Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 1-2 | Page 440

A Monk's Journey
Shanghai Singapore International School (SSIS), Rao, Taanvi - 11
M
any years ago, in a far-off village in Anhui Province of Ancient China, there lived a brave
Chinese Buddhist monk called Xuanzang. Everyone in the village trusted him for everything,
but the monk had two people whom he trusted the most; Monkey King SunWuKong and the
Fire Dragon, who are known as the two followers. During those times, Anhui Province was one of the
poorest villages in China. No one was rich; not even the monk. All the villagers trusted the monk because
he had food to give to the people in the village from his gardens.
The monk had everything he needed but one morning during meditation, he realized that he
didn’t have the understanding and practice of Buddhism for everyone. On that fateful day, Xuanzang
explained to his followers about his realization and thought that he had that morning. Monkey King
SunWuKong softly spoke, “My friend Hanuman is a god who lives in the far West of India with the other
gods. He once told me that in India there is Buddhism in Nalanda. Maybe we could go to Nalanda to bring
Buddhism to all of Anhui Province.” After much thought, Xuanzang decided that he and the two followers
will go on the journey together. They started the following morning and they went through villages, forests
and over mountains.
After weeks of travelling, they went through a forest that was gloomy. Xuanzang, who was thirsty
and tired, told his two followers to go and find a river and bring him water to drink. As he waited, he
hummed and sang some Chinese songs and poems to the birds and animals in the forest. What he didn’t
know was that someone else was also listening to him. He kept singing when he heard sounds coming out
from behind the bushes. Startled, he stopped to observe the bushes. When the bushes started moving
towards him, Xuanzang felt fear. He tried to run but he slipped and fell, hitting his head to the ground
unconscious. When he woke up, he saw that he was right above the ground hanging upside down, as he
realized that he was in a dark cave.
Confused, he heard a sound approaching him. Xuanzang called out in a shaking voice, “Who is there? Show
yourself!” A reply, “I took you!” The monk didn’t know who the unfamiliar voice belonged to. When a
pretty little girl with wicked eyes and a creepy voice appeared in front of the monk, he was shocked. She
said, “My grandma died before I could avenge her for making me a witch. I decided that the first human I
meet in the forest, would be turned into a big frog to use as my transport.” Then Xuanzang said softly, “I
beg of you, do not harm me.” The witch ignored him and started her magic spell. As she was distracted,
Xuanzang slowly struggled to untie the rope around his hands and then legs. He crashed to the ground as
she stood under him, falling on top of the little girl. Xuanzang made his escape as she struggled to get up.
As he ran from the cave, going deeper into the forest, it was nightfall. The witch wasn’t behind
him; he had escaped her. Xuanzang took shelter under a big tree with fruits that he plucked to eat. That
morning, he heard sounds of a waterfall that he followed and found it behind the cave of the witch. He
drank some water and walked further to search for his two followers. He heard a strange noise and he felt
that something was following him. He tried to run without making much noise in a different direction but
he found himself running in a circle, as he was back at the same spot. Darkness took over again. Exhausted,
Xuanzang he slept for some time near the cave.
The next morning, he followed the direction the birds flew in and he found a river. Xuanzang
drank some water, and ate fruit that had fallen from the trees. All the while, his thoughts were on his
followers. As he was meditating at the river, he saw a trail of water droplets shining in the light. Xuanzang
followed the trail until it disappeared, and he found SunWuKong and the Fire Dragon; his two followers at
its end. The trusted friends were glad to meet again. As they continued on their journey, they shared their
story of the last three days. Lost in their talking, the friends came across a man sitting below a big tree and
doing meditation.