The Battle in Journey to the West-Chapter 73 - 0 The Buddha Creates Scriptures to Convert

Tathagata then said, “If the Buddhist law can be spread, establish a temple in the Eastern Land called Shaolin, and take in a group of lay disciples, teaching only martial arts and not the methods of prophecy. With their influence, they can affect the fortunes of the Eastern Land and prevent us from encountering major karmic consequences.”

Bodhidharma nodded and replied, “What the Buddha Ancestor has said, this disciple will bear in mind.”

Tathagata further instructed, “The pressing matter is to spread our Buddhist law to save the populace from the sea of suffering. The burden on your shoulders is not light.”

Bodhidharma responded, “Yes.”

The Buddha Ancestor said, “Very well, that is all I have to say. Go now. You are responsible for spreading Buddhism in the Eastern Land. If the people of the Daoist sect cause trouble, I will send someone to help.”

Bodhidharma bowed three times, saying, “This disciple takes his leave.”

Bodhidharma bowed, holding the scriptures, and walked backwards step by step out of the Da Xiong Palace to show his respect for Tathagata.

Leaving Mount Meru, Bodhidharma returned to the Southern Toad Continent, handing over the scripture to his disciples Shemoteng and Zhufalan.

“Master, this scripture?” Shemoteng asked doubtfully.

In fact, this ‘Huahu Scripture’ had a significant influence on Buddhism in later generations, attaching to the Huang-Lao school of thought, adopting the so-called Three Treasures spoken by Laozi as its own, and later generations vehemently denied that these came from Laozi, asserting they were inherent to Buddhism.

What are the Three Treasures? They are loving-kindness, frugality, and not daring to be foremost in the world.

After Buddhism entered the Eastern Land, by clinging to the teachings of Huang-Lao and propagating the Way of the Dao, it went as far as to steal the academic philosophies of Confucianism and Daoism and claim them as transmissions from the Buddha Ancestor, which is truly shameless. Hence, in later generations, the rationalist scholar Zhu Xi said: “Daoism has the books of Laozi and Zhuangzi, yet people do not know to read them, as all are stealthily used by Buddhism, imitating Buddhist scriptures. It’s like the children of a wealthy family having their treasures stolen, yet gathering broken pots and jars from another’s house.”

Zhufalan also said, “Master, this scripture has totally distorted our Buddhist teachings and even twisted facts. Should we really spread it?”

Bodhidharma pondered and said, “This matter was determined by Buddha Ancestor, and we have only just received the Emperor’s permission to teach Buddhism in The Eastern Land. We are not yet firmly established. Without relying on the Huang–Lao School of Thought, how can we make the common people drawn to us? If the common people are not drawn to us, how can our Way flourish? And if our Way does not flourish, how can we fulfill our wish to save the sentient beings from the sea of suffering?”

Zhufalan joined his hands and said, “Teacher, what you have said is logical. I have learned much.”

Shemoteng said, “Hmm, what the teacher said is true. For the sake of all sentient beings, for them to attain Ultimate Bliss, even if it compromises our Buddhist sect, what of it?”

Bodhidharma smiled and said, “To have such awareness is very good, very good! As a teacher, I am deeply gratified.”

Zhufalan asked, “Teacher, will you stay here with us to propagate Buddhism?”

However, Bodhidharma shook his head and said, “I still have to wait a while, to establish a Shaolin Temple specifically to take in secular disciples and teach martial arts. Only then will it be appropriate to intervene in the dynasty’s fortune without incurring karma.”

In later generations, the Eighteen Arhat Monks would save the King of Tang under Bodhidharma’s instructions. Among them was Emperor Taizong of Tang who almost got killed, though it was unclear if it was arranged by the Buddhist sect. After the Eighteen Arhat Monks saved the King of Tang, he naturally became highly grateful to the Buddhist sect and then supported Tang Sanzang’s Journey to the West to obtain the scriptures.

Bodhidharma asked, “How is the construction of White Horse Temple coming along?”

Zhufalan answered, “It is situated toward the Eastern City. It naturally takes some time since it is mortals at work. Lately, we’ve had nothing urgent, so we’ve been moving among the nobles, preaching Buddhism, and have indeed gained a few followers of our Buddha.”

Bodhidharma nodded repeatedly and said, “Very good, the nation’s leaders are these nobles. The common people are mostly rendered foolish by Confucianism, liking to follow the crowd. If these nobles genuinely begin to revere our Buddhism, then we need not worry about the common people not respecting our Buddhist Law!”

In later times, there was the Southern Tang where Buddhism was most flourishing. There were many Buddhist temples, and they were not required to pay taxes. Even individuals who committed serious crimes could shave their heads to become monks and thus be exempted from their sins, which was utterly absurd! It was Buddhism that dragged down nearly half of the Southern Tang. There were many emperors who erred terribly because of their commitment to Zen. Their sins were too numerous to be documented. Although Taoism was also an external practice, the Taoists still paid land taxes and did not burden the state. However, the inferior Taoists created lead-mercury Golden Cores, which were indeed a great disaster.

The Buddhist sect began to develop from this very White Horse Temple. They utilized the “Laozi Huahu Jing,” attaching Buddhism onto the Huang-Lao teachings, gaining recognition from many in the Southern Toad Continent. They gradually grew stronger until they began to discard the “Laozi Huahu Jing,” denying any association and claiming it was a fabrication by Taoism. Such audacity was truly astonishing!

After all, the “Laozi Huahu Jing” was written by Tathagata. It contained many profound and inscrutable aspects, certainly worthy of study.

Tathagata was once a disciple under the Sect of Interception, known as Daoist Duobao. Later, taken by Laozi due to fate, he entered the Western Religion and became Duobao Tathagata. Later, to propagate Buddhism, he was reborn as Prince Siddhartha Gautama, achieved Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, endured Karmic Fire for five hundred years and finally achieved Buddhahood through Great Boldness, becoming the Respectful Ruler of the World for Western Buddhism. Even now, many Taoist disciples still cannot understand why the Three Pure Ones do not directly ascend Mount Meru to crush Tathagata.

Although the Western Religion had two saints, the Taoist Sect has the Three Pure Ones! Three great saints— each could handle one, and one could be spare to deal with Tathagata.

Not only the Taoist disciples were puzzled, Wukong also couldn’t understand. Why would Taoism complicate matters with an unnecessary action and get entangled with Buddhism in a Western journey scheme, dragging him into it? The Three Pure Ones, with their heavenly powers, could have directly ascended Mount Meru, destroyed Buddhist lineage and that would be the end of it. Moreover, the Two Saints of the West had not appeared for a long time, and nowadays, people only knew “Namo Amitabha Buddha” but not “Amitabha Buddha.”

Namo Amitabha Buddha is Tathagata, while Amitabha Buddha was the Guiding Taoist from Ancient Times who became Amitabha after the Divine Enthronement.

Both Shemoteng and Zhufalan were greatly amazed after reading “Laozi Huahu Jing,” truly a work of Buddha Ancestor’s hand, written so exquisitely that upon reading, they once again neglected their sleep and meals, delving into the doctrine within.

Bodhidharma left of his own accord, prepared to establish Shaolin Temple.

The Buddhist sect here had already begun preparations on how to propagate their Way, and it was yet unclear how the sect planned to respond.

To find out what happens next, please tune in to the following episode.