Chapter 163.1

Chapter 163.1

Lin Beifans expression changed: Master Sanchi, be careful with your words! Are you implying that all beings are suffering here because I am a foolish and incompetent ruler, which has led to the peoples suffering and a life of misery?

The old monk was shocked: Your Majesty, the poor monk did not mean that! What the poor monk is trying to convey is that the entire world is a vast sea of suffering, and all beings are struggling and sinking in it. Suffering is inevitable! Only by learning from and worshiping Buddha, and keeping Buddha in ones heart, can one cross the sea of suffering, reach the other shore, and attain great freedom and liberation!

Lin Beifans expression softened slightly: Master, considering our friendship, I will not hold your mistake against you! Since you wish to propagate the teachings of Buddha in my realm, I now ask you a question: what is Buddha?

The old monk immediately brought his hands together in prayer: Buddha is the faith in ones heart, its an unwavering belief! When one is lost, he is the guiding light. When one is cold, he is the warm breeze of spring. When one is hungry, he is the life-saving provisions. When one is weak, he is the fountain of life

In summary: Buddha is love, Buddha is benevolence, Buddha is the embodiment of all that is good, the incarnation of kindness!

Amitabha!

Lin Beifan nodded, truly a high monk of the Buddhist Sect, explaining Buddha in a way that is simple, understandable, and irrefutable.

Much stronger than those charlatans who babble on, treating Buddha as a god.

Let me ask you another question, how does one seek Buddha?

The old monk immediately answered: In daily life, worship Buddha devoutly, regard Buddha as the faith in your heart, guide oneself with the thoughts of Buddha, do good deeds, accumulate virtue, help the world and save people, and Buddha will bless you! Amitabha!

What can one obtain by seeking Buddha? Lin Beifan asked again.

By seeking Buddha, one can escape the suffering of samsara and ascend to the Western Paradise sooner! In that place, there is no hunger or poverty, no disease or cold, no birth, death, or reincarnation, and everyone can attain great peace, great freedom, and great bliss!

The old monk smiled as if he had already seen the Western Paradise.

I want to escape reincarnation now and enjoy the Western Paradise. Can it be done?

The old monk quickly said: Your Majesty, not in this life, only in the next! The world is a vast sea of suffering, and people are struggling and sinking in it. Therefore, only by shedding the mortal body and seeing ones true nature, seeking the true Buddha, can one enjoy supreme bliss!

Why can it only be sought in the next life and not in this one?

Lin Beifan asked with a smile: Is it because you cant do it, or is it purely a deception?

The old monk was somewhat displeased: Your Majesty, monks do not speak lies, how can this be deception?

Lin Beifan countered: Good! Since you say that those who believe in Buddha, worship Buddha, and do good deeds will escape the suffering of reincarnation in the next life and enjoy bliss how can you prove that those who sincerely worship Buddha and do good deeds will indeed be happy in their next life?

Ah, this The old monk was at a loss for words.

Can you bring those people here to tell me about it in person?

The poor monk The old monk started to sweat.

Or, can you invite Buddha himself to come and confront me in person?

How could that be possible? The old monk was shocked.

Lin Beifan smiled and said: Why not? Seeing is believing, hearing is believing, the proof of the pudding is in the eating! Otherwise, all spoken words are false and completely untrustworthy! Even children know this logic!

Master Sanchi, as long as you can invite Buddha himself or those who have been reincarnated to come here, I will support the Buddhist Sect without a second word, even if you ask me to shave my head and become a monk!

The old monk remained silent, not knowing how to respond.

Lin Beifan sat back leisurely: So, you cant even prove the existence of the afterlife or Buddha. How can you expect me to believe in your Buddha? Therefore, Master Sanchi, lets be honest with each other!

Your Majesty, what is your opinion on the Buddhist Sect then? the old monk tentatively asked.

Master Sanchi, let me tell you straight, I do not believe in Buddha, nor do I allow the domestic populace to believe in Buddha! If there is a Buddha, it can only be me! So, please leave! Lin Beifan waved his hand.

In her eyes, Lin Beifan was a wise monarch, and she wanted to support him, but Lin Beifans actions did not align with the interests of the Taoist Sect and could even harm them.

Even if he truly was a once-in-a-millennium sage, the Taoist Sect would still not support him.

Miss Yufei, do you know how a true wise ruler is chosen? Lin Beifan asked.

How are they chosen, please enlighten me! Song Yufei asked curiously.

They are not chosen by noble families or powerful clans, not by martial arts sects, and certainly not by the full court of officials, but by the common people, who vote with their feet!

Lin Beifan smiled slightly: As long as you do well, the common people will naturally come to your country, become your subjects, and serve you! If you do poorly, the people will naturally leave you!

Therefore, to judge whether a monarch is wise, just look at the population of his country! If his population is continuously increasing, then even if he is not a wise ruler, he is at least a competent Emperor! If his population is continuously decreasing, then he is either a foolish emperor or an incompetent ruler!

Song Yufei nodded in strong agreement: What Your Majesty says is extremely true!

She had visited over a hundred countries and had come to realize this truth.

Good countries will continue to develop and get better.

Bad countries will continue to decline and get worse.

The polarization is severe!

Essentially, its all because of the common people.

Which country the common people support, where they wish to live, that place will increasingly thrive; conversely, it will decline.

Even if you have abundant resources and a strong army, its all in vain if the people dont support you.

Isnt this the situation with Great Xia now?

The population is continuously increasing.

In just two years, it has grown by nearly 20 million, which is terrifying!

Most of the people under his rule live in peace and contentment.

Yet, Lin Beifan is still called the foolish emperor.

Because what he does does not align with the interests of the noble families or the sects of the rivers and lakes!

And these forces often hold the power of discourse in the world.

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TLN: I dont know if any Buddhist reader was offended by this chapter, but dont take it too seriously. CCP probably influenced authors train of thought.

No hate towards Chinese people, but I dont really like CCP (especially for banning reverend insanity f*ck)

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