Journey To The West, Chapter 100: They Return To The Land Of The East, 5 Sages Are Confirmed Gods.
Let us not say anything more about how the 4 pilgrims departed by
riding the wind with the Vajra Guardians male gods. We tell you instead about
the multitude in the Life Saving Monastery at the Chen Village, who rose
at dawn and went at once to offer fruits and other food to their
benefactors. When they arrived at the space beneath the tower, however, they found
that Tang Tripitaka Monk had disappeared. So all of them looked
everywhere, but without success. They were so upset that they did not quite
know what to do except to cry aloud, “We have allowed a living Buddha
to walk away!”
After a while, the entire household realized that they had no better
alternative than to pile all the food and gifts on the altar up in the tower and
offer them as sacrifices along with the burning of joss paper cash. After that, they
made 4 great sacrifices and 24 smaller ones each year.
Moreover, those who wanted to pray for healing, for safety on a journey, for the
gift of a spouse, for wealth or children, and to make a vow, appeared daily at
every hour to present their offerings and incense. Truly,
The gold censer continued a 1,000 years’ fire;
The jade chalice brightened with an eternal lamp.
In that condition we shall leave them.
We tell you now instead about the 8 Vajra Guardians male gods, who employed
the 2nd gust of fragrant wind to carry the 4 pilgrims back to the Land
of the East. In less than a day, the capital, Changan, gradually came into
view. That Emperor Taizong, you see, had escorted Tang Tripitaka Monk out of
the city 3 days before the full moon in the 9th month of the
13th year of the Zhenguan reign period. By the 16th year, he had
already asked the Bureau Of Labor to erect a Guard Scriptures Tower outside
the Western Peace Pass to receive the holy books. Each year Taizong would
go personally to that place for a visit. It so happened that he had gone again
to the tower that day when he caught sight of a sky full of auspicious mists
drifting near from the West, and he noticed at the same time strong gusts
of fragrant wind.
Halting in midair, the Vajra Guardians male gods said loudly, “Sage Monk Tang Tripitaka, this is the city
Changan. It is not convenient for us to go down there, for the people of this
region are quite intelligent, and our true identity may become known to
them. Even the Great Sage Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness and his 2 companions need not go, you
yourself may go, hand over the scriptures, and return at once. We will wait for
you in the air so that we may all go back to report to Shakyamuni Buddha male god.”
“What the Honored Ones say may be most appropriate,” said the Great
Sage Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness, “but how could my master Tang Tripitaka carry all those scriptures? How could he lead
the dragon prince horse at the same time? We will have to escort him down there. May we
trouble you to wait a while in the air? We dare not delay you.”
“When the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god spoke to Tathagata the other day,” said
the Vajra Guardians male gods, “she assured him that the whole trip should take only
8 days, so that the canonical number would be fulfilled. It is already more
than 4 days now. We fear that 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability might become so enamored
of the riches down below that we will not be able to meet our appointed
schedule.”
“When Master Tang Tripitaka attains Buddhahood,” said 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability, chuckling, “I, too,
will attain Buddhahood. How could I become enamored of riches down
below? Stupid old ruffians! Wait for me here, all of you! As soon as we have
handed over the scriptures, I will return with you and be rewarded with Buddhahood.” Idiot took
up the pole, Sandy Understand Purity Monk led the dragon prince horse, and Pilgrim Sun Monkey Undertand Emptiness supported Tang Tripitaka the sage monk.
Lowering their cloud, they dropped down beside the Guard Scriptures Tower.
When Taizong and his officials saw them, they all descended the tower
to receive them. “Has the royal brother Tang Tripitaka returned?” asked the emperor. Tang
Tripitaka Monk immediately prostrated himself, but he was raised by the
emperor’s own hands. “Who are these 3 persons?” asked the emperor
once more.
“They are my disciples I made during our journey,” replied the Tang Tripitaka
Monk. Highly pleased, Taizong at once ordered his attendants, “Saddle one
of our chariot horses for our royal brother Tang Tripitaka to ride. We will go back to the court
together.” Tang Tripitaka Monk thanked him and rode the horse, closely
followed by the great sage Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness wielding his golden hooped rod, and by 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability
and Sandy Understand Purity carrying the luggage and supporting the dragon prince horse. The
entire entourage in this manner entered together the city of Changan. Truly,
A banquet of peace was held years ago.
When lords, civil and martial, made a grand show.
A monk preached the law in a great event,
From Golden Chimes the king his subject sent.
Tripitaka was given a royal rescript,
For 5 Phases matched the cause of holy script.
Through bitter smelting all creatures were purged.
Merit done, they now on the court converged.
Tang Tripitaka Monk and his 3 disciples followed the imperial chariot into the court,
and soon there was not a single person in the city of Changan who had not
learned of the scripture seekers’ return.
We tell you now about those monks, young and old, of the Temple Of
Great Blessing, which was also the old residence of Tang Tripitaka Monk in
Changan. That day they suddenly discovered that the branches of a few
pine trees within the temple gate were pointing eastward. Astonished, they
shouted, “Strange! Strange! There was no strong wind to speak of last night.
Why are all the tops of these trees twisted in this manner?”
One of the former disciples of Tang Tripitaka said, “Quickly, let us get our
proper monk garb. The old master Tang Tripitaka who went away to acquire scriptures
must have returned.”
“How do you know that?” asked the other monks.
“At the time of his departure,” the old disciple said, “he made the
remark that he might be away for 2 or 3 years, or for 6 or 7 years.
When we see that these pine tree tops point to the east, it
would mean that he has returned. Since my master Tang Tripitaka spoke the holy words of
a true Buddha, I know that the truth has been confirmed this day.”
They put on their clothing hurriedly and left. By the time they reached
the street to the west, people were already saying that the scripture seeker
had just arrived and been received into the city by His Majesty. When they
heard the news, the various monks dashed forward and ran right into the
imperial chariot. Not daring to approach the emperor, they followed the
entourage instead to the gate of the court. Tang Tripitaka Monk dismounted and
entered the court with the emperor. The dragon prince horse, the scripture packs,
Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness, 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability, and Sandy Understand Purity Monk were all placed beneath the steps of
jade, while Taizong commanded the royal brother Tang Tripitaka to ascend the hall and
take a seat.
After thanking the emperor and taking his seat, Tang Tripitaka Monk asked
that the scripture scrolls be brought up. Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness and his companions
handed them over to the imperial attendants, who presented them in turn
to the emperor for inspection. “How many scrolls of scriptures are there,”
asked Taizong, “and how did you acquire them?”
“When your subject arrived at the God Mountain and bowed to the
Buddhist Patriarch male god,” replied Tang Tripitaka, “he was kind enough to ask Ananda
and Kasyapa, the 2 Honored Ones, to lead us to the precious tower first
for a meal. Then we were brought to the treasure loft, where the scriptures
were gifted to us. Those Honored Ones asked for a gift, but we were not
prepared and did not give them any. They gave us some scriptures anyway,
and after thanking the Buddhist Patriarch male god, we headed east, but a monstrous
wind snatched away the scriptures. My humble disciple fortunately had a
little magic power. He gave chase at once, and the scriptures were thrown
and scattered all over. When we unrolled the scrolls, we saw that they were
all wordless, blank texts. Your subjects in great fear went again to bow and
plead before Shakyamuni Buddha male god. The Buddhist Patriarch male god said, ‘When these scriptures
were created, some Bhiksu sage monks left the monastery and recited some
scrolls for one Elder Zhao in the Sravasti Kingdom. As a result, the living
members of that family were granted safety and protection, while the
deceased attained salvation. For such great service they only managed to
ask the elder for 3 pecks and 3 pints of rice and a little gold. I told
them that it was too cheap a sale, and that their descendants would have no
money to spend.’ Since we learned that even the Buddhist Patriarch male god
anticipated that the 2 Honored Ones would demand a gift, we had little choice
but to offer them that alms bowl of purple gold that Your Majesty had
gifted to me. Only then did they willingly turn over the real scriptures
with writing to us. There are 35 titles of these scriptures, and several
scrolls were selected from each title. Altogether, there are now 5,048
scrolls, the number of which makes up one canonical sum.”
More delighted than ever, Taizong gave this command: “Let the Court
Of Imperial Entertainments prepare a banquet in the East Hall so that we
may thank our royal brother Tang Tripitaka.” Then he happened to notice Tang Tripitaka’s 3
disciples standing beneath the steps, all with extraordinary looks, and he
therefore asked, “Are your noble disciples foreigners?”
Prostrating himself, the elder said, “My eldest disciple has the surname
of Sun Monkey, and his religious name is Understand Emptiness. Your subject also addresses him
as Pilgrim Sun Monkey. He comes from the Water Curtain Cave of the Flower Fruit
Mountain, located in the Aolai Country in the East Purvavideha Continent.
Because he caused great disturbance in the Heaven Palace, he was
imprisoned in a stone prison cell by the Buddhist Patriarch male god and pressed beneath the
Mountain of 2 Frontiers in the region of the western barbarians. Thanks
to the advice of the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god, he was converted to
Buddhism and became my disciple when I freed him. Throughout my journey
I relied heavily on his protection.
“My 2nd disciple has the surname of Pigsy, and his religious name
is Understand Ability. Your subject also addresses him as Pigsy 8 Rules. He comes
from the Cloudy Paths Cave of Fuling Mountain. He was playing the evil creature
at the Old Gao Village of Qoco when the advice of the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god
and the power of Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness caused him to become my disciple. He earned
his merit on our journey by toting the luggage and helping us to ford the
waters.
“My 3rd disciple has the surname of Sandy, and his religious name is
Understand Purity. Your subject also addresses him as Sandy Monk. Originally he was a
evil creature at the Flowing Sand River. Again the advice of the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god
persuaded him to take the vows of Buddhism. By the way, the horse is not
the one my Lord gifted to me.”
Taizong said, “The color and the coat seem all the same. Why is it not the
same horse?”
“When your subject reached the Eagle Grief Stream in the Serpent Coil
Mountain and tried to cross it,” replied Tang Tripitaka, “the original horse was
devoured by this horse. Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness managed to learn from the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god
that this horse was originally the prince of the Dragon King Of The Western
Ocean. Convicted of a crime, he would have been executed had it not been
for the intervention of the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god, who ordered him to be the dragon prince horse of
your subject. It was then that he changed into a horse with exactly the same
coat as that of my original ride. I am greatly indebted to him for taking
me over mountains and summits and through the most treacherous
passages. Whether it be carrying me on my way there or bearing the scriptures
upon our return, we are much indebted to his strength.”
On hearing these words, Taizong complimented him profusely before
asking again, “This long trek to the Western Region, exactly how far is it?”
Tang Tripitaka said, “I recall that the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god told us that the distance was
108,000 miles. I did not make a careful record on
the way. All I know is that we have experienced 14 seasons of heat
and cold. We encountered mountains and ridges daily; the forests we came
upon were not small, and the waters we met were wide and swift. We also
went through many kingdoms, whose rulers had affixed their seals and
signatures on our document.” Then he called out: “Disciples, bring up the
passport and present it to our Lord.”
It was handed over immediately. Taizong took a look and realized that
the document had been issued on the 3rd day before the full moon, in
the 9th month of the 13th year during the Zhenguan reign period.
Smiling, Taizong said, “We have caused you the trouble of taking a long
journey. This is now the 27th year of the Zhenguan period!” The
passport has the seals of the Precious Image Kingdom, the Black
Rooster Kingdom, the Cart Slow Kingdom, the Kingdom Of Women in
Western Liang, the Sacrifice Kingdom, the Scarlet Purple Kingdom, the Bhiksu
Kingdom, the Dharma Destroying Kingdom. There were also the seals of
the Phoenix God Prefecture, the Jade Flower County, and the Gold
Level Prefecture. After reading through the document, Taizong put it away.
Soon the officer in attendance to the throne arrived to invite them to
the banquet. As the emperor took the hand of Tang Tripitaka and walked down
the steps of the hall, he asked once more, “Are your noble disciples familiar
with the etiquette of the court?”
“My humble disciples,” replied Tang Tripitaka, “all began their life as
creatures deep in the wilds or a mountain village, and they have never
been instructed in the etiquette of China’s sage court. I beg my Lord to
pardon them.”
Smiling, Taizong said, “We will not blame them! We will not blame them!
Let us all go to the feast set up in the East Hall.” Tang Tripitaka thanked him once
more before calling for his 3 disciples to join them. Upon their arrival
at the hall, they saw that the opulence of the great nation of China was
indeed different from all ordinary kingdoms. You see,
The door was hung with weaved brocade.
The floor adorned with red carpets,
The whirls of exotic incense,
And fresh victuals most rare.
The amber cups
And crystal goblets
Are gold trimmed and jade set,
The gold platters
And white jade bowls
Are patterned and silver rimmed.
The tubers thoroughly cooked,
The taros sugar coated,
Sweet, lovely button mushrooms,
Unusual, pure seaweeds.
Bamboo shoots, ginger spiced, are served a few times,
Malva leaves, honey drenched, are mixed several ways.
Wheat glutens fried with xiangchun leaves,
Wood ears cooked with bean curd skins.
Rock ferns and fairy plants,
Fern flour and dried wei leaves.
Radishes cooked with Sichuan peppercorns,
Melon strands stirred with mustard powder.
These few vegetarian dishes are so so,
But the many rare fruits quite steal the show!
Walnuts and persimmons,
Lungans and lychees.
The chestnuts of Yizhou and Shandong’s dates,
The South’s ginko fruits and hare head pears.
Pine seeds, lotus seeds, and giant grapes,
Fei nuts, melon seeds, and water chestnuts.
“Chinese olives” and wild apples,
Crabapples and Pyrus pears,
Tender stalks and young lotus roots,
Crisp plums and “Chinese strawberries.”
Not one species is missing,
Not one kind is deficient.
There are, moreover, the steamed mille feuilles, honeyed pastries, and fine viands,
And there are also the lovely wines, fragrant teas, and strange dainties.
An endless spread of 100 flavors, true noble fare.
Western barbarians with great China can never compare!
Master Tang Tripitaka and 3 disciples were grouped together with the officials, both
civil and military, on both sides of the emperor Taizong, who took the seat
in the middle. The dancing and the music proceeded in an orderly and
solemn manner, and in this way they enjoyed themselves thoroughly for one
whole day. Truly,
The royal banquet rivals the sage kings’:
True scriptures acquired bring excess blessings.
Forever these will prosper and remain
As Buddha’s light shines on the king’s domain.
When it became late, the officials thanked the emperor, while Taizong
withdrew into his palace, the various officials returned to their residences.
Tang Tripitaka Monk and his disciples, however, went to the Temple Of Great
Blessing, where they were met by the resident monks kowtowing. As they
entered the temple gate, the monks said, “Master Tang Tripitaka, the top of these trees were
all suddenly pointing eastward this morning. We remembered your words
and hurried out to the city to meet you. Indeed, you did arrive!” The elder Tang Tripitaka
could not have been more pleased as they were ushered into the abbot’s
quarters. By then, 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability was not clamoring at all for food or tea, nor
did he indulge in any mischief. Both Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness and Sandy Understand Purity Monk behaved most
properly, for they had become naturally quiet and reserved since the Tao
in them had come to fruition. They rested that night.
Taizong held court next morning and said to the officials, “We did not
sleep the whole night when we reflected on how great and profound has
been the merit of our brother Tang Tripitaka, such that no compensation is quite adequate.
We finally composed in our head several homely sentences as a mere
token of our gratitude, but they have not yet been written down.” Calling for
one of the secretaries from the Central Drafting Office, he said, “Come, let
us recite our composition for you, and you write it down sentence by
sentence.” The composition’ was as follows,
We have heard how the Dyadic Models which manifest themselves in
Heaven and Earth in the production of life are represented by images,
whereas the invisible powers of the 4 seasons bring about transformation
of things through the hidden action of heat and cold. By scanning Heaven
and Earth, therefore, even the most ignorant may perceive their
rudimentary laws. Even the thorough understanding of yin and yang, however, has
seldom enabled the worthy and wise to comprehend fully their ultimate
principle. It is easy to recognize that Heaven and Earth do contain yin and yang
because there are images. It is difficult to comprehend fully how yin and yang
pervade Heaven and Earth because the forces themselves are invisible. That
images may manifest the minute is a fact so does not perplex even the
foolish, whereas forms hidden in what is invisible are what confuses even the
learned.
How much more difficult it is, therefore, to understand the way of
Buddhism, which exalts the void, uses the dark, and exploits the silent in order
to succor the myriad grades of living things and exercise control over the
entire world, Its spiritual authority is the highest, and its divine potency has
no equal. Its magnitude impregnates the entire cosmos, there is no space so
tiny that it does not permeate it. Birthless and deathless, it does not age
after a 1,000 kalpas, half hidden and half manifest, it brings 100
blessings even now. A wondrous way most mysterious, those who follow it
cannot know its limit. A law flowing silent and deep, those who draw on it
cannot fathom its source. How, therefore, could those benighted ordinary
mortals not be perplexed if they tried to plumb its depths?
Now, this great Religion arose in the Land of the West. It soared to the
court of the Han period in the form of a radiant dream, which flowed with
its mercy to enlighten the Eastern territory. In antiquity, during the time
when form and abstraction were clearly distinguished, the words of the
Shakyamuni Buddha, even before spreading, had already established their goodly influence.
In a generation when he was both frequently active in and withdrawn from
the world, the people beheld his virtue and honored it. But when he returned
to Nirvana and generations passed by, the golden images concealed his true
form and did not reflect the light of the universe. The beautiful paintings,
though unfolding lovely portraits, vainly trying to show the Shakyamuni Buddha's 32
holy body marks. Nonetheless his subtle doctrines spread far and wide to save people
and beasts from the 3 unhappy paths, and his traditions were widely
proclaimed to lead all creatures through the 10 stages toward
Buddhahood. Moreover, Shakyamuni Buddha made scriptures, which could be divided into
the Great and the Small Vehicles. He also possessed the Law, which could be
transmitted either in the correct or in the deviant method.
Our monk Xuanzang, a master of the law, is a leader within the gate of
law. Devoted and intelligent since his youth, he realized early the merit of
the 3 forms of emptiness. When grown he comprehended the
principles of the spiritual, including first the practice of the 4 forms of
patience. Neither the pine in the wind nor the moon mirrored in water can
compare with his purity and radiance. Even the dew of Heaven and
luminous gems cannot surpass the clarity and refinement of his person. His
intelligence encompassed even those elements which seemingly had no
relations, and his spirit could perceive that which had yet to take visible forms.
Having transcended the lure of the 6 senses, he was such an outstanding
figure that in all the past he had no rival. He concentrated his mind on the
internal verities, mourning all the time the mutilation of the correct
doctrines. Worrying over the mysteries, he lamented that even the most
profound treatises had errors.
He thought of revising the teachings and reviving certain arguments, so
as to disseminate what he had received to a wider audience. He would,
moreover, strike out the erroneous and preserve the true to enlighten the
students. For this reason he longed for the Pure Land and a pilgrimage to the
Western Territories. Risking dangers he set out on a long journey, with only
his staff for his companion on this solitary expedition. Snow drifts in the
morning would blanket his roadway, sandstorms at dusk would blot out the
horizon. Over 10,000 miles of mountains and streams he proceeded,
pushing aside mist and smoke. Through a 1,000 alternations of heat and
cold he advanced amidst frost and rain. As his zeal was great, he considered
his task a light one, for he was determined to succeed.
He toured throughout the Western World for 14 years, going to
all the foreign nations in quest of the proper doctrines. He led the life of
an ascetic beneath twin sala trees and by the 8 rivers of India. At
the Deer Park and on the Vulture Peak he beheld the strange and searched
out the different. He received ultimate truths from the senior sages and was
taught the true doctrines by the highest worthies. Penetrating into the
mysteries, he mastered the most profound lessons. The way of the Triyana and 6
Commandments he learned by heart; a 100 cases of scriptures forming
the canon flowed like waves from his lips.
Though the countries he visited were innumerable, the scriptures he
succeeded in acquiring had a definite number. Of those important texts of the
Mahayana he received, there are 35 titles?” in altogether 5,048
scrolls. When they are translated and spread through
China, they will proclaim the surpassing merit of Buddhism, drawing the
cloud of mercy from the western extremity to shower the dharma rain on
the eastern region. The Holy Religion, once incomplete, is now returned to
perfection. The multitudes, once full of sins, are now brought back to
blessing. Like that which quenches the fire in a burning house, Buddhism
works to save humanity lost on its way to perdition. Like a golden beam
shining on darkened waters, it leads the voyagers to ascend safely the other
shore.
Thus we know that the wicked will fall because of their iniquities, but the
virtuous will rise because of their karmic affinities. The root causes of such
rise and fall are all self made by man. Consider the cinnamon flourishing
high on the mountain, its flowers nourished by cloud and mist, or the lotus
growing atop the green waves, its leaves unsoiled by dust. This is not because
the lotus is by nature clean or because the cinnamon itself is chaste, but
because what the cinnamon depends on for its existence is lofty, and thus it
will not be weighed down by trivia, and because what the lotus relies on is
pure, and thus impurity cannot stain it. Since even the vegetable kingdom,
which is itself without intelligence, knows that excellence comes from an
environment of excellence, how can humans who understand the great
revelations not search for well being by following well being?
May these scriptures abide forever as the sun and moon and may the
blessings they confer spread throughout the universe!
After the secretary had finished writing this treatise, the sage monk Tang Tripitaka was
summoned. At the time, the elder Tang Tripitaka was already waiting outside the gate of
the court. When he heard the summons, he hurried inside and prostrated
himself to pay homage to the emperor.
Taizong asked him to ascend the hall and handed him the document.
When he had finished reading it, Tang Tripitaka Monk went to his knees again to
express his gratitude. “The style and rhetoric of my Lord,” said Tang Tripitaka Monk, “are
lofty and classical, while the reasoning in the treatise is both profound and
subtle. I would like to know, however, whether a title has been chosen for
this composition.”
“We composed it orally last night,” replied Taizong, “as a token of
thanks to our royal brother Tang Tripitaka. Will it be acceptable if I title this ‘Preface to
the Holy Religion’?” The elder Tang Tripitaka kowtowed and thanked him profusely. Once
more Taizong said,
“Our talents pale before the imperial tablets,
And our words cannot match the bronze and stone inscriptions.
As for the esoteric texts,
Our ignorance thereof is even greater.
Our treatise orally composed
Is actually quite unpolished,
Like mere spilled ink on tablets of gold.
Or broken tiles in a forest of pearls.
Writing it in self interest,
We have quite ignored even embarrassment.
It is not worth your notice,
And you should not thank us.”
All the officials present, however, congratulated the emperor and made
arrangements immediately to promulgate the royal essay on Holy Religion
inside and outside the capital.
Taizong said, “We would like to ask the royal brother Tang Tripitaka to recite the true
scriptures for us. How about it?”
“My Lord,” said the elder Tang Tripitaka, “if you want me to recite the true scriptures,
we must find the proper religious site. The treasure palace is no place for
recitation.” Exceedingly pleased, Taizong asked his attendants, “Among the
monasteries of Changan, which is the purest one?”
From among the ranks stepped forth the Grand Secretary, Xiao Yu, who
said, “The Wild Goose Pagoda Temple in the city is purest of all.” At once
Taizong gave this command to the various officials: “Each of you take
several scrolls of these true scriptures and go reverently with us to the Wild
Goose Pagoda Temple. We want to ask our royal brother Tang Tripitaka to expound the
scriptures to us.” Each of the officials indeed took up several scrolls and
followed the emperor's chariot to the temple. A lofty platform with proper
appointments was then erected. As before, the elder Tang Tripitaka told 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability and Sandy
Understand Purity Monk to hold the dragon prince horse and mind the luggage, while Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness was
to serve him by his side. Then he said to Taizong, “If my Lord would like to
circulate the true scriptures throughout his empire, copies should be made
before they are dispersed. We should treasure the originals and not handle
them lightly.”
Smiling, Taizong said, “The words of our royal brother Tang Tripitaka are most
appropriate! Most appropriate!” He then ordered the officials in the
Hanlin Academy and the Central Drafting Office to make copies of the true
scriptures. For them he also erected another temple east of the capital and
named it the Temple For Imperial Copying.
The elder Tang Tripitaka had already taken several scrolls of scriptures and went to
the platform. He was just about to recite them when he felt a gust of
fragrant wind. In midair the 8 Vajra Guardians male gods revealed themselves and
shouted, “Recitants, drop your scripture scrolls and follow us back to the West.”
From below, Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness and his 2 companions together with the dragon prince white horse
immediately rose into the air. The elder Tang Tripitaka, too, abandoned the scriptures and
rose from the platform. They all left soaring through the air. So startled
were Taizong and the many officials that they all bowed down toward the
sky. Thus it was that,
Since scriptures were the sage monk’s ardent quest,
He went on 14 years throughout the West
A bitter journey full of trials and woes,
With many streams and mountains as his foes.
9 merits more were added to 8 x 9;
His 3,000 works did on the great world shine.
The wondrous texts brought back to the noble state
Would in the East until now circulate.
After Taizong and many officials had finished their worship, they
immediately set about the selection of high monks so that a Grand Mass Of Land
and Water could be held right in that Wild Goose Pagoda Temple.
Furthermore, they were to read and recite the true scriptures from the Great Canon
in order that the damned ghosts would be delivered from nether darkness
and the celebration of good works be multiplied. The copies of copied
scriptures would also be promulgated throughout the empire, and of this
we shall speak no more.
We must tell you now about those 8 Great Vajra Guardians male gods, who
rode the fragrant wind to lead the elder Tang Tripitaka, his 3 disciples, and the
dragon prince white horse back to God Mountain. The round trip was made precisely
within a period of 8 days. At that time the various gods of God
Mountain were all assembled before Shakyamuni Buddha male god to listen to his lecture.
Ushering master Tang Tripitaka and disciples before his presence, the 8 Vajra Guardians male gods
said, “Your disciples by your golden decree have escorted the sage monk Tang Tripitaka
and his companions back to the Tang nation. The scriptures have been
handed over. We now return to surrender your golden decree as completed.” Tang Tripitaka Monk
and his disciples were then told to approach the throne of Shakyamuni Buddha male god to
receive their appointments.
“Sage Monk Tang Tripitaka,” said Tathagata Buddha male god, “in your previous incarnation you were
originally my 2nd disciple named Master Gold Cicada. Because you
failed to listen to my exposition of the law and slighted my great teaching,
you got banished to find reincarnation in the Land Of
The East. Happily you submitted and, by remaining faithful to our teaching,
succeeded in acquiring the true scriptures. For such magnificent merit, you
will receive a great promotion to become the Buddha Of Candana Merit male god.
“Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness, when you caused great disturbance at the Heaven Palace,
I had to exercise enormous dharma power to have you pressed beneath the
Mountain Of 5 Phases. Fortunately your Heaven sent calamity came to
an end, and you embraced the Buddhist religion. I am pleased even more
by the fact that you were devoted to the punishing of evil and the exaltation
of good. Throughout your journey you made great merit by destroying the
evil creatures and defeating villains. For being faithful in the end as you were
in the beginning, I hereby give you the grand promotion and appoint you
the Buddha Victorious In Strife male god.
“Pigsy Understand Ability, you were originally a water god of the Heaven
River, the Marshal Of Heaven Reeds. For getting drunk during the Festival
Of Immortal Peaches and insulting a female god, you were banished
to a reincarnation in the Region Below which would give you the body of
an animal. Fortunately you still cherished and loved the human form, so that
even when you sinned at the Cloudy Paths Cave in Fuling Mountain, you
eventually submitted to our great religion and embraced our vows.
Although you protected the sage monk Tang Tripitaka on his way, you were still quite
mischievous, for greed and lust were never wholly extinguished in you. For the
merit of toting the luggage, however, I hereby grant you promotion and
appoint you Bodhisattva, Janitor Of The Altars male god.”
“They have all become Buddhas!” shouted 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability. “Why am I alone
made Janitor Of The Altars male god?”
“Because you are still talkative and lazy,” replied Tathagata Buddha male god, “and you
retain an enormous appetite. Within the 4 great continents of the world,
there are many people who observe our religion. Whenever there are
Buddhist services, you will be asked to clear the altars. That is an appointment
which offers you plenty of food and enjoyment. How could it be bad?
“Sandy Understand Purity, you were originally the Great Curtain Raising Captain.
Because you broke a crystal chalice during the Festival Of Immortal Peaches,
you were banished to the Region Below, where at the River Of Flowing Sand
you sinned by eating people. Fortunately you submitted to our
religion and remained firm in your faith. As you escorted the sage monk Tang Tripitaka, you
made merit by leading his dragon prince horse over all those mountains. I hereby grant
you promotion and appoint you the Bodhisattva, Golden Bodied Arhat Of 8 Jewels male god.”
Then he said to the dragon prince white horse, “You were originally the prince of Dragon
King Guangjin of the Western Ocean. Because you disobeyed your father’s
command and committed the crime of unfiliality, you were to be executed.
Fortunately you made submission to the Law and accepted our vows.
Because you carried the sage monk Tang Tripitaka daily on your back during his journey to
the West and because you also took the holy scriptures back to the East, you
too have made merit. I hereby grant you promotion and appoint you Bodhisattva Of Vast Strength, one
of the dragons belonging to the 8 Classes Of Gods.”
The elder Tang Tripitaka, his 3 disciples, and the dragon prince horse all kowtowed to thank the
Shakyamuni Buddha male god, who ordered some of the guardians to take the dragon prince horse to the Dragon
Transforming Pool at the back of the God Mountain. After being pushed
into the pool, the dragon prince horse stretched himself, and in a little while he shed his
coat, horns began to grow on his head, golden scales appeared all over his
body, and silver whiskers emerged on his cheeks. His whole body shrouded
in auspicious air and his 4 paws wrapped in holy clouds, he soared
out of the pool and circled inside the monastery gate, on top of one of the
Pillars That Support Heaven.
As the various Buddhas gave praise to the great dharma of Tathagata Buddha male god,
Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness said also to Tang Tripitaka Monk, “Master Tang Tripitaka, I have become a Buddha
now, just like you. It cannot be that I still must wear a golden headband! And you
would not want to continue to clamp my head by reciting that so called Tight Headband
Spell, would you? Recite the Loose Headband Spell quickly and get it off my head.
I am going to smash it to pieces, so that that so called Bodhisattva Guanyin female god cannot use it
anymore to play tricks on other people.”
“Because you were difficult to control previously,” said Tang Tripitaka Monk,
“this method had to be used to restrain you. Now that you have become a
Buddha, naturally it will be gone. How could it be still on your head? Try
touching your head and see.” Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness raised his hand and felt along his
head, and indeed the headband had vanished. So at that time, Buddha Candana male god,
Buddha Victorious In Strife male god, Janitor Of The Altars male god, and Golden Bodied
Arhat male god all assumed the posts of their own rightful rewards. The meritorious
dragon prince horse too got appointed god, and we have a testimonial poem
for them. The poem says,
One Real Body dropped to the dusty plain
Fuses with 4 Signs to tend the self again.
In 5 Phases terms forms are dead and void,
The fiends’ vain names one should all avoid.
Great Bodhi’s the right Candana fruition;
Appointments crown this rise from perdition.
Gracious light of scriptures now worldwide dilates,
As 5 sages live within Advaya’s gates.
At the time when these 5 sages assumed their posts, the various
Buddhist Patriarchs, Bodhisattvas, sage monks, arhats, guardians, bhiksus,
upasakas and upasikas, the gods of various mountains and caves, the
grand gods, the Gods of Darkness And Light, the Sentinels, the
Guardians Of Monasteries, and all the master teachers and gods who had
attained the Way all came to listen to the proclamation before retiring to
their proper stations. Look now at,
Colored mists crowding in the God Vulture Peak,
And hallowed clouds gathered in the world of bliss.
Gold dragons safely sleeping, Jade tigers resting in peace,
Black hares scampering freely, snakes and turtles circling at will.
Phoenixes, red and blue, gambol pleasantly,
Black apes and white deer saunter happily.
Strange flowers of 8 periods,
Divine fruits of 4 seasons,
Hoary pines and old junipers,
Jade cypresses and aged bamboos.
5 colored plums often blossoming and bearing fruit,
Millennial peaches frequently ripening and fresh.
A 1,000 flowers and fruits vying for beauty,
A whole sky full of auspicious mists.
Pressing their palms together to indicate their devotion, the holy
congregation all chanted,
I submit to Dipamkara, Buddha Of Antiquity.
I submit to Bhaisajya Vaidurya Prabhasa, Physician And Buddha Of Crystal Lights.
I submit to Buddha Shakyamuni male god.
I submit to Buddha Of Past, Present, Future.
I submit to Buddha Of Pure Joy.
I submit to Buddha Vairocana.
I submit to Buddha, King Of The Precious Banner.
I submit to Maitreya, Honored Buddha male god.
I submit to Buddha Amitabha female god.
I submit to Sukhavativyuha, Buddha Of Infinite Life.
I submit to Buddha Who Receives And Leads To Immortality.
I submit to Buddha Of Diamond Indestructibility.
I submit to Surya, Buddha Of Precious Light.
I submit to Nagaraja, Buddha Of Dragon Kings gods.
I submit to Buddha Of Zealous Progress And Virtue.
I submit to Candraprabha, Buddha Of Precious Moonlight.
I submit to Buddha Of Presence Without Ignorance.
I submit to Varuna, Buddha Of Sky And Water.
I submit to Buddha Narayana.
I submit to Buddha Of Radiant Meritorious Works.
I submit to Buddha Of Talented Meritorious Works.
I submit to Svagata, Buddha Of The Well Departed.
I submit to Buddha Of Candana Light.
I submit to Buddha Of Jeweled Banner.
I submit to Buddha Of Light of Wisdom Torch.
I submit to Buddha Of Light of Sea Virtue.
I submit to Buddha Of Great Mercy Light.
I submit to Buddha, King Of Compassion Power.
I submit to Buddha, Leader Of The Sages.
I submit to Buddha Of Vast Solemnity.
I submit to Buddha Of Golden Radiance.
I submit to Buddha Of Luminous Gifts.
I submit to Buddha Victorious In Wisdom.
I submit to Buddha, Quiescent Light Of The World.
I submit to Buddha, Light Of The Sun and Moon.
I submit to Buddha, Light Of The Sun and Moon Pearl.
I submit to Buddha, King Of The Victorious Banner.
I submit to Buddha Of Wondrous Tone And Sound.
I submit to Buddha, Banner Of Permanent Light.
I submit to Buddha, Lamp That Scans The World.
I submit to Buddha, King of Surpassing Dharma.
I submit to Buddha Of Sumeru Light.
I submit to Buddha, King Of Great Wisdom.
I submit to Buddha Of Golden Sea Light.
I submit to Buddha Of Great Perfect Light.
I submit to Buddha Of Gift Of Light.
I submit to Buddha Of Candana Merit male god.
I submit to Buddha Victorious In Strife male god.
I submit to Bodhisattva Guanshiyin female god.
I submit to Bodhisattva, Great Power Coming.
I submit to Bodhisattva Manjusri.
I submit to Bodhisattva Visvabhadra.
I submit to Bodhisattvas Of The Great Pure Ocean.
I submit to Bodhisattvas and Buddhas Of Lotus Pool And Ocean Assembly.
I submit to Bodhisattvas in the Western Heaven Of Ultimate Bliss.
I submit to Bodhisattvas, 3,000 Great Guardians.
I submit to Bodhisattvas, 500 Great Arhats.
I submit to Bodhisattva, Bhiksu Iksni.
I submit to Bodhisattva Of Boundless and Limitless Dharma.
I submit to Bodhisattva, Diamond Great Scholar Sage.
I submit to Bodhisattva, Janitor Of The Altars male god.
I submit to Bodhisattva, Golden Bodied Arhat Of 8 Jewels male god.
I submit to Bodhisattva Of Vast Strength male god, Heaven Dragon part of 8 Classes of Gods.
Such are these various Buddhas in all the worlds.
I wish to use these merits
To adorn Buddha’s Pure Land
To repay fourfold favor above
And save those on 3 paths below.
If there are those who see and hear,
Their minds will find enlightenment.
Their births with us in paradise
Will be this body’s recompense.
All the Buddhas of past, present, future in all the world,
The various Honored Bodhisattvas and Mahdasattvas,
Maha Prajna Paramita!
Here ends The Journey To The West.
written may 12, 2023.
revised may 13, 2023.
text license: public domain.
riding the wind with the Vajra Guardians male gods. We tell you instead about
the multitude in the Life Saving Monastery at the Chen Village, who rose
at dawn and went at once to offer fruits and other food to their
benefactors. When they arrived at the space beneath the tower, however, they found
that Tang Tripitaka Monk had disappeared. So all of them looked
everywhere, but without success. They were so upset that they did not quite
know what to do except to cry aloud, “We have allowed a living Buddha
to walk away!”
After a while, the entire household realized that they had no better
alternative than to pile all the food and gifts on the altar up in the tower and
offer them as sacrifices along with the burning of joss paper cash. After that, they
made 4 great sacrifices and 24 smaller ones each year.
Moreover, those who wanted to pray for healing, for safety on a journey, for the
gift of a spouse, for wealth or children, and to make a vow, appeared daily at
every hour to present their offerings and incense. Truly,
The gold censer continued a 1,000 years’ fire;
The jade chalice brightened with an eternal lamp.
In that condition we shall leave them.
We tell you now instead about the 8 Vajra Guardians male gods, who employed
the 2nd gust of fragrant wind to carry the 4 pilgrims back to the Land
of the East. In less than a day, the capital, Changan, gradually came into
view. That Emperor Taizong, you see, had escorted Tang Tripitaka Monk out of
the city 3 days before the full moon in the 9th month of the
13th year of the Zhenguan reign period. By the 16th year, he had
already asked the Bureau Of Labor to erect a Guard Scriptures Tower outside
the Western Peace Pass to receive the holy books. Each year Taizong would
go personally to that place for a visit. It so happened that he had gone again
to the tower that day when he caught sight of a sky full of auspicious mists
drifting near from the West, and he noticed at the same time strong gusts
of fragrant wind.
Halting in midair, the Vajra Guardians male gods said loudly, “Sage Monk Tang Tripitaka, this is the city
Changan. It is not convenient for us to go down there, for the people of this
region are quite intelligent, and our true identity may become known to
them. Even the Great Sage Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness and his 2 companions need not go, you
yourself may go, hand over the scriptures, and return at once. We will wait for
you in the air so that we may all go back to report to Shakyamuni Buddha male god.”
“What the Honored Ones say may be most appropriate,” said the Great
Sage Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness, “but how could my master Tang Tripitaka carry all those scriptures? How could he lead
the dragon prince horse at the same time? We will have to escort him down there. May we
trouble you to wait a while in the air? We dare not delay you.”
“When the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god spoke to Tathagata the other day,” said
the Vajra Guardians male gods, “she assured him that the whole trip should take only
8 days, so that the canonical number would be fulfilled. It is already more
than 4 days now. We fear that 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability might become so enamored
of the riches down below that we will not be able to meet our appointed
schedule.”
“When Master Tang Tripitaka attains Buddhahood,” said 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability, chuckling, “I, too,
will attain Buddhahood. How could I become enamored of riches down
below? Stupid old ruffians! Wait for me here, all of you! As soon as we have
handed over the scriptures, I will return with you and be rewarded with Buddhahood.” Idiot took
up the pole, Sandy Understand Purity Monk led the dragon prince horse, and Pilgrim Sun Monkey Undertand Emptiness supported Tang Tripitaka the sage monk.
Lowering their cloud, they dropped down beside the Guard Scriptures Tower.
When Taizong and his officials saw them, they all descended the tower
to receive them. “Has the royal brother Tang Tripitaka returned?” asked the emperor. Tang
Tripitaka Monk immediately prostrated himself, but he was raised by the
emperor’s own hands. “Who are these 3 persons?” asked the emperor
once more.
“They are my disciples I made during our journey,” replied the Tang Tripitaka
Monk. Highly pleased, Taizong at once ordered his attendants, “Saddle one
of our chariot horses for our royal brother Tang Tripitaka to ride. We will go back to the court
together.” Tang Tripitaka Monk thanked him and rode the horse, closely
followed by the great sage Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness wielding his golden hooped rod, and by 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability
and Sandy Understand Purity carrying the luggage and supporting the dragon prince horse. The
entire entourage in this manner entered together the city of Changan. Truly,
A banquet of peace was held years ago.
When lords, civil and martial, made a grand show.
A monk preached the law in a great event,
From Golden Chimes the king his subject sent.
Tripitaka was given a royal rescript,
For 5 Phases matched the cause of holy script.
Through bitter smelting all creatures were purged.
Merit done, they now on the court converged.
Tang Tripitaka Monk and his 3 disciples followed the imperial chariot into the court,
and soon there was not a single person in the city of Changan who had not
learned of the scripture seekers’ return.
We tell you now about those monks, young and old, of the Temple Of
Great Blessing, which was also the old residence of Tang Tripitaka Monk in
Changan. That day they suddenly discovered that the branches of a few
pine trees within the temple gate were pointing eastward. Astonished, they
shouted, “Strange! Strange! There was no strong wind to speak of last night.
Why are all the tops of these trees twisted in this manner?”
One of the former disciples of Tang Tripitaka said, “Quickly, let us get our
proper monk garb. The old master Tang Tripitaka who went away to acquire scriptures
must have returned.”
“How do you know that?” asked the other monks.
“At the time of his departure,” the old disciple said, “he made the
remark that he might be away for 2 or 3 years, or for 6 or 7 years.
When we see that these pine tree tops point to the east, it
would mean that he has returned. Since my master Tang Tripitaka spoke the holy words of
a true Buddha, I know that the truth has been confirmed this day.”
They put on their clothing hurriedly and left. By the time they reached
the street to the west, people were already saying that the scripture seeker
had just arrived and been received into the city by His Majesty. When they
heard the news, the various monks dashed forward and ran right into the
imperial chariot. Not daring to approach the emperor, they followed the
entourage instead to the gate of the court. Tang Tripitaka Monk dismounted and
entered the court with the emperor. The dragon prince horse, the scripture packs,
Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness, 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability, and Sandy Understand Purity Monk were all placed beneath the steps of
jade, while Taizong commanded the royal brother Tang Tripitaka to ascend the hall and
take a seat.
After thanking the emperor and taking his seat, Tang Tripitaka Monk asked
that the scripture scrolls be brought up. Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness and his companions
handed them over to the imperial attendants, who presented them in turn
to the emperor for inspection. “How many scrolls of scriptures are there,”
asked Taizong, “and how did you acquire them?”
“When your subject arrived at the God Mountain and bowed to the
Buddhist Patriarch male god,” replied Tang Tripitaka, “he was kind enough to ask Ananda
and Kasyapa, the 2 Honored Ones, to lead us to the precious tower first
for a meal. Then we were brought to the treasure loft, where the scriptures
were gifted to us. Those Honored Ones asked for a gift, but we were not
prepared and did not give them any. They gave us some scriptures anyway,
and after thanking the Buddhist Patriarch male god, we headed east, but a monstrous
wind snatched away the scriptures. My humble disciple fortunately had a
little magic power. He gave chase at once, and the scriptures were thrown
and scattered all over. When we unrolled the scrolls, we saw that they were
all wordless, blank texts. Your subjects in great fear went again to bow and
plead before Shakyamuni Buddha male god. The Buddhist Patriarch male god said, ‘When these scriptures
were created, some Bhiksu sage monks left the monastery and recited some
scrolls for one Elder Zhao in the Sravasti Kingdom. As a result, the living
members of that family were granted safety and protection, while the
deceased attained salvation. For such great service they only managed to
ask the elder for 3 pecks and 3 pints of rice and a little gold. I told
them that it was too cheap a sale, and that their descendants would have no
money to spend.’ Since we learned that even the Buddhist Patriarch male god
anticipated that the 2 Honored Ones would demand a gift, we had little choice
but to offer them that alms bowl of purple gold that Your Majesty had
gifted to me. Only then did they willingly turn over the real scriptures
with writing to us. There are 35 titles of these scriptures, and several
scrolls were selected from each title. Altogether, there are now 5,048
scrolls, the number of which makes up one canonical sum.”
More delighted than ever, Taizong gave this command: “Let the Court
Of Imperial Entertainments prepare a banquet in the East Hall so that we
may thank our royal brother Tang Tripitaka.” Then he happened to notice Tang Tripitaka’s 3
disciples standing beneath the steps, all with extraordinary looks, and he
therefore asked, “Are your noble disciples foreigners?”
Prostrating himself, the elder said, “My eldest disciple has the surname
of Sun Monkey, and his religious name is Understand Emptiness. Your subject also addresses him
as Pilgrim Sun Monkey. He comes from the Water Curtain Cave of the Flower Fruit
Mountain, located in the Aolai Country in the East Purvavideha Continent.
Because he caused great disturbance in the Heaven Palace, he was
imprisoned in a stone prison cell by the Buddhist Patriarch male god and pressed beneath the
Mountain of 2 Frontiers in the region of the western barbarians. Thanks
to the advice of the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god, he was converted to
Buddhism and became my disciple when I freed him. Throughout my journey
I relied heavily on his protection.
“My 2nd disciple has the surname of Pigsy, and his religious name
is Understand Ability. Your subject also addresses him as Pigsy 8 Rules. He comes
from the Cloudy Paths Cave of Fuling Mountain. He was playing the evil creature
at the Old Gao Village of Qoco when the advice of the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god
and the power of Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness caused him to become my disciple. He earned
his merit on our journey by toting the luggage and helping us to ford the
waters.
“My 3rd disciple has the surname of Sandy, and his religious name is
Understand Purity. Your subject also addresses him as Sandy Monk. Originally he was a
evil creature at the Flowing Sand River. Again the advice of the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god
persuaded him to take the vows of Buddhism. By the way, the horse is not
the one my Lord gifted to me.”
Taizong said, “The color and the coat seem all the same. Why is it not the
same horse?”
“When your subject reached the Eagle Grief Stream in the Serpent Coil
Mountain and tried to cross it,” replied Tang Tripitaka, “the original horse was
devoured by this horse. Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness managed to learn from the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god
that this horse was originally the prince of the Dragon King Of The Western
Ocean. Convicted of a crime, he would have been executed had it not been
for the intervention of the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god, who ordered him to be the dragon prince horse of
your subject. It was then that he changed into a horse with exactly the same
coat as that of my original ride. I am greatly indebted to him for taking
me over mountains and summits and through the most treacherous
passages. Whether it be carrying me on my way there or bearing the scriptures
upon our return, we are much indebted to his strength.”
On hearing these words, Taizong complimented him profusely before
asking again, “This long trek to the Western Region, exactly how far is it?”
Tang Tripitaka said, “I recall that the Bodhisattva Guanyin female god told us that the distance was
108,000 miles. I did not make a careful record on
the way. All I know is that we have experienced 14 seasons of heat
and cold. We encountered mountains and ridges daily; the forests we came
upon were not small, and the waters we met were wide and swift. We also
went through many kingdoms, whose rulers had affixed their seals and
signatures on our document.” Then he called out: “Disciples, bring up the
passport and present it to our Lord.”
It was handed over immediately. Taizong took a look and realized that
the document had been issued on the 3rd day before the full moon, in
the 9th month of the 13th year during the Zhenguan reign period.
Smiling, Taizong said, “We have caused you the trouble of taking a long
journey. This is now the 27th year of the Zhenguan period!” The
passport has the seals of the Precious Image Kingdom, the Black
Rooster Kingdom, the Cart Slow Kingdom, the Kingdom Of Women in
Western Liang, the Sacrifice Kingdom, the Scarlet Purple Kingdom, the Bhiksu
Kingdom, the Dharma Destroying Kingdom. There were also the seals of
the Phoenix God Prefecture, the Jade Flower County, and the Gold
Level Prefecture. After reading through the document, Taizong put it away.
Soon the officer in attendance to the throne arrived to invite them to
the banquet. As the emperor took the hand of Tang Tripitaka and walked down
the steps of the hall, he asked once more, “Are your noble disciples familiar
with the etiquette of the court?”
“My humble disciples,” replied Tang Tripitaka, “all began their life as
creatures deep in the wilds or a mountain village, and they have never
been instructed in the etiquette of China’s sage court. I beg my Lord to
pardon them.”
Smiling, Taizong said, “We will not blame them! We will not blame them!
Let us all go to the feast set up in the East Hall.” Tang Tripitaka thanked him once
more before calling for his 3 disciples to join them. Upon their arrival
at the hall, they saw that the opulence of the great nation of China was
indeed different from all ordinary kingdoms. You see,
The door was hung with weaved brocade.
The floor adorned with red carpets,
The whirls of exotic incense,
And fresh victuals most rare.
The amber cups
And crystal goblets
Are gold trimmed and jade set,
The gold platters
And white jade bowls
Are patterned and silver rimmed.
The tubers thoroughly cooked,
The taros sugar coated,
Sweet, lovely button mushrooms,
Unusual, pure seaweeds.
Bamboo shoots, ginger spiced, are served a few times,
Malva leaves, honey drenched, are mixed several ways.
Wheat glutens fried with xiangchun leaves,
Wood ears cooked with bean curd skins.
Rock ferns and fairy plants,
Fern flour and dried wei leaves.
Radishes cooked with Sichuan peppercorns,
Melon strands stirred with mustard powder.
These few vegetarian dishes are so so,
But the many rare fruits quite steal the show!
Walnuts and persimmons,
Lungans and lychees.
The chestnuts of Yizhou and Shandong’s dates,
The South’s ginko fruits and hare head pears.
Pine seeds, lotus seeds, and giant grapes,
Fei nuts, melon seeds, and water chestnuts.
“Chinese olives” and wild apples,
Crabapples and Pyrus pears,
Tender stalks and young lotus roots,
Crisp plums and “Chinese strawberries.”
Not one species is missing,
Not one kind is deficient.
There are, moreover, the steamed mille feuilles, honeyed pastries, and fine viands,
And there are also the lovely wines, fragrant teas, and strange dainties.
An endless spread of 100 flavors, true noble fare.
Western barbarians with great China can never compare!
Master Tang Tripitaka and 3 disciples were grouped together with the officials, both
civil and military, on both sides of the emperor Taizong, who took the seat
in the middle. The dancing and the music proceeded in an orderly and
solemn manner, and in this way they enjoyed themselves thoroughly for one
whole day. Truly,
The royal banquet rivals the sage kings’:
True scriptures acquired bring excess blessings.
Forever these will prosper and remain
As Buddha’s light shines on the king’s domain.
When it became late, the officials thanked the emperor, while Taizong
withdrew into his palace, the various officials returned to their residences.
Tang Tripitaka Monk and his disciples, however, went to the Temple Of Great
Blessing, where they were met by the resident monks kowtowing. As they
entered the temple gate, the monks said, “Master Tang Tripitaka, the top of these trees were
all suddenly pointing eastward this morning. We remembered your words
and hurried out to the city to meet you. Indeed, you did arrive!” The elder Tang Tripitaka
could not have been more pleased as they were ushered into the abbot’s
quarters. By then, 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability was not clamoring at all for food or tea, nor
did he indulge in any mischief. Both Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness and Sandy Understand Purity Monk behaved most
properly, for they had become naturally quiet and reserved since the Tao
in them had come to fruition. They rested that night.
Taizong held court next morning and said to the officials, “We did not
sleep the whole night when we reflected on how great and profound has
been the merit of our brother Tang Tripitaka, such that no compensation is quite adequate.
We finally composed in our head several homely sentences as a mere
token of our gratitude, but they have not yet been written down.” Calling for
one of the secretaries from the Central Drafting Office, he said, “Come, let
us recite our composition for you, and you write it down sentence by
sentence.” The composition’ was as follows,
We have heard how the Dyadic Models which manifest themselves in
Heaven and Earth in the production of life are represented by images,
whereas the invisible powers of the 4 seasons bring about transformation
of things through the hidden action of heat and cold. By scanning Heaven
and Earth, therefore, even the most ignorant may perceive their
rudimentary laws. Even the thorough understanding of yin and yang, however, has
seldom enabled the worthy and wise to comprehend fully their ultimate
principle. It is easy to recognize that Heaven and Earth do contain yin and yang
because there are images. It is difficult to comprehend fully how yin and yang
pervade Heaven and Earth because the forces themselves are invisible. That
images may manifest the minute is a fact so does not perplex even the
foolish, whereas forms hidden in what is invisible are what confuses even the
learned.
How much more difficult it is, therefore, to understand the way of
Buddhism, which exalts the void, uses the dark, and exploits the silent in order
to succor the myriad grades of living things and exercise control over the
entire world, Its spiritual authority is the highest, and its divine potency has
no equal. Its magnitude impregnates the entire cosmos, there is no space so
tiny that it does not permeate it. Birthless and deathless, it does not age
after a 1,000 kalpas, half hidden and half manifest, it brings 100
blessings even now. A wondrous way most mysterious, those who follow it
cannot know its limit. A law flowing silent and deep, those who draw on it
cannot fathom its source. How, therefore, could those benighted ordinary
mortals not be perplexed if they tried to plumb its depths?
Now, this great Religion arose in the Land of the West. It soared to the
court of the Han period in the form of a radiant dream, which flowed with
its mercy to enlighten the Eastern territory. In antiquity, during the time
when form and abstraction were clearly distinguished, the words of the
Shakyamuni Buddha, even before spreading, had already established their goodly influence.
In a generation when he was both frequently active in and withdrawn from
the world, the people beheld his virtue and honored it. But when he returned
to Nirvana and generations passed by, the golden images concealed his true
form and did not reflect the light of the universe. The beautiful paintings,
though unfolding lovely portraits, vainly trying to show the Shakyamuni Buddha's 32
holy body marks. Nonetheless his subtle doctrines spread far and wide to save people
and beasts from the 3 unhappy paths, and his traditions were widely
proclaimed to lead all creatures through the 10 stages toward
Buddhahood. Moreover, Shakyamuni Buddha made scriptures, which could be divided into
the Great and the Small Vehicles. He also possessed the Law, which could be
transmitted either in the correct or in the deviant method.
Our monk Xuanzang, a master of the law, is a leader within the gate of
law. Devoted and intelligent since his youth, he realized early the merit of
the 3 forms of emptiness. When grown he comprehended the
principles of the spiritual, including first the practice of the 4 forms of
patience. Neither the pine in the wind nor the moon mirrored in water can
compare with his purity and radiance. Even the dew of Heaven and
luminous gems cannot surpass the clarity and refinement of his person. His
intelligence encompassed even those elements which seemingly had no
relations, and his spirit could perceive that which had yet to take visible forms.
Having transcended the lure of the 6 senses, he was such an outstanding
figure that in all the past he had no rival. He concentrated his mind on the
internal verities, mourning all the time the mutilation of the correct
doctrines. Worrying over the mysteries, he lamented that even the most
profound treatises had errors.
He thought of revising the teachings and reviving certain arguments, so
as to disseminate what he had received to a wider audience. He would,
moreover, strike out the erroneous and preserve the true to enlighten the
students. For this reason he longed for the Pure Land and a pilgrimage to the
Western Territories. Risking dangers he set out on a long journey, with only
his staff for his companion on this solitary expedition. Snow drifts in the
morning would blanket his roadway, sandstorms at dusk would blot out the
horizon. Over 10,000 miles of mountains and streams he proceeded,
pushing aside mist and smoke. Through a 1,000 alternations of heat and
cold he advanced amidst frost and rain. As his zeal was great, he considered
his task a light one, for he was determined to succeed.
He toured throughout the Western World for 14 years, going to
all the foreign nations in quest of the proper doctrines. He led the life of
an ascetic beneath twin sala trees and by the 8 rivers of India. At
the Deer Park and on the Vulture Peak he beheld the strange and searched
out the different. He received ultimate truths from the senior sages and was
taught the true doctrines by the highest worthies. Penetrating into the
mysteries, he mastered the most profound lessons. The way of the Triyana and 6
Commandments he learned by heart; a 100 cases of scriptures forming
the canon flowed like waves from his lips.
Though the countries he visited were innumerable, the scriptures he
succeeded in acquiring had a definite number. Of those important texts of the
Mahayana he received, there are 35 titles?” in altogether 5,048
scrolls. When they are translated and spread through
China, they will proclaim the surpassing merit of Buddhism, drawing the
cloud of mercy from the western extremity to shower the dharma rain on
the eastern region. The Holy Religion, once incomplete, is now returned to
perfection. The multitudes, once full of sins, are now brought back to
blessing. Like that which quenches the fire in a burning house, Buddhism
works to save humanity lost on its way to perdition. Like a golden beam
shining on darkened waters, it leads the voyagers to ascend safely the other
shore.
Thus we know that the wicked will fall because of their iniquities, but the
virtuous will rise because of their karmic affinities. The root causes of such
rise and fall are all self made by man. Consider the cinnamon flourishing
high on the mountain, its flowers nourished by cloud and mist, or the lotus
growing atop the green waves, its leaves unsoiled by dust. This is not because
the lotus is by nature clean or because the cinnamon itself is chaste, but
because what the cinnamon depends on for its existence is lofty, and thus it
will not be weighed down by trivia, and because what the lotus relies on is
pure, and thus impurity cannot stain it. Since even the vegetable kingdom,
which is itself without intelligence, knows that excellence comes from an
environment of excellence, how can humans who understand the great
revelations not search for well being by following well being?
May these scriptures abide forever as the sun and moon and may the
blessings they confer spread throughout the universe!
After the secretary had finished writing this treatise, the sage monk Tang Tripitaka was
summoned. At the time, the elder Tang Tripitaka was already waiting outside the gate of
the court. When he heard the summons, he hurried inside and prostrated
himself to pay homage to the emperor.
Taizong asked him to ascend the hall and handed him the document.
When he had finished reading it, Tang Tripitaka Monk went to his knees again to
express his gratitude. “The style and rhetoric of my Lord,” said Tang Tripitaka Monk, “are
lofty and classical, while the reasoning in the treatise is both profound and
subtle. I would like to know, however, whether a title has been chosen for
this composition.”
“We composed it orally last night,” replied Taizong, “as a token of
thanks to our royal brother Tang Tripitaka. Will it be acceptable if I title this ‘Preface to
the Holy Religion’?” The elder Tang Tripitaka kowtowed and thanked him profusely. Once
more Taizong said,
“Our talents pale before the imperial tablets,
And our words cannot match the bronze and stone inscriptions.
As for the esoteric texts,
Our ignorance thereof is even greater.
Our treatise orally composed
Is actually quite unpolished,
Like mere spilled ink on tablets of gold.
Or broken tiles in a forest of pearls.
Writing it in self interest,
We have quite ignored even embarrassment.
It is not worth your notice,
And you should not thank us.”
All the officials present, however, congratulated the emperor and made
arrangements immediately to promulgate the royal essay on Holy Religion
inside and outside the capital.
Taizong said, “We would like to ask the royal brother Tang Tripitaka to recite the true
scriptures for us. How about it?”
“My Lord,” said the elder Tang Tripitaka, “if you want me to recite the true scriptures,
we must find the proper religious site. The treasure palace is no place for
recitation.” Exceedingly pleased, Taizong asked his attendants, “Among the
monasteries of Changan, which is the purest one?”
From among the ranks stepped forth the Grand Secretary, Xiao Yu, who
said, “The Wild Goose Pagoda Temple in the city is purest of all.” At once
Taizong gave this command to the various officials: “Each of you take
several scrolls of these true scriptures and go reverently with us to the Wild
Goose Pagoda Temple. We want to ask our royal brother Tang Tripitaka to expound the
scriptures to us.” Each of the officials indeed took up several scrolls and
followed the emperor's chariot to the temple. A lofty platform with proper
appointments was then erected. As before, the elder Tang Tripitaka told 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability and Sandy
Understand Purity Monk to hold the dragon prince horse and mind the luggage, while Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness was
to serve him by his side. Then he said to Taizong, “If my Lord would like to
circulate the true scriptures throughout his empire, copies should be made
before they are dispersed. We should treasure the originals and not handle
them lightly.”
Smiling, Taizong said, “The words of our royal brother Tang Tripitaka are most
appropriate! Most appropriate!” He then ordered the officials in the
Hanlin Academy and the Central Drafting Office to make copies of the true
scriptures. For them he also erected another temple east of the capital and
named it the Temple For Imperial Copying.
The elder Tang Tripitaka had already taken several scrolls of scriptures and went to
the platform. He was just about to recite them when he felt a gust of
fragrant wind. In midair the 8 Vajra Guardians male gods revealed themselves and
shouted, “Recitants, drop your scripture scrolls and follow us back to the West.”
From below, Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness and his 2 companions together with the dragon prince white horse
immediately rose into the air. The elder Tang Tripitaka, too, abandoned the scriptures and
rose from the platform. They all left soaring through the air. So startled
were Taizong and the many officials that they all bowed down toward the
sky. Thus it was that,
Since scriptures were the sage monk’s ardent quest,
He went on 14 years throughout the West
A bitter journey full of trials and woes,
With many streams and mountains as his foes.
9 merits more were added to 8 x 9;
His 3,000 works did on the great world shine.
The wondrous texts brought back to the noble state
Would in the East until now circulate.
After Taizong and many officials had finished their worship, they
immediately set about the selection of high monks so that a Grand Mass Of Land
and Water could be held right in that Wild Goose Pagoda Temple.
Furthermore, they were to read and recite the true scriptures from the Great Canon
in order that the damned ghosts would be delivered from nether darkness
and the celebration of good works be multiplied. The copies of copied
scriptures would also be promulgated throughout the empire, and of this
we shall speak no more.
We must tell you now about those 8 Great Vajra Guardians male gods, who
rode the fragrant wind to lead the elder Tang Tripitaka, his 3 disciples, and the
dragon prince white horse back to God Mountain. The round trip was made precisely
within a period of 8 days. At that time the various gods of God
Mountain were all assembled before Shakyamuni Buddha male god to listen to his lecture.
Ushering master Tang Tripitaka and disciples before his presence, the 8 Vajra Guardians male gods
said, “Your disciples by your golden decree have escorted the sage monk Tang Tripitaka
and his companions back to the Tang nation. The scriptures have been
handed over. We now return to surrender your golden decree as completed.” Tang Tripitaka Monk
and his disciples were then told to approach the throne of Shakyamuni Buddha male god to
receive their appointments.
“Sage Monk Tang Tripitaka,” said Tathagata Buddha male god, “in your previous incarnation you were
originally my 2nd disciple named Master Gold Cicada. Because you
failed to listen to my exposition of the law and slighted my great teaching,
you got banished to find reincarnation in the Land Of
The East. Happily you submitted and, by remaining faithful to our teaching,
succeeded in acquiring the true scriptures. For such magnificent merit, you
will receive a great promotion to become the Buddha Of Candana Merit male god.
“Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness, when you caused great disturbance at the Heaven Palace,
I had to exercise enormous dharma power to have you pressed beneath the
Mountain Of 5 Phases. Fortunately your Heaven sent calamity came to
an end, and you embraced the Buddhist religion. I am pleased even more
by the fact that you were devoted to the punishing of evil and the exaltation
of good. Throughout your journey you made great merit by destroying the
evil creatures and defeating villains. For being faithful in the end as you were
in the beginning, I hereby give you the grand promotion and appoint you
the Buddha Victorious In Strife male god.
“Pigsy Understand Ability, you were originally a water god of the Heaven
River, the Marshal Of Heaven Reeds. For getting drunk during the Festival
Of Immortal Peaches and insulting a female god, you were banished
to a reincarnation in the Region Below which would give you the body of
an animal. Fortunately you still cherished and loved the human form, so that
even when you sinned at the Cloudy Paths Cave in Fuling Mountain, you
eventually submitted to our great religion and embraced our vows.
Although you protected the sage monk Tang Tripitaka on his way, you were still quite
mischievous, for greed and lust were never wholly extinguished in you. For the
merit of toting the luggage, however, I hereby grant you promotion and
appoint you Bodhisattva, Janitor Of The Altars male god.”
“They have all become Buddhas!” shouted 8 Rules Pigsy Understand Ability. “Why am I alone
made Janitor Of The Altars male god?”
“Because you are still talkative and lazy,” replied Tathagata Buddha male god, “and you
retain an enormous appetite. Within the 4 great continents of the world,
there are many people who observe our religion. Whenever there are
Buddhist services, you will be asked to clear the altars. That is an appointment
which offers you plenty of food and enjoyment. How could it be bad?
“Sandy Understand Purity, you were originally the Great Curtain Raising Captain.
Because you broke a crystal chalice during the Festival Of Immortal Peaches,
you were banished to the Region Below, where at the River Of Flowing Sand
you sinned by eating people. Fortunately you submitted to our
religion and remained firm in your faith. As you escorted the sage monk Tang Tripitaka, you
made merit by leading his dragon prince horse over all those mountains. I hereby grant
you promotion and appoint you the Bodhisattva, Golden Bodied Arhat Of 8 Jewels male god.”
Then he said to the dragon prince white horse, “You were originally the prince of Dragon
King Guangjin of the Western Ocean. Because you disobeyed your father’s
command and committed the crime of unfiliality, you were to be executed.
Fortunately you made submission to the Law and accepted our vows.
Because you carried the sage monk Tang Tripitaka daily on your back during his journey to
the West and because you also took the holy scriptures back to the East, you
too have made merit. I hereby grant you promotion and appoint you Bodhisattva Of Vast Strength, one
of the dragons belonging to the 8 Classes Of Gods.”
The elder Tang Tripitaka, his 3 disciples, and the dragon prince horse all kowtowed to thank the
Shakyamuni Buddha male god, who ordered some of the guardians to take the dragon prince horse to the Dragon
Transforming Pool at the back of the God Mountain. After being pushed
into the pool, the dragon prince horse stretched himself, and in a little while he shed his
coat, horns began to grow on his head, golden scales appeared all over his
body, and silver whiskers emerged on his cheeks. His whole body shrouded
in auspicious air and his 4 paws wrapped in holy clouds, he soared
out of the pool and circled inside the monastery gate, on top of one of the
Pillars That Support Heaven.
As the various Buddhas gave praise to the great dharma of Tathagata Buddha male god,
Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness said also to Tang Tripitaka Monk, “Master Tang Tripitaka, I have become a Buddha
now, just like you. It cannot be that I still must wear a golden headband! And you
would not want to continue to clamp my head by reciting that so called Tight Headband
Spell, would you? Recite the Loose Headband Spell quickly and get it off my head.
I am going to smash it to pieces, so that that so called Bodhisattva Guanyin female god cannot use it
anymore to play tricks on other people.”
“Because you were difficult to control previously,” said Tang Tripitaka Monk,
“this method had to be used to restrain you. Now that you have become a
Buddha, naturally it will be gone. How could it be still on your head? Try
touching your head and see.” Pilgrim Sun Monkey Understand Emptiness raised his hand and felt along his
head, and indeed the headband had vanished. So at that time, Buddha Candana male god,
Buddha Victorious In Strife male god, Janitor Of The Altars male god, and Golden Bodied
Arhat male god all assumed the posts of their own rightful rewards. The meritorious
dragon prince horse too got appointed god, and we have a testimonial poem
for them. The poem says,
One Real Body dropped to the dusty plain
Fuses with 4 Signs to tend the self again.
In 5 Phases terms forms are dead and void,
The fiends’ vain names one should all avoid.
Great Bodhi’s the right Candana fruition;
Appointments crown this rise from perdition.
Gracious light of scriptures now worldwide dilates,
As 5 sages live within Advaya’s gates.
At the time when these 5 sages assumed their posts, the various
Buddhist Patriarchs, Bodhisattvas, sage monks, arhats, guardians, bhiksus,
upasakas and upasikas, the gods of various mountains and caves, the
grand gods, the Gods of Darkness And Light, the Sentinels, the
Guardians Of Monasteries, and all the master teachers and gods who had
attained the Way all came to listen to the proclamation before retiring to
their proper stations. Look now at,
Colored mists crowding in the God Vulture Peak,
And hallowed clouds gathered in the world of bliss.
Gold dragons safely sleeping, Jade tigers resting in peace,
Black hares scampering freely, snakes and turtles circling at will.
Phoenixes, red and blue, gambol pleasantly,
Black apes and white deer saunter happily.
Strange flowers of 8 periods,
Divine fruits of 4 seasons,
Hoary pines and old junipers,
Jade cypresses and aged bamboos.
5 colored plums often blossoming and bearing fruit,
Millennial peaches frequently ripening and fresh.
A 1,000 flowers and fruits vying for beauty,
A whole sky full of auspicious mists.
Pressing their palms together to indicate their devotion, the holy
congregation all chanted,
I submit to Dipamkara, Buddha Of Antiquity.
I submit to Bhaisajya Vaidurya Prabhasa, Physician And Buddha Of Crystal Lights.
I submit to Buddha Shakyamuni male god.
I submit to Buddha Of Past, Present, Future.
I submit to Buddha Of Pure Joy.
I submit to Buddha Vairocana.
I submit to Buddha, King Of The Precious Banner.
I submit to Maitreya, Honored Buddha male god.
I submit to Buddha Amitabha female god.
I submit to Sukhavativyuha, Buddha Of Infinite Life.
I submit to Buddha Who Receives And Leads To Immortality.
I submit to Buddha Of Diamond Indestructibility.
I submit to Surya, Buddha Of Precious Light.
I submit to Nagaraja, Buddha Of Dragon Kings gods.
I submit to Buddha Of Zealous Progress And Virtue.
I submit to Candraprabha, Buddha Of Precious Moonlight.
I submit to Buddha Of Presence Without Ignorance.
I submit to Varuna, Buddha Of Sky And Water.
I submit to Buddha Narayana.
I submit to Buddha Of Radiant Meritorious Works.
I submit to Buddha Of Talented Meritorious Works.
I submit to Svagata, Buddha Of The Well Departed.
I submit to Buddha Of Candana Light.
I submit to Buddha Of Jeweled Banner.
I submit to Buddha Of Light of Wisdom Torch.
I submit to Buddha Of Light of Sea Virtue.
I submit to Buddha Of Great Mercy Light.
I submit to Buddha, King Of Compassion Power.
I submit to Buddha, Leader Of The Sages.
I submit to Buddha Of Vast Solemnity.
I submit to Buddha Of Golden Radiance.
I submit to Buddha Of Luminous Gifts.
I submit to Buddha Victorious In Wisdom.
I submit to Buddha, Quiescent Light Of The World.
I submit to Buddha, Light Of The Sun and Moon.
I submit to Buddha, Light Of The Sun and Moon Pearl.
I submit to Buddha, King Of The Victorious Banner.
I submit to Buddha Of Wondrous Tone And Sound.
I submit to Buddha, Banner Of Permanent Light.
I submit to Buddha, Lamp That Scans The World.
I submit to Buddha, King of Surpassing Dharma.
I submit to Buddha Of Sumeru Light.
I submit to Buddha, King Of Great Wisdom.
I submit to Buddha Of Golden Sea Light.
I submit to Buddha Of Great Perfect Light.
I submit to Buddha Of Gift Of Light.
I submit to Buddha Of Candana Merit male god.
I submit to Buddha Victorious In Strife male god.
I submit to Bodhisattva Guanshiyin female god.
I submit to Bodhisattva, Great Power Coming.
I submit to Bodhisattva Manjusri.
I submit to Bodhisattva Visvabhadra.
I submit to Bodhisattvas Of The Great Pure Ocean.
I submit to Bodhisattvas and Buddhas Of Lotus Pool And Ocean Assembly.
I submit to Bodhisattvas in the Western Heaven Of Ultimate Bliss.
I submit to Bodhisattvas, 3,000 Great Guardians.
I submit to Bodhisattvas, 500 Great Arhats.
I submit to Bodhisattva, Bhiksu Iksni.
I submit to Bodhisattva Of Boundless and Limitless Dharma.
I submit to Bodhisattva, Diamond Great Scholar Sage.
I submit to Bodhisattva, Janitor Of The Altars male god.
I submit to Bodhisattva, Golden Bodied Arhat Of 8 Jewels male god.
I submit to Bodhisattva Of Vast Strength male god, Heaven Dragon part of 8 Classes of Gods.
Such are these various Buddhas in all the worlds.
I wish to use these merits
To adorn Buddha’s Pure Land
To repay fourfold favor above
And save those on 3 paths below.
If there are those who see and hear,
Their minds will find enlightenment.
Their births with us in paradise
Will be this body’s recompense.
All the Buddhas of past, present, future in all the world,
The various Honored Bodhisattvas and Mahdasattvas,
Maha Prajna Paramita!
Here ends The Journey To The West.
written may 12, 2023.
revised may 13, 2023.
text license: public domain.
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