Session 36: The Jade Dragon (White Horse) Joins the Pilgrimage

Do you ask for help?
Do you sometimes feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness?

In this session, we’ll see that even the mighty Wukong — the Great Sage Equal to Heaven — finds himself powerless against unseen forces. It reminds us that strength alone is sometimes not enough, and that true wisdom may lie in knowing when, and how, to seek help.

As Wukong and his master Sanzang continue their journey, disaster strikes when their horse is eaten by a dragon hiding in the gorge. Despite several fierce attempts, even the Great Sage Wukong cannot find or defeat the dragon. Following the advice of the local gods, Wukong humbles himself to seek help from Bodhisattva Guanyin.

Session Focus:
We will explore why Wukong—once the invincible Great Sage Equal to Heaven—couldn’t overcome the White Dragon on his own, and why he was guided to ask for Guanyin’s help. We’ll also reflect on the early dynamics of the master-disciple relationship and what it reveals about strength, humility, and cooperation on the path of spiritual cultivation.

Key Questions for contemplation:

"But we'll never get across those thousands of mountains and rivers." As he spoke, his tears fell like rain. The sight of him crying was too much for Brother Monkey, who flared up and shouted, "Stop being such an imbecile, master. Sit there and wait while I find that wretch and make him give us back our horse."
"You mustn't go," said Sanzang, grabbing hold of him. "I'm frightened that he'll come creeping out again and kill me this time. Then I'll be dead as well as the horse, and that would be terrible."
This made Monkey angrier than ever, and he roared with a shout like thunder, "You're hopeless, absolutely hopeless. You want a horse to ride but you won't let me go. This way you'll be sitting there looking at the luggage for the rest of your life."
Q1: What does the master-disciple relationship look like in the early stage of the journey?
What qualities or character do you see in Wukong and Sanzang respectively?
Why do you think the “powerful” Wukong serves a master who appears “weak” or “vulnerable”?

“Don't be angry, Great Sage; stop crying, younger brother of the Tang Emperor. We are gods sent by the Bodhisattva Guanyin to give hidden protection to the pilgrim who is fetching the scriptures…."The Dings and Jias, the Four Duty Gods, and the Protectors of the Faith will take turns. Of the Revealers of the Five Regions, the Gold−headed Revealer will always be with you by day and by night.”
Q2: Why do you think Bodhisattva Guanyin arranged for hidden protection along the journey?
Why do you think neither Wukong nor Sanzang were told about this in advance?

Q3: What is the origin of the white horse with Bodhisattva Guanyin?
Even though Wukong had defeated countless celestial generals, why couldn’t he subdue the jade dragon—or even track it down?

The local gods said, “If you want to catch the creature, all you have to do is to ask Guanyin to come here, and it will naturally submit."
Q4: Why do the local gods tell Wukong to ask Bodhisattva Guanyin for help?
What does this reveal about the nature of true power and humility?

Monkey leapt straight into the air on his cloud and shouted at her at the top of his voice, "Teacher of the Seven Buddhas, merciful head of our religion, why did you think up this way of hurting me? . . .Why did you give him that hat he tricked me into wearing to torture me with? Why did you make this band grow into my head? Why did you teach him that Band−tightening Spell? Why did you make that old monk recite it over and over again so that my head ached and ached? You must be wanting to do me in.” …
The Bodhisattva smiled, ”You monkey. You don't obey the commands of the faith, and you won't accept the true reward, so if you weren't under control like this you might rebel against Heaven again or get up to any kind of evil. If you got yourself into trouble as you did before, who would look after you? Without this monstrous head, you'd never be willing to enter our Yogacatin faith.”
Q5: What do you see in Wukong’s reaction when confronting Guanyin?
What does Guanyin’s response reveal about her insight into Wukong’s heart?

"He's my enemy," the young dragon replied when he looked at him. "I ate his horse yesterday because I was starving, so he used some powers of his to fight me till I returned exhausted and terrified, then swore at me so that I had to shut myself in, too frightened to come out. He never said a word about anyone fetching scriptures."
"You never asked me my name, so how could I have told you?"
Monkey retorted. "I asked you 'Where are you from, you bloody devil?' and you yelled, 'Never mind where I'm from, and give me back that horse.' You never so much as breathed the word 'Tang.'"
Q6: What do you learn from the conversation between the jade dragon and Wukong?
What does this exchange show about communication, intention, and assumption?

"There will be others who join you later on your journey, and when they ask you any questions, the first thing you must mention is fetching the scriptures. If you do that, you'll have their help without any trouble at all."
Q7: Why is it so important to speak first of the mission to fetch the scriptures?
What does this tell us about purpose and intention on the spiritual path?

Take time to reflect on these questions, and bring your thoughts, your wonderings, and your interpretations to Session 36.

Members’ Blogging Space:
Share your reflections and learnings:
https://www.hellosuliving.com/blog

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Self-study and preparation:

English text:
https://chine.in/fichiers/jourwest.pdf
Chapter 15 (page 217 - 224)

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Participation fee:
Pay-as-you-go: AUD $5 per session (via PayPal)