Session 10: Sun Wukong Erases His Name from the Register of Life and Death
- liz zhang
- Jan 4, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 7, 2025
In this session, Sun Wukong has a dream where his soul is dragged to the World of Darkness and told that his life would end according to the Register of Life and Death. Furious at the prospect, he erases his name and the names of the monkeys from the Register before fighting his way out of the World of Darkness.
Key Questions for Reflection:
Q: What modern professions or types of individuals might embody traits similar to Sun Wukong’s character, from the process of solidifying his empire?
The Monkey King named the four senior apes as his four Stalwart Generals. Thus freed from cares, he mounted the clouds and rode the mists, wandering round the four seas and enjoying the thousand mountains. He practiced his martial arts, visited many a hero, used his magical powers, and made a wide and distinguished circle of friends. He met with six sworn brothers of his. For days on end they talked about politics and war, passed round the goblet, strummed, sang, piped, danced, went off on days out together, and enjoyed themselves in every possible way.
Q: What is your observation of Sun Wukong’s life, character and leadership style?
Q: What happened to Sun Wukong when he was asleep?
In his sleep the Handsome Monkey King saw two men approach him with a piece of paper in their hands on which was written "Sun Wukong." Without allowing any explanations they tied up his soul and dragged it staggering along till they reached a city wall. The Monkey King, who was gradually recovering from his drunken stupor, looked up and saw an iron plate on the wall on which was inscribed WORLD OF DARKNESS in large letters.
Q: What do you learn from this passage of the dream?
Monkey King replied, "I have gone beyond the Three Worlds, and I am no longer subject to the Five Elements. I don't come under King Yama's jurisdiction. How dare you grab me, you idiots?"
Q: What are the three worlds? What are the five elements?
Q: What is the role of the Ten Kings of Yama in the World of Darkness?
Q: What is the Register of Life and Death? What did Sun Wukong do to it?
Under "Soul No. 1350" was the name of Sun Wukong, the Heaven−born stone monkey, who was destined to live to the age of 342 and die a good death.
Q:What insights or realizations do you draw from this passage?
Q: What was Sun Wukong’s perception of the dream after waking up? Was it a mere dream or reality?
The session 10 has suddenly makes me think about Steve Irwin, who was one of my favorite actor during my childhood, also known as "The Crocodile Hunter." Steve Irwin was a beloved Australian wildlife expert and television personality, famous for his daring interactions with wild animals and his infectious enthusiasm for wildlife conservation.
Tragically, he passed away in 2006 while filming a documentary in the Great Barrier Reef. He was fatally injured by a stingray's barb while swimming with the animal during a scene for the film.
I do not believe Steve will be expecting this as he is so professional and sophisticated on what he is doing for many times, he has run out of his luck.
Sun…
I am Chuan, living in Prague of Czech Republic.
Death is something that none of us can escape. If we cannot face death, but try to avoid it and ignore it, then we will not be able to realize the full value and meaning of our lives. Most people are afraid of death, and I was like that too. I thought that if nothing existed after death, then what was the point of working hard in this life? Even if I had a lot of material satisfaction, death would make it all meaningless.
Later, I learned that the soul lives in the body. The body dies, but the soul does not. The soul is our true owner. Just like the…