Journey to the West
Wealth and fame, glory and rank—all are determined by fate's prior design. A person must never deceive their own heart. Walk upright and bright, and the fruits of loyalty and goodness grow deep. A little arrogance brings heaven's punishment; misfortune now merely awaits its proper time. Ask the Lord of the East: Why do calamities invade so fiercely today? Only because the heart climbed too high, plotting the boundless, confusing high and low, overturning all rules.
Now, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven was pressed by the celestial soldiers beneath the Demon-Slaying Platform, bound to the Pillar of Subjugation. They hacked at him with blades and axes, stabbed him with spears and sliced him with swords—but none could harm his body.
The Southern Dipper Star commanded the Fire Department's gods to burn him with fire, but the flames could not consume him. Then the Thunder Department's gods struck him with thunder-claws—but they could not damage him even a hair's breadth.
The Great Strength Demon King and the others reported, "Your Majesty, this Great Sage—where did he learn this body-protecting method? We have hacked him with blades and axes, struck him with thunder and burned him with fire, yet we cannot harm him in the slightest. What shall we do?"
The Jade Emperor heard this and said, "This creature is such, is such. How shall we deal with him?"
The Supreme Lord Laozi reported, "That monkey ate the immortal peaches, drank the imperial wine, and stole the immortal elixir. Those five gourds of pills I refined contained both raw and ripe. He swallowed them all into his belly. Using Samadhi Fire, he forged them into a single mass. Thus his entire body has become a diamond-hard body that cannot be quickly harmed.
"It would be better to let this old Daoist take him. Place him inside the Eight-Trigram Furnace and refine him with civil and martial flames. When my elixir is refined out, his body will naturally turn to ash."
The Jade Emperor heard this and immediately commanded the Six Ding and Six Jia to release him and hand him over to Laozi. Laozi received the decree and departed.
On the other side, the Manifesting Sage Erlang was summoned. He was rewarded with one hundred golden flowers, one hundred bottles of imperial wine, one hundred elixir pills, strange treasures, bright pearls, brocades, and other items. He was told to share them with his sworn brothers. The True Lord thanked the Emperor and returned to Guan River. This need not be described.
Laozi returned to the Tushita Palace. He released the Great Sage's ropes and removed the hook-blade that pierced his pipa bone. He pushed him into the Eight-Trigram Furnace and commanded the furnace-tending daoists and fire-stoking children to ignite the flames and refine him.
Now, this furnace contained the Eight Trigrams: Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, and Dui. The Great Sage positioned himself beneath the Xun trigram.
Xun represents wind. Where there is wind, there is no fire. But the wind stirred up smoke, which blew into his eyes and made them red. He turned this into an old eye-disease, thus called "Fiery Golden Eyes."
Truly, time passed swiftly. Unknowingly, forty-nine days completed. Laozi's refining technique was perfected.
One day, he opened the furnace to retrieve the elixir.
The Great Sage covered his eyes with both hands, rubbing them as tears flowed. He heard the sound at the furnace head. Suddenly opening his eyes and seeing light, he could not restrain himself. He leaped with his body, jumped out of the elixir furnace, and with a crash, kicked over the Eight-Trigram Furnace. He walked straight out.
The fire-stokers, furnace-tenders, and the Ding-Jia group rushed to pull him back. He knocked them all down, one by one, like a mad white-browed tiger, like a frenzied unicorns dragon.
Laozi chased and grabbed at him. The Great Sage shoved him once, sending Laozi tumbling head over heels. He broke free and fled.
Immediately, he drew the Wish-Fulfilling Rod from his ear. He shook it toward the wind once until it was as thick as a bowl. Holding it in his hand again, he made no distinction between good and evil. He once more threw the heavenly palace into chaos, beating the Nine Luminaries until they closed their doors and shut their windows, beating the Four Heavenly Kings until they vanished without form or shadow.
This monkey spirit was truly formidable. There are poems as proof:
The Primordial Body aligns with Pre-Heaven truth;
through ten thousand kalpas and thousand trials, only natural.
Vast and non-acting, merged with the Great One;
unmoving and thus-called, the First Mystery.
Long refined in the furnace—not lead or mercury;
immortality beyond things is the true immortal.
Transformations without end, still transforming again—
the Three Refuges and Five Precepts need not be spoken.
Another poem:
A single spark of spiritual light pierces the Great Void;
that supporting staff is likewise.
Sometimes long, sometimes short, used as one wills;
horizontal or vertical, rolled or unfurled at command.
Another poem:
The monkey's Dao-body matches the human heart;
the heart is the monkey—its meaning runs deep.
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven is no false claim;
the Bimawen title—how could it comprehend?
Horse and monkey join as heart and mind;
bind them tightly, seek nothing outside.
Ten thousand forms return to Truth from One Principle;
the Thus-Come One's same covenant dwells in Twin Groves.
In this outbreak, the Monkey King made no distinction between high and low. He wielded his iron rod, striking east and battling west. Not a single god could block him. He fought all the way into the Hall of Clear Light, outside the Empyrean Hall.
Fortunately, the Guardian Sage True Lord's assistant, the Spirit Official Wang, was guarding the hall. Seeing the Great Sage rampaging, he drew his golden whip and stepped forward to block him.
"Impudent monkey, where do you go? With me here, do not be so rampant!"
The Great Sage did not bother with words. He raised his rod and struck. The Spirit Official raised his whip to meet him.
These two fought together before the Empyrean Hall—a truly magnificent battle:
Red-hearted, loyal, and virtuous—his fame was great;
deceiving heaven, lying to superiors—his name was ruined.
One low, one high—fortunately they held against each other;
heroes and champions wagered together.
The iron rod was fierce; the golden whip was swift—
how could honesty and selflessness endure?
This one was the Taiyi Thunder-Sound Response Transformation Venerable;
that one was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the monkey-monster.
Golden whip and iron rod—both sides had skill;
both were divine palace and celestial implements.
Today, before the Empyrean Hall, they displayed their power—
each showing their heroic talent, truly admirable.
One, with deceitful heart, sought to seize the Dipper-Ox Palace;
one, with all strength, upheld the Mysterious Sage Realm.
Bitter struggle, neither yielding—supernatural powers displayed;
whip and rod came and went, no victory or defeat.
These two fought together, victory and defeat undetermined.
The Guardian Sage True Lord quickly sent officers with dispatches to the Thunder Palace, summoning thirty-six Thunder Generals to come together. They surrounded the Great Sage in the center and each displayed their ferocity in fierce battle.
The Great Sage had not a trace of fear. He wielded his Wish-Fulfilling Rod, blocking left, parrying right, bracing behind, and meeting the front.
Seeing that the Thunder Generals' knives, spears, swords, halberds, whips, maces, clubs, hammers, battle-axes, golden melons, yak-tail sickles, and moon-shovels came at him fiercely, he shook his body and transformed.
He became three heads and six arms. He shook the Wish-Fulfilling Rod once, and it became three rods. His six hands wielded the three rods like a spinning wheel—spinning, whirling, dancing in the center of the encirclement.
The Thunder Gods could not approach him. Truly it was this:
Round and radiant, brilliantly bright—
eternally existing, how can one learn it?
Enter fire and it cannot burn; enter water and it never drowns.
A bright mani pearl—swords, halberds, knives, and spears cannot wound it.
It can be good; it can be evil—
good and evil before the eyes, he acts as he wills.
When good, he becomes Buddha or immortal;
when evil, he wears fur and bears horns.
Infinite transformations—he threw the heavenly palace into chaos;
Thunder Generals and divine soldiers could not capture him.
At that time, the various gods gathered the Great Sage in one place but could not approach his body. They shouted in chaos and fought in confusion.
This alarmed the Jade Emperor. He transmitted a decree, commanding the Wandering Spirit Official and the Winged Sage True Lord to go to the Western Region and invite the Buddha Elder to subdue him.
The two saints received the decree and went straight to the Spirit Mountain Victory Realm, before the Thunder Sound Treasure Monastery. They bowed to the Four Vajra Guardians and Eight Bodhisattvas, then requested them to transmit the message.
The gods followed them to the Treasure Lotus Platform below and reported. The Thus-Come One summoned them. The two saints bowed to the Buddha three times and stood below the platform.
The Thus-Come One asked, "What matter brings the Jade Emperor to send you two saints down?"
The two saints immediately reported, "In past times, a monkey was born in Flower-Fruit Mountain. There he displayed supernatural powers, gathered monkey crowds, and threw the world into chaos.
"The Jade Emperor issued a pacification decree and appointed him Bimawen. He found the office too low and rebelled. We then dispatched Heavenly King Li and Prince Nezha to capture him, but we failed. We issued another pacification decree and conferred upon him the title Great Sage Equal to Heaven—first an office without salary.
"We put him in charge of the Peach Garden. He stole peaches. He went to the Jasper Pool, stole delicacies, stole wine, and disturbed the grand feast. Relying on his drunkenness, he secretly entered the Tushita Palace and stole the old one's immortal elixir. He rebelled and fled the heavenly palace.
"The Jade Emperor again dispatched one hundred thousand celestial soldiers, but they could not subdue him. Later, Guanyin recommended the True Lord Erlang, who pursued and killed him with his sworn brothers. The monkey transformed in many ways. Fortunately, Laozi threw the Diamond Bangle and struck him. Only then could Erlang capture him.
"He was brought before the Emperor, who ordered him executed. Blades hacked, axes chopped, fire burned, thunder struck—but none could harm him. Laozi requested permission to take him and refine him with fire.
"After forty-nine days, the cauldron was opened. He leaped out of the Eight-Trigram Furnace again, beat back the heavenly soldiers, went straight into the Hall of Clear Light, outside the Empyrean Hall.
"The Guardian Sage True Lord's assistant, the Spirit Official Wang, blocked him and fought bitterly. Then thirty-six Thunder Generals were summoned to surround him in the center. But they still could not approach him.
"The matter is urgent. Therefore, the Jade Emperor specially requests the Thus-Come One to save the throne."
The Thus-Come One heard this and said to all the Bodhisattvas, "Sit firmly in this Dharma Hall. Do not disturb your meditation seats. Wait for me to refine this demon and save the throne. I shall return."
The Thus-Come One summoned the Venerables Ananda and Kasyapa to accompany him. He left the Thunder Sound Monastery and went straight to the Empyrean Gate.
There he heard deafening shouts—the thirty-six Thunder Generals surrounding and trapping the Great Sage.
The Buddha Patriarch transmitted the Dharma decree: "Command the Thunder Generals to cease their weapons, open their camp, and let that Great Sage come out. Let me ask him what magical power he possesses."
The generals withdrew as commanded. The Great Sage also withdrew his Dharma form and revealed his original body. He stepped forward, his anger soaring, his voice harsh and loud.
"You are some virtuous person from where? How dare you stop the weapons and question me?"
The Thus-Come One laughed, "I am the Shakyamuni Venerable of the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amitabha!
"Now I hear you are rampant and wild in the countryside, repeatedly rebelling against the heavenly palace. I do not know where you were born, in what year you attained the Way, or why you are so violent and arrogant."
The Great Sage said, "I am originally:
Heaven and Earth gave birth to me—a spiritual mixed immortal;
in Flower-Fruit Mountain, I am an old ape.
In the Water-Curtain Cave, I make my home and livelihood;
I bowed to friends and sought teachers, awakening to the Great Mystery.
I refined how many methods of long life?
I learned transformations—vast and boundless.
Because in the mortal realm I found the earth too narrow,
I set my heart to dwell in the Jasper Heaven.
The Empyrean Hall does not belong to another for long;
each generation's human king has a share to transmit.
The strong deserve honor—let me have it;
heroes only in this dare to take the lead."
The Buddha Patriarch heard these words and laughed coldly. "You creature, you are a monkey who became a spirit. How dare you deceive your heart and seek to seize the Jade Emperor's supreme position?
"From childhood, he cultivated and held. He bitterly endured one thousand seven hundred and fifty kalpas of tribulation. Each kalpa lasts one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years. Calculate how many years he must endure before he can enjoy this formless Great Way?
"You, a畜生 whose first life was as a human—how dare you speak such great words? Unworthy, unworthy! This will reduce your lifespan.
"Convert early. Do not speak nonsense. I fear you will meet a poisonous hand, your life ending in an instant. It would pity your original form."
The Great Sage said, "Though he cultivated from youth, he should not occupy this position for long. As the saying goes, 'The emperor takes turns; next year it comes to my house.'
"Just let him move out, yield the heavenly palace to me, and all will be well. If he does not yield, I will certainly cause chaos. There will never be peace."
The Buddha Patriarch said, "Beyond your methods of longevity and transformation, what other skill do you possess that dares to occupy the heavenly palace's victory realm?"
The Great Sage said, "I have many abilities! I possess seventy-two transformations. I live ten thousand kalpas without aging. I can ride the Tumble-Cloud—one leap travels one hundred eight thousand li. How can I not sit in the heavenly position?"
The Buddha Patriarch said, "Let me make a wager with you.
"If you have the skill to leap out of my right palm with one Tumble-Cloud, I will count it as your victory. No more weapons need be moved, no bitter fighting. I will ask the Jade Emperor to dwell in the Western Region and yield the heavenly palace to you.
"If you cannot leap out of my palm, you will return to the mortal realm as a demon. Cultivate for a few more kalpas, then come to argue again."
The Great Sage heard this and secretly laughed. "This Thus-Come One is very foolish. Old Sun's one Tumble-Cloud goes one hundred eight thousand li. His palm is not even a square foot across. How could I not leap out?"
He quickly said aloud, "If you say so, can you make this decision?"
The Buddha Patriarch said, "I can, I can."
He extended his right hand. It was about the size of a lotus leaf.
The Great Sage put away his Wish-Fulfilling Rod, gathered his divine power, and leaped with his body. He stood in the center of the Buddha Patriarch's palm and said, "I am going out!"
You would see him travel in a trail of cloud-light, formless and shadowless, gone.
The Buddha Patriarch watched with his Wisdom Eye. He saw the Monkey King spinning like a windmill, ceaselessly advancing.
As the Great Sage traveled, he suddenly saw five fleshy red pillars supporting a mass of green qi.
He said, "This is the end of the road. When I return this time, the Thus-Come One will bear witness. The Empyrean Palace will certainly be mine to sit in."
He thought again, "Wait. Let me leave some mark. Then it will be easier to speak with the Thus-Come One."
He plucked a hair, blew immortal breath upon it, and cried, "Transform!"
It became a brush with dual tips soaked in thick ink. On the middle pillar, he wrote a line of large characters:
"The Great Sage Equal to Heaven arrived here for a tour."
After writing, he retrieved the hair. Without dignity, he squatted at the base of the first pillar and urinated a monkey's stream.
He turned his Tumble-Cloud and returned directly to his original place. Standing within the Thus-Come One's palm, he said, "I have gone. Now I have come. Command the Jade Emperor to yield the heavenly palace to me."
The Thus-Come One cursed, "I take you for a urine-spirit monkey! You never left my palm!"
The Great Sage said, "You do not know. I went to heaven's end and saw five fleshy red pillars supporting a mass of green qi. I left a mark there. Do you dare to go with me and see?"
The Thus-Come One said, "No need to go. Just lower your head and look."
The Great Sage opened his Fiery Golden Eyes wide and looked down.
On the Thus-Come One's right middle finger was written: "The Great Sage Equal to Heaven arrived here for a tour."
Inside the base of the thumb, there was still some monkey-urine stench.
The Great Sage was greatly alarmed. "Such a thing? Such a thing? I wrote these characters on the heaven-supporting pillars. How are they on his fingers? Could he have a method of knowing the future before it happens?
"I absolutely do not believe it, do not believe it. Let me go again!"
The worthy Great Sage quickly leaped to jump out again.
The Buddha Patriarch turned his palm and struck once. He pushed this Monkey King out beyond the Western Heaven Gate. He transformed his five fingers into five connected mountains: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. He named them the "Five Elements Mountain."
He gently pressed him down.
The Thunder Gods, Ananda, and Kasyapa each clasped their palms and praised, "Excellent, excellent!"
In past years, the egg-learned one became human;
he set his will to cultivate, truly attaining the Dao.
For ten thousand kalpas, unchanging, he dwelt in the victory realm;
in one morning, transformed, his spirit scattered.
Deceiving heaven, lying to superiors—he thought of high position;
defiling saints, stealing elixir—he overturned great order.
Evil fills to the brim—now there is retribution;
he does not know what day he will turn over.
The Thus-Come One Buddha extinguished the demon monkey. He summoned Ananda and Kasyapa to return together to the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss.
At that time, Marshal Tianpeng and Marshal Tianyou quickly exited the Empyrean Hall, saying, "Please, Thus-Come One, wait a moment. Our Lord's great carriage comes."
The Buddha Patriarch heard this, turned his head, and looked up.
In moments, truly, he saw the Eight-Scenes Phoenix Carriage and the Nine-Light Treasure Canopy. Sounds played mysterious songs and subtle music; voices chanted immeasurable divine verses. Treasure flowers scattered, true incense sprayed.
They arrived before the Buddha and thanked him, saying, "We greatly thank the Great Dharma for subduing the demon and evil. We ask the Thus-Come One to pause for one day. We will invite all the immortals to hold a banquet in gratitude."
The Thus-Come One did not dare to disobey. He clasped his palms and thanked, saying, "This old monk received the Great Heavenly Worthy's command to come here. What magical power do I possess? It is the Heavenly Worthy and all the gods' great fortune. How dare I trouble your thanks?"
The Jade Emperor transmitted a decree, commanding the Thunder Department's gods to separately invite the Three Pure Ones, Four Sovereigns, Five Elders, Six Officers, Seven Yuan, Eight Poles, Nine Luminaries, Ten Capitals, Thousand Truths, and Ten Thousand Saints to come to this banquet and together thank the Buddha's grace.
He also commanded the Four Celestial Masters and the Nine Heaven Fairy Maidens to open the Jade Capital's Golden Palace, the Great Mystery's Treasure Hall, and the Cave-Yang's Jade Pavilion. They invited the Thus-Come One to sit high upon the Seven-Treasure Spirit Platform. They arranged seats for all classes and prepared dragon liver and phoenix marrow, jade nectar, and immortal peaches.
In a short time, the Jade Pure Primordial Beginning Heavenly Worthy, the Upper Pure Numinous Treasure Heavenly Worthy, the Great Pure Moral Heavenly Worthy, the Five Venerable True Lords, the Five Dipper Star Lords, the Three Officials and Four Saints, the Nine Luminary True Lords, the Left Assistant, the Right Aid, the Heavenly Kings, Nezha, and all the mysterious and void spiritual intelligences arrived.
Pair upon pair of flags, double upon double of canopies, all held bright pearls and strange treasures, longevity fruits and rare flowers. They bowed before the Buddha and offered, saying, "We thank the Thus-Come One's immeasurable magical power for subduing the demon monkey. We have received the Great Heavenly Worthy's banquet invitation, calling us all to come and express our gratitude.
"We ask the Thus-Come One: What name shall we give this assembly?"
The Thus-Come One, receiving the gods' request, said, "Now we wish to establish a name. It may be called the 'Peace-of-Heaven Grand Assembly.'"
All the immortal elders said with one voice, "A good 'Peace-of-Heaven Grand Assembly'! A good 'Peace-of-Heaven Grand Assembly'!"
After speaking, each took their seat. Cups circulated, vessels passed. Flowers adorned their hair, zithers were strummed. Truly, it was a fine assembly.
There is a poem as proof:
The banquet was set with peaches—the monkey caused chaos;
the Peace-of-Heaven Grand Assembly surpasses the Peach Banquet.
Dragon flags and phoenix carriages—auspicious light glows softly;
treasure banners and fluttering canopies—lucky qi drifts.
Celestial music and mysterious songs—their tones are beautiful;
phoenix flutes and jade pipes—their sounds rise high.
Jade incense curls and winds—all immortals gather;
the universe is clear and peaceful, celebrating the sage court.
All rejoiced in the pleasant assembly.
They saw the Queen Mother of the West lead a group of fairy maidens, fairy beauties, lovely courtesans, and beautiful women, dancing lightly toward the Buddha. They bowed and said, "Previously, the demon monkey disturbed the Peach Banquet. We asked all the immortals and Buddhas to complete their merit.
"Now, we thank the Thus-Come One's Great Dharma for chaining the stubborn monkey. We celebrate the 'Peace-of-Heaven Grand Assembly.' We have nothing to offer in thanks. Now I have cleansed my hands and personally picked several large immortal peaches to present."
Truly they were:
Half-red, half-green—they spray sweet fragrance;
gorgeous immortal roots, growing for ten thousand years.
Laughable, the seeds above the Wuling Source—
how can they compare to the heavenly府's greater wonder and strength?
Purple veins, tender and delicate—rare in the world;
apricot pits, clear and sweet—unmatched under heaven.
Extending life, lengthening years—they can change the body;
those fated to eat them are naturally extraordinary.
The Buddha Patriarch clasped his palms and thanked the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother commanded the fairy maidens and fairies to sing and dance. All the assembled immortals praised and admired.
Truly it was:
Ethereal heavenly fragrance filled the seats;
colorful immortal蕊and immortal flowers.
The Jade Capital and Golden Palace—great glory;
strange-grade and rare treasures—priceless.
Pair upon pair, longevity equal to Heaven;
double upon double, ten thousand kalpas increased.
Mulberry fields and blue seas may change at will—
they themselves know no shock, no surprise.
The Queen Mother was having the fairy maidens and fairies sing and dance. Cups and chopsticks crossed in confusion.
In a short time, suddenly they heard:
A wave of strange fragrance came to their nostrils,
startling the hall full of stars and constellations.
Celestial immortals and Buddha Patriarchs stopped their cups,
each raising their heads to welcome with their eyes.
Between the Milky Way, an old man appeared,
holding a spirit fungus, flying through embroidered mist.
His gourd stored ten-thousand-year elixir;
his precious register named thousand-era longevity.
In his cave, heaven and earth roam at will;
in his pot, sun and moon achieve completion.
Roaming the four seas, he delights in purity and leisure;
scattered and calm, the ten isles allow gathering.
He has attended the Peach Banquet, drunk many times;
when awake, the bright moon is still as before.
Long head, large ears, short body—
in the Southern Pole region, he is called Longevity.
The Longevity Star arrived. After bowing to the Jade Emperor, he also saw the Thus-Come One and expressed his thanks, saying, "At first, I heard that the demon monkey was led by the old one to the Tushita Palace for refinement. I thought he would certainly be made safe. Unexpectedly, he rebelled and escaped.
"Fortunately, the Thus-Come One skillfully subdued this monster and set up a banquet of thanks. Therefore, I heard the wind and came. I have nothing else to offer. I specially present purple zhi jade grass, green lotus roots, and golden elixir."
Poem:
Green lotus and golden elixir offered to Shakyamuni;
the Thus-Come One's ten-thousand-year life is like the Ganges' sands.
Clear peace and eternal joy—the Three Vehicles' brocade;
health and longevity—the Nine Grades' flowers.
In the Formless Gate, the true Dharma Master;
in the Form-and-Emptiness Heaven, the immortal home.
Heaven, earth, and all lands call him Ancestor;
his sixteen-foot golden body—blessings and longevity abound.
The Thus-Come One joyfully accepted the thanks. The Longevity Star took his seat. Cups and vessels circulated again.
They saw the Bare-Foot Immortal arrive. He bowed before the Jade Emperor, then thanked the Buddha Patriarch, saying, "I deeply feel your magical power in subduing the demon monkey. I have nothing to express my respect. I specially present two cross-pearls and several fire-dates."
Poem:
The Great Immortal Bare-Foot—dates and pears fragrant;
respectfully offered to Amitabha—longevity calculations lengthen.
The Seven-Treasure Lotus Platform—steady as a mountain;
the Thousand-Gold Flower Seat—adorned like brocade.
Longevity equal to Heaven and Earth—these words are no lie;
blessings compared to the great waves—how could this be madness?
Blessings and longevity arrive on time—truly it is so;
pure leisure and ultimate joy—that Western place.
The Thus-Come One thanked him again. He commanded Ananda and Kasyapa to collect all the offered items one by one. Only then did he thank the Jade Emperor for the banquet.
All were drunk.
They saw a patrolling Spirit Official come and report, "That Great Sage has extended his head out!"
The Buddha Patriarch said, "No harm, no harm."
From his sleeve, he took out a single talisman. Upon it were six golden characters: Om Mani Padme Hum.
He handed it to Ananda and told him to paste it on the mountain peak.
The Venerable received the talisman, exited the heavenly gate, went to the Five Elements Mountain peak, and firmly pasted it onto a square stone.
That mountain immediately took root and sealed shut. The Great Sage could still use his breath-energy. His hand could crawl out and shake, shake.
Ananda returned and reported, "The talisman has been pasted."
The Thus-Come One then took leave of the Jade Emperor and all the gods. With the two Venerables, he exited beyond the heavenly gate.
He aroused a compassionate heart, chanted the true mantra spell, and summoned the Five Elements Mountain to appoint a local earth deity. Together with the Five Directional Revealers, they would reside at this mountain and supervise the imprisonment.
"When he is hungry, give him iron pills to eat. When he is thirsty, give him molten copper to drink. When his calamity and sin are fulfilled, naturally someone will save him."
Truly it was:
The demon monkey boldly rebelled against the heavenly palace;
he was subdued by the Thus-Come One's hand and brought low.
Thirsty, he drinks molten copper, enduring the years;
hungry, he eats iron pellets, passing the time.
Heaven's calamity bitterly traps him, suffering torment;
human affairs are desolate, yet he rejoices his life is long.
If the hero someday regains his struggle,
in future years, he will serve the Buddha and ascend to the West.
Another poem:
Subdued, he displayed his heroic power—the great tide rose;
taming dragons, subduing tigers, he played his cunning skill.
He stole peaches, stole wine, and roamed the heavenly palace;
he received the register, accepted grace in the Jade Capital.
Evil filled to the brim—his body was trapped;
good roots were not cut off—his spirit still rises.
Truly, he escaped the Thus-Come One's hand—
but wait for the Tang Dynasty to produce the holy monk.
We do not know in what year or month his calamity will be fulfilled. Listen to the explanation in the next chapter.