Sanzang of Mahayana Dharma

Just as Dharma Master Xuanzang was giving his sermon, not long after he began, Bodhisattva Guanyin appeared and spoke to him.

"You are the monk who gave me those two treasures yesterday. Why are you disturbing Dharma Master Xuanzang's sermon here today?"

Emperor Taizong of Tang recognized him at a glance from the platform and immediately asked him why he did this.

"The Buddhism he preaches is Hinayana Dharma, which cannot save the deceased or help them ascend to heaven."

"However, I possess the Sanzang of Mahayana Dharma, which can liberate the deceased and help them ascend to heaven, free them from suffering, and enable them to attain immeasurable life."

Even after seeing Emperor Taizong of Tang, Bodhisattva Guanyin did not give up, but answered his question with neither arrogance nor servility.

"Elder, where is the Sanzang of Mahayana Dharma that you spoke of now?"

After hearing Bodhisattva Guanyin's words, Emperor Taizong of Tang immediately became interested in the Mahayana Dharma she spoke of.

"In the Western Heaven Kingdom of Tianzhu, at the Great Thunderclap Monastery, in the hands of the Buddha Tathagata."

Bodhisattva Guanyin directly gave him the answer.

"Do you understand Mahayana Dharma? Would you be willing to come up and give a lecture for us?"

After listening to his words, Emperor Taizong of Tang asked him if he could explain Mahayana Dharma.

"Of course I understand."

After Bodhisattva Guanyin uttered these words, she began to walk onto the stage.

The Dharma Master Xuanzang tactfully stepped aside, giving the platform to Bodhisattva Guanyin.

After Bodhisattva Guanyin ascended the platform, she revealed her true form. Upon seeing this, everyone present knelt down and bowed to Bodhisattva Guanyin, constantly chanting that the Bodhisattva had manifested her power.

Knowing that persuading them was useless, Bodhisattva Guanyin began to preach the Mahayana Dharma.

After speaking for a while, everyone present felt they had benefited immensely. However, by the time they came to their senses, Bodhisattva Guanyin had already vanished from the scene.

"Who will obey my decree to go to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures, and bring back the Sanzang of Mahayana Dharma?"

After reflecting on what he had just said, Emperor Taizong of Tang immediately addressed the crowd present.

However, almost all the people present were high-ranking officials and nobles, accustomed to a comfortable and leisurely life, and could hardly withstand the hardships of travel and long journeys.

So when Emperor Taizong of Tang asked this question, no one answered. When Emperor Taizong of Tang looked at them, they all avoided his gaze and dared not meet Emperor Taizong of Tang eyes.

"This humble monk is unworthy, but I am willing to travel to the Western Heaven for Your Majesty to obtain the Mahayana Dharma, the Sanzang, and bring them back to ensure the eternal stability of my empire."

Just as Emperor Taizong of Tang was beginning to feel disappointed, the Dharma Master Xuanzang suddenly walked over and looked at Emperor Taizong of Tang with a firm gaze.

"If the Venerable Master can bring back this complete Buddhist Sanzang, I am not afraid of the long journey or the arduous trek, and I wish to become sworn brothers with you."

"From today onwards, you are my personal younger brother."

Emperor Taizong of Tang of Tang was deeply moved after hearing what the Dharma Master Xuanzang said, and immediately expressed his desire to become sworn brothers with him.

On the surface, this was a sworn brotherhood, but in reality, anyone who dared to harm the Dharma Master Xuanzang would have to consider whether they had the ability to confront Emperor Taizong of Tang.

Subsequently, Emperor Taizong of Tang took Xuanzang to the Buddha statue in the temple to swear brotherhood.

"Once I set out, I will spare no effort to reach the Western Heaven. If I do not obtain the true Western Heaven there, even if it means death, I will not dare to return home, for I will be condemned to the eighteenth level of Hell forever."

Deeply moved by this experience, Tang Xuanzang immediately made a vow to Emperor Taizong of Tang of Tang.

"I wonder when my brother will depart."

Emperor Taizong of Tang was very eager to obtain the true scriptures, and immediately asked Tang Xuanzang when he planned to leave.

"After I return to the temple today and get everything settled, I can set off tomorrow."

Tang Xuanzang accurately told Emperor Taizong of Tang the time of his departure.

The next morning, Tang Xuanzang had already packed all his belongings and came to bid farewell to Emperor Taizong of Tang.

However, Emperor Taizong of Tang of Tang Xuanzang had already prepared a farewell banquet for Xuanzang and was waiting for Tang Xuanzang arrival.

When Tang Xuanzang arrived, Emperor Taizong of Tang immediately took him to a banquet to bid him farewell.

"Little brother, do you have any nicknames?"

During a banquet, Emperor Taizong of Tang of Tang suddenly asked Tang Xuanzang this question.

"Brother, I don't have any fancy name."

Tang Xuanzang smiled and shook his head, indicating that he did not.

"At that time, the Bodhisattva said, ' In the Western Heaven there is Mahayana Dharma, the Sanzang, brother, you may use this as your elegant name.'"

At this time, Emperor Taizong of Tang of Tang Xuanzang an idea.

"Thank you, brother."

After hearing this, Tang Xuanzang did not refuse and thanked Emperor Taizong of Tang.

The two exchanged pleasantries at the banquet, and after the banquet ended, Tang Xuanzang bid farewell to Emperor Taizong of Tang.

However, Emperor Taizong of Tang stopped him once again and gave him the things he had prepared for him.

The first item was a purple-gold alms bowl, specifically for Tang Xuanzang to use when begging for alms. The second item was a pure white steed, left for Tang Xuanzang to use for transportation.

Upon seeing these two items, Tang Xuanzang bowed to Emperor Taizong of Tang, his gratitude overflowing.

Then Tang Xuanzang mounted the White Dragon Horse, carrying his luggage, and left Chang'an City, heading west.

After Tang Xuanzang left Chang'an, when he encountered a village, he could at least beg for a hot meal. When he couldn't find a village, he could only find some wild fruits in the forest to fill his stomach, or even go hungry.

Tang Xuanzang traveled a long way in this way, but when he arrived at the vicinity of Five Elements Mountain, he encountered a hungry tiger on the road.

The tiger's belly was already flat from hunger, clearly indicating that it hadn't eaten in a long time. When it saw Tang Monk, it was as if it had seen a delicious meal, and it pounced straight at him.

Fortunately, the white horse was very fast, and the tiger had been hungry for a long time and didn't have much strength, which allowed him to escape the tiger's pursuit.

However, the white horse carried him away in a panic, and when they stopped, he found himself in a dilapidated temple.

"Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva, if I encounter such dangers along the way, I don't know when I might perish."

Tang Xuanzang discovered a Bodhisattva statue in the dilapidated temple, so he knelt down, recited a passage of scripture to the statue, and then began to pour out his troubles.

"I have a way to help you solve this problem. There's a monster trapped under the Five Elements Mountain. Go and rescue him, make him your disciple, and he'll protect you on your journey to the Western Heaven to retrieve the scriptures."

At that moment, the Bodhisattva statue in front of him suddenly appeared and answered Tang Xuanzang's questions.

It turns out that after Bodhisattva Guanyin left Chang'an, she did not go far, but stayed by Tang Xuanzang's side, secretly observing his movements.