk was wearing a bright red robe and a red hat that looked like a rooster's comb, and he was performing a ritual.

Li Qi did not show himself rashly, but waited for the other party to perform the ritual.

Shakya Zaba has just finished his last religious ceremony and has now returned to his residence.

The herders outside saw Shakya Zaba off, saying, "Thank you, Living Buddha! We never dreamed that our ancestor would one day ascend to the Pure Land of Buddha!"

Shakya Zaba replied, "As long as you uphold good intentions, think deeply and carefully, and understand and follow the Dharma, you will be able to ascend to the Buddha's Pure Land without my help."

Although he said that, the herders just grinned foolishly, clearly thinking it was unlikely.

Seeing their expressions, Shakya Zaba sighed and said, "I will not leave for the next few days. I will stay here to preach the Dharma. You can come and listen. If you can learn from it, it will not be difficult to ascend to the Buddha's Pure Land."

The herders were overjoyed and bowed again, expressing their gratitude repeatedly.

If someone can truly understand something, then someone could become a powerful mage!

Shakya Zaba pulled them up from the ground, then picked up his belongings, bid farewell to the herders, and returned to the house they had vacated for him.

Back in his house, he rested for a while, straightened his robes and red hat, and then began his daily practice.

He Law Seals with his hands, first turning to the right, meaning to protect himself, and then turning to the left, meaning to ward off all demons.

The next step refers to the eight directions and the top and bottom, which is bathing, and then combined with secret mantras.

Recite the mantra three times. "Namo Samanta Buddhanamha..."

Then, make a Vajra fist with your left hand at your heart, raise the wind wheel, and do the same with your right hand. Rotate the top left and right, pointing upwards and downwards, and then recite the mantra.

He bowed to the Buddha repeatedly.

With humility and palms joined, disperse the two streams of water, turning them counterclockwise and clockwise three times, and bless the four directions.

This is his daily practice, part of his worship of the Buddha, hoping to receive the Buddha's protection, ward off evil spirits, and purify his mind.

The entire ritual takes quite a long time, and by the time he finished, it was already dark outside.

Shakya Zaba got up again, walked to the other side, and began to cook for himself.

He was only an eighth-rank monk, not yet at the level where he could Grain Avoidance, so naturally he had to cook. Moreover, he took ascetic practice as his duty, unlike many monks who enjoyed life's pleasures.

Those who are enjoying blessings... they are truly enjoying blessings. It seems they only want to enjoy the blessings of this life, but are unwilling to consider the next cycle of reincarnation.

In that case, they'll probably suffer in the next reincarnation...

That's really unwise. At this rate, when will we ever achieve enlightenment?

These people are even called Living Buddha. How can they become Buddhas with such ignorance? Relying on the blessings of their past lives and doing good deeds in this life, they will probably be reborn Animal Path in the next life.

While cooking for himself, Shakya Zaba thought about these things.

It was precisely because he understood these things that he was motivated to always adhere to his desires, guard his mind and thoughts, and make the grand vow to "save 100,000 souls from the dead." His current ascetic practices are also for this purpose.

Today's ritual also helped a deceased person to attain enlightenment. This person was likely destined for the underworld, but through this ritual, they have been guided to the Pure Land of Buddha. It is hoped that they can achieve spiritual progress in the Pure Land of Buddha and will not fall into the underworld to suffer.

We are still 45,962 short of the goal of 100,000.

He remembered each one clearly; this was the foundation he was preparing to build for himself.

Not everyone is qualified to go to the Buddha's Pure Land. If he wants to guide someone to the Buddha's Pure Land, so that they can enjoy the bliss and hear the Dharma, he must bear the consequences of that person's sins.

With the power of his great aspirations, he gathered the gratitude of 100,000 departed souls, bore the sins of 100,000 people, and forged the Seventh-Rank Dao Foundation.

The meal was ready; it was simply boiled mutton with some plant seeds and a little bit of grain.

The Nyingma school is very secular and does not prohibit eating, because their food comes from alms; they eat whatever others give them, so they have nothing to be picky about.

Some monks who own their own businesses become picky about their food.

Only the wealthy have the right to be picky; any fast is actually a sign of having ample resources.

True asceticism involves never being picky; one eats whatever is available.

Just as he was eating mutton, there was a knock on the door.

Shakya Zaba was surprised; he did not sense any aura.

Buddhism has its own unique methods for investigating these matters. Among the famous six Divine Ability are the Heavenly Eye and the Heavenly Ear, which can see through all illusions, understand all things, and are also good at divination and fortune-telling.

These monks possessed remarkable spiritual insight and sensory abilities.

But... after the knocking sounded, he couldn't sense anything outside the door.

Who is it? Which master?

Shakya Zaba felt doubt and worry rising in his heart, but he couldn't refuse to open the door, so he calmed himself down and said, "May I ask who this esteemed person is?"

To Shakya Zaba's surprise, the thing outside actually replied.

The voice replied, "My Xia Li Qi. I came from the southwest and stumbled upon this place. I was curious, so I came to visit the Master and have some questions that I would like to ask for your answers."

"So you have some doubts. Then please speak freely." Shakya Zaba breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards the door, preparing to open it.

It's good that they can speak; if they can communicate, it means they're not that dangerous.

His ascetic practice required him to travel all over the country and cultivate in various places. He encountered countless dangers along the way, but as long as he could talk and communicate, it was not too dangerous.

He opened the door and looked to see who was speaking outside.

But then, standing outside the door was a young man who was handsome, but not exactly handsome; he was just average-looking, with an average height but a very muscular build.

However, the other party was definitely not young; at least much older than Shakya Zaba.

Shakya Zaba is already fifty years old. Although his spiritual practice is quite good, the arduous practice is still very demanding, so he looks like a middle-aged man at this moment.

Although the other person was young, his eyes and his demeanor gave Shakya Zaba the feeling of... those elders who had achieved the first stage of Sotapanna Fruit).

In Buddhism, the Fruit Position of enlightenment are: Sotapanna Fruit), Sakrdagami Fruit (Anagami Fruit), Non-returner (Anagami), Arhat Fruit, Bodhisattva Fruit, and Buddha Fruit.

The Sotapanna Fruit) means "first fruit" or "first fruit," representing that you have achieved your initial results.

Those who attain this Fruit Position will never fall into the three evil realms, will have eradicated all delusions, and will formally begin to enter the gate of Buddhism. Under normal circumstances, their lifespan will be infinite, and they will not die due to physical aging.

Among his elders was one who had attained the Sotapanna Fruit), and was now nine hundred years old, yet still young. The elder's eyes were similar to those of the person before him.

In other words...

The other party is a being of the seventh rank or higher, and it is unknown how many years they have lived, but they are definitely much older than me.

It should be a seventh-rank official, right?

"Senior, what doubts do you have? Why have you come to me? Someone who has entered the inner circle is probably far more knowledgeable than I am. If you have any doubts, how could I possibly answer them?" Shakya Zaba said, very puzzled.

Li Qi shook his head. "Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me. Everyone has something that others don't know. How can knowledge be determined by cultivation level? Alright, let's not talk about this. Since the Master is willing to answer my questions, then I won't be polite. However, there will be a reward afterward, so please take it seriously."

"Knowledge is not determined by cultivation level... Ha, as expected of a senior who has attained wisdom. In that case, please come in." Shakya Zaba nodded slightly, as if he understood something, and then made way for Li Qi to enter the room.

Li Qi walked in and found a stool to sit down.

He had been observing Shakya Zaba for several days and found that he was indeed an ordinary, conscientious monk, not the kind of person like Chanzhi Zhi.

After confirming this, he went to listen to Shakya Zaba's teachings, which were also the true Dharma, not the Evil Method, so it was clear that they had nothing to do with demonic paths.

After conducting these tests, he took the initiative to knock on the door and visit the other party, wanting to ask why this Western Paradise was so backward.

They don't even have an agricultural civilization, and many are still matrilineal clans with a walking marriage system, living a nomadic life following the water and grass. Their level of civilization is even worse than that of the Ninth Rank World.

So, after Li Qi sat down, his first question was this, "Is the Western Paradise unattended? What are the Buddhas doing? Why is it so backward? So many mortals, so many settlements, yet no one is spreading the Dharma. What's going on? Does the Master know the reason?"

Upon hearing Li Qi's question, Shakya Zaba frowned. "Is there a problem? This humble monk doesn't quite understand what you mean, senior."

"I've heard that the Buddhas of the Western Paradise are compassionate, is that true?" Li Qi explained.

"That is natural. Enlightened beings are compassionate and have equal goodwill towards all things in the world. But what does that have to do with your question, senior?" Shakya Zaba asked in return.

"If you truly have compassion in your heart, why don't you spread the Dharma? Why make them suffer like this? Look at those herdsmen outside, worrying about their three meals a day, suffering from wind and frost, living in a daze, like cattle and horses. The Western Paradise has enough power to let them hear the true Dharma and not suffer like this, but why don't you do that?" Li Qi asked.

Wushen Mountain has completely abandoned any concerns about the development of its territory, allowing it to grow as it pleases. However, it has still maintained the strength of the Heaven and Earth Great Source. The ordinary people under Wushen Mountain's rule are all exceptionally talented. With a little cultivation, reaching the next level is as easy as eating. There are as many cultivators as spirits and monsters.

How could the Buddhist community, which prides itself on compassion, be even worse than Wushen Mountain? This place is purely a wasteland, not only a desert of life, but also a desert of spiritual practice.

Upon hearing Li Qi's question, Shakya Zaba suddenly countered with, "If we let them be born in a Buddhist land, enjoying the seven treasures and three beauties from birth, and teach them the Dharma, then... would that be considered compassion?"

Li Qi was taken aback.

Indeed, if we allow these people to live a life that is the same as, or even better than, Human Path, is that considered compassion?

But Li Qi still asked, "If that's not compassion, then is the current situation compassionate? I think that in all the worlds, no one, regardless of their Dao Path, would consider causing suffering as compassion?"

"Is that so? Senior, you have already attained immortality, so you must be quite old. I wonder if you have any offspring?" Shakya Zaba asked.

"I have offspring." Li Qi nodded, Li Shiwei's face appearing in his mind.

This made him smile involuntarily.

Seeing Li Qi's expression, Shakya Zaba asked again, "Tell me, would a senior allow his offspring to suffer? Is such suffering an expression of affection or malice?"

"How can these be mixed up? Love for one's offspring should not turn into spoiling. So it is necessary to let them suffer. Essentially, it is for the sake of the offspring's future. But these people have no future to speak of. They die quickly. They are born this way and die this way. One generation after another, just like weeds, they are born and die." Li Qi explained.

When Shakya Zaba said that these people were like weeds, he noticed that the senior in front of him did not express indignation, but simply stated his concept.

This made Shakya Zaba realize that the other party did not think that people becoming weeds was a special thing. Perhaps to this senior, the suffering of these people was not important. He asked the question simply because he couldn't understand it.

The Buddhist community claims to be compassionate, so why do they treat these people like weeds, just like we do?

"Senior, are you... Shaman?" Shakya Zaba asked.

"You have a good eye. Indeed, I am Shaman." Li Qi nodded, admitting it directly.

Shakya Zaba suddenly realized that the other party's behavior did indeed resemble that of a Shaman.

To Shaman, weeds are an integral part of nature. Whether it's people, insects, or plants, there's always something that acts as a weed, and they simply consider it normal without any particular concern.

The Shaman's compassion is never based on things that are taken for granted, just as a documentary director would not interfere if he saw a seal being killed by Orca.

"My Dao Lineage is unimportant; what matters is the current issue: why is Buddhism doing this?" Li Qi ignored those questions and pressed for an answer.

"Since you are Shaman, you naturally have no concept of this. After all, in the eyes of Shaman, after a Shaman dies, they enter the cycle of reincarnation, which is like a fallen leaf returning to its roots, a natural cycle. However... the Buddhist view is not like that," Shakya Zaba said.

Li Qi blinked. "Oh? What do you mean?"

"As the elder once said, these mortals are like weeds, constantly being born and dying, but death is not the end."

Upon hearing this, Li Qi took a deep breath.

He understood.

An endless cycle of reincarnation! The lives of these mortals are also infinite!