Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Chapter 255: Potala Palace Dharma Conference

The news that Emperor Qianyuan was going to hold a grand Dharma conference in the West Hall of the Red Palace of the Potala Palace spread throughout the Kingdom of David. Hearing that Padmasambhava had convened eight other great Bodhisattvas to debate scriptures, they were delighted with the grand event and all the major sects Monks poured into Lhasa from all directions. In a short period of time, more than 10,000 monks gathered in Lhasa, and the number is still increasing.

The benevolent Padmasambhava ordered alms to be given three times a day in the morning, noon and evening from three days before the debate to the day of the debate, and butter lamps and butter flowers were lined up on Barkhor Street in Lhasa.

The day of the Dharma Festival arrived, and Lhasa was filled with people, singing, dancing and celebrating all night long. From the top to the bottom of Maburi Mountain where the Potala Palace is located, Dharma trumpets are blaring, sutras are being chanted, thousands of sutra flags are fluttering, incense is lingering, and countless Buddhist lamps are flashing. There was an endless stream of pilgrims coming to worship, but they were only allowed to climb halfway up the mountain and worship from a distance where the great Bodhisattvas debated scriptures.

"Your Majesty, no, Sir, according to reliable information, there are more than 16,000 monks from various sects and more than 50,000 common people coming to Lhasa," reported the third-class Kezhi Marquis and Wuyi Guards from Thousand Household Hada in Lhasa.

"very good!"

Sultan nodded with satisfaction. In this era of inconvenient transportation, it is not easy to have so many people come! The momentum I want to create has initially taken shape.

At this moment, he is no longer an emperor in the human world, but a great Bodhisattva in heaven, with a majestic appearance, a lotus hat on his head, a red monk's robe, and a heavenly staff on his left arm.

This heavenly staff is extraordinary. It is a magic weapon carried by the great Bodhisattva Padmasambhava. It is one of the most complex magic weapons in Vajrayana Buddhism. A long eight-sided white sandalwood long wooden pole with a cross Vajra on the top. From top to bottom, there are three red, green and white wooden carved heads strung together, a golden vase, and a ribbon with the sun and moon symbols. , twelve forks, a triangular flag, a damaru and a dharma bell.

This magical instrument symbolizes the ultimate bodhicitta, which is the combination of great happiness and emptiness. It represents Mount Sumeru and the universe, that is, the entire Mount Sumeru and the universe are under the protection of Guru Rinpoche. Each part has a symbolic meaning. For example, the vase represents the body of Mount Sumeru, the four leaf-shaped ornaments on it represent the four faces of Mount Sumeru, and the opening represents the Indra Palace on the top of Mount Sumeru; twelve can be seen The forks represent the four major Zhanbu continents and the eight small Zhanbu continents surrounding Mount Sumeru; the red human head symbolizes the six heavens of the desire realm, the green human head symbolizes the eighteen days of the color realm, and the white dry skull symbolizes the colorless realm. Four days.

The original magic weapon required a real human head, but Suletan thought it was too disgusting, so he used wood carvings instead. It makes the magic weapon lighter, but it is still heavy and inconvenient to carry, so it can only be placed on the left armrest.

When he came, he came in a graceful manner. The mountain wind lifted the monk's robes, giving him the feeling of riding the wind. Regardless, he went straight to the Lotus Heart Dharma Seat in the West Hall of the Red Palace. Because I had rehearsed many times in advance, I walked with a calm gait and no air of worldliness. Surrounding the Lotus Heart Dharma Seat are eight lotus petal-shaped Dharma Seats. Eight great Bodhisattvas from various sects sit on one side of each other, forming a large lotus flower.

"Amitabha! As expected of my Nyingma ancestor, lotuses grow at every step. How can his altar be so powerful!" The great monk Jigme Dorje was deeply moved.

"Bah! You monstrous monk trying to please others," the great monk Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso cursed in his heart.

Out of interest, some people praise him and some people scold him. There is only one person whose eyes are full of little stars. "So handsome! As expected of my Duoji Pam's double monk!" Goddess Dorje Pam murmured to herself. Suletan sat cross-legged on the Lotus Heart Dharma Seat and smiled at the monks, meaning: Thank you for your long wait.

"Amitabha, Guru Rinpoche came to us to debate the sutras. I don't know what the topic should be?" the great monk Sangji Lingpa of the Bon sect asked. He was actually Suletan's trustee. Considering the special relationship between Dorjepam and Shaobu and himself, it was inconvenient to serve as a trustee, so he chose this person. He was a smart and sensible person.

"Buddhist scriptures say, 'All living beings with a Buddha mind are equal without distinction.' Today, the young monk wants to argue about 'equality'." Suletan smiled slightly.

As soon as he heard the word "equality", Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen, the Fatel of Tashilhunpo Monastery. "Amitabha, what does Guru Rinpoche think is equality?" Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen spoke.

"The young monk feels that there is no difference between shallow and deep and is called 'equality'. Sentient and ruthless, human and animal, human and human, sentient beings and Buddha, mental and physical dharma, cause and effect, are all equal." Su Letan replied. There is a mystery behind this explanation. If people, sentient beings and Buddhas are all equal, why can the same crime be punished differently? Why can monks not pay taxes?

"Wonderful words." Shaobu, Jigme Dorje, Sangyelingpa, and Dorje Pam all praised him in unison. This had been discussed long ago, but Tianjin and Zhu Gyatso bowed their heads and remained silent.

Seeing that the Gelug sect was in isolation, the great monk Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso was secretly upset and said surreptitiously: "Does Guru Rinpoche think that Buddha Sakyamuni and the founders of other sects are equal?" This was a naked provocation. Gelug, Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Potong all respect Sakyamuni Buddha. If Suletan answers "yes", he will offend the public; if he answers "no", he will offend the shaman and the Ben. group.

This bald donkey!
Suletan was furious in his heart, but his face was peaceful, "Equality of all living beings is exactly the teaching of Sakyamuni Buddha. A thousand years ago, I listened to the Buddha's lecture. The Buddha said that human beings possess the Buddha nature, and all living beings can be equal. "Equals become Buddhas", good fellow, this man was not ashamed of his words, recalling the scene when his old man listened to Sakyamuni Buddha's sermons a thousand years ago, no matter how many lifetimes ago!

Who can argue with him? The debate at the Potala Palace Dharma Assembly ended with the reincarnation of Padmasambhava winning. Everyone agrees that humans, sentient beings and Buddhas are all equal. If you want to become a Buddha, you must have great compassion!
Sultan was very compassionate. He announced that all the slaves in Otok and the manor directly under the royal family would be released from slavery and granted civilian status. Those who are willing to stay and continue grazing or cultivating land for the royal family will be rewarded accordingly by the royal family based on their output. When the news came out, Emperor Qianyuan's reputation for benevolence and righteousness immediately resounded throughout the Kingdom of David. Some princes and nobles were even moved or wanted to flatter the emperor, so they also released a group of their own slaves.

Later historians gave the Potala Palace Dharma Conference a very high evaluation. Some people say that this is the ideological liberation movement of the Qianyuan Dynasty of the Davidic Kingdom, which kicked off the transformation from a slave society to a feudal society; others say that this is a good play directed and performed by Emperor Qianyuan in order to promote reforms. The purpose of the play is to build momentum for the promulgation of the "Law of David". A sour scholar named "Yangyang Daming" put it most truthfully, believing that this was done by Emperor Qianyuan in order to put imperial power above religious power and better dominate the world. political means adopted.

The people who benefited from the benefits made up a song: "There is a big Buddha living in the Potala Palace, and the Buddha's light shines from Kangrong to Ladakh. Amala said that cattle and sheep are all over the hillside, and the fields are covered with highland barley, all of which are beautiful." Because it is blessed by Bodhisattva”

(End of this chapter)