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

Chapter 378 The power of love to break the deadlock (Seeking monthly votes)

Meanwhile, in the back room of Lanruo Temple, Master Zhikong and Wang Chongyang recounted past events.

Wang Chongyang sat in meditation, listening to Master Zhikong's discourse.

Master Zhikong clasped his hands together, lowered his brows, and said, “Alas, the Seven Precepts bind my body, and the Six Roots cannot liberate our souls. I am buried in the mortal world amidst the midnight snow, and you are buried amidst the mountain clouds and the sound of bells.”

“Benefactor, I am not afraid of your ridicule. In the past, when I was still a junior monk, I had not made any progress in my Buddhist practice. The abbot made me an ascetic and taught me to walk down the mountain. Once I had walked a thousand miles, I was able to find my way back. Then my Buddhist practice would definitely have improved.”

“I listened to the abbot’s words and went down the mountain to help the people and spread Buddhism. During my journey, I met a strange woman who was very interesting. She was traveling far away to find her father. I saw that she was alone and was afraid that she would be harmed, so I accompanied her. We both helped the people and were looking for her father.”

Master Zhikong became somewhat melancholy as he spoke, as if reminiscing about the past.

Wang Chongyang bowed and asked, "Abbot, why are you walking with a woman? It seems to violate the precepts. Why would you do such a thing, Abbot?"

Master Zhikong smiled slightly and said, "That year, when the apricot blossoms were in full bloom at the mountain temple, I was not yet twenty years old. I thought my Buddhist teachings were boundless, so how could I have fallen for a woman and broken the precepts?"

Wang Chongyang said, "I see. Abbot, what is the next step?"

Master Zhikong shook his head and said, “I have walked with him for many years and seen all sorts of things. I have experienced a lot and thought that after returning to the mountains, my Buddhist practice would definitely improve. However, I did not know that this was the beginning of suffering, not the improvement of my Buddhist practice. The word 'love' arises from nowhere and penetrates into the bone marrow without one realizing it, like a carbuncle attached to the bone. It is difficult for people to notice it. By the time they realize it, they are already deeply trapped in the threads of love and cannot extricate themselves.”

"When I was walking with the woman into a city, I suddenly realized that the county magistrate, a high-ranking official, was actually the woman's father. We inquired around and learned that the woman's father had married into a wealthy and powerful family in the city in order to pass the imperial examinations. He had used the family's influence to pass the examinations and enter officialdom, which is why he abandoned his wife and children and disappeared without a trace. She told me that she wanted to find out the truth, so I went with her."

"However, when I met her father, he did not acknowledge us. Instead, he turned around and accused us of being troublemakers and unreasonable people, and drove us out of the hall. That year, I saw her crying in the street, and my heart ached. I realized that when love enters the heart, one has no control over it."

"Later, I asked her what the future held, and she asked if I would be willing to leave the monastic life and marry her. At that time, I was thinking to myself, as a Buddhist disciple, with profound Buddhist teachings, how could I fall into the entanglements of love and be trapped in the sea of ​​suffering, how could I love a woman? So I refused. When she saw that I refused, she left without a word, and we parted ways. I returned to Lanruo Temple."

Master Zhikong sighed deeply at this point.

Wang Chongyang bowed and said, "Although I have never experienced the trials of love, I do know that love is something that cannot be avoided or escaped."

Master Zhikong nodded and said, “Just as you said, if the suffering of this love were so easy to escape, it wouldn’t be one of the eight sufferings. When I returned to Lanruo Temple, every night I would feel restless and couldn’t help but think of her. At first, I could find a moment of peace by reciting scriptures, but later, I became more and more restless. Reciting scriptures could not bring me peace. My longing became an illness, like being scorched by a raging fire. In the end, I could not forget her. That is why I am like this now, with a restless heart. I sweep leaves in front of the temple every night to soothe myself a little.”

Wang Chongyang asked, "Has the abbot gone to look for the woman?"

Master Zhikong smiled and said, "Of course I have searched for it."

Wang Chongyang asked, "What should we do?"

Master Zhikong said, “Every year I have gone to look for her, but I only glance at her from afar and never disturb her. In my early years I saw her indignant, then I saw her married and raising her children, and later her children grew up.”

Wang Chongyang said, "Abbot, why haven't you done anything?"

Master Zhikong smiled helplessly and said, "Ahead lies the Buddha, behind lies a good man. How can I know what to do?"

Wang Chongyang asked, "Has the abbot shown any remorse?"

Master Zhikong said: “In the past, I saw her all alone, lonely and helpless, and I regretted it. Later, I saw her married and I hated her. Then I saw her devoted to her husband and raising her children, and I was angry. But everything is fate, and I have no control over it. No matter what I do, it is all useless. This hatred will last forever.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Chongyang was at a loss for words, for he already knew Master Zhikong's thoughts.

Master Zhikong clasped his hands together and said, “Over the years, I have often reflected deeply on this. Perhaps I should not have been so arrogant back then, thinking that the Buddha’s teachings were boundless and walking with them. Otherwise, I would not be in this state today. Benefactor, although you do not have any magical powers now, this old monk has always been very accurate in judging people. You will definitely be a true cultivator in the future. If you encounter this situation in the future, do not be like me, deeply mired in suffering.”

Wang Chongyang said, "Thank you for your advice, Abbot. I will remember your words and never forget them."

Master Zhikong smiled slightly and said, "I thought that you, being young and impetuous, would say something that you would never say, or something that would refute my words, but I did not expect you to agree so readily."

Wang Chongyang laughed and said, "The sage said, 'Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me.' What is there to refute? But I will definitely listen to advice. If it is harmful, I will simply forget about it. If it is beneficial, I will not exchange it for a thousand pieces of gold."

Master Zhikong chanted Buddhist mantras, put his hands together in prayer, and said, "Your talent is truly admirable. Do you really not wish to stay at Lanruo Temple?"

Wang Chongyang said, "Abbot, my path lies outside."

Master Zhikong laughed and said, "In that case, I will not stop you, but it will be a pity for Lanruo Temple."

Wang Chongyang asked, "Abbot, what do you think of Lanruo Temple?"

Master Zhikong said, “The name Lanruo Temple originally meant a pure and secluded place. However, in recent years, many of the disciples have gone out and become involved in worldly affairs. Moreover, evil spirits in the mountains are not uncommon. I feel that Lanruo Temple may not be able to survive for two or three generations and will surely perish.”

Wang Chongyang said, "Is there no way to break this?"

Master Zhikong laughed and said, "This calamity is caused by people, not by external things. How can there be a way to resolve it?"

Wang Chongyang remained silent, unsure how to respond.

Master Zhikong smiled and turned to other matters, recounting his travels to Wang Chongyang.

Wang Chongyang listened attentively.

Master Zhikong was delighted to see this and went with Wang Chongyang to the Sutra Repository to explain some Buddhist scriptures to Wang Chongyang.

Wang Chongyang understood immediately upon hearing this, and he was able to draw inferences from one instance to another, explaining the essential points. Master Zhikong gained a lot from this, and one has to admire Wang Chongyang's extraordinary talent.

……

Time flies, and more than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

In one month, Wang Chongyang thoroughly studied all the scriptures of Lanruo Temple and, with the guidance of Master Zhikong, he had already grasped the essence of them.

A month later, Wang Chongyang was to bid farewell to Master Zhikong and leave Lanruo Temple.

Wang Chongyang and Master Zhikong were standing in front of the temple gate.

Master Zhikong took out some dried biscuits and handed them to Wang Chongyang, saying, "The temple has nothing much to give you, so I can only give you some dried food."

Wang Chongyang bowed repeatedly in gratitude, saying, "I will remember your kindness, Abbot. If I pass through this place again in the future, I will definitely come to visit you."

Master Zhikong smiled and agreed, saying, "If that's the case, I will wait for you at Lanruo Temple."

As he spoke, he looked out into the mountains and forests and said, “Benefactor, whether you are walking through these mountains and forests or in other old forests, you must remember to take out your weapon. With that weapon, you can be safe.”

Wang Chongyang took out the Tianpeng Ruler wrapped in yellow cloth from his bundle and said, "Abbot, I will definitely use this treasure to protect myself."

Master Zhikong nodded and said, “I originally wanted to give you a Buddhist rosary to protect you, but since you have this treasure, I don’t need to give it to you. Don’t underestimate the treasure in your hand. It is a great weapon. Holding it will ward off all evil. If you encounter any demons or evil spirits that dare to offend you, just use this weapon to strike them. No demon or evil spirit can stop you.”

Wang Chongyang nodded thoughtfully and said, "Thank you for telling me, Abbot."

Master Zhikong said, “It’s getting late, benefactor. You should hurry on your way, otherwise it will be difficult to travel this road once it gets dark.”

Wang Chongyang responded, "In that case, I will take my leave."

Master Zhikong clasped his hands together, smiled, and nodded. Wang Chongyang bowed repeatedly before leaving.

Master Zhikong stood at the temple gate, watching Wang Chongyang leave, and remained there for a long time.

A young monk behind him said indignantly, "Why does the abbot treat a mere mortal with such courtesy?"

Upon hearing this, Master Zhikong turned his head and glanced around, then laughed and said, "He is no ordinary person; on the contrary, you are the ordinary person."

The young monk said, "Abbot, I have already entered the Buddhist order, so why do you say that I am just an ordinary person?"

Master Zhikong shook his head and said, “You don’t understand. Besides you, there are many other ordinary people in the temple who have the appearance of monks but not the heart of monks. This is exactly what ordinary people are like.”

The young monk was somewhat annoyed and said, "How can the abbot say such things? If that's the case, are there any ordinary monks in the temple?"

Master Zhikong pondered for a moment and said, "As I expected, there are no true monks here."

The young monk asked, "Is the abbot not considered a true monk?"

Master Zhikong laughed and said, "I don't count either."

The monk was taken aback, never expecting Master Zhikong to say such a thing.

Master Zhikong turned around and walked into the temple, saying as he went, “You should talk to your fellow disciples. Don’t think that I don’t know what they have been doing all day. You should talk to them. If you associate with demons, you will eventually be harmed by them. The old tree demon in the deep mountains is not someone to be trifled with. If you stay with it for too long, it will surely harm you.”

The humble monk lowered his head, unsure of what to say.

……

On the way, Wang Chongyang walked away, holding a yellow cloth in his hand, and occasionally looked back at Lanruo Temple, feeling somewhat reluctant to leave.

Wang Chongyang sighed, “I have learned a great deal in this Lanruo Temple and gained a lot from it. It is truly hard to leave now, but I must leave. I believe that one should not stay in one place, and it is not my wish to live in a secluded corner. Therefore, I must leave.”

He travels to practice the teachings of the three schools of thought, so how can he stay in one place for long? Therefore, he must continue his journey. No amount of hardship or warmth can sway his mind.

Wang Chongyang went outside, and halfway there he suddenly saw a woman walking towards him.

The woman was dressed in rags, but her skin was as smooth as cream. I felt pity for her and my heart stirred at the sight of her.

The woman ran towards Wang Chongyang, but stopped three or four meters away, not daring to step onto the road and face the scorching sun.

The woman was about to say something.

Wang Chongyang untied the yellow cloth, took out the Heavenly Canopy Ruler, and was about to strike that spot.

But then the Heavenly Ruler burst forth with countless divine lights, rushing towards the woman, and in a short while, it reduced her to ashes.

Wang Chongyang said, "Hiding your head and showing your tail, you dare not face the scorching sun. How dare you, demons and monsters, come looking for me?"

Say it.

Wang Chongyang raised the Heavenly Canopy Ruler and walked along the main road without the slightest fear. The surrounding mountains and forests were silent, as if they feared the Heavenly Canopy Ruler, or perhaps they feared the righteous energy emanating from Wang Chongyang.

Wang Chongyang successfully walked outside. After he was outside, he put away the Heavenly Canopy Ruler, took out the map, and carefully examined it, pondering where to go next.

After much deliberation, he decided to travel around to see if there were any great scholars. If not, he would also like to find some Taoist temples or Buddhist monasteries.

Wang Chongyang walked among men.

……

The story begins at Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, at the Xieyue Sanxing Cave.

The Master's Quiet Room.

The game between the True Man and the Ancestor has finally come to an end.

The patriarch gazed at the chessboard and saw that the black dragon had cut the white dragon in half, resulting in the white pieces' defeat. He himself held the black pieces, and this was the victory he had achieved, yet he was somewhat surprised.

The patriarch praised, "Child, your cultivation is truly remarkable."

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Master, why do you say that? I lost this round."

The patriarch smiled and said, “In past games of chess, I have always determined when a game will end and when it will end. The boy usually does exactly what I expect, and when the time is right, it will come true. But now, the boy’s divine move has broken my plan, and this game will end right here.”

Jiang Yuan said, "Master, no matter what, we have lost."

The patriarch shook his head, pointed to the location of the Southern Continent, and said, "The game of chess is just like the fate of a country. From the moment the game begins, one knows how it will end. This is already predetermined. However, since you, child, have the ability to judge the game, you also have the ability to judge the fate of a country. This shows that you have made progress in your cultivation."

Jiang Yuan said, "This disciple does not deserve such words from Master."

The patriarch designated Jiang Yuan and said, "I originally intended for you to set off later, so that the game would just end and you could set off to find Zhengwei. I never imagined that you, my child, would possess such magical power, using a divine move to break my game."

Jiang Yuan is a form of bowing and pleading guilty.

The patriarch laughed and said, "I am pleased that you have such magical power. Why should I apologize? Now that you have resolved the chess game, you should go down the mountain to find Zhengwei. It is not too late to return to the mansion after he has returned to his place."

Jiang Yuan responded, "Yes, Master."

The Patriarch pointed outside and said, "You should send Wukong and the others with you."

Without asking why, Jiang Yuan said, "Master, I'll go and call Junior Brother Wukong."

The Patriarch nodded with pleasure and said, "Summon Zhu Bajie and the others; they can solve many of your problems."

Jiang Yuan responded again, then bowed to the patriarch and left the meditation room.

The immortal left the quiet room and went to the Jade Terrace, where he summoned Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie.

Upon receiving the summons from the immortal, the two arrived shortly afterward.

The real person then told Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie about the matter.

Upon hearing that they were to search for Zhengwei, the two readily agreed, willing to go with the Master. They were overjoyed, thinking that once Zhengwei was found, it would be the time for the Master to establish his own residence, something that should bring joy to everyone.

Without saying much, the immortal led the two out of the mansion, summoned the white deer, and headed towards the Southern Jambudvipa.

(End of this chapter)