Collection of strange powers and chaotic gods

Once upon a time, there was a scholar named Ma Dahuan in Dongguang County (now a county under Cangzhou City, Hebei Province) who stayed at Zisheng Temple to study.

One night in the summer of this year, the weather was very hot, and Martha was still unbearably hot, so he slept naked in the Sutra Pavilion.

When he was drowsily asleep, he suddenly felt someone pulling his arm and saying to him: "Get up, how can you sleep here like this? Don't blaspheme the Buddhist scriptures?"

Martha opened her eyes and saw an old man standing next to her, but he was not from this temple and she didn't recognize him, so she asked curiously: "Who are you?"

The old man replied: "I am the god who protects the Sutra Pavilion."

Martha was open-minded and courageous by nature. He didn't feel afraid when he heard that the old man was a god.

At that time, the moon outside was as bright as day. After being woken up, Martha was completely sleepy, so she invited the old man to sit down and have a chat.

He asked the old man: "Why did you come to guard the Sutra Pavilion?"

The old man said: "This is God's order."

Martha also asked: "There are so many Confucian classics, but I haven't heard of any gods guarding them. Why does God only focus on the Buddhist scriptures here?"

The old man said: "Buddhism uses Shinto to implement education. Some people believe it and some don't, so gods must be arranged to protect it.

Confucianism implements education based on humanity, and ordinary people should respect it and protect it. In fact, most people know how to respect it and protect it, so there is no need to bother with the power of the gods. This is not because God favors Buddhist scriptures! "

Martha also asked: "Then God treats Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism all the same?"

The old man said: "Confucianism takes self-cultivation as its foundation and governing people and the country as its function; Taoism takes tranquility as its foundation and gentleness as its function; Buddhism takes being at peace with the status quo as its foundation and compassion as its function.

The purposes of these three religions are different and cannot be generalized.

As for the highest goal of the three religions, it is to teach people to be good, which is no different; it is helpful to all things, and this is no different.

Since their ultimate goals and destinations are roughly the same, God naturally cannot but allow these three religions to coexist at the same time.

However, Confucianism establishes a destiny for the people and emphasizes cultivating one's own morality; Buddhism and Taoism both emphasize cultivating oneself and then using the remaining energy to benefit all things.

Therefore, God uses Confucianism, which demonstrates humanity, as the mainstay, and uses Taoism and Buddhism, which demonstrate Shinto, as a supplement; but it cannot only use Buddhism and Taoism to govern the world.

This is why the three religions seem to be inconsistent but consistent, and consistent yet inconsistent. "

Although Martha didn't quite understand what the old man said, she was so absorbed in listening that she forgot to ask questions.

The old man seemed to know that he did not fully understand what he said, so he continued: "To put it simply, Confucianism is like grains, which are indispensable to people. If you don't eat for a day, you will feel hungry, and if you don't eat for a few days, you will feel hungry. He must have starved to death;

Buddhism and Taoism are like medicines. They are used at the moment of life and death, to dilute the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and joy. They are used to forgive and resolve grievances, sins, and eliminate resentment. This is faster than Confucianism. Moreover, Buddhism and Taoism's theories about the cause and effect of misfortunes and blessings are easier for people to accept than Confucianism, which is used to impress those who are superficial and ignorant.

Just know how to use it in moderation and not to eat medicine as if it were cooking, otherwise it will lead to one side and cause disaster.

Confucianists sometimes talk about the nature of mind and confuse their own ideas with those of the Buddhist Sakyamuni and the Taoist Lao Dan; sometimes they reject and attack the two schools of Buddhism and Taoism, just like dealing with enemies and enemies. This is all a one-sided view of Confucianism! "

Martha continued to ask: "In Buddhism and Taoism, there are often Taoist priests or monks who pretend to be gods and create ghosts and create mischief. If we don't attack them vigorously, won't they leave disasters in the world?"

The old man said: "What I just talked about is the foundation of these three religions. If we talk about it in detail, not only Buddhism and Taoism will leave behind disasters, but also Confucianism will leave less disasters? Just like you, you are drunk. Drinking wine and sleeping naked in the temple may not necessarily be the etiquette of Zhou Gong and Confucius?!"

When Martha was still there, she suddenly felt ashamed and apologized to the old man repeatedly.

Next, the two chatted happily until dawn, before the old man said goodbye and left.

However, Martha still didn’t know who the old man was.

Someone in the temple who knew it said it was a fox spirit.