Chapter 19 Xuanzang (2)

"It's okay to go by sea, but I have also gone far by land." Xuanzang's face was even more bitter: "Before I left, I should have found a map - who knew that India was actually between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo? From the Tang Dynasty to India, I took a full four years (departed in the second year of Zhenguan and arrived at Lanta Temple in the fifth year of Zhenguan). If I went to Tubo, I would probably not be able to use it for a year. It's a pity... I only realized that there was such a road after I reached Nipola.

If I could have prepared more than enough, even if I didn’t have a map, I would have asked a few more Indian or Tubo merchants, and I would have arrived at Nalanda Temple (Xuanzang’s destination). Why did I waste so much time on the road? It’s a pity that I regret it too late.”

"Uh..." Li Zhen was speechless. He didn't know what to say. Could it be that this road looks a little closer, but the danger is getting upwards exponentially. If you really know this road, you might die on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

You have been walking a long way around, but this route is actually the Silk Road route and the route that Buddhism entered the Central Plains to spread the Dharma. It is a safer area. Moreover, since this is a commercial route, there must be many business trips. In comparison, the safety is still very guaranteed.

In contrast, it is much more difficult to cross the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Not to mention altitude sickness, just crossing the Himalayas under the current conditions is simply seeking death, right?

Do you know how many people died in the wedding and brides of the bride-seeking team and the bride-sending team along the way?

There are more than 300 people. You should know that the wedding and bride-sending teams are only 3,000 people in the two sides, and one-tenth of them died back and forth.

It’s still with the crowds and everyone supports each other. If you go alone, no one will know where you die.

"Forget it, the past is with the wind. Since it has passed, let him go. No matter how much he regrets it, he will never come back." Xuanzang saw it openly, smiled bitterly, and asked again: "It's just that I still have a question to ask His Highness King Yue."

Li Zhen nodded slightly and said, "Master, it's okay to ask. As long as I can answer, I will definitely tell you everything."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Xuanzang clasped his hands together and asked a question beyond Li Zhen's expectations: "What I want to ask is whether Buddhism can still exist after the incident on Yindao?"

He was not without preparation. Before leaving, he had already learned the whole story through the nearby temple and guessed the outcome of the future Buddhism - and this was also his main purpose of visiting Li Zhen, and wanted Li Zhen to show mercy and let Buddhism live a life.

"Oh?" Li Zhen raised his eyebrows and asked strangely: "Why did the master say this? Isn't Buddhism a good place? Why did the master ask me this?"

He was also very surprised. He originally thought that Xuanzang might have asked him, but he did not expect that he would actually ask such a question, which was worthy of being a monk. He looked at the problem thoroughly and hit the nail on the head.

"Your Highness, don't fight against me." Xuanzang said frankly: "The Buddhists did a little too much in this battle for the Silver Island. Not only did they privately store their weapons, but they also fought with others for a little yellow and white thing. The Buddha's heart was afflicted. Not only did it ruin decades of practice, but it also killed countless lives, causing the devastation of life and adding countless souls to Lingnan.

Your Highness uses tigers to swallow wolves, and uses aristocratic families and Confucianism to destroy the Buddhist 100-year heritage. After this battle, the Buddhist sect's vitality was greatly damaged. With the sins committed by the Buddhist sect this time, Your Highness and the current saints would not let Buddhism go so easily, right?"

"A great thing is worthy of being a great monk. It is accurate to look at the problem. You guessed it right. Although I don't know what my father thought, I plan so." Since Xuanzang pointed it out, Li Zhen no longer concealed it: "The Blood Dragon Guard under my command has begun to be assigned to various places to investigate the sins of Buddhism. When the time comes, I will eradicate Buddhism and eradicate this cult that harms the world."

"What?" Xuanzang's expression changed wildly, and he stood up suddenly and said anxiously: "Your Highness, how can you do things? The Buddhists are wrong this time, but that's because there is something wrong with the disciples. The Buddha itself is not wrong. They are persuading people to be kind, and there is nothing wrong with this."

"Is that true?" Li Zhen glanced at him: "Then I asked you, Buddhism emphasizes the equality of all beings? Is this a mistake?"

"Of course not." Xuanzang replied without thinking. This is the most basic doctrine of Buddhism and he absolutely cannot object to it.

"That's interesting." Li Zhen's lips curled up gently: "Since all beings are equal, why is the caste system in India so rampant as the origin of Buddhism? Did you Buddhist disciples not advise those who are superior when they see that people are divided into different levels?"

"This..." Xuanzang was silent. This question was very difficult to answer. He naturally couldn't stand this system. However, in the caste system, the top Brahmins were monks and nobles. In other words, they were the direct beneficiaries of the caste system. How could they break this rule?

"Your Highness does not know that although Buddhism comes from India, it has declined in India. Because Buddhism emphasizes equality of sentient beings, which is completely opposite to the caste system. Therefore, although its status is still respected, the people still believe in Brahmanism. Because Hinduism supports the caste system, it is more supported by the rulers.

As for Buddhism, although it has not yet been cut off from its inheritance in India, its influence is no longer enough to affect the implementation of national policies. Buddhism is not that it does not want to abolish the caste system, but it is really powerless." After thinking for a long time, Xuanzang finally found a reason, but he is not a lie. Buddhism did not live a good life in India. Although King Jie Ri also supported the development of Buddhism (for example, treating Xuanzang well, gathering more than 2,000 monks from the five seals and 18 countries to hold a Buddhist and Taoist meeting for him), he supported Buddhism just to prevent the Brahmins from becoming the only one. However, he did not have the intention to abolish the caste system, nor did he have the courage to abolish the caste system. Do you believe that he would abolish the caste system the day before, and someone would arm his arm to attack him the next day?

"So that's the case, that's all right." Li Zhen nodded in a clear way, but then shook his head: "But I will not give up my plan. It's a rare opportunity to knock on Buddhism. I won't let it go easily. Don't persuade me again."
Chapter completed!