Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

South Sea, Mount Luojia.

"Amitabha, very good, very good..." seated on the Lotus Platform, Guanyin Bodhisattva holding the Jade Clean Bottle, murmured a Buddhist chant, a hint of suffering between her brows.

"To obtain the True Scriptures through the Journey to the West, one must overcome eighty-one great trials, such decree is fixed, but just like this, how can the eighty-one trials be gathered?" Guanyin murmured softly.

Although it starts from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land and proceeds to the Great Thunder Monastery of the Western Heaven, spanning a distance of one hundred and eight thousand li filled with insurmountable mountains and perils, as the person in charge of the Journey to the West plan, Guanyin knew that, according to Xuanzang's route of the Westward Journey, gathering even half of the eighty-one trials would be impossible.

In such a case, having not achieved the realm of eighty-one trials but already reaching Western Heaven, what should be done?

"I wonder? Could some trials be fabricated?" After pondering for a moment, an idea suddenly struck Guanyin.

If these eighty-one trials cannot be gathered, then one might as well find a way to complete them on one's own.

For instance, from the Buddhist Realm, or even the Heavenly Court, why not send some beings to the Lower Realm to cause difficulties, thus gathering the requisite trials?

This idea, still just a rough thought, required careful planning and consideration on how to execute it.

Would these self-manufactured trials qualify as the eighty-one requisite trials? This needed careful consideration.

After reflecting for a while, Guanyin Bodhisattva suddenly looked into the distance, her gaze seemingly crossing the boundaries of time and space, landing within the Guanyin Zen Temple.

At this moment, in the Guanyin Zen Temple, Jiang Liu was paying homage to the Buddha, which caused her to feel a reaction.

"Hmm, is he now residing within my Zen Temple? How coincidental, could this be divine will?" As her gaze fixed on the Guanyin Zen Temple, Guanyin's mind became busy with thoughts.

Would self-imposed trials count as part of the eighty-one trials? This could indeed be worth verifying.

More importantly, if this really worked, whoever among the Immortals and Buddhas went down to face the trials in the future, she would take the lead, allowing her own Zen Temple's first to be the one to face the trials, leaving no room for others to object, right?

With a thought, Guanyin deeply contemplated for a moment and then decided on a plan.

She formed a lotus gesture with her fingers and gently pointed, a streak of light briefly flashed across the sky and disappeared.

...

Let us set aside how Guanyin Bodhisattva arranged her plans, within the Guanyin Zen Temple, Jiang Liu quickly finished his homage to the Buddha and sat discussing Buddhism with Jinchi.

In this discussion, Jinchi positioned himself very humbly, earnestly seeking advice, especially since Jiang Liu's Formless Gatha had already been widely acknowledged.

"Amitabha, though the Formless Gatha is excellent, on the day Guanyin Bodhisattva directed me to seek the Westward Scriptures, I composed another verse, the Bodhi Verse," hearing Jinchi's incessant praise of the Formless Gatha, Jiang Liu spoke out and recited the original text of the Bodhi Verse.

Bodhi is originally without any tree, the bright mirror is also not a stand. Originally not a single thing, where can the dust alight?

Upon hearing this Bodhi Verse, Jinchi and many monks who had come to listen in the Guanyin Zen Temple, were greatly astounded, realizing that the conception of this Bodhi Verse was clearly a notch higher.

However, where exactly its brilliance lay was somewhat indescribable at the moment.

"Amitabha, Mage, you truly live up to being the holy monk of the Heavenly Empire. Despite your young age, your understanding of Buddhist Law is truly compelling. Compared to you, I have indeed lived in vain for two hundred years.

Truly, in learning there is no sequence; the accomplished shall be the master," after carefully appreciating the Bodhi Verse for a while, Jinchi spoke, sincerely thanking him.

"Elder, you flatter me. If this discussion on Buddhist Law has brought you some insight, that is your own good fortune," seeing Jinchi's humble and courteous manner in thanking him, Jiang Liu shook his head and responded.

"With the Formless Gatha, I thought I had expressed the true meaning of Cultivating Buddhism, but little did I expect that with the emergence of this Bodhi Verse, it would ascend to another level, subtly exuding an ethereal transcendence. But I, of lowly aptitude, can only grasp the surface of these distinctions. Since the holy monk is here, why not enlighten us further, if you would?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Although the latter Buddhist poem was better, where exactly it excelled was a mystery that Golden Pond struggled to articulate.

His words had sparked an expectant look from the listening monks, all turning their attention to Jiang Liu.

For him to discuss these two Buddhist poems was nothing less than ideal—it resembled asking Confucius to explain the "Analects."

"Explain? What am I to explain?" Golden Pond's words secretly caused Jiang Liu distress.

Though he had presented two Buddhist poems, his understanding of Buddhist teachings was virtually nonexistent, as he had hardly read any Buddhist scriptures.

However, just as he was troubled, a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind, reminding him of a small story he had encountered in his past life.

"I once saw an elder and a younger monk descending the mountain to beg…" Clearing his throat, Jiang Liu did not explain the two Buddhist poems but instead, began to tell the small story.

Upon hearing Jiang Liu begin, naturally, everyone became alert and pricked up their ears.

"Descending the mountain, they unexpectedly came across a young, beautiful woman who was injured and laying by the roadside, needing help. The younger monk, mindful of Buddhist discipline, dared not reach out to her. However, the elder monk, without giving it much thought, lifted the woman on his back and descended the mountain to seek medical help, thus saving her life."

"According to Buddhist discipline, desire towards women must be avoided, yet the elder monk broke this rule without hesitation, which troubled the younger monk significantly. Finally, by evening, unable to suppress it any longer, the young monk asked the elder why he had broken the precept so thoughtlessly?"

"Oh? How did the elder monk respond?" Golden Pond couldn't help interrupting.

"The elder monk replied, 'That woman, I had set her down the moment we moved away from the mountain, yet you, all this way, have never set her down.'"

This statement profoundly shook all the monks at the Guanyin Zen Temple, as if they were suddenly enlightened.

Though it was just a brief story, the Buddhist principle it contained was profoundly deep, prompting reflection.

Even Golden Pond meditated deeply on it before joining his palms, bowing to Jiang Liu and saying, "Amitabha, the 'Formless Gatha' is like the young monk, teaching people to adhere to precepts and maintain their true nature without negligence; whereas the 'Bodhi Verse,' like the elder monk, has already transcended externals.

Holy Monk, by employing this small story to explain the difference between the two Buddhist poems, you have done so vividly and impressively—an old monk like myself admires it."

"Thank you for the guidance, Holy Monk!" Following Golden Pond's remarks, the other monks present also spoke up in unison.

"It was merely a discussion on Buddhist philosophy; you needn't be so formal," Jiang Liu replied, returning the bow.

The so-called discussion on Buddhist teachings soon ended, and Jiang Liu returned to his Zen Room to continue his cultivation, but this discussion had profoundly impressed everyone at the Guanyin Zen Temple.

In particular, the metaphorical story contrasting the 'Formless Gatha' and the 'Bodhi Verse' left a deep impression.

Hanging around the Guanyin Zen Temple for another day and with nothing much to do during the day, Jiang Liu secluded himself in his Zen Room to practice the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, advancing to the third level and increasing his experience points significantly.

If possible, Jiang Liu truly wished he could linger in the Guanyin Zen Temple for a few months to level up several times—that would be truly wonderful.

However, thinking of the nearly fervent enthusiasm of the monks at the Guanyin Zen Temple, Jiang Liu felt somewhat overwhelmed.

Late at night, a trace of indiscernible brilliance suddenly came from the West and entered Golden Pond's Zen Room.

Jiang Liu, sitting cross-legged and practicing the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound technique, naturally was unaware.

But Sun Wukong, lying on the room's beam, suddenly opened his eyes, looking toward the West, his eyes shining brilliantly as if he, too, traversed the boundaries of time and space.

Immediately after, the Monkey grinned.

His smile was filled with utmost mockery.