The Land of the Civil Pillar

What were spiritual roots?

"Root" was a metaphor for innate character and comprehension, like a plant's roots determining its potential for growth.

"Capacity" referred to one's ability to contain the power of heaven and earth, just as vessels came in different sizes.

Buddhism used the parable of a fine horse to illustrate the differences in people's spiritual roots.

Those with superior roots: they understood when they saw the shadow of the whip and knew when to advance or retreat. They were like those who diligently pursued the path upon hearing of impermanence, possessing right understanding and the ability to awaken on their own.

Those with middling roots: they only came to their senses when the whip touched them, and needed harsh circumstances to spur them on.

Those with inferior roots: they only awoke after being whipped until they bled. They struggled to awaken on their own and needed outside guidance.

Spiritual roots were innate. Some people were born clever and perceptive, grasping whatever they learned at once; others were born slow-witted, taking three times as long as everyone else to learn.

Those with superior roots included the Sixth Patriarch Huineng. Though he could not read a single word, he had grasped the Buddha's teachings in an instant and received Bodhidharma's robe and bowl.

Those with middling roots included Chan Master Shenxiu, who used hardship and meditation to cultivate himself through gradual practice, taking things slowly, one step at a time.

Even someone as remarkable as Shenxiu could only cultivate through gradual practice. It showed that spiritual roots were determined at birth, and could not be changed by outside forces.

Yet this first test was actually examining spiritual roots. Even more bewildering, one could strengthen one's roots by hunting down other people.

"That does sound like Huang Chao."

Xiao Ran carefully