Monkey (47 page)

‘But I have three Baskets of Scripture that can save mankind from its torments and afflictions. One contains the Law, which tells of Heaven, one contains the Discourses, which speak of Earth, one contains the Scriptures, which save the dead. They are divided into thirty-five sections and are written upon fifteen thousand one hundred and forty-four scrolls. They are the path to Perfection, the gate that leads to True Good. In them may be learnt all the motions of the stars and divisions of earth, all that appertains to man, bird, beast, flower, tree and implement of use; in short, all that concerns mankind is found therein. In consideration of the fact that you have come so far, I would give you them all to take back. But the people of China are foolish and boisterous; they would mock at my mysteries and would not understand the hidden meaning of our Order… Ananda, Kasyapa,’ he cried, ‘take these four to the room under the tower, and when they have refreshed themselves, open the doors of the Treasury, and select from each of the thirty-five sections a few scrolls for these priests to take back to the east, to be a boon there forever.’

In the lower room they saw countless rarities and treasures, and were still gazing upon them in wonder when spirits ministrant began to spread the feast. The foods were all fairy fruits and dainties unknown in the common world. Master and disciples bowed acknowledgement of Buddha’s favour and set to with a good will. This time it was Pigsy who was in luck and Sandy who scored; for Buddha had provided for their fare such viands as confer long life and health and magically transform the substance of common flesh and bone. When Ananda and Kasyapa had seen to it that the four had all they wanted, they went into the Treasury. The moment the door was opened, beams of magic hght shot
forth, filling the whole ait far around. On chests and jewelled boxes were stuck red labels, on which were written the names of the holy books. The two disciples of Buddha led Tripitaka up to the place where the scriptures lay, and inviting him to study the titles said, ‘Having come here from China you have no doubt brought a few little gifts for us. If you will kindly hand them over, you shall have your scriptures at once.’

‘During all my long journey,’ said Tripitaka, ‘I have never once found it necessary to lay in anything of the kind.’

‘Splendid,’ said the disciples. ‘So we’re to spend our days handing over scriptures gratis 1 Not a very bright outlook for our heirs!’

Thinking by their sarcastic tone that they had no intention of parting with the scriptures, Monkey could not refrain from shouting angrily, ‘Come along, Master! We’ll tell Buddha about this and make him come and give us the scriptures himself.’

‘Don’t shout,’ said Ananda. ‘There’s nothing in the situation that demands all this bullying and blustering. Come here and fetch your scriptures.’

Pigsy and Sandy, mastering their rage and managing to restrain Monkey, came across to take the books. Scroll by scroll was packed away into the bundle, which was hoisted on to the horse’s back. Then the two luggage packs were tied up and given to Pigsy and Sandy to carry. They first went and kow-towed their thanks to Buddha and then made for the gates. To every lesser Buddha that they met they bowed twice; to every Bodhisattva once. Then leaving the great outer gates they paid their respects to the groups of monks and nuns, and saying farewell, went back down the mountain as fast they could.

Now in an upper room that looked on to the Treasury there happened to be sitting Dipankara, the Buddha of the Past. He overheard the whole conversation about the handing over of the scriptures, and had a notion that if they were given no gratuity, Ananda and Kasyapa would revenge themselves by substituting scriptures with nothing in them. ‘The poor fools,’ he said to himself, ‘certainly have no idea of the
trick that is being played on them, and will discover too late that their whole journey has been wasted.’

‘Is there anyone here that could take a message for me?’ he asked. The White Heroic Bodhisattva stepped forward. ‘I want you to put forth all your magic powers,’ said DIpankara, ‘catch up Tripitaka, get those scriptures away from him, and bring him back to get proper ones.’

The White Heroic Bodhisattva sat astride a whirlwind and made off as fast as his magic powers would carry him. The wind he rode on had a strange perfume, which Tripitaka, when he first perceived it, thought merely to be one of the portents of Paradise. But a moment later, a great rushing sound was heard, and a hand suddenly stretched out from space, sei2ed the scriptures, and bore them away. Tripitaka beat his breast and groaned, Pigsy rolled off in pursuit, while Sandy clutched at the empty pannier. Monkey leapt into the air; but the White Heroic Bodhisattva, seeing him draw near, feared that he might strike out blindly with his cudgel before any explanation could be given. So he tore open the scripture-parcel and threw it to the ground.

Monkey, when he saw the parcel fall and its contents scattered by the scented gale, lowered his cloud and went to see in what condition the scrolls were. He was soon joined by Pigsy, who had given up the pursuit, and they both began collecting the scrolls and bringing them to where Tripitaka was waiting. He was weeping bitterly. ‘Little did I think,’ he sobbed, ‘that even in Paradise we should be thus molested by savage demons!’ Sandy now opened one of the scrolls that he had brought. It was snowy white; there was not a trace of so much as half a letter upon it. ‘Master,’ he said, handing it to Tripitaka, ‘this scroll has got no writing in it.’ Monkey then opened a scroll; it too was blank. Pigsy did the same; only to make the same discovery. ‘We had better look at them all,’ said Tripitaka. They did so, and found that all were blank. ‘I must say it’s hard luck on the people of China,’ sobbed Tripitaka. ‘What is the use of taking to them these blank books? How shall I dare face the Emperor of T’ang ? He will say I am playing a joke on him and have me executed on the spot.’

Monkey had by now guessed what had happened. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I know what’s at the bottom of this. It is all because we refused to give Ananda and Kasyapa their commission. This is how they have revenged themselves on us. The only thing to do is to go straight to Buddha and charge them with fraudulent withholding of delivery.’ They all agreed, and were soon back at the temple gates. ‘They’ve come back to change their scriptures,’ said the bands of the blessed, laughing. This time they were allowed to go straight in.

‘Listen to this!’ shouted Monkey. ‘After all the trouble we had getting here from China, and after you specially ordered that we were to be given the scriptures, Ananda and Kasyapa made a fraudulent delivery of goods. They gave us blank copies to take away; I ask you, what is the good of that to us?’

‘You needn’t shout,’ said Buddha smiling. ‘I quite expected that those two would ask for their commission. As a matter of fact, scriptures ought not to be given on too easy terms or received gratis. On one occasion some of my monks went down the mountain to Sravasti with some scriptures and let Chao, the Man of Substance, read them out loud. The result was that all the live members of his household were protected from all calamity and the dead were saved from perdition. For this they only charged gold to the weight of three pecks and three pints of rice. I told them they had sold far too cheap. No wonder they gave you blank copies when they saw you did not intend to make any payment at all. As a matter of fact, it is such blank scrolls as these that are the true scriptures. But I quite see that the people of China are too foolish and ignorant to believe this, so there is nothing for it but to give them copies with some writing on.’ Then he called for Ananda and Kasyapa, and told them to choose a few scrolls with writing, out of each of the thirty-five divisions of the scriptures, hand them over to the pilgrims, and then inform him of the exact titles and numbers.

The two disciples accordingly took the pilgrims once more to the Treasury, where they again asked Tripitaka for a little present. He could think of nothing to give them except his golden begging bowl. He told Sandy to find it, and
holding it up before him in both hands, he said to the two disciples, ‘I am a poor man and have been travelling for a long time. I fear I have nothing with me that is suitable as a present; but perhaps you would accept this bowl which the Emperor of China gave me with his own hand, that I might use it to beg with on the road. If you will put up with so small a trifle, I am sure that when I return to China and report upon my mission, you may count upon being suitably rewarded. I hope on these terms you will this time give me scriptures with writing on them, or I fear his Majesty will be disappointed and think that all my efforts have been wasted.’ Ananda took the bowl with a faint smile. But all the divinities in attendance – down to the last kitchen-boy god - clapped one another on the back and roared with laughter, saying, ‘Well, of all the shameless…! They’ve made the scripture seekers pay them a commission!’ The two disciples looked somewhat embarrassed, but Ananda continued to clutch tightly at the bowl. Kasyapa meanwhile began looking out the scriptures and handing them over to Tripitaka. ‘Disciples,’ said he, ‘keep a sharp look out, to see that the same thing doesn’t happen again.’ Five thousand and forty-eight scrolls were duly handed over. All of them had writing. Then they were properly arranged and loaded on the horse’s back, and a few that were over were made into a packet and given to Pigsy to carry. The other luggage was carried by Sandy, while Monkey led the horse. Tripitaka carried his priest’s staff and wore his jewelled cap and brocaded cassock. In this guise they all once more presented themselves before Buddha.

Seated on his Lotus Throne, the Blessed One ordered the two Great Arhats to beat on their cloud gongs and summon to the Throne the three thousand Buddhas, the eight Vaj-rapanis, the four Bodhisattvas, the five hundred Arhats, the eight hundred monks, and all the congregation of the faithful. Those that were entitled to be seated were ordered to sit upon their jewelled thrones, and those that were to stand were ranged in two files on either hand. Soon heavenly music was heard from afar, a magic radiance filled the air. When the whole company was duly assembled, Buddha asked his two disciples for an exact account of the scriptures
that they had handed over. Ananda and Kas*yapa then read over the list, beginning with the Book of the Great Decease, and ending with the Kosa Sastra. ‘These books,’ said Ananda, ‘written on five thousand and forty-eight scrolls, have all been given to the priests of China to keep forever in their land. They are all now securely packed on their horse’s back or in parcels to be carried by hand, and the pilgrims are here to thank you.’

Tripitaka and the disciples tethered the horse, put down the burdens and bowed with the palms of their hands pressed together. ‘The efficacy of these scriptures is boundless,’ said Buddha. ‘They are not only the mirror of our Faith, but also the source and origin of all three religions. When you return to the world and show them to common mortals, they must not be lightly handled. No scroll must be opened save by one who has fasted and bathed. Treasure them, value theml For in them is secreted the mystic lore of Immortality, in them is revealed the wondrous receipt for ten thousand transformations.’

Tripitaka kow-towed his thanks, doing leal homage, and prostrating himself three times, as he had done before. When they reached the outer gates, they paid their respects to the bands of the faithful, and went on their way.

After dismissing the pilgrims, Buddha broke up the assembly. Presently the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin appeared before the throne, saying, ‘Long ago I was instructed by you to find someone in China who would come here to fetch scriptures. He has now achieved this task, which has taken him five thousand and forty days. The number of the scrolls delivered to him is five thousand and forty-eight. I suggest that it would be appropriate if he were given eight days in which to complete his mission, so that the two figures may concord.’

‘A very good idea,’ said Buddha. ‘You may have that put into effect.’

He then sent for the eight Vajrapanis and said to them, ‘You are to exert your magic powers and carry back Tripitaka to the east. When he has deposited the scriptures, you are to bring him back here. All this must be done in eight days,
that the number of days taken by the journey may concord with the number of scrolls allotted to him.’ The Vajrapanis at once went after Tripitaka, caught him up and said to him, ‘Scripture-taker, follow us.’ A sudden lightness and agility possessed the pilgrims and they were borne aloft upon a magic cloud.

And if you do not know how they returned to the east and handed over the scriptures, you must listen to what is told in the next chapter.

S
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the eight Vajrapanis escorted Tripitaka back to the east. Of this no more shall now be said. But it must be told that the Guardians of the Five Points, the Sentinels of the Four Watches, and all the divinities who had protected Tripitaka during his journey now appeared before Kuan-yin and said, ‘Your disciples have faithfully carried out your holy instructions and have, all unseen, guarded the Priest of T’ang in his journey to the west. You have reported to the Lord Buddha on the execution of your task, and we beg to report on our endeavours.’

‘The presentation of a report is hereby authorized,’ said the Bodhisattva. ‘I should like first to know what disposition the pilgrims displayed during their journey.’

‘They manifested the greatest determination and devotion,’ said the divinities, ‘a fact that has doubtless not escaped your inspired perspicacity. The tribulations endured by the pilgrims were indeed too many to be fully enumerated. But I have here a record of the major calamities.’

The Bodhisattva took the record and examined it with care: ‘Tripitaka falls into a pit, is attacked by tigers, but saved by his disciple Monkey; he is attacked by the Six Robbers…’ and so on, right down to his adventure in the boat with no bottom. ‘In our Faith,’ said the Bodhisattva, ‘nine times nine is the crucial number. I see that the number of calamities listed here is eighty, thus falling short by one of the holy number.’ Then turning to a Guardian she said, ‘Catch up the Vajrapanis and tell them there has got to be one more calamity.’ He flew through the clouds to the east, and in a single day and night he caught up the Vajrapanis and whispered something in their ears. ‘By order of the Bodhisattva herself,’ he said. ‘Let there be no mistake!’ The Vajrapanis at once withdrew the magic gale that was carrying the pilgrims through space. Horse, scriptures, and all, they fell to earth with a bang.