Lin Heng sneered, "It’s nothing, I just want to ask, your Buddhist Sect always talks about the equality of all beings, but may I ask, have you truly achieved equality among yourselves?"
Du’e raised his eyebrows slightly, sensing a hint of unease.
Kong Xing said angrily, "What do you mean by that? When has our Buddhist Sect ever been unequal?"
Lin Heng smiled strangely, "Is that so? Then may I ask, Master, what position do you hold in Zen Spirit Temple?"
Kong Xing’s face showed a touch of pride, and he blurted out, "I am one of the four Elders of Zen Spirit Temple, Dharma name Kong Xing!"
"Oh?"
Lin Heng, hearing this, smiled with a deeper meaning, "Then perhaps in Zen Spirit Temple, you are revered above all?"
Kong Xing was taken aback, looking at Lin Heng as if he were an idiot, speechless:
"What are you thinking, Daoist?"
"I am merely an Elder of Zen Spirit Temple, naturally, the temple respects the Abbot, not me!"
At these words, Du’e’s eyelids trembled, Abbot Fa Ling’s color also changed, and the other three Elders realized they had fallen into the other’s trap.
As expected, the next second, the opponent coldly laughed and said:
"So it turns out that Zen Spirit Temple really does revere someone. I thought that Novice Monks, Bhikkhu Monks, Monks of Discipline, and Elder Abbots were all equal to each other."
"It seems your Buddhist Sect is not equal either?"
"If that is so, how dare you speak of the equality of all beings?"
"Elder, do you think this Daoist’s words are right or wrong?"
Lin Heng looked at Kong Xing with a mocking smile.
Among the four Elders, Kong Xing, who was always the less cunning, was utterly stumped by Lin Heng’s words.
He stood dumbfounded, lowering his head in deep thought, suddenly realizing that what the other said seemed to make perfect sense.
"No... I... you!"
Kong Xing looked at Lin Heng, momentarily speechless, both angry and frustrated, his face flushed red.
Lin Heng continued to mock, "Your Buddhist Sect claims to believe in the equality of all beings, yet internally categorizes into different levels. Fine, the Daoist will consider it the development of the temple, with a leader necessary, and not dwell on it with you."
"The Daoist just has one question: since your Buddhist Sect preaches the equality of all beings, why must every Incense Burner who enters your temple kneel before the Buddha you speak of?"
"This..." Du’e’s face changed.
Fa Ling hurriedly argued, "Our Buddha is a faith, and the Incense Burners worship the faith, not the Buddha!"
"Oh?"
Lin Heng laughed, "Then are the Bodhisattva Arhats also faith?"
Fa Ling vaguely sensed something was wrong, but at this moment, he could only brace himself and say, "Yes, of course, they are!"
Lin Heng smiled and nodded, his eyes suddenly cold.
"Since they are all faith, why is it that in the main hall of your temple, the Great Buddha’s Golden Body is always in the center?"
"Can’t the Arhat be placed in the main hall, with the Bodhisattva and Buddha relegated to the side halls?"
"Or do your beliefs also have a hierarchy?"
Lin Heng’s questions, each as resonant as a thunderclap, left all the monks, including Du’e, both furious and unable to find words to refute.
And among the Incense Burners, upon hearing Lin Heng’s words, they couldn’t help but nod secretly and start whispering among themselves.
"Indeed, the equality of all beings is clearly an unrealistic notion."
"Everywhere, it must be that the significant figures come first."
"An Abbot will never pounce and bow before a Novice Monk, and a temple’s main hall statue will never be one of the Eighteen Arhats."
"So, even the Buddhist Sect itself cannot achieve equality for all."
"Then how can it expect all beings to be equal?"
At this moment, many of the Incense Burners had unusual thoughts in their hearts, and their gazes toward Du’e became more complex.
Du’e realized this situation and felt deeply uneasy. After pondering for a moment, he actively said:
"What Observatory Master Lin says is not without reason."
"But what fault is there in our Buddhist Sect’s wish for equality among all beings in this world?"
"Only when this great wish spreads to everyone’s hearts can mutual respect emerge, leading to the hope of a world of universal equality."
"Although such an ideal is still a distance away, isn’t it good for us monks to strive for this?"
Du’e’s tone was sincere, full of compassion, his words and deeds fully displaying the demeanor of a great master.
"Well said!"
Fa Ling and the others were pleasantly surprised, never expecting that Du’e, in such a situation, could still use such deeply moving rhetoric to stir everyone’s emotions.
It must be said, a high monk is indeed a high monk!
But Lin Heng was indifferent, calmly retorting:
"So, is this also the reason your Buddhist Sect must respect evildoers?"
Du’e was startled, frowned, and said, "What does Observatory Master Lin mean by this?"
He dared not be careless now.
The young Daoist in front of him was very adept at verbal debates, and if he wasn’t careful, he would fall into his logical trap.
"This Daoist means nothing. I’m just curious. Your Buddhist belief of ’putting down the slaughter blade and becoming a Buddha’—is this also a form of respect for evildoers?"
Du’e’s eyes were solemn as he answered cautiously:
"This is not about respect, but instead about the hearts of people having compassion and forgiveness."
"Giving others a chance to be reborn and wholeheartedly turn toward goodness is the true meaning of putting down the slaughter blade and becoming a Buddha!"
Lin Heng laughed at the words, but it was a cold laugh.
"So, does that mean the good people who are bullied by evildoers are supposed to die?"
Du’e was taken aback and quickly shook his head: "This monk never said that!"
Lin Heng retorted disdainfully, "Evildoers commit many evil deeds, and if they turn back one day, all sins are cleansed. Isn’t this a mockery of good people? Isn’t it saying that those killed by evildoers deserved to die?"
"Why can’t good deeds be rewarded with good and evil be met with evil?"
"Why give those with heavy sins a chance to turn back?"
"Did the people they killed ever get a chance to turn back?"
Lin Heng’s words were powerful and forceful, his voice fierce.
He loathed the saying ’putting down the slaughter blade and becoming a Buddha.’
Good people endure countless hardships to attain the Righteous Dao, but evildoers commit all kinds of evil, and once they turn back, they are praised?
What kind of logic is this?
"You this... you this..."
Du’e was left red-faced by Lin Heng’s words, not knowing how to answer, struggled for a long time, and finally managed to get out a sentence.
"Life has its destiny, good people being harmed by bad people, however unfortunate it may be."
"But this is their fate, destined to suffer such tribulations. No one can help it..."
"Nonsense!"
Before Du’e could finish, Lin Heng interrupted sharply:
"If an evildoer is given the proper punishment for the first evil deed, would they have the chance to continue doing evil?"
"If there’s no chance to do evil, would the people after still suffer by their hand?"
"In that case, where does this concept of destiny come from?"
"Putting down the slaughter blade and becoming a Buddha is not compassion for the evildoer!"
"This is a punishment for the innocent!" Lin Heng shouted loudly.
All the Incense Burners were shaken.