Journey to the West-023

Chapter 2 25 Journey to the West

Must never be divulged, and be stored in the body,

Then the Way I teach you will flourish of itself.

Many are the benefits of learning spells:

They give protection from evil desires and make one pure.

Make one pure with a dazzling radiance

Like a bright moon shining on a cinnabar tower.

The moon contains a Jade Rabbit, the sun a Golden Crow,

The Tortoise and the Snake are always intertwined.

Always intertwined, then life is firm,

And one can plant golden lotuses in fire.

Grasp all the Five Elements and turn them upside down,

And when you are successful you can become a Buddha, or an Immortal.”

The Patriarch’s explanation went to the root of things, and Sun Wukong’s heart was filled with bliss as hecommitted the spells to memory. He bowed to the Patriarch to express his deep gratitude and went out of theback door to look. He saw that there was a trace of white in the East, while the golden light of the moon wasshining in the West. He went to the front door by the old path, pushed it open gently, and went in.

He sat down where he had been sleeping earlier,achat kamas, shook his bedding and said loudly, “It’s dawn, it’s dawn. Getup.” The others were all asleep, unaware of Sun Wukong’s good fortune. At daybreak he got up and muddledthrough the day,acheter kamas, while secretly keeping to what he had been told. In the afternoon and evening he regulatedhis breathing.

After three years had passed in this way the Patriarch once more sat on his lecturing throne and expounded theDharma to the students. He recounted famous sayings and parables, and discussed external phenomena andexternal appearances.

Without warning he asked, “Where is Sun Wukong?” Sun Wukong went forward, knelt down and replied,”Your disciple is present.”

“What Way have you cultivated since coming here?”