Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System-Chapter 242 - 240: Why Not Replace It, How Big the World Is

Chapter 242: Chapter 240: Why Not Replace It, How Big the World Is

Jia Ye and Wang Bodhisattva returned to the Great Thunderclap Monastery of the Sacred Mountain.

After seeing Buddha, Jia Ye lowered his head in shame and said with hands clasped together, "Disciple has failed the heavy trust; please, Buddha, punish me."

The monks within Mahavira Hall were no longer of varied expressions as before, and what was previously an air of tranquility had now turned into silence, the grand hall utterly quiet.

Ever since the Peach Garden was destroyed and the Buddha Sect gained nothing at the Peach Festival, the monks had been worrying about how to overcome the three calamities and five disasters.

Though Buddha had alleviated their concerns at the time, the problem still persisted.

In recent years, due to the widespread construction of Buddhist monasteries in the Taoist Southern Jambudvipa, they had received increasing faith and merit from the Human Race; the benefits were obvious.

Most of the Buddha Sect monks followed the path of merit; the more merit they gained, the higher their cultivation naturally became.

The monks had tasted the sweetness of these benefits in the past years, and if this continued, they might have passed through the three calamities and five disasters with their cultivation alone.

However, this sweetness had rapidly decreased starting half a year ago.

The faith and merit they recently received from Taoist Southern Jambudvipa had plummeted to the extreme, almost disappearing!

All the monks knew that there must have been an issue with the Buddhist monasteries in the Taoist Southern Jambudvipa.

Now that Jia Ye and Wang had returned, it indeed confirmed this point.

But Jia Ye was Buddha’s eldest disciple, a Quasi-Saint in cultivation, occupying a very high position in Mount Ling. No one dared to express displeasure towards him.

Therefore, Mahavira Hall was deathly silent.

Buddha was seated high on the Nine-rank Merit Golden Lotus; he, of course, had already known about the changes in the Taoist Southern Jambudvipa.

Even now, with the three realms filled with a pervasive aura of calamity and the Heavenly Dao in chaos, he could guess that a problem had arisen in the Human Race dynasty in the Taoist Southern Jambudvipa.

After hearing Jia Ye’s explanation, he sighed lightly, "It is not your fault, perhaps the time for the grand rise of Buddhism has not yet arrived."

Jia Ye felt even more ashamed and said he wanted to go to Great Snow Mountain to face the wall and reflect, but Buddha refused him.

Bodhisattva watched from the side, wanting to ask when the time would come. Was a mere "It is not your fault" enough to brush the matter aside?

But she held back, choosing to remain silent because speaking would be useless.

The monks looked at each other, many hesitated to speak.

From establishing temples and spreading teachings in Chang’an City to supporting Wang Mang’s rise to power, these repeated failures to uphold their trust truly warranted no punishment?

Then, Wang Bodhisattva recounted the events of the Battle of Kunyang and posed his inner question, "Buddha, If Heaven has decreed the rise of Buddhism, why has the heavenly punishment descended?"

Buddha said slowly, "The greatest danger the three realms face now is the entrance to the Luo Tian Demon Realm sealed underneath Mount Ling,

If Buddhism prospers, then the Luo Tian Seal will be stable, and the crisis will naturally disappear. That is one of the consequences of Heaven decreeing the rise of Buddhism.

But now, there is another method to resolve this crisis.

Previously Sun Wukong, in collaboration with Houtu, Zhen Yuanzi, and Ancestor Ming He, shook and elevated the Earth Dao and then gathered the strong ones of the Netherworld to establish the office of the City God to connect yin and yang, aiming to elevate the Earth Dao once again."

The last time the Earth Dao was elevated, all the monks had known, but the information about setting up the office of the City God was the first time they heard.

For the time being, no one focused on whether to punish Jia Ye; they discussed the City God’s position, each one marvelling and praising the brilliance of this method.

Jia Ye suddenly realized, "The City God can connect yin and yang, requiring the full cooperation of the Human Dynasty, no wonder Sun Wukong supports Liu Xiu; he clearly also found a method to elevate the Human Dao."

Buddha nodded gently, "Indeed, with the divine position of the City God, Earth Dao and Human Dao will henceforth complement each other; elevating together makes the human path very promising.

If the Earth Dao and the Human Dao can be successively elevated, and even completed, then the Luo Tian Seal may have the chance to become eternal, a permanent solution."

Jia Ye and Wang Bodhisattva looked at each other, having understood.

If the Luo Tian Seal becomes permanent, then the Luo Tian Demon Realm will no longer be a threat to the three realms. Although the destined rise of Buddhism still remains, it wouldn’t be as urgent; when to promote Buddhism would rely on timing then.

Waiting another ten thousand years, even a million years, might be possible.

Thus, during the Battle of Kunyang, Heavenly Dao allowed no indulgence towards the Buddha Sect; they had barely begun to act when heavenly punishment descended.

Jia Ye then said, "Buddha, we have the Western Paradise, the Nether Hells, and countless temples, why not establish an Office of Yin and Yang within Buddhism, taking over the yet-unestablished position of the City God?

This way, not only could we acquire the merit of the Earth Dao, but we could also seize the advantage of the revival of the Human Dao, making the grand rise of Buddhism hopeful!"

Upon hearing this, many monks within Mahavira Hall shook their heads.

Bodhisattva couldn’t hold back any longer, couldn’t they see this obvious situation?

With Sun Wukong using the position of the City God to gather many stakeholders, attempting to replace it now would simply make enemies for Buddhism.

She tried to remind him in as gentle a tone as possible, "Supreme One, your plan is splendid. If we could gain the support of Heavenly Court, Houtu, Zhen Yuanzi, and Ancestor Ming He, indeed, we could take over."

Buddha didn’t say anything, evidently having the same thought.

Jia Ye, known in Buddhism as the foremost of the ascetics, possessed significant wisdom, though inflexible, he applied his wisdom in matters of Buddhist Law.

Now reminded by Bodhisattva, he also understood the intricate interests involved with the City God’s position, and said with hands clasped together, "Thank you, great being; I nearly led Buddhism to disadvantage."

Bodhisattva held up a single palm and chanted a single Amitabha. freewebnoveℓ.com

Buddha authoritatively said, "The establishment of the City God’s position is beneficial to the three realms; our Buddha Sect shall wholeheartedly support it."

"Amitabha, well said, well said." All monks chanted the Buddha’s name together, their expressions devout.