Venerable Ananda Became a Red Wind

Now, Wukong rode his cloud to Spirit Mountain.

He lowered his cloud and arrived at the foot of Vulture Peak, where the Four Great Guardian Kings barred his way. "Monkey, where do you think you're going?"

Wukong saluted them. "I am Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang's disciple. I have business with Tathagata."

At that moment, Tathagata Buddha sat upon the Nine-Grade Treasure Lotus Throne, expounding the scriptures to the Eighteen Arhats. He said, "Sun Wukong has arrived. Go out and receive him."

The Eighteen Arhats obeyed the Buddha's decree and went outside, saying:

"Great Sage Sun, Tathagata has ordered us to receive you."

Only then did the Four Great Guardian Kings at the entrance step aside and let Wukong enter.

Upon seeing Tathagata, Wukong prostrated himself.

Tathagata asked, "Wukong, what brings you to me?"

Wukong said, "Your disciple has benefited time and again from your teachings. Under your protection, Buddha, I have been escorting Tang Sanzang west to fetch the scriptures.

"We have now reached Yellow Wind Ridge, where two demons dwell. One commands wind, the other fire. They are terribly fierce and have captured my master.

"I could not defeat them. First I invited Lingji Bodhisattva, then the Dragon King, and afterward Heavenly King Li, the Third Prince, and the Water Virtue Star Lord. Yet none could subdue those demons.

"Now I have discovered that one of those demons is the Jing River Dragon King's son, the little dragon who served as Bell Keeper under you, Buddha. That is why I have come to ask you to send someone to subdue him."

Tathagata said, "Indeed, that demon was the young Bell Keeper in my service. He missed the appointed hour, so I had Ananda give him a small punishment as a stern warning. Somehow, he could not bear the hardship and fled to the lower realm."

Wukong asked, "How could a mere little attendant possess such cultivation?"

Tathagata said, "He spent many years in my service, listening to the wondrous teachings of the West, and thus acquired some cultivation."

Wukong said, "Then this is all because you failed to recognize his worth!"

Tathagata said, "You macaque! How is this my failure to recognize his worth?"

Wukong said, "You're just like that old Jade Emperor. Old Sun had such great abilities, yet he made me tend horses! That demon has vast powers and has already cultivated a True Dragon's golden body, yet you made him keep the bell. Isn't that a failure to recognize his worth?"

Tathagata said, "The spiritual attainments of my Western Heaven are not judged by supernatural powers. Only those with great wisdom, great compassion, great perseverance, and great resolve can attain true fruition. That little dragon committed a fault, refused even a minor punishment, and fled to the lower realm without permission. How could he attain true fruition? His conduct was precisely like yours in those days."

Wukong laughed. "How did this turn back to Old Sun again? Please send some Buddhist warriors at once to capture that demon dragon and rescue my master!"

Tathagata said, "Ananda is arranging the scriptures in the Treasure Pavilion. Go find him and have him accompany you to subdue that little dragon."

Wukong said, "Many thanks, many thanks!"

He turned and headed for the Treasure Pavilion.

Outside the Treasure Pavilion, a young monk was dozing.

Wukong patted him. "Little monk, little monk, is Venerable Ananda inside?"

The young monk opened his eyes without looking closely. "Senior brother, you're back! Why were you gone so long?"

Wukong said, "Who's your senior brother? Take a proper look!"

Only then did the young attendant see Wukong's face. Somewhat frightened, he asked:

"Who are you?"

Wukong said, "Don't be afraid. I have come on Tathagata's orders to find Venerable Ananda."

The attendant said, "Oh, so you're here to see my master."

Wukong said, "Exactly, exactly. Sorry for the trouble, but please announce me."

The attendant held out his hand.

Wukong asked, "What?"

The attendant said, "You monkey have no manners. How can you expect me to announce you when you've come empty-handed?"

Wukong snapped, "I ought to beat you, you greedy little monk! My master is suffering in a demon's cave, yet you demand a gift from Old Sun? If you don't open the door, see whether this iron staff looks like a gift!"

Frightened, the attendant finally opened the door.

Wukong bounded inside, where Ananda was arranging scrolls of scripture.

Wukong hurriedly greeted him and bowed. "Venerable Ananda." Then he explained everything that had happened, including the gate attendant's demand for a gift.

After listening, Ananda said, "Do not be angry. Once this affair is over, I will punish him severely and forbid him from taking too many gifts."

Wukong said, "Excellent, excellent. Venerable one, come quickly and rescue my master. One day here is a year on earth. We dare not delay any longer."

Ananda said, "Wait. Since you are asking me to act, what courtesy gift have you brought? You have yet to show it to me."

"A courtesy gift?" Hearing this, Wukong leaped up in fury. "Well, well! My master is about to be eaten by demons, yet instead of rescuing him, you, a venerable one, demand a courtesy gift from me? I wondered why that attendant was so greedy. Now that I've traced it to its root, it turns out to be you!"

Ananda smiled. "Even when monks are invited to perform rites and feed the hungry ghosts, vegetarian meals must be prepared and silver offered. If we acted for nothing, future generations of monks would all starve!"

Wukong could not restrain himself upon hearing this. He hauled Ananda to his feet and said:

"Come, come, come! Let's go to Tathagata and have him judge!"

Ananda said, "Even if we seek his judgment, I am not afraid of you. I only fear Golden Cicada cannot hold out that long. You know yourself that one day here is a year on earth. If you delay any longer, even if the demons do not eat your master, he will starve to death!"

Furious but helpless, Wukong finally said:

"Fine, fine. Come subdue the demons with me first. There are many treasures in their cave; I'll take them and give them to you. If that isn't enough, Old Sun will throw caution to the winds, steal the Heavenly King's treasured pagoda and the prince's Universe Ring, and give you those as well!"

Only then did Ananda's face brighten with delight. He followed Wukong out of Spirit Mountain and arrived at Yellow Wind Ridge.

By this time, the Ao Tu System's progress had reached thirty-five days.

Once again, Wukong went to the entrance and hurled insults, and Great Sage Yellow Wind came out to fight.

Ao Tu watched from hiding. Seeing only Ananda, Heavenly King Li, and his son in the sky, he relaxed.

Before long, Ananda produced a Glass Bowl. It emitted seven-colored light and immobilized the Yellow Wind Monster.

Great Sage Yellow Wind hastily cried, "Elder brother, save me!"

Ao Tu revealed himself in the sky, flew to Ananda's side, and raised his fan, giving it twenty sweeps.

Although Ananda was one of Tathagata's ten chief disciples, his cultivation was not high. He was renowned only as "foremost in learning." Before Tathagata attained enlightenment, he had long remained at his side, recording the Buddha's words and deeds. Thus, after Tathagata attained enlightenment, Ananda received a share of the merit and gained his spiritual attainment.

In terms of his own strength, without magical treasures, he was inferior even to Lingji Bodhisattva.

Now Ao Tu caught him unprepared and unleashed twenty sweeps of his fan at close range. The Glazed Bowl cracked from the heat and fell. Divine fire engulfed Ananda, and with one agonized scream, his body and soul were both destroyed. He became a gust of red wind and vanished.

Only a spark of his true spirit remained, wrapped in a golden lotus that flew west.

Ao Tu pursued it, sweeping his fan over a hundred times. Flames massed in the burning sky like a second sun.

Jing Li

and the Third Prince hurriedly withdrew at the sight.

Bold as ever, Wukong went down and picked up the Glass Bowl Ananda had dropped. A crack had burned through its side, making it useless for holding water, but it would still serve for solid food.

Wukong happily put it away and said, "What a pity, what a pity, Venerable Ananda. You won't be receiving Old Sun's courtesy gift, but Old Sun will keep yours. In the future, when I beg for alms, I can use it to hold some rice or cold dishes for my master. That will count as a meritorious deed of yours."

Meanwhile, Ao Tu pursued the lotus for six thousand li but could not shake it at all. Realizing it was protected by the Great Luo Method, beyond mortal power to break, he had no choice but to turn back.

When he returned to Yellow Wind Cave, Great Sage Yellow Wind was about to celebrate Ao Tu's victory.

Ao Tu, however, said, "Worthy brother, we won't be able to eat this Tang Sanzang meat."

Great Sage Yellow Wind asked, "Why can't we eat it?"

Ao Tu said, "The monk I just fanned to death was a disciple of the West's Tathagata Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha. Now that he is dead, the All Buddhas will surely come for vengeance. You and I must each flee for our lives."