The legend of "The Reincarnation of the Golden Cicada 10th" is not just a simple way to learn the scriptures, but involves a deep game between the Buddha Rulai, the Taishang Laojun and the mysterious Bodhi Patriarch. Why does the golden cicada need to be reincarnated in ten lifetimes to successfully obtain the true scriptures?
In the vast Chinese mythological stories, Journey to the West, with its rich imagination and profound meaning, occupies the hearts of countless readers. Among them, the story of the four Tang monks and apprentices learning scriptures is well-known, but many people may not know that the reincarnation journey of Tang Seng, that is, the golden cicada, is actually a power game of the gods behind it.
The story begins 500 years ago, when the Buddha was at a critical moment to spread Buddhism to the east. However, this plan has not been without its challenges. It turned out that this task, known as the "Western Heaven Learning Project", was planned by Rulai. He needed someone who could carry out this mission, so he chose Jin Chanzi, a disciple who was ostensibly expelled from Lingshan for not listening to the Dharma seriously.
You may ask, why the golden cicada? The reasons behind this are complex. Nyorai's plan is actually a long-term arrangement, and he needs Jin Chanzi to go through the ordeal of the tenth life in order to purify his soul and qualify him to receive the true scriptures. But this is only a superficial reason.
The real story is much more complicated. In this great drama of learning scriptures, there are two other important characters: Taishang Laojun and Bodhi Patriarch. Taishang Laojun, as an important deity of Taoism, he had already begun to lay out long before the Buddha. He created the Monkey King of Huaguo Mountain, the Monkey King, a stone monkey not only as an assistant to the spread of Buddhism to the East, but also as a symbol of Taoist power, aiming to balance the influence of Buddhism.
How did Patriarch Bodhi get involved? Bodhi Patriarch, this mysterious power, is the little disciple of Taishang Laojun, one of the three Qings of Taoism, and his strength should not be underestimated. In the whole scripture study program, Patriarch Bodhi played an extremely key role. He is not only the master of the Monkey King, but also the driving force behind the whole story. His purpose was not only to help Rulai complete the Eastern Dharma, but more importantly, to ensure that Taoism could make a difference in the process.
This seemingly simple journey to learn scriptures is actually a contest between Buddhism and Taoism, and Jin Chanzi and Sun Wukong are the key chess pieces in this big play. The tenth reincarnation of Jin Chanzi is not only a test of his personal faith, but also a microcosm of the duel between the two factions of Buddhism and Taoism. Every rebirth, every setback and rebirth, is closely related to the changes in power in the heavenly realm and the foresight of the gods.
Let's dive into some details. Jin Chanzi was relegated to a mortal in his first life and began his journey of suffering in life. Every life is full of difficulties and challenges, and he constantly encounters life and death disasters, but it is these experiences that sharpen his will and purify his soul. And this is exactly what Rulai wants to see - a person who can stand the test of time and finally deserve the true scriptures.
And the addition of Monkey King has added more unforeseen variables to this journey. Sun Wukong, the Monkey King of the Huaguo Mountain Water Curtain Cave, was originally a member of the Heavenly Realm, but he was crushed under the Five Elements Mountain because of his unruliness. His appearance brought about a dramatic turn. The enlightenment of Bodhi Patriarch to him was not only to teach him the seventy-two changes and somersault clouds, but more importantly, to implant a sense of mission - to help Jin Chanzi complete the scriptures, and at the same time to prove the power of Taoism.
Throughout the process, we have seen many setbacks and restarts. Jin Chanzi, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Seng encountered various demons and monsters along the way, and the appearance of these monsters was not accidental. They are tests, obstacles set up by the Buddha and Dao Ancestors to test the faith and ability of the Golden Cicada and his team. Every challenge is a quenching and a baptism of the soul of the golden cicada.
The role of the Bodhi Patriarch is even more profound. He has long understood the importance of learning from the scriptures and the deeper meaning behind them. He knew that it was not only Buddhism that needed this eastward transmission, but Taoism also needed to have a place in this religious and cultural exchange. He silently supported behind the scenes, ensuring that Sun Wukong could successfully help Jin Chanzi to complete this seemingly impossible task.
With the hardships and challenges along the way, Jin Chanzi and Sun Wukong finally arrived at Lingshan and obtained the true scriptures. This is not only the completion of a task, but also the result of mutual checks and balances and mutual promotion between Buddhism and Taoism. Jin Chanzi's success is not only his personal success, but also the embodiment of the balance of power between the entire Buddhism and Taoism. And behind all this, the wisdom and foresight of Patriarch Bodhi played a decisive role.
By delving into the story of the reincarnation of the 10th Golden Cicada, we not only witness the rich connotation of a classic myth, but also feel the subtle relationship between Buddhism and Taoism and the deep strategy of the heavenly realm. All these seemingly mysterious arrangements are in fact aimed at finally achieving a grander goal: the spread of truth and the integration of cultures. And the tenth reincarnation of the golden cicada is not just an arrangement of fate,