Six-Eared Macaque continued, "Bodhisattva, you just said that one could become a Buddha the moment they laid down their butcher's knife. But I don't quite agree with that.
"If that were truly the case, then anyone in this world who wanted to become a Buddha could first go and commit evil—commit countless evil deeds—and then become a Buddha the instant they laid down their butcher's knife."
After hearing Six-Eared Macaque's words, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva could not help but furrow his brow slightly.
"Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot" was something they often said. Yet hearing Six-Eared Macaque put it this way truly came as a surprise.
"Kind people have such a difficult time becoming Buddhas. They must endure countless hardships, suffer the oppression of countless people, and be struck down and mocked by countless others, yet they still find it difficult to become Buddhas.
"But what about evil people? They spend their entire lives committing every kind of evil, enjoying all the riches and glory, and harming countless kind people. Yet in the end, all they have to do is lay down the butcher's knife in their hands, and they can immediately become Buddhas. Bodhisattva, do you think that is right?"
Six-Eared Macaque continued speaking to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
"Of course it isn't right. Anyone with a brain would never think such a thing was right—unless their brain was broken!"
Before Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva could answer, Six-Eared Macaque continued.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva smiled. Could he still disagree after Six-Eared Macaque put it that way? If he disagreed, would that not mean his brain was broken?
In truth, Six-Eared Macaque was right. "Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot" really could not be understood that way. It could only be explained differently.
"Lay down