Journey to the West

Enlightenment is known as having the complete understanding of something or the act of giving the knowledge to someone else. This theme is present in Journey to the West, as it is demonstrated through the story of Tripitaka, and his disciples as they journey to defeat evil. Through the many journeys that are endured throughout the story, enlightenment is encountered. A teaching of Buddhism is that all actions are done through conscious decision and development. Therefore, the act of becoming enlightened was also done consciously. Similar to the Monkey, we all strive to reach a state of enlightenment, even though we are sinners, unlike Tripitaka. Although he is pure in spirit, Tripitaka does hold flaws that prevent him from initial enlightenment. He fears danger and without his disciples he could have never reached that state. "He had discarded his earthly body, he was cleansed from the corruption of the senses… his was now the transcendent wisdom that leads to the Further Shore, the mastery that knows no bounds." This showed the transformation into a state of enlightenment, a desired state.

Comments

  1. Tiffany CadizApril 22, 2019 at 3:46 PM

    Ashley,
    I enjoy how you have incorporated how you provided comparisons and religious into your blog. For the surrounding theme of personal enlightenment was drastically shown throughout the literary work. Within the literary work were details of the adventures of the Buddhist monk, Tripitaka.Whom travels to India in order to inevitably bring sacred scriptures of Buddhism back to China. But ultimately, ruthlessly pursues their own spiritual journeys.They must learn to control their own inclinations to progress, towards the ultimate goal of spiritual perfection. For these disciples, who had already once earned immortal status failed through their dishonourable actions. Aiding the monk and to others who they come across also lead them towards their own redemption.

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  2. World Lit ProfApril 26, 2019 at 4:28 PM

    Enlightenment can mean different things to different religions. In China, three major religions developed and overlapped over the centuries: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. The first two are native to China while the last was imported from India.
    See the link below to the slideshow on these three religions. It's based on a popular Chinese drawing called "The Vinegar Tasters," which features three men standing around a vat of vinegar--each having just tasted it. The men are Confucius, Lao Tzu (founder of Taoism), and Buddha. The vinegar is the taste of life. For Confucius, life tastes sour: it's a mess and needs to be ordered through tradition and ritual. For Buddha, life tastes bitter: it's full of temptations and traps and must be transcended by attaining nirvana. For Lao Tzu, life tastes sweet, and therefore it doesn't need to be ordered or transcended. The artist was obviously a Taoist!
    I use the drawing to introduce students to these three essential Chinese religions. All three are poked fun at in "Journey"--the court of the Jade Emperor represents Confucianism in the many leveled heavens with their many puffed up officials with all kinds of titles and rituals; Lao Tzu is actually a character in "Journey" who tries to kill Monkey by trapping him in his crucible--a kind of alchemical vessel, and Taoist priests appear later as con-men trying to convince the king they can make it rain; finally, the Buddhists are critiqued as well--possibly through the iron head band that Guanyin gives to Sanzang who tricks Monkey into wearing it as a parody of the kinds of severe disciplines some Buddhists practiced to transcend desire. HERE is the link the slideshow on Chinese religions:
    https://middlesexcc.instructure.com/courses/12001/files/552593?module_item_id=248352

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