Biography of the Great Desolate Lights

Chapter 85

All the Eastern Sanqings have achieved the realm of Hunyuan Saints, and among the seven appointed by Hongjun, only the Western three have not been sanctified?

All the great supernatural beings in the prehistoric age, can't help being curious?For hundreds of years, four consecutive saints have achieved the honor of saints. Everyone took it for granted that since four of the seven have become saints, it will not be long before the West will spread the word, and the majesty will cover the prehistoric world!

As expected, 120 years after Lao Tzu proved Hunyuan, an unparalleled coercion appeared in the west and swept the sky, the earth and the earth.

"Today, I took the lead and comprehended the side gates of the Eight Hundred Great Ways, in order to prove the respect of the sage of Hunyuan, and established Buddhism on Mount Sumeru, with universal salvation, compassion, salvation, and detachment from all living beings as the original vow. The way of heaven learns from it, and Buddhism is established!"

On the top of Mount Sumeru, two divine lights flashed, revealing the figures of Zhunti and Randeng.

"Brother Jieyin has finally become a saint, and a saint was born in the west of me! Haha, congratulations!" Zhunti was overjoyed when he saw the golden pillar of merit descended from 33 days away.

The golden pillars of merit and virtue gather in the sky above Mount Sumeru, slowly gestating and gathering, but there is no plan to fall down?

Seeing this, Ran Deng sighed softly in his heart: "Could it be that you need to make a great promise like the future generations before you can become a saint?"

Just when the two of Ran Deng Zhunti were wondering why the merits in the sky would be lost, a golden light fell in front of the two of them without any breath.

The golden light flickered for a while, and he folded his hands together and put on a cassock with compassion on his face. He pointed at the lamp and said: "The merit has not yet fallen. I need to make a great wish to draw it. Otherwise, the heaven will never let the merit go. You will be punished by God!"

"Brother, why do I still have to make a great wish to become a saint after the establishment of the religion?" Zhun Ti heard it puzzled.

Jieyin still clasped his hands together, and said with a wry smile: "We have set up eight hundred sects outside the Dao, and the Dao has a feeling, and I will make countless merits to help you and me establish a religion, but we are under the Dao of Heaven, and Dao of Heaven will intervene. If you make a great wish, you will not be able to achieve the position of a sage in the way of heaven."

"Is that so?" Zhunti nodded and said, "Since that's the case, I will make a great wish, as long as I become a saint, and I will talk about the rest later."

"Fellow Zhunti is right. I will make a great wish to protect Buddhism and plan for the future. If I miss this opportunity, I am afraid that Fellow Daoist Zhunti will never be able to prove the Tao."

"That's right!" Jieyin nodded.

The three of them looked at each other, clasped their hands together, closed their eyes, and kept making great wishes and vows:

The first wish: If when I become a Buddha, there are still people in the three evil ways of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals in my country, I will not take the Supreme Enlightenment (Buddha's fruit position).

The second wish: If when I become a Buddha, the gods and people in my land, after the end of their lifespan, are still degenerate and experience the three evil paths, I will not attain the supreme enlightenment.

The third wish: If when I become a Buddha, not all the gods and people in my land have golden bodies, I will not obtain the supreme enlightenment.

The fourth wish: If when I become a Buddha, the gods and people in my country will have different appearances and colors, and if there are differences in beauty and ugliness, I will not obtain the supreme enlightenment.

The fifth wish: If when I become a Buddha, all the gods and people in my country cannot understand the causes and conditions of the past, and the lowest ones cannot even know the causes and conditions of all things since billions of nayutas. That is, not to attain the supreme enlightenment.

Sixth Vow: If when I become a Buddha, all the gods and people in my country cannot obtain celestial clairvoyance, and the lowest ones cannot even see the state of the billions of Nayuta Buddha worlds, I will not take it. Supreme Enlightenment.

Seventh Vow: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all the gods and people in my country will not be able to hear the heavenly ears, and the lowest ones will not even be able to hear the sound of the wonderful Dharma spoken by billions of Nayuta Buddhas, and they will not be able to fully believe, comprehend and accept it. Holder, I do not attain the supreme Enlightenment.

Eighth Vow: If when I become a Buddha, the gods and people in my country cannot know the thoughts of others, and the lowest ones cannot even know the thoughts of sentient beings in the world of hundreds of billions of Nayuta Buddhas. Do not take the supreme enlightenment.

The Ninth Vow: If when I become a Buddha, all the gods and people in my country will not be able to reach the gods and understand without hindrance. In a single thought, the lowest one will not be able to surpass those who come and go in the worlds of hundreds of thousands of Nayuta Buddhas. That is, not to attain the supreme enlightenment.

The tenth wish: If when I become a Buddha, if the gods and people in my land still have delusions, love and attachment to the body, I will not obtain the supreme enlightenment.

No.11 Vow: If when I become a Buddha, if the gods and people in my country do not get the correct concentration on the Buddha way, never turn back, and do not finally become a Buddha and attain extinction, then I will not take the Supreme Righteousness.

No.12 Vow: If when I become a Buddha, the light emitted is limited, at least not able to illuminate the worlds of hundreds of billions of Nayuta Buddhas, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.13 Vow: If when I become a Buddha, the length of my lifespan is limited, at least or even less than the lifespan of hundreds of billions of nayuta kalpas, I will not attain the supreme enlightenment.

No.14 Vow: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, if there is a way to count the number of voices and hearers in my country, all living beings in the three thousand great thousand worlds will all achieve the holy fruit of predestined enlightenment, and they will be the same in hundreds of thousands of kalpas. Counting, if I can accurately know the number of shravakas in my country, I will not attain the supreme enlightenment.

No.15 Vow: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, the lifespans of the gods and people in my country are unlimited, except for those who live as long as they want according to their own vows.If I am not able to live like this with limitless life and ease as I wish, I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.16 Vow: If when I become a Buddha, the gods, people, and even some people in my country hear unwholesome names and languages, I will not obtain the supreme enlightenment.

No.17 Vow: If when I become a Buddha, if all the countless Buddhas in the world in the ten directions do not unanimously praise and praise my name, I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.18 Vow: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all living beings in the world of the ten directions sincerely believe and wish to be happy, and want to be reborn in my country (the world of ultimate bliss), and even ten thoughts, if they are not born, I will not take the supreme righteousness. Enlightenment, only those who violate the five serious crimes and slander the righteous Dharma are eliminated.

No.19 Vow: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all sentient beings in the world of the ten directions will arouse bodhicitta, practice all kinds of good deeds, sincerely and sincerely wish to be reborn in our country, and if I (Amitabha) do not With all the great bodhisattvas in the pure sea, surrounding and appearing in front of them, I will not attain the supreme enlightenment.

No.20 Vow: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all sentient beings in the world in the ten directions, whoever hears my name, concentrate on my pure land, plant all the roots of virtue and goodness, sincerely and sincerely wish to be born in my country, if If everything you wish is not fulfilled, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.20 One wish: If when I become a Buddha, all the gods and people in my country will not all achieve the 32 great man-like features of a Buddha, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.20 Two wishes: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all the Bodhisattvas from other Buddhalands, if they come to be reborn in my pure land, they will eventually reach the realm of equal enlightenment Bodhisattvas who fill the Buddha's position for a lifetime.Except for those who follow his original vows and teach all living beings freely and without hindrance.All those who are reborn in our land can benefit all sentient beings, put on the hard armor of great vows, gather and accumulate the root of merit, and liberate all sentient beings.Freely roam the world of the Buddhas, practice Bodhisattva deeds, and make offerings to the Buddhas and Tathagatas of the ten directions.Enlighten and transform countless sentient beings in the sand of the Ganges River, so that all sentient beings can live in the supreme enlightenment and true Buddha way.Going beyond the general stages of practicing the paths of the lands, I can practice the boundless virtues of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva right now. If I can't do this, I won't attain the supreme enlightenment. No.20 Three Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all Bodhisattvas in my country will be able to support Buddhas and Tathagatas of the ten directions, and if they cannot reach countless Buddhas and Tathagatas in a short time, In the worlds of immeasurable hundreds of thousands of nayuta buddhas, I will not attain supreme enlightenment.

No.20 Four Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all the Bodhisattvas in my country can make offerings in front of the Buddhas and reveal their merits and good roots.If I cannot fulfill all the treasures and resources that he wishes to offer to the Buddhas of the ten directions, I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.20 Five Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, if all the Bodhisattvas in my land cannot speak the immeasurable and profound wisdom of all the Buddhas, I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.20 Six Vows: If when I become a Buddha, all the bodhisattvas in my land cannot possess the solid physical body of a vajra warrior, then I will not attain the supreme enlightenment.

No.20 Seven Vows: Let me realize that when I become a Buddha, the heavens and people in my land, and all things in the pure land where they live, will be solemn, pure, bright and beautiful, with unique shapes and colors, infinite subtlety and beauty, and immeasurable Use your mind to measure and use words to praise.If there are sentient beings, and even obtain the clairvoyance of the eyes, if they can understand clearly and explain the names and numbers of these extraordinary realms, I will not attain the supreme enlightenment.

No.20 Eight Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, if all Bodhisattvas in our country, even those with only a little merit, can not know and see the immeasurable light and color of the tree in the place where I become a Buddha, and see it for myself If the tree is as high as 400 million miles, I will not attain the supreme enlightenment.

No.20 Nine Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, if all the Bodhisattvas in my country can accept, uphold, study and study the scriptures and dharma treasures, and satirize, practice, and give speeches to others, but cannot obtain the boundless wisdom of unobstructed eloquence, I will not take the supreme Righteousness.

No.30 Vow: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all the bodhisattvas in my country, who are wise and eloquent, have limitations that can be measured, then I will not attain the supreme enlightenment.

No.30 One wish: Let me realize that when I become a Buddha, my land is pure and bright, and I can see all immeasurable, countless, and inconceivable Buddha worlds in the ten directions, just like facing a pure and undefiled mirror, clearly seeing my own self They look the same.If it is not possible, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.30 Two wishes: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all the palaces, towers, lotus ponds, precious flowers and trees in my land from above the earth to the void, and everything in my land will be It is composed of all kinds of immeasurable treasures, hundreds of thousands of incenses, and its solemn decoration is strange and subtle, surpassing the solemnity of all worlds, heaven and earth.The fragrance it emits permeates the world in all directions, and all bodhisattvas who smell this fragrance can practice the virtues of all Buddhas.If it is not possible, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.30 Three vows: When I become a Buddha, if all living beings in the immeasurable and inconceivable Buddha worlds in the ten directions can receive my light and touch their bodies, they will be soft and joyful in body and mind, surpassing all happiness in heaven and earth .If it is not possible, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.30 Four Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all sentient beings in the immeasurable and inconceivable Buddha worlds of the ten directions, who hear my name, will not be able to bear the Bodhisattva’s inexistence, and always uphold the ultimate root of all profound Dharma , I do not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.30 Five Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, if there is a woman who hears my name in immeasurable and inconceivable Buddha worlds in the ten directions, she will be sincerely happy, deeply believe in happiness, arouse bodhicitta, and hate women who want to give up their bodies.After the end of life, those who are still reborn in the form of a woman, I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No. 30 Six Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all Bodhisattvas in immeasurable and inconceivable Buddha worlds in the ten directions, after hearing my name, can continue to practice pure virtues and achieve Buddhahood after their lifespan ends.If it is not possible, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.30 Seven Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all the gods and people of the immeasurable and inconceivable Buddha worlds in the ten directions, hear my name, throw their bodies on the ground, respectfully worship, rejoice and believe in music, and practice Bodhisattva practice, then all other worldly gods, All the people respect and pay tribute to him.If it is not possible, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.30 Eight Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, the gods and people in our land want to get clothes, and they will come as soon as they move their thoughts, just like the wonderful clothes (cassock) praised by the Buddha and corresponding to the Dharma, they will wear them naturally Body, if all the clothes in my world need to be cut, sewed, finished, dyed and washed, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.30 Nine Vows: If when I become a Buddha, the happiness that the gods and people in my country experience in my world is not like that of an Arahant Bhikkhu who has never had troubles, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.40 Vow: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all the bodhisattvas in my land, according to their wishes, want to see the immeasurable solemn and pure Buddha lands in the ten directions, and when they fulfill their wishes, they will see them all clearly in the precious tree. It is as clear as seeing your own face in the face of a pure mirror.If it is not possible, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.40 One wish: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, if all the Bodhisattvas in other lands hear my name, and between lifetimes and attaining Buddhahood, if there are still six organs that are incomplete, ugly, and incomplete, I will Do not take the supreme enlightenment.

No.40 Two vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all Bodhisattvas in other lands, who hear my name, will all be able to obtain the pure and liberated samadhi, live in this samadhi, and be able to make offerings to the ten directions at the moment of initiating a thought There are countless and inconceivable Buddhas, World Honored Ones, but they still do not lose the mind of meditation.If it is not possible, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.40 Three Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all Bodhisattvas in other lands, who have heard my name, will be reborn in a noble family after their death.If it is not possible, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment. No.40 Four Vows: Let the bodhisattvas in other lands hear my name and rejoice when I become a Buddha.If it is not possible, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.40 Five Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all the Bodhisattvas in other lands, who hear my name, will all be able to obtain the universal samadhi of all Buddhas (universal samadhi).After living in such samadhi, life after life and even becoming a Buddha, I can often see all Buddhas that are immeasurable, boundless and inconceivable.

No.40 Six Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all Bodhisattvas in my country will naturally be able to hear the Dharma that they want to hear according to their aspirations.If it is not possible, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.40 Seven Vows: If when I become a Buddha, all Bodhisattvas in other lands, who hear my name, will reach the position of Buddhahood without regressing, then I will not attain the Supreme Enlightenment.

No.40 Eight Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all Bodhisattvas in other lands, hearing my name, will attain the first, second, and third dharma tolerance, and all kinds of dharma , those who cannot achieve non-regression immediately, I will not obtain the supreme enlightenment.

No.40 Eight Vows: Suppose that when I become a Buddha, all Bodhisattvas in other lands, hearing my name, will attain the first, second, and third dharma tolerance, and all kinds of dharma , those who cannot achieve non-regression immediately, I will not obtain the supreme enlightenment.

At the moment when the three people sent out their ambitions to the earth at the same time, the huge golden cloud of merit and virtue conceived in the sky suddenly turned into three groups of the size and landed on the heads of the three people below.

After Zhunti absorbed the merits, his cultivation immediately broke through the bottleneck of Zhunsheng and reached the realm of Hunyuan!At the same time, the primordial purple qi in the primordial spirit completely merged with the primordial spirit, and then a trace of primordial spirit split off and fled through the void.

During the period of receiving and absorbing merits, his own aura continued to rise, and it was obvious that his cultivation base had also made a breakthrough.

Seeing that the merits and virtues had fallen, Ran Deng quickly called out his golden Buddha and let the golden Buddha absorb all the merits.

After absorbing the merits, the Buddha suddenly opened his Dharma eyes, and the 36 hands behind his back disappeared, only one pair of hands appeared, standing in front of his chest in the palm of his hands!

At this moment, the golden Buddha is already an independent individual, not the incarnation of the lamp, nor one of the three corpses of the lamp. He is the founding Buddha of the lamp.

After the golden Buddha woke up, he bowed to Ran Deng, "The poor Dao Ran Deng Buddha, I have met the fellow Ran Deng."

"You are you, I am me, we are one, you don't need to salute too much!" Ran Deng returned the salute, and found that Ran Deng Buddha's cultivation was Da Yasheng, and he was happy in his heart.

"boom……"

Suddenly, a coercion swept across the world, and at the same time, there were many visions in the world, but this vision was not like the previous Nuwa Sanqing four people sanctified!

On the nine heavens in the west, there are hundreds of millions of phantom Buddhas constantly chanting sutras, Jialan ringing bells, Bodhisattvas are merciful, Buddhas are majestic, Sanskrit chanting, golden clouds, thousands of auspicious clouds....

With a smile on his face, Zhunti accepted the coercion of his own saint, and bowed to the guide and the lamp beside him!

"Today, my senior brother and I have become saints, and we should recruit more disciples. We have fulfilled our four great wishes to save all living beings!"

Ran Deng nodded, and said to Ran Deng Buddha: "Deng Deng Buddha, you are one of the three saints who founded Buddhism, and you should assist in guiding the two fellow Taoists to manage the sect. I think the two fellow Taoists have become holy, and I have gained a lot from my heart. , decided to immediately go back to Vulture to retreat and preach."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ran Deng!" Receiving Zhunti gave a slight salute to Ran Deng.

"Don't dare to accept the gift from the two saints!" Ran Deng dodged to avoid it, and bowed his head to the two to say goodbye.

Ran Deng set up the cloud head and headed back towards Lingjiu Mountain, and then Yin Zhunti and the two took a look at Ran Deng who was leaving, and disappeared in a flash.

Thousands of years later, a powerful coercion suddenly spread from Lingjiu Mountain, sweeping across the prehistoric world.

At the same time, visions appeared between the heavens and the earth, flowers were falling from the sky, golden lotuses gushed low, and the purple air came thirty thousand miles east...

After a few breaths, the coercion dissipated, but the vision in the heavenly realm still appeared.

The general Chen Tianzhu was overjoyed, and hurried to the quiet room.

Open the door and enter, there are three Taoists sitting cross-legged in the room!

Sitting on the left is a Taoist with wrinkled face, old and weak body, and cloudy eyes. It is the good corpse - Daoxuan.

Sitting in the middle was a middle-aged man, wearing a purple robe, a cloud crown on his head, and colorful cloud boots. His body was full of majesty, and people couldn't help but want to worship him. He was the evil corpse——Tong Xuan.

The last young man sat on the left, with a thin figure, delicate features, no sadness or joy on his face, and a mysterious aura emanating from his body, which made people feel that he was elusive at first sight.This person is the corpse of obsession - Mingxuan.

The general saw that there were only three of them in the quiet room, but he couldn't see his own honestly lighting the lamp, so he hurriedly stepped forward and asked the three of them: "Three uncles, I don't know why I don't see my master, where did he go?"

Tian Che also noticed something strange, and looked at the three Taoists sitting cross-legged on the stone platform.

A moment of silence...

After a few minutes, Zhuan Nian Mingxuan said: "No self and no self, it is for the true self, not forgotten, not me forgotten. At the last moment, Fellow Daoist Dieng Deng found that the way he cultivated was wrong. Yes, so he dispersed the essence of his whole body and turned into the three of us."

"What? Then my master no longer exists!" Tian Bi looked at Ming Xuan with red eyes in disbelief.

The general's face turned pale, his body froze in place, and he bowed his head without saying a word!

"Fellow Daoist Ran Deng, you have passed away, and you two are in mourning." Tong Xuan, the middle-aged man in the middle, looked at the two people below and said calmly.

"Impossible! Impossible! Could it be that he really doesn't exist anymore? Does he not exist?" Tianzhu said incoherently, but his mind was still recalling bits and pieces with Ran Deng.

"Actually, Fellow Daoist Ran Deng, he is not out of his wits, and there is a way to save him!" Shanshi Daoxuan said with a smile.

"How to do it?" The general suddenly looked up at Daoxuan, and the two asked at the same time!

"The moment Fellow Daoist Ran Deng disappeared, I saw a white light flying to the ground. It must be a trace of the true spirit of Fellow Daoist Ran Deng, which has been thrown into the six realms of reincarnation. If you want to save him, you must go to reincarnation to find it! Maybe, lucky to be able to find it, maybe failed, his true spirit is gone.”

"Okay, I'm going to the underworld now, looking for Master." Tian Bi turned around and was about to leave, but was suddenly stopped by Ming Xuan.

Hearing the sound, Tian Che had no choice but to suppress his excitement and turned around, only to see a clear jade bottle standing in the palm of Ming Xuan's hand?

"This is the clear light bottle, which is a personal possession of fellow Daoist Ran Deng. It also contains some memories of Ran Deng. Maybe it can help you a little bit."

After finishing speaking, the Qingguang bottle turned into a ray of light and flew away from Mingmiao's palm.

"Thank you, uncle!" Tian Che looked sideways at the general who lowered his head, and asked in a cold voice, "Can you go?"

"No!" Jiang Chen murmured softly, and immediately disappeared into the room.

Tian Che was not annoyed, and hurriedly took the clear light bottle and turned it into a black light and shot it to the ground.

In the quiet room, Sanxuan sat cross-legged on the stone platform, each looked at each other with mysterious smiles at the corners of their mouths, and disappeared without a trace.

"end"

PS: Wow, this book is over, it's really over, friends, don't believe it, "The Legend of the Burning Lamp in the Great Desolation" has been completely over, and I have opened a new book called "Crossing the Gods, I Am a Bamboo" "

The plot of the new book is mainly about the matter of conferring gods, which can also be regarded as a sequel to "The Legend of the Burning Lantern in the Great Desolation".It mainly talks about the boy who burns the lamp, the little friend Qingyu.

Let's see how the fate of Qingyu's hard-pressed boy climbed up step by step, and finally he lived a free and easy life, standing on his own in the cave, and enjoying the world with his beloved girl.

There is a pair of CPs in "Crossing the Gods, I am a Bamboo" that have already been set. In addition, the new article will focus on the description of emotional drama. Although Fusheng's writing style is not good, but occasionally I will look up the dictionary while typing. Friends who are interested Welcome to watch (⊙o⊙) "Crossing the Gods, I Am a Bamboo". "

Introduction: "I" was originally a hundred-year-old Yuzhu on Kunlun Mountain. I was favored by the master of the lamp, and turned into a boy, and I worked hard in Lingjiu Mountain for many years.

When I was making bamboo in Kunlun Mountains, I was very interested in the Bai Ze beast who has been protecting and helping me. In the end, somehow, Jing gradually fell in love with him?

I have experienced life and death with him, and I have experienced countless hardships and calamities with him, but I was accidentally injured at the last moment.

It turns out that he loves me that much, it turns out that he also fell in love with me at first sight a long time ago, hehe!

"I mean the handsome and suave General Bai Meng! Can you change your name, Bai Meng, Bai Meng, this name is really ←_← unbearable!"

Bai Meng giggled, his mouth full of teeth whiter than shells, shining brightly! "Yu'er, you complained about my name again. I think the name Bai Meng is very powerful and domineering? Why do you always find it unpleasant? ╭(╯ε╰)╮"

"How many times have I told you, I don't want Yu'er, Yu'er called me..." Qingyu boy looked at the tall and burly man wearing a golden chain mail, a golden crown with hair tied, and a jade belt around his waist with a full face of resentment.

"That calls you Qing'er, baby, Qingqing, Yuyu, or madam, wife, wife..." The man spoke, with an evil smile on the corner of his mouth, a hungry wolf pounced on food, and pressed the sad boy on the ground down.

"Get up..." Qingyu hadn't finished speaking when a foreign object suddenly attacked her, blocking what she was about to say!

After a while, intermittent groans, groans and rough, heavy breathing sounds came out of the room...

"Traveling through Fengshen, I am a Bamboo" welcome everyone to come to collect, comment (⊙o⊙), dear friends.