A new outlook of the Tang Monk

These days I have been listening to Journey to the West through an app.

I watched Journey to the West on TV when I was about seven. But at that time, I couldn’t understand the story well. Each time when the tang monk fell for the demons’ tricks and caused so many troubles for himself and his companions, I just got furious with him, I blamed him for his stupid kindness. Especially in the episode where Shun Wukong, for three times defeated the white bone spirit who was in disguise as some innocent people, but the tang monk mistook Wukong for hurting people and sent him away with coldness like ice, I think my little heart just broke together with Wukong’s at that night.

At that young age, I just couldn’t understand why the tank monk would keep trusting the strangers they met on their journey, even after he had fallen for their thicks so many times . Why would he keep trying to save those who were just wanting to eat him for a ever-lasting life. He was not only foolish but stubborn a lot.

But now I think I can understand this tang monk a little better.

His goal was always clear to him that was to get the true scriptures from Buddha, which were the only things in the world that could save the misery people in the Tang empire. With such a clear and great purpose, the long and dangerous journey couldn’t frighten him anymore. And most importantly he was a true monk who was sticking to buddhist beliefs throughout his lifetime. All the way to west,  among the group  he was the only one who was mortal and powerless, but he was willing to help the weak fighting the evils in the first place. He forgave the criminals even the evils who once planned to harm him. He held in place before all the temptations, like the power to rule a kingdom or a marriage to a beautiful woman. He influenced the nasty ones like his companions , who were powerful but arrogant and defiant, even cruel with people in the past, but throughout their journey he helped them know themselves better and finally all become a Buddhist instead.

He was mortal but what he did was immortal.

We should always trust people and treat them kindly, love your life like we have never gotten hurt before, this is what I learned from the tang monk these days.

P.S. the tang monk became a Buddha himself after accomplishing all the challenges on the journey to west.