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墨書 Inktalez
When Lufan asked this question, he had already made a certain decision in his heart and was prepared to accept everything, no matter what the truth was; he had enough mental preparation.
"Truth? There is no true truth in this world. What you perceive is, for you, the truth."
Unexpectedly, the gentleman provided an answer that was not surprising.
"Humans have five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. From the moment we begin, all our understanding of the world comes through these five senses. Therefore, in human perception, stone is hard, water is soft, flowers are fragrant, fire is hot, ice is cold, lotus is bitter, honey is sweet, leaves are green, snow is white, the sound of a zither is clear, and the sound of a drum is deep.
All of these are merely the superficial appearances conveyed to us by these five senses."
Everyone listened intently, captivated by the gentleman's words.
"And this is the reality of the world—a constant law, right? Not necessarily. There are those who are born with peculiarities; they can only perceive red and blue in their world—there are no shades of orange or purple.
People call this a disability because they cannot discern the colors of the world. However, could this not be a truth? Who knows if those with disabilities are the ordinary ones rather than the extraordinary? To define truth based on the number of people is evidently absurd; three people can create a tiger. What people say may not necessarily be true."
Seeing several individuals showing confusion on their faces, the gentleman realized that he had not explained himself clearly enough and changed his wording.
"Later on, there were those who practiced cultivation. Through strengthening their bodies and enhancing their mental powers, they gained a sixth sense—the sense of Spirit—and what they saw of the world was yet another scene.
However, this still isn't reality. As people continue to cultivate, their perceptions of the world also change constantly; what we call 'truth' has always been in flux.
So what exactly is truth? Is it what ordinary people see that constitutes reality or what cultivators perceive? Neither and both."
It is not just talk; it is because the 'Real World' has always been there, never changing because of anyone. What everyone perceives is merely a corner of it, not the whole.
It is said that any world observed by anyone is real to them, and it is a corner of the 'Real World'. The difference lies in how much some people perceive while others perceive less.
Reality and illusion are relative. When one stands at a different height, they may realize that what they once considered real is not truly real.
The purpose of our cultivation is to go from falsehood to truth, continuously correcting our understanding of the world until we ultimately find reality.
However, if we were to discuss it seriously, no one can claim that the world they see is the true reality; everything is merely superficial. The way one observes the world shapes how the world appears.
Yet, the essence of the world cannot be described in words; once spoken, it ceases to be its essence.
What is called true can also be false, and what is false can also be true. There is no need to get too entangled in this; in fact, the world has always remained unchanged; only our hearts have changed.
This statement left the six members of Lufan dumbfounded and in a daze.
What is called reality is merely a change in perception; how you believe the world to be is how it is.
Lufan recalled various philosophical schools on Earth, many of which surprisingly aligned with what the teacher had said!
Unconsciously, he recited a phrase: “The Way That Can Be Told Is Not the Eternal Way, The Name That Can Be Named Is Not the Eternal Name, Transcendent Way, The Named That Can Be Named, Extraordinary Name.”
“Hmm?” The teacher's expression changed, “This saying is profound. May I ask which sage spoke these words?”
Lufan was taken aback and replied, “This was said by a Sage from my homeland who passed away thousands of years ago.”
The scholar expressed regret, "It's a pity that someone who can articulate such profound truths must be a great thinker. I truly wish I could engage in a discussion with him; it is indeed a significant loss."
Lufan felt a stir within him. "However, he once left behind a work discussing the principles of heaven and earth, called the 'Tao Te Ching,' which is widely circulated in my hometown. This phrase is actually the opening line of that text."
"Oh? Is that so? What does the 'Tao Te Ching' say?"
The scholar was delighted. At his level of understanding, no matter what Divine Skill or Secret Technique was presented to him, it had become useless. The possibility of further breakthroughs was nearly impossible; even the works of predecessors in his sect held no value for him because he himself was the most powerful person in the history of the academy.
He traveled the world seeking that opportunity for breakthrough, but unfortunately, he had not found it until now.
Hearing the opening line of the 'Tao Te Ching' suddenly gave him an inkling of enlightenment; he already sensed that this might be his opportunity.
"The 'Tao Te Ching' is not lengthy; I remember it well. I will copy it out for you shortly."
Lufan was not boasting; he truly remembered it.
This was thanks to his middle school language teacher, who was a fan of metaphysics. For his own amusement, he insisted that students practice calligraphy only by copying the 'Tao Te Ching,' and he assigned this task once a week. Lufan copied it over a hundred times and had long since memorized it.
After a moment of excitement, the scholar calmed down. At his level, his emotional control was incredibly strong; he remained unfazed by praise or blame. His earlier emotional fluctuation was merely due to suddenly hearing about a potential breakthrough, and there was no rush to act immediately.
Although the scholar explained what reality is, Lufan still had questions.
"Since everything is merely an external reflection on the mind, how can the void power of the mind influence the external world and form one's own 'momentum'?"
"That is something no one can help you with. Each person's 'momentum' is unique and formed by the condensation of beliefs within their heart. Uncle Fu guards our academy's mountain gate, so his 'momentum' is known as 'Guardian of Mountains and Rivers.'"
To condense one's "momentum," one must find their own beliefs and integrate them. Only then will one naturally understand what that state is like; what others say ultimately cannot compare to one's own insights.
Lufan did not ask anything further; he knew that the teacher had said all that needed to be said, and the rest could only be understood through his own comprehension.
Next, he copied the Tao Te Ching and handed it to the teacher.
"The Way That Can Be Told Is Not the Eternal Way, The Name That Can Be Named Is Not the Eternal Name, Transcendent Way. The Named That Can Be Named, Extraordinary Name.
The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth; the named is the mother of all things.
Therefore, always be without desire to observe its wonders; always have desire to observe its manifestations.
These two emerge together but differ in name; both are called profound.
Profound and yet more profound, the gateway to all wonders."
Once the teacher received this text, rich with profound meaning, he could not tear his eyes away from it. He immediately instructed Uncle Fu not to let anyone disturb him as he entered seclusion for study.
Meanwhile, Duanmu Xue and the others took their leave to return home. They had been greatly impacted by today's thoughts; although they did not feel it as directly as Lufan did, each had gained insights in their cultivation and hurried back to absorb what they had learned for further progress.
As for Lufan, he stayed in the small courtyard at the teacher's request. He also had many martial arts questions to ask Uncle Fu, so he decided not to return home just yet.
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