53.
The poem goes: The heart must be frequently swept, The dust of emotions removed, Lest the Buddha be trapped in the pit.
54.
Only when the essence is pure Can the origin then be discussed.
55.
Trim the candle of nature, Breathe in the way that Master Caoxi taught, Control the ape and horse of the mind.
56.
Only when breath is calm by day and night Can one achieve the true adept's skill.
57.
This poem is set to the tune Nan Ke Zi and it tells how the Tang Priest escaped disaster under the ice of the River of Heaven and crossed to the other bank on the shell of the white turtle.
58.
As the four pilgrims headed West it was now the depths of winter, but the mists in the forests were still light, and the bony shapes of the mountains could be seen rising in their purity above the waters.
59.
As master and disciples carried on along their way, they were obstructed by a big mountain.
60.
The road was rocky, and they and the horse found the going rough.
61.
Sanzang reined the horse in and called for his disciples.
62.
#1 “You can see how high the mountain in front of us is,” said Sanzang. #2 “I am worried that there may be tigers, wolves, monsters and demon beasts who will kill us. #3 You must be very careful.”
63.
#1 “We three brothers have got on very well together since we were converted to the pursuit of the truth. #2 With our magic powers to put down demons and monsters we've got nothing to fear from tigers, wolves or demons.”
1.
When he reached the mouth of a gully and urged the horse up the slope he raised his head and saw that it was a splendid mountain: Towering crags, A steep and lofty range.
2.
Towering crags pierced the heavens, The steep and lofty range blocked out the azure shy.
3.
-# Beautifully sang the birds on the ridge, Heavy hung the scent of plum blossom by the scar.
4.
Cold was the sluggish flow of the stream, And menacing hung the dark clouds over the peak.
5.
They saw whirling snow, And an icy wind Howling with the roar of hungry mountain tigers.
6.
Cold rooks could find no perches in the trees And wild deer did not know the way back home.
7.
Hard it was indeed for the traveler to make progress As he frowned with worry and covered up his head.
8.
The four of them were trembling in the cold and the snow as they crossed that high ridge and saw in a distant hollow high towers and elegant houses.
9.
#1 “Disciples,” said a relieved Sanzang from the back of his horse, “we have gone cold and hungry today, but there are many buildings in that hollow that I an sure must be a farm or a Buddhist or Taoist monastery. #2 Let us go there and beg some food before we continue on our way.”
10.
#1 Monkey's immediate response was to take a good look. #2 He saw that evil-looking clouds and vapors hung over the place, so he turned back to the Tang Priest and said, “Master, that's a bad place.”
11.
“There are any number of evil spirits and monsters along this road to the West who are good at making buildings by magic.
12.
They can make anything from towers and houses to halls and pavilions, and all just as bait.
13.
As you know, one of the nine kinds of dragon is called the clam-dragon.