Hall of Great Strength’s entrance, Spirit Mountain Holy Land:
Jiang Gautama stood on the Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus, looking down from above at countless respectful Buddhist disciples. He revealed a faint smile.
The buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhat showed sincere expressions, remaining respectful. The blessings in the sky were dense and plentiful. Buddhist chanting rang out in the Hall of Great Strength’s surroundings.
This was a sign of a united Buddhism.
Now, most Buddhists yearned for the Spirit Mountain Holy Land, which now seemed like the founding temple of Buddhism. Everyone took pride and glory in entering the Spirit Mountain Holy Land.
After tens of thousands of years of accumulation, the Present Buddha finally ruled over ninety percent of Buddhist disciples.
A united Buddhism? I am the buddha that everyone worships! The buddha of buddhas!
As Jiang Gautama looked at the vast blessings in the sky, the cast of his eyes fluctuated violently.
He recalled when the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon sent him to the land of the living. Back then, I was nothing. Now, I rule Buddhism.
Previously, the monks all chanted “Amitābha!” Now, the Amitābha Buddha is just a legend, the legendary lord of buddhas, the ancestor of buddhas. Now, I am the current Lord Buddha, the Present Buddha, the Lord Present Buddha, the ancestor of all buddhas.
The countless buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats looking at Jiang Gautama were baffled, not knowing what he wanted to do. However, they were all pious believers, so they would not interrupt him.
After Jiang Gautama’s expression changed, he finally seemed to steel himself to a decision. As he stood on the golden lotus, he suddenly formed a hand gesture, with one hand pointing to the sky and the other hand pointing to the ground.
“Is this a new Buddhist Dao hand seal?” all the monks asked curiously.
“Only I reign supreme in heaven above and in the world below!” Jiang Gautama suddenly said.
Jiang Gautama’s voice was thunderous, spreading to the entire Spirit Mountain Holy Land. The blessings cloud sea overhead suddenly churned. His domineering voice echoed in the air, accompanied by Buddhist chanting. His body emanated a majestic aura.
A hand pointing at the sky and a hand pointing at the ground. Only I reign supreme in heaven above and in the world below!
The sudden scene stunned everyone. They appeared shocked, completely dumbfounded. Many people could not understand what had happened.
Some of the buddhas understood, and their expressions immediately changed. Then they suppressed the shock in their hearts.
The expressions of the bodhisattvas turned uncertain.
They had already figured out the importance of the Present Buddha’s lecture. It was not just about demons. There seemed to be something even more important to announce to the world.
Only I reign supreme in heaven above and in the world below!
This was a declaration of his ambition and status to all the monks.
Now, the arhats, who finally understood, also showed uncertain expressions.
The Past Buddha was the first to follow. He suddenly pressed his palms together and said incredibly respectfully, “Namo Gautama Present Buddha!”
“Namo” had the meaning of converting and proclaiming. Converting and proclaiming the Gautama Present Buddha?
Previously, it was Namo Amitābha. Now it would be the Gautama Present Buddha?
They were trying to change the buddha the Buddhists recited and used as greetings. From here on, all Buddhists would no longer chant Amitābha but Gautama Present Buddha.
This was a revolution of the Buddhist Dao.
It was just a difference in the name being chanted, but it would cause a tremendous wave.
Now, Jiang Gautama was the Lord Buddha, the ruler of the Buddhist Dao. He could command all Buddhists in the world. Perhaps other Lord Buddhas would unify the Buddhist Dao countless years later, but uniting the Buddhist Dao and having all Buddhists chant one’s name was completely different.
Besides Jiang Gautama, the Nalanda Temple and the Metal Temple also ruled the Buddhist Dao. However, no one dared to use their name as the Buddhist proclamation like Jiang Gautama did.
This was changing the Buddhist Dao’s inheritance? All who cultivated Buddhism would no longer see the Amitābha Buddha as the origin but the Gautama Present Buddha?
After the Past Buddha chanted the Buddhist proclamation, many other monks chanted it as well.
“Namo Gautama Present Buddha!”
“Namo Gautama Present Buddha!”
The respectful salutes rang out continuously, most coming from Jiang Gautama’s disciples. Now, he formally changed the Buddhist Dao’s inheritance?
More people started chanting “Namo Gautama Present Buddha.” Simultaneously, a special beneficence started pouring into his body, making him feel very comfortable.
Everything initially proceeded smoothly when a dissenting voice appeared.
“Namo Gautama Present Buddha? What a joke! What a joke! This disciple focused on cultivating Buddhism, chanting Amitābha as a remembrance of the ancient Amitābha Buddha passing down the Buddhist Dao. That is the reverence in my heart, not something for authority. Now, the Lord Buddha wants to change what is sacred in my heart. This disciple does not dare follow along and even feels fear in my heart. This is not the meaning behind Buddhism. Buddhas are meant to save the masses, not declare supremacy. Declaring supremacy is a profanation of what it means to be a buddha. If one takes up authority, what is the difference between a buddha and a demon? This disciple refuses to listen to these demonic words. Goodbye!” a bodhisattva suddenly shouted.
After shouting, that bodhisattva stood up to leave.
Demon? This bodhisattva dared to call the Lord Buddha a demon? How bold!
“How audacious!”
“How dare you?! How dare you criticize the Lord Buddha?!”
“How dare you call the Lord Buddha a demon?! Your Buddhism Dao comes from the Lord Buddha!”
Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats immediately shouted furiously.
Jiang Gautama also showed a sullen expression.
The Past Buddha’s expression changed. “Bodhisattva Wen Sheng? I recall you had a friendship with Bodhisattva Lian Sheng? That Bodhisattva Lian Sheng mingles with the demon Gu Hai. Are you going to help the demon too?”
The Past Buddha’s shout made an accusation of Bodhisattva Wen Sheng.
“So, it is the friend of the demon? To think you dare to cause chaos in my Buddhism Dao?!” a buddha shouted furiously.
“Lord Buddha, Bodhisattva Wen Sheng has fallen into the Demonic Dao. This disciple is willing to subdue the demon!” a bodhisattva shouted.
“Namo Gautama Present Buddha. Wen Sheng, you are not worthy of being a bodhisattva. Quickly take down this demon!” another buddha yelled.
Bodhisattva Wen Sheng had already flown into the air. As he watched Jiang Gautama’s lackeys criticizing him, he snorted coldly, “Humph! You cultivate Buddhism, yet you want supremacy? Not thinking about the masses but about becoming a ruler? I—Wen Sheng—shun you! Goodbye!”
“Where are you going?” the Past Buddha snorted coldly.
The Candle Epoch Azure Lamp flew out, and an intense flame engulfed Bodhisattva Wen Sheng.
“Argh!” Bodhisattva Wen Sheng screamed miserably.
“Those who cause chaos for Buddhism are no different from demons! Demons should be subdued!” the Past Buddha shouted coldly.
Boom!
The flame flared high, set to immolate Bodhisattva Wen Sheng and destroy him.
“Demon! You bunch of demons! Those who cultivate Buddhism hold benevolence close to their hearts. You have all deviated from that. Those who establish themselves as rulers are the demons! The Spirit Mountain Holy Land is a den of demons! Jiang Gautama? You are the Gautama Heavenly Demon! You are a demon! A demon! Argh!”
Bodhisattva Wen Sheng let out a final miserable cry before being completely burned away.
Everyone fell silent in the blink of an eye. Those who wavered earlier all appeared slightly horrified.
“Namo Gautama Present Buddha!” all the monks suddenly saluted respectfully.
Jiang Gautama’s expression only recovered at this moment.
The various Buddhists acknowledged it. Although he did it through bloody means, as long as they acknowledged it, the Buddhist proclamation would become Namo Gautama Present Buddha from here on. That would be enough. Who would remember the blood shed now? The winner is the king, and the loser is evil. There were too many things happening in the world. Everyone only looked at the results.
Jiang Gautama watched all the disciples saluting him respectfully. It did not matter whether they did so willingly or secretly harbored hatred; it would be enough as long as they showed respect on the surface.
“This buddha desires to establish a Buddhist Dao world—a world with only Buddhists. After entering this world, everyone would become buddhas, living forever and glorifying my Buddhist Dao!” Jiang Gautama said.
“Everyone will become buddhas? Live forever?” The eyes of those dejected monks lit up immediately.
Who did not want to become a buddha? One needed to attain enlightenment to become a buddha. This seemed strange compared to other forms of cultivation, but this was how it was for Buddhism. One’s cultivation would rise after gaining enlightenment. Sometimes, all it took was a thought for Buddhism. This was so for the Buddhist saying, “Put down the butcher’s knife and immediately become a buddha.” It resulted from enlightenment and repenting one’s ways. A mundane person could have their cultivation increase in an instant through enlightenment. Who wouldn’t want to be a buddha?
Everyone’s eyes lit up, especially at the line “live forever.” Living forever was impossible, but returning by reincarnating after death like Jiang Gautama did was not. It had been eight hundred thousand years. Ordinary cultivators would have died long ago. However, he lasted until now. Was this the so-called live forever?
The Present Buddha was going to pass this to all the disciples?
All the monks looked at Jiang Gautama eagerly.
Jiang Gautama smiled faintly. This was the carrot-and-stick method. Earlier, he used violence to suppress dissent. Now, he used a benefit to placate everyone. Only in this way would the disciples be loyal to him.
“This Buddhist Dao world is called the Sahā World. Everything was ready; I could have established it thousands of years ago. Unfortunately…,” Jiang Gautama sighed.
[TL Note: The Sahā World in Mahāyāna Buddhism is a reference to the mundane world, but is also described as a pure land. Here is its Wikipedia entry for more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sah%C4%81.]
“Lord Buddha, why delay until now?” the Past Buddha asked, appearing confused.
Everyone looked at Jiang Gautama.
“Because someone snatched away the most important external framework for the Sahā World,” Jiang Gautama replied.
“Ah?! Who is it? Who dared to snatch my Sahā World’s framework?” Everyone glared.
“The Qian Heavenly Dynasty’s Long Zhanguo snatched my Buddhism’s immortal firmament. Now, that Buddhist immortal firmament has changed hands and ended up with Gu Hai!” Jiang Gautama said.
“Ah? Immortal firmament? So, Long Zhanguo’s Warring Nation Immortal Firmament was the Lord Buddha’s? Now, the demon Gu Hai has it? That is my Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s treasure!” A bodhisattva’s face sank.
“The demon is running rampant. We need to subdue that demon!”
“Destroy his demonic dynasty and take back my Buddhism’s immortal firmament!”
Many monks started clamoring because of the opportunity to become buddhas.
However, some monks appeared confused and dubious.
Jiang Gautama said unhurriedly, “This buddha already has the Reincarnation Pool and can create the cycle of reincarnation in Buddhism’s immortal firmament. We also have the eighteen layers of hell as the foundation. Buddhist Dao disciples can comprehend the supreme truth of the world amid reincarnation. You can gain enlightenment amid the primal chaos and immediately become buddhas!”
“Lord Buddha, we must take back Buddhism’s immortal firmament!” many bodhisattvas and arhats cried out excitedly.
The Past Buddha said, “The demonic Han Nation has caused trouble for my Spirit Mountain Holy Land many times and killed countless Buddhist disciples; he is an incomparably powerful demon. Previously, he killed two hundred million citizens in Three Mountains City to practice a demonic cultivation technique. To cover up his actions, he even pinned the blame for the killing on my Spirit Mountain Holy Land. Anyone has the right to kill this great demon, Gu Hai!”
“Anyone has the right to kill this great demon, Gu Hai!” countless Buddhist disciples echoed, red-eyed with fury.
Only a few knew the truth of Three Mountains City. Naturally, those people understood the Past Buddha was vilifying Gu Hai. However, these people did not dare to interject. If they stood out now, when everyone was agitated, they might end up like the earlier Bodhisattva Wen Sheng.
“In today’s lecture, this buddha will discuss how to destroy this powerful demon, retake my Buddhism’s immortal firmament, and bring peace back to this world!” Jiang Gautama said gravely.
“Yes!” countless disciples answered.
