18 The Third Disciple

Tripitaka and his disciples, Monkey and Pigsy, reach the treacherous River of Flowing Sands. They are blocked by a terrifying, skull-wearing monster who lives in the depths. After several fierce battles, Monkey seeks help from the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin. Kuan-yin sends her disciple to convert the monster, Sandy. Sandy gladly submits, becomes Tripitaka’s disciple, and builds a holy ship using his skulls and a gourd to carry them all safely across. The turbulent River of Flowing Sands, where even a goose-feather sinks, represents the ocean of Saṁsāra. Sandy represents the untamed ego and negative karma. By converting him, the pilgrims transform a spiritual obstacle into a companion. The holy ship made of Sandy’s nine skulls and Kuan-yin’s gourd symbolizes transforming past karmic suffering and mortality into the very vehicle (yāna) that carries seekers safely to the other shore of enlightenment.