Chapter 584 583 [The Disappearance of Xu Zhimo]

The influence of Buddhism during the Republic of China was very great, far exceeding that of Taoism.

In the warlord world, there are various generals who chant Buddha's name. Over in Tianjin, there are countless warlords who have gone to power to hold Zen meetings regularly. Literary scholars also like to study Buddhism. Li Shutong and Su Manshu are monks themselves, Xu Dishan and Feng Zikai are also lay people, and Liang Qichao is the leader of a certain Buddhist group.

In addition, Hu Shi, Lu Xun, Zhou Zuoren, Qu Qiubai, Yu Dafu, Lao She, Zong Baihua, Xia Chengzun... the list can be long. They are all keen on Buddhist research.

Although Xu Zhimo himself does not believe in Buddhism, his poems often reveal a sense of Zen. He once wrote a sentence such as "hearing the soft voice of the Buddha is profound and subtle."

The word "Zhimo" itself is inseparable from Buddhism - to be ordained on the top of one's head!

According to legend, on Xu Zhimo's first birthday, a monk named "Zhihui" came to his family. The monk stroked Xu Zhimo's head and muttered: "Amitabha, this son is the reincarnation of Kirin, and he will become a great weapon in the future."

When Xu Zhimo was about to study in the United States, Mr. Xu suddenly changed his son's name to "Zhimo" (originally called "Zhang Qu").

After having dinner at Zhou Hexuan's house, Xu Zhimo returned to his residence carrying the "Freedom of History". He asked the servant: "Where is the wife?"

"Madam and Mr. Weng are in the smoking room." the servant whispered.

Xu Zhimo frowned and hurried to the second floor. He saw that the door of the smoke room was not closed, and bursts of green smoke floated out of the open gap. A man and a woman were lying on the pile of smoke, puffing away smoke in a drunken manner, not feeling anyone outside the door at all.

Xu Zhimo did not rush in to disturb him, but quietly closed the door and returned to his study with gentle steps.

Xu Zhimo once said this: A husband never prohibits his wife from making friends. The most disciplined and innocent person between men and women should be Yanda.

Whether he really thinks so or is deceiving himself, Xu Zhimo is already used to it.

Sitting at his desk, Xu Zhimo once again opened "Historical Views of Freedom" and re-read from the first chapter: "Freedom is the opposite of being imprisoned, and being imprisoned is not free... There are countless classes among the free and imprisoned. As we see it, Things are all in this stage... In the real universe of life, there are no living things, plants, or animals..."

Monk Taixu's discussion of freedom is like talking about Xu Zhimo's heart. He feels that the world is a cage, and he is trapped in the cage with no way to escape.

After reading to the end, Xu Zhimo's eyes lit up again with the argument that "Buddha is a realist who pursues freedom." Later Buddhist theories such as the Four Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Three Virtues were also read with gusto by Xu Zhimo.

So Yu Peichen thinks "Freedom's View of History" is dangerous. Most of the content of this book explains history and the universe from a philosophical perspective, and provides examples through pure academic language. If you are not knowledgeable or have a firm mind, it is easy to be fooled by Monk Taixu.

Moreover, this book is specially designed to deceive intellectuals, and it is difficult for ordinary people to fully understand it. It requires readers to have a certain amount of knowledge in order to truly read it and accept those views from the bottom of their hearts.

Xu Zhimo was completely immersed in the Buddhist thoughts of pursuing freedom. After reading the last few chapters, he said with a smile to himself: "Master Taixu's views are still somewhat divorced from reality."

The last part of the book "Views on the History of Liberty" discusses ideal educational, economic and political systems. However, Xu Zhimo's major when he studied abroad was "political economics" and he has been engaged in education for a long time. He could see at a glance that Master Taixu was talking to himself - his views were too naive!

Xu Zhimo threw aside "Freedom of History", stood up and took out a copy of "Langha Sutra" from the bookshelf. Although Monk Taixu's educational, economic and political views made Xu Zhimo feel unworthy, his Buddhist thoughts on the pursuit of freedom greatly interested Xu Zhimo.

"The world is separated from birth and death, just like a flower in the sky. Wisdom does not know existence and non-existence, but arouses great compassion. All dharmas are like illusions, far away from the mind... Far away from the cessation of eternity, the world is always like a dream... Know that there is no self in human dharmas, and troubles are with you. inflammation……"

Xu Zhimo had studied these verses in the Lankavatara Sutra before. But when I read it again at this moment, I have a different feeling. When I think of my experiences over the years, it is like having a dream.

When I woke up from the dream, everything turned into nothingness.

That night, Xu Zhimo ran away from home, leaving only a note to Lu Xiaoman: "Xiaoman, this should be the last letter I write to you... The world is separated from birth and death, like a flower in the void. I want to go Looking for something eternal. Cherish it! - Shima."

Lu Xiaoman didn't get up until noon. He didn't notice anything strange at first and thought Xu Zhimo had gone to school to teach. She yawned and washed herself, then sat on the sofa in the living room and read magazines boringly, just waiting for the servant to bring her lunch.

Suddenly, Lu Xiaoman saw a note on the coffee table. She picked it up and looked a little pale.

Xu Zhimo used to call Lu Xiaoman "Longlong" and "Long'er" when writing letters, but now he calls him "Xiaoman" directly, which makes Lu Xiaoman suddenly feel alienated from being thousands of miles away.

problem occurs!

To be honest, Lu Xiaoman loves Xu Zhimo very much, but her love is too selfish. She couldn't do without enjoyment, the life of being addicted to gold and drunkenness, and the opium that made her forget her troubles and pain. She didn't want to change herself for Xu Zhimo.

Perhaps Lu Xiaoman once thought about changing and integrating into Xu Zhimo's family. But the difficulties he encountered in the Xu family seriously hurt Lu Xiaoman's self-esteem. The rumors spread by the outside world also made Lu Xiaoman completely choose to break the pot.

At this moment, Lu Xiaoman suddenly panicked, as if she was losing something precious in her life.

"Madam, it's time to eat." The servant came over and said.

Lu Xiaoman quickly asked: "Have you seen sir?"

The servant shook his head and said, "No, I haven't seen Mr. today."

Lu Xiaoman called everyone at home, and finally the concierge revealed the information: "The gentleman went out in the middle of the night. I saw him walking eastward. He didn't bring any luggage, and he only had a suit in his hand."

Lu Xiaoman was a little unsteady on her feet. She asked her servants to leave and sat on the sofa in the living room in a daze.

On the coffee table, there was not only a note left by Xu Zhimo, but also several banknotes and bankbooks, totaling nearly 2,000 oceans.

Lu Xiaoman drowsily climbed up the smoke trap and smoked a corner of opium. After puffing on the smoke, her brain finally came to her senses. She frantically ran to the phone and called Xu Zhimo's friends: "Hey, Zhimo is there?" Is it at your place?"

In just two or three days, word spread throughout the Shanghai literary world that Xu Zhimo had disappeared and was likely to be ordained and become a monk.