Session 34: Wukong Slays the Six Bandits and Leaves Sanzang Due to His Nagging
- liz zhang
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
As Wukong begins his journey as Sanzang’s disciple, his first challenge is the confrontation with the Six Bandits. With ease, he slays them using the As-You-Wish Golden Cudgel. However, unable to bear Sanzang’s constant reproach for his violent act, Wukong angrily leaves his role.
Session Focus:
We will explore the symbolic meaning of the Six Bandits and reflect on how they manifest in our daily lives. This session invites deep contemplation on how our six senses are trapped by the desires for material possessions.
Key Questions for contemplation:
"Since you don't know our names, I'll tell them to you: Eye−seeing Happiness, Ear−hearing Anger, Nose−smelling Love, Tongue−tasting Thought, Mind−born Desire, and Body−based Sorrow.”
Q1: What do the names of the Six Bandits reveal about them?
Why are they called bandits rather than demons?
What do they symbolically represent?
Can you share real-life examples where these ‘bandits’ show up in your experience?
Which ‘bandit’ challenges you the most in your life right now?
"You're just a bunch of small−time crooks. You can't see that I'm your lord and master although I'm a monk, and you have the effrontery to get in our way. Bring out all the jewels you've stolen, and the seven of us can share them out equally. I'll let you off with that.”
Q2: Why does Wukong claim to be the "lord and master" of the Six Bandits?
What exactly are the Six Bandits trying to steal from people—and why is it so dangerous?
The terrified bandits tried to flee in all directions, but Monkey raced after them, caught them all up, and killed every one of them.
Q3: Why did Wukong kill the Six Bandits instead of sparing them?
Why is this the first challenge he faces after becoming Sanzang’s disciple?
Monkey, who had never let himself be put upon, flared up at Sanzang's endless nagging. "If you say that I'll never become a monk and won't ever reach the Western Heaven, then stop going on at me like that. I'm going back.” Before Sanzang could reply, Monkey leapt up in a fury, shouting, "I'm off." Sanzang looked up quickly, but he was already out of sight.
Q4: What state of mind or character does Wukong display in this outburst?
How does this situation differ from the time he left his post as the Heavenly Horse Protector?
What deeper connection can you draw between Wukong’s reaction here and the symbolic meaning of the Six Bandits?
I am Chuan, living in Prague of Czech Republic.
"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies;for the hardest victory is over self."
After Sun Wukong learned the 72 transformations and the secret of immortality, his desires started to grow without limits.
First, he robbed the Dragon King of his weapon and armor.Then, he went into the Underworld and changed the Book of Life and Death to escape the cycle of reincarnation.When Heaven gave him the job title of “superintendent in the Imperial Stables”, he felt it was too low and left Heaven without permission and went back to the mortal world.Later, he gave himself a new title: “Great Sage Equal to Heaven.”He stole…