Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons

Xuanzang's tolerance really didn't work. On the night he released the six thieves, they came back again. This time, they set fire to the firewood pile of the house where the master and his apprentice were staying, poured oil on the thatched cottage, and wanted to burn the house again and burn everyone inside to death. Wukong finally couldn't bear it anymore, so he swung his golden cudgel and beat the six thieves into six meat patties.

When Xuanzang talked about this, his voice was shaking with anger: "How can a monk kill people, and six of them at that? He is not worthy of being a human being! I will not tolerate such a thug!"

"When I was scolding him, he was still making excuses, saying that the names of these six thieves, Master, didn't you think about anything? Yes, their names just match the six senses of eyes, ears, mouth, nose, tongue, body and mind, which clearly means that these six people have Buddha nature. We need to teach them well and guide them onto the path of good. How can we just beat them to death? This monkey is really scary!"

I think it’s you who’s so scary!

Wen Jiao was really about to explode with anger at this cheap son who was so kind that he didn't know right from wrong. However, she had a virtue: the angrier she got, the calmer her heart became. "Where is Wukong now?"

Xuanzang said angrily, "I don't know either. This monkey has no respect for his teacher. I just scolded him a few words, but he was even more angry than me. He took advantage of his temper and jumped away and disappeared. He packed all my luggage in the black jade pot, and the pass and the alms bowl were all on him. He left without any problem, but I am left with nowhere to go! Fortunately, this donor is kind enough to let me stay for a few more days to wait for him."

Although it is somewhat deserved, it is still too miserable.

Wen Jiao couldn't help but think of the classic scene of "Jiangnan Leather Factory closed down, and the boss ran away with his sister-in-law", and she almost laughed out loud.

She steadied her voice and asked, "What about the firewood pile?"

"What firewood pile?" Xuanzang didn't react for a moment and asked back reflexively.

"The family that let you stay here had a pile of firewood," Wen Jiao reminded him, "They took you in out of kindness, but you got into this misfortune. Don't you have any way to make amends?"

Xuanzang was silent for a while: "Before Wukong left, he chopped two more piles of firewood and piled them in the yard."

"So you only care about blaming Wukong for his cruel methods of eliminating evil, but have never personally expressed your apology for the donor's loss?" Wen Jiao asked.

This time the silence was particularly long, Wen Jiao knew his answer, and said: "To pity the wicked and be harsh to the good, I don't think that the Buddhist way of compassion should be like this."

Xuanzang argued, "That was because the monkey's killing was too brutal. Mother didn't see it. The six people couldn't even be seen as human beings. They were so pitiful. I was shocked and lost my composure. When I came to my senses, Wukong had already stacked the firewood."

Well, this family was willing to take him in, probably because of the extra firewood. In this era, firewood could also be exchanged for a lot of money.

Wen Jiao gritted her teeth and reminded him, "If the monkey doesn't kill these six thieves, you and this kind man's family will all be buried in the sea of ​​fire."

Xuanzang was not convinced: "With his ability, he can easily capture them and then slowly persuade them. After all, the six thieves did not really kill anyone, so their crime does not deserve the death penalty."

"They failed to kill because Wukong struck first. You can say that they did not deserve the death penalty because it was Wukong who saved you. Let's not talk about whether he should have killed people or not. Let's just say one thing, since you blamed him for being too cruel, have you ever thanked him for saving your life?" Wen Jiao asked.

Xuanzang was speechless.

Wen Jiao said gently, "Human life is precious, so the lives of the six thieves are precious, but your life and the life of the kind man's family are not precious? He saved you, and if you have never thanked him, then your life is too cheap. Even if you think so, I'm afraid your family who stayed with you wouldn't think so, right?"

After a long while, Xuanzang said, "This is my fault. However, killing has consequences, and this is a serious crime."

Wen Jiao said, "Let me ask you, do you think the six thieves' crime of killing without success is not punishable by death? That's why they had an argument with Wukong. So, how do you think the six thieves should be punished?"

"Encourage them to do good."

"You persuaded them, but was it of any use? If it weren't for Wukong, when the six thieves came back, someone besides you would have died as well."

"Then report it to the authorities and let them punish severely."

"Why didn't you report to the authorities when you subdued the six thieves the first and second time?"

Xuanzang's voice became weaker, and he seemed to feel guilty: "That's because I thought I could persuade them to be good..."

Great, the loop is closed.

Wen Jiao said, "Since you refused to report to the authorities, you allowed the six thieves to go unpunished. You should bear the consequences yourself. If the six thieves do any more evil, it will be your fault. But when the six thieves came again, you were unaware and almost implicated the lay Buddhist who took you in. If it weren't for Wukong, would you be able to take the lives of lay Buddhist Shan and his family in hell? Wukong killed the six thieves on behalf of his master to end the cause and effect. Otherwise, you know that with his ability, the six thieves would not be able to hurt him even a hair even if they killed him until the end of time. With his arrogant personality, why would he bother to argue with a few mortals?"

Xuanzang was at a loss and said, "According to what my mother said, should I also pick up the Zen stick and kill the six thieves?"

"If it were my mother, there would be no need for Wukong to take action. I would have dealt with these six thieves who refused to change their ways." Wen Jiao said coldly. Knowing that he couldn't accept it, she softened her tone, "Of course, I know you can't bear it. I don't think it's right for Wukong to kill people. I'm just reminding you that when the six thieves robbed you for the first time, you should have escorted them to the government. As a teacher, you should always set an example for your apprentice to follow. Instead of failing to even out your own karma, you have to let your apprentice clean up the mess for you."

Xuanzang said hesitantly, "But Wukong has already left in anger. Even if I want to say a few kind words to apologize to him, I can't see the monkey."

"He will come back." Wen Jiao looked at the bright moon in the sky that looked like icy jade and said firmly.

How could the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, the affectionate and righteous Monkey King, be a man who has a beginning but no end?

"At the very least, after seeing the pass and the alms bowl in the bundle, he should come back and return them to you. He had a dispute with you, not a grudge against you. How can he take someone else's job and run away?" Wen Jiao said with a smile.

"Actually..." Xuanzang hesitated, "I have something to hide from you, mother."

"What's the matter?"

"Because Wukong took the luggage and left, I was very bored, so I went out for a walk to relax. On the way, I met a strange man with Taoism skills, who gave me a flower hat and asked me to coax Wukong to wear it. After that, he turned into golden light and left. I then realized that it was Guanyin Bodhisattva who came down to earth to enlighten me."

Wen Jiao was startled: "The Bodhisattva specially enlightened you, but only gave you a flower hat?"

Xuanzang did not answer.

Wen Jiao sighed: "Xuanzang, do you have to be hesitant and untruthful when talking to my mother?"

Xuanzang finally confessed: "There is another mantra. The Bodhisattva said that the mantra is called the 'Heart-Setting Mantra', also known as the 'Tightening Mantra'."