第十九回

第十九回 云栈洞悟空收八戒 浮屠山玄奘受心经

却说那怪的火光前走，这大圣的彩雾随跟。正行处，忽见一座高山，那怪把红光结聚，现了本相，撞入洞里，取出一柄九齿钉钯来战。行者喝一声道：“泼怪！你是那里来的邪魔？怎么知道我老孙的名号？你有甚么本事，实实供来，饶你性命！”那怪道：“是你也不知我的手段！上前来站稳着，我说与你听：我

自小生来心性拙，贪闲爱懒无休歇。

不曾养性与修真，混沌迷心熬日月。

忽朝闲里遇真仙，就把寒温坐下说。

劝我回心莫堕凡，伤生造下无边业。

有朝大限[1]命终时，八难三途悔不喋。

听言意转要修行，闻语心回求妙诀。

有缘立地拜为师，指示天关并地阙。

得传九转大还丹，工夫昼夜无时辍。

上至顶门泥丸宫，下至脚板涌泉穴。

周流肾水入华池[2]，丹田补得温温热。

婴儿姹女[3]配阴阳，铅汞相投分日月。

离龙坎虎用调和，灵龟吸尽金乌血[4]。

三花聚顶[5]得归根，五气朝元[6]通透彻。

功圆行满却飞升，天仙对对来迎接。

朗然足下彩云生，身轻体健朝金阙。

玉皇设宴会群仙，各分品级排班列。

敕封元帅管天河，总督水兵称宪节[7]。

只因王母会蟠桃，开宴瑶池邀众客。

那时酒醉意昏沉，东倒西歪乱撒泼。

逞雄撞入广寒宫，风流仙子来相接。

见他容貌挟人魂，旧日凡心难得灭。

全无上下失尊卑，扯住嫦娥要陪歇。

再三再四不依从，东躲西藏心不悦。

色胆如天叫似雷，险些震倒天关阙。

纠察灵官奏玉皇，那日吾当命运拙。

广寒围困不通风，进退无门难得脱。

却被诸神拿住我，酒在心头还不怯。

押赴灵霄见玉皇，依律问成该处决。

多亏太白李金星，出班俯囟亲言说。

改刑重责二千锤，肉绽皮开骨将折。

放生遭贬出天关，福陵山下图家业。

我因有罪错投胎，俗名唤做猪刚鬣。”

行者闻言道：“你这厮原来是天蓬水神下界，怪道知我老孙名号。”那怪道声：“哏！你这诳上的弼马温，当年撞那祸时，不知带累我等多少，今日又来此欺人！不要无礼！吃我一钯！”行者怎肯容情，举起棒，当头就打。他两个在那半山之中，黑夜里赌斗。好杀：

行者金睛似闪电，妖魔环眼似银花。这一个口喷彩雾，那一个气吐红霞。气吐红霞昏处亮，口喷彩雾夜光华。金箍棒，九齿钯，两个英雄实可夸：一个是大圣临凡世，一个是元帅降天涯。那个因失威仪成怪物，这个幸逃苦难拜僧家。钯去好似龙伸爪，棒迎浑若凤穿花。那个道：“你破人亲事如杀父！”这个道：“你强奸幼女正该拿！”闲言语，乱喧哗，往往来来棒架钯。看看战到天将晓，那妖精两膊觉酸麻。

他两个自二更时分，只斗到东方发白。那怪不能迎敌，败阵而逃，依然又化狂风，径回洞里，把门紧闭，再不出头。行者在这洞门外看有一座石碣，上书“云栈洞”三字；见那怪不出，天又大明，心却思量：“恐师父等候，且回去见他一见，再来捉此怪不迟。”随踏云点一点，早到高老庄。

却说三藏与那诸老谈今论古，一夜无眠。正想行者不来，只见天井里，忽然站下行者。行者收藏铁棒，整衣上厅，叫道：“师父，我来了。”慌得那诸老一齐下拜，谢道：“多劳！多劳！”三藏问道：“悟空，你去这一夜，拿得妖精在那里？”行者道：“师父，那妖不是凡间的邪祟，也不是山间的怪兽。他本是天蓬元帅临凡，只因错投了胎，嘴脸像一个野猪模样，其实灵性尚存。他说以相为姓，唤名猪刚鬣。是老孙从后宅里掣棒就打，他化一阵狂风走了。被老孙着风一棍，他就化道火光，径转他那本山洞里，取出一柄九齿钉钯，与老孙战了一夜。他适才天将明，怯战而走，把洞门紧闭不出。老孙还要打开那门，与他见个好歹，恐师父在此疑虑盼望，故先来回个信息。”

说罢，那老高上前跪下道：“长老，没及奈何，你虽赶得去了，他等你去后复来，却怎区处？索性累你与我拿住，除了根，才无后患。我老夫不敢怠慢，自有重谢：将这家财田地，凭众亲友写立文书，与长老平分。只是要剪草除根，莫教坏了我高门清德。”行者笑道：“你这老儿不知分限。那怪也曾对我说，他虽是食肠大，吃了你家些茶饭，他与你干了许多好事。这几年挣了许多家资，皆是他之力量。他不曾白吃了你东西，问你祛他怎的？据他说，他是一个天神下界，替你巴家[8]做活，又未曾害了你家女儿。想这等一个女婿，也门当户对，不怎么坏了家声，辱了行止。当真的留他也罢。”老高道：“长老，虽是不伤风化，但名声不甚好听。动不动着人就说：‘高家招了一个妖怪女婿！’这句话儿教人怎当？”三藏道：“悟空，你既是与他做了一场，一发与他做个竭绝[9]，才见始终。”行者道：“我才试他一试耍子。此去一定拿来与你们看。且莫忧愁。”叫：“老高，你还好生管待我师父，我去也。”

说声去，就无形无影的，跳到他那山上，来到洞口，一顿铁棍，把两扇门打得粉碎，口里骂道：“那馕[10]糠的夯货，快出来与老孙打么！”那怪正喘嘘嘘的睡在洞里，听见打得门响，又听见骂馕糠的夯货，他却恼怒难禁，只得拖着钯，抖擞精神，跑将出去，厉声骂道：“你这个弼马温，着实惫懒！与你有甚相干，你把我大门打破？你且去看看律条，打进大门而入，该个杂犯死罪哩！”行者笑道：“这个呆子！我就打了大门，还有个辨处。像你强占人家女子，又没个三媒六证，又无些茶红[11]酒礼，该问个真犯斩罪哩！”那怪道：“且休闲讲，看老猪这钯！”行者使棍支住道：“你这钯可是与高老家做园工筑地种菜的？有何好处怕你！”那怪道：“你错认了！这钯岂是凡间之物？你且听我道来：

此是锻炼神冰铁，磨琢成工光皎洁。老君自己动钤锤，荧惑[12]亲身添炭屑。五方五帝用心机，六丁六甲费周折。造成九齿玉垂牙，铸就双环金坠叶。身妆六曜排五星，体按四时依八节。短长上下定乾坤，左右阴阳分日月。六爻神将按天条，八卦星辰依斗列。名为上宝逊金钯，进与玉皇镇丹阙。因我修成大罗仙，为吾养就长生客。敕封元帅号天蓬，钦赐钉钯为御节。举起烈焰并毫光，落下猛风飘瑞雪。天曹神将尽皆惊，地府阎罗心胆怯。人间那有这般兵，世上更无此等铁。随身变化可心怀，任意翻腾依口诀。相携数载未曾离，伴我几年无日别。日食三餐并不丢，夜眠一宿浑无撇。也曾佩去赴蟠桃，也曾带他朝帝阙。皆因仗酒却行凶，只为倚强便撒泼。上天贬我降凡尘，下世尽我作罪孽。石洞心邪曾吃人，高庄情喜婚姻结。这钯下海掀翻龙住窝，上山抓碎虎狼穴。诸般兵刃且休题，惟有吾当钯最切。相持取胜有何难，赌斗求功不用说。何怕你铜头铁脑一身钢，钯到魂消神气泄！”

行者闻言，收了铁棒道：“呆子不要说嘴！老孙把这头伸在那里，你且筑一下儿，看可能魂消气泄？”那怪真个举起钯，着气力筑将来。扑的一下，钻起钯的火光焰焰，更不曾筑动一些儿头皮。唬得他手麻脚软，道声：“好头！好头！”行者道：“你是也不知：老孙因为闹天宫，偷了仙丹，盗了蟠桃，窃了御酒，被小圣二郎擒住，押在斗牛宫前，众天神把老孙斧剁锤敲，刀砍剑刺，火烧雷打，也不曾损动分毫。又被那太上老君拿了我去，放在八卦炉中，将神火煅炼，炼做个火眼金睛，铜头铁臂。不信，你再筑几下，看看疼与不疼。”那怪道：“你这猴子，我记得你闹天宫时，家住在东胜神洲傲来国花果山水帘洞里，到如今久不闻名，你怎么来到这里，上门子欺我？莫敢是我丈人去那里请你来的？”行者道：“你丈人不曾去请我。因是老孙改邪归正，弃道从僧，保护一个东土大唐驾下御弟，叫做三藏法师，往西天拜佛求经。路过高庄借宿，那高老儿因话说起，就请我救他女儿，拿你这馕糠的夯货！”

那怪一闻此言，丢了钉钯，唱个大喏道：“那取经人在那里？累烦你引见引见。”行者道：“你要见他怎的？”那怪道：“我本是观世音菩萨劝善，受了他的戒行，这里持斋把素，教我跟随那取经人往西天拜佛求经，将功折罪，还得正果。教我等他，这几年不闻消息。今日既是你与他做了徒弟，何不早说取经之事，只倚凶强，上门打我？”行者道：“你莫诡诈欺心软[13]我，欲为脱身之计。果然是要保护唐僧，略无虚假，你可朝天发誓，我才带你去见我师父。”那怪扑的跪下，望空似捣碓[14]的一般，只管磕头道：“阿弥陀佛，南无佛，我若不是真心实意，还叫我犯了天条，劈尸万段！”行者见他赌咒发愿，道：“既然如此，你点把火来烧了你这住处，我方带你去。”那怪真个搬些芦苇荆棘，点着一把火，将那云栈洞烧得像个破瓦窑，对行者道：“我今已无挂碍了，你却引我去罢。”行者道：“你把钉钯与我拿着。”那怪就把钯递与行者。行者又拔了一根毫毛，吹口仙气，叫：“变！”即变做一条三股麻绳，走过来，把手背绑剪了。那怪真个倒背着手，凭他怎么绑缚。却又揪着耳朵，拉着他，叫：“快走！快走！”那怪道：“轻着些儿！你的手重，揪得我耳根子疼。”行者道：“轻不成！顾你不得！常言道：‘善猪恶拿。’只等见了我师父，果有真心，方才放你。”他两个半云半雾的，径转高家庄来。有诗为证：

金性刚强能克木，心猿降得木龙归。

金从木顺皆为一，木恋金仁总发挥。

一主一宾无间隔，三交三合有玄微。

性情并喜贞元聚，同证西方话不违。

顷刻间，到了庄前。行者拑着他的钯，揪着他的耳道：“你看那厅堂上端坐的是谁？乃吾师也。”那高氏诸亲友与老高，忽见行者把那怪背绑揪耳而来，一个个忻然迎到天井中，道声：“长老！长老！他正是我家的女婿！”那怪走上前，双膝跪下，背着手，对三藏叩头，高叫道：“师父，弟子失迎。早知是师父住在我丈人家，我就来拜接，怎么又受到许多拨折[15]？”三藏道：“悟空，你怎么降得他来拜我？”行者才放了手，拿钉钯柄儿打着，喝道：“呆子！你说么！”那怪把菩萨劝善事情，细陈了一遍。

三藏大喜，便叫：“高太公，取个香案用用。”老高即忙抬出香案。三藏净了手焚香，望南礼拜道：“多蒙菩萨圣恩！”那几个老儿也一齐添香礼拜。拜罢，三藏上厅高坐，教：“悟空，放了他绳。”行者才把身抖了一抖，收上身来，其缚自解。那怪从新礼拜三藏，愿随西去。又与行者拜了，以先进者为兄，遂称行者为师兄。三藏道：“既从吾善果，要做徒弟，我与你起个法名，早晚好呼唤。”他道：“师父，我是菩萨已与我摩顶受戒，起了法名，叫做猪悟能也。”三藏笑道：“好！好！你师兄叫做悟空，你叫做悟能，其实是我法门中的宗派。”悟能道：“师父，我受了菩萨戒行，断了五荤三厌，在我丈人家持斋把素，更不曾动荤；今日见了师父，我开了斋罢。”三藏道：“不可！不可！你既是不吃五荤三厌，我再与你起个别名，唤为八戒。”那呆子欢欢喜喜道：“谨遵师命。”因此又叫做猪八戒。

高老见这等去邪归正，更十分喜悦，遂命家僮安排筵宴，酬谢唐僧。八戒上前扯住老高道：“爷，请我拙荆[16]出来拜见公公、伯伯，如何？”行者笑道：“贤弟，你既入了沙门，做了和尚，从今后，再莫题起那‘拙荆’的话说。世间只有个火居道士[17]，那里有个火居的和尚？我们且来叙了坐次，吃顿斋饭，赶早儿往西天走路。”高老儿摆了桌席，请三藏上坐，行者与八戒，坐于左右两旁。诸亲下坐，高老把素酒开樽，满斟一杯，奠了天地，然后奉与三藏。三藏道：“不瞒太公说，贫僧是胎里素，自幼儿不吃荤。”老高道：“因知老师清素，不曾敢动荤。此酒也是素的，请一杯不妨。”三藏道：“也不敢用酒。酒是我僧家第一戒者。”悟能慌了道：“师父，我自持斋，却不曾断酒。”悟空道：“老孙虽量窄，吃不上坛把，却也不曾断酒。”三藏道：“既如此，你兄弟们吃些素酒也罢，只是不许醉饮误事。”遂而他两个接了头钟。各人俱照旧坐下，摆下素斋。说不尽那杯盘之盛，品物之丰。

师徒们宴罢，老高将一红漆丹盘，拿出二百两散碎金银，奉三位长老为途中之费；又将三领绵布褊衫，为上盖[18]之衣。三藏道：“我们是行脚僧，遇庄化饭，逢处求斋，怎敢受金银财帛？”行者近前，抡开手抓了一把，叫：“高才，昨日累你引我师父，今日招了一个徒弟，无物谢你，把这些碎金碎银，权作带领钱，拿了去买草鞋穿。以后但有妖精，多作成我几个，还有谢你处哩。”高才接了，叩头谢赏。老高又道：“师父们既不受金银，望将这粗衣笑纳，聊表寸心。”三藏又道：“我出家人，若受了一丝之贿，千劫难修。只是把席上吃不了的饼果，带些去做干粮足矣。”八戒在旁边道：“师父、师兄，你们不要便罢，我与他家做了这几年女婿，就是挂脚粮也该三石哩。——丈人呵，我的直裰，昨晚被师兄扯破了，与我一件青锦袈裟；鞋子绽了，与我一双好新鞋子。”高老闻言，不敢不与，随买一双新鞋，将一领褊衫，换下旧时衣物。

那八戒摇摇摆摆，对高老唱个喏道：“上复丈母、大姨、二姨并姨夫、姑舅诸亲：我今日去做和尚了，不及面辞，休怪。丈人呵，你还好生看待我浑家[19]：只怕我们取不成经时，好来还俗，照旧与你做女婿过活。”行者喝道：“夯货！却莫胡说！”八戒道：“哥呵，不是胡说，只恐一时间有些儿差池，却不是和尚误了做，老婆误了娶，两下里都耽搁了？”三藏道：“少题闲话，我们赶早儿去来。”遂此收拾了一担行李，八戒担着；背了白马，三藏骑着；行者肩担铁棒，前面引路。一行三众，辞别高老及众亲友，投西而去。有诗为证。诗曰：

满地烟霞树色高，唐朝佛子苦劳劳。

饥餐一钵千家饭，寒着千针一衲袍。

意马胸头休放荡，心猿乖劣莫教嚎。

情和性定诸缘合，月满金华[20]是伐毛[21]

。

三众进西路途，有个月平稳。行过了乌斯藏界，猛抬头见一座高山。三藏停鞭勒马道：“悟空、悟能，前面山高，须索仔细，仔细。”八戒道：“没事。这山唤做浮屠山，山中有一个乌巢禅师，在此修行。老猪也曾会他。”三藏道：“他有些甚么勾当？”八戒道：“他倒也有些道行。他曾劝我跟他修行，我不曾去罢了。”师徒们说着话，不多时，到了山上。好山！但见那：

山南有青松碧桧，山北有绿柳红桃。闹聒聒，山禽对语；舞翩翩，仙鹤齐飞。香馥馥，诸花千样色；青冉冉，杂草万般奇。涧下有滔滔绿水，崖前有朵朵祥云。真个是景致非常幽雅处，寂然不见往来人。

那师父在马上遥观，见香桧树前，有一柴草窝。左边有麋鹿衔花，右边有山猴献果。树梢头，有青鸾彩凤齐鸣，玄鹤锦鸡咸集。八戒指道：“那不是乌巢禅师！”三藏纵马加鞭，直至树下。

却说那禅师见他三众前来，即便离了巢穴，跳下树来。三藏下马奉拜，那禅师用手搀道：“圣僧请起。失迎，失迎。”八戒道：“老禅师，作揖了。”禅师惊问道：“你是福陵山猪刚鬣，怎么有此大缘，得与圣僧同行？”八戒道：“前年蒙观音菩萨劝善，愿随他做个徒弟。”禅师大喜道：“好，好，好！”又指定行者，问道：“此位是谁？”行者笑道：“这老禅怎么认得他，倒不认得我？”禅师道：“因少识耳。”三藏道：“他是我的大徒弟孙悟空。”禅师陪笑道：“欠礼，欠礼。”

三藏再拜，请问西天大雷音寺还在那里。禅师道：“远哩！远哩！只是路多虎豹，难行。”三藏殷勤致意，再问：“路途果有多远？”禅师道：“路途虽远，终须有到之日，却只是魔瘴难消。我有《多心经》一卷，凡五十四句，共计二百七十字。若遇魔障之处，但念此经，自无伤害。”三藏拜伏于地恳求，那禅师遂口诵传之。经云：

“《摩诃般若波罗蜜多心经》。观自在菩萨，行深般若波罗蜜多时，照见五蕴皆空，度一切苦厄。舍利子，色不异空，空不异色；色即是空，空即是色。受想行识，亦复如是。舍利子，是诸法空相，不生不灭，不垢不净，不增不减。是故空中无色，无受想行识，无眼耳鼻舌身意，无色声香味触法，无眼界，乃至无意识界，无无明，亦无无明尽，乃至无老死，亦无老死尽。无苦集灭道，无智亦无得。以无所得故。菩提萨，依般若波罗蜜多故，心无挂碍；无挂碍故，无有恐怖；远离颠倒梦想，究竟涅槃。三世诸佛，依般若波罗蜜多故，得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。故知般若波罗蜜多，是大神咒，是大明咒，是无上咒，是无等等咒，能除一切苦，真实不虚。故说般若波罗蜜多咒，即说咒曰：‘揭谛！揭谛！波罗揭谛！波罗僧揭谛！菩提萨婆诃！’”

此时唐朝法师本有根源，耳闻一遍《多心经》，即能记忆，至今传世。此乃修真之总经，作佛之会门也。

那禅师传了经文，踏云光，要上乌巢而去；被三藏又扯住奉告，定要问个西去的路程端的。那禅师笑云：

“道路不难行，试听我分付：千山千水深，多瘴多魔处。若遇接天崖，放心休恐怖。行来摩耳岩，侧着脚踪步。仔细黑松林，妖狐多截路。精灵满国城，魔主盈山住。老虎坐琴堂[22]，苍狼为主簿[23]。狮象尽称王，虎豹皆作御。野猪挑担子，水怪前头遇。多年老石猴，那里怀嗔怒。你问那相识，他知西去路。”

行者闻言，冷笑道：“我们去，不必问他，问我便了。”三藏还不解其意。那禅师化作金光，径上乌巢而去。长老往上拜谢。行者心中大怒，举铁棒望上乱捣，只见莲花生万朵，祥雾护千层。行者纵有搅海翻江力，莫想挽着乌巢一缕藤。三藏见了，扯住行者道：“悟空，这样一个菩萨，你捣他窝巢怎的？”行者道：“他骂了我兄弟两个一场去了。”三藏道：“他讲的西天路径，何尝骂你？”行者道：“你那里晓得？他说‘野猪挑担子’，是骂的八戒；‘多年老石猴’，是骂的老孙。你怎么解得此意？”八戒道：“师兄息怒。这禅师也晓得过去未来之事，但看他‘水怪前头遇’这句话，不知验否。饶他去罢。”行者见莲花祥雾，近那巢边，只得请师父上马，下山往西而去。那一去：管教清福人间少，致使灾魔山里多。毕竟不知前程端的如何，且听下回分解。

[1] 大限：限，生死之间的界限。大限，临死之前。

[2] 华池：道教指人口中舌头下面的地方为华池。

[3] 婴儿姹（chà）女：道教外丹派称铅为婴儿，汞为姹女；内丹派以元神为婴儿，以元气为姹女。道教认为婴儿姹女相交合而成金丹。这里主要是内丹派的观念。

[4] 灵龟吸尽金乌血：道教内丹派以灵龟喻元气，以金乌喻元神，元气逐渐吸收元神达到二者的交合而成金丹。

[5] 三花聚顶：道教认为精、气、神的最高修炼，可化为三花聚于顶上，万劫不侵。

[6] 五气朝元：道教认为“成道”之时，可以使五行化为“真气”会集于顶。元，六阳之首，就是头。

[7] 宪节：廉访使、巡按等风宪官所持的符节。这里指廉访使或巡按御使一类的官职。

[8] 巴家：即把家，持家。“巴”同“把”。

[9] 竭绝：彻底了断。

[10] 馕（nǎnɡ）：死塞，拼命地吃。

[11] 茶红：封建社会订婚时送的礼品叫“下茶”，或“茶定”。

[12] 荧惑：火星，小说中称为火德神君。

[13] 软：表面柔顺，心怀叵测的态度叫软。这里又含有诓骗、瞒哄的意思。

[14] 捣碓（duì）：碓，舂米的器具。形容磕头如捣米似的。

[15] 拨折：波折、周折。

[16] 拙荆：对自己妻子的谦称。荆，即荆钗裙布的意思，形容衣着简素。

[17] 火居道士：有家室、妻子的道士。

[18] 上盖：上身的外衣。

[19] 浑家：对老婆、妻子的一种称呼。

[20] 金华：佛教术语。金波罗华的略称，就是金色莲花，形容功行圆满的境界。

[21] 伐毛：佛、道教术语。就是伐毛洗髓、脱胎换骨，意谓功行圆满。

[22] 琴堂：旧时称州、府、县办公的地方为琴堂，意为官员优秀，弹着琴即可处理好政事。

[23] 主簿：旧时主管文书、办理日常事务的官员。

CHAPTER 19. At Cloudy Paths Cave, Wukong takes in Eight Rules; At Pagoda Mountain, Tripitaka receives the Heart Sūtra.

We were telling you about the flaming light of the monster, who was fleeing, while the Great Sage riding the rosy clouds followed right behind. As they were thus proceeding, they came upon a tall mountain, where the monster gathered together the fiery shafts of light and resumed his original form. Racing into a cave, he took out a nine-pronged muckrake to fight. “Lawless monster!” shouted Pilgrim. “What region are you from, fiend, and how do you know old Monkey’s names? What abilities do you have? Make a full confession quickly and your life may be spared!” “So you don’t know my powers!” said that monster. “Come up here and brace yourself! I’ll tell you!

My mind was dim since the time of youth;

Always I loved my indolence and sloth.

Neither nursing nature nor seeking the Real,1

I passed my days deluded and confused.

I met a true immortal suddenly

Who sat and spoke to me of cold and heat.2

‘Repent,’ he said, ‘and cease your worldly way:

From taking life accrues a boundless curse.

One day when the Great Limit ends your lot,

For eight woes and three ways3 you’ll grieve too late!’

I listened and turned my will to mend my ways:

I heard, repented, and sought the wondrous rune.

By fate my teacher he became at once,

Pointing out passes keyed to Heav’n and Earth.

Taught to forge the Great Pill Nine Times Reversed,4

I worked without pause through day and night5

To reach Mud-Pill Palace6 topping my skull

And Jetting-Spring Points7 on soles of my feet.

With kidney brine flooding the Floral Pool,8

My Cinnabar Field9 was thus warmly nursed.

Baby and Fair Girl10 mated as yin and yang;

Lead and mercury mixed as sun and moon.

In concord Li-dragon and Kan-tiger11 used,

The spirit turtle sucked dry the gold crow’s blood.12

‘Three flowers joined on top,’13 the root reclaimed;

‘Five breaths faced their source’14 and all freely flowed.

My merit done, I ascended on high,

Met by pairs of immortals from the sky.

Radiant pink clouds arose beneath my feet;

With light, sound frame I faced the Golden Arch.

The Jade Emperor gave a banquet for gods

Who sat in rows according to their ranks.

Made a marshal of the Celestial Stream,

I took command of both sailors and ships.

Because Queen Mother gave the Peaches Feast—

When she met her guests at the Jasper Pool—

My mind turned hazy for I got dead drunk,

A shameless rowdy reeling left and right.

Boldly I barged into Vast Cold Palace15

Where the charming fairy received me in.

When I saw her face that would snare one’s soul,

My carnal itch of old could not be stopped!

Without regard for manners or for rank,

I grabbed Miss Chang’e16 asking her to bed.

For three or four times she rejected me:

Hiding east and west, she was sore annoyed.

My passion sky-high I roared like thunder,

Almost toppling the arch of Heaven’s gate.

Inspector General17 told the Emperor Jade;

I was destined that day to meet my fate.

The Vast Cold completely enclosed airtight

Left me no way to run or to escape.

Then I was caught by the various gods,

Undaunted still, for wine was in my heart.

Bound and taken to see the Emperor Jade,

By law I should have been condemned to death.

It was Venus the Gold Star, Mr. Li,

Who left the ranks and knelt to beg for me.

My punishment changed to two thousand blows,

My flesh was torn; my bones did almost crack.

Alive! I was banished from Heaven’s gate

To make my home beneath the Fuling Mount.

An errant womb’s my sinful destination:

Stiff-Bristle Hog’s my worldly appellation!”

When Pilgrim heard this, he said, “So you are actually the Water God of the Heavenly Reeds, who came to earth. Small wonder you knew old Monkey’s name.” “Curses!” cried the monster. “You Heaven-defying BanHorsePlague! When you caused such turmoil that year in Heaven, you had no idea how many of us had to suffer because of you. And here you are again to make life miserable for others! Don’t give me any lip! Have a taste of my rake!” Pilgrim, of course, was unwilling to be tolerant; lifting high his rod, he struck at the monster’s head. The two of them thus began a battle in the middle of the mountain, in the middle of the night. What a fight!

Pilgrim’s gold pupils blazed like lightning;

The monster’s round eyes flashed like silver blooms.

This one spat out colored fog:

That one spouted crimson mist.

The spouted crimson mist lit up the dark;

The colored fog spat out made bright the night.

The golden-hooped rod;

The nine-pronged muckrake.

Two true heroes most worthy of acclaim:

One was the Great Sage descended to earth;

One was a Marshal who came from Heaven.

That one, for indecorum, became a monster;

This one, to flee his ordeal, bowed to a monk.

The rake lunged like a dragon wielding his claws:

The rod came like a phoenix darting through flowers.

That one said: “Your breaking up a marriage is like patricide!”

This one said: “You should be arrested for raping a young girl!”

Such idle words!

Such wild clamor!

Back and forth the rod blocked the rake.

They fought till dawn was about to break,

When the monster’s two arms felt sore and numb.

From the time of the second watch, the two of them fought until it was growing light in the east. That monster could hold out no longer and fled in defeat. He changed once more into a violent gust of wind and went straight back to his cave, shutting the doors tightly and refusing to come out. Outside the cave, Pilgrim saw a large stone tablet, which had on it the inscription, “Cloudy Paths Cave.” By now, it was completely light. Realizing that the monster was not going to come out, Pilgrim thought to himself, “I fear that Master may be anxiously waiting for me. I may as well go back and see him before returning here to catch the monster.” Mounting the clouds, he soon arrived at Old Gao village.

We shall now tell you about Tripitaka, who chatted about past and present with the other elders and did not sleep all night. He was just wondering why Pilgrim had not shown up, when suddenly the latter dropped down into the courtyard. Straightening out his clothes and putting away his rod, Pilgrim went up to the hall, crying, “Master! I’ve returned!” The various elders hurriedly bowed low, saying, “Thank you for all the trouble you have been to!” “Wukong, you were gone all night,” said Tripitaka. “If you captured the monster, where is he now?” “Master,” said Pilgrim, “that monster is no fiend of this world, nor is he a strange beast of the mountains. He is actually the incarnation of the Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds. Because he took the wrong path of rebirth, his appearance assumed the form of a wild hog: but actually his spiritual nature has not been extinguished. He said that he derived his surname from his appearance, and he went by the name of Zhu Ganglie. When I attacked him with my rod in the rear building, he tried to escape by changing into a violent gust of wind; I then struck at the wind, and he changed into shafts of flaming light and retreated to his mountain cave. There he took out a nine-pronged muckrake to do battle with old Monkey for a whole night. Just now when it grew light, he could fight no longer and fled into the cave, shutting the doors tightly and not coming out any more. I wanted to break down the door to finish him off, but I was afraid that you might be waiting here anxiously. That’s why I came back first to give you some news.”

When he had finished speaking, old Mr. Gao came forward and knelt down, saying, “Honored Priest, I have no alternative but to say this. Though you have chased him away, he might come back here after you leave. What should we do then? I may as well ask you to do us the favor of apprehending him, so that we shall not have any further worries. This old man, I assure you, will not be ungrateful or unkind; there will be a generous reward for you. I shall ask my relatives and friends to witness the drawing up of a document, whereby I shall divide my possessions and my property equally with you. All I want is to pluck up the trouble by the root, so that the pure virtue of our Gao family will not be tainted.”

“Aren’t you being rather demanding, old man?” said Pilgrim, laughing. “That monster did tell me that, although he has an enormous appetite and has consumed a good deal of food and drink from your family, he has also done a lot of good work for you. Much of what you were able to accumulate these last few years you owe to his strength, so that he really hasn’t taken any free meals from you. Why ever do you want to have him driven away? According to him, he is a god who has come down to earth and who has helped your family earn a living. Moreover, he has not harmed your daughter in any way. Such a son-in-law, I should think, would be a good match for your daughter and your family. So, what’s all this about ruining your family’s reputation and damaging your standing in the community? Why not really accept him as he is?”

“Honored Priest,” said old Mr. Gao, “though this matter may not offend public morals, it does leave us with a bad name. Like it or not, people will say, ‘The Gao family has taken in a monster as a son-in-law!’ How can one stand remarks of that kind?” “Wukong,” said Tripitaka, “if you have worked for him all this while, you might as well see him through to a satisfactory conclusion.” Pilgrim said, “I was testing him a little, just for fun. This time when I go, I’ll apprehend the monster for certain and bring him back for you all to see. Don’t worry, old Gao! Take good care of my master. I’m off!”

He said he was off, and the next instant he was completely out of sight. Bounding up that mountain, he arrived at the cave’s entrance; a few strokes of the iron rod reduced the doors to dust. “You overstuffed coolie!” he shouted, “Come out quickly and fight with old Monkey!” Huffing and puffing, the monster was lying in the cave and trying to catch his breath. When he heard his doors being struck down and heard himself called “an over-stuffed coolie,” he could not control his wrath. Dragging his rake, he pulled himself together and ran out. “A BanHorsePlague like you,” he yelled, “is an absolute pest! What have I done to you that you have to break my doors to pieces? Go and take a look at the law: a man who breaks someone’s door and enters without permission may be guilty of trespassing, a crime punishable by death!” “Idiot!” said Pilgrim, laughing. “I may have broken down the door, but my case is still a defensible one. But you, you took a girl from her family by force—without using the proper matchmakers and witnesses, without presenting the proper gifts of money and wine. If you ask me, you are the one guilty of a capital crime!” “Enough of this idle talk,” said the monster, “and watch out for old Hog’s rake!” Parrying the rake with his rod, Pilgrim said, “Isn’t that rake of yours just something you use as a regular farmhand to plow the fields or plant vegetables for the Gao family? Why on earth should I fear you?”

“You have made a mistake!” said the monster. “Is this rake a thing of this world? Just listen to my recital:

This is divine ice steel greatly refined,

Polished so highly that it glows and shines.

Laozi wielded the large hammer and tong;

Mars himself added charcoals piece by piece.

Five Kings of Five Quarters applied their schemes;

Twelve Gods of Time expended all their skills.

They made nine prongs like dangling teeth of jade,

And brass rings were cast with dropping gold leaves.

Decked with five stars and six brightnesses,

Its frame conformed to eight spans and four climes.

Its whole length set to match the cosmic scheme

Accorded with yin yang, with the sun and moon:

Six-Diagram Gods etched as Heaven ruled;18

Eight-Trigram Stars stood in ranks and files.

They named this the High Treasure Golden Rake,

A gift for Jade Emperor to guard his court.

Since I learned to be a great immortal,

Becoming someone with longevity,

I was made Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds

And given this rake, a sign of royal grace.

When it’s held high, there’ll be bright flames and light;

When it’s brought low, strong wind blows down white snow.

The warriors of Heaven all fear it;

The Ten Kings of Hell all shrink from it.

Are there such weapons among mankind?

In this wide world there’s no such fine steel.

It changes its form after my own wish,

Rising and falling after my command.

I’ve kept it with me for several years,

A daily comrade I never parted from.

I’ve stayed with it right through the day’s three meals,

Nor left it when I went to sleep at night.

I brought it along to the Peaches Feast,

And with it I attended Heaven’s court.

Since I wrought evil relying on wine,

Since trusting my strength I displayed my fraud,

Heaven sent me down to this world of dust,

Where in my next life I would sin some more.

With wicked mind I ate men in my cave,

Pleased to be married at the Gao Village.

This rake can overturn sea dragons’ and turtles’ lairs

And rake up mountain dens of tigers and wolves.

All other weapons there’s no need to name,

Only my rake is of most fitting fame.

To win in battle? Why, it’s no hard thing!

And making merit? It need not be said!

You may have a bronze head, an iron brain, and a full steel frame.

I’ll rake till your soul melts and your spirit leaks!”

When Pilgrim heard these words, he put away his iron rod and said, “Don’t brag too much, Idiot! Old Monkey will stretch out his head right here, and you can give him a blow. See if his soul melts and his spirit leaks!” The monster did indeed raise his rake high and bring it down with all his might; with a loud bang, the rake made sparks as it bounced back up. But the blow did not make so much as a scratch on Pilgrim’s head. The monster was so astounded that his hands turned numb and his feet grew weak. He mumbled, “What a head! What a head!” “You didn’t know about this, did you?” said Pilgrim. “When I caused such turmoil in Heaven by stealing the magic pills, the immortal peaches, and the imperial wine, I was captured by the Little Sage Erlang and taken to the Polestar Palace. The various celestial beings chopped me with an ax, pounded me with a bludgeon, cut me with a scimitar, jabbed me with a sword, burned me with fire, and struck me with thunder—all this could not hurt me one whit. Then I was taken by Laozi and placed in his eight-trigram brazier, in which I was refined by divine fire until I had fiery eyes and diamond pupils, a bronze head and iron arms. If you don’t believe me, give me some more blows and see whether it hurts me at all.”

“Monkey,” said the monster, “I remember that at the time you were causing trouble in Heaven, you lived in the Water-Curtain Cave of the Flower-Fruit Mountain, in the Aolai Country of the East Pūrvavideha Continent. Your name hasn’t been heard of for a long time. How is it that you suddenly turn up at this place to oppress me? Could my father-in-law have gone all that way to ask you to come here?” “Your father-in-law did not go to fetch me,” said Pilgrim. “It’s old Monkey who turned from wrong to right, who left the Daoist to follow the Buddhist. I am now accompanying the royal brother of the Great Tang Emperor in the Land of the East, whose name is Tripitaka, Master of the Law. He is on his way to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures from Buddha. We passed through the Gao Village and asked for lodging; old man Gao then brought up the subject of his daughter and asked me to rescue her and to apprehend you, you overstuffed coolie!”

Hearing this, the monster threw away his muckrake and said with great affability, “Where is the scripture pilgrim? Please take the trouble of introducing me to him.” “Why do you want to see him?” asked Pilgrim. The monster said, “I was a convert of the Bodhisattva Guanshiyin, who commanded me to keep a vegetarian diet here and to wait for the scripture pilgrim. I was to follow him to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures from the Buddha, so that I might atone for my sins with my merit and regain the fruits of Truth. I have been waiting for a number of years without receiving any further news. Since you have been made his disciple, why didn’t you mention the search for scriptures in the first place? Why did you have to unleash your violence and attack me right at my own door?”

“Don’t try to soften me with deception,” said Pilgrim, “thinking that you can escape that way. If you are truly sincere about accompanying the Tang Monk, you must face Heaven and swear that you are telling the truth. Then I’ll take you to see my master.” At once the monster knelt down and kowtowed as rapidly as if he were pounding rice with his head. “Amitābha,” he cried, “Namo Buddha! If I am not speaking the truth in all sincerity, let me be punished as one who has offended Heaven—let me be hewn to pieces!”

Hearing him swear such an oath, Pilgrim said, “All right! You light a fire and burn up this place of yours; then I’ll take you with me.” The monster accordingly dragged in bunches of rushweed and thorns and lighted the fire; the Cloudy Paths Cave soon looked like a derelict potter’s kiln. “I have no other attachment,” he said to Pilgrim. “You can take me away.” “Give me your muckrake and let me hold it,” said Pilgrim, and our monster at once handed it over. Yanking out a piece of hair, Pilgrim blew onto it and cried, “Change!” It changed into a three-ply hemp rope with which he prepared to tie up the monster’s hands. Putting his arms behind his back, the monster did nothing to stop himself from being bound. Then Pilgrim took hold of his ear and dragged him along, crying, “Hurry! Hurry!”

“Gently, please!” pleaded the monster. “You are holding me so roughly, and my ear is hurting!” “I can’t be any gentler,” said Pilgrim, “for I can’t worry about you now. As the saying goes, ‘The nicer the pig, the nastier the grip!’ After you have seen my master and proved your worth, I’ll let you go.” Rising up to a distance halfway between cloud and fog, they headed straight for the Gao Family Village. We have a poem as a testimony:19

Strong is metal’s nature to vanquish wood:

Mind Monkey has the Wood Dragon subdued.

With metal and wood both obedient as one,

All their love and virtue will grow and show.

One guest and one host20 there’s nothing between;

Three matings, three unions—there’s great mystery!21

Nature and feelings gladly fused as Last and First:22

Both will surely be enlightened in the West.

In a moment they had arrived at the village. Grasping the rake and pulling at the monster’s ear, Pilgrim said, “Look at the one sitting in a most dignified manner up there in the main hall: that’s my master.” When old Mr. Gao and his relatives suddenly saw Pilgrim dragging by the ear a monster who had his hands bound behind his back, they all gladly left their seats to meet them in the courtyard. The old man cried, “Honored Priest! There’s that son-in-law of mine.” Our monster went forward and fell on his knees, kowtowing to Tripitaka and saying, “Master, your disciple apologizes for not coming to meet you. If I had known earlier that my master was staying in my father-in-law’s house, I would have come at once to pay my respects, and none of these troubles would have befallen me.” “Wukong,” said Tripitaka, “how did you manage to get him here to see me?” Only then did Pilgrim release his hold. Using the handle of the rake to give the monster a whack, he shouted, “Idiot! Say something!” The monster gave a full account of how the Bodhisattva had converted him.

Greatly pleased, Tripitaka said at once, “Mr. Gao, may I borrow your incense table?” Old Mr. Gao took it out immediately, and Tripitaka lighted the incense after purifying his hands. He bowed toward the south, saying, “I thank the Bodhisattva for her holy grace!” The other elders all joined in the worship by adding incense, after which Tripitaka resumed his seat in the main hall and asked Wukong to untie the monster. Pilgrim shook his body to retrieve his hair, and the rope fell off by itself. Once more the monster bowed to Tripitaka, declaring his intention to follow him to the West, and then bowed also to Pilgrim, addressing him as “elder brother” because he was the senior disciple.

“Since you have entered my fold and have decided to become my disciple,” said Tripitaka, “let me give you a religious name so that I may address you properly.” “Master,” said the monster, “the Bodhisattva already laid hands on my head and gave me the commandments and a religious name, which is Zhu Wuneng (Awake to Power).” “Good! Good!” said Tripitaka, laughing. “Your elder brother is named Wukong and you are called Wuneng; your names are well in accord with the emphasis of our denomination.” “Master,” said Wuneng, “since I received the commandments from the Bodhisattva, I was completely cut off from the five forbidden viands and the three undesirable foods. I maintained a strict vegetarian diet in my father-in-law’s house, never touching any forbidden food. Now that I have met my master today, let me be released from my vegetarian vow.” “No, no!” said Tripitaka. “Since you have not eaten the five forbidden viands and the three undesirable foods, let me give you another name. Let me call you Eight Rules.”23 Delighted, Idiot said, “I shall obey my master.” For this reason, he was also called Zhu Eight Rules.

When old Mr. Gao saw the happy ending of this whole affair, he was more delighted than ever. He ordered his houseboys immediately to prepare a feast to thank the Tang Monk. Eight Rules went forward and tugged at him, saying, “Papa, please ask my humble wife to come out and greet the granddads and uncles. How about it?” “Worthy brother!” said Pilgrim, laughing. “Since you have embraced Buddhism and become a monk, please don’t ever mention ‘your humble wife’ again. There may be a married Daoist in this world, but there’s no such monk, is there? Let’s sit down, rather, and have a nice vegetarian meal. We’ll have to start off soon for the West.”

Old Mr. Gao set the tables in order and invited Tripitaka to take the honored seat in the middle: Pilgrim and Eight Rules sat on both sides while the relatives took the remaining seats below. Mr. Gao opened a bottle of dietary wine and filled a glass: he sprinkled a little of the wine on the ground to thank Heaven and Earth before presenting the glass to Tripitaka. “To tell you the truth, aged sir,” said Tripitaka, “this poor monk has been a vegetarian from birth. I have not touched any kind of forbidden food since childhood.” “I know the reverend teacher is chaste and pure,” said old Mr. Gao, “and I did not dare bring forth any forbidden foodstuff. This wine is made for those who maintain a vegetarian diet: there’s no harm in your taking a glass.” “I just don’t dare use wine,” said Tripitaka. “for the prohibition of strong drink is a monk’s first commandment.” Alarmed, Wuneng said, “Master, though I kept a vegetarian diet, I didn’t cut out wine.” “Though my capacity is not great,” said Wukong, “and I’m not able to handle more than a crock or so, I haven’t discontinued the use of wine either.” “In that case,” said Tripitaka, “you two brothers may take some of this pure wine. But you are not permitted to get drunk and cause trouble.” So the two of them took the first round before taking their seats again to enjoy the feast. We cannot tell you in full what a richly laden table that was, and what varieties of delicacies were presented.

After master and disciples had been feted, old Mr. Gao took out a red lacquered tray bearing some two hundred taels of gold and silver in small pieces, which were to be presented to the three priests for travel expenses. There were, moreover, three outer garments made of fine silk. Tripitaka said, “We are mendicants who beg for food and drink from village to village. How could we accept gold, silver, and precious clothing?”

Coming forward and stretching out his hand, Pilgrim took a handful of the money, saying, “Gao Cai, yesterday you took the trouble to bring my master here, with the result that we made a disciple today. We have nothing to thank you with. Take this as remuneration for being a guide; perhaps you can use it to buy a few pairs of straw sandals. If there are any more monsters, turn them over to me and I’ll truly be grateful to you.” Gao Cai took the money and kowtowed to thank Pilgrim for his reward. Old Mr. Gao then said, “If the masters do not want the silver and gold, please accept at least these three simple garments, which are but small tokens of our goodwill.” “If those of us who have left the family,” said Tripitaka again, “accept the bribe of a single strand of silk, we may fall into ten thousand kalpas from which we may never recover. It is quite sufficient that we take along the leftovers from the table as provisions on our way.” Eight Rules spoke up from the side: “Master, Elder Brother, you may not want these things. But I was a son-in-law in this household for several years, and the payment for my services should be worth more than three stones of rice! Father, my shirt was torn by Elder Brother last night; please give me a cassock of blue silk. My shoes are worn also, so please give me a good pair of new shoes.” When old Mr. Gao heard that, he dared not refuse; a new pair of shoes and a cassock were purchased at once so that Eight Rules could dispose of the old attire.

Swaggering around, our Eight Rules spoke amiably to old Mr. Gao, saying, “Please convey my humble sentiments to my mother-in-law, my great-aunt, my second aunt, and my uncle-in-law, and all my other relatives. Today I am going away as a monk, and please do not blame me if I cannot take leave of them in person. Father, do take care of my better half. If we fail in our quest for scriptures, I’ll return to secular life and live with you again as your son-in-law.” “Coolie!” shouted Pilgrim. “Stop babbling nonsense!” “It’s not nonsense,” said Eight Rules. “Sometimes I fear that things may go wrong, and then I could end up unable either to be a monk or to take a wife, losing out on both counts.” “Less of this idle conversation!” said Tripitaka. “We must hurry up and leave.” They packed their luggage, and Eight Rules was told to carry the load with a pole. Tripitaka rode on the white horse, while Pilgrim led the way with the iron rod across his shoulders. The three of them took leave of old Mr. Gao and his relatives and headed toward the West. We have a poem as testimony:

The earth’s mist-shrouded, the trees appear tall.

The Buddha-son of Tang court ever toils.

He eats in need rice begged from many homes;

He wears when cold a robe patched a thousandfold.

Holdfast at the breast the Horse of the Will!

The Mind-Monkey is sly—let him not wail!

Nature one with feelings, causes all joined24—

The moon’s full of gold light when hair is shorn.25

The three of them proceeded toward the West, and for about a month it was an uneventful journey. When they crossed the boundary of Qoco, they looked up and saw a tall mountain. Tripitaka reined in his horse and said, “Wukong, Wuneng, there’s a tall mountain ahead. We must approach it with care.” “It’s nothing!” said Eight Rules. “This mountain is called the Pagoda Mountain and a Crow’s Nest Chan Master lives there, practicing austerities. Old Hog has met him before.” “What’s his business?” said Tripitaka. “He’s fairly accomplished in the Way,” said Eight Rules, “and he once asked me to practice austerities with him. But I didn’t go, and that was the end of the matter.”

As master and disciple conversed, they soon arrived at the mountain. What a splendid mountain! You see

South of it, blue pines, jade-green junipers;

North of it, green willows, red peach trees.

A clamorous din:

The mountain fowls are conversing.

A fluttering dance:

Immortal cranes unite in flying.

A dense fragrance:

The flowers in a thousand colors.

A manifold green:

Diverse plants in forms exotic.

In the stream green water flows bubbling;

Before the cliff float petals of hallowed cloud.

Truly a place of rare beauty, a well-secluded spot;

Silence is all, not a man to be seen.

As the master sat on his horse, peering into the distance, he saw on top of the fragrant juniper tree a nest made of dried wood and grass. To the left, musk deer carried flowers in their mouths; to the right, mountain monkeys were presenting fruits. At the top of the tree, blue and pink phoenixes sang together, soon to be joined by a congregation of black cranes and brightly colored pheasants. “Isn’t that the Crow’s Nest Chan Master?” asked Eight Rules, pointing. Tripitaka urged on his horse and rode up to the tree.

We now tell you about that Chan Master, who, seeing the three of them approach, left his nest and jumped down from the tree. Tripitaka dismounted and prostrated himself. Raising him up with his hand, the Chan Master said, “Holy Monk, please arise! Pardon me for not coming to meet you.” “Old Chan Master,” said Eight Rules, “please receive my bow!” “Aren’t you the Zhu Ganglie of the Fuling Mountain?” asked the Chan Master, startled. “How did you have the good fortune to journey with the holy monk?” “A few years back,” said Eight Rules, “I was beholden to the Bodhisattva Guanyin for persuading me to follow him as a disciple.” “Good! Good! Good!” said the Chan Master, greatly pleased. Then he pointed to Pilgrim and asked, “Who is this person?” “How is it that the old Chan recognizes him,” said Pilgrim, laughing, “and not me?” “Because I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you,” said the Chan Master. Tripitaka said, “He is my eldest disciple, Sun Wukong.” Smiling amiably, the Chan Master said, “How impolite of me!”

Tripitaka bowed again and asked about the distance to the Great Thunderclap Temple of the Western Heaven. “It’s very far away! Very far away!” said the Chan Master. “What’s more, the road is a difficult one, filled with tigers and leopards.” With great earnestness, Tripitaka asked again, “Just how far is it?” “Though it may be very far,” answered the Chan Master, “you will arrive there one day. But all those māra hindrances along the way are hard to dispel. I have a Heart Sūtra here in this scroll; it has fifty-four sentences containing two hundred and seventy characters. When you meet these māra hindrances, recite the sūtra and you will not suffer any injury or harm.” Tripitaka prostrated himself on the ground and begged to receive it, whereupon the Chan Master imparted the sūtra by reciting it orally. The sūtra said:

HEART SŪTRA OF THE GREAT PERFECTION OF WISDOM

When the Bodhisattva Guanzizai26 was moving in the deep course of the Perfection of Wisdom, she saw that the five heaps27 were but emptiness, and she transcended all sufferings. Śārīputra, form is no different from emptiness, emptiness no different from form; form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. Of sensations, perceptions, volition, and consciousness, the same is also true. Śārīputra, it is thus that all dharmas are but empty appearances, neither produced nor destroyed, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing. This is why in emptiness there are no forms and no sensations, perceptions, volition, or consciousness; no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or object of mind. There is no realm of sight [and so forth], until we reach the realm of no mind-consciousness; there is no ignorance, nor is there extinction of ignorance [and so forth], until we reach the stage where there is no old age and death, nor is there the extinction of old age and death; there is no suffering, annihilation, or way; there is no cognition or attainment. Because there is nothing to be attained, the mind of the Bodhisattva, by virtue of reliance upon the Perfection of Wisdom, has no hindrances: no hindrances, and therefore, no terror or fear; he is far removed from error and delusion, and finally reaches Nirvāṇa. All the Buddhas of the three worlds28 rely on the Perfection of Wisdom, and that is why they attain the ultimate and complete enlightenment. Know, therefore, that the Perfection of Wisdom is a great divine spell, a spell of great illumination, a spell without superior, and a spell without equal. It can do away with all sufferings—such is the unvarnished truth. Therefore, when the Spell of the Perfection of Wisdom is to be spoken, say this spell: “Gate! Gate! Pāragate! Pārasaṃgate! Bodhisvāhā!”29

Now because that master of the law from the Tang court was spiritually prepared, he could remember the Heart Sūtra after hearing it only once. Through him, it has come down to us this day. It is the comprehensive classic for the cultivation of Perfection, the very gateway to becoming a Buddha.

After the transmission of the sūtra, the Chan Master trod on the cloudy luminosity and was about to return to his crow’s nest. Tripitaka, however, held him back and earnestly questioned him again about the condition of the road to the West. The Chan Master laughed and said:

“The way is not too hard to walk;

Try listening to what I say.

A thousand hills and waters deep;

Places full of goblins and snags;

When you reach those sky-touching cliffs,

Fear not and put your mind at rest.

Crossing the Rub Ear Precipice,

You must walk with steps placed sideways.

Take care in the Black Pine Forest;

Fox-spirits will likely bar your way.

Griffins will fill the capitals;

Monsters all mountains populate;

Old tigers sit as magistrates;

Graying wolves act as registrars.

Lions, elephants—all called kings!

Leopards, tigers are coachmen all!

A wild pig totes a hauling pole;

You’ll meet ahead a water sprite.

An old stone ape of many years

Now nurses over there his spite!

Just ask that acquaintance of yours:

Well he knows the way to the West.”

Hearing this, Pilgrim laughed with scorn and said, “Let’s go. Don’t ask him, ask me! That’s enough!” Tripitaka did not perceive what he meant. The Chan Master, changing into a beam of golden light, went straight up to his crow’s nest, while the priest bowed toward him to express his gratitude. Enraged, Pilgrim lifted his iron rod and thrust it upward violently, but garlands of blooming lotus flowers were seen together with a thousand-layered shield of auspicious clouds. Though Pilgrim might have the strength to overturn rivers and seas, he could not catch hold of even one strand of the crow’s nest. When Tripitaka saw this, he pulled Pilgrim back, saying, “Wukong, why are you jabbing at the nest of a bodhisattva like him?” “For leaving like that after abusing both my brother and me,” said Pilgrim. “He was speaking of the way to the Western Heaven,” said Tripitaka. “Since when did he abuse you?”

“Didn’t you get it?” asked Pilgrim. “He said, ‘A wild pig totes a hauling pole,’ and insulted Eight Rules. ‘An old stone ape of many years’ ridiculed old Monkey. How else would you explain that?” “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “don’t be angry. This Chan Master does know the events of past and future. Let’s see if his statement, ‘You’ll meet ahead a water sprite,’ will be fulfilled or not. Let’s spare him and leave.” Pilgrim saw the lotus flowers and auspicious fog near the nest, and he had little alternative than to ask his master to mount so that they could descend from the mountain and proceed toward the West. Lo, their journey

Thus shows that in man’s world pure leisure is rare,

But evils and ogres are rife in the hills!

We really do not know what took place in the journey ahead; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.