txolops Chapter 64 Testing the Mind of Zen: The Three Treasures Passed Down by the Old Mother
Chapter 64 Testing the Mind of Zen: The Three Treasures Passed Down by the Old Mother
Now, since the Old Mother of Lishan intervened to mediate, the three bodhisattvas, though unwilling, could not refuse the old mother's request and had no choice but to let Li Fa off the hook for the time being, waiting for him to atone for his sins.
The next day at dawn, his mother came looking for him.
Li Fa hadn't slept all night, plotting his escape, when he suddenly heard his mother's voice from outside the door: "Has the Daoist priest gotten up yet?"
Li Fa quickly got up to open the door, bowed, and greeted her: "Good morning, Madam. What can I do for you?"
The old woman looked him up and down and said with a smile, "Daoist, please come with me. I have a few words to say to you."
Li Fa felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that the real show was about to begin, and immediately nodded and followed.
His mother led him through the courtyard to a pavilion in the back garden.
With no one around and only the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers, it was a perfect place to talk.
The old mother sat down on the stone bench and gestured for Li Fa to sit down as well.
Li Fa sat down as instructed, cupped his hands, and said, "What advice do you have for me, madam? Please speak freely."
The old woman looked at him and suddenly laughed, "You already know our true identities, don't you?"
Li Fa smiled bitterly and said, "My mother is indeed insightful. I dare not hide anything from her. Last night, when we were having our wedding by chance, she gave me several meaningful glances. I knew it then. If it weren't for her secret help, I'm afraid I would have been tied up like a dumpling and taken to Mount Putuo by now."
The old woman nodded and said, "You're a sensible person; all my efforts haven't been in vain. In that case, I won't beat around the bush with you anymore."
She paused, then said, "Yesterday, it was the three Bodhisattvas, Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, who set a trap to capture you. It was I who stopped them for you."
Upon hearing this, Li Fa was deeply grateful and immediately wanted to bow in thanks.
The old woman waved her hand and said, "No need for formalities. I have my reasons for helping you. However, there is a condition: if you agree, the three Bodhisattvas will let you go; if you don't agree, I can't protect you. Have you thought it through?"
Li Fa said solemnly, "Please speak, Mother."
The old mother said, "You shaved your head and became Sha Wujing ahead of time, causing the calamity of the Flowing Sand River, which resulted in the incomplete number of the Nine-Nine Return to Truth, ultimately going against the will of Heaven."
Upon hearing this, Li Fa's heart skipped a beat.
At the time, I was only thinking about getting the rewards from the Merit Record, and I didn't think about anything else.
Just as he was about to offer some explanation, his mother interrupted him, saying, "Enough, enough, you don't need to explain. I'm not here to punish you. I'm just telling you that if you ruin one calamity, you must make amends for it to achieve perfection."
Li Fa was taken aback, then quickly began to calculate in his mind.
To orchestrate a calamity for Tang Sanzang and his disciples? That's not difficult.
The journey of Tang Sanzang and his disciples to the west was fraught with hardship. Why not just transform into a monster, capture Tang Sanzang, and have Sun Wukong rescue him?
As long as there's a claim of disaster, who cares how dangerous it is?
He was about to agree when his mother said slowly, "However, there are still some restrictions in this matter."
Li Fa's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "What kind of restrictions?"
The old mother said, "It must be a trial to test one's resolve. It shouldn't be too dangerous, nor too easy. You can figure out the specifics yourself."
Upon hearing this, Li Fa gasped in shock.
Test your Zen mind!
Are you suggesting he should transform into a beautiful woman like the four Bodhisattvas to seduce Tang Sanzang and his disciples?
Tang Sanzang is alright, he has a firm will, but Zhu Bajie is greedy and lustful. If he really gets swayed by worldly desires and uses his fighting techniques, wouldn't I really be taken advantage of by the pig since my magic power hasn't fully recovered yet?
His expression kept changing, but his mother, seeing this, didn't urge him on; she just watched him with a smile.
Li Fa's mind raced, and after a moment, an idea suddenly came to him. He put on a fawning smile and said, "My mother's request is my duty. But..."
He drawled out the words, rubbed his hands together, and chuckled, "As the old saying goes: 'Without burning incense, Buddha won't be efficacious; without giving gifts, things won't go smoothly.'"
My mother wants me to do such an important thing, shouldn't I at least get some kind of reward? Even if there's nothing of value, if that monkey beats me up or a pig eats me, I'll at least get my wounds treated, right?
Upon hearing this, the old woman couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You rascal, you know how to take advantage of others! You were the one who caused the trouble, and you're supposed to atone for your sins, but instead you're asking me for favors?"
Li Fa chuckled and said, "Mother, have mercy on me. That Sun Wukong is not someone to be trifled with."
The old mother shook her head and said, "Alright, alright. Since I've stepped in to protect you, I can't let you go empty-handed. Here's what I'll do: I'll grant you three treasures to help you succeed."
Li Fa's eyes lit up, and he quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Mother! May I ask what the three items are?"
The old mother took something out of her sleeve; it was a kasaya, shimmering with rosy light and exuding auspicious energy.
She held it in her palm and said, "It is called the Patchwork Robe. It is made of brocade from the Nine Heavens and contains the universe within. It can conceal one's aura and change at will. If you wear it, even if Sun Wukong had the Fiery Eyes of Truth, he would not be able to see through your true form."
Li Fa was overjoyed and reached out to take it, but then suddenly remembered something and said awkwardly, "Mother, I have the supernatural power of transformation, and Sun Wukong doesn't recognize me. This treasure..."
The old woman rolled her eyes at him and said, "Others may not know, but I do. Your supernatural power is not a complete transformation. If you were to transform into a demon, a monk, a Taoist priest, or a wandering immortal who is not part of the true lineage, that would be fine."
However, if you want to transform into a Great Immortal or a Primordial Saint, there will be some flaws.
Moreover, wearing my precious robe, you don't even need to see other people's true faces. Just a thought in your mind, and it will naturally transform. Isn't that convenient?"
Li Fa nodded repeatedly, "I see! What a wonderful treasure! Thank you, Mother!"
But then the old mother took out a golden rope.
She said, "The second one is called the Immortal Binding Rope. It was originally a treasure of the Buddha of the Destiny, and was later given to me. Once this rope is used, no matter how powerful you are, once you are bound by it, you will be unable to move."
However, you must be careful when using it, lest you tie up the wrong person. If you tie up Tang Sanzang, you might just kill him.
Li Fa repeatedly said, "No, no, I'll make sure I'm careful before tying you up!"
The old mother put away the Immortal Binding Rope, but took nothing else.
Li Fa waited a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Mother, what about the third one?"
The old mother said, "The third one is not my treasure; it was given to me by Guanyin Bodhisattva."
Li Fa was taken aback: "Then the Bodhisattva can give me treasures? Does that mean he's going to put a headband on me?"
The old mother laughed and scolded, "Nonsense! It's a drop of starlight divine water."
Li Fa's expression changed slightly.
The old woman said, "Do you remember that day when you were injured by Guanyin's Three Lights Divine Water and almost lost your life?"
Li Fa nodded; he naturally remembered that feeling.
The old mother said, "Actually, I forced that drop of divine water out using the power of medicine, and it has been preserved until now. Now it's just right for you."
Upon hearing this, Li Fa felt a surge of excitement. He still had a drop of Sunlight Divine Water and a drop of Moonlight Divine Water in his alms bowl. With this drop of Starlight Divine Water, they could be combined to form the Three Lights Divine Water.
He immediately bowed deeply and said solemnly, "Thank you for your generous gift, Mother."