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

Chapter 72: The Cowherd Boy, After Completing His Work, He Became a Buddha or Immortal
Jiang Yuan entered the quiet room and bowed before the master.

The master helped the boy up and said, "Yingzang, I will tell you what is right and what is wrong. You go and get down the mountain quickly."

Ying Zang said with tears in his eyes: "Master, please teach me where to go."

The master said, "I remember the hometown you mentioned when you entered the sect. You are a prince of Xiyu Kingdom in Xiniuhezhou. You can go back to where you came from."

Ying Zang had no choice but to take his leave and leave, not daring to say anything more.

After Yingzang left, the master looked at Jiang Yuan and said, "Tong'er, do you know everything about this place?"

Jiang Yuan replied, "Master, I will also participate in the lecture here."

The master said: "What do you think about this matter? I remember that when I was young, I often used the way of the 'fire' sect to confuse others."

Jiang Yuan said: "Master, there is a saying that 'rare and precious things should not be shown to greedy and treacherous people', and this is exactly what happened here. I was afraid of disaster in my early years, but I knew that wealth should not be exposed, so I showed my weakness to others to eliminate their greed. Later, I was protected by the master and no longer concealed it."

The master nodded and said, "You should understand the principles here, boy. When you succeed, you must remember not to show off your magical powers at will. You should also cultivate your mind after the elixir is completed, and you must not be arrogant."

Jiang Yuan bowed and said, "Master, I understand."

The master was talking to him this time, using Yingzang's story to teach him that when he succeeds, he must remember to cultivate his mind. If he becomes arrogant, disaster will surely come. When the golden elixir is completed, the nature and life will change, and he will live forever and have boundless magical powers. The master was worried that he would forget his mind.

The master asked, "My boy, when will you be ready to pass the three levels?"

Jiang Yuan said: "Master, I think within five or six years, if we can pass the three levels and turn the pill into nine levels, we will succeed."

The master said, "Boy, this is a really difficult hurdle."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Master, I have been practicing for a few years and have encountered many difficulties. How can I be afraid of difficulties and not move forward at the last minute?"

Upon hearing this, the ancestor was filled with praise and said, "The boy's heart of Taoism is unshakable, and his teaching will be successful."

After saying this, the master no longer talked about the "difficulties" and chatted with Jiang Tong'er about the things in the cave.

Jiang Tong'er learned from the master that none of the disciples in the mansion practiced the right way, and all practiced side paths. It was not that the master did not pass on the right way, but that there were disciples in the mansion who caught the master's eye in the past. But when the master talked about the difficulty of the right way, no one practiced it, and all of them abandoned it and practiced side paths.

Jiang Yuan secretly sighed that there was no one who had the destiny.

The master and the disciple talked for a long time, then played a game of chess, and the master won.

……

Time flies, and before I knew it, two years have passed.

Jiang Yuanzuo was in the Sanxing Immortal Cave, cultivating his nature and concentrating his mind, not being impatient or anxious. He waited until his skills were fully prepared before he started the step of 'Nine Transformations to Make the Pill'. The remaining steps on the path to the pill were difficult, and with the advice of the ancestor, he dared not neglect them.

During these two years, he either listened to the master's lectures, or had lectures with his fellow disciples, or took care of the Zuo family and taught the white deer.

During this day, Jiang Yuan sat cross-legged on a mossy stone not far from Sanxing Cave.

He watched the woodcutter Zuo chopping wood not far away, reciting the mantra he had taught him in the past. He didn't know how many generations had passed since he saw the woodcutter Zuo, but the Zuo family had always remained the same. When they were doing well, the family was prosperous, with five or six people; when they were not, there were only an old mother and a young son.

Jiang Tong'er thought to himself, "This is also the state of all living beings. Generation after generation, they can never be free."

The woodcutter was carrying a bundle of firewood and was returning home. When he passed by Jiang Yuan, he said, "Master, why are you still sitting here for more than half a day?"

Jiang Yuan said: "I will practice meditation here, you should go home and don't make your mother worry."

The woodcutter said, "Master, I am going home now so as not to worry my mother. But you are sitting here alone. Why don't you come to my house and stay for a while?"

When Jiang Yuan heard that the woodcutter was worried about him being alone, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said, "You are so rude, go away, go away! Don't disturb my meditation!"

The woodcutter stopped and went home. Jiang Yuan closed his eyes and was about to meditate and concentrate, when he suddenly felt something in his heart. He looked far away and saw thousands of auspicious clouds emitting purple mist in the distance, which was a good omen and a noble aura.

The boy stood up from the mossy stone. He knew that this was a sign that a noble person was coming, and he had seen this sign on Laozi before.

"Tong'er."

The voice of the ancestor rose.

Jiang Yuan looked back and saw the master not far behind him. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Master, a distinguished person is coming."

The ancestor nodded and said, "The old man is coming, boy, please follow me to welcome him."

Jiang Yuan took the order and stood behind the master, waiting for the arrival of Laojun. In the past, Laojun came to the world and walked as "Laozi". Now he has returned to heaven and is the Taishang Laojun who resides in the Tushita Palace above the thirty-three heavens.

Before long, auspicious clouds were seen falling from the distant sky and landing in front of the Sanxing Immortal Cave. When the clouds dispersed, it turned out to be Taishang Laojun, accompanied by a green ox, and a boy leading the ox.

The ancestor stepped forward and said, "Old Master, I am sorry to see you!"

Taishang Laojun smiled and said, "Bodhi, I am passing by here, originally intending to return to heaven, but I saw that I was not far from your cave, so I came to see you."

Laojun looked at Jiang Yuan again and said in surprise, "What a good Guangxin! I haven't seen you for two or three years. You are almost perfect in the way of alchemy and are able to pass on the true method. It's really amazing."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan suddenly understood the saying "One day in heaven is one year on earth". He bowed and said it was "the credit of my teacher".

The ancestor smiled and said, "Since Laojun has come to see me, please follow me into the palace and take a look."

Laojun agreed with a smile and walked into the palace with the ancestor.

Jiang Yuan approached the boy who was leading the cow and said, "Let's tie the cow outside the mansion and you go inside."

When the cowherd boy heard what was said, he let go of the cowherd rope, was overjoyed, and immediately chased after Laojun.

Jiang Yuan caught up with him and grabbed the cow-pulling rope, thinking to himself, "How can this cow-pulling boy of Laojun be so careless and careless? How can he do the work of pulling the cow?"

He led the green ox to the gate of the cave and tied the rope.

Jiang Yuan patted the blue ox's head and said, "Just stay still. We are familiar with each other, so don't cause any trouble."

The blue ox raised its head, looked around, and made a sound as if in response.

The boy felt relieved and entered the palace. He caught up with the ancestor and Laojun, and led the cowherd boy to the rooftop, where they sat down at a table.

After they sat down, the master asked, "Why did Laojun come to the world if he didn't live in Tushita Palace?"

Laojun appointed the boy who led the cow at the end, and said, "The boys in the palace all have their own duties, and we are short of one to look after the cows. This boy has a predestined relationship with us, so let him come down to the world to take him back to heaven."

The master smiled and said, "It is fate. I should thank Laojun for visiting me."

Laojun said: "It is not a loss for me to come and see you today. If it were not so, I would not have known that Guangxin's practice had reached this stage."

The master said: "This is the nine-turn elixir step, but it is not complete yet."

Laojun looked at Jiang Yuan and said, "Guangxin has come this far, and he is determined to succeed. He is only a little short of time. How can you, Bodhi, now that Guangxin Pill is completed, where is your path to go?"

The master said: "When the work is done, the child will know it. There is a saying that 'when the work is done, one can become a Buddha or an immortal'. What is the path? The child can reflect on himself."

When Jiang Yuan heard this, his heart became as calm as water, just as the ancestors had said, when one's work is completed one can become a Buddha or an immortal. However, as his work was not yet complete, he did not mention these words, but only focused on teaching how to make the elixir.

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　　Two more days to go
　　
　
(End of this chapter)