One day, our Buddha, Tathagata, bid farewell to the Jade Emperor and returned to the Thunderclap Monastery. Wow, what a grand scene it was! Three thousand Buddhas, five hundred Arhats, the Eight Great Vajras, and countless Bodhisattvas all lined up in the celestial realm of Mount Ling, holding banners, canopies, and various celestial flowers and treasures. It was bustling with excitement.
Tathagata descended on a cloud and said to everyone, "With profound wisdom, I have settled the disputes of the three realms and subdued that troublesome monkey." After speaking, he released a radiant light, and forty-two white rainbows appeared in the sky, connecting the north and south. Everyone saw this and bowed in respect. Then, Tathagata ascended to the lotus platform and sat down steadily. The three thousand Buddhas, five hundred Arhats, Eight Great Vajras, and the Four Great Bodhisattvas all stepped forward, joined their palms in respect, and asked, "Who was causing trouble in the heavenly palace and disrupting the Peach Banquet?"
Tathagata smiled slightly and said, "That fellow is a demon monkey from Flower Fruit Mountain, guilty of countless crimes. The celestial beings couldn't handle him, and even after Erlang Shen captured him, Lao Jun's fire couldn't harm him. When I arrived, he was arrogantly showing off among the thunder generals. I stopped him and made a bet that he couldn't escape my palm. So, I grabbed him and pressed him under the Five Elements Mountain. The Five Emperors opened the golden palace to honor me, held a grand conference to thank me, and only then did I take my leave and return."
Hearing Tathagata's words, everyone was delighted and praised him endlessly. After expressing their gratitude, they each returned to their own affairs, enjoying heavenly bliss. Truly, it was a scene of auspicious energy filling the sky, rainbow light surrounding the World Honored One, the foremost in the West, the gate of the formless Dharma King! There were always mystical apes offering fruits, sika deer carrying flowers; azure phoenixes dancing, colorful phoenixes singing; spiritual turtles presenting longevity, celestial cranes offering ganoderma. They enjoyed the pure land, partook in the Dharma realm of the Dragon Palace, with flowers blooming daily, fruits always ripe, cultivating tranquility and returning to truth, achieving the true fruit of Zen. Neither birth nor death, neither increase nor decrease, time uninvaded, carefree and content.
A month later, Tathagata gathered all the Buddhas, Arhats, Bodhisattvas, and Vajras at the Great Thunderclap Monastery on Mount Ling, saying, "Since I subdued that mischievous monkey and stabilized the celestial realm, five hundred years have passed unknowingly. Today is the full moon of mid-autumn, and I have a treasure bowl filled with hundreds of flowers and thousands of exotic fruits. Let us all enjoy this 'Ullambana Festival,' shall we?" Everyone joined their palms and bowed to the Buddha three times, agreeing in unison. Tathagata then had Ananda distribute the flowers and fruits from the treasure bowl, and everyone was deeply grateful, offering poems in thanks.
The poem of blessing goes: "Blessings shine before the honored nature, blessings are deep and far-reaching. Blessings and virtues are boundless, enduring as the earth, blessings and fortunes celebrated, connecting with the heavens. Blessings are widely sown, flourishing year after year, blessings as vast as the sea, solid year by year. Blessings fill the universe, providing abundant shade, blessings increase infinitely, ever comprehensive."
The poem of prosperity goes: "Prosperity heavy as mountains, colorful phoenixes sing, prosperity follows the times, viewing the long Geng star. Prosperity adds ten thousand bushels, body healthy and strong, prosperity enjoyed in peace, a thousand measures. Prosperity and salary as high as the heavens, everlasting, prosperity and reputation like the sea, clear and pure. Prosperity thoughts continue far, much admired, prosperity and nobility boundless, honored by ten thousand nations."
The poem of longevity goes: "Longevity stars present colors to Tathagata, longevity realm bright and glorious from now on. Longevity fruits fill the plate, auspicious clouds rising, longevity flowers newly picked, adorned on the lotus platform. Longevity poems elegant and marvelous, longevity tunes melodious, matching talents. Longevity extends with the sun and moon, longevity like mountains and seas, more leisurely."
After offering poems, the Bodhisattvas requested Tathagata to reveal the truth and point out the origins. Tathagata gently opened his mouth, expounding the great Dharma, promoting the attainment of true fruit, speaking of the wondrous teachings of the three vehicles, and the five aggregates being perfected. Celestial beings gathered around, flower petals rained down, truly: "The Zen heart illuminates a thousand rivers with moonlight, the true nature encompasses ten thousand miles of sky." After Tathagata finished speaking, he said to everyone, "I observe the beings in the four great continents, and their good and evil vary: In the Eastern Continent of Superior Body, people revere heaven and earth, with calm and peaceful hearts; in the Northern Continent of Kuru, although close to nature, due to difficult livelihoods, their nature is clumsy, emotions are expressed, with little misconduct; in our Western Continent of Cattle Gift, people do not covet or kill, nurturing spirit and potential, though not reaching the true state, everyone enjoys longevity; but in that Southern Continent of Jambu, people are lustful and contentious, indulging in killing and fighting, as the saying goes, 'the sea of tongues and disputes is evil.' Now I have the Tripitaka, which can exhort people to goodness."
The Bodhisattvas, upon hearing this, joined their palms in reverence and asked before the Buddha, "What are the three baskets of scriptures that Tathagata possesses?" Tathagata replied, "I have the Basket of Law, which speaks of the heavens; the Basket of Discourse, which speaks of the earth; and the Basket of Sutras, which transcends the spirits. These three baskets comprise a total of thirty-five volumes, amounting to fifteen thousand one hundred and forty-four scrolls. They are the path to true cultivation and the gateway to righteousness. I wish to send them to the Eastern Land, but the people there are ignorant, slandering the true words, unaware of the essence of my teachings, and neglectful of the authentic lineage of yoga. How can we find someone with the ability to go to the Eastern Land, find a devout believer, and have him travel across mountains and rivers to come here and obtain the true scriptures, to spread them in the East forever, and to transform all beings? This would indeed be a great blessing and a grand celebration. Who is willing to undertake this journey?"
At this moment, Bodhisattva Guanyin ascended the lotus platform, circled the Buddha three times, and said, "Though I am unworthy, I am willing to go to the Eastern Land to find a scripture seeker." Everyone looked up and saw this Bodhisattva:
Perfect in the Four Virtues, wisdom filling the golden body. Adorned with beaded necklaces and fragrant rings, the hair elegantly styled like a coiled dragon, embroidered ribbons fluttering like phoenix feathers. With jade buttons and a plain silk robe, enveloped in auspicious light; a brocade skirt and golden tassels, greeted by auspicious energy. Eyebrows like crescent moons, eyes like twin stars. A natural smile on the face, lips a touch of red. The clean bottle filled with sweet dew year after year, the willow branches always green. Able to resolve eight difficulties, saving all beings, with great compassion: thus stationed at the great mountain, residing in the South Sea, seeking out suffering voices, responding to ten thousand calls, revered by a thousand saints. Delight in the purple bamboo, love for the fragrant vine. She is the compassionate master of Mount Potalaka, the living Guanyin in the Cave of Tidal Sounds.
Tathagata was overjoyed to see Bodhisattva Guanyin, thinking, "If anyone is to find a scripture seeker in the Eastern Land, it must be the venerable Guanyin, given her vast divine powers." So Guanyin asked, "Is there anything specific I should be mindful of when traveling to the Eastern Land?"
Tathagata said, "On this journey, you should walk and observe, not fly in the sky, but travel half in cloud and half in mist. Observe the mountains and rivers, remember the distances, so you can inform the scripture seeker. In case he encounters difficulties on the way, I will give you five treasures." Then he had Ananda and Kasyapa bring forth the "Brocade Kasaya" and the "Nine-Ringed Staff," saying to Guanyin, "These kasaya and staff are for the scripture seeker. If he wears my kasaya, he will be spared from falling into the cycle of reincarnation; if he holds my staff, he will be protected from harm."
Bodhisattva Guanyin expressed her gratitude and accepted the treasures. Tathagata then brought out three "tightening headbands" and handed them to Guanyin, saying, "Though these three bands look the same, their uses differ. I have three 'Golden Tightening' spells. If you encounter formidable demons on the way, you can persuade them to reform and follow the scripture seeker as disciples. If they refuse to listen, place this band on them and recite the spell, and they will suffer unbearable headaches and comply."
Guanyin, delighted, thanked him and withdrew, calling upon Huian Xingzhe to accompany her. Huian was a mighty warrior, carrying a thousand-pound iron rod to protect the Bodhisattva. Guanyin packed the kasaya into a bundle for Huian to carry, hid the golden bands, took the staff, and departed from Mount Ling. Thus began the journey to fulfill the original vow of the Buddha's disciple and retrieve the true scriptures by the monk Xuanzang.
As they descended the mountain, they encountered the Great Immortal of the Golden Peak of Yuzhen Temple, who welcomed them at the temple gate and invited the Bodhisattva for tea. The Bodhisattva, not daring to linger, said to the Immortal, "I am on a mission from Tathagata to find a scripture seeker in the Eastern Land." The Immortal asked, "When do you expect the scripture seeker to arrive?" Guanyin replied, "I'm not sure, perhaps in two or three years." With that, she bid farewell and continued her journey, traveling half in cloud and half in mist.
As they traveled, they arrived at the River of Flowing Sand, where they saw the wide expanse of water, waves surging violently, truly: stretching eastward to the desert, southward to Wuguo, northward to the Tartars, the water flows for eight hundred miles, waves rolling like mountains. The Bodhisattva said, "Disciple, this place is difficult to cross. The scripture seeker is of mortal flesh; how will he traverse this river?" Huian replied, "Master, how far do you think this river extends?" The Bodhisattva paused to observe, seeing: the mighty current, waves crashing, the sound of water heard ten miles away, celestial rafts unable to reach, lotus leaves unable to float, the shores desolate, only the cries of apes.
As they were observing, suddenly there was a splash in the river, and a demon leaped out, looking incredibly hideous! With a face neither blue nor black, a body neither long nor short, eyes like the bottom of a stove, a mouth like a butcher's brazier, red hair wildly disheveled, a roar like thunder, and moving as swiftly as the wind.
The monster wielded a precious staff and was about to seize the Bodhisattva, but fortunately, Huian pulled out his iron rod to block the attack, shouting, "Stop right there!" The monster, not to be outdone, raised his staff to confront him. The two clashed fiercely on the banks of the River of Flowing Sand, and the battle was truly intense:
Mu Zha swung his iron rod, demonstrating his divine prowess as a protector; the monster wielded his demon-subduing staff, desperately trying to prove his might. Two silver pythons danced by the river, a pair of valiant warriors charged on the shore. One dominated the River of Flowing Sand, the other defended Guanyin. One churned the waves, the other spewed mist and clouds, turning the world dim, obscuring the sun and moon. The monster's demon-subduing staff was like a white tiger emerging from the mountains, while Huian's iron rod resembled a yellow dragon lying across the path. They fought until the heavens and earth were darkened, mist swirling, stars shining brightly. The monster claimed dominance in the Weak Water, while Huian showcased his divine power for the first time since leaving Mount Ling.
Huian Xingzhe and the monster were locked in a fierce battle by the river, exchanging blows for dozens of rounds without a clear victor. The monster blocked the iron rod and asked, "Where do you come from, monk, daring to challenge me?" Huian replied, "I am Mu Zha, the second son of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, Huian Xingzhe. I am escorting my master to the Eastern Land to find a scripture seeker. And who are you, monster, to dare block our path?"
Upon hearing this, the monster realized, "Oh, I remember you and Bodhisattva Guanyin practicing in the Purple Bamboo Forest. How did you end up here?" Huian pointed to the shore and said, "Isn't that my master over there?"Upon hearing this, the monster immediately dropped his weapon, repeatedly apologizing, and followed Huian to meet Guanyin, prostrating himself in repentance, "Bodhisattva, forgive me, forgive me. I am not truly a monster. I was originally the Curtain-Lifting General serving the Jade Emperor in the Celestial Court. Due to accidentally breaking a glass lamp at the Peach Banquet, I was punished with eight hundred lashes and banished here, transformed into this form. Every seven days, a flying sword pierces my chest, causing unbearable suffering. Out of desperation, I occasionally come out to find people to eat, and today, I inadvertently offended the Bodhisattva."
Guanyin said, "You committed a crime in the heavens and were banished here, and now you are harming others, which is an additional sin. I am on a mission from the Buddha to find a scripture seeker. Why not join us, follow the scripture seeker to the Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures? This way, I can stop the flying sword from piercing you, and once you achieve success, you can be reinstated. What do you think?"
The monster quickly agreed, "I am willing to embrace the righteous path." He then added, "Bodhisattva, I have eaten many people here. Previous scripture seekers have come, but I devoured them. Their skulls couldn't sink, so I strung them together for amusement. Now I'm afraid the scripture seeker won't make it here, which would delay my opportunity."
Guanyin reassured him, "Don't worry, they will surely arrive. Hang these skulls around your neck and wait for the scripture seeker to come; they will serve a purpose." The monster agreed, and Guanyin performed a blessing on him, giving him the surname "Sha" and the Dharma name "Sha Wujing." From then on, he reformed himself and patiently awaited the scripture seeker.
Guanyin bid farewell to Sha Wujing and continued eastward with Mu Zha. After traveling for a long time, they encountered a high mountain, shrouded in demonic aura, impeding their progress. Just as they were about to fly over on a cloud, a fierce wind arose, and another monster appeared, looking fearsome:
With a mouth like a rolled lotus pod, ears like palm fans, eyes gleaming with golden light, fangs sharp as steel files, and a long mouth opening like a fire brazier. He wore a golden helmet, clad in armor, wielded a spiked rake, and carried a curved bow at his waist, exuding a menacing aura, full of authority.
The monster charged forward, indiscriminately raising his spiked rake to strike Guanyin, but was blocked by Huian, who shouted, "You insolent creature, show some respect! Taste my rod!" The monster, undeterred, retorted, "This monk doesn't know his place! Feel the might of my rake!" Thus, the two engaged in battle at the foot of the mountain, and it was indeed a fierce fight:
The monster was incredibly fierce, while Huian was immensely powerful. The iron rod struck directly, the spiked rake met it head-on. Dust flew, the sky darkened, sand and stones whirled, startling ghosts and spirits. The nine-toothed rake shone brilliantly, the iron rod was dark and heavy, both wielded with great skill. On one side was the prince of the Heavenly King, on the other, a marshal spirit. One protected the Dharma on Mount Putuo, the other wreaked havoc in a mountain cave. This encounter, who knows who will win or lose?
Mu Zha and the monster were locked in a fierce battle when Bodhisattva Guanyin, from mid-air, dropped a lotus flower, separating the two. The monster, surprised, asked, "Where do you come from, monk, to dare play tricks in front of me?" Mu Zha laughed and said, "You, with your mortal eyes! I am a disciple of the Bodhisattva of the South Sea, and this is the lotus flower my master dropped. How could you not recognize it?"
Upon hearing this, the monster hurriedly asked, "The Bodhisattva of the South Sea? The one who dispels the three disasters and saves from the eight difficulties, Guanyin?" Mu Zha replied, "Who else could it be?" The monster immediately dropped his rake and bowed to the ground, saying, "Brother, where is the Bodhisattva? Please introduce me." Mu Zha pointed upwards and said, "Isn't that her?" The monster kowtowed towards the sky, loudly pleading, "Bodhisattva, forgive me! Forgive me!"
Guanyin descended from the clouds and asked, "Where did you come from, wild boar, to dare block my path?" The monster quickly explained, "I'm not a wild boar, nor an old pig. I was originally the Marshal Tianpeng of the Heavenly River. But after getting drunk and flirting with Chang'e, I was punished with two thousand lashes by the Jade Emperor and banished to the mortal realm. I ended up in the womb of a sow by mistake and turned into this form. I killed the sow, took over this mountain, and have been living off humans. I never expected to encounter the Bodhisattva. Please save me."
Guanyin asked, "What is the name of this mountain?" The monster replied, "It's called Fuling Mountain, and there's a Cloud Ladder Cave here. Originally, there was a woman named Sister Egg here. She saw that I had some skills and made me the leader, calling me 'Daochamen.' But within a year, she died, and everything in the cave became mine. I've been here for a long time, with nothing proper to do."
Guanyin said, "As the saying goes, 'If you want a future, don't act without one.' You committed a crime in the heavens and have not reformed, continuing to harm others here, which adds sin upon sin." The monster said, "A future! A future! According to you, I should live on the northwest wind! As the saying goes, 'If you follow the laws of the officials, you die; if you follow the laws of the Buddha, you starve.' I'd rather catch someone to eat, fat and juicy! Who cares about sin or no sin!"
Guanyin said, "If a person has good intentions, heaven will comply. If you are willing to embrace the righteous path, naturally there are ways to sustain yourself. There are grains and cereals in the world, why insist on eating people?"The monster listened and seemed to suddenly understand, saying to the Bodhisattva, "I want to reform, but 'if one sins against heaven, there is no one to pray to'!" Guanyin said, "I am on a mission from the Buddha to find a scripture seeker. You can become his disciple, travel to the Western Heaven, and atone for your sins. Eventually, you will be able to leave this sea of suffering." The monster quickly agreed, "I am willing! I am willing!" So Guanyin performed a blessing on him, giving him the surname "Zhu" and the Dharma name "Zhu Wuneng." From then on, he gave up eating meat and awaited the scripture seeker.
Guanyin and Mu Zha bid farewell to Wuneng and continued on their journey. As they traveled, they suddenly heard a dragon's roar from the sky. It turned out to be a jade dragon calling out. Guanyin approached and asked, "Which dragon are you, suffering here?" The dragon replied, "I am the son of Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea. I set fire to the pearl on the palace roof, and my father accused me of rebellion. The Five Emperors have me suspended in the air, beaten three hundred times, and I am soon to be executed. Please, Bodhisattva, save me."
Hearing this, Guanyin, along with Mu Zha, went straight to the Southern Heavenly Gate. The celestial masters Qiu and Zhang greeted them, asking, "Where is the Bodhisattva going?" Guanyin said, "I wish to see the Jade Emperor." The celestial masters quickly reported, and the Jade Emperor descended from the palace to greet her. After paying respects, Guanyin said, "I am on a mission from the Buddha to the Eastern Land to find a scripture seeker. On the way, I encountered a sinful dragon suspended, and I came to plead for mercy, asking the Jade Emperor to spare his life and grant him to me as a steed for the scripture seeker." Upon hearing this, the Five Emperors immediately decreed a pardon, dispatching heavenly generals to release the young dragon and give him to Guanyin. Guanyin thanked them and left, and the young dragon bowed in gratitude for saving his life, expressing his willingness to follow Guanyin's orders. Guanyin arranged for him to stay in a deep ravine, where he would transform into a white horse to assist the scripture seeker on his journey westward. The young dragon accepted his orders and lay in wait for the right moment.
Guanyin Bodhisattva and Mu Zha Xingzhe passed the mountain and continued toward the Eastern Land. They hadn't traveled far when they suddenly saw a golden light shining ahead, with auspicious clouds rising. Mu Zha said, "Master, that glowing place is the Five Elements Mountain, and it bears the Buddha's 'seal of suppression.'" The Bodhisattva nodded and said, "Underneath it lies the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, who caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace years ago." Mu Zha said, "Indeed, it is him."
The master and disciple climbed the mountain and saw the inscription bearing the six-syllable mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum." After reading it, Guanyin couldn't help but sigh and composed a poem, lamenting:
"Alas, this mischievous monkey failed to follow the rules, Arrogantly playing the hero in days of old. Disrupting the Peach Banquet, daring to storm the Doushuai Palace, Facing a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers, unmatched in might. On the ninefold heavens, he was awe-inspiring, Now pressed beneath this land by the Buddha's hand. When will he again reveal his wondrous powers?"
As she spoke, Sun Wukong shouted from beneath the mountain, "Who's up there composing poetry to expose my flaws?" Upon hearing his voice, the Bodhisattva descended the mountain to find him. At the base of the rocky cliff, the local earth deity, mountain spirit, and heavenly generals guarding the Great Sage came forward to pay their respects to the Bodhisattva and led her to Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong, trapped under the rock, could not move but could still speak. The Bodhisattva asked, "Sun, do you still recognize me?" Sun Wukong opened his fiery eyes and nodded, "How could I not recognize you? Aren't you Guanyin Bodhisattva from Mount Potalaka in the South Sea? Thank you for coming to see me! I've been here for what feels like an eternity, with no one to visit. Where have you come from?"
The Bodhisattva replied, "I am on a mission from the Buddha to the Eastern Land to find a scripture seeker. Passing by here, I came to visit you." Sun Wukong quickly pleaded, "The Buddha tricked me, and I've been trapped here for over five hundred years, unable to move. Please, Bodhisattva, have mercy and save me!"
The Bodhisattva said, "Your sins are deep, and releasing you might lead to more trouble, which wouldn't be good." Sun Wukong quickly assured, "I have repented. I only ask for the compassionate Bodhisattva to show me a path. I am willing to cultivate."
Hearing this, the Bodhisattva was delighted and said to Sun Wukong, "As the scriptures say, 'If one's words are good, they will be responded to from a thousand miles away; if not, they will be rejected from a thousand miles away.' Since you have this intention, when I reach the Eastern Land of the Tang Dynasty, I will find a scripture seeker to rescue you. You can become his disciple and cultivate the true fruit. How about it?"
Sun Wukong eagerly agreed, "I am willing! I am willing!" The Bodhisattva said, "In that case, I will give you a Dharma name." Sun Wukong said, "I already have a name, Sun Wukong." The Bodhisattva was even more pleased, "There are already two others who have joined, and they all have 'Wu' in their names. Your name also starts with 'Wu,' which is a wonderful coincidence."
With that, the Bodhisattva and Mu Zha continued on their journey and soon arrived at Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty. They concealed their divine forms and transformed into two eccentric wandering monks as they entered the city. By then, it was getting late, and they walked to the side of the street, where they saw a small temple dedicated to the local earth deity and decided to rest there. The earth deity, recognizing the Bodhisattva, hurriedly and nervously came to greet her.
The earth deity quickly went to inform the City God and the deities of various temples in Chang'an. They all came to pay their respects and apologized, "Bodhisattva, forgive us for not providing a proper welcome." The Bodhisattva said, "Do not let news of my presence leak. I am here on a mission from the Buddha to find a scripture seeker and wish to stay in your temple for a few days. Once I find the true monk, I will leave."
The deities returned to their respective posts, while the earth deity was temporarily relocated to the City God Temple. The Bodhisattva and Mu Zha concealed their true forms. Will they find a suitable scripture seeker? Stay tuned for the next chapter!
