The Journey to the West

This website is about the inner meaning of the Chinese novel Journey to the West. Journey to the West is mythical story about the journey of a monk, who goes to Buddha`s Western Heaven in India to receive the scriptures from the Buddha on Vulture Peak. Along the journey he has the help of a monkey and three other disciples: Pig, Friar Sand and a horse. The inner meaning of this Journey is an inner journey to state of presence, in which one`s Higher Self is awake. The story is a mix of Buddhist, Taoist and Confusianist elements, and is filled with symbolism. In the Tang dynasty (618–907), Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism became known as the Three Doctrines, or the "Three Teachings".

Although these scriptures are the source of foreknowledge
and reflection for my school,
they are truly the origin of all Three Schools.
-- Journey to the West　

He showed that the Three Beliefs are basically the same.
-- Journey to the west　

Is it not a fact that the three doctrines (of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism) may be three, but the Way is ultimately one?
But that hasn`t stopped the priesthood of later generations
from sole devotion to their own sects and repudiation of others, causing the basic essentials of all three philosophies to be lost in false distinctions, so that they cannot be unified
and end up at the same goal.
-- Introduction of 'Understanding Reality' by Chang Po-tuan

The concept that Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism were different paths to the same goal, attained increased popularity during the Song (960–1279) dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Taoist Lin Chao-en, founded a syncretic sect called 'Three teachings harmonious as one'. In addition to symbols from Taoist alchemy, Buddhism and Confucianism, the story uses the same symbolism as in the scriptures and writings of all esoteric traditions. Not only Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism are basically the same, the inner meaning of all esoteric traditions is basically the same.

Ask of those who have attained God; all speak the same word. All the saints are of one mind; it is only those in the midst of the way who follow diverse paths. All the enlightened have left one message; it is only those in the midst of their journey
who hold diverse opinions.”
-- Dadu

The story of Journey to the West is based on the true story of the Buddhist monk Huanzang (602 – 664) who travelled alone to India in search of the original scriptures of Buddha’s teachings. As time passed the stories about this journey, acquired more and more mystical aspects and characters, until it appeared in its present form. It is supposedly written by Wu Cheng`en (1500 -1582), but clearly the story has evolved gradually over time and many unknown authors have contributed to it. According to Liu Yiming, the 11th-generation master of the Dragon Gate Sect, who lived in the Qing Dynasty, the author was Qiu Chuji, also called Chang Chun (1148--1227), the founder of the Dragon Gate Sect, a Taoist school. Many of the poems in the book are taken from Taoist scriptures:

Buddha is the mind, the mind is Buddha,
The mind and Buddha are illusions.
When you know that there are no things and no mind,
Then you are a Buddha with a true mind and a Dharma Body.
-- Journey to the West

Buddha is mind, mind is Buddha,
Mind and buddha are basically illusions.
If you know there is no Buddha and no mind,
this is at least the real Buddha of true suchness.
-- 'Understanding Reality' by Chang Po-Tuan (987-1082)