Session 6: Wukong Shall Not Learn the Side-Entrances to the Way
- liz zhang
- Dec 8, 2024
- 2 min read
In this session, Sun Wukong continues his spiritual journey under the guidance of the Patriarch. After practicing with his spiritual elder brothers for several years, the Patriarch gathered his disciples and began explaining the Great Way. However, when introduced to the Ways of Magic Arts, Sects, Silence, and Action, Sun Wukong expressed no interest in learning them.
Session Focus:
This session will explore the meaning and significance of the Ways of Magic Arts, Sects, Silence, and Action, along with their implications for contemporary spiritual practice.
Key Questions for Reflection:
Q: How many years did Wukong practice under the Patriarch?
Q: What did he practice under hie spiritual elder brothers? What did he do in his spare time? What purpose did his practice serve, according to your understanding?
Q: What is the Way of Magic Arts? How would you define this Way based on the Patriarch’s explanation?
Can you identify examples of the Way of Magic Arts in the modern world?
Q: What is the Way of Sects? How might this Way manifest in contemporary contexts? What did the Patriarch mean by the phrase “putting a pillar on the wall”?
Q: What is the Way of Silence? Can you think of modern examples of this Way? What did the Patriarch mean by “building the top of a kiln with sun-dried bricks”?
Q: What is the Way of Action? How does this Way appear in today’s world? What did the Patriarch mean by “lifting the moon out of water”?
The Patriarch said, ‘There are three hundred and sixty side−entrances to the Way, and they all lead to a True Result.’”
Q. If the Patriarch later confirmed that the Ways of Magic Arts, Sects, Silence, and Action could not attain immortality, why did he initially say that they all lead to a True Result?
Q. Why didn’t Sun Wukong want to learn the Ways of Magic Arts, Sects, Silence and Action?
The patriarch went up to Monkey and hit him three times on the head, then went inside with his hands behind his back and shut the main door…The Monkey King had understood the riddle, and had the answer hidden away in his mind.
Q. What was the significance of this cryptic act? Why did the Monkey King understand the hidden message? Was this a test, a lesson, or a way to guide Sun Wukong toward a higher path?
Ordinary Daily Life, Extraordinary Ambition
Sun Wukong’s life in the Three Stars Cave seemed so ordinary—sweeping the floor, tending the vegetable patch, growing flowers, caring for trees, gathering kindling, lighting fires, carrying water, and fetching soy. Yet, hidden within these mundane tasks lay the foundation of something extraordinary.
This reminds me of what Rudolf Steiner wrote in The Philosophy of Freedom:
"The oriental sage requires his disciples to live a life of resignation and asceticism for years before he shares with them his knowledge. The West no longer demands pious exercises and ascetic practices to attain knowledge."
While Sun Wukong did not live a life of strict asceticism, it was only after seven years of this simple, ordinary routine that…
Sun WuKong is not learning the side - entrance to way.
after 7 years, WuKong has become a matured disciple, like premium school student need to upgrade toward high school, one step approaching what he is seeking for long time.
the test always at the moment for graduate, his patriarch gives him more than 3 options to test how strong and pure of WuKong's willingness.
there are so many fascinating, amazing views on the way to our destination, purpose, goals. like WuKong faced right now, Magic Art: bring on good fortune and avert disaster； Way of sects: knowing negative, positive and summon immortals; Way of silence: find inner peace; Way of action: extracting the Negative and building up the Positive…
Why Knowing the True Self is Essential Before Learning the Dharma?
Why must one first understand the true self before learning the Dharma for it to be truly beneficial? Couldn't I just learn various skills, enjoy a rich material life, and call it good?The answer lies in understanding what the "true self" really is.We also can find the answer in the experience of the Monkey King.
Sun Wukong’s life, in many ways, represents material abundance. He had no worries about food or clothing, and his carefree existence would be the envy of many. However, when he realized the inevitability of death, he was overcome with sadness. His rich material life offered no solace when faced with impermanence.
Upon learning of…