Journey to the West: Beginning with the Apprenticeship of Bodhi Patriarch

Chapter 197: Tang Monk Changes Scriptures, Wordless Scripture

But it is said that Monkey King was talking with Monk Tang among the clouds.

The Monkey King could sense some regret in Tang Seng's words, so he smiled and said, "Master, do you think that you have taken the wrong sutra?"

When Tang Seng heard this, he looked around and saw that there was no one around. He said, "Wukong, don't say such things."

The traveler smiled and said, "Master, if you regret it, there is still a chance to change it. This place is not far from Lingshan Mountain. We just rode on the cloud. If we go forward, we can't turn back. If Master wants to change the true scriptures, we can go now."

Tang Monk asked: "How can I exchange the true scriptures?"

The traveler asked, "Why can't the true scripture be changed?"

Tang Monk said: "I am indecisive and I am afraid that the Buddha will find me guilty."

The Monkey King smiled and said, "Master, I am doing this to save sentient beings, so why should I be afraid of being punished? Why should I save my dignity? If the Buddha can forgive my sin, I can exchange it for the true scriptures, then there is no harm in exchanging it."

Tang Seng clasped his hands and sighed, "It is my fault that I have never understood the secret of the Treasure Pavilion. There are two secrets of the Treasure Pavilion. The Three Treasures need human effort to read, while the Zen Sutra is given away for free, which is just what the world needs. The Three Treasures need human effort to read, while the Zen Sutra can be read by everyone."

The Monkey King said, "Master, just tell me whether or not to change. If you tell me to change, I will stop the four Vajra Kings and tell them to go back. Don't worry about whether they are willing or not. If they are willing, then we will all be happy. If they are not willing, then I will let them know the power of my golden cudgel."

Tang Seng asked: "He has four men, how can you resist them?"

The Monkey King laughed and said, "You don't know, these four Vajra Kings were defeated by me in the past. I was able to defeat them in the past, and now my practice has improved. I will defeat them in a moment. I believe that these four people dare not fight against me."

Tang Monk said: "Disciple, I have been grateful for your care along the way. I know that what you said is absolutely correct. You have the magical power to defeat the four Vajra Kings, but I want to exchange for a true scripture. I hope you can help me to bring blessings to the East and help all living beings."

The Monkey King said, "Since Master has said so, I will definitely teach you how to change the sutra successfully."

Say it.

The traveler stepped forward and stopped the four Vajras.

The four Vajra asked, "Great Sage, why are you blocking our way and not letting us ride on the clouds?"

The traveler said, "Thank you for taking us back to Lingshan. My master has changed his mind and wants to exchange the scriptures for the free scriptures, so we have to turn back."

The Four Vajras were a little puzzled.

Zhu Bajie came forward with his load on his shoulder and said with a smile, "Brother, Master couldn't bear to part with the purple gold bowl, so he changed his mind and wanted to take it back?"

The traveler scolded, "Stop yelling, you idiot."

He then looked at the four Vajras and waited for their answer.

The four Vajra bowed and said, "Great Sage, we have received the golden order from the Buddha to send you back to the East and bring you back, so you cannot turn back."

The Monkey King said, "If you don't want to take my master back with you, I will do it myself. I hope you won't try to stop me. If you do, don't blame me for being ungrateful."

The four Vajra said in panic, "Great Sage, why do you say that? I will teach you to wait and turn back."

The Four Vajras did not dare to stop the traveler and turned their clouds around, heading back to Lingshan.

When Monkey King saw the Four Vajras turning their clouds around, he immediately stayed by Monk Tang's side to protect him.

Tang Seng bowed and said, "Disciple, I am sorry for tiring you."

The traveler laughed and said, "Not worthy of it, not worthy of it."

The group returned to Lingshan and walked to the Main Hall. The Four Vajras went in to report and explain what had happened.

The Buddha then called Tang Seng in.

Tang Seng and his followers entered the Great Hall. Tang Seng knelt down and said, "I am guilty of disturbing the Buddha, but the situation is so serious that I have no choice but to ask Wukong to bring me back. I only ask the Buddha to allow me to exchange the sutra."

The Tathagata Buddha asked: "Why do you want to change the sutra? But what is wrong with my Three Treasures Scripture?"

Tang Monk clasped his hands and said: "The Tripitaka Sutra is very wonderful. It is the most exquisite scripture that I have ever seen. In the world, there are few that can compare with it."

Tathagata said: "If that is the case, why do we need to change the sutra?"

Tang Monk said, "Reporting to the Buddha, the Tripitaka Sutra is very wonderful, but only those with extraordinary understanding and a single-minded devotion to Buddha can read it. Others will never understand it. My disciple Xuanzang has come to obtain the Sutra in compliance with the order of the Great Tang Emperor, so that the living in the East can be saved, the living can be at peace, and the dead can be liberated. If I obtain the Tripitaka Sutra but cannot teach the living in the East, I am afraid that it will go against the Emperor's wishes. I was worried before, but please don't blame me, Buddha."

After hearing this, Tathagata pondered for a long time and said, "As you said, the Three Treasures cannot save sentient beings and are useless."

Tang Seng was shocked and said, "I am sorry for my words. I would never say such a thing. These scriptures are first-class genuine scriptures. It is very rare for others to get a copy. Now I am fortunate to have obtained 5,048 copies. I should be grateful. I dare not say more, but I have returned to save sentient beings."

Tathagata smiled and said, "Forget it, forget it. I will exchange it with you, but you can go to the treasure pavilion to see the true scriptures. If you think it can help sentient beings, I will exchange it with you. If it cannot help sentient beings, and you still want to take the Tripitaka's true scriptures, I will take it away and return to the East."

Tang Seng was filled with gratitude and bowed deeply, saying, "Buddha, have mercy on me!"

Tathagata sent Tang Seng and his companions to the treasure pavilion, saying that the two venerables were in the treasure pavilion.

……

On the top of the Treasure Pavilion, there is an ancient Buddha named Dipankara. He came here from the Great Hall. He smiled to himself and said, "The pilgrim who seeks the sutra is ignorant and does not know the wordless sutra. He has lost my destiny. He should teach me to obtain this true sutra and gain the opportunity of Zen."

He then asked, "Who is here?"

The two venerables, Kasyapa and Ananda, stepped out and said, "Ancient Buddha, we are waiting here."

The ancient Buddha Dipankara said, "The pilgrim has taken the scriptures away. Please show me the Wordless Sutra."

The second venerable said, "Does the ancient Buddha want the original copy left by the real person?" The ancient Buddha Ran Deng said, "Of course I want the original copy."

The second venerable said: "Ancient Buddha, please wait a moment."

Say it.

The second venerable was just about to turn around and go into the treasure pavilion to get it.

Suddenly, they saw a group of people seeking scriptures coming, and the two venerables stopped to stay.

When Tang Monk saw the ancient Buddha Dipankara, he came forward to pay his respects.

The ancient Buddha Ran Deng was puzzled and asked, "Saint monk, you left to obtain the scriptures successfully, why did you return here?"

Tang Monk replied: "Reporting to the Buddha, I, Xuanzang, feel deeply that Tripitaka's true scriptures cannot help the East, so I turned back to exchange for scriptures."

The ancient Buddha Ran Deng said: "How can it be exchanged? It cannot be exchanged, it cannot be exchanged."

The monk stepped forward and shouted, "Why can't I change it? The Buddha has already allowed my master to change the sutra, so how can I not change it?"

The ancient Buddha Dipankara said, "Don't shout. Where are we? How can you make a noise? Now that the scriptures have been taken, how can you exchange them? You should quickly send the scriptures to the East. How can you stay here?"

The traveler said, "Why can't we exchange it? The Buddha has already allowed us to exchange it, so why can't we exchange it? It is precisely because the scriptures are related to the sentient beings in the East that we are here to ask for an exchange. Please, Buddha, exchange the scriptures with us."

Tang Seng stepped forward and bowed, saying, "If it is as Wukong said, this is a matter concerning the sentient beings of the East. I hope that the Buddha will give me some help."

The ancient Buddha Dipankara was still unwilling, and persuaded Tang Seng to take the Buddhist scriptures back to the East.

Seeing that the Buddha Dipankara was reluctant to give in and asked him to wait for the chance to change, the Monkey King got impatient and drew out his golden cudgel, saying, "Buddha, please get out of the way quickly."

When the ancient Buddha Dipankara saw that the traveler was so aggressive and powerful, he pondered for a long time, sighed, and left without trying to stop him.

Tang Monk then stepped forward and asked the two venerables to exchange scriptures.

The second venerable said: "Do you really want to change the sutra?"

Tang Seng clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your help, venerable ones. I really want to change the sutra, but I hope you can help me."

The second venerable said, "Great Sage, come with us and I will fetch the other sutra and give it to you."

The Monkey King responded and entered the treasure pavilion with the two venerables.

The Second Venerable One brought 5,047 volumes of the Wordless Sutra to Tang Monk, and as before, tied them into two loads, one of which was carried by the White Dragon Horse, and the other by Zhu Bajie.

Tang Monk stepped forward and asked, "But I wonder how many numbers there are in this true scripture?"

The second venerable said: "Five thousand and forty-seven volumes."

Tang Seng asked: "But I don't know why there is one volume missing compared to the Tripitaka Sutra?"

The second venerable said with a smile: "There is another volume, here."

Say it.

Venerable Kasyapa came out holding a wordless sutra in both hands, handed it to Tang Monk, and said: "Now the total number is 5,048 volumes. If the holy monk checks it and finds it correct, you can take it away. But this kind of exchange of sutras can only be done once, not twice. If the holy monk confirms this sutra, then you can take it away."

Tang Seng clasped his hands together and bowed in response, then took out the wordless scripture, opened it and read it. When he looked through it, he saw that the scripture was blank, without any words.

Zhu Bajie leaned over to look at it and saw that the scripture was blank. He said, "Master, how can this be a scripture? It is just a blank piece of paper. This is not the real scripture. It is not the real scripture. We should not exchange it and take the Tripitaka and leave it alone."

Sha Wujing was a little confused, but he said nothing and acted cautiously.

After hearing what Zhu Bajie said, the Monkey King stepped forward and grabbed his palm-leaf fan by the ear, saying, "You fool, you have no Buddha nature at all. What true sutras do you understand? Stand still and wait."

Zhu Bajie yelled, "Brother, you underestimate me. I have seen and heard a lot along the way, and I, the old pig, have some Buddha nature in me."

The traveler asked, "What Buddha nature do you have?"

Zhu Bajie said, "Brother, ask me some scriptures. I will be able to answer them."

The traveler said, "Don't talk about the scriptures. You have Buddha nature. Why don't you keep the precepts? When ordinary people practice, the more they practice, the more they have. But you practice, the less you have. Do you have any of the magic power you had in the past?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie became a little indignant and was about to say something.

Tang Monk closed the Wordless Scripture and said with a smile: "My disciples, now that the Scripture has been obtained, please take it with you and bid farewell to the Buddha with me, and go back to the East."

Zhu Bajie was confused and asked, "Master, how can I obtain this Wordless Scripture? If I take it back to the East, wouldn't that make the King of Tang guilty? There is a saying that goes, 'The crime of deceiving the king is truly unforgivable.'"

Tang Monk pointed at the Wordless Scripture and said, "The Scripture for use in the East is already here. I have never lied to you. Come back to the East with me. When the King of Tang sees it, he will not blame you, but reward you."

The traveler said, "Master, let's set off now. You fool, stop making noise and just carry your load."

Zhu Bajie glared at Monkey King, kept silent, and stepped forward to pick up the burden of the scriptures.

Sha Wujing said nothing and picked up his own luggage.

The Monkey King helped Tang Monk mount the white horse. After bidding farewell to the Tathagata Buddha and the Buddhists, he and the Four Vajra Kings went back to the East.

(End of this chapter)