In the novel Journey to the West, Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, learned several crucial skills and knowledge from his first master, Subhuti. Key highlights include:
Taoist and Buddhist Knowledge
Subhuti was well-versed in both Taoist and Buddhist practices, sharing his wisdom with Sun Wukong.
72 Earthly Transformations
Subhuti taught Sun Wukong the ability to shapeshift into various forms, allowing him to alter his appearance at will. The 72 Earthly Transformations enabled him to evade the Three Calamities, trials faced by immortals.
Cloud-Somersault
Sun Wukong mastered the technique of traveling vast distances in a single leap, covering 108,000 li (approximately 54,000 kilometers) in one bound. This skill allowed him to escape danger swiftly.
Immortality
Through Taoist practices, Subhuti granted Sun Wukong an extraordinarily long lifespan and a perpetually youthful appearance. In the first chapter of Journey to the West, Sun Wukong overhears a woodcutter singing a song about the Huang Ting Jing (Yellow Court Classic). Believing the woodcutter to be a deity, he later discovers the woodcutter learned the song from Subhuti. Written in a seven-character verse, this text expounds Taoist health cultivation principles, offering methods for longevity and immortality.
The song subtly hints at the Great Formula of the Celestial Immortals, the most profound secret of longevity.
The Great Formula of the Celestial Immortals
This formula integrates elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, representing a profound and extraordinary path. Rather than granting eternal life, it bestows longevity and graceful aging while preserving youthfulness, aligning individuals with the natural order of the universe.
It emphasizes that the essence of all things remains constant despite variations in form. Realizing this essence allows one to transcend limitations.
The formula teaches that mind and life must be cultivated together, as Taoism views them as sharing the same origin but bearing different names. The key to health and longevity lies in preserving the Three Treasures: Essence (Jin), Vital Energy (Qi), and Spirit (Shen).
Quote from the Tao Te Ching:
Can you keep body and soul united without ever separating?
Can you breathe as softly as a newborn child?
Can you cleanse your inner vision until nothing obscures the mystery?
This passage speaks to the harmony of body and spirit, the purity of childlike simplicity, and the clarity of an unclouded mind.
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