Chapter 99

The story says that the eight Vajras had already escorted Tang Sanzang back to the country, but we shall not dwell on that. Under the three-layer gate, there were the Five Directions Jiedi, the Four Duty Officers, the Six Ding and Six Jia, and the Temple Guardians, who went before Guanyin Bodhisattva and said: “We disciples, having long received the Bodhisattva’s decree, secretly protected the holy monk. Today the holy monk has completed his journey, and the Bodhisattva has returned the Buddha’s golden decree. We beg the Bodhisattva to approve the return of our decree.” The Bodhisattva was also very pleased and said: “Approved, approved.” She then asked: “How have Tang Sanzang and his four companions conducted themselves in heart and action along the way?” The gods said: “Truly they were sincere and devout; we expect they cannot escape the Bodhisattva’s clear perception. But as for the sufferings that Tang Sanzang has endured, they are truly inexpressible. The calamities, transgressions, and difficulties he has experienced along the way, we disciples have carefully recorded here; this is the register of his disasters.” The Bodhisattva looked through it from the beginning; it was written: By order of the Jiedi, we reverently record, clearly counting the holy monk’s difficulties: The first difficulty: Jinchan was banished. The second difficulty: Nearly killed at birth. The third difficulty: Cast into the river at full moon. The fourth difficulty: Seeking kin and avenging wrongs. The fifth difficulty: Encountered a tiger outside the city. The sixth difficulty: Lost the way and fell into a pit. The seventh difficulty: On Shuangcha Ridge. The eighth difficulty: At Liangjie Mountain. The ninth difficulty: Changed horses at a steep ravine. The tenth difficulty: Burned by fire at night. The eleventh difficulty: Lost the cassock. The twelfth difficulty: Subdued and received Bajie. The thirteenth difficulty: Blocked by the Yellow Wind Monster. The fourteenth difficulty: Requested Lingji. The fifteenth difficulty: Difficulty crossing the Flowing Sands. The sixteenth difficulty: Obtained Sha Seng. The seventeenth difficulty: The Four Sages manifested. The eighteenth difficulty: At Wuzhuang Temple. The nineteenth difficulty: Hard to keep the ginseng alive. The twentieth difficulty: Banished the Heart-Ape. The twenty-first difficulty: Lost in the Black Pine Forest. The twenty-second difficulty: Sent a letter in Baoxiang Kingdom. The twenty-third difficulty: Turned into a tiger in the Golden Hall. The twenty-fourth difficulty: Encountered demons at Pingding Mountain. The twenty-fifth difficulty: Hung high in Lotus Cave. The twenty-sixth difficulty: Rescued the lord in Wuji Kingdom. The twenty-seventh difficulty: Transformed by a demon. The twenty-eighth difficulty: Encountered monsters at Hao Mountain. The twenty-ninth difficulty: The wind seized the holy monk. The thirtieth difficulty: The Heart-Ape was harmed. The thirty-first difficulty: Invited sages to subdue demons. The thirty-second difficulty: Sunk in the Black River. The thirty-third difficulty: Transporting at Chechi. The thirty-fourth difficulty: Great gambling of wins and losses. The thirty-fifth difficulty: Eliminated Daoism and promoted Buddhism. The thirty-sixth difficulty: Encountered a great flood on the road. The thirty-seventh difficulty: Fell into the Heavenly River. The thirty-eighth difficulty: The fish basket appeared. The thirty-ninth difficulty: Met monsters at Mount Dou. The fortieth difficulty: The gods of heaven were hard to subdue. The forty-first difficulty: Asked Buddha about the root source. The forty-second difficulty: Drank water and was poisoned. The forty-third difficulty: Detained for marriage in Xiliang Kingdom. The forty-fourth difficulty: Suffered in Pipa Cave. The forty-fifth difficulty: Banished the Heart-Ape again. The forty-sixth difficulty: Hard to distinguish the macaque. The forty-seventh difficulty: Blocked by Flame Mountain. The forty-eighth difficulty: Sought the Banana Leaf Fan. The forty-ninth difficulty: Captured the Demon King. The fiftieth difficulty: Swept the pagoda in Sai City. The fifty-first difficulty: Retrieved treasure to save the monk. The fifty-second difficulty: Chanting in the Thorn Forest. The fifty-third difficulty: Encountered disaster at Little Thunderclap. The fifty-fourth difficulty: The gods were trapped. The fifty-fifth difficulty: Blocked by filth in Rare Persimmon Alley. The fifty-sixth difficulty: Practiced medicine in Zhuzi Kingdom. The fifty-seventh difficulty: Rescued the infirm. The fifty-eighth difficulty: Subdued demons and retrieved the queen. The fifty-ninth difficulty: Confused and lost by the seven emotions. The sixtieth difficulty: Wounded by the many-eyed. The sixty-first difficulty: Blocked by Lion Camel. The sixty-second difficulty: Monsters divided into three colors. The sixty-third difficulty: Encountered disaster in the city. The sixty-fourth difficulty: Invited Buddha to subdue demons. The sixty-fifth difficulty: Saved children in Biqiu. The sixty-sixth difficulty: Discerned true from false evil. The sixty-seventh difficulty: Rescued monsters in the pine forest. The sixty-eighth difficulty: Fell ill in the monk’s quarters. The sixty-ninth difficulty: Trapped in the Bottomless Cave. The seventieth difficulty: Hard to travel in Miefa Kingdom. The seventy-first difficulty: Met demons at Hidden Mist Mountain. The seventy-second difficulty: Prayed for rain in Fengxian Prefecture. The seventy-third difficulty: Lost weapons. The seventy-fourth difficulty: Celebrated the nine-toothed rake. The seventy-fifth difficulty: Encountered disaster at Bamboo Joint Mountain. The seventy-sixth difficulty: Suffered in Xuan Ying Cave. The seventy-seventh difficulty: Chased and caught rhinos. The seventy-eighth difficulty: Married in Tianzhu. The seventy-ninth difficulty: Imprisoned in Tongtai Prefecture. The eightieth difficulty: Cast off the mortal body at Lingyun Ferry. The road traveled was one hundred and eight thousand li. The register of the holy monk’s experiences of difficulties is clear. The Bodhisattva looked over the register of difficulties and quickly sent word: “In the Buddhist tradition, ninety-nine returns to truth. The holy monk has undergone eighty difficulties; he still lacks one difficulty, so this number cannot be completed.” She then ordered the Jiedi: “Catch up with the Vajras and create one more difficulty.” This Jiedi received the order, rode the clouds eastward, and in a day and night caught up with the eight Vajras, and whispered in their ears: “… thus and thus, strictly obey the Bodhisattva’s decree, do not err.” Hearing this, the eight Vajras at once pressed down the wind and dropped the four companions, along with the horse and scriptures, to the ground. Ah! It was exactly: Ninety-nine returns to truth; the path of cultivation is hard. Persevere with firm resolve to establish the mysterious pass. Must bitterly refine to make evil demons retreat, Must surely cultivate and uphold the true Dharma to return. Do not take the scriptures lightly— The holy monk has passed through many kinds of difficulties. Since ancient times, the wondrous union accords with the Can Tong Qi; A hair’s breadth of difference prevents the elixir from forming. Sanzang set foot on ordinary ground and felt startled. Bajie laughed heartily and said: “Good, good, good! This is exactly ‘haste makes waste.’” Sha Seng said: “Good, good, good! Because we walked a bit too fast, they let us rest here for a while.” The Great Sage said: “As the saying goes: ‘Sit at the shoal for ten days, and in one day cross nine shoals.’” Sanzang said: “You three stop bickering for now. Recognize the direction and see what place this is.” Sha Seng turned his head and looked around, saying: “It’s here, it’s here. Master, listen to the sound of water.” Xingzhe said: “The sound of water must be your ancestral home.” Bajie said: “His ancestral home is the Flowing Sands River.” Sha Seng said: “No, no, this is the Tongtian River.” Sanzang said: “Disciples, look carefully to see which shore it is?” Xingzhe leaped up, shaded his eyes with his hand, looked carefully, came down and said: “Master, this is the west bank of the Tongtian River.” Sanzang said: “I remember now. On the east bank there used to be a Chen Family Village. That year when we came here, thanks to you saving their children, they were deeply grateful and wanted to build a boat to see us across. Fortunately, the white turtle carried us over. I remember that on the west bank there was no human habitation at all. What shall we do this time?” Bajie said: “I thought only mortals knew how to cheat; it turns out that even the Vajras before the Buddha can cheat. They received the Buddha’s decree to send us back east, but why did they drop us halfway? Now aren’t we in a dilemma? How shall we cross?” Sha Seng said: “Second brother, do not complain. Our master has already attained the Way; earlier at Lingyun Ferry he already cast off his mortal body. This time he certainly will not sink. Let elder brother and you and me all use our power of levitation and carry the master across.” Xingzhe smiled secretly repeatedly and said: “Can’t carry across, can’t carry across.” See how he said “can’t carry across”? If he were willing to use his divine powers and reveal the mystery of flying ascent, the master and disciples could cross a thousand rivers. It was only because he understood in his heart that Tang Sanzang’s ninety-nine number was not yet complete and that he still should have one more difficulty, that he stayed here. The masters and disciples chattered endlessly as they walked slowly along until they reached the water's edge. Suddenly they heard someone call, "Holy Monk Tang, Holy Monk Tang, come here, come here." All four were startled. They raised their heads and looked around, but there was no trace of any person, nor any boat. Instead, a great white soft-shelled turtle with a bald head was poking its head up by the bank, calling, "Master, I have waited for you all these years, and now at last you have returned?" Wukong laughed and said, "Old Turtle, I owe you for your help in years past, and this year we meet again." Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Seng were all overjoyed. Wukong said, "Old Turtle, if you truly have the heart to receive us, come ashore." The turtle immediately heaved itself up and crawled onto the bank. Wukong called for the horse to be led onto its back; Bajie crouched behind the horse's tail, Tang Seng stood to the left of the horse's neck, and Sha Seng stood to the right. Wukong set one foot on the old turtle's nape and the other on its head and called, "Old Turtle, walk steadily and well." The old turtle thrust out its four feet and trod upon the water as if on level ground. Carrying the four masters and disciples, together with the horse—five lives in all—on its back, it headed straight back to the eastern shore. Truly: Within the gate of non-duality, the Dharma is profound and mysterious; Having vanquished all demons, one perceives both heaven and man. The original face is now seen; The one body and its cause are at last made whole. Holding the Three Vehicles, one may enter or depart as one wills; With the Ninefold Elixir completed, one may roam at ease. No need to speak of carrying packs or flying staffs— How fortunate to return to the source and meet the old turtle. The old turtle bore them, treading over waves and surging billows. After traveling for the better part of a day, as evening was drawing near and they were close to the eastern bank, it suddenly asked, "Master, years ago I begged you to ask the Buddha Tathāgata in the Western Heaven, on my behalf, about the matter of my final destiny—how many years of life I have yet. Did you indeed ask?" Now that elder, from the time he had reached the Western Heaven, bathed at Yuzhen Monastery, shed his mortal body at Lingyun Ferry, and set foot on Spirit Mountain, had focused his mind solely on worshiping the Buddha and paying respects to all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, holy monks, and the rest. His thoughts were fixed only on obtaining the scriptures; he paid no heed to any other matter. Therefore he had never asked about the old turtle's lifespan, and had no answer to give. Yet he dared not deceive or utter a falsehood. He pondered for a long while without replying. The old turtle at once knew that he had not asked on its behalf. It gave its body a sudden shake and with a splash plunged into the water, throwing all four of them, together with the horse and the scriptures, into the river. Ah! Fortunately Tang Seng had shed his mortal frame and attained the Way; had it been as before, he would have sunk to the bottom. Moreover, it was fortunate that the white horse was a dragon, and Bajie and Sha Seng could swim. Wukong, smiling faintly, displayed his great supernatural powers, lifted Tang Seng out of the water, and brought him ashore on the eastern bank. Only the bundles of scriptures, the clothes, and the saddle and bridle were all soaked. Just as the masters and disciples had landed and were arranging themselves, suddenly a fierce gale arose, the sky darkened, thunder and lightning flashed together, and stones flew and sand hurtled. They saw: A gust of wind—the cosmos shook; A clap of thunder—the mountains and rivers trembled. A flash—piercing clouds, flying fire; A blanket of fog—covering the vast earth. The wind howled, the thunder crashed. The lightning seared like red silk, the fog obscured stars and moon. The wind drove sand and dust into their faces; the thunder terrified tigers and leopards into hiding. The lightning made birds shriek and cry; the fog made trees vanish from sight. That wind churned the Tongtian River into towering waves; that thunder struck terror into the fish and dragons of the Tongtian River. That lightning lit the Tongtian River to its very bottom; that fog cast a gloomy pall over the riverbanks. What a wind—it toppled mountains, shattered rocks, and bent pines and bamboos. What a thunder—it roused hibernating creatures and harmed men with its mighty power. What a lightning—golden serpents raced across the sky and lit the wilds. What a fog—vast and roiling, it veiled the nine heavens. Sanzang was so terrified that he clutched the scripture bundle; Sha Seng pressed down on the scripture pole; Bajie held fast to the white horse. Wukong, however, swung his iron staff in both hands and guarded them left and right. It turned out that the wind, fog, thunder, and lightning were the cries of yin demons, seeking to seize the scriptures they had obtained. The turmoil lasted all night and only ceased at dawn. The elder, drenched through, shivered and said, "Wukong, what is the meaning of this?" Wukong, fuming, replied, "Master, you do not understand the situation. We have protected you in obtaining these scriptures—this is a feat that seizes the creative power of heaven and earth, and can endure as long as the cosmos, shine as brightly as the sun and moon, enjoy everlasting life, and preserve the immortal Dharma-body. For this reason, heaven and earth cannot tolerate it, and ghosts and spirits are envious, seeking to steal it away in secret. First, the scriptures have been soaked through with water; second, your true Dharma-body, having attained the Way, presses them down, so thunder cannot blast them, lightning cannot scorch them, and fog cannot confuse them. Moreover, I, Old Sun, wield my iron staff, employing the pure yang nature, and have guarded them. And by dawn, the yang energy is again strong—so they could not take them." Only then did Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Seng understand, and they gave thanks without end. After a short while, the sun shone high. They moved the scriptures onto a high cliff, opened the bundles, and spread them out to dry. To this day, the rocks where they dried the scriptures still remain there. They also spread their clothes and shoes by the cliffside, some standing, some sitting, some leaping about. Truly: One body of pure yang rejoices in facing the sun; Yin demons dare not flaunt their violence. Know that though water may prevail, the true scriptures are subdued, And fear not wind, thunder, lightning, or fog. From hereon, clear and calm, they return to true awakening; From now on, at peace and secure, they reach the immortal land. On the Scripture-Drying Rock their traces remain— For a thousand ages, no demon comes to this place. The four of them examined the sutra scrolls, laying each out to dry, when they saw several fishermen come to the riverbank and look up. Among them, one who recognized them said, "Masters, are you not the ones who crossed this river westward to fetch scriptures the year before last?" Bajie said, "Exactly, exactly. Where are you from? How do you recognize us?" The fisherman said, "We are from Chen Family Village." Bajie asked, "How far is Chen Family Village from here?" The fisherman replied, "Crossing this ford southward, it is twenty li." Bajie said, "Master, let us carry the scriptures to Chen Family Village to dry them. There we can find shelter, seats, and food, and we can ask them to wash our clothes—would that not be good?" Sanzang said, "No need to go. We shall dry them here, then pack up and find our way back." Those fishermen passed south across the ford and happened to meet Chen Cheng. They called out, "Second Elder, the masters who stayed at your house the year before last to substitute for the sacrificial offering have returned." Chen Cheng said, "Where did you see them?" The fishermen pointed back and said, "They are all on those rocks drying the scriptures." Chen Cheng at once took a few tenant farmers with him, crossed the ford, and saw them from afar. He ran up close, knelt, and said, "Venerable Lords, you have returned with the scriptures, your merits complete and your practice fulfilled. Why have you not come to my humble home, but instead linger here? Please, please come to my house." Wukong said, "Wait until the scriptures are dry, then we will go with you." Chen Cheng then asked, "How did the Venerable Lords' scriptures and clothes become wet?" Sanzang said, "Years ago we were indebted to the white turtle for carrying us across to the western shore; this year it again carried us across to the eastern shore. When we were nearly at the bank, it asked about the matter it had entrusted me to ask the Buddha regarding its lifespan. I had never asked, and when it learned this, it plunged into the water, and so we were soaked." He then recounted the whole affair in detail. Chen Cheng pleaded with the utmost sincerity, and Sanzang, having no choice, gathered the scripture scrolls. Unexpectedly, several scrolls of the *Buddha's Life Sutra* had stuck to the rock, and when they were pulled away, the ends of the sutras were torn. For this reason, to this day, the *Buddha's Life Sutra* is incomplete, and traces of the writing still remain on the Scripture-Drying Rock. Sanzang lamented, "It was our negligence—we did not watch over them carefully." Wukong laughed and said, "That is not the reason. Heaven and earth themselves are not complete. These scriptures were originally whole; now that they are torn, it accords with the profound principle of incompleteness—how could human power alter it?" The masters and disciples then packed everything up and went with Chen Cheng to his village. In that village, every household told ten, ten told a hundred, and a hundred told a thousand, and old and young alike all came to receive and see them. When Chen Qing heard the news, he set up an incense table before his gate to welcome them, and also ordered drums and pipes to play. In a short while they arrived and were ushered in. Chen Qing led all his family members out to pay their respects, thanking them for their former grace in saving his son and daughter. He then ordered tea to be served and a vegetarian feast laid out. Tripitaka, having received the Buddha's immortal delicacies and immortal viands, and having shed his mortal womb to become a Buddha, no longer had any thoughts for the food of the mortal world. The two elders urged him repeatedly, but there was nothing for it; he merely made a token gesture. Sun Wukong, the Great Sage, had never eaten cooked food, and he too said, "Enough." Sha Wujing also ate little. Bajie, unlike before, set down his bowl as well. Pilgrim said, "Idiot, you're not eating either?" Bajie said, "I don't know why, but my spleen and stomach suddenly weakened." Thereupon the feast was cleared away, and they then asked about the events of the scripture-seeking journey. Tripitaka again recounted in detail—from first arriving at Yuzhen Monastery to bathe, crossing Lingyun Ferry with lightness of body, and then arriving at Thunderclap Monastery to pay respects to Tathagata, where he was honored with a banquet in the jeweled tower and the scriptures transmitted in the precious pavilion; how they were first given wordless scriptures because the two venerable ones had not received their offering; how they later again prostrated themselves and informed Tathagata, and only then received the full canon of one collection; as well as the white turtle's plunge into the water and the secret seizure by the demons of darkness—and then he wished to take his leave. How could the two elders and their entire household be willing to let them go? They said, "In former times you saved our children, and your deep kindness has not been repaid. We have already built a monastery hall, naming it the Jiusheng Temple, devoted to maintaining your incense offerings without cease." They also called forth the former sacrificial substitute children, Chen Guanbao and Yi Cheng Jin, to kowtow and give thanks. They then invited them again to view the temple. Tripitaka placed his scripture bundle in the front hall of their house and recited a scroll of the *Bao Chang Sutra* for them. Later, when they arrived at the temple, they saw that the Chen family had laid out another feast there. Before they had even sat down, another party came to invite them. Before they had even raised their chopsticks, another party came to invite them. Invitations came in an unbroken stream, so that they could not attend to them all. Tripitaka dared not decline any of them, merely making slight gestures of acceptance. They then saw that the temple was indeed built with neat regularity: The mountain gate gleams with red and plastered white, Much owing to the benefactors' merit. A tower and terrace have from this time risen, And side halls and chambers have from this day flourished. Vermilion lattice doors, with seven treasures translucent. Fragrant vapors rise to the Milky Way, Pure radiance fills the vast sky. Several tender cypresses are still watered, A few sturdy pines have not yet grown into thickets. Living water flows before, where the Tongtian River rolls in layered waves; A high cliff leans behind, where mountain veins in multiple folds connect to the earth's dragon. After Tripitaka had looked his fill, he climbed the high tower. On the tower were indeed molded and adorned images of the four of them. Bajie, seeing them, tugged at Pilgrim and said, "Elder Brother, your likeness is very accurate." Sha Wujing said, "Second Brother, yours is very much like you too, only Master's is a bit too handsome." Tripitaka said, "Very good, very good." They then descended the tower. Below, in the front hall and rear corridors, there were still people waiting with feasts to invite them. Pilgrim asked, "What happened to the Great King Temple of former days?" The elders said, "That temple was torn down that very year. Venerable Sirs, ever since this temple was established, every year has brought ripening harvests and each year prosperity, all due to your blessings and protection." Pilgrim laughed and said, "This was Heaven's gift—what has it to do with us? But from now on, after we leave, we will ensure that all the families in this village have flourishing descendants, thriving livestock, favorable winds and rain in season each year, and rain and wind in season each year." The crowd then kowtowed and expressed their thanks. They then saw, before and behind them, countless other households offering fruits and vegetarian feasts. Bajie laughed and said, "My luck was wretched then! At that time I could eat, yet no household invited me even ten times. Today I cannot eat, yet no sooner has one household finished than another comes!" Despite having his qi full, he exerted himself a little and ate a full eight or nine plates of vegetarian dishes; even though his stomach suffered, he still ate another twenty or thirty steamed buns. Having already eaten his fill, there were yet more households inviting him. Tripitaka said, "How could your disciple deserve such profound affection? I beg you to stop for tonight; tomorrow morning we will receive your kindness again." By now it was deep into the night. Tripitaka guarded the true scriptures and dared not leave them for even a moment, so he sat in meditation beneath the tower to keep watch. As the third watch approached, Tripitaka quietly called out, "Wukong, these people here know that our cultivation is complete and our task accomplished. As the ancient saying goes: 'A true person does not reveal his appearance; he who reveals his appearance is not a true person.' I fear that if we remain too long among them, we may delay our great matter." Pilgrim said, "Master's words are reasonable. Let us take advantage of this deep night, when the people are sound asleep, and depart silently." Bajie was also aware, Sha Wujing understood completely, and the white horse also grasped the meaning. Thereupon they rose, quietly lifted the packs onto the horse, shouldered the carrying-pole, and led the horse out through the side corridors to the mountain gate. There they saw a lock on the gate. Pilgrim then performed a lock-opening spell and opened the secondary gate and the main gate, found the road, and headed east. Just then they heard eight great Vajras in midair call out, "You who flee, follow me." The elder, catching the wafting fragrance of the wind, rose into the air. This was exactly: When the elixir is complete, one knows his original face; With body robust, in suchness he pays homage to his lord. We do not yet know how they will meet the Tang King; you must listen to the explanation in the next chapter.