The Buddha Child's Trial

The magnificent roar of the Six-Syllable Mantra echoed throughout the sacred realm of Spirit Mountain.

For a time, the fortunes of Spirit Mountain surged within it, and strange phenomena appeared one after another.

Yet the members of the Heavenly Court delegation paid it little heed, taking it merely for the Buddhist realm's usual morning and evening devotions.

Within the Great Thunderclap Temple, Su Yuan's figure was clearly reflected upon a water mirror.

Dipamkara Ancient Buddha rose slightly, his long brows stirring though there was no wind.

"Closer! Bring the World-Purifying Wisdom Eye closer!"

The Ancient Buddha's voice had lost its usual stillness like an ancient well, carrying a trace of urgency instead.

"Pull up every detail of his origins. Find out everywhere he has gone since entering Spirit Mountain! Leave no stone unturned! Go at once!"

A Bodhisattva below bowed and accepted the order.

It was none other than the Pure-World Dharma-Illuminating Wisdom-Eye Bodhisattva, who oversaw the inside and outside of Spirit Mountain and discerned the karmic bonds and laws of fate.

He led several Arhats with equally formidable auras and divine light in their eyes, transforming into streaks of light that merged into Spirit Mountain's great formation.

At that moment, Venerable Ananda stepped forward and pressed his palms together.

"Ancient Buddha, this humble monk has a matter concerning this man to report."

He then recounted Su Yuan's visit to him last night.

Dipamkara Ancient Buddha's gaze narrowed slightly.

"Tell me in detail. Why did he visit you at night? Did he come to pry into the secrets of our Buddhist realm?"

Ananda froze for a moment before replying, "Layman Su is also quite fond of Buddhist teachings and wished to discuss the sutras with me through the night."

"To test his aptitude, I casually asked him: outside, the banner sways and the bell rings. Is it the wind that moves, or the banner?"

The Bodhisattvas and Arhats within the hall were all drawn in. Even Guanyin Bodhisattva lightly moved the willow branch in her hand, revealing a hint of curiosity.

Manjushri Bodhisattva asked, "How did he answer?"

Ananda took a deep breath. A complicated expression appeared on his face as he enunciated each word.

"Layman Su answered: 'It is neither the wind that moves nor the banner that moves. It is the benevolent one's heart that moves.'"

"Amitabha Buddha!"

The moment those words were spoken, everyone in attendance was stunned!

The wisdom sword in Manjushri Bodhisattva's hand, capable of severing three thousand vexations and shattering the darkness of ignorance and delusion, trembled faintly and let out a clear chime.

Meditating Arhat immediately collapsed into a seated position on the floor. Golden light surged and faded around him like the tides, while he muttered endlessly to himself. He had actually fallen into a state of sudden enlightenment.

Throughout the Grand Hall of the Great Hero, Buddhist light flowed and wondrous signs abounded because of that single sentence!

Dipamkara Ancient Buddha was so excited that his long brows flew upward.

"This! If this is not an innate Buddha-heart, then what is? If he is not a Buddha child, who else could be?"

Dipamkara Ancient Buddha urged Ananda on.

"And then? What else did he say?"

Ananda looked troubled and began to hem and haw.

The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas grew unbearably impatient and repeatedly pressed him.

"Say it already! You're driving us mad with suspense!"

Ananda could only brace himself and say, "Afterward... afterward, this layman took out a storage pouch and wished to use two million spirit stones to form a good karmic bond with this humble monk."

An eerie silence instantly descended upon the Grand Hall of the Great Hero.

The Buddhas lowered their eyes, while the Bodhisattvas stood bewildered.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva frowned.

"Ananda, those who have left the worldly life do not speak falsehoods."

Ananda hurriedly pressed his palms together.

"With all Buddhas above as witness, this humble monk has not uttered a single false word!"

Manjushri Bodhisattva pondered for a moment.

"Layman Su does not speak plainly and directly; he enjoys taking a winding path with his words. Could there be some deeper meaning here? Perhaps, 'Spirit stones too are empty; greed and anger are all delusions'? Ananda, might your Buddha-nature be insufficient, leaving you unable to grasp the layman's subtle thrust?"

Dipamkara Ancient Buddha immediately nodded.

"Possible! Entirely possible! Ananda, you must have misunderstood! Manjushri Bodhisattva possesses the greatest wisdom in our Western Sect. Surely only he can keep pace with the Buddha child's train of thought."

As they spoke, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva suddenly said, "Then what should Kasyapa do at this moment?"

Everyone's eyes immediately turned toward the water mirror—

Su Yuan stood alone in a pavilion halfway up the mountain, leaning against the railing as he gazed into Spirit Mountain's sea of clouds.

He appeared to be admiring the view, but inwardly he was worrying over how to contact the Golden-Winged Roc and send off the little rocs in his pocket as soon as possible.

While he was at it, he could get acquainted with Buddhism. Even if no business came of it, making a few friends would still be worthwhile.

The flourishing of Buddhism after the Journey to the West was already destined. If the Heavenly Court ran out of money by then, slipping away to the Western Paradise would not be a bad path either.

Venerable Kasyapa was usually even more withdrawn than Venerable Ananda.

At this moment, he clutched the Six-Syllable Mantra, his face red as he did not know whether to enter or leave.

Suddenly, Dipamkara Ancient Buddha's urgent voice transmission rang in his ears.

"Kasyapa! What are you standing around for? Go speak with Layman Su at once! Do not slight him!"

Venerable Kasyapa jolted, hurriedly straightened his kasaya, and strode into the pavilion. Forcing a stiff smile onto his face, he pressed his palms together.

"Layman Su, you have refined tastes. Look upon this sea of clouds—calm and boundless, limpid as though freshly washed. It reflects Spirit Mountain's splendid scenery, like an enormous bright mirror suspended between Heaven and Earth. It lifts the spirit and clears away all stray thoughts."

The words were rather forced. He was obviously grasping for something to say, and Kasyapa himself blushed after finishing.

Su Yuan had spent several thousand years working construction sites. At a glance, he could tell Kasyapa was making conversation out of nothing. For all he knew, the man might be here to collect a gift.

An incomparably sincere and warm smile instantly blossomed across his face as he replied enthusiastically.

"Your words are exactly right, Venerable One! Wonderful! Both the scenery and the comparison are truly exquisite beyond compare!"

He took the opportunity to move closer and sit beside Kasyapa.

"This sea of clouds is indeed like a bright mirror. It can reflect all things, and it can also reflect one's true heart. It is clear that the Venerable One's insights into Buddhist cultivation run profound. This junior admires you greatly."

"Speaking of this bright mirror, in my cultivation I often contemplate the work of polishing one's heart-nature. I once heard a verse: 'The body is a Bodhi tree; the heart is like a bright mirror stand. Wipe it diligently at all times, and let no dust cling to it.' What does the Venerable One think?"

Seeing the subject naturally turn toward Buddhist teachings, Venerable Kasyapa felt greatly relieved and nodded faintly.

"Good. This verse emphasizes constant cultivation and the merit of gradual enlightenment. Layman, you truly understand Buddhist teachings. Though you have yet to reach the realm of complete enlightenment, that is already exceedingly rare..."

Unexpectedly, Su Yuan adopted the look of someone agonizing in thought before attaining insight, then refuted himself.

"Yet lately, amid Spirit Mountain's sacred splendor, as I gaze upon this vast sea of clouds and sense the boundlessness of Buddhist teachings, I reconsider this verse and feel that it remains attached to outward forms. It has not reached the ultimate truth!"

He raised his head toward the endless sea of clouds. His sleeves stirred though there was no wind, and he recited in a ringing voice.

"Bodhi was never a tree; the bright mirror was never a stand. Originally there was not a single thing—where could dust possibly cling?"

The moment this verse emerged, Dipamkara Ancient Buddha suddenly rose within the Great Thunderclap Temple. The twenty-four streams of clear, crystalline light behind him began to fluctuate violently, casting the entire hall into shifting light and shadow.

Guanyin Bodhisattva's fingers, which held the willow leaf, froze in midair. The sweet dew in the Jade Pure Vase stirred without wind, rippling with specks of clear radiance.

The Dharma bodies of several hundred Buddhas and Bodhisattvas either trembled with chaotic golden light or tilted ever so slightly in their precious countenances.

This verse pointed directly at the original heart, severing every attachment to dust and obstruction. Its realm was so lofty that "sudden enlightenment" could no longer describe it. It was nearly comparable to the Buddha's own transmission of the Dharma in bygone days!

Unable to contain himself, Dipamkara Ancient Buddha said to the Pure-World Dharma-Illuminating Wisdom-Eye Bodhisattva, "Quick! Send a voice transmission to Kasyapa immediately! He must agree to every request this Buddha child makes, no matter what he wants to do!"

Su Yuan had no idea that every movement he made was being broadcast live to the Great Thunderclap Temple.

Seeing no one around, he felt the timing was ripe again. Out of habit, he reached for his storage pouch, preparing to "exchange" something with Venerable Kasyapa.

When Venerable Kasyapa saw Su Yuan take out a pile of spirit stones, he immediately became at a loss. He froze where he stood and instinctively wanted to refuse.

Dipamkara Ancient Buddha's voice transmission exploded in his ears again.

"Fool! What are you dawdling for? Take them! Take them at once! This is the Buddha child's trial! It is also a karmic bond!"