Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 172: Xuanzang on the Path of Reasoning: Was I Wrong?

Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Xuanzang on the Path of Reasoning: Was I Wrong?

In the teahouse.

Wang Yang didn’t concern himself with the matters of Celestial Court, such matters were not his to meddle in, for meddling could bring trouble to himself, and that was never a good thing.

Just then, a strange noise came from the opposite side, and Wang Yang looked up to see a young monk dressed in monk’s robes.

"Is there something you need?"

Wang Yang asked indifferently, not sensing the presence of the Two Saints of the West on the other person, nor the protective aura of Buddhism surrounding him.

Therefore, he didn’t believe the man before him was the one he was looking for.

"Benefactor, you have a predestined connection with our Buddha, as the saying goes, ’Buddha converts those who have fate with him!’"

Xuanzang spoke slowly.

"Oh, what’s your name?"

Wang Yang became somewhat interested and asked the Xuanzang before him.

"This monk’s name is Xuanzang, Benefactor, would you like to escape the sea of suffering and ascend to Ultimate Bliss soon?"

"To shed the three thousand strands of worldly worries, to sever the ties of past dust, to always follow the ancient Buddha, will surely..."

Xuanzang pleaded earnestly, hoping to make Wang Yang bow his head soon.

Upon hearing the other’s name, Wang Yang was also stunned for a moment, somewhat surprised. If this person was Xuanzang, could he be the person he was looking for?

But why couldn’t he sense any trace of the Buddha’s or the Two Sages’ aura on this person, nor was there a Protector shielding him?

So it was only a similarity in given names?

Wang Yang frowned and then interrupted Xuanzang, who was still talking incessantly, saying, "Since you, this monk, claim you want to bring about my universal salvation, I’ll ask you a few questions, and let’s see if you can answer them for me!"

"Oh? If this monk answers them, would the Benefactor agree to be converted by this monk?"

After entering Buddhism, Xuanzang felt it was his mission to universally save all beings, to liberate them from the sea of suffering soon.

"Answer my question first!"

Wang Yang remained noncommittal, then continued, "What is Buddha?"

For ordinary people, this question might not mean much, but for a monk, it became quite sharp.

After all, people in Buddhist houses have their own realizations about Buddha, but they are never all-encompassing.

Even Xuanzang was silent for a moment before he spoke after some contemplation, "One who delivers mortals is a Buddha, one who delivers all sentient beings is a Buddha, one who delivers the whole world is also a Buddha!"

This answer was quite insightful. Buddhism preaches the universal salvation of all living beings, and after entering Buddhism, Xuanzang felt that saving oneself and others was the mission of Buddhists, hence this statement.

It was simple and concise, hitting the nail on the head.

However, Wang Yang shook his head and said, "This answer does not respond to my question!"

While Wang Yang did not think this answer perfectly resolved his question, he could see that the person before him had a deep understanding of Buddhist Law.

Much deeper than his own peers could ever comprehend.

Could this person really be the reincarnation of Golden Cicada?

Golden Cicada would reincarnate ten times before entering the Calamity of Measurement of Journey to the West, thereby achieving Perfection and Attaining Buddhahood.

The ten reincarnations of Golden Cicada are also a crucial part of the great rise of Buddhism.

If Sun Wukong was to be called the initiator, the prelude to the Calamity of Measurement of Journey to the West, then Golden Cicada was among the most powerful practitioners within it.

The two are complementary and essential to each other.

Therefore, even in the Western Paradise, in terms of understanding of Buddhist Law, his comprehension is in no way inferior to that of the Buddhahood.

Thus, for him to enter the Calamity, was also a safeguard by the Two Saints of the West for the Journey to the West, another layer of preparation!

What Xuanzang did not expect was that the answer he was so satisfied with would be rejected just like that.

"Please enlighten me, Benefactor!"

Xuanzang’s understanding of Buddhist Law was such that even masters in temples would feel inferior. He was very confident about his own insights, but now they had been denied, he naturally wouldn’t accept it.

However, he was also very curious about Wang Yang’s answer to this question.

"All beings are Buddha!"

Wang Yang said with a smile, encompassing everything in five simple words.

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang was shaken to his core, filled with shock and disbelief.

"Why?"

Xuanzang furrowed his brow slightly, puzzled.

"Buddha is formless, taking all sentient beings as form."

"Since all myriad beings are Buddha, why the need for conversion?"

For such a Chan (Zen) infused argument, Wang Yang naturally had a way to take it to another level.

The key was that in his past life he had seen so many television shows.

Especially the time he came across an interview with a High Monk who was asked the strange question of what Buddha was.

Wang Yang found it interesting and watched on.

The High Monk straightforwardly replied: "All beings are Buddha; Buddha is formless."

After hearing this, Xuanzang was silent for a while before he brought his palms together and said, "What the Benefactor says is very true, I concede that I have been superficial!"

He had lost. Wang Yang’s words left him unable to refute, and moreover, revealed the ultimate philosophy of Buddhism. If he were to refute it, wouldn’t that contradict the very essence of his religious belief?

But how could Xuanzang easily accept defeat.

If he were still the Golden Cicada, naturally he would not be like this, but he had already transmigrated. The past was like smoke that had dissipated, and now he was just a young monk, naturally he couldn’t help but be competitive.

"The monk also wishes to ask Benefactor a question!"

Xuanzang looked at Wang Yang and slowly began to speak.

"Oh?"

Having heard this question, Wang Yang nodded and then said, "Ask!"

"Benefactor, this monk wishes to ask, what is the Dao?"

Xuanzang posited the question he wanted to ask, what is the Dao, a question that was even more pointed.

Because Buddhism and Daoism differ, Buddhism saves all beings, both oneself and others, but what is the Dao?

Though Buddhist houses and the Daoist Sect might converge in different ways, now that Buddha has spoken, if the Dao could say the same, wouldn’t that mean that the Daoist Sect would return to Buddhism?

Wang Yang naturally lost as well.

He waited for Wang Yang to lose, at least he did not lose to Wang Yang!

Xuanzang stared at Wang Yang, who was quite calm, and slowly began to say, "The Dao has no form, I am the Dao!"

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang couldn’t help but be stunned.

This question seemed to merely copy Wang Yang’s earlier one, and the answer also seemed to be that all beings are the Dao. However, there was always competition between the Buddhist and Daoist sects, and neither would submit to the other.

If Wang Yang answered anything, even if he said all beings are the Dao, it would still be wrong.

In that case, he could bring out the different interpretations of Buddhism and Daoism, which would mean there was no victory or loss.

However, when Xuanzang appeared to have the upper hand, he heard this answer.

This not only expressed the ultimate sentiment towards the Dao but also evaded the Dao implied by Xuanzang.

It was clear Xuanzang didn’t understand that he was no match for Wang Yang.

Moreover, he did not know that Wang Yang had already set a trap, and Xuanzang had fallen for it, even going so far as to pose a similar question as Wang Yang had asked.

It seemed like a simple question and answer, but between one Buddhist and one Daoist, it was filled with strategic wit.

Xuanzang lost, thoroughly defeated.

Even the Golden Cicada, who had once had a clear understanding of the true meaning of the Buddhist law, now felt somewhat bewildered, wondering if he truly understood the Buddhist law.

However, Xuanzang after all had a profound understanding of the Buddhist law. Now that he had lost, he stayed silent for a moment before standing up silently, bringing his hands together before Wang Yang and saying, "Benefactor has spoken truly. The monk has learned a lesson!"

Xuanzang got up and performed a great Buddhist obeisance to Wang Yang.

"The monk has another question!"

After sitting down again, Xuanzang spoke once more.

Wang Yang was not in a hurry; he was still observing if this Xuanzang was the one he was looking for!

After making a gesture of invitation, Xuanzang began to pose his own question.

"The monk wishes to ask, humans experience the Eight Sufferings: birth, aging, sickness, death, parting with what is dear, encountering what is not desired. If Buddhism has the supreme sutras that can help people escape from the sea of suffering and reach the other shore, why does Benefactor not wish it?"

After Xuanzang finished asking, he looked at Wang Yang in front of him, waiting to hear what Wang Yang would say this time.

Upon hearing Xuanzang’s question, Wang Yang, without a moment’s hesitation, began to say, "Heavenly Dao revolves around reincarnation, which is bound by karma. Karma determines destiny; thus, one should naturally go with the flow. Escaping the sea of suffering is in itself suffering!"

"Oh, how so?"

Xuanzang had always believed that everything Buddhism taught was ultimate truth, yet when these words came from Wang Yang, they took on a different meaning.

"In life, one should thoroughly enjoy it. In old age, one should nourish one’s years under heaven. In sickness, one should widen one’s thoughts. In death, one should return to the roots like falling leaves. In love, one should be passionate. In hatred, one should cultivate one’s character. In parting, one should learn to cherish. In complaint, one should learn to let go. When things are unattainable, learn to move forward and view more beautiful scenery. Life is understanding, a kind of experience!"

"Those who can comprehend these things are truly wise."

"Buddhist law seeks to guide, mistakenly trying to make people forget the Eight Sufferings, not realizing that these sufferings are also eight kinds of understanding, the meaning of life. After forgetting them, what is left of your life? It is only by savoring and accepting the Eight Sufferings that we obtain life!"

Wang Yang spoke calmly.

With these words, Xuanzang’s expression could not help but turn solemn.

He used the Eight Sufferings as a point to praise the supreme Buddhist law, thinking that the suffering of the world is due to deep obsession.

However, Wang Yang’s response enlightened him to another perspective.

We need not blindly deny the Eight Sufferings; they are part of life, and realizing life is also a form of practice.

To discard is easy, but to integrate oneself into them and transcend is extremely difficult.

Forgetting is hardly as complete as understanding everything.

"To integrate with, to understand, and to transcend the Eight Sufferings!"

Xuanzang murmured to himself, mulling over Wang Yang’s words.

Buddhism seeks to ferry beings across, to forget the troubles of life, to transcend the sea of suffering with Buddhist law and reach the other shore, ascending to the Ultimate Bliss World.

But forgetting is merely escaping.

It is not the best choice.

Only by immersing oneself deeply, understanding everything, and transcending everything can one follow the path of the world.

These words gave Xuanzang a deeper insight.

Taking a deep breath, Xuanzang brought his hands together and said, "Amitabha Buddha, Benefactor truly possesses great wisdom; the monk has learned a lesson!"

Originally, he revered the Buddhist law, which he believed could make people forget their troubles, convinced that the concept of ’Four Empty Elements’ was the essence, the true meaning of heaven and earth.

However, Wang Yang pointed directly to the core, helping him to understand that one should not shun suffering but rather integrate with it, experience everything, to have a chance to transcend everything.

In that moment, he looked at Wang Yang in front of him, with a newfound understanding.