Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 377: The So-Called Dharma of Buddhism

Chapter 377: Chapter 377: The So-Called Dharma of Buddhism

"None of us have the ability to read minds, and the dish was named by your Master," said the Immortal Official. "Even if we can’t guess it correctly, you can’t blame us."

The Immortal, who had just been scolded by Sun Wukong, felt somewhat aggrieved, "It’s just a dish, no need to yell so loudly."

"Wukong, if you have something to say, you should speak nicely, you can’t curse at people."

Maitreya Buddha couldn’t stand by and watch any longer. This farce had been going on for such a long time without coming to an end. At first, he thought that perhaps some Buddhist Disciple had offended Sun Wukong, but now it seemed that that wasn’t the case.

Just what on earth did Sun Wukong want to do? He looked like someone who was trying to hold in a fart, but at the same time, it was impossible to guess what he actually wanted to accomplish.

When Sun Wukong turned his head and saw Maitreya Buddha, he reined in his temper, "Maitreya Buddha, it’s not that I really want to get angry, but look, they are clearly foolish and can’t guess the name, yet they turn around and blame me. If anyone should feel aggrieved, surely it’s me."

"Ah, Chef Wukong, this is not your fault either," Maitreya Buddha said, but his doubts deepened.

What was Sun Wukong trying to sell in his gourd? What did he really want to do? He had been lingering here for so long, these Immortal Officials were fools, all being led by the nose by him, but Maitreya wasn’t a fool.

"If Maitreya Buddha can think like that, I really appreciate it, otherwise I’d be too aggrieved," said Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong had just been showing an aggrieved expression, but after Maitreya Buddha spoke a mere sentence, his face immediately turned to a smile, the speed of this face change took all the Immortal Officials by surprise.

"Maitreya Ancestor, you’re here too?!"

The conversation between Sun Wukong and Maitreya Buddha had been private, and they hadn’t noticed.

Now, as he spoke in a quiet moment, those on the side of Buddhism heard the familiar voice and immediately opened their eyes, seeing Maitreya Buddha.

Maitreya Buddha hadn’t intended to let the people of Buddhism notice him, but now, speaking in public and being overheard made it impossible to pretend to be unseen.

He could only force a dry laugh and look towards the disciple who had asked him, "Yes, it’s me."

"Maitreya Buddha Ancestor, that’s great, you’re here too. Are you here to stand up for us?" The disciple was full of hope in response to Maitreya Buddha’s answer.

"I’ve been here all along," Maitreya Buddha answered with a smile, thinking to himself, I’m not here specially for you, I came here just to eat meat.

"You’ve been here the whole time?" The disciple was a bit surprised, "Then why haven’t you shown yourself until now?"

It’s because it’s better not to meddle in affairs that don’t concern one, Maitreya thought, but he hadn’t answered yet.

A companion beside the disciple said, "I understand now, Maitreya Ancestor deliberately wanted to temper us. If we can’t withstand even this small amount of tempering, then we don’t deserve to be a part of Buddhism!"

The disciple’s voice was loud and impassioned, and as he spoke, suddenly, it instilled courage in the other disciples.

The disciples, who had almost succumbed to temptation, wiped away their drool that was nearly dripping. No, they couldn’t give in to such temptation, especially not when the Buddha Ancestor had come to cheer them on.

Sun Wukong was somewhat surprised. He had intended for these disciples to see Maitreya Buddha. His original plan was to use Maitreya Buddha’s indulgence in meat to tempt the disciples, never expecting that it would instead give them more willpower.

Maitreya Buddha didn’t know why his presence had granted them such a strong willpower, as he too was brought out by that disciple.

Pushed to such prominence, it wouldn’t be good for him to step down on his own, so he laughed and said, "Of course, a situation like this can’t depend solely on you all. I, a Buddhist Disciple, am here to oversee you and prevent any chaos you might cause."

"So that’s how it is." The disciple suddenly felt a sense of pride, "We surely wouldn’t cause any chaos. No matter where we are, we dare not forget the teachings of Buddha Ancestor and Maitreya Buddha. How could we intentionally provoke trouble?"

His words were true, and Sun Wukong agreed with them; they were all a bunch of pedantic and useless sticks in the mud who really wouldn’t cause trouble casually.

"That’s why I didn’t plan on making an appearance," Maitreya continued along the lines of the disciple, "It really isn’t Chef Wukong targeting you all."

Although he didn’t know what Sun Wukong was actually trying to do, Maitreya decided to side with Sun Wukong for the sake of continuing to enjoy such delicious food in the future.

He probably wouldn’t do anything too outrageous in such a situation, so Maitreya thought he might as well help out for now—maybe he’d even get a discount in the future.

"Maitreya Buddha? Are you telling the truth?"

The disciple looked incredulous; anyone would think that Sun Wukong was deliberately making a spectacle of them to embarrass them publicly. Yet, here was Maitreya asserting that it wasn’t a deliberate targeting.

Maitreya pondered and decided to play the fool. He couldn’t help it; Sun Wukong’s cooking really was too delectable. He was submissive for the sake of the food.

"Yes, how come? Don’t you believe what I say now?"

"Alright then, if Maitreya Buddha says so, how could we think otherwise?"

The disciple gritted his teeth and chose to endure, "Thank you for the teachings, Ancestor. It’s our lack of Taoist practice that made us disrespectful towards Chef Wukong."

Sun Wukong smiled and waved his hand, "Old Sun won’t blame you. It’s just about liberating these ingredients. Have you all finished?"

The Buddhist disciples set down their Buddha beads, chanted "Amitabha," and then said, "The liberation is completed. May Buddha bless these beings, who died for selfish desires, to have a rebirth."

This remark made the dining Immortal Officials feel somewhat embarrassed.

"By saying this, you are really slapping our faces. These are just cooking ingredients; there’s no question of passing on or not. Don’t trouble them."

The Buddhist disciple picked up the Buddha beads, "Amitabha, Immortal, don’t say that. Each species is born for a reason. Everything has a cause and effect. They were sinful in a past life and have become food in this life. If they are committed to goodness in the next life, they might cultivate, either becoming Immortals or achieving Buddhahood, depending on their own karma."

The Immortal Official chuckled awkwardly, "Look at what you’re saying, it’s as if these ingredients will become Immortals like us tomorrow. It’s too early for that. These were souls of deep malevolence, stamped by the Judge to be forever barred from reincarnating as humans. How could they become Immortals like us?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"You are mistaken," said the Buddhist disciple as he twirled his Buddha beads.

"What they did in past lives was the cause; being punished to never reincarnate as humans is the effect. But beyond the Three Realms lies the Demon Realm. Even a flower or grass, if it harbors an obsession, can attain the Dharma. Once it attains the Dharma, it can cultivate."

The Immortal Official, who had been looking forward to his meal, lost his appetite upon hearing the Buddhist disciple’s words, "But according to what you say, every plant has a spirit. Although you in Buddhism are vegetarians, you are also consuming plants with spirits. Aren’t you afraid that one day, the greens you ate might reincarnate, cultivate into a Buddha, and come to settle scores with you?"

"Amitabha," the disciple chanted, "If it can achieve Buddhahood, all of its past should be discarded; otherwise, it cannot become a Buddha. Only by letting go of attachments can one cultivate into a Buddha. The situation you just described will not happen."