Volume 3: A Long Journey, Chapter 202: Cutting Off Six Thoughts

Tang Seng bid farewell to Liu Boqin and rode alone to the foot of the Two Realms Mountain. Suddenly, he heard someone shouting, “Master, save me!” Having been warned by Liu Boqin earlier, he wasn’t overly panicked. He slowed his horse and searched for the source of the voice. Indeed, at the foot of the mountain, there was a small monkey, its head and arms covered in dust and moss, seemingly trapped there for many years.
Tang Seng dismounted and approached. Wukong waved and said, “Master! Why did it take you so long? Come quickly and save me! I’ll guarantee you a safe journey to the West!”
Tang Seng looked closely and asked hesitantly, “How do you know I’m going to the West?” Wukong replied, “I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven who once invaded the Heavenly Palace. For destroying the Jade Emperor’s gardens, I was trapped under this mountain by Buddha. Previously, the Goddess of Mercy passed by here while searching for someone to retrieve the scriptures. I asked her to save me, but she advised me to convert to Buddhism instead. I volunteered to protect the pilgrim on his journey to the West to earn merit and atone for my sins. Hearing that you were coming, I’ve been in constant fear, waiting for you to rescue me.”
Upon hearing this, Tang Seng was convinced and said joyfully, “Since you’ve been taught by the Bodhisattva and wish to join my monastic community, I certainly want to save you. But I don’t have any suitable axes or tools to free you.”
Wukong said, “No axes or tools are needed. On the top of this mountain lies a golden plaque from Buddha. If you remove it, I’ll be able to get out.”
So Tang Seng abandoned his mount and climbed the mountain, using vines to climb up with great effort until he reached the summit. There, on a large square stone, there was a radiant golden plaque with six golden characters inscribed: “Om, Ma, Ni, Pa, Mi, Hum.”
Seeing the plaque, Tang Seng formed a plan. Since Buddha had trapped him, this monkey must be no good. If it turned out to be too fierce and difficult to control, releasing it would bring disaster to the world. But since the Bodhisattva had recommended it, there must be a reason. Tang Seng knelt down and bowed several times before the golden characters, saying, “Your disciple Chen Xuanzang is sent by the King of Tang to retrieve the scriptures in the West. If this monkey can ensure my safe journey to achieve enlightenment, let it be possible for me to remove this plaque. If it’s too unruly, let it be impossible to remove it, as if I never met it.”
After bowing, Tang Seng stood up. The golden characters flew up on their own, and a wind blew them away. A voice from the sky said, “I am the spirit of this mountain, tasked by Buddha in the West to keep the Great Sage Equal to Heaven under control. Now that the holy monk has arrived, I shall go report to Buddha.”
Hearing this was the mountain spirit, Tang Seng quickly bowed to the sky. After all, his physical body was mortal, while such supernatural powers came from the gods.

After coming down the mountain, Tang Seng said, “The golden notice has been removed; you may come out now.” Wukong replied, “Master, my feat has shaken heaven and earth. Please go about ten or twenty li west and wait for me there.” Hearing this, Tang Seng mounted his horse and headed west. After traveling about ten li, suddenly a loud noise was heard, and the ground trembled slightly. Turning back, he saw the huge Two Realms Mountain collapse. A figure rushed to his horse, bowed with both hands, and said, “Master, I’m out too!” Tang Seng was overjoyed and asked, “How did you fly here?” Wukong laughed and said, “A little cloud-jumping magic—of course it’s no problem.” Seeing himself covered in dirt and dust, Wukong said, “Master, wait here for a moment while I clean up.” He leaped to a high place, found a mountain spring, washed himself thoroughly, and put on a green robe before returning to see Tang Seng. Tang Seng asked, “Do you have a name?” Wukong replied, “In the secular world, my surname is Sun, and my Dharma name is Wukong.” Tang Seng murmured, “Wukong, Wukong—this name is exactly the title used in Buddhism. Since you’re willing to take me as your master, I’ll give you another nickname—Sun Wukong, how does that sound?” Wukong knelt down and bowed four times, saying, “Thank you, Master, for giving me a name.” But in his heart he thought, Even those who serve as teachers seem to have a habit of naming others; both of his names were given by his master. Having met Tang Seng, Wukong’s focus was entirely on reaching the west. Unlike the troublemaking Monkey King, he was extremely cautious throughout the journey, fearing that Tang Seng might disapprove. With his ordinary human eyes, Tang Seng couldn’t see through Wukong’s thoughts, but he found his disciple clever and articulate, so he quite liked him. Along the way, Tang Seng rode ahead on his horse while Wukong followed behind. Looking at Tang Seng’s back, Wukong had a strange feeling—as if, fatefully, Sun Wukong and Tang Seng were destined to be together; they were the perfect match in heaven and on earth. Wukong thought he was just too obsessed with the Journey to the West and completely immersed in the role. That night, since there were no houses along the road, Wukong used his supernatural powers to knock down a few lush trees to make a bed for Tang Seng and arrange his luggage, asking him to rest. Tang Seng was very anxious; he thought the journey west would involve hardships like sleeping outdoors, and he wasn’t used to having someone serve him. He asked, “If I rest now, where will you sleep?” Wukong laughed and said, “Master, don’t worry about me. I haven’t slept for hundreds of years. You rest peacefully; I’ll keep watch for you.” Under Wukong’s protection, Tang Seng slept soundly through the night. When he woke up in the morning, he saw a furry monkey face smiling at him. He quickly got up, clasped his hands, and said, “I’m guilty, I’m guilty.”

Wukong asked, “What sin has been committed?”
Tang Seng replied, “In Buddhism, it is said that Buddha is the mind, and the mind is Buddha; both mind and Buddha always depend on external things. Now that I have developed a lazy heart, isn’t that a sin?”
Wukong thought to himself, “Archaic,” but said aloud, “It is only natural for a disciple to serve his master; there’s no need for concern.” Then he took some vegetarian food and forced Tang Seng to eat it before they set off again.
After traveling a short distance, a magnificent tiger leaped out in front of them, scaring Tang Seng so much that he almost fell off his horse. Wukong rushed to the horse and shouted, “You wretched beast! When you see your great sage ancestor, shouldn’t you stay far away?”
Normally, fierce beasts would avoid Wukong at all costs, but this tiger’s eyes were red, as if mad, and it charged at him. Puzzled, Wukong kicked the beast so badly that it was half-dead, saying, “If I hadn’t turned to Buddhism, even ten such beasts wouldn’t stop me!”
Hearing this, Tang Seng was overjoyed and exclaimed, “Well said! Well said!”
Wukong smiled inwardly. If I hadn’t known your habits, Tang Seng, it would have been hard to control myself.
A few more days passed, and the weather grew colder.
It was now early winter—frost withered the red leaves, chrysanthemums and lotuses had faded, the clouds were as white as snow, and the north wind grew stronger. Wukong told Tang Seng to wear more clothes, and they continued their westward journey day and night. With his great powers, he could easily find wild fruits and food at will during this season. When there was nothing to find, he would fly to nearby villages to steal some rice and flour from wealthy households, then use magic to cook it, ensuring Tang Seng had three meals a day. After all, since he wasn’t on a proper pilgrimage, he had no such taboos against stealing.
One day, as they walked through the mountains, six burly men suddenly appeared, each armed with swords and spears, shouting, “You two monks! Hand over your money before you leave!”
Tang Seng panicked and said, “Wukong, what should we do?” Wukong replied, “Don’t worry, master. Let me go talk to them first!” He stepped forward and said, “Gentlemen, may I ask if you seek wealth or lives?”
One of them snapped, “Stop talking nonsense! How much are your two worthless lives worth? Just give us your horses and money!”
Wukong laughed and said, “Good point! Since you’re after wealth, would you mind telling us your names?”
The robber replied, “Why not? If you want to know, I’ll tell you: the six of us are called Eye of Joy, Ear of Anger, Nose of Love, Tongue of Desire, Mind of Thought, and Body of Worry.”
Upon hearing their names, Wukong thought, “So the real drama has begun.” He turned to Tang Seng and asked, “These six are Joy, Anger, Love, Desire, Thought, and Worry. Master, please advise me on how to deal with them.”

Tang Seng was confused and said, “I just want to pass by; why should I care about what to do with them?”
Wukong replied, “This must be decided by the master. If we want to go to the West to obtain the true scriptures, it will be difficult without cutting off these six thoughts.”
Tang Seng said, “As a Buddhist, I have transcended the four elements—what are joy, anger, love, desire, or worry? I have long severed those roots.”
Wukong asked, “If you’ve severed those roots, then how did they reappear here?”
Tang Seng replied, “Since I’ve severed those roots, these six thoughts must belong to you.”
Wukong asked, “If they’re mine, then should I cut them off?”
Tang Seng sat on his horse, deeply troubled. If he said to cut them off, he would commit the sin of inciting killing; if he said not to, those six thoughts wouldn’t be eliminated, and he wouldn’t be able to reach the West.
Seeing Tang Seng’s hesitation, Wukong laughed and said, “Eliminating these people is as easy as reaching into a bag. It depends on the master’s will.” He clearly remembered that it was the Monkey King who had come here, killed those six people, and was then sent back by Tang Seng. After that, he went to the Eastern Sea, where the Dragon King Ao Guang told him a story about Zhang Liang finding his shoes, before returning to protect Tang Seng. Then he put on the flower hat and fell for Guanyin’s trick, putting the headband on his own head. Since Wukong knew this story, how could he repeat the same mistake?
Tang Seng closed his eyes, deeply troubled, and said, “Alas, since that’s the case, do as you please!”
Hearing this, Wukong felt relieved. He stretched out his Ruyi Staff and swept through the air—those six people were instantly dead.
Tang Seng then said, “It would have been better if they hadn’t lost their lives…” After saying this, he opened his eyes and saw no more of those six robbers—only six corpses lying in the grass.
Tang Seng was shocked beyond measure and fell off his horse. Wukong quickly helped him up, but Tang Seng pushed him away and shouted, “How could you be so cruel? You killed them!”
Wukong replied, “I already asked the master. You said to do as I pleased, so that’s why I acted.”
Tang Seng said, “I hadn’t finished speaking yet, and you were so hasty! As a monk, I wouldn’t harm even an ant, let alone kill people. Even if they were thieves, they’re still human beings—how could you kill them so easily?”
Wukong felt extremely helpless. Despite being extremely careful, things still went wrong. Tang Seng spoke so slowly—next time he really needed to listen more carefully. So he said, “Master, you don’t understand. These six people are actually the six thoughts. Without cutting off these thoughts, how can we achieve enlightenment?”
Tang Seng snapped, “What nonsense are you talking? Stop trying to twist the truth. It seems you’ve already had the intention to kill in your heart, right?”
Wukong replied, “That’s not true. If I wanted to kill them, why would I ask the master first?”

Tang Seng said, “Stop making excuses. You must have neglected your duties, which is why the Buddha pressed you under the mountain. If you keep killing beings like this, I might not be able to reach the Western Heaven either.”
Wukong cursed in his heart. This monk really speaks hurtfully. No wonder Sun Wukong can’t stand him. But he isn’t some ignorant Monkey King; he’s the wise Sun Wukong. So Wukong said, “Master, please calm down. I indeed made mistakes by killing beings, but if you had spoken in one go, this mistake wouldn’t have happened. We both are at fault. Master, please be magnanimous and let this go this time.”
Wukong thought Tang Seng would understand reason, but instead Tang Seng said, “Who says speaking slowly is also a mistake? You committed the fault yourself yet try to shift it onto me. What’s the logic in that?”
Wukong cursed in his heart, “You fool, unable to distinguish right from wrong!” But he still smiled and said, “Alright, it’s all my fault. I won’t kill beings anymore from now on.”
Tang Seng didn’t say anything. He just pointed at him a few times and said resentfully, “Six lives! All raised by their parents. How could you bring yourself to do such a thing?”
Wukong pretended not to hear and cursed Tang Seng a thousand times in his heart.