Chapter 41 - The Patriarch Speaks of the Buddhist Path, Merit, and Incense Offerings
Chapter 41: The Patriarch Speaks of the Buddhist Path, Merit, and Incense Offerings
The Tathagata Buddha, accompanied by Ananda and Kasyapa, gracefully departed, auspicious clouds swirling around their feet, radiating divine brilliance.
Upon reaching the Celestial Palace’s Lingxiao Hall, the True Lord Who Blesses the Sacred Realm greeted them with utmost respect. The Tathāgata smiled kindly, exuding compassion. The Jade Emperor sat upon his throne, enveloped in divine light.
The True Lord and Ananda, Kasyapa, respectfully withdrew from the hall. The Tathāgata pressed his palms together and addressed the Jade Emperor:
“This humble monk has subdued the demon monkey and sealed him beneath Five Fingers Mountain. I have come to report this to the Supreme Celestial Venerable.”
His tone was respectful and solemn.
Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor smiled faintly and said, “Thanks to the boundless power of the Buddha for taming the unruly monkey. Yet, though mischievous, he will eventually walk the righteous path under your guidance.”
The Tathagata replied, “I have no such great powers. It is due to the blessings of the Supreme Venerable and the gods. I dare not accept undue praise.”
The Jade Emperor chuckled, “Regardless, we are indebted to you, Buddha. Please stay a while in the Heavenly Court. We will host a gathering of the immortals, and Laozi himself shall attend!”
What a joke—letting you leave now would ruin the plan to set the stage for Journey to the West.
The Tathagata, understanding the Jade Emperor’s intention, replied respectfully,
“It is not that this monk is unwilling, but myriad matters await in the Western Heaven…”
“Venerable Buddha!” The Jade Emperor interrupted, his tone shifting,
“I heard that during your bet with that monkey, you boldly claimed you’d take my place?”
The Tathagata: …
In the Vast Heavens of the Golden Palace, the Jade Pool glistened with radiance. Jade terraces and celestial halls, coral trees and verdant boughs adorned the landscape. Sweet nectar flowed, golden breezes stirred. Auspicious clouds swirled; divine energy shimmered.
Within this heavenly splendor, gods and immortals gathered. The nine celestial maidens danced with fluttering sleeves. From Penglai Island, immortals arrived bearing exotic treasures as offerings to the Celestial Court.
The banquet began. Immortals drank jade nectar and heavenly wine, ate spiritual fruits and peaches of immortality. Cranes brought flasks of wine, phoenixes danced in tribute. It was a grand celestial event, rarely seen in the ages.
The Tathagata sat serenely upon his lotus seat, golden alms bowl in hand, his robe flowing in the breeze. With a gentle smile, he preached the Dharma. The assembled immortals listened, each with their own thoughts.
Peace reigned throughout the Celestial Palace—this was the Great Assembly of Heavenly Peace.
Meanwhile, on the Mountain of Mind and Heart, within the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars, lay the sacred dojo carved by the great power of Patriarch Bodhi.
It existed somewhere between the realms of Earth and spirit, a place of serenity and clarity. The mountains were beautiful, the air filled with spiritual energy. Verdant forests flourished, clear streams babbled. The cave was deep and mystical, with strange stalactites, starlight glittering, and moonlight shining brightly.
High upon a cloud platform, Patriarch Bodhi reclined. Below stood Qin Chuan, head bowed, looking dejected.
The Patriarch spoke, “Enough with the pitiful act!”
Qin Chuan replied sadly, “Master, this disciple only feels sorrow for Wukong. That monkey is naturally restless. Five hundred years trapped like that… how will he endure?”
Patriarch Bodhi snorted, “You dragged me into this mess, and I haven’t even settled that account with you. And now you blame me for not rescuing Wukong?”
Qin Chuan waved his hands quickly and laughed,
“I wouldn’t dare, Master. I’m just… curious, that’s all.”
“Curious about what?” The Patriarch asked, eyeing him.
Qin Chuan wore a puzzled look:
“Master… you and the Tathāgata—aren’t the two of you a little too easygoing?”
At first, he’d assumed that two great beings like them would create a storm that shook the Three Realms. But now it seemed both sides had tacitly given each other a way out.
“Foolish thoughts!” Patriarch Bodhi suddenly looked serious.
“Do you truly think the Tathagata fears me?”
Qin Chuan stared blankly at his master.
The Patriarch sighed deeply and continued, “The Tathagata… was once Duobao. He used to be the chief disciple of the Shangqing Lingbao Celestial Lord, the very seat of the Grandmaster of Heaven.”
“Even back during the great tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, he was already a rare Da Luo Golden Immortal.”
“After embracing Buddhism, he mastered the essence of both Buddhist and Daoist teachings. With the massive fortune and destiny of the Buddhist sect behind him, his cultivation has reached such a level that even if the ancient Ancestral Witches or the Demon Emperors of the Great Desolation were to be reborn, they couldn’t claim a certain victory over him.”
Qin Chuan asked curiously, “What about you, Master?”
Patriarch Bodhi smiled and said, “Of course I don’t fear him. But the moment I appear at Five Fingers Mountain, the Western Burning-Lamp Buddha and the Eastern-Arrival Buddha would immediately set up a rainbow bridge.”
“Though I fear no great being in the Three Realms, facing the full might of the entire Buddhist sect, what options would I have beyond taking you and wandering the mortal world in hiding?”
“Of course, if Lady Pingxin (Goddess of Earth’s Equilibrium) is willing, we might be able to hide in the underworld for a while!”
“In the Three Realms today, the only force capable of contending with the Buddhist sect head-on is the Daoist sect. Even Heaven itself doesn’t have that strength.”
Qin Chuan nodded. Ever since the Investiture of the Gods, the Buddhist sect had been the greatest winner. Not only did they retain their original powerhouses, but who knew how many Da Luo Golden Immortals had converted from the Chan and Jie sects.
These beings were different from those unfortunate ones who were bound to the Fengshen List. After abandoning the Dao for Buddhism, their cultivation only became more terrifying.
Take Earth Store Bodhisattva (Kṣitigarbha), one of the four great Bodhisattvas—he alone dared to block the entire Blood Sea of the underworld.
Of course, that also had something to do with the great being within the Blood Sea having been in seclusion since ancient times.
Though the Buddhist sect is powerful, it cannot swallow the entire “Journey to the West” pie alone. Perhaps Tathagata even viewed Patriarch Bodhi as another powerful figure hoping to claim a share of the merit?
Qin Chuan asked, “Master, with Buddhism placing such emphasis on the Journey to the West, is it only about the ordained rise of the Buddhist sect and increasing its fortune? Or is there something more?”
Patriarch Bodhi smiled, “Of course there’s more. Tell me, what do you think someone like Tathagata—or me—desires most at our level?”
A flash of insight lit up Qin Chuan’s face, and he looked at his master in disbelief, “Could it be… the merit from Journey to the West could help Tathāgata achieve the Hunyuan Dao Fruit (Primordial Dao Attainment)?”
Qin Chuan understood that Heavenly Merit (Tiandao Gongde) could increase one’s cultivation. Not just merit—faith and incense offerings (Xianghuo) could do the same.
Back when he slew the evil flood dragon outside Linchuan City, the grateful townsfolk enshrined his spirit tablet. Now, he likely had followers throughout the ancient Shu Kingdom.
But that little incense power was trivial to someone like him.
Moreover, faith and incense had a fatal flaw—once belief collapsed and incense offerings ceased, one’s cultivation would rapidly diminish.
This is the path of the Incense Fire Deity, often walked by mountain gods, land gods, and underworld spirits.
Thus, in many mythological stories, some mountain gods wield great power, capable of slaying demons—while others can’t even defeat minor spirits.
Today, the Buddhist sect is the true master of the incense faith system. They’ve turned what once were small temples into something akin to a publicly traded corporation.
After the shattering of the ancient Great Desolation, fragments of the world spread like grains of sand along the Ganges. Everywhere, one finds incense offerings to Buddhism.
Even Heaven pales in comparison, and as for the Daoist sect—it’s not even worth mentioning.
“The Three Pure Ones need only clay statues,” the saying goes, “but Buddhist idols must be gilded in gold. In chaotic times, Bodhisattvas ignore the world, while sword-wielding Daoists save the people. In peaceful times, people flock to Buddhism, and the Daoist sect retreats to the mountains.”
The constant emergence of Buddhist powerhouses is deeply connected to the incense fire path.
Meanwhile, Heavenly Merit is the reward granted by the Heavenly Dao for those who benefit from the natural order. It comes with no side effects.
The Buddhist sect, grasping both Heavenly Merit and Incense Fire Faith in its hands, rose with incredible speed.
Patriarch Bodhi’s gaze deepened:
“Tathagata may indeed have that intention—but the Hunyuan Dao Fruit is not so easily attained. It’s uncertain… very uncertain…”