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

Chapter 371 The Struggle Between Buddha and Demon, The True Man Will Meet Mara

The three of them, after learning from the Patriarch's words in the Patriarch's quiet room, knew the origin of Mara. After leaving the quiet room, they went to the Jade Terrace.

The immortal ascended the altar and sat high, while Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie stood in the ranks.

Sun Wukong bowed and said, "Elder Brother, now that we know the origin of that Demon King, what should we do?"

Jiang Yuan sat on the platform, holding a jade whisk, and said, "I should go and meet that Demon Luo. I had a feeling earlier that you two had fallen into Demon Luo's trap. I used Yu Ding to fight him and gained some advantage, but his magic power is not weak. It is hard to say who will win if I fight him. I intend to go and find him later. There is still one more thing that Wukong needs to do to go to Mount Ling."

Sun Wukong asked, "Eldest brother, what business do we have going to Mount Ling?"

Jiang Yuan said, "This demon has a great connection with Mount Ling. If I want to fight him, I must first explain to Mount Ling and obtain the permission of the Western Buddha before I go."

Pigsy, who was listening nearby, said, "Master, why bother? That Demon has already left Mount Ling. Even if we kill him, Mount Ling can't say anything."

Jiang Yuan laughed and said, "Bajie, don't be rude. With Wukong's speed, it won't take him long to go to Mount Ling."

Sun Wukong stepped forward and bowed, saying, "What you say makes sense, Senior Brother. I will go now. Please wait here for me. When I return, I will go with you."

Jiang Yuan nodded with a smile.

Sun Wukong said no more, bid farewell, left the mansion, and rode his somersault cloud toward Mount Ling.

Jiang Yuan looked at Zhu Bajie and said with a smile, "Bajie, in recent years, you have been fighting demons with Wukong on the journey to the West. I know everything you have done. I will trouble you to go."

Pigsy chuckled and bowed, saying, "I dare not accept such praise, I dare not accept such praise."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "But I wonder if the demon-slaying has caused you to neglect your cultivation over the years?"

Pigsy shook his head and said, "It didn't delay my cultivation."

Jiang Yuan asked, "If I haven't delayed your cultivation, why have I seen that you haven't made any progress in your cultivation over the years? If it's because of me that your cultivation hasn't progressed, then I should apologize to you."

Pigsy was somewhat apprehensive and said, "How can I accept your apology, sir? I dare not. But this cultivation has nothing to do with you, sir, nor with the journey to the West to vanquish demons."

Jiang Yuan asked again, "If that's the case, why haven't you made any progress in your cultivation?"

Pigsy lowered his head, unsure of what to say.

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Bajie, your identity and magical power are all illusions. The only true master is yourself. I have often taught you about the concept of reversing the roles of master and guest. You should know that no one else can save you. Only you can save yourself."

Say it.

The man stopped speaking and closed his eyes to rest.

Pigsy sat calmly in the classroom, seemingly deep in thought.

The Jade Terrace was peaceful, but before long, the Bull Demon King suddenly appeared, carrying the Black Dragon Spear, to pay homage to the True Man.

After bowing, the Bull Demon King said, "My lord, I don't know what is going on here. Is there anything I can do to help you? If so, please tell me."

When Jiang Yuan saw the Bull Demon King arrive, she smiled and then told him everything that had happened.

Upon hearing this, the Bull Demon King immediately declared that he would accompany the True Man and protect him.

Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded in agreement.

……

Meanwhile, at Mount Ling, Sun Wukong rode his somersault cloud and soon arrived at the foot of the mountain, where the Four Heavenly Kings were present.

Sun Wukong stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Gentlemen, I have come to see the World Honored One. Please inform him that the matter here is urgent and you should proceed immediately."

The Four Heavenly Kings returned the greeting and said, "Victorious Fighting Buddha, you may enter. The World Honored One has already said that the Victorious Fighting Buddha is coming. If you arrive, you do not need to announce your arrival. Just go inside. The World Honored One is currently waiting for the Victorious Fighting Buddha in the Great Hall of the Buddha."

Sun Wukong thanked him and then went inside.

Suddenly, a Vajra stopped them and asked, "Victorious Fighting Buddha, but I see that the World-Honored One's expression is not right. And you have come here. Can you speak with us? If you cannot speak with us, then let it be."

Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "There's nothing that can't be said. This matter is related to Mara. Do you know Mara?"

The four Vajra looked at each other and said, "We have heard that he was originally the Bodhisattva Kinnara. It was a thing of the distant past. We have heard that the Bodhisattva Kinnara was a very powerful Bodhisattva of Mount Ling, with a compassionate heart and profound magical power. He was also known as the number one protector of Mount Ling."

Sun Wukong said, “You are all very clever, as you know about the Bodhisattva Kinnara. Mara is the Bodhisattva Kinnara. I have come to see the World Honored One because of this matter.”

The Four Vajras asked, "What exactly is the matter? Could the Victorious Fighting Buddha explain it to us in detail?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong stopped and stood still, explaining the matter to the Four Heavenly Kings.

The Four Heavenly Kings surrounded Sun Wukong, listening to his words. If there was anything they did not understand, they would ask. Having received the Patriarch's words, Sun Wukong naturally understood everything and would then explain the doubts to the Four Heavenly Kings.

After listening for a long time, the Four Heavenly Kings understood the truth of the matter.

The Four Vajras were furious, this was the wrath of Vajras. They all said, "That Demon is so bold as to call on demons to invade our Mount Ling. We just wanted to see him. What kind of magic does he have that makes him so arrogant?"

Sun Wukong wanted to have a word with the Four Heavenly Kings.

Suddenly an Arhat came and said, "Victorious Fighting Buddha, the World Honored One is waiting for you in the Great Buddha Hall. Please come to the Victorious Fighting Buddha."

Sun Wukong then remembered that he had come to see the Buddha, which was to bid farewell to the Four Heavenly Kings.

Knowing they had delayed Sun Wukong, the Four Heavenly Kings bowed and said, "We are deeply grateful to the Victorious Fighting Buddha for speaking to us. If you ever need our help in the future, please feel free to ask."

Sun Wukong chuckled and agreed, saying, "Of course, of course."

Say it.

Sun Wukong followed the Arhats in.

As the two walked along the mountain path, Sun Wukong saw the Arhat and said, "Arhat riding a deer, it's been a long time since I've seen him."

The Arhat riding a deer put his hands together in prayer and said with a smile, "The Victorious Fighting Buddha still remembers me."

Sun Wukong said, "What are you saying, Arhat? How could I not remember you? The eighteen Arhats are all my brothers."

Upon hearing this, the Arhat riding a deer smiled and said, "Our magical powers are shallow; how dare we call the Victorious Fighting Buddha our brother?"

Sun Wukong waved his hand and said, "Don't talk about whether your magic power is high or low. If you recognize me as your brother, then so be it. If you think I'm not worthy to be called your brother, then forget it."

The Arhat riding a deer said, "How dare I say such a thing? If that's the case, then I'll call myself 'brother' with the Victorious Fighting Buddha."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've seen you eighteen Arhats. How have you all been lately?" The Arhat riding a deer said, "We are all well, but there is one Arhat who is not so well."

Sun Wukong asked, "Why are you unwell, Arhat?"

The Arhat Riding a Deer replied, "Victorious Fighting Buddha, you may not know this, but the Arhat Subduing Dragon has made some mistakes in his cultivation. He has been meditating in the mountains recently, and we do not know what is going on with him."

Sun Wukong replied, "I never expected it to be the Arhat Subduing Dragon. Among you eighteen Arhats, the Arhat Subduing Dragon has the most profound magical power. How could his cultivation be flawed?"

The Arhat Sitting on the Deer shook his head and said, "I do not know, I do not know. But I have heard Guanyin Bodhisattva say that the Arhat Subduing the Dragon has not yet severed his worldly ties, which is why his cultivation has made this mistake."

Sun Wukong wanted to say something more to the Arhat Sitting on the Deer, but suddenly he saw that they had arrived at the Great Buddha Hall. So he stopped talking to the Arhat Sitting on the Deer and walked into the Great Buddha Hall with him.

The two entered the main hall, where the Buddha sat on a lotus throne, waiting for them.

After delivering the decree, the Arhat riding the deer departed.

The Buddha said, “Victorious Fighting Buddha, if I hadn’t sent an Arhat with an imperial decree to invite you, you would not have come.”

Sun Wukong put his hands together and said, "World Honored One, I have been delayed at the foot of the mountain for a while. Please forgive me."

The Buddha laughed and said, "The Victorious Fighting Buddha has always enjoyed making friends. All the gods and Buddhas in the heavens know you, the Victorious Fighting Buddha, and many have become your friends."

Sun Wukong said, "The World Honored One is joking."

The Buddha said, “Victorious Fighting Buddha, I already know your intention in coming here. But you can tell the True Man that Mara is not from Mount Ling, so you can do as you please without any worries. Furthermore, you should thank the True Man for my sake.”

Sun Wukong said, "World Honored One, I will certainly convey your message. But I am somewhat puzzled. Even if this Demon King is capable, with your abilities, capturing him would be no difficult task. Why then does the World Honored One stand idly by and do nothing?"

The Buddha sat on the lotus throne and said, "Victorious Fighting Buddha, you came from the Cave of the Three Stars of the Slanting Moon. The True Man of Guangxin must have taught you. Therefore, you are a 'divine being'."

Sun Wukong nodded and said, "That's right, that's right. My senior brother often teaches me about the laws of heaven and earth, so I know a lot about them."

The Buddha said, “Since you know the numbers of heaven and earth, you should know that there is heaven and earth, sun and moon, yin and yang in the world. This struggle between Buddha and demon is just like this. Now, the Buddha’s teachings have declined in the world, and demonic thoughts have arisen and run rampant in the world. Therefore, even when capturing Mara, there are demonic forces coming to the rescue.”

Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "If that's the case, won't the journey to the West never be peaceful?"

The Buddha smiled and said, “When my Dharma recedes, other Dharmas will come. Now my Dharma of Nirvana will be regarded as the past, and the Dharma of Zen will be regarded as the present. When the Dharma of Zen is regarded as the present Dharma, the demonic thoughts will naturally recede and dare not commit them again.”

Sun Wukong sat on a lotus throne and said, “World Honored One, such demonic thoughts should be eliminated, but the matter of Mara should not be. As far as I know, Mara’s previous incarnation was Kinnara Bodhisattva, who was a person of profound magical power on Mount Ling. Why should he be expelled from Mount Ling?”

The Buddha said, “This is a calamity, the calamity of the Bodhisattva Kinnara. In the past, when the Bodhisattva Kinnara was about to attain great power, a calamity arose and he was driven out of Mount Sumeru. This was the path he had to take. If he could understand this, he could attain great power. However, due to various things in the human world, he developed demonic thoughts. When the calamity arrived, he failed.”

Sun Wukong suddenly realized and said, "Even those who are about to achieve great magical power will face tribulations. If that's the case, then isn't my eldest brother also facing tribulations?"

The Buddha smiled and said, “It is only natural that there will be tribulations. However, the Daoist heart of the True Man Guangxin is the only one I have ever seen in my life. He lives a secluded life and never goes out. Even when he goes out, it is for the sake of compassion.”

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "I don't have the same Daoist heart as my senior brother."

The Buddha said, "If you had such a heart for the Dao, you would not have caused such a great disturbance in the Heavenly Palace in the past."

The two talked for a long time in the main hall. Sun Wukong took his leave of Buddha and wanted to go back, which Buddha granted.

Sun Wukong had just left the Great Buddha Hall and traveled to the mountains. After leaving the Spirit Mountain and riding the clouds, he soon saw the place ahead where Sha Wujing had been in the past.

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up. Since Sha Wujing was conferred the title of "Golden-bodied Arhat Bodhisattva" after his great achievement years ago, he had not seen him. He immediately stepped forward and said, "Brother Sha, Brother Sha!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing turned around and saw Sun Wukong. He immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Elder Brother!"

Sun Wukong said, "Brother Sha, it's been so long since we last met, I've missed you terribly."

Say it.

He carefully examined Sha Wujing and saw that Sha Wujing was wearing a cassock and Buddhist beads. He had a compassionate aura about him, and his hands were clasped together. He had no trace of the fierceness he had shown in the past. This was the sign of someone who had achieved success in his spiritual practice.

Sha Wujing laughed and said, "Since I returned from my pilgrimage with my elder brother and was granted the title of Golden-bodied Arhat, I have been cultivating on Mount Ling and have not gone out. Therefore, I have not seen my elder brother. After you accomplished your mission, you returned home to cultivate. Are you here on Mount Ling today because of Mara?"

Sun Wukong asked, "How does Brother Sha know about that Demon Lord?"

Sha Wujing said, "Just now when I went out, I met the Four Vajra Kings and talked with them. I learned about this matter from them, so I came to ask the World-Honored One to ask for a battle."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "This matter is something I discussed with the Four Heavenly Kings."

Sha Wujing was somewhat surprised, but knowing that Sun Wukong was at home, he was not surprised.

The two talked for a long time on the mountain path before parting ways.

After leaving Mount Ling, Sun Wukong was about to ride the cloud back to the Three Star Immortal Cave. Before leaving, he looked back and pondered to himself, saying, "Even Junior Brother Sha has volunteered to fight. If Moro comes to attack, I'm afraid everyone on Mount Ling will be prepared for battle. At that time, a great battle will be inevitable. However, with the World Honored One here, Moro will not be able to cause any trouble."

Think about it.

Sun Wukong rode his somersault cloud toward the Three Star Immortal Cave.

……

A short while later, Sun Wukong arrived at the Three Star Immortal Cave. When he reached the Jade Terrace, he saw that in addition to Pigsy, there were three more people in the group: the true immortal, the Bull Demon King, and the Green Ox.

Sun Wukong asked, "Second Senior Brother, Elder Brother, King Si, what are you three doing here?"

The Bull Demon King said, "I have heard that you are going to deal with that demon, and as your protector, I should come to help you and protect you."

The Green Ox patted his chest and said, "I have known the True Man for many years. Now that the True Man is about to subdue the demon, I will naturally help him. I have the Vajra Bracelet on my body. No matter what magic weapon that demon Luo has, I will take it away and teach the True Man to subdue the demon."

Zhenjian waved the leaf fan in his hand, smiling broadly, without saying a word, but his meaning was clear.

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "In that case, let us go and meet that Demon Luo together."

The immortal sat high on the altar and asked, "Wukong, now that you have returned, what do the Buddhas and Taoists of the West say? Tell me."

Sun Wukong then recounted the events at Mount Ling to the immortal.

Upon hearing this, the Master said, "In that case, you shall all come with me to meet Mara."

Say it.

The immortal descended from the Jade Terrace and headed out of the mansion. Sun Wukong and the others followed behind him, some leading the way, as they traveled together on the main road to the west.

(End of this chapter)