Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System

Buddhist Law had not yet begun to spread eastward when so many variables had already emerged; should it still continue?

The Buddha said again, "After this incident, the Heavenly Court should step up military training and temporarily have no time to attend to the lower realms; this is our opportunity."

Jia Ye immediately understood but frowned and said, "Does the Buddha wish to propagate the Dharma ahead of schedule?"

The Buddha nodded gently.

Jia Ye then said, "But our plans in the human realm have not yet unfolded, and the Heavenly Emperor has not yet agreed to the eastward spread of Buddhist Law.

If we propagate the Dharma prematurely, it would be illegitimate and forced. If the Heavenly Court decides to challenge us later on, they could destroy everything immediately and take the opportunity to strike against our Buddha Sect."

The Buddha smiled and said, "Propagating the Dharma early is merely for sowing seeds, and once the seeds take root and sprout in the Human Race, they can never be erased; they are not something that can be destroyed if one wishes to.

When the time comes, the seeds will sprout and grow into towering trees."

Upon hearing this, the Bodhisattva Guanyin praised, "The Buddha’s plan is ingenious. Besides, with heaven’s predestined rise of Buddhism, as long as we do not vigorously promote Buddhist Law in the Southern Jambudvipa, the Heavenly Emperor won’t say anything."

Jia Ye came to a clear understanding and spoke no further.