Story Post 10: Lessons Again(skippable cutscene)
Well I say that but it actually sets some things up so please read it
Lie was passing out the cups of that night’s tea when Wujing spoke up. “Is this… allowed?”
A huff was heard from the small cave in the cliff they had sheltered near that night and Bajie laughed in his halting, snorting, way. “It's about as Buddhist as beating the crap out of demons.”
Sounds continued, as Bajie started complaining about the lengths the taoists had gone to try punishing them for eating their fruit and the hard going, but Lie had been taken by a thought. “If fighting is a sin then does that mean that you would be barred from nirvana or buddhahood for all the fighting you’re doing on this journey?”
“But we’re protecting a priest!” Bajie was quick to object. “Doesn’t it cancel out the sin? Like arithmetic?”
Wujing nearly choked on his tea. His coughing sounded wet and gravelly and he dropped his plant pot of a cup, which was the true crime because now it meant that Lie would now have to clean and fill it again. Curse it being his turn to do the dishes. “Now I’m pretty sure that’s blasphemous Bajie, surely not even one as inept as you could make such a disgraceful statement and mean it.”
“You underestimate our pig whelp.” Wukong climbed down from his newest nest and lightly slapped the still recovering Wujing on the back. “Besides, we’ve all heard of monks being called to dispel demons before, there are exceptions to the tenement of decrying violence.”
“Well said elder brother,” taking in a deep breath Wujing seemed to finally have control of his lungs again, “but what are those exceptions? Surely there are rules to be mindful of?”
Lie pressed a slightly warm cup into Wukong’s hands as the monkey smiled at him. His smile was gentler than before, soft eyes and closed lips, and it seemed more obvious by the day that this smile was reserved for Wujing and Lie alone. “Does this mean our topic tonight is what makes violence ok?”
“It certainly seems appropriate.”
“Well then, oh wise old man,” Bajie swung his arm in a wide sweeping gesture Lie recognized somewhat as a call to challenge, “what is the Buddhist stance on violence?”
Wukong took a sip of drink and made a face as though he wished it was of stronger stuff. “The Dhammapada says that ‘All are afraid of the stick, all hold their lives dear. Putting oneself in another’s place, one should not beat or kill others.’”
“I believe I’ve heard that quote before!” All attention suddenly shifted to Wujing. Under their collective gaze the giant of a man curled into himself. “In a different context… but it leads to the concept of Metta doesn’t it?”
The concept of “Metta?” It was Lie’s turn to wilt below the gazes of his companions, suddenly self conscious of his clear lack of understanding.
“The concept of loving kindness and a mindset of endless compassion for other living beings.” The four of them jumped in their seats at Xuanzang’s voice. The monk was supposed to have been asleep by now! But nonetheless he sat, different from the other times he had interrupted their discussions, and waited. For what the group could only guess but it was a tense while before Bajie gathered enough courage to break the silence.
“Even to people like those bandits a while back?” There was a saying that a prophet had used in Lie’s presence once that described the volley of debate that sprung forth from that simple line. One that sat at the back of the prince’s throat for a long while tasting of sand and sunbaked air. Ah yes, the straw that broke the camels back.
Xuanzang’s face scrunched when he decidedly said. “Of course.”
At the same time Wukong passively responded. “In a way.”
The two locked eyes at once, two minds of great intellect, one human taught on books his entire life, the other a king with centuries of life to have learned the way. It was almost as though one could slice through the growing tension with a knife. So much did that tension weigh upon the young dragon that he moved ever so carefully away from the direct line of fire just as an indignant cry spilled from the humans lips.
Wujing was kind enough to provide the prince a friend in watching the show devolve.
“-karma will find them eventually and it is not our job-”
“We are on a holy mission to travel to the Buddha, who is to say we are not the bringers of karmic retribution!”
“And they were the ones to try us first! Try shit get hit!”
“That is not-” “Good sentiment Bajie-”
“What do you mean-”
The debate had reached a fervor in moments. Tripitaka’s face had turned red all the way to the top of his bald head and Wukong’s teeth were barred. It almost seemed that there would be a battle between the two and privately Lie thought he wouldn’t be upset to see the monk fall if only he weren’t the key to avoiding the execution stage. Except suddenly the King closed his eyes and took an exaggerated breath.
When his eyes opened again they were devoid of the usual glamour, previously disguised red pools of blood sizzling when they touched the edge of deep bronze. A golden glow around the edges silence Xuanzang’s voice. “It is interesting that you argue against violence so passionately even while you have no qualms inflicting pain yourself.”
“I don’t-”
“The Band Tightening Spell.”
Lie watched the monk blanch until he was paler than milk. Though it was unclear why? “Wukong,” the monkey hummed and continued to stare at the hapless monk, “what is the band tightening spell?”
“It’s a punishment tool given to me by the Merciful Guanyin so that I can tame Wukong’s evil tendencies.”
A sharp laugh. “Yes, yes, very merciful to split my skull, make me bleed from my eyes, and seal away my magic core.” It was their turn now to blanch. Bajie of all people gasped and dropped his own massive tea cup, the spilled drink snuffed out the fire and left the only light that of the stars and the searing golden amber eyes of a far too calm Wukong. “Violence is a part of the natural world. It’s not as though a tiger can deny its need to eat meat and there is no other source than other beings.”
“But we are not as debased as simple animals-”
“We are more capable of thought but we are all still animals; human, dragon, pig, fish, and monkey. It is not that we must never do harm, it is that we must be conscious of when and how we do harm.” Wukong finally blinked and in the dark of the new moon night he spoke softly. “I know of many who held the same ideas of avoiding doing harm at all cost and did more than they intended. They wasted away from sickness caused by eating leaves instead of the meat their bodies needed.”
Wujing leaned in, as if this were the most riveting thing he’d ever heard and Lie could not bring himself to disagree.
“Those who need to eat need to kill, those who have the sense to kill the least must take care to be respectful to the dead.”
“But the Sutta Nipata says not to kill nor get someone else to kill!”
“And yet,” Bajie’s voice was strong and clear in the darkness, “we fight and kill to protect you. Are we damning ourselves for you?”
“I do not tell you to-”
“Wukong didn’t want to fight Bajie in the Cao village.” It felt strange to interrupt but strangely in the darkness the words spilled forth. Besides, Lie never was able to properly hold his tongue. “He wanted to just move on because he knew it was nothing more than a wedding practice. But you didn’t listen when we tried to tell you.”
Silence reigned for what felt like hours but must’ve only been moments.
“I… I believe I need to meditate now.”
And it was over. No joyful memories to be made that night as they had many other nights. Just a feeling of incompleteness.