Dream Picking Records

"There is no good or evil in the body, but there are good and evil intentions in the action. Knowing good and evil is conscience, and doing good and avoiding evil is the study of things."

Wang Xiao silently recited Mr. Yangming's views in his mind, and three days passed in the blink of an eye. He found that his views were mostly related to the two words "heart" and "knowledge".

They stopped to chat with each other and talk about their feelings.

Yu Changzhou said: "Because Mr. Yangming felt that the principle of heaven he wanted to seek was not in all things, but in his own heart. The heart is the principle. The way of the sage is that my nature is self-sufficient, and the root of all changes is always in the heart."

"He means that everyone has the potential to become a saint, and that potential lies in the heart?" Feng Tingjun turned his head and asked.

"That should be what he meant. But I think the saint he refers to is not the one in terms of the level of monks, but the one in terms of the quality of how one behaves in the world."

"Then why should I learn it? It won't help my cultivation." He said he didn't want to do it anymore and all the suffering he endured was in vain.

"Heart……"

Wang Xiao recited it softly in his mouth and comprehended it silently.

The mind is the principle, and the principle is the Tao.

Cultivating the mind is also cultivating the Tao.

Although its effect is not immediate, its influence on a person is subtle.

Everyone's heart is certainly different, and similarly, it will give birth to everyone's own reason and their own way. In the end, it should lead to the way of heaven, but obviously not everyone can make it to the end.

Wang Xiao told the two of them his idea.

Feng Tingyun said: "According to what you said, what should we do?"

"I think this should be related to the four-character mantra left by Mr. Yangming. If you can understand it, it will be a great way to benefit all living beings!"

"Creating all living beings is difficult enough. No wonder no one has been able to figure it out over the years." Feng Tingjun said and sat on his shoulder.

"If enlightenment were easy, wouldn't there be saints everywhere?" Yu Changzhou said with a smile, encouraging him not to be discouraged.

"How can I do this..."

Wang Xiao was deep in thought. Three days had passed in a flash. Including the previous time, they had been meditating in the cave for six days, which was close to the previous record of seven days. Even Yu Changzhou and Chi Yan were almost unable to hold on. People like E Qian arrived later than them and left earlier. They were already recovering outside the miasma land.

Seven days later, Feng Tingyun's body stiffened and he fell off of him. Wang Xiao woke up and caught him.

"I can't hold on any longer, come on!" He closed his eyes and flapped his wings.

"Brother Dao, I can't do it anymore. It looks like my brother Tingyun and I have to go first." Yu Changzhou also said.

"Hold on a little longer. I feel like I have some clues. All I need is an opportunity."

Wang Xiao used the Concentration Chapter to relieve their mental stress. He felt that if he could really understand that step, they would be able to feel it more deeply if they were there.

He felt that the predecessors had already explained his thoughts very clearly, and only the final finishing touch was left.

But it was this kick that stopped countless people.

"Come on, I'll take a rest and wait for your good news."

Feng Tingyun said that he and Yu Changzhou no longer had the desire to attain enlightenment at this point.

Wang Xiao did not insist, he stood up and stretched his muscles. Lin Yi, who was far away, saw this and raised his lips slightly. He thought that the other party could not hold on any longer, so whether he had understood the essence of this invisible contest or not, he had won.

But the next second his hair stood on end and he became alert. The other party had no intention of leaving, but walked towards him instead.

Wang Xiao thought he looked like a frightened cat and found it funny. Since there was a rule, he would definitely not attack the other party.

He stopped and looked up at the sky which was blurred by the miasma.

It was night time, and you could still vaguely see a few bright stars shining.

He suddenly felt something, as if the whole world had fallen into silence and he was in the universe.

Those stars are like sages born in history, emitting their own light and heat, able to penetrate the fog and illuminate the unknown corners.

Those not-so-bright stars are like ordinary creatures. Although their light is weak, they together illuminate the entire night sky.

They burn themselves to illuminate the universe and provide light for life, until one day they go out, but they never ask for anything.

While thinking, Wang Xiao suddenly remembered a sentence from Laozi's work: The way of heaven is to benefit but not to harm, and the way of the sage is to act but not to fight. It seemed to fit their descriptions.

Saints do not act for the sake of gaining benefits!

"Knowing good and evil, doing good and eliminating evil... Conscience tells us what is good and evil, but not everyone can do good and punish evil. Why? Calculating whether there is any gain after doing something is not only reflected in outsiders, but also in oneself. If there is no benefit, why should we punish evil and promote good?"

"Is this human nature? No, the original state of the mind is neither good nor evil. Good and evil are formed because of the interference of intention. So they have to cultivate their minds so that they can eventually reach that point."

Wang Xiao had a headache as the problem came back again.

How to fix?

It is easy to understand the general principles, but the problem lies in how to put them into practice.

“The way of a sage is not to have no desires, but to do the right thing without caring about one’s own gains and losses.”

“How do you judge whether something is right or not?”

“Follow your heart.”

"My heart? My heart, what if my reason is wrong?"

“The human heart and behavior are consistent. Behavior reflects the cognition in the heart, and cognition affects behavior. Through actual actions, we can prove whether our cognition is correct, so it can gradually develop and improve through the process of self-cultivation and practice.”

Wang Xiao’s thoughts flowed like a spring, and he asked and answered himself questions in his heart.

“The heart and actions are inseparable. To perfect one’s heart, one needs to take that step to test right and wrong. Then, by repeating the cycle, one will eventually achieve true heart and the great path!”

His heartstrings were plucked, like a gentle breeze blowing past, pushing away the clouds and mist to reveal the bright moon.

He stood there with his black hair fluttering like a waterfall without wind, and his whole body exuded a unique charm.

Lin was shocked. The other party was definitely in a state of enlightenment!

"Snapped!"

A bolt of lightning cut through the miasma, followed by thousands of lightning bolts.

They flow down like a river from heaven, pouring down upon the people below.

A brilliant light emanated from that man's body, and no matter how fierce or violent the thunder was, it could do nothing to him.

He seemed to be surrounded by a magic ring, making him invulnerable to all attacks.

Suddenly, golden lotuses sprang up from the ground, sweet springs fell from the sky, divine birds and celestial beings surrounded him, and auspicious beasts and celestial beings guided him on the path.

At the same time, divine sounds and the roar of the avenue continued to echo between heaven and earth.

The space shook violently, the void collapsed, and dazzling golden light shone through little by little, and the environment within a hundred feet radius became clear.

“Knowledge and action come together!”

Wang Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly and saw clearly in front of him through the gap between his fingers. There were four large characters made of golden light, shining brightly in the void.