It is said that the Bodhi Patriarch led Jiang Yuan into the cave dwelling.
Upon entering the cave, Jiang Yuan was dazzled; this cave dwelling was truly a place of immortals, reminiscent of the description in "Journey to the West": 'Layer upon layer of deep pavilions and jade towers, entering the pearl palaces and shell towers, one cannot fully express the tranquility of the secluded residence.'
Compared to the cave dwellings in the capital, this was entirely different.
The Patriarch walked ahead and said, "Child, how do you find this cave dwelling?"
Jiang Yuan sighed in amazement, "Master, I have never seen a cave dwelling more exquisite than this."
The Patriarch nodded with a smile and said, "At the innermost part, there is a Yao Tai, with two quiet rooms behind it; one is mine, and one is yours. Do not go astray."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan pointed to the numerous quiet rooms in the cave and asked, "Master, what are these quiet rooms for?"
The cave was vast, capable of accommodating not just the two of them, but even a hundred or eighty people.
The Patriarch replied, "I have 'yuan' here; these quiet rooms must have occupants, waiting for those with 'yuan' to come. If a quiet room has a master, it waits for the destined one to arrive. If a quiet room has no master, it waits for the destined one to leave. The truly owned quiet rooms are just the two we have."
Jiang Yuan understood the Patriarch's meaning; the quiet rooms in the cave were like 'dormitories' for temporary residents, and apart from the Patriarch, only his room had a true master.
He bowed and said, "Disciple will always accompany Master."
The Patriarch laughed and said, "Child, as my eldest disciple, you should cultivate great magical power."
Jiang Yuan responded, realizing he was close to entering the Dao.
The Patriarch continued, "Child, earlier at the entrance of the cave, were you puzzled as to why I did not invite Guanyin Bodhisattva into the cave?"
Jiang Yuan shook his head, "What Master does must have its reasons."
The Patriarch took out two cushions, set them down, and sat, saying, "Child, you are still inexperienced in the world and do not understand its principles. Indeed, there is a spiritual mountain in the Western Bull Hezhou, and the Tathagata possesses great magical power. The Dharma of Buddhism can be learned, but the principles of Buddhism cannot."
Jiang Yuan sat down and said, "Master, I recite that incantation daily; it is part of the Buddhist Dharma."
He had tamed the Heart Monkey, consuming wind and drinking dew, reciting the incantation daily.
He knew what school of thought the incantation belonged to.
The Patriarch nodded and said, "The Dao is strong; taming the Heart Monkey with the Buddhist Dharma is quite good."
Jiang Yuan asked, "Disciple sees that Master seems to have little fondness for the Buddhist sect."
The Patriarch lightly tapped Jiang Yuan's Tian Ling and scolded with a laugh, "Cunning little ghost!"
Jiang Yuan smiled, accustomed to the Patriarch's occasional 'taps.'
This was their daily interaction, spontaneous and playful.
The Patriarch said, "Child, do you know the difference between the beings of the Southern Zhanbu Continent and those of the Western Bull Hezhou?"
After pondering, Jiang Yuan replied, "Master, I have never seen a person from the Western Bull Hezhou, but I often hear about the history of the Southern Zhanbu Continent, knowing of the 'Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.' The beings of the Southern Zhanbu Continent are spiritually agile, while the Western Bull Hezhou is filled with demons and monsters. It is said that 'each land nurtures its own people.' This land is wild, so I imagine the people are not much different."
He had heard the Patriarch comment on the Western Bull Hezhou, saying, "The elders lack ambition, the youth lack order; it is a place of suffering."
He had traveled the Golden Road westward, encountering the 'sentient beings' of the Western Bull Hezhou.
In various ways, the beings of the Western Bull Hezhou could be glimpsed.
The Patriarch praised, "What you say is reasonable, child. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors are indeed remarkable figures, but before the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, do you think the Southern Zhanbu Continent had any spirit?"
The Southern Zhanbu Continent once had remarkable figures and spiritual essence, producing many great sages, which was due to the merit of the 'Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.' However, before the 'Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors,' why was the Southern Zhanbu Continent not like the Western Bull Hezhou?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan pondered but did not answer.
The Patriarch sat quietly on the cushion, lost in thought.
Jiang Yuan contemplated what had occurred before the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in the great dream; if one were to speak of mythology, it would be 'Nüwa creating humanity.'
Thus, before the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, was the spirit of humanity bestowed by heaven?
No, Jiang Yuan deeply understood that this was not the answer.
Where did the 'spirit' of the beings of the Southern Zhanbu Continent originate from at the beginning?
It came from thought!
Jiang Yuan's eyes sparkled; just as he was now, he had doubts and thoughts, and thus the beings of the Southern Zhanbu Continent possessed 'spirit.'
Jiang Yuan said, "Master, seeing obstacles brings wisdom, seeing confusion brings thought; hence the beings of the Southern Zhanbu Continent have spirit, and thus the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors exist."
The Patriarch agreed deeply, saying, "Child, you are talented; seeing obstacles brings wisdom, seeing confusion brings thought; hence the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors exist! The spiritual mountain is a wondrous place, and the Buddhist Dharma is profound. However, the Tathagata and Bodhisattvas' pursuit of the path of extinction is a great folly for the beings of the Western Bull Hezhou, which is called 'great folly is great wisdom.' The Buddhist Dharma can be learned, but the principles of Buddhism are not to be revered. Do you understand, child?"
Great folly for the beings of the Western Bull Hezhou, great folly is great wisdom?
This merely implies that the Tathagata and Bodhisattvas are ignorant of the beings of the Western Bull Hezhou.
Jiang Yuan stood and bowed, saying, "Disciple understands."
The Patriarch smiled and waved his hand, allowing Jiang Yuan to familiarize himself with the cave dwelling.
He headed toward the Yao Tai.
Jiang Yuan bowed, watching the Patriarch leave, and then began to walk around the cave dwelling, pondering in his heart.
According to the various things the Patriarch had said, he knew that the Southern Zhanbu Continent had once been glorious, but later encountered factors such as the Heavenly Court, the Underworld, and the Buddhist sect, leading to a loss of vitality and no longer shining.
The Western Bull Hezhou, due to the spiritual mountain and the ignorance of its people, made the Patriarch dislike it, hence the Patriarch did not favor the Buddhist sect.
"Could it be that the 'yuan' the Patriarch speaks of refers to the beings of the Western Bull Hezhou? Does the Patriarch wish to give the beings of the Western Bull Hezhou a chance to think and gain wisdom?"
Jiang Yuan pondered.
However, all these matters were not for him to worry about.
He should focus on taming the Heart Monkey and entering the Dao to attain the beginning of longevity.
Jiang Yuan cut off his thoughts and walked toward the cave dwelling, eager to explore the scenery within.
The cave was a newly opened place, filled with spiritual essence and divine energy; it was indeed a treasure land.
However, Jiang Yuan noticed a lack of spiritual plants and thought to add old cypress trees, cultivate bamboo, and create a more beautiful environment.
Jiang Yuan was keen to manage the cave dwelling, but as night fell and the road darkened, he decided to enjoy the evening breeze and quietly cultivate instead.
The matter of management could only be postponed for a day or two.
He walked toward the Yao Tai and saw a small path behind it, hearing the sound of water flowing, and saw fireflies scattering their light, which was indeed much better than inside the cave.
The Patriarch had taken great care of this place.
Jiang Yuan stepped forward; at the end of the small path, there were two quiet rooms.
The left quiet room's door was tightly closed, and the one he was supposed to stay in was on the right.
He did not head toward the right quiet room but walked toward the left quiet room.
When he reached the front of the left quiet room, he bowed and paid his respects.
The Patriarch had shown him great kindness by allowing him a quiet room in the cave dwelling, so he should express his gratitude and pay his respects.
However, the Patriarch was in quiet cultivation and should not be disturbed, so he could only bow at the door.
"Child, do not put on airs; quiet cultivation and taming the Heart Monkey are what matter most."
The Patriarch's voice came from within the room.
Jiang Yuan responded with a "Yes," and went to the right quiet room.
Upon entering the quiet room, he found the furnishings were no different from those in the cave dwelling in the capital, understanding the Patriarch's intention; it was to respect the Patriarch's wishes and quickly tame the Heart Monkey to step into the Dao sooner.
……
In the quiet room of Jiang Tong'er, he quietly cultivated, drinking dew in the early morning and consuming the evening breeze, spending his days planting old cypress trees, cultivating bamboo, leaving rare flowers, spreading jade grass, and inviting a celestial crane to dance with him, while the mysterious monkeys and white deer appeared and vanished, and the golden lions and jade elephants roamed freely.
Indeed, it was a blessed land of immortals, named 'Xie Yue San Xing Dong.'
Unknowingly, eight or nine years passed; time flew swiftly, and days were not counted.
Jiang Yuan finally calmed his heart monkey; one of the five would eventually return, protecting his Yuan Shen with precision, displaying ferocity and recognizing the Desire God...
(End of Chapter)