Xuanzang's gaze settled on Sha Wujing's face.
Sha Wujing frowned, his lips moving before closing again. His usually honest, guileless eyes were now filled with conflict.
He could not put it into words.
Watching from the side, Wukong suddenly spoke up to help him out:
"Master, is it because all sentient beings have afflictions? Their afflictions give rise to desires."
"After all, human strength is limited. Some things people want cannot be achieved through their own efforts alone."
Xuanzang turned to look at Wukong.
"Well said, Wukong."
"To pray for a good harvest is the affliction of craving abundance; to pray for safety is the affliction of fearing impermanence; to pray for harmony is the affliction of clinging to love and hatred."
"These are the barriers of affliction. Such barriers trouble the bodies and minds of sentient beings and obstruct nirvana."
His gaze swept over them:
"And the barriers of affliction must, in turn, rest upon attachment to the self."
"Thus, this is also the root of greed, anger, and delusion in us sentient beings."
Bajie nodded beside him, earnestness showing in his small eyes.
Little White Dragon listened with rapt attention as well.
But Xuanzang paused, then shook his head again.
He turned back to Sha Wujing:
"Yet none of this answers my earlier question."
"Why do sentient beings make wishes when they know those wishes may not come true? Or rather, why do they still make wishes when they must do the work themselves afterward?"
"And why do the infinitely compassionate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who deliver all sentient beings, not simply use their divine powers to fulfill those wishes?"
Silence fell over the mountain path.
Sha Wujing opened his mouth.
He lowered his head to look at the scripture in his hands.
A long while passed.
He bowed