Chapter 447: Chapter 403, All Buddhas Gather_2
Many Great Powers all changed their expressions, looking towards the Western direction with a newfound solemnity, no longer casual as before. They had previously thought of Duo Bao Tathagata as merely a junior, but now they saw Duo Bao’s extraordinary spirit was not to be underestimated.
The grand voice of Duo Bao echoed throughout Buddhism, causing a stir among the countless Buddhist Arhats and Bodhisattvas. In Buddhism, the title of Buddha represents the highest state of enlightenment. Aside from Maitreya, Pharmacist, Great Sun Tathagata, and the Eight Heavenly Dragon Kings, there were no other individuals who had attained the Buddha Fruit Position for eons, with new Buddha positions, except for those few appointed by Duo Bao Tathagata, not emerging for billions of years.
Now, the Buddha was about to confer the title on thousands of Buddhas, what a colossal opportunity this was! The coveted Buddha Fruit Position, which had eluded many, was now within reach. All Bodhisattvas and Arhats were filled with fervent longing, realizing there was no need to lose such a grand opportunity over mundane Xuanhuang coins and Merit Coins.
Inside Maitreya’s Xumi Temple, a Vajra with a body of ancient bronze muscles suddenly stood up, pressed his palms together, bowed and respectfully said, "Namo Maitreya Ancient Buddha, due to karma entwining me, my mind is unsettled with no thoughts for Buddhism, I wish to return and suppress my Heart Demons."
Maitreya, expressionless, replied, "Go!"
"Thank you, Maitreya Ancient Buddha!" The Vajra respectfully bowed again and quickly left.
Another Bodhisattva, wrapped in dragon patterns, stood up, brought his palms together, and respectfully said, "Reporting to Maitreya Ancient Buddha, I forgot to extinguish the fire in the Pill Furnace before I left. I need to return immediately to prevent a fire disaster, please grant your permission."
Maitreya spoke calmly, "Go."
"Thank you, my Buddha!" The Dragon Pattern Bodhisattva bowed deeply and swiftly departed.
The remaining Bodhisattvas and Arhats could no longer sit still.
"My Buddha, my mind is suddenly uneasy, I want to return for seclusion!"
"My Buddha, the family’s dog suddenly went mad, and I need to go and treat it."
"My Buddha, my Disciple stealthily left the mountain, I must go search for them."
"My Buddha~"
"My Buddha~"
"My Buddha~"
...
Below, all the Bodhisattvas and Arhats frantically started calling out, one after another.
Maitreya Buddha, with a wave of his hand, said with a smile, "Since all of you have urgent matters, go back!"
All Bodhisattvas and Arhats stood up, bent over respectfully, shouted in unison, "My Buddha is merciful!" and swiftly turned and departed.
Maitreya Buddha sat alone in the grand hall, smiling from ear to ear, just like a rich family elder.
After a short while, Maitreya’s smile faded, and he looked into the distance with profound eyes, asking himself, could he really make the same decisive move as the Tathagata?
Confering the title to thousands of Buddhas would likely exhaust all of the Small Vehicle Buddhism’s Qi Fortune. If they could not swiftly absorb Mahayana Buddhism, Small Vehicle Buddhism would wither under the weight of the multitude of Buddhas.
Maitreya whispered to himself, "In a position of advantage, yet daring to make such a risky move, Duo Bao Tathagata, what immense confidence do you have in yourself?"
Ksitigarbha, Pharmacist, Mahasthamaprapta, and Great Sun Tathagata, were also unable to retain their Disciples, who flocked to the Small Vehicle Buddhism.
Duo Bao Tathagata’s move was ruthless, directly striking at the heart of all Buddhist Disciples. And neither Ksitigarbha nor Maitreya had any means to counteract it. Tathagata, as the Buddha of the Small Vehicle Buddhism, naturally had the authority to confer Buddha titles, but Maitreya and the others lacked the qualification to do so. In the confrontation between money and power, money was utterly defeated.
Three days later, a majestic voice echoed between Heaven and Earth at Spiritual Mountain, "Buddha Light shines on all heavens, those of countless creatures who possess the Buddha Nature, may all attain Buddha. I hereby decree Great Power Vajra as Namo Vajra Unbreakable Buddha. I decree Bao Guang Bodhisattva as Namo Treasure Light Buddha. I decree Dragon Venerate Bodhisattva as Namo Dragon Venerate King Buddha..."
"...Namo Jingjinshan Buddha."
"...Namo Treasure Moonlight Buddha."
"...Namo Xianwuyu Buddha."
"...Namo Poliuna Buddha."
"...Namo Naluyan Buddha."
"...Namo Merit Flower Buddha."
"...Namo Talent Merit Buddha."
"...Namo Shan Youbu Buddha."
"...Namo Sandalwood Light Buddha."
"...Namo Manichuang Buddha."
"...Namo Wisdom Lamp Buddha."
...
With each decree echoing, the Buddha Light of the Great Leiyin Temple shone ever more brilliantly.
One by one, the figures of Buddhas seated upon the Lotus Platforms manifested in the void, majestic and imposing.
Following the thousands of Buddhas, three thousand great bodhisattvas were sealed and decreed, along with five hundred Aluo Bodhisattvas, and many Arhats. Every Buddhist Disciple who had taken refuge in Small Mahayana Buddhism received promotion and advanced further.
Duo Bao Tathagata’s grand gestures shook the entire Buddhism to its core.
After all the Buddha Sealings were concluded, the vast voice of Duo Bao Tathagata rang out Between Heaven and Earth: "All Buddhas of such worlds, may this Merit adorn the Buddha Pure Lands. To respond to the four kinds of gratitude from above, and relieve the suffering of the three paths below. Should any see or hear of this, may they all generate the intention of enlightenment. Reborn in the land of ultimate bliss, they shall repay this very body. All Buddhas of the ten directions and three times, all venerable Bodhisattvas, Mahas, the Great Wisdom Perfection."
All the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas prostrated joyfully and recited: "Namo Duo Bao Tathagata Buddha!"
With all Buddhas gathered, and Buddha Light reflecting the skies, Duo Bao Tathagata’s influence peaked.
...
Atop the Spiritual Mountain, within the Mahayana Buddha Hall, filled with silence, Guanyin, Manjusri, Puxian as well as the Bodhisattva Arhats of Mahayana Buddhism all gazed upon Randeng Buddha seated in the principal position.
Ju Liusun Buddha proposed, "Buddha, Small Mahayana Buddhism is now sealing Buddhas left and right, and our Mahayana Buddhist Disciples are also unsettled. Wouldn’t it be better if we also sealed Buddhas, to make a stand against Small Mahayana Buddhism?"
The assembled Bodhisattvas and Arhats all lit up with anticipation, looking to Randeng Buddha and thinking: Seal Buddhas? We, too, should seal Buddhas.
After pondering for a moment, Randeng Buddha slightly shook his head, and his grand voice filled the hall: "A Buddha represents wisdom, represents awareness.
There are three kinds of wisdom: All-Knowing Wisdom, Path Wisdom, and Universal Wisdom.
All-Knowing Wisdom is to perceive emptiness, Path Wisdom is to perceive existence, Universal Wisdom is to know that emptiness and existence are one, not two, without obstruction.
There are also three realizations: realization for oneself, realization for others, complete realization of action.
If one is given a Buddha’s title, yet lacks full wisdom and realization, he cannot be called a Buddha."
The many Arhats and Bodhisattvas, with palms pressed together, bowed respectfully and said: "We thank the Buddha for his teachings!"
Randeng Buddha’s grand voice continued, "Cultivate diligently, restrain your desires, do not forcibly seek what is beyond your capabilities, this is truly the practice of Mahayana. One day, in due time, you shall achieve True Fruit."
"Yes!" replied the many Bodhisattvas and Arhats, who stood up, pressed their palms together, bowed, and began to walk out.
Inside the Mahayana Buddha Hall, only Randeng, Guanyin, and disciples of the Chan Sect like Ju Liusun remained.
Guanyin spoke, "Buddha, if our Mahayana Buddhism does not seal Buddhas, the disciples under us will surely be dissatisfied."
Randeng Buddha smiled and said, "Sealing Buddhas — Small Mahayana Buddhism is following a self-destructive path; naturally, I shall not follow the same."
Manjusri Bodhisattva asked with puzzlement, "What does Buddha mean by this?"
"For every Buddha position they seal, Small Mahayana Buddhism loses a significant amount of Qi Fortune. Right now, it may seem prosperous with all Buddhas gathering, but in truth, it’s just like the afterglow of a setting sun. We just need to hold out for a while; Small Mahayana Buddhism will collapse on its own."
Randeng Buddha looked around at everyone and smiled, "Once I asked Buddha Mother: Shakyamuni founded Small Mahayana Buddhism privately, how should we act?
Buddha Mother said: Small Mahayana Buddhism is nothing but a rootless source, although it may stir ripples on the river surface, it will inevitably merge into the great current and cannot last long.
I further asked Buddha Mother: If the followers of Mahayana Buddhism are restless, what then?
Buddha Mother replied: Green leaves last long only when on a big tree. Leaves that leave the tree will face the wind and rain, and eventually turn to dust.
I again asked Buddha Mother: What is the future of Mahayana Buddhism and Shakyamuni?
Buddha Mother answered: When the mind is still, there is nothing; without Shakyamuni in the heart, Shakyamuni ceases to exist; without Small Mahayana Buddhism in the heart, Small Mahayana Buddhism was never established."
Randeng Buddha smiled, "Do you now understand? The so-called Small Mahayana Buddhism is doomed to perish, and those Buddhist Disciples who have left will fall with Small Mahayana Buddhism into the mundane world; the ones who remain in the end are the true Buddhist Disciples."
Ci Hang, Ju Liusun, and others all folded their hands, bowed deeply, and remarked, "Buddha’s wisdom is profound, we are not your equals."
Randeng Buddha smiled and nodded; although Buddha Mother’s hints were somewhat cryptic, indeed they implied just that.
...
Within Heavenly Court, Bai Jin was fanning the fires in the Doushuai Temple for Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad.
Lord Lao Zi, seated above, looked towards the Western direction and smiled, "Duo Bao seals thousands of Buddhas, and all the moves you made are now redundant."