Chapter 174 Of Beings and Buddha (1/2)

As a matter of fact, this monk actually possessed amazing power as he could walk with ease despite he's carrying a thousand pound giant bell.

He could release but not retain; although he had mastered the technique, he had yet to attain the meaning behind Dharma. Like a round boundless solar disk that could not shine brightly.

The bronze bell entered the square as it chimes. It dashed up to the sky and landed on the ground steadily while a humble looking monk appeared.

People could tell that he was not Huike while some could recognize this monk who clearly had been cultivating the Jingang Temple's King Kong Strength.

The ringing sound was dull but powerful, it took a while for it to stop ringing.

The monk placed his palms together and said, ”I am Hongzhen, my master, Huike, wants to ask the Venerable about the ringing bell.”

Baoyue the Venerable had his eyes fixed on the monk, with a faint smile he asked, ”What would he like to ask?”

Everyone knew that Huike had got the ball rolling.

Shen Lian's gaze fell on Hongzhen. This monk was exactly the same as the first time he met him. In other words, he had yet to make any improvements since then.

Although it was not too long ago when they last met the study of cultivation was like sailing against the current; one either keep moving forward or one falls behind. But Shen Lian could not sense any difference in him ever since their last encounter.

As if his cultivation experience was fixed, there were no improvements nor any deterioration.

Shen Lian felt that it was strange.

At this very moment, everyone present was waiting eagerly to see how would Hongzen ask on behalf of Huike.

Hongzhen did not let them wait for too long. He closed his eyes and opened it again. His eyes were brightly shining and one could tell that his cultivation of the physical body was actually pretty good.

He said, ”My master made a verse out of the ringing bell.” With a clear voice, he proceeded to recite the verse.

”Shadow came from the shape, a ringing sound came from noise. Without shape, one wouldn't know the shadow. Stop the sound, one wouldn't know the source of the ring. Eliminate troubles to contemplate nirvana is similar to doing away of shape to look for the shadow. But if you seek the Buddha fruit from living beings, it is similar to wanting to hear sound in silent. We should know that ignorance and foolishness are not the same. A piece of work is not famous because of its name. Making reasons out of no reasons are controversial. Is it a fantasy or is it real? Who is right or who is wrong? Whims are not facts, what exists and what doesn't?”

The Buddhist verse was a little long but the audience was uncertain about it. Even Daoist Huanzhen had his thinking face on.

This verse contained Buddhism and Daoism's charisma and had a deep meaning towards it. The phrase 'without shape, one wouldn't know the shadow', was originated from the 'Nanhua Scripture', specifically the first scripture of The Way of Heaven. It describes how Shi Chengqi sidled away from Laozi's shadow; then he retraced his steps, advanced forward and asked, how should he cultivate himself. The person that Shi Chengqi asked was the Daoist Master, and the Daoist Master answered it was what he expressed on the outside and not his nature.

It could be described as 'Seeking truth and getting rid off absurdity, is like trying to learn shape without shadow. If experiencing absurdity is real, then it's like being under shade to put the shadows to rest'. Ordinary cultivators were puzzled by the debate, only people like Baishi, Huanzhen, and Shen Lian would be able to make sense of it.

They too had the qualities of Powang and breakthrough but understanding this concept did not necessarily mean achieving it.

Just like how there were no substances in unfounded absurdity, whims.

Shen Lian had this idea that perhaps Huike was not referring to breaking through whims, he had other objectives instead.

It was because whims were highly subjective and unexplainable as everyone had their own definition of it. Some would kill holy deities or their ancestors to obtain immortality; while some were, benevolent, and rendered good for evil and eventually attained the truth.

But the essence of it was just theories. Turning into a demon was just a fine line away from becoming Buddha. What separated the two was 'intention'.

Baoyue the Venerable listened to the verse and smiled like a flower in spring. He said, ”Since Huike asked so, he must have known the answer. It's unnecessary for him to ask me.”