My autobiography is definitely not a tragedy!
Chapter 656 - 413 I’m Not Quite Suited for Learning Buddhism_2

Chapter 656: Chapter 413 I’m Not Quite Suited for Learning Buddhism_2

"Only by eradicating the four troubles and thoroughly understanding the truth of the emptiness of both person and dharma, and by comprehending the eighth primary consciousness, the ’Alaya Consciousness’, can one attain the state of ’No Heart Outside Buddha’."

"However, all dharmas are non-self, and since time immemorial, Manas consciousness has incessantly clung to the Alaya Consciousness as self, reincarnating alongside the Alaya Consciousness, transmigrating through birth and death.

Since Manas consciousness is also in the cycle of samsara, how can it not overshadow the holy path or obscure one’s true nature?"

"Depending on whether the six consciousnesses are pure or defiled, the ’Manas consciousness’ distinguishes between good and bad, while the ’Alaya Consciousness’ is the most ignorant.

Since the Alaya Consciousness is the primary consciousness, the previous seven consciousnesses all rely on the eighth consciousness, the Alaya Consciousness, for their continuation.

This is the ’Alaya Origin’..."

Above the Great Hall, beneath the Three Life Buddhas, an old man and a young man.

They launched into an in-depth and friendly discussion on questions such as "Who am I? How did I come here? Am I really me?" and so on...

At this time, Lin Haitang was completely dumbfounded.

At first, she could understand a sentence or two, then she became utterly bewildered.

This guy Meng Lang... is actually studying Buddhist Law?

What level of ’confusion’ requires such intensity of ’enlightenment’?

And... it’s only been a few days? How can you compete with a scripture-quoting master from Beijing for three hundred rounds?

Is this even scientific?

Even if theology is at the end of science, isn’t this too divine...

Hey wait! Seeing his effort in studying... could his prior statement about "retreating to a monastic life" actually be serious?

Lin Haitang, looking at Meng Lang with a serious face as if contemplating some life-and-death century-old enigma, began to realize the gravity of the situation...

Her mind was in disarray, and Meng Lang’s voice "studying Buddhist Law" echoing in her ears only added to her irritation.

Seeing the two talking and eventually sitting on meditation cushions, as if they had come across an old friend and engaged in an endless deep conversation, she thought they would not be finished discussing anytime soon.

Helpless, Lin Haitang could only tiptoe out of the Great Hall.

Aimlessly strolling around, she was languidly admiring the temple scenery when she suddenly saw a side hall with meditation cushions and a fortune sticks container.

Hmm... earlier Meng Lang said the fortunes drawn at this temple seemed very efficacious...

Not sure what compelled her, as if possessed by a ghost, she slowly stepped inside...

"Click, click, click!" "Plop!"

Lin Haitang stood up and picked up the fallen bamboo stick.

Then she found the corresponding fortune according to the number on it...

"Five hundred past lives’ lingering glances, for one shoulder brush in this life.

A hundred lifetimes may pass before we share the same boat, and a thousand before we share the same pillow..."

...

The sun gradually slanted west.

Inside the Great Hall, the frown that had been on Meng Lang’s face was now smoothed out.

Indeed, working in isolation is a mistake; it’s different when you have a High Monk to guide you – the experience points just keep soaring!

The abstruse mysteries in the Scriptures are suddenly clear.

The High Monk recommended by his brothers was indeed of substance!

His brow was smoothed out, but Master Intelligent seemed to be crashing...

Buddha was a person of the past, and people are Buddhas of the future...

Who is in samsara? Why does samsara involve birth and death? And who believes that I am in samsara?

Initially, he meant to solve others’ doubts, but why is his mind buzzing now...

Meng Lang started by discussing and asking for his advice.

But as they went deeper, he brought up ideas that felt both right and wrong, strangely familiar yet elusive.

Buddha was a person of the past, and people are Buddhas of the future...

Master Intelligent pondered over Meng Lang’s assertion, mulling over the odd questions the latter had posed.

The more he chewed on it, the more indescribably exquisite it seemed...

With the lineage of Buddhism passed down to this day, nearly all texts have been scoured thoroughly. For modern-day scholars, innovating is extremely difficult.

Yet Meng Lang’s recent discourse, though not profound, inspired in him a sense of novel interpretation, "Huh? It can be understood this way?"

This novelty was enough to leave this High Monk in contemplation for a long time...

"I am grateful to Master Intelligent for enlightening me today!"

"Not at all! I didn’t expect that young Meng, at such an age, would have such profound insights into Buddhism. It’s truly astonishing!

May I ask whom did you take as your teacher?"

In his eyes, since Meng Lang knew his past and was so well-versed in Buddhist Law, he must have been the disciple of a renowned teacher.

Perhaps he even knew Meng Lang’s mentor.

From ’Mr. Meng’ to ’young Meng’, it was clear that Meng Lang had shifted from an outsider to someone who could sit and discuss profound topics with him, a fellow seeker on the path...

Who was his teacher?

Meng Lang thought for a moment.

If I said Dharma, Xuanzang, and Xue Huaiyi... Yes! Plus the collective wisdom of my brothers, shouldn’t that be about right?

"Cough! I just figured it all out on my own during my free time.

I’m just someone who loves to delve into things, hehe..."

Figured it all out on his own?

Master Intelligent was surprised for a moment, then laughed and shook his head.

"You indeed possess extraordinary talent!

However, from young Meng’s queries earlier, pursuing the Buddhist path of ’realizing all is emptiness’ might not be quite suitable for you to contemplate."

"Hmm..." Hearing this, Meng Lang inwardly sighed.

He was well aware...

That he was not a devout monk capable of purifying all six roots. What more, he was still struggling through worldly life, facing the great terror of life and death...

Ties of affection, threads of trouble... three thousand strands might not be enough to hold.

Even Xue Huaiyi, who halfway joined monastic life, couldn’t escape an early end. As for Meng himself, a lay disciple trying to cross the river by feeling for stones, he might only make it to the middle of the stream...