In chapter ten, the Buddha was lecturing his congregation about the morality of the inhabitants of the four continents. The Buddha said, “Someone needs to go the Eastern lands and find a virtuous person to go on a quest.
A person named Kuan-yin volunteered to find a pilgrim to go on the journey. Kuan-yin received talismans or good luck charms to give to the pilgrim. A priestly robe, a nine ringed staff and a special magic headband.
Kuan-yin and her disciple bodyguard Hui-an set off on the journey until they came to a large body of water called the River of Flowing Sands, then a hideous monster attacked them. They fought without anyone winning. The monster was surprised to find out he was fighting Kuan-yin’s bodyguard. The monster was really the former Curtain Raising Marshall who uses to wait on the Jade Emperor at the Treasure Hall of Divine Mists. The monster accidentally broke a crystal cup and was banished to the Region Below and turned into a monster shape. Kuan-yin continued on the journey and came to a mountain with a ferocious creature. The bodyguard killed her and she threw lotus flowers at the monster.
On the following day, Kuan-yin arrived at the Mountain of Fire Elements where the Great Sage was imprisoned. Monkey asked Kuan-yin to rescue him. He already had his 500-year sentence. When Kuan-yin arrived in the capital city of the Great Tang Nation, the Emperor was choosing a supreme religious leader for the land. The chosen priest was Hsuan-tsang. Juan-yin asked him a question “why are you only teaching about the little vehicle? “Don’t you know the teachings of the Great Vehicle?” Hsuan-tsang got a new name from Kuan-yin, it was now Tripitaka. When the emperor heard about Kuan-yin’s statement he asked where she kept the three bundles of (Tripitaka) she said, “They were located in India”. The emperor was so full of joy that he made plans to send someone to India to get the scriptures Tripitaka declared willingness to make the journey for the good of the empire.
It was now late autumn & Tripitaka and his attendants had arrived at the mountains, which stood as a barrier between China and India. Hundreds of ogres attacked them and started eating up the attendants. An ancient old man saved Tripitaka.
On the following day, Tripitaka came to a mountain where he saw a hunter. The hunter told him about the monkey who was locked up in an iron box at the base of the mountain. When Tripitka got to the base of the mountain to see the monkey, he heard monkey say “Master, get me out of here & I will help you get safely to India”. He told him the story of how he got in the cage. Tripitaka did not know how to release the monkey so the monkey told him all he had to do was remove the golden letters “OM”. Tripitaka made a prayer and the letters rose to the sky.
Monkey became the keeper of the horse and Tripitaka’s disciple and they traveled together toward India. The following morning they were met by six heavily armed bandits they wanted their horses and packs. They said “they were called Eye that Delights, Ear that Grows Furious, Nose that Wants Tong that Desires, Mind that Imagines, and Body that Suffers. Monkey beat the bandits to a pulp and took their belongings. Tripitaka scolded at Monkey & told he was not worthy to be a priest. The monkey felt insulted and he decided not to go to India in search for the scriptures.
As Tripitaka walked on alone he met an old woman who was carrying a silk robe and an embroidered cap. The old woman asked why he was traveling alone. He told her about the monkey who left him behind. She told him about Headband spell. When she disappeared, he realized it was Kuan-yin in disguise.
Now that it was winter, traveling was much more dangerous through the slippery mountain passes. When they came to Coiled Serpent Mountain, Monkey remembered that there was a river called Eagle Grief Stream nearby when they arrived at the water’s edge; a dragon swirled out of the waves and swallowed their horse.
When the pilgrims returned to China, the Emperor ordered the scriptures to be brought into the Audience Hall. Tripitaka told the Emperor about their pilgrimage to India as the scriptures were read Tripitaka requested they be read in a Holy Temple.
The honors took place at the Wild Goose Pagoda being read the first time in China. As for the pilgrims they each received their rewards according to their merits. Tripitaka won great merit for fetching the scriptures, Monkey earned “Victorious and Strife” for defeating monsters and demons. Pigsy got a promotion to Cleanser of Altars. Sandy earned the merit for leading the horse. The dragon horse was promoted to be one of the eight Heavenly Dragons because he had carried the scripture seeking pilgrim.
THE END
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Monkey: Journey to the West