Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 1-2 | Page 606

Meanwhile, far away, on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, Monkey King sulked
in his Water Curtain Cave. What should I do next? He thought miserably. List out the
possibilities, he urged himself. Hatred? Well, not the answer. Revenge? He shook his
head, definitely no. Forgiveness? Monkey King paused on this option. Is this option great?
Nope, he decided, but it’s the best one available.
* * *
When he went back to the oasis, his friends were already leaving. Monkey King
landed beside Tripitaka. Tripitaka turned to face him, “Do I know you?” A hint of hatred
in his voice.
“Master, I forgive you!” said Monkey King calmly.
“What do you mean by you forgiving me? I should be the one...” Tripitaka started,
then stopped abruptly. A few meters away, in the pool, water began to churn and hiss.
Then out came a majestic Buddha resting on lotus leaves.
Tripitaka and Monkey King knelt down, “Gautama Buddha, it’s a pleasure.”
Gautama Buddha smiled, “Have you ever wondered why I put you on this new
journey to get new scriptures? It’s to see if you are all worthy of enlightenment! And what
you’ve received today, is your very first trial among many others! Let’s start with you!”
Gautama Buddha pointed at Tripitaka, “Tripitaka, you need to learn how to trust and
forgive. Only then, can you be trusted and forgiven. Trusting and forgiving are the fuel
that lights your life. Without trust, you’re hollow; without forgiveness, you’re already
withering. Remember that. And you,” Gautama Buddha looked at Monkey King,
“you’ve already learnt how to trust and forgive. You just need to know that one can
never be judged from one’s appearance. When you found the monster in the pool, you
assumed that its heart is the same as its appearance. But is its heart really monstrous? Think
about it.”
Gautama Buddha was about to leave, when Monkey King stopped him, “Gautama
Buddha, why didn’t Tripitaka die after I left? He drank the water in the pool, right?”
“He did drink it,” Gautama Buddha replied, “but I tricked you into thinking the
water was acidic. It was meant to be part of the trial!” With that, he smiled and
disappeared.
Tripitaka and Monkey King walked back to their friends, pondering what Gautama
Buddha had just said. They shouldered their packs in silence. Up in the heavens, Gautama
Buddha watched the four friends’ silhouettes as they disappeared beyond the sandy road.
This was only the start of their journey; they still had a lot to face and learn.