Session 45: Pigsy Joins the Pilgrimage!

This week, we welcome a brand-new member to the pilgrimage—Pigsy, or Zhu Bajie. His entrance brings humor and a very human mix of flaws and sincerity. Unlike Wukong’s fiery spirit, Pigsy is easy-going, impulsive, and full of appetites. Yet, when he hears of the sacred journey, his heart softens and he willingly bows to join.

Sanzang was deeply pleased and welcomed Pigsy as a new disciple. He also gave Pigsy a new name, Bajie (literally “Eight Prohibitions”), as a reminder to continuously refine his conduct.

Sanzang, together with his two disciples, soon encountered the Rook’s Nest Hermit, who transmitted the Heart Sutra to settle Sanzang’s heart and strengthen his resolve for the long journey ahead.

Session Focus:
In this session, we will explore Pigsy’s character and mindset as he takes his very first steps on the pilgrimage. We will also reflect on the inner state of Sanzang — who, though already years into the journey, still needed guidance to steady his heart.

Key Questions for contemplation:

Monkey said, “…I am protecting the Patriarch Sanzang, the younger brother of the Great Tang Emperor, on his journey to the Western Heaven to visit the Buddha and ask for the scriptures…”
The monster (Pigsy) dropped his rake to the ground, chanted a respectful "na−a−aw," and said, "Where's this pilgrim? Please take me to meet him.”
Q1: When Pigsy first hears about Sanzang’s journey, his attitude changes completely.
What does this initial reaction reveal about Pigsy?
How do you interpret such a sudden shift in him?

Monkey said, "If you really want to protect the Tang Priest and you aren't trying to kid me, then you'd better make a vow to Heaven, and I'll take you to meet my master."
The monster fell to his knees with a thud, and kowtowed to the sky so often that he looked like a rice pestle. "Amitabha Buddha," he cried out, "if I'm not completely sincere, cut me up into ten thousand bits for breaking the laws of Heaven.”
Q2: Why does Wukong insist that Pigsy make a vow to Heaven before joining the pilgrimage?
What does this reveal about trust, accountability, and sincerity?

After hearing him swear this oath, Monkey said, "Very well then, now light a brand and burn this place of yours out. If you do that, I'll take you." The monster piled up some reeds and brambles, lit a brand, and set the Cloud Pathway Cave on fire; it burned as well as a brick kiln that has got out of control. "I've no second thoughts," he said, "so please take me to see him."
Q3: What does this act symbolize about leaving behind old attachments?
How does this resonate with moments in our own lives when we must “burn the cave” to move forward?

"Give me that rake of yours," Monkey ordered, and the monster obediently handed it over. Monkey then plucked out a hair, blew on it with magic breath, and shouted, "Change!" It turned into three lengths of hempen rope, with which he bound the monster's hands behind his back; the monster docilely put his hands there and let Monkey tie him up.
Q4: Though Pigsy cherished his nine-toothed rake and never let it out of his sight, he willingly handed it to Wukong. Why was he able to surrender it so easily?
Why was he able to submit himself to Wukong’s binding?

The untied monster bowed to Sanzang once more and vowed to go to the West with him. Then he bowed to Monkey as his elder brother because he had joined first, addressing him as "elder brother" from then on.
Q5: What is the meaning of this gesture?
What is the essential role of brotherhood between disciples in the pilgrimage?

"Master," he replied, "When the Bodhisattva laid her hands upon my head and told me to obey the prohibitions, she gave me a Buddhist name−−Zhu Wuneng, Pig Awakened to Power."
"Wonderful, wonderful," said Brother Monkey with a smile, "I'm called Wukong, Awakened to Emptiness, and you're called Awakened to Power (Ability). That makes us members of the same sect in the Buddhist faith."
Q6: In what ways does this name reflect his character and state of mind at the beginning of the journey?

"Master," said Pig, "I have been instructed by the Bodhisattva and I never eat the five stinking foods and the three forbidden meats−−wild goose, dog, and snakehead. I've eaten vegetarian food in my father−in−law's house and never touched the stinking foods; but now that I have met you, master, I'm freed from these restrictions."
"You are not," Sanzang replied. "You are not to eat the five stinking foods and the three forbidden meats, and I'm giving you another name: Eight Prohibitions, or Bajie."
Q7: What is the significance of this name?
Why does Sanzang give Pigsy this additional name?

Pig went over to Squire Gao, tugged at his coat, and said, "Sir, may my wife come out and pay her respects to these two gentlemen?"
"Brother," said Monkey with a laugh. "You've entered the church now and become a monk. Don't ever talk about a wife again. Only Taoist priests can have families−−we Buddhist monks never marry.”
Q8: What does this reveal about his state of mind at this early stage of the journey?
What does this show us about how attachments linger even after new commitments?

Pig swaggered over to Old Gao, chanted a "na−a−aw" of respect, and said, "Father−in−law, look after my wife well. If we don't get the scriptures, I'll go back to lay life and work for you as a son−in−law again."
"Moron," shouted Monkey, "stop talking nonsense."
Q9: How does this reflect his beginner’s mindset?
What does this reveal about determination versus hesitation when starting a great journey?

Q10: By this point, how many years has Sanzang been on the road since leaving Chang’an?

Sanzang bowed again and asked him the way to the Great Thunder Monastery in the Western Heaven. "Far away," the other replied, "far away. The journey is a long one and there are many tigers and leopards along the way. It will be difficult."
"How far is it?" asked Sanzang with great interest. "Although the journey is a long one," the hermit replied, "you are bound to get there in the end. But there will be evil influences that you'll find hard to dispel. I have a Heart Sutra, a total of 270 words in 54 sentences, and if you recite it when you encounter evil influences you will come to no harm." Sanzang prostrated himself on the ground and begged the hermit to tell him it, and the hermit recited it to him.
Q11: Why does Sanzang ask this question?
Why does the hermit give him the Heart Sutra?
What is meant by “you are bound to get there in the end”?

When the hermit had recited it, he started to rise up to his crow's nest by cloud, but Sanzang tugged at him and said that he wanted to know about the way to the Western Heaven. To this the hermit replied with a smile:
"The journey will not be difficult,
If you try to follow my instructions.
There will be a thousand mountains, a thousand deep rivers.
Many evil miasmas, and many a devil.
… …
A wild boar will carry your luggage,
A water monster will lead the way.
A very old stone monkey
Has no cause to be angry.
Ask those friends of yours−−
They know the way to the West."
Q12: What is the deeper message hidden in these words?
Why do Wukong and Pigsy react differently to this teaching?

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

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

📚 Self-Study & Preparation:
https://chine.in/fichiers/jourwest.pdf
Chapter 19 (page 279 - 286)

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