Six or seven years passed in the blink of an eye. One day, as Patriarch Subodhi lectured from the altar, Sun Wukong listened with gleeful excitement, scratching his ears and cheeks. Noticing this, the patriarch demanded, “Why are you distracted?” Wukong replied, “Your teachings are so profound, Master, I couldn’t contain my joy. Forgive me!”
Wukong’s Defiance
“How long have you been here?” asked the patriarch. “I’ve lost count,” said Wukong. “But I’ve feasted on peaches from the mountain’s rear seven times.” “Seven years, then,” said the patriarch. “What Dao do you seek?” “Whatever you deem fit to teach,” Wukong bowed.
The Patriarch Subhuti offered: “Shall I teach you to summon spirits, divine fortunes, or ward off calamities?” Wukong waved dismissively. “Such tricks won’t grant immortality. No!”
“Then learn stillness, inaction, and seated meditation.” Wukong shook his head. “That won’t conquer death either. No! Not that either!”
Patriarch Subhuti’s enigmatic riddle
The patriarch listed more paths—all rejected. Enraged, he leapt down, seized a ruler, and struck Wukong’s head thrice.
“Stubborn ape! You scorn all teachings—what do you want?” With that, he stormed off, hands clasped behind his back, slamming the inner door.
The disciples panicked, scolding Wukong. “Impudent monkey! How dare you defy the master?” Yet Wukong merely smiled, unbothered.
The Secret Transmission
At midnight, when all slept, Wukong slipped to the rear door. Finding it ajar, he crept inside. There lay the patriarch, resting on his side, one hand propping his head. Wukong knelt silently by the bed, awaiting his fate.
In but a moment, the Master awoke. Seeing Wukong by his couch, he sat up and barked, “Impudent ape! Why are you here?”
“Master,” Wukong pleaded, “when you struck me thrice at dusk then withdrew behind closed doors with hands clasped behind your back, was this not instruction to approach via the rear portal during the third watch? Have I misunderstood your sacred riddle about imparting the art of immortality?”
Secretly delighted, the patriarch thought that this monkey, born of heaven and earth, truly carries heaven’s wisdom and deciphered his riddle. He motioned Wukong closer and whispered the secrets of eternal life into his ear.
After memorizing the teachings, Wukong bowed deeply and slipped back to his quarters. His fellow disciples still snored soundly, oblivious to his cosmic fortune.
From then on, Wukong played the fool by day while practicing the patriarch’s techniques at night.
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