Pilgrimage

For as long as I can remember I've spent my life behind the walls of the Guang monastery. Found at the foot of the door by elder Dishi, I began to follow the ways of Buddha, striving to reach enlightenment and grow beyond that which I am. Every day I'd train but it seemed as if the road never shortened. I began to believe that it was impossible for me to grow, stuck in a perpetual state of mediocracy. That is until I found the answer to my ineptitude… I'm just a terrible monk.

"Another brisk fall morning," I thought to myself. I was sitting beneath a large oak outside the main hall of the monastery; it's leaves had already turned to a beautiful crimson with splashes of gold and I had hoped to enjoy the sight once more before the first frost set in. "Done with your morning chores I see, Taka!" sounded a familiar voice. I turned to find it's source and had it not been for the orange kasaya the block of a man would have blended right into the outer wall.

"Brother Chen, I didn't expect to see you back so soon," I called, standing to greet my senior.

"Relax Taka, no need for formalities," Chen chuckled, flashing his trademark grin. "My journey to town was cut short today, the elders wanted to have a council with me." As Chen spoke these words he gave me a curious glance.

A pit formed in my stomach. I averted my gaze and asked, "Have I created more trouble for you brother?"

Chen once again smiled and spoke, "Not anymore than I can handle… and besides, I'm not the only one they want to see this time."

"Is that so," I responded uneasily.

Chen must have sensed my agitation, but before I could react he drew back and thrust his hand upon my back. The force of his hand expelled all of the air from my lungs and the world was sent spinning as I tumbled forward. "Sorry Taka," Chen exclaimed, "I tend to forget my strength. I only meant to comfort you."

"Well next time could you comfort me from a distance?" I groaned.

"I'll take note of your request. Anyway, enough lying about, Taka. We're to meet with the elders immediately," Chen held out his hand. Grasping it, I pulled myself to my feet.

"Now?" I stammered, "but I've still got work to finish." I began to pull my hand back but Chen's grip became a vice.

"No, no, no brother," he laughed "We must go now, no dilly dallying." Chen dragged me up the steps and into the main building. The pit in my stomach began to form into a knot and the taste of the rice I enjoyed from breakfast made a swift return. "Far less enjoyable the second time around," I speculated as some of the sour bile began to reflux into my throat.

"Alright brother, I'll be with you the whole time," Chen whispered as we approached the door to the council room. "No need to worry!" Once again Chen began to rear back his hand for a 'comforting' pat.

"Wait!" I shouted, but in my panic I stumbled forward and crashed through the door landing yet again on the ground. The noise startled the occupants of the room and as I clambered to my feet I could feel the burning gaze of one man in particular. Slowly I raised my eyes to meet his own. Elder Dishi was a formidable man, wizened by age and tempered by discipline. His position as the most esteemed elder within the Guang monastery was not only known by each and every brother, but by a vast number of the surrounding villages. Even more, it had been that way for as long as anyone could remember and yet he looked no more than 40.

"Ahh Tripitaka," sighed the astute man, "You've arrived just in time." He gestured to an open spot in the middle of the room, "Please, sit." Awkwardly I shuffled to my appointed seat and, with as much composure as I could muster, sat down. Chen strode in with the elegance of a swan, bowing to address the elders before he joined me in the center of the room.

"Elder Dishi, might I ask why you have called both Taka and myself to the council?" Chen inquired.

"Yes, yes, brother Chen," began the honored elder, "The council has been taking note of the recent growth of each of our junior brothers. It has come to our attention that brother Tripitaka has once more failed to improve himself in any notable facet." At these words my heart dropped. Unable to look the elder in his eyes I bowed my head and began to pick at the skin on my thumb.

"But that is just not true," interjected Chen, "Taka has performed his chores spectacularly! Why, just the other day I was telling him-"

"I wasn't finished brother Chen." Dishi interrupted. "As I was saying, brother Tripitaka has failed to better himself in any of our beloved virtues. He is incapable of any of the monastery's techniques, most prominently our body strengthening Vajra. His inability to protect our home or offer our services to the local towns is troublesome." As the elder spoke I shifted my glance over to Chen. His brow furrowed and he was beginning to dig his nails into his thighs.

"So���" I managed to choke out, "Am I to be banished?" I slowly lifted my eyes to once again meet elder Dishi's. A bemused look flashed across his face.

"No dear boy," Dishi smiled, "Have you broken your vow to never lift a weapon?"

"Of course not!" I clamoured.

"Well then you have nothing to fear. What I mean for you is not to abandon you but rather to give you a catalyst of sorts." explained Dishi. "I want you to leave the monastery and travel west." A dumbfounded look came over me. "And I want Chen to accompany you." Both Chen and I shared a surprised glance. "In your journey I want you to grow stronger. I wish for you to find your own way to live up to our ideals. Travel far and help those who would seek it and when the time comes, make your way back here for your final test." Still too surprised to utter a word, I dazedly climbed to my feet. "Well?" Dishi questioned, "Do you accept?" My glance flittered back to Chen who was still seated by my side. He too seemed to be in shock as his mouth gaped open wide enough that an unfortunate fly was able to wander it's way right in. As Chen realized what had happened he began coughing furiously. I returned my gaze to the senior elder.

"Yes," I stuttered.

"Very good," remarked Dishi, "Then you must prepare to leave at once. We'll prepare some provisions but you'll need to find a way to provide for yourselves on the road. Now make haste, the council has much to discuss." With that I turned to Chen, who had managed to remove the ill-fated fly from his throat, pulled him to his feet and returned back out the door from whence we came.