Chapter 53: Three Strikes Against The White Bone Spirit
However, Sha Seng and Ba Jie rested in the woods for half a day until dusk fell before returning.
Tang Sanzang had taken care of Tiger Vanguard and was truly exhausted after half a day.
Tiger Vanguard, when thirsty, wanted water; when hungry, wanted food; when in pain, wanted to turn over; and after eating and drinking his fill, had three urgencies that needed attending.
Tang Sanzang originally thought that after eating the Ginseng Fruit, he would be strong and healthy, but he never expected that taking care of one person would be so tiring.
Ao Tu laughed, “Tang Monk, you usually have three disciples taking care of you personally. When thirsty, a disciple fetches water for you; when hungry, a disciple begs alms for you; when traveling, the White Horse does the work. Now doing it yourself, you must feel at a loss.”
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang recalled the various incidents along the way and immediately felt extremely ashamed, chanting, “Amitabha.”
That evening, Ba Jie and Sha Seng returned.
Tang Sanzang asked the two, “Ba Jie, Wu Jing, did you find the corpse?”
Ba Jie said, “Master, in these barren mountains and wild ridges, there was nowhere to look.”
Sha Seng agreed, “We two searched for half a day and saw no corpse. Perhaps it was eaten by wild beasts.”
Tang Sanzang then said to Ao Tu:
“Benefactor, my two disciples say that your sister’s bones were perhaps swallowed by wild beasts.”
Ao Tu asked, “What wild beast swallowed her?”
Tang Sanzang was at a loss for words: “This…”
Ao Tu asked again, “Even if wild beasts eat her, they would leave human bones. Where are the human bones?”
Tang Sanzang was speechless.
Ao Tu said, “Tang Monk, without seeing it with your own eyes or getting personally involved, how dare you speak lightly? Cultivation! Cultivation! Without attending to everything personally, how can you truly cultivate? Karmic obstacles entwine your body, yet you let your disciples handle everything. When will your karmic obstacles be lightened?”
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang kowtowed and said:
“Amitabha, Benefactor is right. This poor monk knows his mistake and is willing to personally enter the mountains to search for the bones!”
The next day, when it was fully bright, Tang Sanzang prepared to set off.
Ao Tu asked, “Tang Monk, where are you going?”
Tang Sanzang said, “Benefactor, this poor monk is preparing to personally enter the mountains to find your sister’s bones.”
Ao Tu said, “How can you enter the mountains wearing your kassaya? Change into this rough short clothes of mine; only then will it be easy to walk.”
Tang Sanzang hesitated, “This… Benefactor, how can this poor monk wear a layperson’s clothes?”
Ao Tu laughed, “Try chanting some sutras and see if you can find my sister’s bones.”
Tang Sanzang said, “Benefactor is joking.”
Ao Tu said, “See, chanting sutras cannot find the bones, but this set of rough short clothes will make it convenient for you to walk in the mountains. Do you think you should change or not?”
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang bowed and changed into the clothes.
Ao Tu also dressed neatly, took a hoe, picked up a back basket, and had Tang Sanzang carry it on his back, saying, “I will go with you.”
Tang Sanzang said, “Thank you, Benefactor.”
The two went up the mountain.
The mountain path was difficult, and after walking for a long time, even though Tang Sanzang had eaten the Ginseng Fruit, he gradually felt a lack of physical strength.
Looking at Ao Tu again, he was full of vigor and energy. Tang Sanzang could not help saying:
“Benefactor’s physique is truly strong.”
Ao Tu said, “This is the merit of the ‘Six-Character Mantra’ taught by Spirit Mountain King Buddha, not my strong physique.”
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang wanted Ao Tu to teach him the mantra, but recalling his own sins, he could not bring himself to ask and could only sigh helplessly.
After resting for a moment, the two continued walking. Along the way, Ao Tu picked some medicinal herbs, such as bupleurum, dipsacus, and rhizoma drynariae; Tang Sanzang did not recognize any of them.
Ao Tu said, “Tang Monk, you don’t even recognize these common medicinal herbs. Traveling in barren mountains and wild ridges, if you get sick or injured, where will you find a physician to treat you?”
Tang Sanzang said, “Naturally, my eldest disciple…”
He was momentarily speechless.
After walking a long time, they arrived at the place where Wukong had killed the White Bone Spirit’s incarnation.
There they saw some minced meat, torn clothes, and some scattered bones.
Tang Sanzang bowed in grief and compassion, saying, “Amitabha, Benefactor, please restrain your grief.”
Then he bent down and picked up the scattered bones one by one, putting them into the back basket.
The two returned, and while walking through a mountain hollow, suddenly a gust of wind blew, and a group of gray-furred silver-tailed evil wolves jumped out, each arching their backs, baring steel teeth, and glaring fiercely at the two.
Tang Sanzang panicked, “Benefactor, what should we do?”
Ao Tu said, “Don’t be afraid. I have the Six-Character Mantra passed down by Spirit Mountain King Buddha, which can repel evil.”
Ao Tu put his palms together and chanted, “Om Mani Padme Hum!”
As the mantra was chanted, Buddhist sounds rang out, and the group of evil wolves fled in panic.
Seeing this, Tang Sanzang was full of envy.
The two returned home, buried the bones in the grave, and sincerely paid respects.
That evening, they prepared the herbs and gave them to Tiger Vanguard to take.
After taking the herbs, Tiger Vanguard still cried in pain.
Ao Tu said, “The injury is too severe; we still need to invite a physician to treat it.”
Tang Sanzang said, “Tomorrow this poor monk will personally go down the mountain to invite a physician.”
Sha Seng said, “Master, the mountain is high and the road far; let me go for you.”
Tang Sanzang shook his head, “This is my sin; it should not be handled by you all. It is better that I go personally.”
Sha Seng worried, “But such a long way?”
Ba Jie said, “Junior Brother Sha, what are you worried about? With this Benefactor here, Master will be fine!”
The next day, Tang Sanzang prepared to set off.
Ao Tu asked, “Tang Monk, what are you doing?”
Tang Sanzang said, “Benefactor, this poor monk is going to the town below the mountain to invite a physician to treat your brother’s leg injury.”
Ao Tu said, “How much money do you have?”
Tang Sanzang said, “This poor monk is an out-going monk and has no money.”
Ao Tu said, “Without money, how can you invite a physician?”
Tang Sanzang said, “Although this poor monk has no money, he has a sincere heart that will surely move the healer to come and treat your brother.”
Ao Tu said, “Then you go.”
Tang Sanzang then mounted the White Horse and went down the mountain to find a physician.
Arriving in the town, Tang Sanzang found a medical hall and explained his purpose.
Hearing it was White Tiger Ridge, the physician shook his head repeatedly and said:
“Not going! Not going! That White Tiger Ridge is steep and dangerous; I’ve heard demons haunt it. Find someone else.”
Helpless, Tang Sanzang sought other healers, but upon hearing it was White Tiger Ridge, most refused to go.
Only a greedy physician was willing to make a house call, but demanded a lot of money, which Tang Sanzang did not have, so he said:
“This poor monk is an out-going person and has not brought money. Can the healer, for the sake of Buddha Ancestor, make a free house call?”
The physician said, “Buddha Ancestor? Does Buddha Ancestor take pulses? Can Buddha Ancestor conjure medicine? Without money, what illness are you treating? Besides, isn’t that White Horse of yours money? Sell the horse, gather enough silver, and then come find me for a house call!”
Tang Sanzang had no choice. He wandered the city for a day, found no physician willing to go, and finally, as dusk fell and hunger gnawed, returned.
Ao Tu laughed, “It seems a monk’s sincerity isn’t worth that much!”
Tang Sanzang said, “Benefactor, in the past in Great Tang, Buddhist Dharma was not very prosperous, yet whenever this poor monk begged alms, the common people were all kind-hearted, respected our Buddha, and gave generously. Now on this Western land, closer to Spirit Mountain, the common people should be even more devout to Buddha. Why then…”
Ao Tu said, “It’s not the common people’s fault; your method is wrong. Tomorrow, come with me.”
The next day at dawn, Ao Tu said to Tang Sanzang:
“Tang Monk, lend me your kassaya and monk’s spade to wear for a day.”
Tang Sanzang said, “Benefactor, this was given by Bodhisattva; I dare not give it lightly to others.”
Ao Tu laughed, “‘All appearances are illusory.’ This kassaya on you cannot invite a healer. Even with divine strength, how can you save all beings?”
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang bowed, “Amitabha, Benefactor’s Buddhist Dharma is profound; this poor monk knows his mistake!”
