Journey to the West: Starting with the Hunting of the Three Demons of Twin Fork Ridge

Chapter 68 Testing the Mind in Zen: The Dharma of Supreme Perfect Enlightenment

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was even more horrified, and his body trembled once more.

He had heard eminent monks mention the name of Dipankara Buddha when he was in Chang'an. However, he heard that the Dharma practiced by this Buddha was different from that of ordinary Buddhas. He focused on "joy" as the path to liberate sentient beings.

At the time, he thought it was just a rumor and didn't investigate it. Now that he has seen it with his own eyes, he realizes that this "method of joy" is completely different from what he thought!

Dipankara Buddha was not annoyed, but simply smiled and said, "Holy monk, you have been practicing the pure Dharma for many years. You only know that there are rules and regulations in Buddhism, but you do not know that sentient beings have different capacities and different levels of understanding. There is more than one path to Buddhahood."

Tang Sanzang said, "Please enlighten me, Buddha."

Dingguang Huanxi Buddha said: "What I practice is the Joyful Meditation Method, not the pleasure of worldly indulgence in the sea of ​​desire. Rather, it is to use dual cultivation as a boat and desire as an oar, to use worldly emotions to break worldly attachments, to ferry sentient beings across the cycle of rebirth, and to reach the other shore of joy."

After saying that, he reached out and put his arm around a woman next to him. The woman was not shy at all, but leaned in slightly, her eyes full of respect.

The Buddha smiled and said, "These women are called Mingfei. They are all people who have made great vows and are willing to help me with my cultivation."

They were not nuns, but lay virgins who were compassionate and willing to use their own bodies to help me to liberate all sentient beings.

When I practiced dual cultivation with them, it was not to indulge in desires, but to use desire to prove the truth and to find joy in enlightenment.

"In the midst of desire, see through illusion; in the midst of joy, realize true reality. This is the path of practice of the Joyful Dharma, which is to 'use desire to control desire, and use joy to transform suffering.'"

Tang Sanzang was stunned and speechless for a long time. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

In his view, Buddhism is a pure land, and one should sever desires and cultivate a pure and desireless mind in order to achieve enlightenment. However, the path of cultivation of the Buddha of Dipankara is exactly the opposite, taking pleasure in desires as the method of cultivation. How could he accept this?

For a moment, he felt his mind was in complete chaos and he lost all composure.

Dipankara Buddha then said, "Holy monk, you must know that this Joyful Meditation method places the greatest emphasis on one's innate capacity. The higher one's comprehension and the greater one's wisdom, the more consorts one needs. For example, this old monk has a decent level of comprehension and some wisdom, yet I still need seven or eight consorts to complete my practice."

He pointed to the pale-faced monk and said, "This is my disciple, whose Dharma name is Miaose. His comprehension is slightly lacking; one Mingfei will suffice."

The pale-faced monk clasped his hands together and bowed to Tang Sanzang, while the woman in red beside him also gave a graceful curtsy.

Tang Sanzang hurriedly returned the greeting, but his heart was in turmoil.

He became a monk at a young age, strictly observed the precepts, and strictly adhered to the rules. He had never heard of such Buddhist teachings before!

Is this...is this still Buddhism?

Just as he was feeling deeply moved, he suddenly heard the Buddha of Dipankara speak again: "Holy monk, you have come from afar seeking the true Mahayana scriptures, which pleases this old monk greatly. Today, we are fortunate to meet, and this old monk has a question for you. I wonder if the holy monk would be willing to listen?"

Tang Sanzang forced himself to calm down, put his palms together, and said, "Buddha, please speak."

Dingguang Huanxi Buddha's gaze swept over the four of them, and he said with a smile, "Although this old monk's Huanxi Chan method is different from ordinary Buddhist teachings, it is also personally approved by Amitabha Buddha of the Western Pure Land and is a legitimate lineage."

If one can cultivate this practice successfully, one can also attain unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment, and gain great joy and freedom. I wonder if the Holy Monk and your three esteemed disciples would be interested in giving it a try?

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's face immediately turned bright red.

He waved his hands repeatedly, took three steps back, and said in a trembling voice, "This...this is unacceptable! I have been a monk since childhood, strictly adhering to the precepts, and strictly following the precept of 'abstaining from sexual misconduct,' I would never...I would never..."

Dipankara Buddha smiled and said, "Holy monk, please don't misunderstand. This old monk is not asking you to break the precepts, but only asking if you are willing to practice this Joyful Meditation method."

"If you wish to cultivate, then enter my sect, and a wise consort will assist you in your practice; if you do not wish, this old monk will not force you, but will still treat you as an honored guest, provide you with vegetarian meals, and personally escort you on your westward journey tomorrow."

Hearing this, Tang Sanzang felt somewhat relieved, but still shook his head repeatedly: "This humble monk is dull-witted and only knows how to uphold the precepts and recite the Buddha's name. I dare not presume to seek other methods. May the Buddha be merciful and forgive this humble monk for not being able to comply."

Dingguang Huanxi Buddha nodded, then looked at Wukong: "This must be Sun Wukong, right? I've long admired your name. Would you be interested?"

Wukong chuckled, jumped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. I am a rough man, what is there to be happy about? I have never done such things since I was a child. Let Bajie stay here."

Pigsy said, "Brother, don't frame anyone. Let's consider this carefully."

When Tang Sanzang saw that Bajie also refused, he felt a little relieved, but he was afraid of offending Dingguang Huanxi Buddha, so he said, "If you two refuse, then let Wujing stay here."

Sha Wujing said, "Look at what Master is saying. I was persuaded by the Bodhisattva to take the precepts and wait for Master. Since Master accepted me and taught me, I have been following Master for less than two months and have not made any progress. How dare I dream of such a thing!"

Dipankara Buddha did not force the issue, but simply smiled and said, "Very well, since none of you four are willing to practice my Joyful Meditation method, this old monk will not force you."

Then he summoned the pale-faced monk again and said, "Miaose, go and arrange a vegetarian meal so that the holy monk and his disciples can have a good meal and rest well. Tomorrow morning, send them on their westward journey."

The pale-faced monk clasped his hands in prayer, accepted the order, and turned to leave.

Tang Sanzang quickly expressed his gratitude and followed the blue-faced monk out of the main hall to his meditation room to rest.

After the four of them had eaten vegetarian food, it was getting late, so they rested in the meditation room.

Tang Sanzang sat cross-legged on the couch, silently chanting scriptures, but his mind was in turmoil, and he couldn't concentrate on the text. What he had seen and heard today was so bizarre that it shook his beliefs of the past few decades.

Wukong lay on the beam, legs crossed, eyes closed, it was unclear whether he was asleep or thinking about something.

Sha Wujing was leaning against the corner of the wall, fast asleep, snoring loudly.

Only Pigsy tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

When he closed his eyes, he saw the images of those imperial concubines. They were dressed in green, red, and purple, each one as beautiful as a flower.

Especially the woman in red who was nestled next to the pale-faced monk; her features and figure were even more beautiful than Gao Cuilan's!

The more this fool thought about it, the more excited he became, and the less he could sleep.

So he secretly opened his eyes and looked around.

All that could be seen was Tang Sanzang chanting scriptures, the monkey on the beam, and Sha Wujing snoring; no one paid any attention to him.

Suddenly, a thought popped into Pigsy's mind.

The Buddha said that anyone who wishes to practice the Joyful Meditation method can enter his school, have the assistance of a consort, and attain enlightenment.

He is now following Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West, enduring hardships along the way and having to put up with the monkey's temper.

If one can achieve enlightenment here, wouldn't it be much cheaper than going to the Western Paradise to obtain the scriptures?

The more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, and the more he couldn't contain himself.

Finally, he scrambled to his feet and tiptoed outside.

Just as he reached the door, he suddenly heard Wukong roll over on the beam and mutter, "Idiot, why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night? Going to steal something?"