ragginovel Chapter 2653 Buddhist Vow
Chapter 2653 Buddhist Vow
Chapter 2653 Buddhist Vow
Qin Sang stood in front of the pagoda, gazing at the black wooden door.
This pagoda and this gate are exactly the same as the Vajra Floating Pagoda he saw at the Mirror Platform Temple in the Talisman Realm. That pagoda carries the inheritance of the Sun Wheel Seal, and this pagoda may also contain a Nine Great Light Seal!
"Is it the Acala Mudra, or some other mudra?"
Qin Sang gently stroked the relic, his mind stirred, and his aura suddenly changed. His flesh and blood became crystal clear, manifesting a Vajra-like body.
I remember last time, he used the "Seven Buddha Seals" to open the wooden door of the pagoda. Now that the seven seals are combined, it will surely work.
He stepped forward, raised his hand, palm facing the wooden door, and gently pressed it down.
Unexpectedly, Qin Sang did not feel any resistance. In the past, she had felt a barrier, but now it seemed that there was nothing in front of her. The black wooden door was just a fake door.
Qin Sang glanced at the relic in her hand and wondered what its purpose was.
As long as you have this relic, it seems that even if you are not a Buddhist practitioner, you can still enter.
With this thought in mind, he stepped through the wooden door and entered the tower, focusing his mind and preparing to face the test.
Back when it was at Jingtai Temple, the sun wheel seal was enshrined at the top of the pagoda. The first six levels were tests set up for the succession, and only by passing the tests could one gain recognition. This pagoda is probably no exception.
The moment Qin Sang entered the tower, she saw a Buddha statue.
"It seems that the layouts of all Vajra Pagodas are similar..."
This thought flashed through Qin Sang's mind.
On the first floor of the previous Vajra Pagoda, there was also a Buddha statue. I remember the Buddha was wearing simple monk's robes, standing on a lotus pedestal, with lowered eyebrows and kind eyes, bowing with one hand, and holding a crescent-shaped staff with nine golden prayer beads on top.
This Buddha statue is different from the other one. It depicts an old monk, who is shrouded in Buddha's light. He is thin and emaciated, like an ascetic. He sits cross-legged on a lotus platform with his eyes slightly closed and his face full of compassion.
"Amitabha!"
Suddenly, Qin Sang heard a Buddhist chant.
The loud Buddhist chant echoed in the pagoda, deafening and startling Qin Sang. The chant was coming from the Buddha statue in front of her.
For a moment, he almost thought the old monk was alive!
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Qin Sang focused her gaze on the Buddha statue and was surprised to find that it was not a Buddha statue at all, but a phantom formed by Buddha's light.
When he saw the truth through the illusion, he realized that there was no Buddha statue on the lotus platform, only half a relic, and the Buddha light was the light emitted by the relic.
Upon seeing the half-relic on the lotus platform, Qin Sang suddenly realized that it was the missing half in her hand!
Could this relic be the physical body of the old monk who appeared in the Buddha's light after his passing?
If this half-relic was deliberately sent out of Thunder Abyss by the old monk at the time of his death to find a destined person, then the guidance he left behind is far too vague. If it weren't for Demon Lord Luo Luo, Qin Sang might not have been able to find the pass to enter this place even after searching the Thunder Sea a dozen times on his own. Even if he found it, without the strength of the Integration Stage and the unique abilities of the Thunder Beast Guardian, it would be very difficult to enter.
Did the old monk expect a Nascent Soul cultivator to go to great lengths and search for clues everywhere for a Buddhist seal of unknown origin?
Moreover, after entering, the relic only flickered once and then showed no further reaction.
Looking back on this experience, it was clearly luck that he was able to find the pagoda.
"Unless the old monk passed away and Lei Hai underwent an unexpected change, or the practice of the Immovable King Seal might trigger some kind of anomaly, since I haven't practiced it, I'm like a headless fly," Qin Sang didn't want to change his Dharma form and had no way to verify it.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Sang flicked her finger and sent the relic flying toward the lotus platform.
'Snapped! '
With a soft hum, the relic merged into one, transforming into a jade bone the size of a finger joint, smooth and lustrous like jade.
In an instant, a great light of Buddha shone forth, and the Buddha's name was chanted once more.
"Amitabha!"
This sound was even more magnificent than before, like the grand pronouncement of the Great Dao, shaking people's hearts.
Qin Sang was bathed in a golden glow. To her astonishment, amidst the dazzling Buddhist light, the old monk on the lotus platform opened his eyes. Beneath his withered skin were a pair of exceptionally bright eyes, which gazed upon her.
At this moment, Qin Sang felt as if the person sitting cross-legged on the lotus platform was a living old monk, whose gaze spanned countless years, pierced the boundaries of time, and examined himself.
"Amitabha……"
The chanting of Buddhist hymns echoed in Qin Sang's ears.
Before Qin Sang could react, the old monk closed his eyes again. His breath and expression became completely still. The Buddha light flickered, and the old monk's figure suddenly shattered, leaving only the relic in the world.
Qin Sang's mind remained unsettled for a long time. He sensed a profound Buddhist sentiment, a mixture of sorrow, resentment, relief, and hope...
Composing herself, Qin Sang walked towards the lotus platform, gently picked up the relic, and the old monk's voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
"The Vajra has been reforged, and the Nine Pagodas have returned to the forest."
The Dharma is transmitted to both realms, and one can attain Nirvana!
"This is... a Buddhist vow!"
Qin Sang was surprised. He had heard of the Buddhist practice of vows, which is based on cause and effect and can be applied to all sentient beings. Buddhist scriptures contain many accounts of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas making great vows, and making vows is an important practice in Buddhism.
Making a vow can not only benefit oneself, but also others.
Qin Sang was in the latter situation: the old monk had passed away, leaving behind this vow, which was placed in a pagoda for someone with the right affinity.
Where there are those who make vows, there must be those who fulfill and grant those vows.
Undoubtedly, the rewards for fulfilling the vows of eminent Buddhist monks are extremely rich, depending on the vower's spiritual cultivation, motivation, and the difficulty of the vow.
However, if one is short-sighted and only sees the benefits, and rushes to fulfill the wish, one may very well push oneself into an irrecoverable situation.
If you fail to fulfill your vow, you will suffer the consequences of your vow!
Let's look at the contents of this vow; some of it is quite clear at a glance.
The so-called 'recasting of Vajra' is easy to understand; it means that the Vajra lineage should be rebuilt by those who fulfill the vows, and the Nine Great Luminous Seals are the inheritance of the Vajra lineage.
This old monk appears to be a highly virtuous monk of the Vajra lineage. After his death, the Vajra lineage was broken, which led to the dispersal of the Nine Seals.
Through a series of coincidences, Qin Sang obtained three and a half seals. Among the relics, besides the vow, there was also the complete Acala seal, as well as the Sun Wheel seal obtained in the Talisman Realm, the Great Vajra Wheel seal obtained in the Storm Realm, and half of the Inner Lion seal.
The phrase "Nine Pagodas Returning to the Forest" likely refers to the nine Vajra Pagodas that carry the legacy. Qin Sang speculates that it may not be necessary to find the original pagodas; as long as the Nine Great Light Seals are found, the pagodas can be rebuilt.
However, there is a ambiguity: what does 'forest' refer to? Is it a specific place, or is it simply the construction of a pagoda forest in a temple after the Vajra lineage has been re-established?
The phrase "the law is transmitted to both realms" is easy to understand. It means that the lineage of law is transmitted to both the spirit realm and the demon realm. It seems to be the easiest thing to achieve, but in reality, it is the most difficult because it is unknown to what extent it is considered to have established a lineage of law.
Is it enough to find a few disciples to pass on the Dharma, or do we need to build a magnificent temple? What exactly needs to be done to satisfy the old monk's requirements?
The last phrase, "able to attain Nirvana," sounds like a reward after a wish has been fulfilled, which is very tempting, but it also has many things worth pondering.
Firstly, in the spiritual realm of Buddhism, Mahayana and Hinayana coexist, and the conflict between the two schools has even spread to this realm. In the scriptures of Mahayana and Hinayana, there are different definitions of 'Nirvana'.
Based on the power of the Nine Great Luminous Seals, it is speculated that the Vajra lineage should be Theravada Buddhism, which focuses on self-liberation. In Buddhist scriptures, Nirvana is the ultimate goal of Theravada Buddhism.
Qin Sang knew too little about Buddhism in the Spirit Realm. She didn't know what the Nirvana realm in Theravada Buddhism in the Spirit Realm corresponded to, whether it was the Mahayana stage as understood by cultivators or ascension to immortality.
It's clearly impossible to achieve immortality simply by restoring the Vajra lineage's legal authority. Furthermore, the old monk's highest attainment during his lifetime was only the Mahayana stage, and Qin Sang didn't believe that a single vow he left behind could help someone break through the Mahayana barrier. Otherwise, the last sentence of the vow should have been "to attain Nirvana," not "to be able to attain Nirvana."
If we interpret it literally, it means that one must fulfill the preceding vow in order to attain 'Nirvana'. In that case, the vow is not a reward, but a restriction on the person who makes the vow!
If your wish cannot be fulfilled, you can forget about attaining Nirvana in this lifetime!
A vow cannot be without benefits and only have limitations; therefore, the benefits must lie within this Buddhist intention.
Qin Sang focused her mind on the relic, sensing the Buddha's intent. She realized that as long as she accepted it, she could immediately fulfill this vow.
Admittedly, Qin Sang already had enough karma on her shoulders, so adding another wouldn't matter. But this wasn't some kind of oath sworn by inner demons, and even the Jade Buddha couldn't cheat. Buddhist vows are extremely mysterious; once a vow is fulfilled, karmic ties are formed, making them incredibly complex. Unless the person making the vow voluntarily relinquishes it, or the person fulfilling the vow possesses immense power, it cannot be easily broken and must be treated with utmost caution.
What benefits will the old monk offer?
Qin Sang focused her mind and sensed it.
Suddenly, a strange look flashed across his face. In the instant he sensed the Buddha's intent, it was as if he had been enlightened. He seemed to have become clear-headed in an instant, as if the dust in his heart had been swept away and he had regained his precious wisdom. The doubts he had encountered in his cultivation in the past were about to be solved, and the answers were about to emerge!
Of course, he didn't really get the answer unless he immediately accepted the vow.
Qin Sang stared at the relic with astonishment in his eyes. The power contained in the vow could directly affect enlightenment and cultivation!
After a moment, Qin Sang suppressed her wavering thoughts. The vow was indeed very tempting, but she first had to consider the difficulty of the vow and whether she could fulfill it in the future.
His ambition is to become an immortal. If he fails to fulfill his vow and achieve Nirvana, what use is all the speed of his previous cultivation?
Without making a hasty decision, Qin Sang carefully put away the relic and looked up at the archway leading to the next level.
Is this Vajra Pagoda the embodiment of the Immovable King Seal?
Qin Sang decided to go up and take a look. He flashed to the front of the light gate, slammed out a palm, and the light gate shattered in response. He glanced back at the empty lotus platform and his figure disappeared behind the light gate.
……
Unbeknownst to Qin Sang, who was climbing the pagoda, the moment the fragments of the relic merged and the old monk's figure vanished, a momentous upheaval was triggered in the outside world.
'Whoosh!'
Suddenly, the Vajra Pagoda burst forth with dazzling Buddhist light, and in an instant, the pagoda transformed into a golden tower. Thousands of rays of Buddhist light pierced through the black lightning mash, illuminating the sea of lightning.
In that instant, a golden sun seemed to emerge from the bottom of the Thunder Sea.
Immediately, brilliant Buddhist light spread rapidly in all directions along the earth, centered on the Vajra Pagoda.
Wherever the Buddha's light reached, the earth shone with golden light, and all the mountains turned into golden mountains.
wrong!
It wasn't that the Buddha's light was spreading outwards, but rather that the earth itself contained Buddha's light, which hadn't been manifested before, and Qin Sang hadn't noticed it. At this moment, the Buddha's light was activated by the Vajra Pagoda, spreading out an endless golden carpet on the seabed of the Thunder Sea.
It turns out that the Buddha's light is what protects this land, and the entire Thunder Sea is supported by the Buddha's light!
As the Buddha's light shone, the earth, which was originally indestructible and unmoved no matter how fiercely the thunderous magma surged, suddenly began to tremble.
The tremors grew more and more intense, the Buddha's light also oscillated, and the power seemed to be waning. The earth began to crack, and the ground was torn open by the dark currents. The mountain peaks were all broken by the lightning plasma and collapsed with a bang!
Meanwhile, outside of Lei Hai.
The roars of the beasts, rising and falling in waves, abruptly ceased. Countless thunder beasts silently gazed at the sea of thunder, their black eyes revealing an eerie light. This scene was extremely strange. After a brief silence, the beasts suddenly roared, emitting a unified howl.
If the previously independent beast hordes had merged into one, then these thunder beasts could no longer be described as a 'beast horde' at this moment. They seemed to be abandoning themselves and actively merging with the aura of their companions. Countless seemingly mixed auras were constantly merging!
Prior to this, the One-Eyed Golden Man and the Demon Lord of the Dragon Fiend had already entered the Sea of Thunder.
As they passed through the herd of beasts, they noticed something unusual about them. When Chen Sha Demon Lord was at a low level of cultivation, he had traveled here and witnessed the herd of beasts roaring around the sea of thunder. He attributed this to Qin Sang and Luo Luo Demon Lord playing tricks.
“I’ve heard a rumor that this Thunder Abyss is the result of the power left behind by the Thunder Lord in the Southern Kingdom in ancient times…” Chen Sha Demon Lord took the initiative to tell the one-eyed golden man the secret he knew, showing great enthusiasm, “However, I have never heard of anyone finding the treasures left behind by the Thunder Lord here.”
"Lei Jun?"
The one-eyed golden man's eyes gleamed.
The remnants of the Azure Demon Lord have come here. Could it be related to the Thunder Lord?
Looking back, no connection was found between the Azure Demon Palace and Lei Jun. However, people in the Holy Realm would occasionally claim to be Lei Jun's successors, but these were later proven to be false.
"Playing hard to get!"
He snorted, his speed undiminished, and smashed through the horde of beasts, charging into the sea of lightning. The beasts ignored him, roaring only at the sea of lightning.
At this moment, the One-Eyed Golden Man and the Demon Lord of the Dragon Fiend had entered the depths of the Thunder Sea. Although they did not find any trace of their target, they quickly sensed something amiss from the undercurrents and followed the trail to the point where the two Thunder Seas met.
It turned out that after Qin Sang and the others went in, the pass was not restored, and the thunderous magma in the two thunder seas kept merging and mixing with each other.
"Your Excellency, be careful!"
Despite the Demon Lord Chen Sha's well-intentioned reminder, the one-eyed golden man ignored it, took a heavy step forward, and sent golden light cleaving through the lightning slurry as he charged forward.
The two passed through the pass and landed on the underwater hills. Looking at the vast and boundless sea of lightning, they couldn't find Qin Sang and Luo Luo Demon Lord for a while. Just as they were wondering which direction to search, the mountains beneath their feet suddenly trembled, and a dazzling Buddhist light shone in the distance, rapidly spreading towards them!