Puti Zushi (菩提祖师, Pútí Zǔshī?), also known as the Patriarch Subodhi (須菩提祖師, Xūpútí Zǔshī?), is a character in Journey to the West, believed to be derived from Subhūti.
Description[]
Puti was a mentor of Sun Wukong, endowing him with supernatural powers through Taoist practices. These include the 72 Earthly Transformations, immortality, and Cloud Somersault.
He is proficient in both Taoist and Buddhists practices.
Poem[]
The Immortal is described in the following poem:[1]
大覺金仙沒垢姿，西方妙相祖菩提。
不生不滅三三行，全氣全神萬萬慈。
空寂自然隨變化，真如本性任為之。
與天同壽莊嚴體，歷劫明心大法師。
An Immortal of great ken and purest mien,
Master Subodhi, whose wondrous form of the West
Had no end or birth by work of the Double Three.
His whole spirit and breath were with mercy filled.
Empty, spontaneous, it could change at will,
His Buddha-nature able to do all things.
The same age as Heaven had his majestic frame.
Fully tried and enlightened was this grand priest.
Synopsis[]
The Monkey King donned human attire and embarked on a profound quest for enlightenment and the path to immortality, traversing vast distances over many years. After a long journey, the Monkey King reached the shore and beheld a majestic mountain. Intrigued, he scaled its heights to admire the view. Amidst his contemplation, he heard a distant melody echoing from the depths of the forest—a song known as "Full Court of Flowers". Intriguingly, the lyrics referenced the profound Yellow Court Scripture. Filled with delight, the Monkey King leapt into the forest to explore further. To his astonishment, he encountered a woodcutter who revealed the existence of a cave dwelling where the celestial Master Puti resided. Grateful for the woodcutter's guidance, the Monkey King embarked on a journey and eventually discovered a sealed cave entrance after several miles. Suddenly, the door swung open, and a celestial child appeared, recognizing the Monkey King as the awaited seeker of the Way. With enthusiasm, the Monkey King confirmed his identity and followed the celestial child into the cave's depths, where the Master delivered his teachings.
The Monkey King witnessed Master Puti seated on a jade platform with celestial attendants. Master Puti inquired about his origins and recognized him as a creation of heaven and earth. Noticing his resemblance to a pinecone-eating macaque, Master Xuputi bestowed upon him the name Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong enthusiastically immersed himself in studying scriptures and discussing the Dao with fellow disciples. He diligently maintained the grounds without realizing that years had passed, amounting to six or seven. One day, as Master Puti delivered a sermon, Sun Wukong expressed his unwavering pursuit of eternal life, disregarding other teachings. In response, Master Puti struck his head thrice and closed the central gate, leaving others bewildered but Sun Wukong understanding the message. At the designated time, he secretly entered through the back gate for private teachings. Master Puti was pleased and revealed the secrets of immortality. After three years, he also taught Sun Wukong the seventy-two transformations to protect against the "Three Calamities". Sun Wukong memorized and diligently practiced the techniques until he mastered them all.
One day, the Master and the disciples gathered to admire the evening glow outside the cave. The Master asked Wukong about his progress in his studies, to which Wukong boasted about being able to fly with the glow. The Master then asked Wukong to demonstrate his ability to fly. However, Wukong could only rise about five or six zhang above the ground and traveled a distance of merely three li before descending. The Master burst into laughter and said, "This cannot be considered flying with the clouds; it's more like crawling on them". Wukong, feeling disappointed, begged the Master to teach him a better method. Recognizing Wukong's somersaulting skills, the Master taught him the somersault cloud technique, enabling Wukong to travel tens of thousands of miles in a single somersault. Master Puti foresaw the flaws in his disciple's character, most notably his ego and amorality; therefore, he would later request Sun Wukong to keep his discipleship a secret.
On another day, the disciples gathered under a pine tree for a discussion, and they requested Wukong to demonstrate his transformative abilities. Wukong transformed into a pine tree, amusing the disciples who applauded and laughed. However, their commotion caught the attention of the Master. Outraged by Wukong's show-off, the Master commanded Wukong to go back to where he came from and never claim to be his disciple again. Helpless, Wukong bid farewell to his master. He advises Sun Wukong never to needlessly show off his skills, because others might ask him to teach them, and if he does teach them, they may go on to cause trouble, but if he doesn't teach them, they will resent him for it. He then forbids Sun Wukong from ever revealing who it was that taught him, and the loyal Monkey King promises never to reveal the identity of his Master. With that, Sun Wukong wakes up to find himself back in the forest, realizing that the many years he spent learning the Way had taken place in some form of compressed time trance. Later, whenever Sun Wukong is asked about his powers and skills, he honestly replies that he learned everything in his dreams.