Session 23: Xuanzang Is Chosen to Lead the Pilgrim
- liz zhang
- Apr 11
- 1 min read
In this session, we delve into the origins of Xuanzang, the central figure of the pilgrimage, exploring the circumstances of his birth, the hardships endured by his parents, and the long-awaited reunion with his mother after 17 years of separation.
Key Questions for contemplation:
Q1: When and where does this story take place?
What is significant about this time and place?
Q2: What is the storyline of Xuanzang’s early life? Let’s practice round-robin storytelling!
Q3: Which episodes in this story moved or inspired you the most, and why?
Q4: What qualities do you observe in Xuanzang’s mother?
Why do you think she was chosen to be his mother?
Q5: How did the Abbot handle the blood-written letter and the truth of Xuanzang’s past?
What can we learn from his actions?
Q6: Xuanzang’s mother had multiple significant dreams.
What role do these dreams play in the story?
What might be the source of these dreams?
Can you think of similar dream-guided revelations in religious or literary traditions?
I am Chuan, living in Prague of Czech Republic.
When I read the stories of Xuanzang's mother and Master, I deeply felt their greatness. Both of them, from different perspectives, embody the saying, "Endurance is patience concentrated."
After her husband, Chen Guangrui, was murdered, Yin Wenjiao was forced to live with the enemy, Liu Hong. To protect her unborn child, she chose to endure humiliation and live in silence. After the child was born, she made a painful but rational decision: she wrote a letter in her own blood, bit off Xuanzang's toe as a mark of identification, and set him adrift in the river, hoping he would be adopted by kind-hearted people. She endured 18 years of humiliation and…
I am Nobu, currently living in Prague At last, the scripture fetcher Xuanzang took the stage. I've been contemplating the meaning of scripture fetching in today's world, and I believe it could symbolize the journey toward a sustainably well-being life.
A wise man once outlined "The 5 Essentials" of achieving such a life:
Prevent Leakage
Purification
Accrue Blessings
Accumulate Merits
Cultivation
In this session, I've been able to connect each of these essentials with the roles of the scripture seekers:
Wuneng - preventing leakage
Wujing - purification
The White Horse - accruing blessings
Wukong - accumulating merits
Xuanzang - the original heart
As someone seeking a well-being life, I see these characters living insider of me. Prior to embarking on the…