Opening the Mountain to Free the Monkey, the Buddhas Turned Pale, and Divine Powers Lit Up Sorrows Past and Present!

At the very instant Seed-Cause Arhat died.

On Spirit Mountain in the Western Ox-Gift Continent, Formless Pure-Flow Buddha sat upon a nine-tier lotus throne inside a vast, magnificent hall. A golden halo turned slowly behind his head, bathing the hall in clear light.

Before him, ten bodhisattvas, eighty arhats, three thousand vajra guardians, and hosts of temple and Dharma protectors listened solemnly as he expounded on Zen.

"...All forms are no forms, like lamps reflected in mirrors, each lamp illuminating the next, with nothing clinging to anything. Thus, clear water and drifting clouds follow the same path; the formless gate opens, and all things wake. Ask not how deep Zen's mystery runs—the light of crystal rests within the pearl in your palm..."

Each word fell like a precious pearl. Ten thousand lotus blossoms appeared in the void, trailing a thousand streams of auspicious mist. His voice felt as cool and refreshing as sweet dew poured over the crown of the head, leaving his listeners entranced.

Suddenly, his voice faltered. The bodhisattvas and arhats looked up in surprise and saw Formless Pure-Flow Buddha frown slightly, the fingers of his right hand moving as though he were calculating something.

What had happened?

They exchanged glances, but no one spoke. The atmosphere had grown inexplicably tense.

Whoosh!

Buddha-light suddenly flared around Formless Pure-Flow Buddha, and he vanished from the hall.

"Why did the Buddha leave without a word?" The assembly erupted into startled discussion.

"Could something momentous have happened?"

"I don't know. Hm? Wonderful Sound Bodhisattva is gone too."

"Perhaps something grave has happened, and it concerns her?"

While they talked, Formless Pure-Flow Buddha stood in another, smaller hall, his expression grim. He looked at Wonderful Sound Bodhisattva and said heavily, "Venerable Wonderful Sound, Seed-Cause Arhat has passed away!"

Wonderful Sound Bodhisattva's hand