Journey to the West: The gods and Buddhas panicked when the monkey was trapped inside him.

Chapter 11 Bodhi Preaches Again

The next morning.

The morning mist rises gently over Fangcun Mountain.

The disciples had just finished their morning lessons and were preparing to disperse.

"Thump—"

A deep, resonant bell suddenly rang out above the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave.

The bells tolled continuously, their lingering sound echoing around the beams.

The disciples were greatly encouraged and hurried towards the main hall.

After more than a decade, Patriarch Bodhi ascended the throne and opened the altar once again!

Above the Jade Terrace, a thousand auspicious lights shone.

The Bodhi Patriarch sat upright on a nine-tiered lotus throne, his hands forming hand gestures, and his words flowing like a river.

"The wondrous teachings of the Three Vehicles are expounded, encompassing all subtle methods. A slow sway of the whisk sprays pearls and jade, its resounding boom echoing through the heavens..."

The true sound of the Great Dao, like the resounding tones of a grand bell, echoed throughout the entire hall. Golden lotuses faintly bloomed in mid-air, and spiritual springs gushed forth from the earth, filling the air with a unique fragrance.

This lecture directly points to the fundamental mysteries of the Heavenly Dao.

The thirty-odd disciples below the stage initially sat upright and listened attentively.

In less than half an hour, Wu Guang, who was in the front row, felt the Dao sound booming, his sea of consciousness trembling, and fine cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

Wuming's eyes were unfocused, and his aura fluctuated erratically, clearly indicating that he had fallen into a state of cognitive obscuration.

Such profound Taoist teachings were completely beyond their comprehension.

Only Sun Wukong, sitting in the last row corner, was completely different.

He sat cross-legged, his eyes wide open, a sharp glint flashing in his golden pupils.

More than ten years!

He spent over a decade painstakingly studying ancient books and fragments in the library.

The classics of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and the obscure principles of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, were once firmly entrenched in his mind, shrouded in confusion.

At this moment, every word uttered by Patriarch Bodhi transformed into a sharp blade that cut through confusion.

The sharp blade cleaved down, and chaos shattered with a deafening roar!

"So that's how it is! The interaction of Yin and Yang works in this way!"

"The principles of following nature and the concept of cause and effect are not fundamentally opposed, but rather two sides of the same coin!"

Unable to contain his elation, Sun Wukong suddenly grinned and grabbed wildly with both hands around his body.

He scratched his cheek with his left hand, scratched his ear with his right hand, and finally couldn't help but slap his thigh and laugh out loud, gesturing wildly.

"Hehe! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

The crisp laughter sounded unusually jarring in the otherwise quiet hall.

The sermon abruptly stopped.

Bodhi Patriarch stopped holding his whisk, his gaze sharp as lightning, fixed on the golden-haired monkey in the corner.

Everyone was startled awake and turned to glare at Sun Wukong.

"You monkey, why are you dancing wildly below the stage instead of listening to my sermon?" Bodhi Patriarch's voice was deep and imposing, carrying an air of authority without anger.

Sun Wukong immediately stopped what he was doing, knelt down on both knees, and kowtowed twice.

"Master, please calm your anger! Your disciple has been listening attentively and has shown absolutely no disrespect!"

He looked up, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"It's just that Master's teachings are so profound; all the doubts I've accumulated over more than a decade of reading have been cleared up by Master's single sentence today!"

"I was so delighted to hear this that I couldn't help but dance with joy. Please forgive me, Master!"

Upon hearing this, Bodhi Patriarch's eyes flickered slightly.

This monkey has been in the library for fifteen years, so he knows everything.

Now, having just heard the Dao, he is able to integrate and understand the complex theories of thousands of volumes. Such enlightenment is rare throughout the ages.

"Since you understand this profound truth, let me ask you a question." The Bodhi Patriarch's tone softened somewhat.

"How many days have you been in the cave?"

Sun Wukong answered honestly, "Reporting to the Patriarch, I have been in the cave for fifteen years."

"Fifteen years have passed." Patriarch Bodhi nodded slightly. "You've laid a solid foundation."

He swept his whisk across the ground and asked in a loud voice, "What Taoist arts do you wish to learn from me today?"

Sun Wukong was greatly encouraged.

The person who was supposed to answer my questions is finally going to pass on his true skills!

"It's all up to Master! I'm willing to learn anything that leads to immortality and enlightenment!" Sun Wukong replied loudly.

The Bodhi Patriarch stroked his beard and chuckled, "Within the Daoist path, there are 360 side paths, all of which can lead to enlightenment. How about I teach you the Dao within the 'Technique' path?"

"What's the significance of this 'technique'?" Sun Wukong asked curiously.

"The art of divination involves summoning spirits and using yarrow stalks to divine good fortune and avoid misfortune."

Sun Wukong's eyes narrowed, and he went straight to the point: "Master, if I learn this, can I live forever?"

Bodhi Patriarch replied decisively: "No."

"I won't learn! I won't learn!" Sun Wukong waved his hands repeatedly, resolutely refusing.

Bodhi Patriarch was not annoyed, and continued, "Then shall I teach you the Way of the 'Flow' School?"

"What exactly is this 'Flowing Gate'?"

"The 'Flowing' school comprises Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Yin-Yang School, Mohism, and the medical school, some of whom study scriptures and chant Buddhist mantras, while others seek out immortals and saints."

Sun Wukong asked again, "Can this grant immortality?"

Bodhi Patriarch shook his head: "If you want to live forever, it's like 'putting a pillar inside a wall'."

What does "anchoring a pillar inside the wall" mean?

"When people build houses, they erect pillars inside the walls. If the building collapses in the future, the pillars will also rot."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's face showed obvious disgust: "That won't last! I won't learn it! I won't learn it!"

The disciples in the main hall were shocked. Had this monkey gone mad? He had repeatedly refused to let the patriarch pass on his teachings!

The Bodhi Patriarch's expression darkened slightly, and he asked again, "How about I teach you the way of 'stillness'?"

"What do you mean by the 'Quiet' gate?"

"Abstain from grain and guard the valley, remain quiet and inactive, practice meditation and sitting in meditation, observe silence and fast. Whether it is sleeping or standing in meditation, there is no other action."

Sun Wukong frowned.

"Can one achieve immortality through this?"

"It also resembles 'clay bricks from a kiln'," replied Bodhi Patriarch.

"What does 'kiln head adobe' mean?"

"Just like the clay bricks in a kiln, though they take shape, they haven't been tempered by water and fire. Once a torrential rain comes, they will surely turn into mud and water."

Sun Wukong immediately shook his head: "This won't work either! I won't learn it!"

The patriarch's face had completely darkened.

He suddenly stood up, his voice rising: "Then I'll teach you the secrets of the 'movement' principle!"

"The 'Movement Gate' refers to actions and deeds, such as absorbing yin to replenish yang, climbing bows and stepping on crossbows, massaging the navel to expel qi, consuming women's milk, and alchemists consuming lead elixir."

"Can this grant immortality?" Sun Wukong pressed on to this core question, refusing to let it go.

Bodhi Patriarch snorted coldly: "Like trying to catch the moon's reflection in water."

What is meant by "trying to catch the moon's reflection in the water"?

"The moon hangs in the sky, its reflection shimmering in the water. Though we see it, nothing comes of it; it's all in vain!"

"Then I'm even less likely to learn! I won't learn, I won't learn!" Sun Wukong shook his hands repeatedly, his tone resolute.

"Snapped!"

Bodhi Patriarch, enraged, laughed and strode down from the lotus platform.

He raised the ruler high in his hand.

"You monkey!" Bodhi Patriarch pointed at Sun Wukong's nose and cursed, "You won't learn this, you won't learn that, what exactly do you want?!"

Before he finished speaking, the ruler slammed down.

"Tap! Tap! Tap!"

Bodhi Patriarch gave Sun Wukong three solid taps on the forehead.

After finishing the knocking, Bodhi Patriarch didn't even glance at him, put his hands behind his back, and turned to walk into the depths of the main hall.

"Bang!"

The central door was slammed shut, completely cutting off the view between the inside and outside of the main hall.

The entire room fell silent.

It took more than a dozen breaths before the disciples in the main hall finally awoke as if from a dream.

Wu Guang's face turned ashen, and his hands, which were pointing at Sun Wukong, trembled slightly.

"You impudent monkey! You absolutely don't know what's good for you!"

"The path to immortality is so elusive and unattainable. Your master's willingness to impart unorthodox methods to you is already an immense blessing! How dare you be so picky!"

"This enraged my master!"

"Exactly! It's preventing us from hearing the Dharma!"

The crowd was outraged and surrounded Sun Wukong, criticizing him.

Despite the public outcry, Sun Wukong remained remarkably calm.

He neither argued nor got angry.

He stood up, dusted off his knees, bowed to his fellow disciples, and wore his signature simple and honest smile.

"Brothers, please calm down. You are right to reprimand us."

"It was my fault for being ungrateful and angering Master. I know I was wrong, and I will definitely apologize to Master another day."

He had an excellent attitude and admitted his mistake very quickly.

Seeing him remain silent despite the insults, the crowd felt their anger had nowhere to go and they were incredibly frustrated.

"Rotten wood cannot be carved!"

Wu Guang angrily flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.