“What? Lin Dan Khan's Envoy has arrived, and among them are their State Preceptor, the Shalpa Khutughtu of the Sakya School?” In Yingsuo River City, Sultan was somewhat stunned when he heard his subordinate's report.
He knew that the Sakya School had served as the Imperial Preceptor of the Mongol Yuan for generations, producing more than a dozen Imperial Preceptors starting from Basiba, until the fall of the Mongol Yuan.
Although weakened now, it is still a famous and powerful sect.
That Shalpa Khutughtu is even more famous for persuading Lin Dan Khan to convert to the Sakya School.
Hmm, Lin Dan Khan is in decline.
Sending this Great Monk must be to form an alliance with me.
According to history, in a little over a year, this powerful ruler will die from smallpox.
At that time, the Northern Yuan's imperial seal and the Chahar's populace will all be considerable wealth.
It would be a pity if they fell into the hands of the Manchu Qing!
Thinking of this, Sultan revealed a warm smile, “Line up the soldiers and invite the distinguished guests into the hall.”
Shalpa Khutughtu, Bandida Gushi, Ananda Gushi, and Nanchu walked into the Great Taiji residence under the guidance of Ministry of Rites officials.
Although the palace was not large, it was solemn and imposing.
The rows and columns of spirited “Kheshig” guards, holding swords and spears, displayed the might of the Huit Tribe.
Shalpa Great Monk secretly marveled, the Huit Tribe has indeed become stronger!
If I can persuade their Great Taiji to convert to Sakya, my sect will have a great powerful ally.
Thinking of this, his gaze became much more fervent.
Things seemed easier than expected.
Sultan was very polite to them and ordered a banquet to entertain the Envoys.
During the banquet, he praised Lin Dan Khan profusely, believing that only the direct lineage of the Golden Family was worthy of being the co-ruler of the Mongol.
After the meal, he specifically kept Shalpa Khutughtu to talk in the warm pavilion, saying that he wanted to ask the Master for guidance on Buddhist Dharma.
Buddha bless us!
As soon as he heard that the Great Taiji wanted to discuss Dharma with him, Shalpa Khutughtu immediately became energetic, full of confidence in his ability to persuade.
Serving maids brought fragrant tea and pastries.
Since obtaining Hami, Sultan had sent people to act as Envoys to the Great Ming, opening up trade routes.
The variety of tea and pastries also increased.
“Master, please partake.”
“Thank you, Great Taiji.”
After exchanging some innocuous pleasantries, Sultan inquired about Buddhist Dharma, “Master, what are the differences between the various schools of Buddhism?”
Shalpa Khutughtu smiled slightly, “The Gelug Sect has been passed down for only over two hundred years, emphasizing strict adherence to precepts and primarily cultivating the Yamantaka Dharma.
The Nyingma Sect has been passed down for over eight hundred years, with three major lineages: the far-transmitted scriptures, the near-transmitted treasure teachings, and the very profound pure visions, primarily cultivating the Nine Yana classifications and the Dzogchen.
The Kagyu sect has been passed down for over six hundred years, transmitting the secret mantra teachings personally taught by Vajradhara Buddha, primarily cultivating the Mahamudra.
As for my Sakya School, it has been passed down for five hundred and sixty-one years to date, transmitting the study of Dharmalakṣaṇa, the study of Madhyamaka-Prasaṅgika, the Sakya Thirteen Golden Dharmas, etc., with the Path and Fruition Dharma being the most exquisite.”
Sultan listened, feeling completely lost.
He opened his mouth and asked again, “Each school has its cultivation methods, so which one is the best?”
“Great Taiji, all dharmas return to one.
Whether it is the Gelug Sect's Yamantaka Dharma, the Nyingma Sect's Dzogchen, the Kagyu sect's Mahamudra, or my Sakya School's Great Path and Fruition Dharma, cultivating to the end can all achieve Buddhahood.
However, my Sakya School has been able to serve as the Imperial Preceptor of the Great Yuan for generations, which shows its exceptional qualities,” Shalpa Khutughtu said proudly.
Sultan listened, filled with admiration.
This monk is truly formidable.
On the surface, he was impartial, praising the doctrines of each school.
In reality, by stating the duration of their lineages, he subtly hinted at the shallow foundation of the Yellow Sect and implicitly boasted that his own Sakya School was the national religion of the Great Yuan and the leader of all schools.
Amazing, truly amazing, his words are like blooming lotus flowers, no wonder he could make Lin Dan Khan obey his every word!
He most respected capable people, and his demeanor became increasingly respectful, “Please, Master, expound on the scriptures for me.”
Good gracious, Shalpa Khutughtu spoke like a flowing river, from “good realms” to “cutting off ego-clinging,” and then to “removing all views.”
From “clarity-emptiness without clinging” to “no distinction between samsara and nirvana.”
From the King Hyeonjong to the Esoteric Buddhism, samsara and nirvana, the secret Dharma of the Path and Fruition, and so on, he spoke until the Great Taiji felt admiration but couldn't understand a thing.
Because he didn't understand, he yawned.
Oh no!
The Great Taiji seems uninterested.
Shalpa Khutughtu secretly cursed himself for being foolish; the other party was just a seventeen-year-old boy, how could he understand profound Buddhist Dharma?
Young people, after all, like new and fun things.
Yes, yes, I must talk about something new and fun!
Having figured this out, he narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, “Does the Great Taiji know that my Sakya School has four wondrous treasures?”
“What? Wondrous treasures?”
Indeed, upon hearing about wondrous treasures, Sultan's curiosity was piqued, “May I ask what these wondrous treasures are?”
Hehe, Shalpa Great Monk was secretly pleased.
It was just as I expected, young people like novelty.
“amitabha, my school has four treasures.
First, a statue of the protector deity invited from India, which can ward off evil spirits.
Second, a stupa built by Pa Palotsawa, from which divine water often flows.
Third, a statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva, enshrining the 본존菩薩.
And fourth, it is the treasure of my main monastery, Sakya Monastery, a black wooden box given by Kublai Khan to my school's fifth patriarch, Master Basiba.
In the box is a large white-skinned conch shell.
My school's monks regard it as more precious than life, and only on auspicious days is the wooden box opened, and the conch shell is held out and blown by a high monk.”
Sultan listened, stunned, his eyes revealing a longing for such things.
Who was the Great Monk?
He was most skilled at observing people's expressions.
Seeing this, he smiled slightly and continued, “Furthermore, within Sakya Monastery, there are over three thousand Tang paintings and more than forty thousand volumes of various scriptures.
Among them are a large number of 'palm-leaf scriptures' written on the leaves of the palm tree.
The most peculiar is a 'square scripture,' one chi in length and width, protected by 夾板 on both the top and bottom, entirely written in gold ink, truly a treasure.”
“Ah, this Taiji has never heard of such a wondrous treasure in the world.
I truly want to visit your school's Sakya Monastery,” Sultan murmured.
“Hehe, my school not only has many wondrous treasures but also the Thirteen Golden Dharmas and other secret Dharmas.
In the past, the Buddha manifested a vast array of deities to subdue the eighty-four thousand afflictions of sentient beings, and the methods for achieving these thirteen deities were obtained by my school, known as the Sakya Thirteen Golden Dharmas, which are incredibly mysterious.
Unfortunately, they are not transmitted outside the gates of Sakya and can only be learned by disciples of my school.”
Speaking of this, the Great Monk secretly glanced at Sultan and found that although he was moved, he consistently refused to mention converting to the Sakya School.
Feeling anxious, he used his ultimate skill, “My school possesses the method of cultivating the Joyful Buddha, which allows for dual cultivation.
'Form is emptiness, emptiness is form, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form.'
The incredibly wondrous Joyful Meditation, formed by the fusion of the charming and graceful Consort and the fierce King, is infinitely profound.”
“What! Joyful Meditation?” Sultan's mind was instantly filled with enchanting scenes.
After spending a night with Bigi Gaoyun, the Biji of Baibagas Khan, in Sarato Hai, he had not been close to women since returning to Yingsuo River.
The main reason was that his Biji Ulji Bayar was too young, and he couldn't bear to lay a hand on her.
However, the restlessness of adolescence was becoming increasingly difficult to suppress.
He smiled wickedly, “Master, may I ask how your school's dual cultivation method is practiced?”
“Ah, this is a secret not transmitted within my school,” the Great Monk played coy.
“Please tell me a small section, just a small section,” Sultan requested.
Things in the world are just like this; the more you refuse to say, the more others want to hear.
“Very well, this old monk will speak a little about the dual cultivation technique of my school's Esoteric Buddhism.
The method of mental union: both parties make eye contact and visualize the other's third eye.
The method of breath union: listen to the other's breath, their exhalation entering me, my exhalation entering them, like an endless cycle.
The method of energy union: visualize the energy waves in one's navel chakra like waves, spreading from the center to the other party, while simultaneously chanting a mantra to vibrate the other party's navel chakra.
After I finish chanting, the other party repeats the same steps.
The method of spiritual union: visualize me as the other, my spirit merging with their spirit.”