Heaven watched life’s ten thousand beings,

knowing

each one carried the potential to move

toward wisdom.

Telling the secrets to the wrong person

leaves the mouth dry and thirsty.

Treasure and cultivate the vital forces:

the energy, the breath, the spirit.

Guard them well; do not let them escape.

If you truly understand the origin of the universe,

heaven and earth, the sun, and the moon will be envious.

When the mind is not stable, the elixir cannot cook.

When we stop grasping, our pure mind rejoices.

What calamity is greater than no contentment?

The sixteenth century epic of Monkey King: Journey to the West is known to every Chinese person, in Mainland China, Taiwan, and the diaspora. Monkey King, born from a 356 foot round stone, sets out in search of immortality. Fourteen years of apprenticeship bring Monkey King the skill of cloud somersaulting and an impenetrable body. He then tries to take over heaven but is defeated by Buddha. Five hundred years later, Kwan Yin, the Goddess of Compassion, releases Monkey King from his captivity so he might accompany a young monk to India to bring back the Buddhist scriptures. En route in this great rollicking tale they have adventure upon adventure, encounters with robbers, fiends, monsters, tigers, ogres, and lusty women who would steal their powers.

On the surface, the epic is a great adventure tale with the immortal Monkey King, whose supernatural powers put him in a league with Superman, or Batman. With the support of his compliant rod, he defeats tyrants, liberates the oppressed, and helps the needy. He also loses his temper at the slightest insult and has great difficulty obeying orders. His companion, The Tang Monk, is a pure soul, ignorant in worldly matters, trembling before each tall mountain, tiger and brigand they meet.

Diane’s presentation of Monkey King offers the excitement of the journey, while also focusing on the inner adventures of the protagonists. Monkey King has gained immortal powers from studying with the Taoists; his first instincts are to triumph, to prevail. However, in his role as the monk’s protector, he runs into constant difficulties, for the Tang Monk, cannot see the difference between fiend and friend and his loving heart would care for all, even those who would destroy them. Taoism - enlightenment of the self, and Buddhism - care for others, struggle toward integration during the journey. Equally relevant to our times is the struggle and eventual integration of the magician and the “saint”. The assertive, spontaneous magician Monkey King, has great technical powers and would happily take over the world, while the submissive, pure Monk journeys with the intention of ending the suffering of all beings.

In our times, we have great technical knowledge, we know how to split the atom and clone; we also want to care for the whole planet. How do we integrate such matters?

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Informative, fascinating account of Chinese woman’s journey, retracing the steps of Xuanzang to  understand his journey and her Buddhist grandmother, whom she had loved but not understood.

Self nature, complete and clear,

Like the moon in water. The mind in meditation, like the sky, Ten thousands miles without a cloud. --p 255

An excellent purchase: $22 for four volumes.

Volumes are lightweight and easy to carry.

Jenner’s version is easy to read and easy to tell.

Anthony Yu’s version is scholarly with lots of helpful notes.

His choice of names is more poetic than Jenner’s.

A good reference.