Chapter 142 Journey to the West 11
Li Zhen was taken into the Buddha's kingdom by Tathagata, where he listened to the Sutra of Saving People day and night.

The halo behind my head grew brighter.

The Bodhi seeds he ate in his early years made it very easy for him to comprehend the Buddhist truth.

"Let go, without distinction, without size."

“There is no self, no sentient beings.”

"Everyone is me."

"Amitabha."

It is precisely because this Bodhi seed contains supreme Buddha power that Tathagata feels that he has wisdom and is slowly being saved.

In the Buddha’s kingdom, the time is unknown.

One day, Tathagata came to see Li Zhen.

He asked, "Are you willing to convert to Buddhism?"

"I sincerely wish to take refuge in this world."

Li Zhen's hair automatically retracted and turned into a bald head. He clasped his hands together and a faint Buddhist power emanated from his body.

"Since you have sincerely converted, I have something for you to do."

"Just give your orders, Buddha."

Tathagata said to Li Zhenyan, "Nowadays, the good and evil of sentient beings in the four continents are different in each place.

The people of Dongsheng Shenzhou respect heaven and earth, and have a clear mind and a peaceful spirit.

The people of Beijuluzhou, although they like to have children, are simple-minded and sentimental in order to make a living, so they don't do much harm.

We, the people of Xiniu Hezhou, are not greedy and do not kill. We cultivate our energy and keep our spirits low. Although we do not have the supreme power, everyone lives a long life.

But those in the Southern Continent are greedy, lustful, and happy to cause trouble. They kill and quarrel a lot. It is what is called a vicious field of verbal disputes and a sea of ​​right and wrong.

I now have the Three Canons of Scriptures, which can persuade people to do good."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhen asked, "I wonder which Three Tibetan Scriptures it is."

Tathagata replied, "I have a collection of Dharmas to discuss heaven; a collection of theories to discuss earth; and a collection of sutras to save ghosts. The three collections total thirty-five parts, or 15,144 volumes, which are the path to cultivating the truth and the door to righteousness and goodness.

I want you to come from the East, cross thousands of mountains, cross tens of thousands of rivers, and go through eighty-one difficulties to come to me and seek the true scriptures.

It is a great blessing to spread the true scriptures to the East and encourage people to live good lives.

It is also a test for you.

Would you like to go?"

Li Zhen nodded, "Disciple is willing to go."

"Very good."

Tathagata was very satisfied with Li Zhen's answer.

Then he handed the five treasures to Li Zhen.

A Jinlan cassock, a nine-ring staff, and three golden hoops.

"Wearing this robe will prevent you from falling into the cycle of reincarnation, and holding this tin will prevent you from being harmed by poison.

This treasure is called "Tight Hoop". Although there are three of them, they are used differently.

I have three spells of the 'Golden Forbidden'.

I have ordered Guanyin to find three highly skilled disciples for you on the road. When the time comes, you will put these three tight hoops on them to restrain them.

As soon as you recite this mantra, your eyes will swell and your head will ache, and your forehead will crack. I will discipline him and let him join my Buddhist sect."

"I will teach you."

Tathagata gave the three mantras to Li Zhen.

"Thank you, Buddha."

Li Zhen clasped his hands together, took the five items and expressed his gratitude.

"Since you have a connection with the Tripitaka Sutra, I will grant you the Dharma name Tripitaka."

"Amitabha."

While Tathagata and Li Zhen were talking, on the other side.

Guanyin Bodhisattva was taking the monk Hui'an to the Tang Dynasty in the East.

The two soon arrived at the Quicksand River.

The Liusha River is eight hundred miles wide and an unknown number of miles long. The water flows like a long dragon, and the waves roll like the backs of mountains. It is vast and boundless, and the sound of the flood can be heard from ten miles away.

The traveler Hui'an was curious, so he went down to wash his hands. As he was washing his hands, he saw a loud splash in the river, and a monster jumped out of the waves, looking very ugly.

The monster had fluffy red hair, a body covered with seaweed, and a hideous face.

"Roar."

His roar was like thunder, and his feet moved like the wind.

The monster held a magic staff in his hand and walked ashore to catch Hui'an, but Hui'an blocked him with his iron staff and shouted, "What a monster!"

The monster came to meet him with his staff in hand.

Mu Zha uses an iron rod to protect the law and displays his magical powers; he uses a demon-subduing staff to subdue monsters and strives to be a hero.

The two of them fought back and forth for dozens of rounds, but neither of them won.

The monster held up the iron rod and asked, "Where are you from? How dare you come to fight me?"

Mu Zha said, "I am Mu Zha Hui'an, the second prince of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King. I am here to protect my master as he goes east. Who are you, a monster? How dare you block the way?"

The monster just realized, "It turned out to be the traveler Hui An, where is the Bodhisattva Guanyin?"

Mu Zha pointed to the sky and said, "Isn't it in the sky?"

Upon hearing this, the monster nodded repeatedly, put away his staff, came to the foot of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and bowed down.

He shouted, “Avalokitesvara, this is all my fault, please listen to me.

I am not a demon. I am the curtain-lifting general of Lingxiao Palace. Just because I accidentally broke a glass cup at the Peach Banquet, the Jade Emperor beat me eight hundred times and banished me to the mortal world, that’s why I became like this.

He also forces me to use a flying sword to pierce my chest and sides more than a hundred times once every seven days, which is why I am so distressed.

There was no other way. The hunger and cold were unbearable, so every two or three days, he went out to find a passerby to eat.

Today, I was ignorant and offended the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva. "

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "You committed a sin in heaven and were banished. Now you are killing lives here, which is adding sin to sin.

I have received the Buddha's order and am now going to the East to find someone who can protect the sutras. Why don't you join me, convert to good deeds, become a disciple of the sutra-seeker, and go to the West to worship Buddha and seek the sutras?
I will teach the flying sword not to pierce you, and you will be spared the pain of having your chest pierced every seven days. Then I will return you to your original position. What do you think?"

The strange man said, "I wish to convert to the right path."

He stepped forward and said, "Bodhisattva, I have eaten countless people here. There were several people who came to seek scriptures, and I ate them all.

The heads of all the people who were eaten were thrown into the quicksand and sank to the bottom of the water.

Even goose feathers could not float in this water, but the nine skulls of the pilgrims floated on the surface and could not sink. I thought they were foreign objects, so I strung them together and took them out to play with in my spare time.

When the pilgrims see these skeletons, will they be too scared to come, thus hindering my future?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "How can it not be possible? You can hang the skull around your neck and wait for the pilgrim to come. It will be useful to you when the time comes."

The monster said, "In that case, I am willing to receive your instruction."

Guanyin Bodhisattva immediately touched his head and gave him precepts. He then took the surname Sha and the Buddhist name Sha Wujing.

"You wait here for the pilgrim, and do not hurt anyone else."

"Follow the command of Guanyin."

After accepting Sha Wujing, Guanyin Bodhisattva took Mu Zha and left here soon.

The two flew straight to the East.

After an unknown amount of time, I saw another high mountain. There was an evil aura on the mountain, so I couldn't walk up. Just as I was about to ride the cloud over the mountain, I suddenly felt a strong wind rising, and another demon flashed out. His eyes were as bright as lightning, and his ears were fanning with a whirring sound. Behind his head was a long line of iron arrows, and his skin was rough and blue. He was holding a strange object in his hand, a nine-toothed spiked mace that shocked everyone.

It turned out to be a huge wild boar monster.

Mu Zha fought with the pig demon for a while.

The fight was so intense that the sky and the earth were dark.

"Evil beast, do you recognize me?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said to the pig demon.

The pig demon glared at him, then immediately came over and kowtowed, shouting loudly: "Avalokitesvara, please forgive me, please forgive me!"

Guanyin pressed down the cloud, came forward and asked, "Where did you come from as a wild boar spirit? Why are you making trouble here?"

The pig demon hurriedly explained, "I am not a wild boar spirit, nor am I a monster. I am originally the Marshal Tianpeng in the Milky Way.

Just because I brought wine to tease Chang'e, the Jade Emperor beat me with two thousand hammers and banished me to the mortal world.

When my spirituality awakened, I planned to be reborn into a human womb, but I accidentally ended up in a sow's womb and became like this.

It was I who bit and killed the sow, beat to death the pigs, occupied the mountain area here, and lived by eating people.

I bumped into a Bodhisattva unexpectedly. Please save me, Bodhisattva. Save me."

Guanyin Bodhisattva asked: "What is the name of this mountain?"

The pig demon said: "It is called Fuling Mountain, and there is a cave in the mountain called Yunzhan Cave.

There was a rabbit spirit in the cave. She saw that I had some martial arts skills and invited me to be her husband. Unfortunately, she died within a year, leaving all the property in the cave to me.

After living here for so many years, they have no way to keep healthy and can only rely on their instinct to eat humans to survive.

Please forgive me, Guanyin Bodhisattva."

Guanyin Bodhisattva frowned slightly and said, "You broke the law in the upper world, and now you are in the lower world and you still have no intention of changing your evil heart. You continue to commit murders and sins, and now you are deeply sinful."

The pig demon sighed, "Avalokitesvara, I am helpless too."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "I have received the Buddha's order to go to the East to find a person who can protect the sutras. You can become his disciple and go to the West to make meritorious deeds. Not only will your sins be redeemed, but you will also be able to escape from the sea of ​​suffering."

The pig demon quickly agreed: "I do, I do."

Guanyin Bodhisattva then touched his head and gave him precepts, and pointed to his body as his surname, so he changed his surname to Zhu, and gave him a Buddhist name, Zhu Wuneng.

Guanyin Bodhisattva also asked Zhu Wuneng to give up the five kinds of pungent food and the three kinds of abominations, so that he could wait for the person who would seek the scriptures.

"Okay, Bodhisattva. I will definitely wait here for the pilgrim."

Bodhisattva and Mu Zha said goodbye to Zhu Wuneng and came in the clouds and mist.

When they were halfway there, they saw a jade dragon calling in the sky.

Guanyin Bodhisattva approached and asked, "Who are you, and why are you suffering here?"

The dragon said, "I am the son of Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea. Because I set fire to the pearl in the palace, my father reported it to the Heavenly Court and accused me of rebellion. The Five Emperors hung me in the air, beat me three hundred times, and soon I was executed.

I hope the Bodhisattva will save me.”

Upon hearing this, Guanyin and Mucha went up to the South Heaven Gate. Qiu and Zhang, two Heavenly Masters, were already there and asked, "Excuse me, where is Guanyin Bodhisattva going?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva replied, "I want to see the Jade Emperor."

The two celestial masters immediately made a report, and the Jade Emperor came down from the hall to welcome them.

Guanyin Bodhisattva stepped forward and bowed, saying: "I followed the Buddha's order to go to the East to find someone to protect the scriptures. On the way, I encountered an evil dragon hanging. I came here to ask for mercy. Please spare his life and give it to me. I will teach him to be a helper for the pilgrim who is seeking the scriptures."

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor immediately issued an order to pardon him, and sent celestial generals to release him and return him to the Bodhisattva.

"I have asked the Jade Emperor to spare your life."

"Thank you, Bodhisattva, for saving my life."

"You wait here for the pilgrim."

The little dragon kowtowed to thank the Bodhisattva for saving his life and obeyed his orders.

Guanyin Bodhisattva sent him back to the deep ravine, where he waited for the pilgrim to arrive, then transformed him into a white horse and went to the West to make merit.

The Bodhisattva took Mu Zha and flew over the mountain, heading east again.

After walking for a while, they suddenly saw thousands of golden lights and auspicious auras.

Mu Zha said: "Master, the place where the light is coming from is the Five Elements Mountain. I saw the Tathagata's 'press' there."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "The one pressed down here is none other than the Monkey King who disrupted the Peach Festival and caused a commotion in the Heavenly Palace."

Mu Zha said: "Yes."

The master and his disciples all went up the mountain to look at the post, which was the six-character mantra of “Om Ma Ni Pa Mi Hum”.

After seeing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva thought to herself that this demon monkey was too arrogant and wanted to be a hero. Not only did he disrupt the Peach Festival, he also stole Laojun's golden elixir.

Even a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals are no match for him, which shows that he has some real skills.

Fortunately, Buddha Tathagata intervened and trapped him here.

Wukong, who was trapped under the mountain, heard what they said and shouted:

"Who is on top of me? Come down quickly."

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva brought Mu Zha down from the mountain.

"Meet Guanyin Bodhisattva."

"Please come this way, Bodhisattva."

At the foot of the stone cliff, the local god, mountain god, and heavenly generals who were guarding the Great Sage all came to pay homage to the Bodhisattva and led her to Sun Wukong.

When Guanyin Bodhisattva came closer, she saw Sun Wukong pinned down, his body covered in dirt, no longer as majestic as he once was.

Moreover, Sun Wukong can speak but his body cannot move, how miserable he is.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Sun Wukong, do you recognize me?"

Wukong opened his flaming eyes, took a look, and nodded, saying, "I, Sun Wukong, recognize you.

You are the compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who saves people from suffering in Putuo Mountain in the South China Sea.

Why are you here today?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva replied, "I am following the Buddha's command to go to the East to look for someone to protect the sutras. I happened to be passing by here and came to see you on the way."

Wukong said, "The Tathagata has deceived me and pinned me under the Five Elements Mountain. I cannot move for five hundred years. I hope the Bodhisattva can help me and rescue me."

Guanyin Bodhisattva shook her head and said, "You have committed many sins. If I save you, I'm afraid you will cause harm again, which is not good."

Wukong said immediately, "I know I am wrong, but I beg the merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva to show me a way. As long as you can save me, I will do anything for you."

When Guanyin heard this, she was overjoyed and said to Wukong, "Since you have such a heart, why don't you follow the pilgrim and become his disciple, and let him save you.

Are you willing to be his disciple, follow his teachings, and enter my Buddhist sect?"

Wukong sighed, "Whatever, I am willing to go."

Wukong knew he had no choice.

Anyway, let’s talk about it after we get out.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "Since you have done good deeds, I will give you a Dharma name."

Wukong quickly said, "I already have a name, Sun Wukong."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said happily: "There are two people who surrendered before me, and they are ranked with the word '悟'.

You are also "悟" now, but you are in harmony with them. Fine, fine. You can wait here for the pilgrim. I am leaving."

Now the three disciples who are going to seek Buddhist scriptures have been found.

Guanyin Bodhisattva took Mu Zha away from here.

(End of this chapter)