Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 173: It’s Not That You Don’t Understand, It’s That You Don’t Want to Understand

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: It’s Not That You Don’t Understand, It’s That You Don’t Want to Understand

Xuanzang could feel it too, the clarity with which Wang Yang understood the universe.

At that moment, Xuanzang couldn’t help but be utterly convinced.

"It’s my turn to ask you!"

Wang Yang smiled faintly. It didn’t matter to him whether the Xuanzang before him was the one he was seeking. Changing the latter’s fate was of no consequence.

Perhaps this Xuanzang was the one he was looking for. Wouldn’t that be even better?

He then asked his question.

"Let me ask you, a fishmonger and a high monk are neighbors. The fishmonger slaughters fish daily, accumulating heavy karma from killing, while the monk chants Buddhist scriptures and prays for all beings every day. Yet when the monk wakes early to tighten his pine nuts, the fishmonger also rises early due to the monk’s Buddhist scriptures, to slaughter fish, covered in fresh blood!

"So I ask you, when both pass away, who will be reborn in Ultimate Bliss?"

Wang Yang asked.

As these words were spoken.

Even Xuanzang was taken aback, a look of perplexity crossing his handsome face.

Why would Wang Yang pose such a simple question?

Could it be because he had lost every time before, so now he was letting him win?

The Buddha has said: "Beware for fear of taking the life of ants while sweeping!"

The fishmonger slaughters fish daily, his hands stained with fresh blood, committing serious acts of killing. He should descend into Avici Hell!

And the high monk, who prays for all beings every day, earning great merit, should surely receive the protection of the Heavenly Dao and after death ascend to the Western Paradise, to attain the Golden Body Dharma Fruit.

However, after the issues discussed before, Xuanzang felt that it couldn’t be that simple. With Wang Yang’s intelligence, he wouldn’t pose such a question.

Frowning, after pondering for a moment, Xuanzang found a problem and said, "If so, the fishmonger might as well go to the Ultimate Bliss World!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yang was slightly startled, then somewhat surprised, he asked, "Why?"

"The benefactor should be able to guess. Why ask further?"

When this was said, Wang Yang’s eyes intensified with surprise, "What’s there to fear in saying it?"

Xuanzang was silent for a moment, then spoke, "It involves the foundation of Buddhist Law, unspeakable, unsaid!"

"If the little monk won’t speak, then it’s still considered your loss!"

Wang Yang shook his head, thinking Xuanzang would speak. What a pity.

Xuanzang nodded and said, "Winning and losing are extraneous, insignificant to those who have renounced worldly life!"

Hearing Xuanzang’s words, Wang Yang actually nodded in agreement. Then, smiling, he said, "As a person of Buddhism, naturally you have your considerations; however, I am not a Buddhist, so I am free to express my thoughts!"

Wang Yang appeared serene. Although he was a disciple of Patriarch Bodhi, and Patriarch Bodhi was of the Daoist Sect, so he should also be of the Daoist Sect, to him, Buddhism and Daoism were no different; both were about comprehending the universe.

"The fishmonger slays the fish daily, and the monk practices his scriptures daily. If the monk did not rise early for his practice, the fishmonger wouldn’t get up early to kill the fish. And since the fishmonger kills fish early, he causes the monk to rise early for his prayers. In this way, the fishmonger contributes to the monk’s meritorious blessing through his recitation, and the monk, by rising early as the fishmonger kills the fish, naturally incurs the karma of killing!

"Ultimately, it is natural for the fishmonger to ascend to paradise, and for the high monk, assuming the karma of killing, to enter Hell!

"Is what I said correct?"

Wang Yang finished speaking and looked at Xuanzang before him.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Xuanzang couldn’t help but bring his hands together and chant Buddha’s name.

Confirming that Wang Yang was not wrong, Xuanzang felt somewhat complex.

While the high monk recites the scriptures, he incurs the karma of killing.

But Wang Yang didn’t give Xuanzang the chance to think further, continuing directly with his question, "May I ask the little monk, is there anyone that Buddhism does not ferry across?"

Xuanzang didn’t hesitate, saying directly, "Buddha ferries all beings, without regard to their status, high or low!"

"Even a murderer?"

Wang Yang looked at Xuanzang and asked.

"Ferry!"

Without even a moment’s delay, Xuanzang responded.

"Why ferry?"

"The Buddha said, ’Lay down the butcher’s knife, and you shall immediately become a Buddha’. Naturally, one must ferry!"

Xuanzang answered.

Wang Yang had a smile on his face, "Lay down the butcher’s knife, and you can become a Buddha?"

Xuanzang nodded, "If the butcher’s knife is laid down, then indeed one can become a Buddha!"

Wang Yang’s smile grew deeper, "If laying down the butcher’s knife means one can become a Buddha, then what’s the use of the Forty-eight Thousand Dharma of Buddhism?"

The Forty-eight Thousand Dharma are the methods Buddhism established to universally save all beings, a unique method for each of the myriad beings.

"The Forty-eight Thousand Dharma save the hundred and eighty thousand forms, among which is the one who lays down the butcher’s knife!"

At this point, Xuanzang was somewhat at a loss for words.

"Then what if today I slaughter a Buddha and afterward lay down the butcher’s knife, can I also attain Buddhahood?"

Wang Yang’s gaze was fixed on Xuanzang.

Whoosh!

Just then, countless raindrops fell outside the door, and in an instant, thunder and lightning filled the sky.

Thunderous roars erupted above the clouds, and numerous bolts of lightning tumbled within them, as though carrying the power to destroy heaven and earth.

A pair of eyes carrying immense power and a terrifying aura overwhelmed even Golden Cicada, who found it difficult to endure.

Yet under such pressure, Xuanzang simply brought his hands together and prayed.

"Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha ferries those with destiny. If the benefactor is willing to lay down the butcher’s knife, this humble monk is willing to be the spirit under that knife!"

In the past, Sakyamuni Tathagata fed his flesh to eagles and, under the Bodhi Tree, attained in one night the great path of Buddhism, ascending to Ultimate Bliss.

Today, he, Xuanzang, was also willing to sacrifice himself to universally ferry those with destiny in Buddhism.

"Ridiculous!"

Hearing Xuanzang’s words, Wang Yang couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

"What’s so ridiculous?"

Xuanzang was somewhat puzzled.

Wang Yang continued, "If the butcher’s knife isn’t in my hand, how can I put it down?"

Xuanzang frowned involuntarily and asked, "Where is the butcher’s knife?"

"It’s in your hand!"

Upon hearing this, Xuanzang instinctively looked at his own hands and, finding no butcher’s knife, shook his head and said, "How would a butcher’s knife appear in this monk’s hand? Benefactor, why would you say such a thing!"

"You can’t see it simply because you haven’t polished your eyes!"

Wang Yang shook his head.

"Impossible, there can’t possibly be a butcher’s knife in this monk’s hand!"

Xuanzang still spoke with unwavering conviction.

However, at that moment, Wang Yang slightly smiled and said, "I didn’t have it before, but now I do. Don’t you understand?"

The sound echoed, rushing straight into Xuanzang’s heart.

Xuanzang looked down and saw his hands were still empty; nevertheless, he seemed to have realized something. The words he was about to say also involuntarily stuck in his throat and he could no longer voice them.

At this moment, Xuanzang fell silent, looking at his empty palms, a bitter smile involuntarily spreading across his face.

Eventually, the laughter grew louder and more manic.

He had been extremely compassionate and kind, but now he had become the exact opposite.

It was as if he had become a different person in that moment.

The conversation between Wang Yang and Xuanzang was filled with Zen meaning; although it might not seem much to others, to Xuanzang’s ears, it was imbued with profound significance.

"Thank you for the reminder, benefactor. There indeed is a butcher’s knife in this monk’s heart!"

After a long time, Xuanzang’s expression returned to normal, and he stood up, bowing again to Wang Yang.

But this time, he did not use a Buddhist salute.

Imperceptibly, Xuanzang’s temperament had already changed; there was no need to say more.

He then sat down again opposite Wang Yang, but this time, he did not immediately continue the conversation. Instead, after a long while, Xuanzang’s gaze towards Wang Yang was complex.

"Your words have made me understand a lot, benefactor!"

At that moment, Xuanzang’s face was filled with a look of desolation.

Xuanzang had given up on converting Wang Yang, but his heart was riddled with countless questions, hoping Wang Yang could provide answers.

After all, if one has doubts that cannot be resolved, those doubts will inevitably magnify in the future and become inner demons.

All of his arduous cultivation could fall apart in an instant.

"Benefactor, why is there a divide between Buddhism and Daoism in the world? In his view, the two paths seem to lead to the same goal by different routes, yet now they are incompatible like water and fire!"

He had begun to question Buddhism.

However, he was also puzzled about the divide between Buddhism and Daoism.

In fact, the question wasn’t difficult.

The incompatibility between Buddhism and Daoism was not due to differences in philosophy, but because of selfish desires.

Originally, Buddhism had evolved from Daoism.

With the birth of Buddhism, it had to absorb the fate of heaven and earth, which naturally led to conflict.

Although it is said that all is void, this is merely guidance for the disciples.

As it is said, all the hustle and bustle of the world is for profit.

But Wang Yang inevitably could not answer in such a way.

If he belittled these two paths, he would unavoidably be tainted with unnecessary karma.

At the moment, Xuanzang’s questions were fearless, free from desires for fame and gain. He had his own understanding of the Buddhist Law, an innocent nature, yet it was precisely because of this that his attachments were too deep.

This was also why the Two Sages of the West had Golden Cicada reincarnate and journey to the West to seek scriptures.

In understanding the Buddhist Law, he was more powerful than countless Buddhas, and naturally, there were Buddhas more powerful than him. Most who went to the Western Heaven had one reason or another, likely the Golden Immortals of the Expounding Teachings Sect, or others wanting to cling to Buddhism’s prominence.

However, only Golden Cicada had such a pure aspiration toward Buddhism.

Only because of the conversation with Wang Yang today did he start to feel cracks forming in his aspiration toward Buddhism.

Wang Yang also felt somewhat helpless at this time, feeling a bit like the villain.

"The law differs!"

"How is it different?"

Golden Cicada looked at Wang Yang with sincere eyes, hoping that only the person before him could resolve his doubts.

"Buddhist Law has forty-eight thousand Dharma that can deliver sentient beings of all kinds; regardless of good or bad, beautiful or ugly, all can be delivered with sincerity!

"However, although Daoist Techniques are infinite, they only deliver those with destiny!

"Buddhist Law says: ’Put down the butcher’s knife and immediately become a Buddha!’

"While Daoist Techniques say: ’Those who kill will endure divine and earthly annihilation!’

"Buddhist cultivators work for the next life, cultivating cause and effect!

"Daoist cultivators work for this life, cultivating connections!

"Do you understand?"

Wang Yang finished and looked towards Xuanzang.

Xuanzang seemed to understand but did not fully grasp it; every word Wang Yang spoke appeared to carry the ultimate truth of heaven and earth, yet he was unable to fully comprehend.

"I still don’t quite understand!"

Xuanzang spoke amid silence.

Wang Yang looked deeply at Xuanzang and then said, "It’s not that you don’t understand, but that you don’t want to understand!"

Xuanzang was silent, his emotions extremely complex.

His conversation with Wang Yang today made him feel that the foundation of Buddhism was unstable and even somewhat contradictory.

This made everything he had steadfastly believed in seem about to collapse.

Wang Yang looked at the hesitation in Xuanzang’s eyes and the trace of confusion deep within as if his inner world was undergoing a tumultuous change.