Monk Kuiji, with the secular surname Yuchi, was the nephew of Yuchi Jingde, the founding lord of the Tang Dynasty. His father, Yuchi Zong, was a general. The story of Kuiji ‘s journey to become a monk and a great master of the generation has a twist.
One day, when Yuchi Zong, Kuiji’s father, was sitting in his study, the noise of people coming from afar and people singing Buddha’s name could be heard faintly. The servant boy panicked into the house to report: “My lord, an honorable monk has arrived at the door.”
“A monk?” Yuchi Zong’s heart was stunned. Because this general, who had great martial arts skills, had never interacted with monks, how could a monk come to his door today?
“Yes,” the servant boy busily took over and said: “It is a venerable monk. Many people have already fallen in front of the door, all worshiping him. He ignored them and only asked to see His Excellency by name.” Another old family member panicked when the servant’s words fell and said anxiously: “My lord, the Venerable Master Xuanzang seeks an audience!”
Yuchi Zong respectfully welcomed Venerable Xuanzang into the living room. He hurriedly ordered his family to serve tea. As soon as he was seated, the Venerable Xuanzang explained his purpose. “I am a poor monk, and I have a favor to ask of you, General.” Yuchi Zong said happily: “It is a great honor to have a master who can personally come to the door, and I beg you to show me the way.”
Xuanzang, seeing the general’s readiness, laughed and said: “General, please do not make a wish to donate right now; otherwise, once I say it, if you can’t part with it, how can it be good?” The old general was so excited by his words that he could hardly sit still. This man, who had been a significant figure on the battlefield of the two armies, always spoke with a firm and decisive voice. The general was about to vow when Venerable Xuanzang waved his hand and said: “Wait until the poor monk tells you the reason for this and then think about it before deciding whether or not to give the alms.”
Originally, as Xuanzang returned from India with the scriptures he got there, he asked a nun for fortune-telling, who said: “By the day you return to your country, one of your outstanding students will have been born.”
Therefore, when Xuanzang returned to China, he kept an eye out for this outstanding disciple. One day, on the main road on the outskirts of Chang’an, he met Kuiji by chance. Impressed by his handsome features and magnanimous manners, and finding out that he was General Yuchi Zong’s son, Xuanzang sighed: “No wonder! As a descendant of the general, he is truly a promising young man!” From then on, Xuanzang intended to take Kuiji as a disciple.
Xuanzang wants the general’s son to become a monk
When Xuan Zang said that he wanted to make Kuiji, the son of the general, a monk, Yuchi Zong’s praying hands slowly parted. Kuiji was his youngest son, and his wife had passed away a long time ago, so now he only had this son to look up to as his spiritual support. He had never thought of letting his son become a monk.
It was difficult for the general to accept the Master’s sudden request, so he said: “Can a stupid and tough person like him be taught?” Xuanzang smiled a little and immediately took over the conversation. “The young man born as your son has a great foundation, and I can see his potential. I can see him destined for great responsibilities. Please don’t worry. I will take him as a student and make him become a Buddhist genius.”
In the end, the general was a man of his word, and although he was reluctant to do so in his heart, he agreed; he only said: “It depends on what my son wants to do.” Xuanzang said: “Please call out your son; I want to hear his opinion face to face.” So the general asked his family to call out his son. When Kuiji heard he was to become a monk, he shouted: “I don’t want to become a monk! If you want me to become a monk, that’s fine, but you must promise me three things.” “Which three things?” Xuanzang asked. “To indulge in lustful desires, to eat meat as I require, and to be able to eat in the afternoon.”
Kuiji thought this would stop Xuanzang from accepting him as his disciple. Unexpectedly, Xuanzang agreed immediately! It turns out that Xuanzang first tied him up with desire and then enlightened him with Buddha’s wisdom, which would make him change his original intention. The so-called promise was just a stop-gap measure.
After he became a monk, Kuiji always traveled with his “three carriages.” The three carriages carried women, food, and scriptures. The people of Guangzhou called him the “Monk with Three Carriages.” However, from then on, he began to come into contact with Buddhism, and his understanding of the Dharma grew deeper and deeper.
On one occasion, Kuiji went to Taiyuan to preach the Dharma, accompanied by his three carriages. On the way, he met an old man who asked: “Who is traveling in the carriage?” The answer was: “A monk traveling with his family.” The old man sighed and said: “It is not befitting of a Buddhist who has mastered the Dharma to carry a family.” When Kuiji heard this in the carriage, his face flushed, and he immediately came to his senses. He sighed long and abandoned his carriages to go to Taiyuan alone.
After coming to his senses, Kuiji diligently studied, practiced, and observed the precepts, becoming refined daily. He assisted Xuanzang in translating scriptures and eventually became a great monk of his generation.
Translated by Eva and edited by Amanda
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