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

Chapter 407 One Hundred Days of Seclusion, The Transformation of a True Person

The next morning, Ma Congyi and Sun Fuchun arrived by carriage. When they reached Quanzhen Temple, they wanted to meet Wang Chongyang and hear about the great Daoist's insights.

Wang Chongyang, knowing that the two had come, gladly met with them.

The group met in a quiet room at Quanzhen Temple, brewed tea, and chatted happily on cushions.

After talking for a long time, Ma Congyi suddenly asked, "Daoist Master, is there something I may ask you?"

Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "Mr. Ma, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. If I know the answer, I will certainly tell you."

Ma Congyi bowed and said, "Daoist Master, yesterday I heard you preach the Dao. I had heard that you asked where one could obtain the Daoist arts. You replied that 'with skill but without heart, one cannot achieve success; with heart but without skill, skill will come naturally.' I wonder what you mean by this? Could you explain it to me in detail?"

Wang Chongyang laughed and said, "These words are merely a literal expression, lacking any deeper meaning. What do you think is more important, the heart or the art?"

Ma Congyi asked, "The art of cultivation is the art of the Tao, but what is the mind?"

Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "The mind is the master, and the technique is the guest. You can also say that the mind is nature, and the techniques are all destiny. The cultivation of nature is the master. If the cultivation of nature is superb, the cultivation of destiny will naturally follow. Do you understand now that I'm explaining it to you like this?"

Ma Congyi pondered Wang Chongyang's words carefully, as if deep in thought.

Sun Fuchun, who was standing beside him, was also deeply moved by what Wang Chongyang had said, and thus fell into deep thought.

After a long while, Ma Congyi said, "If what the Daoist says is true, then the cultivation of the mind can be considered as the cultivation of both nature and life. If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to focus on cultivating the mind and ignore cultivating the life?"

Wang Chongyang feigned a loud laugh and then asked, "Can a one-legged person really defeat a two-legged person? It is often said that 'life and nature are related.' This means that cultivating one's nature is the main focus, so as not to disturb the mind and to use the mind to control it. Cultivating one's life is an extension of cultivating one's nature, but it cannot be missing. If it is missing, how can it be complete?"

Ma Congyi rose and bowed, saying, “What you say makes perfect sense. Hearing your words today has made me realize that I used to like the Dao, but what I liked was not the true Dao. Now I have heard the true Dao. I wish to become your disciple and follow you in cultivation. I hope you will grant my request.”

Sun Fuchun, who was deep in thought, was shocked by what he heard. He wanted to say something, but stopped himself, unsure of how to begin.

Wang Chongyang, with a smile on his face, said, "You really want to become my disciple?"

Ma Congyi said, "That's exactly right!"

Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "You wish to become my disciple, but is it to seek the true art of cultivation, or to cultivate your mind through 'natural power'? Do you wish to become someone who ascends to immortality like Qin Gao? Is that it?"

Ma Congyi made no attempt to hide his true feelings, saying, "That's exactly right, Daoist Master. I wish to cultivate the Dao and ascend to become an immortal."

Wang Chongyang said, "This path is extremely difficult. Although I possess the method, I cannot easily pass it on to you."

Upon hearing that Wang Chongyang actually possessed a method for cultivating immortality, Ma Congyi was extremely eager and immediately said, "Please accept me as your disciple and teach me the method. I am willing to give everything. Even if you want my vast wealth, I am willing to give it to you."

Wang Chongyang laughed and said, "You are truly willing to give everything; you are not lying to me?"

Ma Congyi said, "I have never deceived you, Daoist Master. You are wise to see this."

Wang Chongyang laughed and said, "In that case, I want you to go into seclusion in a quiet room in a Taoist temple for a hundred days, with only one meal a day. You can only cultivate in silence. If you can succeed, I will pass on the method to you, teach you how to cultivate the Tao, and give you the chance to become an immortal. What do you think?"

Ma Congyi hesitated upon hearing this.

Wang Chongyang then got up, intending to go outside.

Pigsy followed closely behind.

Ma Congyi was greatly alarmed and stopped the crowd, asking, "Where does the Taoist priest intend to go?"

Wang Chongyang laughed and said, "Since you are unwilling, I will not force you. Now I shall leave and travel the world."

When Ma Congyi heard that the eminent Taoist was about to leave, he was greatly alarmed and stood up to stop him, saying, "Taoist Master, Taoist Master! Please wait! I am willing to go into seclusion for a hundred days, but please accept me as your disciple after the hundred days of seclusion."

Wang Chongyang said, "If you can truly go into seclusion for a hundred days, I will definitely accept you as my disciple."

Ma Congyi said, "Daoist Master, I will return now, finish giving instructions, and then come to your place to begin my hundred-day seclusion."

Wang Chongyang shook his head and said, "If you want to go into seclusion, start now and don't leave again. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Congyi immediately agreed. He turned to Sun Fuchun and said, "Madam, please go home and take good care of everything. I will feel at ease with you taking care of the home. You can send me one meal a day as the Taoist priest said."

Sun Fuchun said with some concern, "That is not advisable."

Ma Congyi said, "There is nothing wrong with it, please listen to what I have to say, Madam."

Seeing Ma Congyi's words, Sun Fuchun had no choice but to agree and accept his words, saying that he would take good care of the family.

Ma Congyi then instructed Sun Fuchun to leave. Only after Sun Fuchun had left did he turn around to face Wang Chongyang.

Wang Chongyang designated a quiet room and said with a smile, "Why don't you go into seclusion there? What do you think?"

Ma Congyi bowed and said, "I will follow the Taoist priest's words and go there now."

Wang Chongyang nodded with a smile.

Ma Congyi then went inside, and after a short while, he entered the quiet room to prepare for seclusion.

Wang Chongyang took out a piece of paper, cut it lightly into the shape of a cloth.

Pigsy asked, "Zhengwei, what are you doing?"

Wang Chongyang said, “Since this is a test, we should do our best. People rely on the calendar and the four seasons. If they do not distinguish between the calendar and the four seasons, they will lose their composure. I want to take this cloth and use magic to cover this quiet room, so that it is isolated from the outside world and cannot see the sun.”

Upon hearing this, Pigsy said, "If we use this cloth as a magic spell to block out the sun and moon and isolate ourselves from the world, then I, Pigsy, can do it. Do you need my help?"

Wang Chongyang laughed and said, "I will ask you to do it, fellow Daoist. I have no magical powers, as you know. How could I possibly do it?"

Pigsy laughed and accepted the cloth, muttering incantations. After a while, he suddenly waved the cloth toward the quiet room.

The paper cloth grew longer in the wind and eventually turned into a black cloth, covering the windows and doors, making the inside dark and gloomy.

Pigsy said, "That's enough."

Wang Chongyang nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, fellow Daoist."

Pigsy said, "No need to be so polite, but do you think this fellow can go into seclusion for a hundred days?"

Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "I think that a hundred days of seclusion should not be difficult for him. What are your thoughts, fellow Daoist?"

Pigsy said, "Since you say it's not difficult, I won't say anything more. You have your reasons."

Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "Ma Congyi is destined to succeed, though there will be some setbacks along the way. But besides him, there is another person here who is destined to receive the Dharma."

Pigsy asked, "Who is it? Since there is another person in this city, why don't you go and find them?"

Wang Chongyang said, "There is no need to search, for we have already found it."

Pigsy asked again, "Where is Old Pig?"

Wang Chongyang said, "Sun Fuchun, Ma Congyi's wife, is the second person."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy was very surprised and said, "This couple has a karmic connection with you, which is quite remarkable." Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "It's not remarkable; the karmic connection has its own reasons."

Pigsy said, "Since Sun Fuchun also has a karmic connection with you, why don't you teach him to enter it as well and go into seclusion for a hundred days?"

Wang Chongyang shook his head and said, “Brother Dao, you do not know this. Sun Fuchun’s temperament is completely different from Ma Congyi’s. Although he likes Dao, he likes Ma Congyi more. So we asked him to give up, but he was unwilling. We need to plan carefully and devise another method. If it succeeds, then it will be fine. If it fails, then it is fate.”

Pigsy laughed and said, "Zhengwei, besides these two, how many others are destined to have you? Tell me clearly."

Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "There are seven people in total. Besides these two, there are five more."

After careful consideration, Pigsy said, "If there are still five people, it won't take long, at most fifty years, before they can return home."

Wang Chongyang laughed and said, "I will certainly do so, and return home with you as soon as possible."

Pigsy naturally responded.

……

When Ma Congyi entered the meditation room, he suddenly found that all the light outside had disappeared. Although he was somewhat puzzled, he could easily guess that this must be the supernatural power of Wang Chongyang and others, so he did not resist.

However, he had always lived a life of luxury, was respected by others, and had a loving marriage. Now, being in this cramped and secluded quiet room, he found it somewhat unbearable.

However, when he thought that if he could overcome this test, he could become a disciple and attain enlightenment, he gritted his teeth and persevered. No matter what difficulties he faced during these hundred days, he had to overcome this hardship. If he could overcome this hardship, he would have the opportunity to become an immortal.

Ma Congyi was determined to stay and refused to leave.

Time flies, and more than ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.

After entering this quiet room, Ma Congyi indeed lived up to Wang Chongyang's words, only getting one meal a day and suffering every day. The first few days were alright, but after a while, Ma Congyi could no longer bear it.

Ma Congyi came from a life of comfort and wealth, how could he endure such confinement, hunger, and torment? This tormented him both physically and mentally, but with the opportunity to become an immortal before him, he dared not act rashly and could only endure it.

Outside the quiet room, Wang Chongyang sat cross-legged. He looked back at the quiet room and, seeing no sign of anyone leaving, smiled but said nothing more.

Pigsy, who was eating some tea and rice nearby, said, "Zhengwei, has that fellow not left the room?"

Wang Chongyang nodded and said, "There is no indication that he will leave the room yet."

Pigsy laughed and said, "This fellow is quite capable, managing to stay there for more than ten days, but a hundred days might be difficult."

Wang Chongyang shook his head and said, "I think he can do it if he secludes himself for a hundred days. From what I've observed over the past ten days, he does seem to have some Dao heart, so I think he can do it. Now I'm thinking about whether I should add some difficulty for him."

Pigsy said, "If we make it more difficult, I'm afraid he really won't succeed."

As the two were talking, there was a knock on the temple gate, and it was Sun Fuchun who came.

Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "This person usually only brings food and drink. Now that he has come in person, he must have something to discuss. Brother, please open the door and welcome him."

Pigsy readily agreed and went to open the door, where he saw Sun Fuchun waiting outside.

Sun Fuchun bowed to Zhu Bajie and then went inside with him to pay his respects to Wang Chongyang.

Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "Madam, there is no need to worry. Mr. Ma is inside and unharmed."

Sun Fuchun's face still betrayed her worry as she said, "Daoist Master, may I be able to meet my husband?"

Wang Chongyang smiled and shook his head, saying, "Madam, since he is in seclusion, he cannot leave easily. For the sake of his cultivation, you must not meet with him. If you do, all your previous efforts will be in vain."

Sun Fuchun said, "Daoist Master, is it really true that we can only meet after a hundred days?"

Wang Chongyang shook his head and said, "Perhaps we will have another chance to meet after a hundred days."

Upon hearing this, Sun Fuchun was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Why did the Taoist priest say that there might be a chance to meet again after a hundred days? If my husband can pass the test of a hundred days of seclusion, shouldn't we see each other every day?"

Wang Chongyang asked, "How many accomplished cultivators have you met, and do they have family members by their side?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Fuchun was struck dumb, speechless and confused. He wanted to refute something, but he didn't know how.

Wang Chongyang said nothing more, and smiled as he looked at Sun Fuchun.

Sun Fuchun left without saying a word, in a daze.

Seeing him leave, Pigsy said, "I was just about to enlighten you with this?"

Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "The time is not yet ripe, let's talk to him for a bit first."

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Pigsy became somewhat annoyed and said, "You rascal, why are you always imitating your master, talking nonsense?"

Say it.

Pigsy silently walked away without saying another word.

……

The story is told at Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, Xieyue Sanxing Cave.

While the True Man was meditating in his quiet room, he suddenly felt something in his heart. He looked towards the southern continent of Jambudvipa and said with a smile, "This Pigsy is my disciple. Why is he imitating me like this? He has achieved something in his cultivation. He should meditate to find his way out."

He had something on his mind, so he invited Sun Wukong to come over.

Sun Wukong received the immortal's invitation, left the quiet room, and soon arrived to meet the immortal.

Sun Wukong bowed and paid his respects to the True Man.

Jiang Yuan smiled and asked, "Does Wukong have some free time?"

Sun Wukong said, "I have some free time. Is there something you need me to do, Senior Brother? If so, please give me your instructions."

Jiang Yuan said, “If Wukong has any free time, he can go to the Quanzhen Temple in Donglai County, Qingzhou, Nanzhanbuzhou. Zhengwei and Bajie are there. You can protect Zhengwei for me and tell Bajie to come back. He needs to meditate now. Also, ask him for me what’s wrong with learning from me.”

Sun Wukong noted everything down and then asked, "Senior Brother, has Zhengwei already woken up?"

Jiang Yuan nodded and smiled, "He's already awake."

Sun Wukong understood and knew that Zhu Bajie had probably achieved some success in his cultivation, which made him somewhat pleased to say this.

But he was somewhat confused as to why his senior brother had instructed him to ask Pigsy what was wrong with learning from him.

Sun Wukong didn't understand, but he still remembered it and prepared to do it. After bidding farewell to the immortal, he got up and left.

Jiang Yuan watched Sun Wukong leave the quiet room, then closed his eyes to continue his meditation. When the time came, his magical power did not rise as high as before, but instead showed signs of stagnating. However, he had some feelings in his heart that he had never experienced before.

He often felt that joy and sorrow had vanished, honor and disgrace had been forgotten, and he breathed in harmony with the rhythm of heaven and earth, and shared the brilliance of the stars. He also often felt that this body was not himself, but a breath of the vast emptiness, and this mind was not a thought, but a ripple of the way of heaven.

Jiang Yuan had a clear understanding in his heart. He was about to take this step and was just returning to his original position. After he opened his mansion, it would be the time to take this step. Everything was clear. The Three Realms and the outside world seemed to be nothing.

(End of this chapter)