Session 54: The Taste of Longevity: What Does the Baby-like Fruit Offer?

The pilgrims arrive at the Wuzhuang Taoist Temple, home to a miraculous tree that produces “man-fruits”, rare fruits shaped like newborn babies that grant extreme longevity. The temple’s master, Zhen Yuan Zi, is away; he asks his two young disciples to offer two baby-like fruits to an old friend who is due to pass (Sanzang). Sanzang politely refuses the gift. Pigsy overhears and, together with Monkey, tries to taste the fruit.

The episode prompts reflection on longevity, the spiritual life, and the recurring question of “how far are we from the West?”

Session Focus:
We will:

• Explore the symbolic meaning of the man-fruit and its connection to longevity.
• Reflect on the recurring question “How far are we from the West?”
• Consider the difference between extending life span and cultivating depth of life.

Key Questions for contemplation:

Sanzang said, “…If this isn't far from the Thunder Monastery, we had better put ourselves in a solemn and reverent mood to meet the Buddha."
"It's early days yet," said Monkey with a laugh. "That's not an easy place to get to."
"How far are we from Thunder Monastery, elder brother?" asked Friar Sand. “
Thirty−six thousand miles," Monkey replied, "and we haven't covered a tenth of it."
"How many years will it take us to get there?" Pig asked.
"You two younger brothers of mine could manage it in ten days or so, and I could go there fifty times over in a single day and still be back before sunset. But for our master it doesn't bear thinking about."
"Tell me, Monkey! how long will it take?" asked Sanzang.
"If you went from childhood to old age," said Monkey, "and from old age back to childhood again, and you did it a thousand times over, you'd still find it hard to get there. But if you see your true nature, are determined to be sincere, and always remember to turn your head back to enlightenment, then you will have reached Vulture Peak."
Q1: What does this exchange suggest about the relationship between outer distance and inner attainment?
Where (literally or metaphorically) is Vulture Peak, and how do you “get there”?

This mountain was called the Mountain of Infinite Longevity, and there was a Taoist temple on it called the Wuzhuang Temple. In this temple lived an Immortal whose Taoist name was Zhen Yuan Zi. He was also known as Conjoint Lord of the Age. The temple had a rare treasure, a miraculous tree that had been formed when primeval chaos was first being divided, before the separation of Heaven and Earth. In the four great continents of the world, only the Western Continent of Cattle−gift's Wuzhuang Temple had this treasure that was known as "Grass−returning Cinnabar" or "manfruit." It took three thousand years to blossom, three thousand years to form the fruit, and another three thousand years for the fruit to ripen, so that very nearly ten thousand years had to pass before the fruit could be eaten. Only thirty fruit were formed each ten thousand years, and they were shaped just like a newborn baby, complete with limbs and sense organs. Anyone whose destiny permitted him to smell one would live for three hundred and sixty years, and if you ate one you would live for forty−seven thousand years.”
Q2: What does the baby-like fruit symbolize?
What would be your contemporary “baby-like fruit”?

That day, the Great Immortal took forty−six of them with him to hear the lecture in the upper world, leaving the two youngest, Pure Wind and Bright Moon, to look after the temple. Pure Wind was 1,320 years old, and Bright Moon had just turned 1,200.
Q3: How is the age of Monkey compared to that of Pure Wind and Bright Moon?
What does the age difference imply, in terms of Monkey’s understanding of the immortals world?

The Great Immortal gave his instructions to the two boys: "An old friend of mine will be coming this way before long, and you must entertain him very well indeed. You can pick two manfruits for him as a token of our old friendship. He is a priest sent by the Tang Emperor in the East," the Great Immortal replied, "and he is known as Sanzang. He is the monk going to worship the Buddha and ask for the scriptures in the Western Heaven. He is a reincarnation of the Golden Cicada, the second disciple of the Tathagata Buddha, that ancient sage of the West. I made his acquaintance at an Ullambana assembly where he gave me tea with his own hands. As this disciple of the Buddha paid me such an honour, I regard him as an old friend.”
The Great Immortal continued to say, "Although the Tang Priest is an old friend of mine, you must be on your guard against his ruffian followers, and you mustn't let them know about the manfruit.”
Q4: Why does the Great Immortal want to offer these precious fruits to Sanzang?
What do you notice in the Great Immortal’s words and attitude?
Why is discretion important here (both for Sanzang and for those who guard the temple)?

"Residence of Divine Immortals Who Never Grow Old;
Home of Taoists as Ancient as Heaven."
"This Taoist tries to intimidate people by talking big," said Monkey with a laugh. "When I wrecked the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago I never saw anything like that over the gate of the Supreme Lord Lao Zi."
Q5: Why does Monkey laugh at the words inscribed on the gate?

"Where is your teacher?" Sanzang asked them.
"He had an invitation from the Original Celestial Jade Pure One and has gone to the Palace in the Heaven of Supreme Purity to hear a lecture on the Product of Undifferentiated Unity, so he's not at home."
At this Monkey could not help roaring, "Stinking Taoist boys, you don't know who you're talking to. You play your dirty tricks in front of our faces and pretend to be oh−so−innocent. What Heavenly Immortal of the Great Monad lives in the Miluo Palace? Who invited your cow's hoof of a master to a lecture?"
Q6: Why does Monkey react with mockery and then anger?
What does this tell us about his character and the tensions between pride, insight and humility?

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

📚 Self-Study & Preparation:
https://chine.in/fichiers/jourwest.pdf
Chapter 24 (page 346 - 354). Please read the baby-like fruit section before the session.

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