Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System
Chapter 149: Mount Ling

Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Mount Ling

Western Heaven, the sacred realm of Mount Ling.

The holy Da Leiyin Temple emitted a golden Buddhist radiance that spanned ten thousand zhang, illuminating the temples, pagodas, and great halls atop Mount Ling.

Amidst the faint sounds of sacred chanting, everywhere presented a tranquil and auspicious scene.

At this moment, inside the Mahavira Hall of Da Leiyin Temple.

The Buddha sat cross-legged on the golden lotus pedestal above, his visage majestic yet merciful, inspiring reverence in the onlookers and dispelling all their worries.

On both sides of the great hall, there were Buddha’s Bodhisattvas, Supreme Ones, Arhats, Vajras, and others, some standing, some sitting, deep in sleep, laughing heartily, or showing sorrow, each with a different demeanor as if reflecting all sentient beings.

Among them, Bodhisattva Guanyin, Manjusri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Supreme One Jia Ye, Supreme One Anan, and others were positioned at the forefront of the monks.

After Golden Cicada had finished recounting the incident of Dread-Leaving Sun’s nirvana, the complexions of the assembly shifted, no longer as they were before.

Dread-Leaving Sun Buddha tirelessly worked for the Buddha Sect everywhere, indicating his high standing. To suddenly hear of his nirvana left the assembly in disbelief for a moment.

Bodhisattva Guanyin, standing with one hand raised in salute, lamented, "O Buddha, this humble monk suggests that as Dread-Leaving Sun Buddha devoted himself fully to the cause of the Buddha Sect, aspiring to rejuvenate the Western Regions with his noble efforts, his sacred relics should be enshrined in the Ten Thousand Buddha Pagoda."

However, the Buddha did not respond directly, only slowly saying, "Well said, Dread-Leaving Sun Buddha’s merits are complete, and he has entered the Pure Land. The assembly should congratulate him."

The assembly regained calmness, many showing anticipation, and in unison they chanted the Buddha’s name, "Amitabha, well said, well said."

Yet there are always those who dissent.

Golden Cicada stood in front of the hall and loudly said, "O Buddha, Dread-Leaving Sun Buddha’s sacred relics have been swallowed by Moluo, how could he have entered the Pure Land?"

The assembly was greatly shocked, and Bodhisattva Guanyin let out a soft sigh, no longer speaking.

The Buddha said, "With the Pure Land in his heart, he went to the Pure Land of his own accord, what need is there for relics?"

But Golden Cicada did not give up and asked further, "O Buddha, why didn’t you pursue Moluo when he swallowed the relics just now? Given the presence of demons, why not subdue them?"

The Buddha spoke with authority, saying, "All things in the world have their fixed destiny. When it’s time for him to perish, he will naturally be annihilated."

Golden Cicada said, "O Buddha, I don’t understand. Why must we wait for destiny to annihilate him? If we don’t extinguish him now, shall we just let him wreak havoc everywhere, bringing calamity to the Three Realms?

How can we, monks of the Buddha Sect, who hold compassion in our hearts, stand by and watch the suffering of the people?"

The Buddha replied, "Destiny cannot be changed without bringing about a great catastrophe. Between small disasters and a great calamity, which would you choose?"

Golden Cicada persisted, "Is there no way to achieve both?"

The Buddha said, "How can there be a perfect solution in this world?"

Golden Cicada fell silent, but only for a moment, before asking again, "O Buddha, I am confused. If Dread-Leaving Sun Buddha was indeed a Buddha with perfected virtues in his cultivation, why did he commit those evil deeds on the Dark Moon Star, laying traps for others with formations of passion and desire?

Can this also be the way of a Buddha?

What is a Buddha?"

This was actually a question posed to him by Moluo, what is a Buddha, and what is a demon?

The deeds of Dread-Leaving Sun Buddha on the Dark Moon Star, how were they different from those of a demon?

Golden Cicada had wanted to ask this question for a long time, and now it felt unbearable not to.

After hearing Golden Cicada’s query, the monks looked at each other, puzzlement written on their faces.

They had not known why Dread-Leaving Sun had entered nirvana, but now they did.

Yet such behaviors were clearly violations of the Buddhist precepts, after all, there is only one Maitreya Buddha.

The Buddha remained expressionless and slowly said, "Completing one’s merit is to become a Buddha, this is the teaching of the Lesser Vehicle. Even those who cannot see clearly but wish to see can also become a Buddha, without necessarily realizing everything.

Thus, there is the Great Vehicle teaching, where Buddha is within me.

When you have Buddha in your heart, when you feel that you are the Buddha, you are the Buddha.

By extension, all sentient beings can become Buddhas, even a demon who lays down the butcher’s knife can become a Buddha.

This is the true intent of the Great Vehicle Buddha’s teachings."

Having heard this, Golden Cicada half-understood and fell into confusion, yet he still wanted to ask more.

The Buddha said, "A Buddha is one who is greatly awakened. When you awaken, you will naturally realize everything."

"Thank you for your teachings, O Buddha," said Golden Cicada, bringing his hands together in respect, yet he still did not relent and asked again, "I dare to ask, O Buddha, what is the purpose of journeying to the West to obtain the scriptures?"

As these words were spoken, the monks in the Mahavira Hall glanced at each other, most of them curious. They too wanted to know.

Only a few, such as Guanyin, Manjusri, and Samantabhadra, remained silent.

The Buddha sternly said, "When the time comes, you will know. Now, step down!"

The Golden Cicada was not satisfied with this answer. He was someone who liked to seek the truth, but it was clear that the Buddha did not wish to speak further. Persisting in his questioning would yield no answers, so he had no choice but to let it go, thinking to himself that he would slowly uncover the truth at Mount Ling in the future.

However, it wasn’t long before the Buddha tasked him and the Supreme One Jia Ye to attend some Dragon Transformation Meeting in the Western Sea.

...

In a secluded meditation chamber behind the Great Thunder Monastery.

The Buddha, Guanyin, Manjusri, Samantabhadra, Jia Ye, and others gathered once more.

"Buddha, isn’t it a bit hasty to designate Sun Wukong as the scripture seeker?" asked Guanyin. "Judging by his words and actions, he seems to bear considerable animosity towards our Buddha Sect.

His current conflict with the loss of Fearing-Stay Sun Buddha must also be deeply connected with him. If he were to undertake the scripture quest, would he be completely devoted?"

"Indeed, Buddha," agreed Manjusri, "and given Sun Wukong’s current strength and status, the difficulty in having him be the scripture seeker is not small."

Samantabhadra expressed a similar viewpoint, "Why not seek another scripture seeker? The Demon King seems like a good candidate, with both reputation and power."

The Buddha’s face remained expressionless as he said, "He cannot be replaced."

The three sages glanced at one another and fell silent.

The Buddha continued, "After the Fearing-Stay Sun Buddha passes into nirvana this time, if we were to manipulate the Heavenly Court again, His Majesty the Jade Emperor might become dissatisfied. Let’s wait for now.

The Dragon Race hosts the Dragon Transformation Meeting once every thousand years, and it so happens that the Western Sea Dragon Race is organizing it this time,

Supreme One Jia Ye, take the Golden Cicada with you and make a trip to the Western Sea."

"I shall obey the decree of the Buddha," Jia Ye said as he took his leave.

Guanyin, Manjusri, Samantabhadra, and the rest were all aware of the scripture-seeking matter and understood why Jia Ye was sent to the Western Sea.

...

On the other hand, after returning from the West, Supreme General Yizheng and Marshal Youyi immediately went to Tongming Hall to report their journey to Mount Ling to His Majesty the Jade Emperor.

After the two departed, the Jade Emperor dropped his casual demeanor, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk.

Taibai Jinxing hastily said, "Your Majesty, Sun Wukong was indeed correct. Moluo has not perished, and if this demon is not eliminated, he will surely become a great threat."

The Jade Emperor spoke gravely, "What I asked is why Moluo would want to consume Shariputra and also why he spared the Golden Cicada."

Taibai Jinxing was baffled, could he have guessed wrong? How could that be possible!

However, he still stroked his beard as he said, "Moluo was nearly annihilated in the Beiming and must be desperately seeking to boost his strength.

Since Shariputra is the essence of a Buddhist monk’s cultivation, Moluo, who turned from Bodhisattva to demon, probably wanted to enhance his demonic cultivation by devouring Shariputra.

But ultimately, this is an inferior method that will inevitably collapse one day.

As for why he spared the Golden Cicada, I beg your Majesty’s punishment, for I do not know."

"Is it that you do not know, or you dare not say?" the Jade Emperor said irritably, "Go summon Sun Wukong."

Taibai Jinxing breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly left for the abode of the Great Sage Equalling Heaven.

He knew why His Majesty wanted to summon Sun Wukong.

This weapon had been forcing the Sect of Chan Teaching into retreat, allowing His Majesty to demonstrate the authority of the Heavenly Emperor.

Particularly during the final upheaval of the Taiyin Star, when the Chan Teaching’s Southern Extremity Longevity Star confronted the Sect of Interception’s Mother of the Golden Spirit, it was His Majesty who resolved all issues.

But now, the Buddha Sect seemed increasingly restless, even daring to scheme in the Heavenly Court, which showed their audacity.

It was time for the Emperor to direct the blade that had been turned towards the Sect of Chan Teaching temporarily towards the Buddha Sect.

"How strange, why does Sun Wukong bear such great enmity towards the Buddha Sect?" Taibai Jinxing wondered.

Could it really be just because his soul was once reaped by the Underworld and Ksitigarbha King showed partiality?

That hardly seemed a reason for him to bear animosity towards the entire Buddha Sect.

Of course, having animosity was a good thing; His Majesty liked it.

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