Chapter 182
"That feeling gives me insomnia . I want to know that I truly I understood . Can you repeat what you said?"
Fangzheng was stunned . He never expected Monkey to chase after him once he gained some insights from listening to his recital . The thought of scripture spreading across species fascinated Fangzheng . Back when he delivered Lotus Flower Conveyance, he realized that true Buddhist Dharma was not beholden to language . Instead, it was communication at the spiritual level . The sounds he produced were not necessarily a language . It was merely a way of communication .
Fangzheng had been working hard and had been studying the scriptures recently so he learned many new things .
Back when Patriarch Bodhidharma came from the West, he was unable to spread the Dharma because of the language mismatch .
Back then, Hinayana Buddhism was popular in China . It was the same in Sanskrit so in order to practice Buddhism, one had to first know Sanskrit . It also turned out that education was not for the masses . Most people were illiterate, much less having any literacy in Sanskrit . Therefore, practicing Buddhists in China were either nobility or wealthy . Ordinary people had no chance to practice Buddhism . This also resulted in a way to trumpet their power . And since the Hinayana Buddhism focused on an individual's path towards enlightenment, they ignored others . All they did was redeem themselves and not the masses .
As such, no one taught others Sanskrit .
After Bodhidharma arrived, he learned of the situation . Coupled with the language barrier he faced, all he could do was sit on a mountain and meditate for days, creating the Zen school of thought . There was no need for language in the Zen school of thought . All one did was sit to comprehend the world, watching the mountains or water bodies, their every move . Even eating and farming was a part of the cultivation . From the moment it spread, everyone could practice Buddhism, ushering in an era of the big-vehicle Buddhist Dharma .
Thus, true Buddhist Dharma was indeed not limited by language . In theory, it was not even limited to humans . Even beings that had gained sentience could understand it . Fangzheng had never before heard of animals gaining any insight after listening to a monk's recital .
But on second thought, he had the ability to speak with animals . Animals could understand his normal speech so it was not that strange that they could understand his recital . Augmented by the Lotus Flower Conveyance, it was quite normal for Monkey to end up infatuated .
After coming to this realization, Fangzheng patted Monkey on the head . "It's day time . Stop dreaming . Return to Mt . Baiyun . "
What a joke . Although Fangzheng had calmed his mind to begin comprehending the Buddhist Dharma, how was he to reach the level of Lotus Flower Conveyance? At the very least, he had to be a Bodhisattva or Buddha . It was already an impressive feat to deliver the recital once . To do it again? That would only expose his inadequacies . Therefore, Fangzheng would rather die than deliver it again .
"Please Master . I came from afar and chased after you the entire way . I did it to listen to your scriptures . You can't do that . " Monkey turned anxious .
Fangzheng heard Monkey's pleading just as he was about to leave . He came to a sudden realization as he looked at the pious look on Monkey's face . Fangzheng realized that Monkey had experienced quite a lot of changes . His fur was no longer as tidy as it was back in the monastery, looking unkempt . Despite appearing low in spirits, Monkey's eyes were filled with determination .
Fangzheng asked subconsciously, "How . . . how did you come all the way here?"
Monkey scratched his butt . "I followed you when you went down the mountain . When you crossed the river, I swam over . Later, I suffered through a mishap and lost you . I followed the direction in which you left and ran around blindly . I found you in a village but you ran off inside a huge metal box . I couldn't chase up to you . " Later, I dawdled and finally arrived here . I never expected . . . "
Fangzheng asked, "You just arrived?"
"Yes, I've traveled to many places but I didn't see any baldies . If there were no baldies, I would go elsewhere," the monkey stated .
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