Chapter 533: The Foundation of the Western Paradise (I Stuck in the Review Last Night)

Li Qi believed that these Mortals were born in a state of confusion and died in a state of confusion, their lives over. This was also Li Qi’s view: after a person dies, they are truly dead, and Reincarnation is no longer the same person as before. This was also the view of most Shamanes. When Li Qi first read the book “Zhu,” it stated that a ghost was no longer the original person, but a different composition, merely possessing the same memories.

So he didn't immediately grasp it.

However, his comprehension was still very strong. After Shakya Zhaba’s reminder, he immediately realized something.

Buddhism does not believe that death is the end.

They believe that life is a continuous Reincarnation, and Rebirth is still yourself.

So…

These people, these matters, these constantly Reborn lives, are actually just a fleeting moment in their long existence, a very brief instant.

Li Qi suddenly realized where the Buddhist ‘Compassion’ came from.

In this Western Heaven, all people… no, all life, including those cattle and sheep, including those tenacious small grasses, are essentially the same.

Under the gaze of the Buddha, all lives are equally treated, all existences are viewed impartially. Their current forms are only temporary; they will continuously learn, continuously try, and continuously acquire new lives in endless Reincarnation.

Through endless attempts, one day, they will Awaken, realize that they are in Reincarnation, and maintain their memories in every life.

Then, they will continue, and eventually ‘achieve results,’ gaining the First Grade, which is reaching the ‘Sotapanna Fruit,’ temporarily escaping Reincarnation, attaining Immortality, and truly embarking on the path of cultivation!

Therefore, the suffering of these Mortals is only temporary. They might very well become cattle and sheep, or plants, or even monsters in their next life, but it doesn't matter.

These changes are all temporary, merely brief components of endless Reincarnation. A single life is utterly insignificant. As the process of Reincarnation progresses, they will all gradually improve, eventually entering the great gate of cultivation.

All of this, everything, is for the sake of Awakening, for Enlightenment.

“What is Awakening?” Shakya Zhaba said, “It is to recognize the truth of the world, to clearly see the illusion of the present moment, to Awaken the wisdom of past lives, and to integrate the memories of countless Reincarnations. Cattle, sheep, cats, dogs are you; insects and butterflies are you; trees and weeds are you; demons and evil spirits are you; men, women, old and young are you; slaves and laborers are you; kings and generals are you; wise men and virtuous scholars are you; and the ultimate Awakened one is also you.”

“All beings are equal, all beings are you.”

“To allow such a blessing to descend upon everyone in the Western Heaven, Senior, can this not be considered ‘Compassion’? If this cannot be considered ‘Compassion,’ is there any act in this world that can be called ‘Compassion’?”

Accompanying Shakya Zhaba’s rhetorical question, Li Qi took a deep breath, then looked at the countless Mortals and other living beings outside, who rose at sunrise and rested at sunset.

After an explanation from a true Buddhist Monk, he truly realized the grand design of the Buddhas.

As expected of a First Grade being, this is truly a grand design!

Li Qi could fully imagine the immense advantage such an Awakened one, or ‘First Grade’ one, would have.

The six paths of Reincarnation, combining all Reincarnated memories, create ‘Awakening.’ A cultivator produced through such a process is naturally adapted to Immortality.

Because they themselves are the combination of countless Reincarnations, they can easily master long lives and possess a vision and wisdom far beyond ordinary people.

This ‘ordinary person’ refers to other Seventh Grade cultivators.

For example, Li Qi is only about a hundred years old now. In terms of vision, he probably truly cannot compare to a Seventh Grade cultivator who has grown up in this way. No wonder Monk Chan Zhi was so strong, able to defeat all of Guangyang’s Seventh Grade cultivators one against three, and even forcibly suppress the Mountain and River Grand Formation.

There are reasons for all of this.

“Indeed, Buddhism… has something special.” Li Qi nodded, “What you said is very true, and it has broadened my horizons. So… I still have one question. People like you, are you called ‘Zhu Gu’ by them, right?”

Shakya Zhaba put his palms together and immediately replied with guilt, “That is indeed the case, but this name is merely made up and should not be taken seriously. How can one be called a Buddha when one cannot even achieve Awakening? It is merely the flattery of ordinary people.”

Li Qi waved his hand, not caring about these things, and asked, “Regardless of the name, according to your statement, ‘Zhu Gu,’ that is to say, your previous life was also a cultivator?”

Shakya Zhaba nodded, “Yes, in Reincarnation, one life must always be better than the last. In my previous life, I embarked on the path of cultivation, achieving the Ninth Grade, and was able to retain a portion of my memories. Before dying, I specified a location, allowing the monastery to find my Reincarnated body, which is the body I am currently using.”

“As our cultivation improves, we can increasingly access our past wisdom. I can now view my past ten lives and can faintly perceive where my next life exists, allowing me to point out the location of my Reincarnated body for others to find me.”

“Awakening past life memories as cultivation improves… Does that mean the ‘veil of the womb’ is not a difficult matter for you?” Li Qi asked.

This was truly impressive.

It is well known that even many Great Powers cannot break through the veil of the womb, leading to memory loss and inability to resume cultivation after Reincarnation.

And Buddhism, it allows these Ninth Grade cultivators to break through a part of the veil of the womb?

Shakya Zhaba explained, “This is the meaning of Awakening. What is a ‘veil’? It is the present Chaos and unclearness. The so-called veil of the womb, the veil of the five aggregates, are all like this. Awakening means opening the eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-consciousness, Manas-consciousness, and Alaya-consciousness.”

“Among them, the five consciousnesses of eye, ear, mouth, tongue, and body represent basic sensations. Opening these true consciousnesses allows one to see through illusion and perceive the true Dharma. Manas-consciousness is like one’s true nature. Opening Manas-consciousness allows one to see the true self. My past self, my present self, my future self, are all the true self. If one can see the true self, what difference does it make which life it is?”

“As for the Alaya-consciousness… Senior, please forgive this humble Monk’s ignorance. I myself have not yet opened it, so how can I describe it to you?”

Li Qi listened, did not force the issue, but praised and then asked, “The Dharma of Buddhism is indeed profound. So, you only progress and do not regress?”

Hearing this question, Shakya Zhaba shook his head, “How is that possible? When one falls into Reincarnation, there are countless confusions and countless pains. If one cannot see through them and becomes entangled in a particular life, then one is attached to appearances, fails to recognize the true self, and naturally regresses.”

“In fact, many of my fellow Monks are like this. They fall into the illusion of this present life, believing that past lives are unreliable and future lives are uncertain. They focus on enjoying this life, neglecting their cultivation, which is truly regrettable.”

“So that’s how it is.” Li Qi nodded, finally completely understanding the reason for the current situation in the Western Heaven.

Indeed… amazing.

The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are truly remarkable. Although Li Qi still believes that when a person dies, they are dead, and the new being is no longer the original self, Buddhism clearly has another perspective on ‘self.’

Just as Li Qi has an answer to ‘What I Am,’ Buddhist cultivators constantly face the invasion of heavenly demons, so any Buddhist cultivator, from the very beginning, will contemplate ‘What I Am.’

And this is their answer.

Reincarnation, in their view, is a continuous transformation of the self. Apart from the ‘true nature,’ everything else is illusory, not the true self.

The relatives, emotions, memories, reputation, and wealth of this life are all fleeting. It is very possible that in the next Reincarnation, there will be different relatives, different memories, different emotions, and different wealth.

Therefore, there is no need to be constrained by present suffering, no need to care about present pain, and no need to indulge in present happiness or temporary joy.

Because these are all ‘emptiness,’ all ‘nothingness,’ all fleeting, all unreal. As Reincarnation continues life after life, these things will disappear and reappear. For the ‘true nature,’ it is like a continuous dream.

Everything is like a dream, like a shadow in a bubble, like an elusive and impermanent mist. At the same time, it changes as quickly as lightning. Therefore, one must maintain the true nature, constantly sustain oneself with the ‘true nature,’ view everything in this world with equanimity, not cling to it, and certainly not let these things bind one’s ‘true nature.’

“All conditioned phenomena are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow, like dew, or like lightning. Thus they should be contemplated.” Li Qi put his palms together and recited a Buddhist scripture to Shakya Zhaba.

This was his realization after listening to the other party’s explanation. At this moment, the Buddhist scriptures Li Qi had read merged with the events happening in the real world.

Everything in this mundane world, the cycles of life and death again and again, are gifts from the Buddhas to all sentient beings in the Western Heaven. Through this Reincarnation, they can experience life again and again, eventually reaching Awakening.

This is the Compassion of the Buddha.

It is not about bestowing pleasure or material enjoyment, but about granting the opportunity to truly recognize oneself. The suffering and backwardness of the present moment are fundamentally unimportant; they are merely fleeting. One must see through all of this and ultimately reach the Realm of Awakening, then one can escape such Reincarnation and truly embark on the path of cultivation.

It also makes sense. Given the current state of Buddhism, perhaps only by recognizing the true nature at the Seventh Grade can one resist the erosion of heavenly demons?

Hearing Li Qi recite the Buddhist scripture, Shakya Zhaba immediately returned the礼 and recited a Buddhist name to Li Qi: “Namo Vairocana Buddha.”

“Thank you, little Monk, for clarifying my doubts. Is there anything else you need, little Monk? Please feel free to ask, consider it my repayment,” Li Qi said to Shakya Zhaba with a smile.

He had indeed benefited greatly. As expected, some things cannot be learned from books; one must experience them firsthand.

Shakya Zhaba replied, “Since Senior has said so, then this humble Monk will not decline. Then I shall form a good Karma with Senior.”

“Oh? What good Karma?” Li Qi asked, puzzled.

“This meeting today is a good Karma,” Shakya Zhaba replied, “Perhaps after a thousand years, it can still bear good fruit?”

“Haha, so be it, Shakya Zhaba. My name is Li Qi, and I am from Shaman God Mountain. If you are not confused by Reincarnation, perhaps it truly can bear good fruit,” Li Qi laughed heartily, then walked out of the room and closed the door.

The conversation with this young Monk was very valuable. However, since his doubts were resolved, he should set off again.

Flying over the mundane world again, seeing those Mortals living their own lives, Li Qi couldn’t help but wonder…

When will they remember this day, or their past Reincarnations?

Of course, for Li Qi, it wasn’t very important.

In his view, life is only once.

Endless Reincarnation… can it truly guarantee the ‘true nature’?

Li Qi’s understanding of ‘What I Am’ is essentially a connection of Karma, a self formed by countless causes and effects within life.

If this connection can be maintained, then whether it’s Reincarnation or memory loss, it’s still him.

But Reincarnation… that’s like grinding a person up, mixing them with others, and then throwing them out.

Once or twice, one might say that most of it is preserved, but if a little bit is lost each time, after thousands of times, can one truly say… that it is still oneself?

Li Qi dared not say.

However, Buddhism dared to say.

Hmm… everyone has their own views. One cannot say that others are wrong. If one insists that others are wrong, then it becomes a Dao dispute.

An unending one.

Li Qi, having understood why the Western Heaven was as it was, no longer felt strange about anything he encountered on his journey.

He maintained a normal mindset and began to learn about the various local customs along the way.

Among the places he passed through was the country of Magadha. Unlike the stony deserts he had traversed, its land was fertile, with unusual rice varieties whose grains were large, exceptionally fragrant, and remarkably lustrous. The locals called it ‘rice for great people.’

With ample food, this place highly valued scholarship and revered the Buddha-Dharma. Li Qi passed through more than fifty monasteries here, with over a hundred thousand Monks and disciples. Li Qi also met Seventh Grade Monks who had attained the ‘First Grade’ here.

Leaving this place, Li Qi continued forward. After traveling ten thousand li, he saw many people worshipping a relic, among whom were cultivators, and even Sixth Grade cultivators like himself.

Curious, Li Qi also went to pay respects and found that the relic was called ‘Buddha’s Footprint Stone.’ Not far from a stupa, there was a large stone with two footprints on it, said to be left by the Tathagata. The two prints were still visible, one foot eight inches long and over six inches wide.

Both footprints had wheel marks, with patterns on all ten toes, and a fish shape emerged, radiating light at times.

Li Qi contemplated it along with other visitors but gained nothing.

Three thousand li further, there was Malaya Mountain, where white sandalwood trees and Chandana trees grew. These trees were similar to white sandalwood, containing a fragrance like mica, and the color of ice and snow. This was the so-called borneol, which had a miraculous effect on calming the mind. Large snakes coiled around the trees, capable of human speech, and were said to be able to tell fortunes, but they only spoke the local dialect. Li Qi communicated without success and left with a flick of his sleeve.

After another seven thousand li, he reached the country of Sinhala. This place was extremely luxurious. The king believed in the Buddha-Dharma and irrigated Buddha statues with fragrant water and fragrant wood, or washed and burned them, sparing no precious materials in their offerings.

The Buddha statue was a hundred zhang tall, adorned with pearls and rare treasures. Its radiant treasure light shone day and night, appearing like a brilliant star from afar.

Li Qi observed from a distance and saw beggars below the Buddha statue, then shook his head and left.

It’s been under review all night, and I don’t know what the problem is. It might be released from review later, everyone please be careful.