Man in the heavens, wins by lying down to prove the truth

Chapter 357 Having achieved his goal, he bid farewell to the Buddha and the Taoist priest, and returned to Chang'an.

"Tang Xuanzang..."

The Buddha's voice rang out, resounding throughout the hall: "Tell me, what should you do to obtain the true scriptures?"

Tang Sanzang immediately kowtowed: "Disciple is willing to make a great vow to spread the scriptures and save all sentient beings. If I break this vow, may I be forever reborn in Avici Hell."

Upon hearing this, the Buddha smiled and said, “You have a great vow, which is truly not easy. Now, all sentient beings suffer. Your Eastern Land of Jambudvipa is vast and populous, with much greed, killing, lust, deceit, and fraud, which leads to the calamity of hell. Therefore, they are forever trapped in the netherworld, suffering endless torment.”

"Today I grant you the true scriptures, I hope you will remember this vow, enlighten the world, save all sentient beings, and never slacken your efforts."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's face lit up with joy, and he repeatedly bowed, saying, "Disciple Xuanzang, on behalf of all sentient beings, kowtows to thank the Buddha for his compassionate grace."

The Buddha then spoke: "I now possess the Tripitaka, which can liberate one from suffering and avert calamities. It is truly the path to cultivation and the gateway to righteousness."

“I will instruct the Venerable Ananda and Venerable Kasyapa to guide you in fasting and bathing. After the fast, I will open the treasure pavilion and transmit the scriptures to you, teaching you to spread them in the East and bestow eternal blessings.”

The two Venerable Ones, following the Buddha's decree, then led Tang Sanzang, Wukong, and others to the foot of the Treasure Pavilion.

Inside the precious pavilion, countless rare treasures were displayed, and the vegetarian feast was filled with celestial delicacies, far surpassing those of the mortal world.

"This feast of celestial delicacies and Buddhist offerings is all thanks to the Buddha's compassionate grace."

After Tang Sanzang finished speaking, he thanked the Buddha again, and then the four of them enjoyed their meal as they pleased.

Wukong was not interested in such fragrant tea and exotic foods, and Tang Sanzang was also preoccupied with obtaining the true scriptures, so neither of them ate much.

Sha Wujing knew that these delicacies were no ordinary food, but rather dishes that could prolong life, grant immortality, and transform one's body, so he ate until he was half full.

Pigsy, on the other hand, had a large appetite. Seeing that none of the three ate, he ate everything himself, gaining benefits and increasing his magical powers.

Bajie, having eaten and drunk his fill, lazily looked at Tang Sanzang and the others: "Master and senior brothers, I think you are not fortunate enough to have such a feast. This kind of celestial meal is no less than the Peach Banquet. You are truly blessed."

Wukong rolled his eyes: "We're not even in the same league. Even Laozi's pills wouldn't work on me. Just eat yours. You're getting a good deal and then acting all innocent."

After the four monks finished their meal, the two Venerables Ananda and Kasyapa joined their palms and said, "Holy Monk, Great Sage, Tianpeng, and Juanlian, please come with us to retrieve the true scriptures."

Tang Sanzang greeted them and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Venerable Ones."

"No, no, it's my duty."

Immediately, the group followed the two Venerable Ones to the Treasure Pavilion and entered the Sutra Repository.

Upon entering the Sutra Repository, one is immediately struck by the boundless auspicious aura and the myriad rays of Buddhist light emanating from the sutra cabinets and treasure chests.

Outside the sutra cabinet and treasure box, there were vermilion labels with the names of various Buddhist scriptures, such as the Nirvana Sutra, the Bodhisattva Sutra, the Akasagarbha Sutra, the Shurangama Sutra, etc.

Tang Sanzang gazed intently at the scriptures, unable to look away, and finally turned to the two Venerable Ones, asking, "May I ask, Venerable Ones, is there any scripture you may bestow upon me?"

Upon hearing this, Ananda and Kasyapa said together, "Holy monk, you may not know this, but here we have the Tripitaka of Buddhist scriptures and a Buddhist and Taoist scripture."

"The true Buddhist scriptures are called Nirvana, and there are thirty-five volumes in total. They were created by the World-Honored One."

"The true scriptures of Buddhism and Taoism are called Zen, and there are as many as you want. They were created by the original true nature."

"Both are Mahayana scriptures. Understanding their meaning can lead to unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment. I wonder which one the holy monk would like?"

Upon hearing "Primordial Truth," the monkey sensed the essential element and couldn't help but ask, "May I ask who this Primordial Truth is?"

Immediately, the two Venerable Ones joined their palms together and bowed in one direction: "This is the golden body that the Taiyi Heavenly Ancestor Master attained in the endless past kalpas. His honorific title is Namo Initial True Suchness Venerable King Buddha. He is the Buddha above Buddhas and the Ancestor above Ancestors, possessing immeasurable and profound Dharma power and endless perfect wisdom."

Wukong was stunned for a moment, and said, "I never imagined that Master would have such a golden Bodhi position."

“Indeed, indeed. If we were to discuss the Great Sage, he could be considered a disciple of our Buddhist school, hence the Dharma name Wukong.” The two Venerables then joined their palms in reverence and praised the Great Sage.

At this point, Tang Sanzang asked, "May I ask the two Venerable Ones, what is the difference between these two scriptures?"

Nakasyapa said, “The true scriptures written by the World-Honored One are incomparably precious and should not be taken or passed on lightly. Someone once took the true scriptures to a devout believer’s family and recited one copy, receiving three pecks and three pints of loose gold in return. This was a bargain sale.”

Ananda said, “The true scriptures transmitted in the beginning can be heard by all sentient beings, can be realized by all sentient beings, and can be saved by all sentient beings. They do not take a single hair or a single part. They can have as much as they want. This is the constant presence of the Way. The Way is eternal.”

Upon hearing this, the four pilgrims reacted differently.

Sha Wujing stared suspiciously at the two Venerables: "Is what you two say true? How could the Buddha, who is so compassionate and saves all sentient beings, accept bribes?"

Upon hearing this, Ananda Kasyapa quickly said, "You must not say that. If the true scriptures could be obtained easily, some people would disrespect the Buddha's teachings and not know how precious they are. Things that are easily obtained are never cherished. Only by teaching people to know their value can they diligently study and comprehend the true scriptures."

"Why doesn't my master take a single penny from the scriptures he wrote?" Wukong stared at the two men with an unfriendly expression.

The two Venerable Ones were alarmed and hurriedly said, "Great Sage, please do not misunderstand. This is the initial true compassion. Even if people neglect the true scriptures and the true Dharma, it is not a problem. It is just that there is teaching without discrimination."

The two venerable ones explained the whole story clearly. As for which scripture to seek, that was up to the master and his disciples to choose.

Tang Sanzang looked at his four disciples and asked, "Disciples, which scripture should we obtain?"

Sha Wujing shook his head: "I dare not comment on such true scriptures."

Bajie thought for a moment and said, "I often hear people say that there is a reason why something is expensive. Buddha is the supreme ruler of the world, and the true scriptures he created must be extraordinary."

"What does Wukong have to say?" Tang Sanzang looked at Wukong.

Wukong then looked at the two Venerable Ones and asked, "I wonder if we may take both of these true scriptures?"

"Of course, but how should personnel matters be handled?"

The two Venerable Ones reached out their hands towards Wukong.

Wukong laughed and said, "That's easy, Venerable Ones, please keep it safe."

With a single point of the golden cudgel, mountains of gold and silver appeared, and all sorts of precious treasures shone brightly, their brilliance dazzling the eyes. Such precious and rare items were not worth cherishing.

"Therefore, everyone, please continue with the scripture!"

It is said that the two Venerable Ones selected 5,047 volumes from all those scriptures, but one volume was still short of the required number for a complete collection.

"This is the true scripture of Nirvana, priceless. You should all keep it safe." The two Venerables earnestly admonished the four of them, urging them not to be negligent.

Upon hearing this, the four agreed without hesitation.

Then Wukong hurriedly asked, "Where are the true scriptures of Buddhism and Taoism created by my master?"

Ananda laughed and said, "Here it is, here it is."

After he finished speaking, Kasyapa immediately took out a blank scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Wukong.

"How dare you! You dare to deceive me, Old Sun, with a blank book! Each of you will take a blow from my stick and I'll send you to the Buddha's paradise. You won't need to bother with any more arduous cultivation."

Wukong was furious and drew his golden cudgel to strike.

At that very moment, the sun, moon, lamps, and candles shone brightly, and immeasurable and profound magical power emerged.

Behold, the Buddhas Dipankara and Dipankara manifested and stopped Wukong's golden cudgel.

"Wukong, stop fooling around. The two Venerable Ones did not insult you," Dipankara Buddha said with a smile, looking at the pilgrims. Wukong snorted coldly and said, "They gave me a blank copy of the scriptures; how can that not be insulting me?"

The ancient Buddha then smiled and said, "This is the true scripture without words, therefore all sentient beings can hear it."

"Could it be the legendary wordless book?" Sha Wujing exclaimed, recalling some rumors.

Dipankara Buddha then smiled and said, "Excellent. The so-called true scriptures of Buddhism and Taoism are that the Tao is eternal and ever-present, and all sentient beings can become Buddhas."

"Therefore, the true scriptures of Buddhism and Taoism do not rely on written words, but can be summed up in one sentence: enlightenment is Buddhahood, seeing one's true nature is Buddhahood, and the awakened one becomes Buddhahood."

"It is also said that the mind is Buddha, so there is no need to worship other Buddhas. It only means to see one's own mind, and everyone is Buddha."

As the words of the Buddha Dipankara faded, Pigsy and Sandy remained unmoved, while Tang Sanzang, who was deeply versed in Buddhism, and Sun Wukong, who possessed profound Taoist cultivation, reacted differently.

"Yes, this is Mahayana Buddhism... The Tripitaka of our Buddha is very wonderful, but it cannot be read or understood by those who are not well-versed in Buddhism, and thus cannot save all sentient beings."

"Only the true scriptures of Zen are regarded as enlightenment and Buddhahood, and all sentient beings are Buddhas. One cannot save another; only oneself can save oneself. This is the true Mahayana Buddhism!"

"Only in this way can we teach all beings to turn their hearts toward the right path, realize their true nature, and become Buddhas!"

However, the enlightenment that Wukong and Tang Sanzang gained was different.

In a daze, Wukong seemed to return to the time when he had just entered the mountains to seek the Dao.

I witnessed back then that all living beings could freely enter and leave the ancestral hall, which further confirmed the principle that the Dao is ever-present and eternally existent.

In a daze, it was said that Wukong's aura flickered, seemingly indicating the attainment of supreme enlightenment and the ultimate Dao fruit, but it still lacked some refinement.

After a long while, Wukong finally came to his senses.

Then the ancient Buddha Dipankara bowed and said, "Great Sage, you have attained enlightenment and seen your true nature; you shall become a Buddha."

The two Venerable Ones, unaware of what had happened, immediately praised Wukong upon hearing the words of the Buddha of the Past, saying, "Great Sage, you should become a Buddha!"

One blank scripture and five thousand and forty-eight scripture scrolls with words make up the exact number of one scroll.

……

After the transmission of the scriptures was completed, Tang Sanzang and his companions had to bow to the Buddha again to bid farewell before leaving Mount Ling.

The two Venerable Ones then led Tang Sanzang and the rest of the pilgrims back into the Mahavira Hall.

Inside the Mahavira Hall, the World-Honored One, Tathagata, ascended the lotus throne and ordered the two great Arhats, Subduing Dragon and Subduing Tiger, to strike the cloud chime, inviting all three thousand Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and great and small Venerable Monks, those who should sit, to ascend the throne, and those who should stand, to stand on both sides.

In an instant, heavenly music surged, celestial sounds echoed, auspicious lights appeared one after another, and auspicious energy abounded, as all the Buddhas paid homage to the Tathagata.

After the ceremony, the Buddha asked, "Ananda and Kasyapa, how many scriptures did they transmit?"

The two Venerable Ones then reported: "We are now sending two sets of true scriptures from the Tang Dynasty, namely the Sutra of Nirvana and the Dharma of Extinction, totaling 5,048 volumes, along with the biographies of holy monks from the East, which were left in Tang. They are now all packed and loaded onto pack animals, awaiting our gratitude."

As the two Venerable Ones finished speaking, Tang Sanzang and the others stepped forward again and bowed, saying, "May the Buddha have mercy. Now that we have obtained the true scriptures, we only wish to return to the East as soon as possible to teach and enlighten all beings. We hope that the Buddha will bestow his compassionate grace."

"Go away, go away, these two scriptures have immeasurable merit."

"That Nirvana Sutra is the source of the three religions. When you return to the East, you must not treat it lightly. You must not open the book without bathing and fasting. Treasure it with utmost care. For within it lies the profound mystery of becoming an immortal and attaining the Dao, and the wondrous method of inventing all transformations."

"The wordless true scripture is known to all beings themselves. You only need to explain what enlightenment is, that is, Buddhahood. All sentient beings can hear it and learn it. All those who are enlightened can become Buddhas. This is all your merit."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang kowtowed in gratitude and bowed to the Buddha three times.

Just then, Guanyin Bodhisattva stepped forward with her palms together and reported to the World Honored One, saying, "When I was sent to the East to find someone to retrieve the scriptures, I have succeeded. It has taken a total of fourteen years, which is five thousand and forty days. It will take another eight days to complete one set of scriptures."

"I humbly beseech the World Honored One to grant the Holy Monk permission to return east and west within eight days, so that the collection of scriptures may be completed and the disciple may return the imperial edict."

Upon hearing this, the Buddha said, “What the Venerable Guanyin said is very true. Xuanzang, listen to the truth. I order you to quickly descend the mountain and spread the scriptures to the East within eight days, then return to Mount Ling to complete the collection of scriptures. After that, you will be granted the title of Buddha again.”

Only then did the pilgrims leave the main hall, and the scripture transmission ceremony finally ended. The pilgrimage was complete, and only the transmission of the scriptures was missing.

The story goes that after obtaining the scriptures, the group on their pilgrimage rode on auspicious clouds and headed east.

"We faced eighty-one tribulations on our journey, and returned riding on clouds... This journey itself was a form of spiritual practice."

Above the auspicious clouds, Tang Sanzang spoke with feeling, which surprised Wukong.

“Master, you have such insight; you must be a Buddha,” Wukong said with a smile.

Looking back on the trials and tribulations of the journey, Tang Sanzang sighed, "Before, I was uncertain and could not fathom the depths of the situation with my mortal eyes. Looking back on the hardships we have endured, I realize that I have caused you, my disciple, a great deal of suffering."

Needless to say, all of this is just a dream, a bubble.

Wukong laughed and said, "I see that Master is eager to return home. Now that the journey to the West is complete, why don't I, Old Sun, use a spell so that we can return to Chang'an quickly?"

Before Tang Sanzang could even respond, Pigsy quickly said, "Brother is right, it saves us from the hardship of traveling."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang simply cupped his hands and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Wukong."

……

South Jambudvipa, Chang'an City.

It is said that after the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan era, Emperor Taizong sent Tang Sanzang out of the city and often wondered when Tang Sanzang would return.

Therefore, he ordered a tall building to be built outside the city gates of Chang'an, named Wangjing Tower.

Whenever he had free time, Emperor Taizong of Tang would visit the Wangjing Tower to enjoy the view. This day was no exception.

"Alas, it has been fourteen years since my younger brother went on his pilgrimage to the West. I wonder when he will return." Emperor Taizong sighed softly.

A servant beside him said, "Your Majesty, before the Venerable Xuanzang departed, he said he would return in two or three years at the earliest, and five or six years at the latest. Now more than ten years have passed, and I'm afraid..."

"Do not say such a thing again!"

Emperor Taizong frowned and rebuked him: "Your Majesty is a disciple personally chosen by Guanyin Bodhisattva. You are protected by gods and Buddhas and will certainly be without hindrance."

After observing for a while, the Tang Emperor's worries and anxieties dissipated, and he immediately prepared to return to the palace.

Just then, in the western sky, hundreds of auspicious clouds appeared, and countless streams of auspicious energy were seen.

It is said that a dazzling rainbow light covered the sky, and then transformed into four figures. Who else could it be but Tang Sanzang and his companions?

"That...that's the Imperial Brother?"

Emperor Taizong pointed to the celestial beings in the sky and asked the attendant beside him.

As soon as Emperor Taizong spoke, the rainbow light fell to the ground, and all the strange phenomena dissipated. It was none other than the Tang Xuanzang of that year.

Emperor Taizong was overjoyed and hurriedly went downstairs to greet him, calling out, "Is this the Imperial Brother?"

"Your Majesty... I am fortunate to have fulfilled my mission and returned with the true scriptures!" Tang Sanzang also bowed to Emperor Taizong with great excitement.

(End of this chapter)