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06 The Search for the Scripture Pilgrim

One day the Buddha said to the bodhisattvas in the Great Thunder Sound Monastery on Spirit Mountain: "I observe that in the Southern Jambudvipa the people are lustful and take pleasure in evil, with much killing and much strife. I hold the true scriptures of the Three Baskets, which can move men to good. Yet if I send them east, I fear the beings there are too dull to grasp the heart of my teaching, and would slight the true lineage of the Buddha's law." The Buddha looked round at those about him and went on: "I need one with power to go to the eastern land and find a man, that he may endure a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers and come here to seek the true scriptures. Who among you will make the journey?" Guanyin Bodhisattva stepped forward and bowed. "Your disciple will go." The Buddha was greatly pleased. He had a disciple bring forth a brocade cassock and a nine-ringed staff and gave them to Guanyin. Then he took out three bands and handed them to her. "This treasure is called the Tightening Band. Should you meet a fierce demon, persuade him to turn to good and take the pilgrim as his master. If he will not obey, put this band on his head and recite the spell, and his head will split with pain until he enters my gate." Guanyin laid this to heart, took up the cassock and staff, bade the Buddha farewell, and with the boy Mucha went down from Spirit Mountain toward the eastern land. As they went they came upon three thousand leagues of sluggish water, heavy with the air of death: they had reached the Flowing Sand River. Guanyin frowned. "The pilgrim is but common mortal bone and flesh. How shall he cross this river?" Even as she looked, there was a great crash in the water and out leapt a monster with a blue face, bared fangs, red hair and a red beard. Treasure staff in hand and wind beneath his feet, the demon gave a tremendous roar and came ashore to seize her. The boy Mucha whirled his iron cudgel and went to meet him, and the two fought back and forth along the banks of the Flowing Sand River. They fought some dozens of rounds without either gaining the advantage. Then Mucha pointed to the bank. "My master is Guanyin of the South Sea, bound for the eastern land to seek out the pilgrim. What spirit are you, that you dare block our way?" The monster looked up and saw Guanyin. He lowered his staff, came close and bowed his head to the ground. "Forgive me, Bodhisattva. I was once the Curtain-Lifting General of the Hall of Lingxiao. At the Peach Banquet I let a crystal cup slip from my hand and broke it, and the Jade Emperor cast me down to the world below and gave me this shape." "I go now by the Buddha's command to the eastern land to find the pilgrim," said Guanyin. "Why not enter my gate, take refuge in the fruit of good, and go as that pilgrim's disciple to worship the Buddha in the West and seek the scriptures? When the work is done your sin will be remitted and your office restored. What say you?" "I am willing to turn to the true fruit," said the monster. Guanyin laid her hand upon his head and gave him the precepts, and gave him the Dharma name Sha Wujing. From that day Sha Wujing took no more life, and waited only for the pilgrim. Bidding him farewell, Guanyin went on with Mucha toward the east. After a while they saw a high mountain wreathed in an evil vapour, and as they were about to ride their cloud over it, a fierce wind rose and another demon appeared. The demon rushed at them and without a word raised his nine-toothed rake to strike Guanyin. "Insolent monster, mind your manners!" Mucha roared, and the two plied their weapons and fought beneath the mountain. They fought so closely that neither could break away, until Guanyin dropped a lotus from midair to part rake and cudgel. The demon was startled. "What monk are you," he asked, "that dares mock me?" "This is my master, Guanyin Bodhisattva of the South Sea," Mucha shouted. "Do you not know her?"

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