The Bodhisattva moistened her willow sprig with sweet dew, and flicked the ambrosial liquid at him with a call of “Together!” The boy dropped his spear and put his hands together in front of his chest, unable to pull them apart. The “Guanyin twist” that some people still have today is what he had. Only when he could not pick up his spear because his hands were inseparably joined did the boy appreciate the deep mystery of the power of the Dharma. He could do no other than lower his head in a kowtow.
The Bodhisattva then recited another true spell and turned her vase over to take back the whole seaful of water. Not half a drop was left behind. “Wukong,” she said to Monkey, “this demon has now surrendered. The only thing is that he still has some wild ideas. He will-only accept the Dharma after he has gone from here to Potaraka Island making a kowtow at every step of the journey. You must go straight back to the cave to rescue your master.”
“As your disciple has put you to the trouble of this long journey,” said Monkey with a kowtow, “I should see you some of your way back.”
“No need,” said the Bodhisattva. “I am worried for your master's life.” Brother Monkey then kowtowed to take his leave of her joyfully. The evil spirit was now converted to the True Achievement by Guanyin, who became his fifty-third religious teacher.
The story now turns from how the Bodhisattva won a page boy through her wisdom to Friar Sand, who had long been sitting in the woods waiting for Monkey. When Monkey did not come back he tied the luggage on the back of the horse, and leading it by its bridle with one hand and holding his demon-quelling staff in the other he went out of the pine woods to take a look to the South. Seeing Monkey returning in a very good mood, Friar Sand went up to him and said, “Brother, why has it taken you so long to get back from asking the Bodhisattva to come? I've been half dead from worry.”
“You must have been asleep and dreaming,” said Monkey. “I've already brought her here and she has subdued the demon.” Monkey then told him all about the Bodhisattva's Dharma power. “Let's go and rescue the master,” said Friar Sand with delight.
The two of them then leapt across the ravine and rushed to the doors, where they tethered the horse. Then they charged in together, their weapons at the ready, and wiped out the devils. They let the leather bag down to release Pig, who thanked Monkey and asked, “Where's that evil spirit, brother? Just let me have a go at him with my rake; I want to get my own back.”
“Let's find the master,” said Monkey.
The three of them went right to the back of the cave, where they found their master tied up stark naked and weeping in the rear courtyard. Friar Sand untied him while Monkey fetched his clothes to dress him. The three of them then knelt before him and said, “Master, you have suffered terribly.”
Sanzang thanked them and said, “Dear disciples, I have put you to great trouble. How was the demon subdued?” Monkey then told him how the Bodhisattva had been asked to come and had taken the boy as her page. (This is what people refer to nowadays when they talk about the page boy submitting to the Bodhisattva, and respecting her as his fifty-third teacher after visiting the Buddha on three occasions.)
Monkey told Friar Sand to collect all the valuables in the cave then find some rice to prepare a vegetarian meal for the master. The venerable elder owed his life entirely to the Great Sage Sun; and it was on the Handsome Monkey Spirit that he depended to fetch the scriptures. Master and disciples then left the cave. The horse was saddled up, and once they found the main trail they headed West with wholehearted determination.
One day when they had been travelling for over a month Sanzang heard the sound of a river. “Disciple,” said Sanzang in great alarm, “what river is that?”
“You're much too much of a worrier, old Master,” laughed Monkey “ever to become a priest. Why should you alone among the four of us hear water? Have you forgotten your Heart Sutra?”
“I was taught the fifty-four sentences and 270 words of that sutra on Pagoda Mountain by the Rook's Nest Hermit in person,” replied Sanzang. “I learned them by ear and I constantly repeat them to myself. Which sentence of it have I forgotten?”
“Master,” said Brother Monkey, “you've forgotten the sentence, 'There is no sight, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch and no mental process.' We men of religion should not look on beauty, hear music, smell sweet fragrances, or taste good flavors. We should not even notice whether we are hot or cold, and our minds should be free from delusion. This is the way to repel the Six Bandits that attack eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind. Because of your mission to fetch the scriptures you are constantly worrying. You are afraid of evil monsters because you cling to your body. When you ask for vegetarian food your tongue is moved. If you enjoy a pleasant aroma it stimulates your nose. Sounds startle your ears. By looking at things you fasten your eyes on them. If you will keep on inviting the Six Bandits in over and over again how can you ever expect to reach the Western Heaven and see the Buddha?”
At this Sanzang fell into deep and silent thought for a while, then said, “Disciple,
When many years ago from my emperor I was parted,
On endless days and nights of travelling I started.
In the mists upon the mountains my grass sandal were worn through;
Many ridges have I climbed in my rain-hat of bamboo.
How often have I sighed when the gibbons call at night?
I cannot bear to listen to birds chirping in the moonlight.
When will I achieve the three Samadhis, I implore,
And obtain the Tathagata's most wonderful Law?”
When he had heard this Monkey could not help clapping his hands and laughing aloud. “Master,” he said, “you're suffering terribly from homesickness. If you really want to achieve the three Samadhis it isn't all difficult. As the saying goes, 'At the right time the achievement completes itself.'”
“Brother,” said Pig, looking back to him, “if we keep on coming up against such terrible demons we'll never succeed in a thousand years.”
“Brother Pig,” said Friar Sand, “you're as coarse-tongued as I am. Stop irritating Monkey: he might lose his temper. Just keep on carrying your load and one day we'll finally succeed.”
They walked on as they talked, and the horse's hoofs never rested until they came to a great black river stretching as far as the eye could see. When the four of them stood on the bank to take a close look they saw
Wave upon turbid wave,
Eddies and muddy whirls.
Wave upon turbid wave churns up the dark waters,
Eddies and muddy whirls looking like grease.
From close up it does not reflect the human image;
For far around not a tree can be seen.
Rolling ink,
Seething ash.
Bubbles that rise are charcoal;
The flying foam is like shoveled coal-dust.
Cattle and sheep will not drink,
Magpie and crow avoid it.
Cattle and sheep will not drink its blackness;
Magpie and crow avoid its vast expanse.
Only the reeds by the bank grow as they should,
While the flowers and grass by the sandbank flourish green.
The world is full of rivers and lakes,
And many are its streams and marshes and springs,
But of all the places that people have seen in life,
The Black River of the West is not among them.
“Disciples,” asked Sanzang as he dismounted, “why is this river so dark and turbid?”
“Someone's washed out an indigo dyeing-vat in it,” said Pig. “No,” said Friar Sand, “somebody's been cleaning their inkstone in it.”