Chapter 1: Spiritual Root Nurturing and the Origin of Birth, Mind Cultivation and the Birth of the Great Way

The poem states:

Before chaos was divided, heaven and earth were a jumbled mess,Vast and indistinct, seen by no one.Since Pangu shattered the primeval chaos,Creation began, from then on distinguishing the clear from the turbid.All living beings, enveloped by it, look up to its supreme benevolence;The creation of myriad things all becomes good.If you wish to understand the meritorious work of creation and the grand cosmic cycles,You must read "Journey to the West: The Dispelling of Calamities."

It is said that the measure of heaven and earth is 129,600 years for one cosmic cycle (Yuan). One Yuan is divided into twelve periods (Hui), namely Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai—the twelve earthly branches. Each period lasts 10,800 years. If we consider this in terms of a single day: during the Zi hour, the Yang energy begins; during Chou, the roosters crow; Yin is still dark, but Mao sees the sunrise; after the Chen hour, Si is for arrangements; midday is at Wu; Wei marks the wane of the sun in the west; Shen is late afternoon and the sun sets at You; Xu is dusk, and people settle down at Hai.

Applying this to the grand cosmic number, by the end of the Xu period, heaven and earth grow dim and all things decline. Another 5,400 years pass, and at the beginning of the Hai period, darkness prevails, and all beings between heaven and earth vanish; hence, it is called chaos. After another 5,400 years, as the Hai period draws to a close, purity descends, and a new Yuan begins. Nearing the Zi period, it gradually brightens. Shao Kangjie said: "At the winter solstice, midway through Zi, the heart of heaven remains unchanged. Where the first Yang stirring begins, is when all things are yet to be born." At this point, heaven first takes root.

Another 5,400 years pass, right in the Zi period, light and clear elements ascend, and there are sun, moon, stars, and constellations. The sun, moon, stars, and constellations are called the Four Phenomena. Thus, it is said that heaven opened at Zi. After another 5,400 years, as the Zi period ends, nearing the Chou period, it gradually solidifies. The I Ching says: "Great indeed is Qian, the Creative! Supreme indeed is Kun, the Receptive! All things derive their birth from them, responding spontaneously to Heaven." At this point, earth first solidified.

Another 5,400 years pass, right in the Chou period, heavy and turbid elements condense, and there are water, fire, mountains, stones, and earth. Water, fire, mountains, stones, and earth are called the Five Elements. Thus, it is said that earth opened at Chou. After another 5,400 years, as the Chou period ends and the Yin period begins, myriad things are born. The Calendar says: "Heaven's qi descends, earth's qi ascends; heaven and earth merge, all beings are born." At this point, heaven is clear and earth is fresh, Yin and Yang merge. Another 5,400 years pass, right in the Yin period, humans, beasts, and birds are born, marking the establishment of Heaven, Earth, and Man, the Three Powers. Thus, it is said that man was born at Yin.

Inspired by Pangu's creation, the Three Sovereigns' rule, and the Five Emperors' establishment of order, the world was divided into four great continents: the East Aolai Continent, the West Niuhe Continent, the South Jambudvipa, and the North Udyana. This book focuses solely on the East Aolai Continent. Overseas there is a country called Aolai, close to the great sea. In the sea is a mountain called Flower-Fruit Mountain. This mountain is the ancestral root of the ten continents, the coming dragon of the three islands. It was established when the clear and turbid were separated and formed after the primordial chaos was judged. Truly a magnificent mountain! A poem serves as proof:

Its power controls the vast ocean, its might calms the wondrous sea.Power controls the vast ocean, tides surge like silver mountains, fish enter their holes;Might calms the wondrous sea, waves flip like snow, krakens leave their abyss.High peaks rise in the East, towering over the East Sea.Crimson cliffs and strange rocks, steep walls and bizarre peaks.On crimson cliffs, colorful phoenixes sing in pairs;Before steep walls, solitary Qilins lie.On peaks, golden pheasants are often heard crowing;In stone caves, dragons are always seen entering and exiting.In the forest are long-lived deer and immortal foxes;On trees are spiritual birds and black cranes.Jade-like grasses and exotic flowers never wither;Green pines and cypresses are evergreen.Immortal peaches always bear fruit, elegant bamboos always retain clouds.A single ravine is dense with vines and creepers;On all sides, the original dikes are covered in new grass.Indeed, it is the pillar that supports heaven where all rivers meet,The foundation of the earth, unmoved for myriad kalpas.

On top of that mountain, there was an immortal stone. The stone was three zhang, six chi, and five cun high, and two zhang, four chi in circumference. Its height, three zhang, six chi, and five cun, corresponds to the 365 degrees of the celestial sphere. Its circumference, two zhang, four chi, corresponds to the 24 solar terms of the calendar. It had nine apertures and eight holes, corresponding to the nine palaces and eight trigrams. On all four sides, there were no trees to cast shade, but on its left and right were orchids as adornment. Since the beginning of creation, it had constantly absorbed the pure essence of heaven and earth, the radiance of the sun and moon. After a long period of absorption, it developed spiritual awareness. Within it, an immortal embryo was nurtured. One day, it burst open, giving birth to a stone egg, the size of a round ball. Upon exposure to the wind, it transformed into a stone monkey, with all five senses and four limbs complete. It immediately learned to crawl and walk, and bowed to the four directions. From its eyes shot two beams of golden light, which reached the Dipper Palace. This startled the august, benevolent Jade Emperor, the Great Deva, the Most High Heavenly Venerable, the Profoundly Exalted Jade Emperor, who sat enthroned in the Golden Imperial Cloud Palace, the Hall of Divine Mists. He gathered the immortal ministers and, seeing the blazing golden light, immediately commanded Thousand-Mile Eye and All-Ears to open the South Heaven Gate and observe. The two generals, obeying the imperial decree, stepped outside, saw clearly, and heard distinctly. Soon, they returned and reported: "We obeyed Your Majesty's decree to observe and listen at the source of the golden light. It is in the realm of the small Aolai Country, east of the sea, in the East Aolai Continent. There is a Flower-Fruit Mountain, and on the mountain, an immortal stone. The stone produced an egg, which transformed into a stone monkey when exposed to the wind. It is there, bowing to the four directions, its eyes emitting golden light that reached the Dipper Palace. Now that it has consumed water and food, the golden light will soon subside." The Jade Emperor benevolently said: "Creatures from below are born of the essence of heaven and earth, nothing unusual."

The monkey in the mountain could walk and leap, eat grass and trees, drink from stream springs, pick mountain flowers, and seek tree fruits. It kept wolves and insects as companions, tigers and leopards as its group, deer as friends, and macaques as kin. It slept beneath stone cliffs at night and roamed among peaks and caves in the morning. Truly, "in the mountains, there's no calendar, winter ends and one knows not the year." One day, the weather grew hot, and it sought shade with its fellow monkeys, playing under the pines. Look at them all:

Leaping on trees, climbing branches,Picking flowers, searching for fruit;Throwing pebbles, playing games;Running in sand, building pagodas;Chasing dragonflies, catching beetles;Paying respects to Heaven, bowing to Bodhisattvas;Pulling vines, weaving grass mats;Catching lice, biting and pinching;Grooming fur, cleaning nails;Leaning, rubbing, pushing, pressing,Pulling, tugging,Freely playing beneath green pines,Washing as they pleased by the clear stream.

After playing for a while, the group of monkeys went to bathe in the mountain stream. They saw the stream water rushing, truly like a tumbling, surging torrent. An ancient saying goes: "Birds have bird speech, beasts have beast language." The monkeys all said: "We don't know where this water comes from. Today, we're free and have nothing to do, let's follow the stream upstream to find its source and have some fun!" With a shout, they all dragged their young, called their siblings, and ran together, climbing along the stream until they reached the source, which was a soaring waterfall. All they saw was:

A white rainbow rises, a thousand fathoms of snowy waves fly;Sea winds cannot break it, river moon still reflects it.Cold air divides green peaks, lingering flow moistens emerald trees;Murmuring waterfall, truly like a hanging curtain.

The monkeys clapped their hands and praised: "Good water! Good water! So, this place extends far beneath the mountain foot, connecting directly to the great ocean's waves." Then they said: "Whoever is brave enough to penetrate it, find the source, and emerge unharmed, we will immediately bow to him as king!" They called out three times, when suddenly, from the thicket, a stone monkey leaped out and loudly responded, "I'll go! I'll go!" What a monkey! It was he:

Today his fragrant name is revealed,His great fortune has arrived;Destined to reside here,Sent by the King into the immortal palace.

You see him close his eyes, crouch, and with a leap, plunge straight into the waterfall. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked up. Inside, there was no water or waves, but a clear, bright bridge. He stopped, calmed himself, and looked again carefully. It was an iron plate bridge. The water beneath the bridge rushed through stone apertures, falling away to obscure the bridge's entrance. He then rose and stepped onto the bridge, walking further and observing, finding it much like a human dwelling, truly a wonderful place. All he saw was:

Emerald moss piled like blue, white clouds floating like jade,Light shimmering with wisps of mist and rosy clouds.Empty windows and quiet rooms, smooth benches with patterns of flowers.Dragon pearls hanging in a milky grotto,Strange flowers winding over the ground.Cooking stove by the cliff with traces of fire,Jars and cups by the table with remnants of food.Stone seats and stone beds, truly lovely;Stone basins and stone bowls, even more praiseworthy.He also saw one or two tall bamboos, three or five plum blossoms.Several green pines always wet with rain,Truly resembling a human dwelling.

After observing for a long time, he leaped to the middle of the bridge, looking left and right, and saw in the very center a stone tablet. On the tablet was a line of large regular script characters, carved with "Flower-Fruit Mountain Blessed Land, Water Curtain Cave Celestial Grotto." The stone monkey was overjoyed beyond measure. He quickly withdrew, jumped out of the water, eyes closed and body crouched. He then burst out of the water and chuckled twice, "What great fortune! What great fortune!" The monkeys surrounded him, asking, "What's it like inside? How deep is the water?" The stone monkey said, "No water! No water! It's an iron plate bridge. And beyond the bridge is a naturally formed home!" The monkeys asked, "How is it a home?" The stone monkey laughed, "This water rushes beneath the stone bridge and hangs downward, obscuring the entrance. By the bridge are flowers and trees, and it's a stone house. Inside the house are stone nests, stone stoves, stone bowls, stone basins, stone beds, and stone stools. In the middle, on a stone tablet, is carved 'Flower-Fruit Mountain Blessed Land, Water Curtain Cave Celestial Grotto.' It's truly our place of refuge. And it's quite spacious, enough for hundreds of young and old. Let's all go in and live there, and avoid being exposed to the elements. Inside here:

When wind blows, there's a place to hide;When rain falls, a good place to shelter.No fear of frost or snow at all;Thunder will never be heard.Mist and rosy clouds always illuminate;Auspicious vapors always permeate.Pines and bamboos are evergreen year after year;Exotic flowers are new every day."

Hearing this, all the monkeys were delighted and said, "You go first, lead us in, lead us in!" The stone monkey again closed his eyes, crouched down, and leaped inside, calling out, "Everyone follow me! Come in!" The brave monkeys all jumped in; the timid ones, one by one, stuck out their heads, pulled in their necks, scratched their ears and cheeks, and yelled loudly for a while, before eventually going in too. After leaping across the bridge, they all scrambled for basins and bowls, vied for stoves and beds, moving things here and there. Such was their mischievous monkey nature that there was never a moment of peace, only stopping when exhausted. The stone monkey sat above and said, "Everyone, as the saying goes, 'A man without trustworthiness, how can he be?' You just said that whoever could enter and exit unharmed would be crowned king. Now I have gone in and out, out and in, and found this celestial grotto for you all to sleep soundly and enjoy the blessings of a home. Why do you not bow to me as king?" Hearing this, the monkeys immediately bowed in submission, without dissent. One by one, they lined up by age and paid their respects, all hailing him as "King of a Thousand Years." From then on, the stone monkey ascended to the throne, concealing the character "Stone," and thus became known as the Handsome Monkey King. A poem serves as proof:

Three Yangs converge to give birth to living beings;The immortal stone contains the essence of sun and moon.Borrowing the egg to transform into a monkey, he completes the Great Dao;Using a false name, he achieves the elixir.Internally, he knows not because he is formless;Externally, he clearly knows because he has form.Throughout history, all people are like this;Whether called king or sage, they wander freely.

The Handsome Monkey King led a group of apes, macaques, and horse-monkeys, assigning them roles as ministers, assistants, and envoys. They roamed Flower-Fruit Mountain by day and slept in Water Curtain Cave by night, in perfect harmony. They did not associate with flocks of birds or herds of beasts. He reigned as king alone, enjoying boundless happiness. Thus:

In spring, gathering a hundred flowers for food and drink;In summer, seeking all fruits for livelihood.In autumn, harvesting taro and chestnuts for the season;In winter, finding yellow essence to pass the year.

The Handsome Monkey King lived a life of pure joy, unexpectedly for three or five hundred years. One day, during a joyful feast with his fellow monkeys, he suddenly became troubled and shed tears. The monkeys quickly knelt and asked, "Great King, why are you distressed?" The Monkey King said, "Although I am happy now, I have a distant worry, and that is why I am troubled." The monkeys laughed again, "Great King, how ungrateful you are! We are joyful every day, living in this immortal mountain, blessed land, ancient cave, divine continent, not subject to the Qilin, nor the Phoenix, nor constrained by human kings. We are free and unrestrained, possessing immeasurable blessings. Why do you worry about distant matters?" The Monkey King said, "Although today we are not subject to the laws of human kings nor the power of birds and beasts, in the future, when we grow old and our blood decays, the King of Hell secretly controls us. Once we die, won't it be a wasted life in this world, unable to live long among heaven and men?" Hearing these words, the monkeys all covered their faces and wept, each concerned about impermanence.

Just then, from the ranks, a long-armed ape suddenly leaped out and cried loudly, "Great King, if you have such a distant worry, then truly the Dao heart has awakened! Among the five types of creatures, only three kinds are not controlled by the King of Hell." The Monkey King asked, "Do you know which three kinds?" The ape replied, "They are Buddhas, Immortals, and Sacred Sages. They escape the cycle of reincarnation, are unborn and undying, and live as long as heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers." The Monkey King asked, "Where do these three live?" The ape said, "They live only within the human world, in ancient caves and immortal mountains." Hearing this, the Monkey King was overjoyed and said, "Tomorrow I will bid you farewell and go down the mountain, traveling to the ends of the earth and the corners of the sea. I must find these three and learn the method of eternal life, so I can forever escape the King of Hell's peril." Ah! These words immediately taught him how to leap out of the net of reincarnation, leading him to become the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. The monkeys clapped and cheered, all saying, "Excellent! Excellent! Tomorrow we will cross mountains and climb peaks, gather many fruits, and hold a grand feast to send off our Great King!"

The next day, the monkeys indeed went to gather immortal peaches, pick exotic fruits, dig up yams, unearth Solomon's Seal, collect fragrant orchids, sweet herbs, jade-like grasses, and strange flowers. Everything was neatly and completely arranged. They set out stone stools and stone tables, and arrayed immortal wine and immortal delicacies. All that was seen was:

Golden pellets and pearl-like spheres, bursting red and plump yellow.Golden pellets and pearl-like spheres were ripe cherries, truly sweet and delicious;Red bursting and yellow plump were ripe plums, indeed fragrant and sour.Fresh longans, sweet flesh and thin skin;Fiery lychees, small seeds and red pulp.Crab apples, green fruit offered still on the branch;Loquats, yellow-wrapped, held up with their leaves.Rabbit-head pears and chicken-heart dates,Quenching thirst, dispelling annoyance, and relieving hangovers.Fragrant peaches and rotten apricots, sweet as jade liquid and ambrosia;Crisp plums and bayberries, sour as sour cream and cheese.Red-pulped, black-seeded, ripe watermelon;Four-lobed, yellow-skinned, large persimmons.Pomegranates split open, cinnabar seeds revealing fiery crystal pearls;Taro and chestnuts cut open, firm flesh like golden agates.Walnuts and ginkgo could be served with tea;Coconuts and grapes could be made into wine.Hazelnuts, pine nuts, filberts, and pears filled the plates;Oranges, sugarcane, mandarins, and pomelos covered the table.Roasted yams, well-boiled Solomon's Seal,Crushed poria and coix seeds, slow-cooked soup in stone pots.Even if there were rare delicacies in the human world,How could they compare to the tranquility and joy of mountain monkeys?

The monkeys honored the Handsome Monkey King with the highest seat, while they themselves sat below according to age and rank. One by one, they came forward to offer wine, flowers, and fruit, and they feasted joyfully for a whole day. The next morning, the Handsome Monkey King rose early and instructed: "Little ones, gather some dry pines for me to weave into a raft, take a bamboo pole for a punt, and pack some fruits. I am leaving." He alone boarded the raft, pushed off with all his might, and drifted across the great ocean waves, carried by the heavenly wind, heading towards the realm of the South Jambudvipa. This departure was precisely:

The heaven-born immortal monkey, his Dao cultivation profound,Leaving the mountain, riding a raft with heavenly winds.Drifting across the sea to seek the immortal way,Determined and focused to achieve great merit.Destined and fated, casting aside worldly desires,Carefree, meeting the primal dragon.Surely he will meet a kindred spirit,Who will reveal the source and make all laws clear.

It was indeed his turn of fortune. After boarding the raft, strong southeast winds blew for several days, carrying him to the northwest shore, which was the land of South Jambudvipa. Punting to test the water, he found it shallow, abandoned the raft, and leaped ashore. He saw people by the seaside fishing, hunting geese, digging clams, and boiling salt. He approached them, played a trick, and made a grimace, frightening those people into dropping their baskets and nets and scattering in all directions. He seized one who could not run, stripped off his clothes, and wore them himself. Swaying and swaggering, he traveled through states and prefectures, in the bustling city, learning human manners and speech. Eating by day and sleeping by night, his mind was solely focused on seeking the Dao of Buddhas, Immortals, and Sages, and finding a method for eternal life. He saw that people in the world were all driven by fame and profit, with not one caring for their own life. It was just as the poem says:

When will the struggle for fame and profit cease?Early rise, late sleep, without freedom!Riding donkeys and mules, still thinking of fine horses;A prime minister, still hoping to be a king or marquis.Only worried about food and clothing, enduring toil;Why fear the King of Hell's summons?Begetting children and grandchildren, planning for wealth and honor;Yet not one is willing to turn back!

The Monkey King searched for the immortal way, but had no chance to meet it. He traveled through the South Jambudvipa, traversing great walls and visiting small counties, for eight or nine years. Suddenly, he came to the Western Ocean. He thought there must be immortals overseas. He alone built a raft as before, and drifted across the Western Sea, until he reached the territory of the West Niuhe Continent. He disembarked and searched for a long time. Suddenly, he saw a mountain, high and beautiful, with deep and secluded woods. He was not afraid of wolves or insects, nor did he fear tigers or leopards. He climbed to the mountaintop to observe. Indeed, it was a magnificent mountain:

A thousand peaks opened like halberds, ten thousand cliffs unfolded like screens.Sunlight illuminates the mist-locked emerald, rain gathers the deep blue hues.Withered vines entwine old trees, an ancient ford marks a secluded path.Exotic flowers and auspicious grasses, tall bamboos and lofty pines.Tall bamboos and lofty pines, evergreen for ten thousand years, surpassing blessed lands;Exotic flowers and auspicious grasses, blooming in all four seasons, rivaling Penglai and Yingzhou.The cries of secluded birds are near, the spring's flow sounds clear.Valleys and gorges are covered in layers of orchids, jagged cliffs are everywhere overgrown with moss.The undulating peaks have excellent dragon veins, surely a person of high stature hides their name here.

He heard someone singing:"Watching a game of chess, the axe handle rots;Wood chopping, ting-ting.Slowly walking by cloud-filled valleys,Selling firewood for wine, laughing wildly, self-content.On the rustic path in high autumn,With head on pine roots, he sleeps until dawn.Recognizing old woods, climbing cliffs, crossing ridges,Chopping dry vines with an axe.Gathering a load, singing on the way to the market,Exchanging for three liters of rice.No struggle or competition, prices are fair,No cunning schemes or calculations, no honor or disgrace,Living a simple, extended life.Wherever they meet, they are immortals or Daoists,Sitting quietly, discussing the Huang Ting Scripture."

The Handsome Monkey King was overjoyed to hear these words. "So, immortals hide here!" he exclaimed. He quickly leaped inside and looked closely. It was just a woodcutter, raising his axe to chop firewood. But his attire was extraordinary:

On his head he wore a bamboo hat, made from the sheath newly shed by fresh bamboo shoots.On his body he wore cloth clothes, woven from tree cotton thread.Around his waist he tied a coiled sash, made from silk spun by old silkworms.On his feet he wore straw sandals, woven from withered reeds.In his hand he held a pure steel axe, and over his shoulder he carried a hemp rope for bundles.Splitting pines and chopping withered trees, who can compare to this woodcutter's skill!

The Monkey King approached and called out, "Old Immortal! Your disciple bows." The woodcutter hastily dropped his axe, turned, and returned the bow, saying, "You do me too much honor! I am a humble man with insufficient food and clothing, how dare I be called 'immortal'?" The Monkey King said, "If you are not an immortal, how do you speak the words of an immortal?" The woodcutter asked, "What immortal words did I speak?" The Monkey King said, "When I just arrived by the forest, I heard you say: 'Wherever they meet, they are immortals or Daoists, sitting quietly, discussing the Huang Ting Scripture.' Huang Ting is a true Daoist scripture; if not an immortal, what are you?" The woodcutter laughed, "To be honest, that verse is called 'Man Ting Fang,' and an immortal taught it to me. That immortal lives next to my house. He saw my household full of toil and daily worries, so he taught me to recite this verse whenever I felt troubled. Firstly, it clears my mind, and secondly, it relieves my burden. I was just feeling a bit uneasy, so I recited it. I didn't expect you to hear it." The Monkey King said, "Since your home is next to an immortal, why do you not cultivate with him? Learn the way of immortality? Wouldn't that be wonderful?" The woodcutter said, "My life has been difficult. From childhood, my parents raised me, and I only became aware of things when I was eight or nine. Unfortunately, my father died, and my mother became a widow. I have no siblings, only myself, so I had no choice but to attend to her morning and night. Now my mother is old, and I dare not leave her even more. My fields are also barren, and food and clothing are scarce. I have no choice but to chop two bundles of firewood, carry them to the market, sell them for a few coppers, buy a few liters of rice, cook for myself, and prepare some tea and meals to support my old mother. That is why I cannot cultivate."

The Monkey King said, "From what you say, you are a filial gentleman, and good fortune will surely come to you later. But I hope you will point me to the immortal's dwelling, so I can pay a visit." The woodcutter said, "Not far, not far. This mountain is called Lingtai Fangcun Mountain. On the mountain is a cave called Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave. In that cave lives an immortal known as Patriarch Subodhi. The disciples who have left his tutelage are countless, and even now, thirty or forty people are still cultivating with him. Follow that small path south for about seven or eight li, and you will reach his home." The Monkey King tugged at the woodcutter's hand and said, "Elder brother, please come with me. If I gain something good, I will never forget your kindness in guiding me." The woodcutter said, "You are truly inflexible! I just explained it to you, and you still don't understand? If I were to go with you, wouldn't I miss my business? Who would support my old mother? I need to chop firewood; you go by yourself, go!"

Hearing this, the Monkey King had no choice but to bid him farewell. He left the deep forest, found the path, crossed a mountain slope, and after about seven or eight li, he indeed saw a cave dwelling. He stood tall and looked around. What a wonderful place! All he saw was:

Misty clouds scatter colors, sun and moon shimmer light.A thousand old cypresses, ten thousand segments of tall bamboo.A thousand old cypresses, half-suspended in rain-drenched green;Ten thousand segments of tall bamboo, smoke-veiled in a vast, dark gorge.Outside the gate, exotic flowers carpeted the ground;By the bridge, jade-like grasses emitted fragrance.Craggy stone cliffs were moist with green moss;Towering high walls were covered in long emerald moss.Immortal cranes were often heard crying;Phoenixes were always seen soaring.When immortal cranes cried, their sound shook the nine heavens, reaching far into the sky;When phoenixes soared, their five-colored feathers glowed like clouds.Black apes and white deer appeared and disappeared at will;Golden lions and jade elephants wandered freely.Carefully observed, this blessed land truly rivals paradise!

He saw that the cave door was tightly closed, quiet and utterly devoid of human traces. Suddenly, he looked back and saw a stone tablet standing on the cliff, about three zhang high and eight chi wide. On it was a line of ten large characters: "Spirit Platform Mountain, Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave." The Handsome Monkey King was overjoyed. "These people here are truly honest. This mountain and cave indeed exist." After watching for a long time, he dared not knock. Instead, he leaped onto the tip of a pine branch, picked pine nuts, and ate them playfully.

A short while later, he heard a creak, and the cave door opened. From inside emerged an immortal youth, truly magnificent in bearing and pure in appearance, unlike ordinary mortals. All he saw was:

His hair tied in a double topknot;Loose robes with flowing sleeves in the wind.His appearance distinct from his body;His mind and form both empty.An eternal guest beyond the material world;A long-lived child of the mountains.Completely untainted by a speck of dust;The cycles of time revolved as they may.

The youth came out of the door and called loudly, "Who is disturbing things here?" The Monkey King leaped down from the tree and stepped forward, bowing deeply, "Immortal Youth, I am a disciple seeking the Dao and immortality; I would never dare cause disturbance here." The immortal youth smiled, "Are you a seeker of the Dao?" The Monkey King replied, "Yes." The youth said, "My master has just settled down and begun lecturing on the Dao. He hadn't even explained why, but he told me to open the door, saying: 'There's a cultivator outside; go and receive him.' I suppose that must be you?" The Monkey King laughed, "It is I, it is I." The youth said, "Follow me inside."

The Monkey King straightened his clothes and, with due solemnity, followed the youth deep into the celestial grotto. He saw layers of deep pavilions and jade towers, and successive pearl palaces and shell mansions. It was impossible to describe the quiet rooms and secluded dwellings, until they reached the foot of a jade platform. There, Patriarch Subodhi was seated on the platform, with thirty minor immortals attending on both sides below. Truly, he was:

A great enlightened golden immortal, free from impurity;A wonderful image from the West, Ancestor Bodhi.Unborn and undying, practicing the Three Threes;Complete in essence and spirit, with boundless compassion.Empty and natural, transforming at will;True nature as it is, acting spontaneously.A majestic body, co-eternal with heaven;A great Dharma Master, his mind illuminated through kalpas.

As soon as the Handsome Monkey King saw him, he prostrated himself, kowtowing countless times, repeatedly saying, "Master! Master! Your disciple reverently bows! Reverently bows!" The Patriarch said, "From which region are you? Please state your homeland and name clearly, then bow again." The Monkey King replied, "Disciple is from Flower-Fruit Mountain, Water Curtain Cave, Aolai Country, East Aolai Continent." The Patriarch roared, "Throw him out! He is fundamentally a deceptive and deceitful rogue; how can he cultivate the Dao here!" The Monkey King frantically continued to kowtow, saying, "Disciple speaks the truth; there is absolutely no deceit." The Patriarch said, "If you are honest, how do you say 'East Aolai Continent'? That place is separated from here by two great oceans and a South Jambudvipa. How could you possibly have reached this place?" The Monkey King kowtowed and said, "Disciple drifted across oceans and journeyed through lands for more than ten years; only then did I find this place."

The Patriarch said, "Since you came step by step, that's fine. What is your surname?" The Monkey King again said, "I have no surname. If people scold me, I don't get angry; if they hit me, I don't resent it. I just offer an apology and that's all. I have no temper throughout my life." The Patriarch said, "Not that 'xing' (temper). What was your parents' original surname?" The Monkey King said, "I have no parents either." The Patriarch said, "Since you have no parents, then you must have been born from a tree?" The Monkey King said, "Although I was not born from a tree, I grew from a stone. I only remember that there was an immortal stone on Flower-Fruit Mountain, and that year the stone broke open, and I was born." Hearing this, the Patriarch was secretly pleased and said, "This means you are born of heaven and earth. Stand up and walk for me to see." The Monkey King leaped up and limped and shuffled around twice. The Patriarch laughed, "Although your body is crude, you resemble a macaque that eats pine nuts. I will give you a surname based on your appearance. I originally thought to give you the surname 'Hu' (猢). But if you remove the animal radical from 'Hu' (猢), it becomes 'Gu Yue' (古月). 'Gu' means old, and 'Yue' means yin. Old yin cannot procreate. So, it would be better to give you the surname 'Sun' (狲). If you remove the animal radical from 'Sun' (狲), it becomes 'Zisi' (子系). 'Zi' means child, and 'Si' means infant. This perfectly aligns with the principles of an infant. I will give you the surname 'Sun'."

Hearing this, the Monkey King was overjoyed. He kowtowed and said, "Good! Good! Good! Today I finally know my surname! I earnestly beg Master for your mercy! Since I have a surname, please bestow a given name as well, so I can be properly called." The Patriarch said, "My sect has twelve characters for naming disciples. You are the tenth generation of minor disciples." The Monkey King asked, "What are those twelve characters?" The Patriarch said, "They are Guang (广), Da (大), Zhi (智), Hui (慧), Zhen (真), Ru (如), Xing (性), Hai (海), Ying (颖), Wu (悟), Yuan (圆), Jue (觉). You fall precisely under the character 'Wu'. How about I give you the Dharma name 'Sun Wukong'?" The Monkey King laughed, "Good! Good! Good! From today, I shall be called Sun Wukong!" Indeed:

Originally nameless since primordial chaos was first split,To break through stubborn emptiness, one must awaken to 'Kong' (emptiness).

To find out what Dao he will cultivate next, listen to the next chapter.