Difference?
Lord Lao once said, 'The highest goodness is like water.' This water nourishes all things, flowing to the lowest places. Those who wish to receive it may do so; those who refuse are not forced. In essence, it is 'Non-Action,' summed up in the word 'moistening.'
Mother Nuwa listened quietly.
Tripitaka paused for a moment, then continued, "The water I speak of is not merely about 'moistening,' but about 'fusion.' It's true that those who wish may receive, but what of those who do not? Should they be left to sink into the Sea of Suffering, ignored?"
So?
So, I believe that the Universal Salvation Path is not about sitting passively on a Buddha throne, waiting for beings to come and seek the Dharma; nor is it like water simply flowing downward, helping only those who desire it. Rather, it is...
At this point, Tripitaka did not continue, only pursed his lips slightly.
He gazed quietly at Mother Nuwa.
Slowly, Mother Nuwa's eyes widened in surprise as she gazed at Tripitaka, taking a deep breath.
In the dim cave, several candles flickered softly, their reddish glow casting a gentle light on both their faces, creating a quietly serene atmosphere.
After a moment, Mother Nuwa collected herself, narrowed her eyes, and sighed, "This method is truly wondrous. If it can be proven, it will be a great blessing for the Three Realms."
Tripitaka withdrew his gaze and stood quietly, his expression as serene and peaceful as gentle ripples on a wind-stirred lake.
After a long while, Mother Nuwa opened her eyes and sighed softly, "Listening to you, I suddenly feel that Buddhist and Daoist methods are remarkably alike. Both halt just before taking the final step... No wonder, then. In the past, it was Lord Lao who enlightened Shakyamuni, but I never expected him to surpass even that. I was simply too trusting back then."
After a brief silence, Nuwa softly asked, "Do you have any idea how to prove this method of salvation?"
"I do. But there are too many threads, and I am still at a loss."
"Could you share a few of those threads? Perhaps, having lived tens of thousands of years, I might offer some advice."
Tripitaka returned a polite smile, saying, "I'm afraid it's difficult."
Nuwa raised her hand slightly, signaling Tripitaka to continue.
Bowing once more to Mother Nuwa, Tripitaka spoke softly, "My westward journey is said to be a quest for scriptures, but in truth, it is a journey to debate the Dharma, to verify it through action, and to forge a path that none before me have walked."
At this, Tripitaka gave a helpless smile and said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I do not know if I will ultimately succeed. As you said, both Buddhism and Daoism stop short of the final step... and beyond that step lies an abyss. This outcome is dictated by the methods of both schools. To go against the current is to become entangled in karma, to add knots to the heart, which is detrimental to cultivation. For Daoists, it simply means stagnation. For Buddhists, it could mean breaking the Buddha-mind and falling back into reincarnation. Yet, even if the next step is an abyss, someone must attempt it, mustn't they?"
Nuwa watched Tripitaka quietly, her eyes narrowing to slits.
"All along the way, I have been cautious and contemplative. Since all beings suffer, why not discern their suffering and help them escape the Sea of Suffering?" Shaking his sleeves, Tripitaka paced slowly in the cave and began to recount his journey: "At Mercy Abbey, I met Abbot Goldenpool. His greed clouded his heart and he lost sight of the true meaning of the Dharma. Through patient guidance, I finally led him to a good result."
"In Gao Village, I encountered Marshal Silver, trapped by love and unable to break free for a thousand years. They say monks do not lie... but there, I lied once. Though it did not yield a good result, at least I found a way out of suffering, and that is something."
"These are favorable circumstances. At first glance, from Heavenly generals down to mortals, the suffering of all beings seems solvable. But on deeper thought, I am alarmed. The Three Realms hold countless beings—if each must be rescued individually to escape suffering... I am but a mortal, and one day my life will end. When that time comes, who will continue the work of universal salvation?"
At this point, Tripitaka lifted his head slightly, a trace of helplessness in his gaze as his thoughts wandered through memories.
"From that moment, I began to reconsider the way of my journey west. The lifespan of mortals is limited; the path to enlightenment that remains for me is only a few decades. Moreover, I have only survived so far because the Great Sage protects me at every turn. What if those who come after me do not have such help? Thus, for me, the most important thing is not whom I save or fail to save, but to find a practical path for future generations. Under the guise of alms-seeking, I write letters and treat illnesses for the people—all to search for this path. 'For a monk, to beg food from mortals to sustain oneself,' yet also to enter the world and rely on one's own strength. Though it is not easy, if those who come after me follow my way, at least they will not be utterly lost. But this is only the beginning..."
(Skip: This is a meta note, not part of the narrative.)
"In Black Rooster Kingdom, General Curtain set out to bless the people, but in the end, he was disgraced and ruined. If not for the Great Sage's intervention, the consequences would have been unthinkable. At that moment, new doubts arose."
"At Blackwater River, Jack Rivers risked everything to save his father. The Great Sage, angered, tormented him in every way, while I could only watch from the side. The choice I faced then was between great kindness and small kindness. If I chose small kindness and showed mercy to Jack, the westward journey would be jeopardized. But if I abandoned small kindness for the sake of the greater quest, could any great kindness truly be achieved?" Staring at his faint shadow on the cave wall for a long time, Tripitaka slowly shook his head and sighed, "Without small kindness, great kindness is nothing but a thin veil to cover shame. In the end, it is all in vain."
"This was a deadlock. I pondered all night and finally understood: the snake and the farmer each have their own standpoint—there is no absolute right or wrong. If there is no solution, why not open one's heart and try to transform others with genuine compassion? What seems like a dead end may, with a kind heart, reveal a narrow path to hope."
"If I could truly move all beings, guiding them to walk the path of universal salvation together, then the method would surely succeed!" As he spoke, the excitement on Tripitaka's face faded, replaced by a trace of worry. He said softly, "But reality is not so simple. I was too naïve."
"In Cartwright Kingdom, I tried to save the monks with compassion, but in the end, I only pushed them into greater danger, with many casualties... Though the Great Sage returned in time and the monks were saved, and the final outcome was good, others might not see through it, but how could I not? In truth, it was just a façade of peace. Even the flower of goodness can bear evil fruit... If that is so, can opening one's heart still transform beings? Let alone saving all beings—I couldn't even save the monks of Cartwright Kingdom, so how could I save everyone?"
"If I always rely on the Great Sage's strength for salvation, in the end, it is but a fleeting miracle, not a true Dharma, and certainly not a Dao."
"I have doubted more than once: if suffering and evil are innate in all beings... if that were so, then all my efforts would be futile. Fortunately, Your Majesty has resolved my doubts today. Still, as I said before, how to achieve universal salvation remains an unsolved problem. For now, all I can do is believe. There is no other way."
In an instant, silence fell over the entire stone chamber.
The two of them gazed quietly at each other; Mother Nuwa's eyes widened slightly.
After a long moment, Tripitaka seemed to awaken, quickly collecting himself. He pressed his palms together and bowed deeply, "I have lost my composure. Please forgive me, Lady Nuwa."
"Is this what you meant by not having thought it all through?"
Tripitaka nodded.
"So, when you first set out on your westward journey, you knew nothing at all—relying only on courage and determination?"
Tripitaka bowed his head slightly, pressed his palms together, and stared at the empty ground, saying nothing.
"Unattainable desire." Mother Nuwa smiled, delivering her final assessment.
Tripitaka's pressed palms tightened slightly.
"This is the 'suffering of unattainable desire.'" Mother Nuwa pursed her lips, her gaze gentle as a mother's, and laughed softly, "You yourself are already lost in the Sea of Suffering, no longer detached."
Tripitaka stood quietly, eyes closed, saying nothing.
"Indeed." Mother Nuwa slowly rose, leaning on the armrest, and sighed, "Your thoughts are exquisite, your words well-spoken. You have sunk into the Sea of Suffering just right. I understand now."
Tripitaka opened his eyes, looking at Mother Nuwa in confusion.
...
The heavy stone door slowly opened.
Red firelight spilled in from outside. Monkey unconsciously gripped his Golden Staff, while Subhuti chuckled.
Inside the stone chamber, Mother Nuwa stood quietly, with Tripitaka not far behind her.
"Finished talking?" Seeing Tripitaka unharmed, Monkey relaxed a little.
Just as they were about to leave, Mother Nuwa turned back to Tripitaka and asked, "On your westward journey, have you reached the Women's Kingdom?"
After a pause, she continued, "Do you need me to send you back to the Women's Kingdom, so you may continue your original journey?"