Upon hearing this, the Patriarch jumped down from the platform with a shout, brandishing a ruler, and pointed at Wukong, saying, "You monkey, you refuse to learn this and that, what are you going to do?" He stepped forward and struck Wukong three times on the head, then walked inside with his hands behind his back, closed the middle door, and left the crowd behind. The audience was terrified, all complaining about Wukong: "You impudent monkey, utterly unruly! Your master is imparting the Dharma to you, how can you refuse to learn and instead talk back to your master! Now that you've offended him, who knows when you'll be released!" They all resented and despised him. Wukong, however, was not angry at all, only smiling obsequiously. It turned out that the Monkey King had already solved the mystery, keeping it to himself. Therefore, he did not argue with the crowd, but simply endured in silence. The Patriarch's three strikes were to teach him to be mindful at midnight; the patriarch's actions of walking inside with his hands behind his back and closing the middle door were to teach him to enter through the back door, where the Dharma would be secretly imparted to him.
That day, Wukong and the others were overjoyed, eagerly awaiting the dawn before the Three Star Immortal Cave, impatient for nightfall. As dusk approached, they went to bed, feigning sleep, calming their minds and focusing their breath. Since there were no night watchmen in the mountains, they didn't know the time, so they simply regulated their breathing. Around midnight, they quietly rose, dressed, sneaked out the front door, and slipped away from the crowd. Looking up, they saw—a bright moon, clear dew, and a pristine expanse of dust. Deep in the trees, secluded birds roosted, and the spring water flowed gently.
Fireflies scatter their light, geese fly in formation amidst the clouds.
You see, he followed the old path to the back door, which was half-open. Wukong exclaimed happily, "Master, you truly care about imparting the Way to me; that's why the door is open!" He then shuffled forward, slipped inside, and went straight to the Patriarch's bed. He saw the Patriarch curled up, asleep. Wukong dared not disturb him and knelt before the bed. The Patriarch awoke shortly after, stretched out his legs, and murmured to himself: "Difficult, difficult, difficult! The Way is most profound; do not take the golden elixir lightly. Without encountering a sage to impart the wondrous secrets, empty words will only leave your mouth weary and tongue dry!"
Wukong responded, "Master, your disciple has been kneeling here waiting for a long time." The Patriarch, hearing Wukong's voice, immediately rose, put on his robe, and sat cross-legged, shouting, "You monkey! Why aren't you sleeping in the front? What are you doing here in the back?" Wukong replied, "Master promised everyone at the altar yesterday that you would teach me the principles at midnight through the back door. Therefore, I boldly came to pay my respects at your bedside." The Patriarch, hearing this, was very pleased, secretly thinking, "This fellow is indeed a genius born of heaven and earth; otherwise, how could he have solved the riddle in my dish?" Wukong said, "There are no other six ears here, only this disciple. I hope Master will show great compassion and impart the way to immortality to me. I will never forget your kindness!" The Patriarch said, "You are fortunate to have this opportunity, and I am happy to speak. Now that you understand the riddle in the dish, come closer and listen carefully. I will impart to you the wondrous way to immortality." Wukong kowtowed in thanks, washed his ears, and knelt at the bedside. The patriarch said: The true and wondrous secret of the perfect integration of exoteric and esoteric teachings lies in cultivating one's nature and life force; there is no other way. It all comes down to essence, energy, and spirit; guard them carefully and firmly, lest they leak away.
Do not leak out, keep it within your body, and you will prosper by receiving my teachings. Remember the mantra, it will bring many benefits, and by eliminating evil desires, you will attain coolness and peace.
Cool and refreshing, the moon shines brightly, perfect for admiring the moon from the Dantai Terrace. The moon hides the jade rabbit, the sun hides the crow, and the tortoise and snake intertwine.
Intertwined and bound together, their life force is strong, yet they can cultivate golden lotuses even in fire. By gathering and reversing the five elements, their power is fully realized, and they become Buddhas or immortals.
At this moment, the truth was revealed, and Wukong was filled with joy. He carefully memorized the incantation, bowed deeply to the Patriarch to express his profound gratitude, and then went out the back door to observe. He saw the eastern sky beginning to lighten, and golden light shining brightly in the west. He returned to the front door, gently pushed it open, and sat in his original bed, shaking the bed and saying, "It's dawn! It's dawn! Get up!" The others were still asleep, unaware that Wukong had received such good fortune. That day, he slept quietly, secretly maintaining his composure, regulating his breathing before midnight and after noon.
Three years had passed, and the Patriarch ascended the throne again, preaching to the assembly. He discussed koans and analogies, and debated external appearances. Suddenly, he asked, "Where is Wukong?"
Wukong knelt down and said, "This disciple has..."
The patriarch asked, "What kind of path have you been cultivating all this time?"
Wukong said, "I have recently gained a deeper understanding of the Dharma nature, and my foundation has become more solid." The Patriarch said, "Since you have gained a deeper understanding of the Dharma nature and the foundation, and have already infused your divine body with it, you should only guard against the three calamities."
Upon hearing this, Wukong pondered for a long time and said, "Master's words are wrong. I have heard that those who are of high moral character and great virtue live as long as heaven, are in harmony with water and fire, and are free from all diseases. How could there be any 'three calamities'?"
The Patriarch said, “This is an extraordinary path, seizing the creation of heaven and earth, and encroaching upon the mysteries of the sun and moon. After the elixir is completed, even ghosts and gods will find it intolerable. Although it preserves youth and prolongs life, after five hundred years, a heavenly lightning calamity will strike you. You must see your true nature and enlighten your mind to avoid it beforehand. If you manage to avoid it, you will live as long as heaven; if you cannot, you will perish. After another five hundred years, a heavenly fire will burn you. This fire is neither heavenly fire nor ordinary fire; it is called Yin fire. It starts burning from below the Yongquan acupoint on your soles, penetrating straight to the Niwan Palace, turning your five internal organs to ashes.” All your limbs will decay, and your thousand years of arduous practice will be nothing but an illusion. In another five hundred years, another calamity will descend upon you. This wind is not the winds of the southeast, northwest, or south; it is not the gentle north wind, nor the wind blowing through the flowers, willows, pines, and bamboos; it is called the crow wind. It blows into your six internal organs through your fontanelle, passes through your dantian, and pierces your nine orifices, causing your bones and flesh to disintegrate, and your body will naturally disintegrate. Therefore, you must all avoid it.” Upon hearing this, Wukong was terrified and kowtowed, saying, “I beg Your Excellency to have mercy and teach me the method to avoid the three calamities; I will never forget your kindness.”
The patriarch said, "This is not difficult, but you are different from others, so I cannot pass it on."
Wukong said, "I also have a round head reaching to the sky, square feet touching the ground, and nine orifices, four limbs, and five internal organs. Why am I different from humans?" The Patriarch said, "Although you resemble a human, you lack cheeks." It turned out that the monkey had a sunken face and a pointed mouth. Wukong reached out and touched it, laughing, "Master, you haven't calculated properly. Although I lack cheeks, I have this white bag, which can be used as a substitute." The Patriarch said, "Very well, which one do you want to learn? There's a Heavenly Dipper number, which has thirty-six transformations; there's an Earthly Fiend number, which has seventy-two transformations." Wukong said, "This disciple wishes to learn more, I'll learn one of the Earthly Fiend transformations." The Patriarch said, "In that case, come forward, I will impart the incantation to you." He then whispered in his ear, revealing some wondrous method. This Monkey King, once he understood one thing, understood everything. He learned the incantation and practiced on his own, mastering all seventy-two transformations.
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