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In the continuing struggle between the pilgrims and the demons, deception becomes increasingly sophisticated. After being pinned beneath three enormous mountains, Wukong eventually frees himself and realizes that the demons intend to capture him again using their powerful magical treasures.

To counter their schemes, Wukong transforms himself into a Taoist priest and devises a plan to trick the junior demons. With the consent of the Jade Emperor, celestial gods and warriors lend their support to help Wukong carry out his plan. He finally succeeds in exchanging the demons’ magical treasures for his own imitations.

This episode vividly illustrates the battle of deception and counter-deception, where wisdom, discernment, and strategy become as important as strength.

🌱 Session Focus:
In this session, we will explore the symbolic meaning of the demons’ treasures and reflect on why the demons still desire to eat Tang Sanzang’s flesh despite already possessing magical objects of enormous power.

Key Questions for contemplation:

"Gentlemen," he said aloud, "would you let me have a look at your treasures?" Not realizing that this was a trick the two little devils produced them from their sleeves and offered them respectfully with both hands to Money. He was delighted, though he did now show it. "Splendid things," he thought, "splendid. I just have to flick my tail in the air and go whizzing off with a jump. They've given them to me." Then he had second thoughts: "No, that's no good. Stealing them would be easy enough, but it would destroy my reputation. It'd be daylight robbery." So he handed them back.
Q1: How do you interpret Wukong’s decision to return the treasures rather than simply stealing them?
• What does this reveal about his sense of integrity or reputation?
• What transformation do you observe in Wukong compared with his earlier rebellious character?

The splendid Great Sage called on the Patroller of the Day, the Patroller of the Night together with the Protector of the Four Quarters and the Centre: "Report on my behalf to the Jade Emperor that I have now found the true faith and am escorting the Tang Priest to the Western Heaven to fetch the Scriptures. … so I most humbly beg that I be lent the sky to put away for an hour. This will enable me to succeed. If there's so much as a hint of a refusal then I'll be coming up to the Hall of Miraculous Mist to give battle.”
"Outrageous ape," said the Jade Emperor. “…Now he wants to put the sky away. It can't be done."
…Prince Nezha stepped forward from the officials at court and submitted a memorial: "Your Majesty, it is possible to contain the sky."
"How?" the Jade Emperor asked.
"When the primal chaos was first differentiated," Prince Nezha replied, "the light and pure became the sky, and the heavy and dirty became the earth. The sky is a ball of pure vapor that holds up the palaces of Heaven, and by rights it should be impossible to contain it. But now that Sun the Novice is escorting the Tang Priest to fetch the Scriptures from the Western Heaven this will be a source of blessings as great as Mount Tai, a good deed as profound as the ocean. Today we ought to help him succeed."
Q2: Why does Nezha support Wukong’s request?
• Why does assisting the pilgrimage count as a great blessing?
• What does this reveal about the significance of the journey to obtain the scriptures?

Splendid Monkey. As they were both convinced he said another spell that had an impact on Prince Nezha, who rolled the banner up again, revealing the noonday sun once more. "Fantastic," exclaimed the little devils in delight, "fantastic. If we don't do a swap for this treasure we won't be looking after our family's interest.” Dexterous Ghost handed over the gourd and Skilful Beast produced the vase. When they gave them both to Monkey he gave them his imitation gourd.
Q3: What mindset leads the two little devils to trust Wukong so easily?
Are there parallels in modern life where appearances persuade people too easily?

With the imitation gourd in their hands the two little devils were quarrelling over who should examine it when they looked up and saw that Monkey had disappeared. "Brother," said Skilful Beast, "even immortals tell lies sometimes. He said that when we'd swapped the treasures he would make us into immortals. How come he's vanished without a word?"
Q4: Why do the devils come to this conclusion that even immortals tell lies sometimes?
Does this moment reveal something about the nature of trust and deception?
Which spiritual grade will the immortals who tell lies fall into?

"How are you going to get him?" asked the Senior King.
"We had five treasures," said the Junior King, "so even after losing two we have three left with which we can and must capture him."
"What three treasures?" asked the Senior King.
"The Seven−star Sword and the Plantain Fan that I carry with me," the Junior King replied, "and the Dazzling Golden Cord that's kept at our old mother's place in the Crushed Dragon Cave in Crushed Dragon Mountain."
Q5: What might be the symbolic meaning of these treasures?
• How did the demons gain access to such powerful objects?
• If they already possess so much power, why do they still desire to eat Sanzang’s flesh?

📚 Self-Study & Preparation:
https://chine.in/fichiers/jourwest.pdf
Chapter 34 (page 468 - 476).

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