nyslfriends Chapter 386, Part 4: The Saint Tests the Mind of Zen, All Beings See Me
Chapter 386, Part 4: The Saint Tests the Mind of Zen, All Beings See Me
"唳——"
The wind swirled the mist and clouds, and a flock of cranes lined up in the sky accompanied the Taoist's chanting and calls, providing accompaniment to the melody carried on the breeze. In an instant, it seemed as if ethereal music resounded among the peaks of Wudang.
The swirling clouds from the heavens descended, their layers of ever-changing, nine-colored hues vaguely transforming into human figures—soldiers clad in armor and warriors, and fairies adorned in silks and brocades...
These cloud-like figures seemed to come alive, dancing and singing alongside the descending clouds and mountain mists on both sides of the avenue formed by flocks of cranes. Though they were illusory clouds, they were incredibly lifelike at this moment, like immortals who had stepped out of legend.
"Disciple Lü Qian returns to the mountain today!"
At the deserted mountain gate, the path to heaven paved by flocks of cranes begins. A gentle breeze carries mountain mist that lingers beneath the stone archway, and amidst the shrouded atmosphere of clouds and fog, a figure is suddenly revealed, who, from a distance, appears to be a young Taoist priest.
A figure treads through the clouds and mist, entering the mountain from outside. His clear and refreshing voice instantly brings clarity to the world within Wudang Mountain. The wind, mist, and water flowing between heaven and earth become quiet and pure with the appearance of the Taoist.
"After more than twenty years of seeking the way, I have finally knocked on the gate of heaven and it has opened."
"Through 1,200 good deeds and transgressions, I have no regrets in this world and no shame before myself."
The Taoist priest walked upright, passing through the clouds and mist, and was fully revealed to the sight of all living beings in the mountain. The Taoist priest was not uncomfortable about this, nor did he show any pretense of flattery or humility.
That figure, from the inside out and from beginning to end, revealed the authenticity of sincerity and the radiant and boundless spirit of a child, just like a newly risen sun in this mountain and in this world.
With a proud appearance and an arrogant spirit, he stands tall and shines upon the world, displaying the demeanor of a child.
But compared to the merciless sun high in the sky, the young Taoist's figure was vibrant and natural, more captivating and inspiring awe and respect than the ruthless laws of heaven and earth or the impartial Dao of the world...
The sentient beings within Wudang Mountain, and the beings outside the mountain who have not yet gone far, no matter how far they are from the mountain gate, no matter how blurry the figure of the young Taoist is, the scene reflected in their eyes seems to be completely imprinted in their hearts.
That youthful figure, that energetic and spirited young man, just a silhouette and a few words, stirred the depths of everyone's hearts, the abyss of consciousness stained and corrupted by the mortal world, making them unable to help but question their own hearts.
"Is this what it means to be human? Is this what it means to be a teenager?"
"Is this also me?"
In the turbulent waters of the hearts of all beings, the figure as radiant and bright as the sun changes with the pull of the waves, the blurred figure gradually becomes clear, reflecting the faces of one innocent child after another.
These faces are youthful and pure, some similar to others, some different from the appearances of ordinary people. The erosion and scars of time seem to be reversed and erased at this moment.
When those faces became completely clear, the beings in Wudang Mountain involuntarily looked inward into their hearts, seeing the familiar yet unfamiliar face reflected in their souls. It was their purest "appearance," and also the "innocent heart" they had long forgotten.
"I see all beings as I am, and all beings see me as I am my true self."
The waves rose again. The young Taoist priest at the Wudang Mountain gate chanted a hymn and took a step forward, completely revealing his figure and image to all living beings.
This step revealed the face of the young Taoist priest, who was none other than Lü Qian.
This step, like the thunder of the Awakening of Insects, awakened all beings who had been indulging in their own desires.
They were completely awakened from the illusions of the past, and the "innocent" face that had appeared once again sank into the deepest part of the mind's lake and consciousness, but left an indelible impression on all living beings.
They were once innocent and carefree youths, once radiant and dazzling like the sun...
"Gold, silver, power, beauty, and worldly riches are not to be cherished, loved, or pitied."
"My heart remains unmoved, discerning truth from falsehood; I simply ask, is it an old friend who has come?"
Lu Qian stood with his hands behind his back, sang the final melody, and took the last step, crossing the stone archway of Wudang Mountain, returning completely to the starting point of his path of seeking the Tao.
More than a decade ago, when he was twelve years old, he also walked through this very place, through this very mountain gate, and entered Wudang, thus beginning his journey of seeking the Dao.
More than a decade later, he returned here, walked past the mountain gate behind him, stepped up the mountain steps, and embarked on the road to heaven paved with cranes and clouds, to prove his path.
He was the young man from the Lü family who was bruised and swollen and limping up the mountain back then.
Today, the Taoist priest who stands with his hands behind his back, spontaneously chanting unrhymed songs that stir the emotions of all beings, is also him.
The myriad scenes of the mortal world and the myriad faces of human nature are not important. What matters is the self that has been tempered by trials and tribulations, and who is the true protagonist on every path of life.
The past scenes of yesteryear, the present scenes of this moment, and walking among these many scenes is none other than "Lü Qian".
"All phenomena are empty" does not mean emptiness. If we simply dismiss wealth, power, and beauty as empty and illusory, then we are on the "demonic path".
The Taoist priest still needs three catties of rice, and the immortals and gods need an incense stick.
Without gold and silver, how can we talk about the rice to fill our stomachs and save our lives, or the place to live and settle down?
Gold and silver are usable, and beauty is pleasing to the eye, but they are neither precious, lovely, nor pitiful!
On their journey to the West, after the four travelers and their white horse and dragon steed reunited, the first thing they encountered was not demons and monsters blocking their way, but the "Test of the Hearts by the Four Sages".
The Old Mother of Lishan, having no desire for the mortal realm, was invited by Guanyin Bodhisattva to descend to earth. Samantabhadra and Manjushri were all guests, who transformed into beautiful women in the forest.
The four immortals and great beings did not send their mounts to block the road or their disciples to cause trouble. Instead, they dismounted in their true forms and transformed into a very interesting family.
The Old Mother of Lishan transformed into a widowed old woman. Her maiden name was Jia, and her husband's name was Mo. They were a wealthy family with immense riches.
【贾】 is the same as “假”, 【莫】 is the same as “无”, and also means “don’t”.
The names chosen by the bodhisattvas who transformed into three daughters naturally had profound meanings. The three daughters took their father's surname, so their surname was Mo.
The so-called beauties Zhenzhen, Aiai, and Lianlian should naturally be "Mozhen", "Moai", and "Molian".
The three women prepared "trial wedding clothes" that were all pearl-embroidered shirts. Coupled with their immense wealth, their status after marrying into the family would naturally be quite high.
Gold, silver, power, and sex—all four are present.
This hurdle is not difficult, and the immortals and powerful beings did not deliberately make things difficult for us. The answer has already been made clear: gold and silver are "false," and power and beauty should not be cherished, loved, or pitied.
The book contains the story of four sages testing people's hearts. Today, Lü Qian returns to the mountain, stirring the emotions of all beings outside the mountain gate. This is both to reveal the true self to all beings and to see the "innocent child" nature that has long been forgotten, and to test people's hearts.
Try that "mortal heart" that has been tainted by the world and worn down by time.
To act freely and spontaneously—this is Lü Qian's "compassion."