Session 48: The Yellow Wind That Blinds the Eye of Wisdom

After escaping Laozi’s furnace, Monkey’s eyes were forever transformed into “fiery eyes with golden pupils,” allowing him to see through illusions. Yet, at Yellow Wind Ridge, he meets a new challenge: the Yellow Wind monster blows a hurricane so fierce that even Monkey’s sharp vision fails. His eyes burn and water uncontrollably—until a mysterious old man appears with an ointment that restores his sight.

Session Focus:
In this session, we will explore the hidden meaning of the Yellow Wind—a metaphor for the many “winds” that cloud our vision and wisdom in daily life. What does it mean when even the clearest eyes are blinded? How can clarity be regained?

Key Questions for contemplation:

As Monkey wanted to win glory he used an "extra body" trick: plucking a hair out, he chewed it into little bits, blew them all out, and shouted, "Change!" They turned into well over a hundred Monkeys, all dressed like him and wielding iron cudgels. They surrounded the monster in mid−air, and in his fright he countered with a trick of his own. The monster turned his head sharply to the Southeast opened his mouth three times, and blew. A yellow hurricane suddenly arose. It was really terrible. . . . The monster blew another yellow hurricane at Monkey, and it was so strong that Monkey had to shut his fiery eyes with their golden pupils tight. Opening them was out of the question. Unable to use his iron cudgel, he had to flee from the scene of battle, at which the monster put his wind away and went back to his cave.
Q1: What do you observe in this battle between Monkey and the Yellow Wind monster?
Why was Monkey’s “extra body” trick defeated by the hurricane?

When Pig saw the great yellow hurricane blow up and cast Heaven and Earth into darkness, he held on to the horse and kept a grip on the carrying pole while he crouched in the hollow on the mountain side, not daring to open his eyes or raise his head as he invoked the Buddha and made all sorts of vows to him. He did not know whether Monkey had won or lost, or whether their master was still alive. As he worried about all this the wind died down and the sky became clear again. He raised his head to look towards the entrance of the cave, but he could neither see any weapons nor hear any gongs or drums. The idiot did not want to get any nearer to those gates, and there was nobody else to look after the horse and the baggage, so he was stuck there, not knowing what to do, and feeling miserable.
Q2: What traits of character do you notice in Pigsy amid the hurricane?
How do such traits serve a role in teamwork during times of crisis?

Monkey said, "Never in my life have I known such a hurricane.…It was really vicious−−it blew so hard I couldn't stand my ground, so I had to put my tricks away and clear out. What a wind, what a wind! I can call up wind or rain, but I've never produced anything as vicious as his….I wonder if there's an oculist near here to treat my eyes. When that monster blew his wind at me, it made my eyes very sore, and they keep on watering.”
Q3: Are you surprised that Monkey’s fiery eyes, once forged in fire, were still hurt by the Yellow Wind?
What might this tell us about the limits of “seeing clearly” in the face of overwhelming external forces?

The old man commented. "How could you tell such lies, a reverend gentleman, and so young a one at that? The Great King of the Yellow Wind's hurricane is really terrible. It can't be compared with spring winds, autumn winds, pine and bamboo winds, or North, South, East and West winds.”
"It must be a brain−snatching wind," interrupted Pig, "or a goat's ear wind, or a hemp wind, or a head−twisting wind."
"No, no," the old man said, "it's called a Divine Samadhi Wind. If you'd encountered that wind, you couldn't possibly have survived. Only a god or an Immortal would be able to survive such a wind."
Q4: Why is the Yellow Wind’s hurricane described as so terrible?
What kinds of “winds” in real life can blind our inner sight or wisdom?
(Hint: "It can darken Heaven and Earth, Make gods and devils gloomy, Split rocks open and bring cliffs down, And it doesn't stop till you're dead” - anger, desire, fear, delusion, confusion)

Pig opened their bundles, spread out their bedding, and told Monkey to go to bed.
Monkey groped about so wildly with his eyes shut that Pig laughed at him and said, "Would you like a blind man's stick, sir?"
"Chaff−guzzling moron," Monkey retorted, "do you want to make a blind man of me?" The idiot chuckled himself quietly to sleep, but Monkey sat thinking on the bed until midnight before he dozed off.
Q5: What do you see in this exchange between Monkey and Pigsy?
What deeper meaning might be found in Monkey’s temporary blindness?

At about five the next morning, just before the break of day, Brother Monkey rubbed his face, opened his eyes and said, "It certainly is good ointment−−I can see far, and more clearly than ever." He turned round to look behind him, and to his astonishment there was no house, windows, or doors; all that could be seen were some ancient locust trees and tall willows….
Monkey said with a snigger, "Can you see what that piece of paper on the tree over there is?"
Pig went over, tore it down, and saw that there were four lines of verse on it:
This farm was not inhabited by mortals;
The Revealers of the Truth produced the house by magic.
I gave you good medicine to cure your eyes:
Subdue demons with all your heart, and never hesitate.
Q6: Who is the old man, and what is his role in the journey?
How does the healing of sight connect to the restoration of wisdom and faith?

Monkey said, "It's not far from here to the Yellow Wind Cave, so there's no need for you to move. You'd better stay in the wood and look after the horse and the luggage while I go to the cave to see what I can find out about where our master is before fighting the monster again."
"Yes," said Pig, "find out for sure whether he's alive or dead. If the master's dead, we'd better each go our own way, and if he's alive we'll do everything we can to save him."
"Stop talking such nonsense," replied Monkey. "I'm off."
Q7: What state of mind do you observe in Pigsy’s words?
How do these moments of doubt and practicality contrast with Monkey’s persistence?

Takeaway Reflection:
The wind that blinds can also be the wind that refines. What winds are you facing in your life—and what “ointment” helps you see again?

Take your time with these questions. Bring your insights, personal reflections, and discoveries into our circle for shared contemplation.

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📚 Self-Study & Preparation:
https://chine.in/fichiers/jourwest.pdf
Chapter 21 (page 303 - 311)

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