Who is the humble Bodhisattva of Journey to the West? Performing the most important mission, Lingsha

Mondo Culture Updated on 2024-02-22

**Wan Fan Incentive Plan The road of learning scriptures in the West is a road to Buddhahood for the four Tang monks and apprentices, but it is also a road of atonement.

Along the way, they went through nine hundred and eighty-one difficulties and broke through the obstacles set by many demons before they were able to retrieve the true scriptures.

As a ** book on the theme of gods and demons, "Journey to the West" draws on a lot of Buddhism and Taoism, and has made certain adjustments according to what the author wants to express.

Therefore, when we look at the description of some characters in the book, we only need to understand it according to the author's expression, and we don't need to bring the ideas in the book to reality.

And what we are discussing is mainly based on the setting content in "Journey to the West", after all, some characters in the book, in the realistic religious description, do not find corresponding characters.

For example, in "Journey to the West", there is such a Bodhisattva, who can be called the most humble Bodhisattva in the whole work.

He was assigned to perform the most important task by Rulai, but Lingshan did not have his name, and in the real Buddhist scriptures, it is difficult to find his deeds, this Bodhisattva is Lingji Bodhisattva.

The monsters with a background were rescued, and the monsters without a background were killed. This is a feeling that many people have after reading "Journey to the West".

However, as we all know, the reason why the setting of learning scriptures in the west was to let the four Tang monks and apprentices continue to experience and practice on the road of learning scriptures.

And in order to make them practice better, in these eighty-one tribulations, some of the demons they encountered were all "sponsored by friendship" by the two sects of immortals and Buddhas.

But "a single filament does not form a thread, and dead wood does not make a forest." How many nails can you hit with iron? "Even if it is as strong as the existence of the Monkey King, there are monsters that he can't handle.

Whenever he encounters a strong enemy, Sun Wukong will ask for help from the masters of the two sects of immortals and Buddhas. Therefore, some immortals and bodhisattvas have also appeared in "Journey to the West".

Guanyin Bodhisattva, Jizo King Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, etc. are all famous Bodhisattvas, not only the status is respected, but also the ability and the number of appearances are quite high, but also in the Tang monks and apprentices on the way to learn the scriptures, provide a lot of help.

And there is a Bodhisattva, although it has also provided great help to the four masters and apprentices, but it has been "silent", not only is not famous, but in the end, it has not been mentioned at the "commendation meeting" in Lingshan, he is Lingji Bodhisattva.

The great powers that can achieve the bodhisattva status are all people of extraordinary ability, and their status is also extremely high.

Throughout the whole "Journey to the West", the Bodhisattvas in the face of Sun Wukong's request for help, although they are not too arrogant, they are mostly faced with a superior attitude.

For example, when Guanyin Bodhisattva calls Sun Wukong, he also uses "splashing monkeys" in the majority.

Lingji Bodhisattva is different from other Bodhisattvas, although he only appears twice in the whole book, but each time he is very enthusiastic, respectful, and even a little humble to Sun Wukong.

The first appearance of Lingji Bodhisattva was when the four Tang monks and apprentices met the Yellow Wind King.

The Yellow Wind King was originally a yellow-haired sable rat at the foot of Lingshan Mountain, because he stole the clear oil in the glass jar, and his mana increased greatly. If the Buddha remembered that it was not easy to practice, he exiled him and sent Lingji Bodhisattva to take care of him.

If you only talk about mana and ability, Sun Wukong will naturally not be inferior to the Yellow Wind King, but this Yellow Wind King has a special magical power, that is, his Samadhi Divine Skill.

He has done countless evils with this supernatural power, and Sun Wukong was defeated by his supernatural power. Later, Sun Wukong learned that the person who could balance the Yellow Wind King was Lingji Bodhisattva.

It can be seen that Sun Wukong, who is well-informed and well-connected, has never heard of this Bodhisattva, let alone knows how to invite him. Fortunately, with the guidance of Tai Bai Xing, I found Lingji Bodhisattva.

If it is other Bodhisattvas who see Sun Wukong and ask for help, then although they will definitely help, they must also do enough pomp.

Even if it is out of politeness and identity, he will be polite to Sun Wukong, but he will definitely not show much humility. But Lingji Bodhisattva is not.

When Lingji Bodhisattva knew that Sun Wukong was coming to him, he immediately changed into a solemn robe, and specially lit a stick of incense to welcome Sun Wukong.

You must know that at this time, Lingji Bodhisattva has already attained the Bodhisattva position, although it is not the first echelon of Lingshan, but it is also a Bodhisattva, and he treats Sun Wukong like this, which is already very grand.

Secondly, after Sun Wukong explained the ins and outs of the matter to him, Lingji Bodhisattva's reaction was not like other Bodhisattvas, showing victory in hand, but immediately apologizing.

showed that he was not optimistic about the Yellow Wind King, it was his own dereliction of duty, he would definitely help Sun Wukong subdue the Yellow Wind King, and invited Sun Wukong to stay for dinner.

This series of operations is undoubtedly self-surrendering, even a little humble.

After subduing the Yellow Wind King, Sun Wukong and Lingji Bodhisattva had a second encounter, that is, when Sun Wukong fought against the Iron Fan Princess, Sun Wukong was fanned by the Iron Fan Princess to the Lingji Bodhisattva's dojo.

Sun Wukong asked Lingji Bodhisattva for help again, and this time Lingji Bodhisattva handed over his only remaining treasure, "Dingfeng Dan", to Sun Wukong, and also personally sewed Dingfeng Dan into Sun Wukong's clothes.

After this operation, the Monkey King, who has always been unruly, was embarrassed, and thanked him again and again.

Compared to other bodhisattvas, he is the only bodhisattva who calls Sun Wukong the "Great Sage". And in his contact with Sun Wukong, he has always put his posture very low, which can be called a "special case among the Bodhisattvas".

Whether it was against the Yellow Wind King or against the Iron Fan Princess, Lingji Bodhisattva played an important role and completed the task assigned to him by the Buddha very well.

But when the Tang monks and apprentices finished taking the scriptures, when the Buddha carried out the "commendation meeting" in Lingshan, he did not mention the name of Lingji Bodhisattva.

You must know that the two tribulations of the Yellow Wind King and the Iron Fan Princess are important links on the way to learn the scriptures, and it is a very important task to be arranged in these two calamities to help Sun Wukong and ensure that they pass smoothly.

However, Lingji Bodhisattva, who undertook such a heavy responsibility, was not mentioned at the final "commendation meeting", which has to make people think deeply.

In "Journey to the West", many plots contain certain truths, or some phenomena in reality, and the story of Lingji Bodhisattva is one of them.

Humility is certainly a virtue, but excessive humility can reduce one's sense of existence.

Maybe you don't care about fame and fortune as a bodhisattva, but you will be rewarded for your efforts, and if you excessively lower your sense of existence, you will only be ignored by people.

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