Chapter 4 – The Quest
Time has passed. It’s been exactly 500 years, since the incident involving some clever monkey has happened. And, the story can only be found in fairy tales of old, old story tellers. The story has become one of those ‘Believe it or Not’ type of urban legends by now. We all know the story to be true, but 500 years, either changed the story all together, or people refuse to believe it wholesale. Whatever the case may be, the story became a faint memory in most people, except, in one, the Prince Simian. Prince Simian was counting days, hours and minutes, for the past 500 years, so that he may be freed. Every day and every hour has been a pure hell on earth. He tried to use his magic, but was useless. He tried to use his power to break out of the mold, but it was far too strong. It took almost one hundred years of angry shouts and tears, but in the end, acceptance was the only thing to do. Today, as usual, he is doing what he does best; waiting, and waiting, and waiting… However, this is his 500th year of imprisonment. This means any day can he his last day. Prince Simian hasn’t been sleeping for past three months now. He did not want to miss his only chance of being freed!
Far down south of Ko-Ryo kingdom, now known as Korea, there was a temple that was built new. This temple was built by the king, as a part of gift to his third wife, Min Hae. The temple was built using only the best timber, and only the hardest wood. And soon, became envy of all other temples in kingdom. This temple was big but not huge, very quite, really beautiful and tranquil – serene. This temple had everything a temple can have except, the scriptures of Buddha. Original words of Buddha were carved in stone tablets so that the temple that possess it may print them out in book forms. There are handful of temples in known world with a complete set of the scripture tablets. Each tablet had to be hand carved. And each stone tablet must be carried by hand, back to the temple that received it. Not to mention the amount of tablets that must be created and carried back. You see, this is why so few temples possess a complete volume. It takes over fifty years of carrying back and forth to complete the task. But, most well known temples had, at least a few tablets, to show their practitioners, that they are in process of completing this monumental task. The fact that this temple had no scripture tablet, not a single one, was a sore point among everyone involved. This was a shame , and this is a quest that has to see its completion, no matter what.
Among many monks living in the temple, there was a specially timid monk of about thirty years of age. By and large, most monks are timid creatures. Their aversion against any type of violence molds them certain ways. But, one monk was far beyond others in his fear; his name was S’Nim. ‘S’Nim’ was sort of his name because all monks are called S’Nim by practitioners. But, since he himself used that, S’Nim became his name. No one knows what his birth name is. He himself knows of no other name. He was tall and skinny. It was funny to watch him get scared out of everything. He was constantly living in fear; accidents, animals, diseases, bad luck, you name it. It was pure accident that he was chosen as a monk to travel to India, to receive and bring back a copy of the first two pages of Buddha’s scripture tablets. This normally would be an honor, but to S’Nim, this is a nightmare. Ever since he was told of his task, he has been daydreaming about all kinds of ways he could die, including monsters and demons that are sure to devour him alive. He even named some of these creatures. S’Nim knew there was no way out. He must prepare to sacrifice his life for his faith. S’Nim felt that this was unfair. But, in the end, acceptance of this honor convinced that this was a good thing. So he took the task and left the temple on a skinny donkey, to India.
S’Nim was passing a long and hot desert. It was full of sand and big mounds of rocks. As far as eyes can see, the desert continued. Occasionally, rising out of horizon was large rocks in many shapes and sizes. Each mound was as high as S’Nim’s temple was. Rocks were falling from them, and S’Nim nearly lost his life from falling rocks. Each path was clearly marked by worn out signs on hard surfaces. Many times, S’Nim tried to deviate from the path to avoid getting hit by falling rocks, but the path was there for a good reason; it takes three times longer to go around. Trapped in this worn out path, S’Nim pressed on. Sun was high above his bald head, and was beating down on both S’Nim and his donkey. They have travelled, without rest, all morning. The place they were passing was filled with strange shaped mounds of rocks. Some resembled animals; some resembled fruits. It was one of those rocks that made the noise that stopped S’Nim. It was a faint sound that wind carried. In and out of his ears, S’Nim was having hard time locating its source. S’Nim looked left, right and all the mounds in his front. But, the noise was getting louder. S’Nim was naturally scared. Scared out of his mind, he began shaking like a windy sashi branch. It sounded like a scream that wind was carrying; howling kind of scream. It made S’Nim even more scared. S’Nim immediately closed his eyes and began reciting chants. ‘Na mu ami tabul, guan saem bo sal.’ S’Nim repeated again and again.
After a while, S’Nim made out a word or two from the noise. It was a human! This made S’Nim a bit more confident. S’Nim opened his eyes and began scanning his surroundings. Again, the noise came from the front. Far away in the front, he can see a round shaped mound of rocks, and it the noise was coming from that mound. For a split second or so, S’Nim thought about going back. But, his curiosity got the best of him, and S’Nim began riding toward the source. Besides, the way back was longer than the way ahead. As he got near the source of the noise, the shape of the mound became clearer. It was a shape of a closed fist. It was oddest thing to see, in the middle of desert, a large rock the size of big temple, in a shape of fist! Not only that, there was something squiggling in the middle of the fist! It was a dark head of someone. And it was that head that was making all that noise. All of sudden, S’Nim began laughing out loud. It was just too bizarre to let it pass. All this time, the head was screaming something, but S’Nim was too stunned by this scene to hear. Coming to his senses, S’Nim realized that the head was calling out to him.
It was hot, hot, hot mid day sun. As usual, Prince Simian was hoping that today would be the day he is set free. He has waited 500 years for this. Sure, he tried asking every passerby if they were monks. But he knew he had to wait the full terms of his contract to go free. Every year, he would count and count, to make sure he is not skipping over any. One mistake would be truly disastrous. But, finally, this is the year that he gets to go free! So, Prince Simian began harassing everyone passing. But, he quickly learned that angering someone results in throwing rocks at his head and they hurt a lot. There was nothing he could do but beg for information. Soon, he learned to be discreet. Just make sure the person is riding on some donkey like animal. And, make sure he is a monk! So, today, out of midday thirst, he noticed a figure on horizon that resembled a person on horseback. At first, he did not believe his eyes. But, after a while, the figure on horizon was a person riding a donkey. Prince Simian began screaming. “He——e—-e—y Y—oo——–u!” “Heeee—–lp Meeeeeeeee” “Yes you ,my man, I’m talking to you!” “Hey you, the handsome one! Lookie Lookie here!”. Looked like the figure stopped for a long time. But, soon, the figure began moving toward him. Prince Simian wanted to make sure that his presence was known. So, he began screaming and screaming. Non-stop, Prince Simian screamed until the donkey was in front of him.
S’Nim’s laughter was so loud and hilarious, it made Prince Simian mad. “What are you laughing at?” asked Prince Simian fuming and biting his lips. “If I told anyone that there is a talking monkey’s head, poking out of a fist shaped rock, they would call me crazy.” answered S’Nim. True, Prince Simian pictured his head sticking out of a fist and agreed that this just sound crazy. Besides, Prince Simian heard it all before. For five hundred years, he has encountered numerous types of travelers, with varying degree of wits. But, in the end, there was nothing new to Prince Simian. He just needed to find out if this monk is the one Prince Simian was waiting for. “Are you a monk on a way to India?” asked Prince Simian, praying to anyone who would listen that this monk is the one. Suddenly, S’Nim’s face turned whiter than usual. S’Nim was terrified. S’Nim couldn’t even speak. “How.. did.. you…. Know?” Not only this monkey was stuck on a fisted rock, he is a mind reader! S’Nim’s eyes begin to pop out of his head. S’Nim couldn’t figure out what gave him the idea? S’Nim began trembling. Shaking uncontrollably, S’Nim began reciting a chant, over and over again. With his eyes closed. Quickly, S’Nim went into a trance state where he is cut off from the world. This is a method of monks to disconnect from anything worldly, including anything bodily like emotions and pains. Seeing, what was to be his salvation, disappear into a void of trance state, Prince Simian blames his luck. “Awe, this is great! I finally find the monk I’ve been looking for, for five hundred years I remind you, and he bolts into Buddha’s home.” Prince Simian yelled. Even though he was mad outside, inside, he was filled with hopes and joy like he never felt before. This was an odd happening. Prince Simian wasn’t supposed to be soft. He was supposed to be hard and tough. But, for some reason, there were tears streaming down his cheeks. “S’Nim, can you please release me?” said Prince Simian very softly. No answer. “S’Nim, please let me go, please, I was stuck here for 500 years.” Loudly pleaded Prince Simian.
Somehow, that last phrase woke S’Nim up. “500 Years? My, that’s incredible length of time to be incarcerated like that. How did you survive for so long without any food or water? Oh, that must be mercy of Buddha.” Asked and answered S’Nim, all by himself. Hearing all this dialog by S’Nim, Prince Simian started to calculate his own odds of being freed. S’Nim surely sound like trusting monk. Then again, Prince Simian cannot afford to mess up his only chance if this turns out to be the one. Sure, he can come clean and tell him everything, but bringing the big cheese into the picture would only complicate matters. So he decided to play stupid. “I have no idea. I just woke up this way, one morning. In any case, I was told that only you can release me from this prison. Can you please release me? If you do, I will do anything for you. You see, I know a trick or two and I can make your life a whole lot better. A girl? Booze? Maybe a hot boyfriend instead?” winked Prince Simian as he finished his last suggestion. “Dekki, you immoral ape, who do you think I am? I am a monk who’s mission is holy and sacred. You would never understand the devotion I have for spreading Buddha’s grace and mercy on earth.” Preached S’Nim. “Besides, I have no idea how to release you.” Said S’Nim. The only thing Prince Simian heard was that S’Nim did not know how to release Prince Simian. “No, no, no, you got to know how. I waited 500 years for you! And you are telling me that Buddha didn’t tell you how? Go ask him!” screamed Prince Simian. But, as he yelled, he realized that he was making mistakes. Oops, thought Prince Simian. But it was too late. “Why would Buddha know how to release you? Did the great Buddha imprison you?” asked S’Nim. Prince Simian was too tired to think of stories. Feeling the end of the rope, he came clean. “Yes, I was punished for causing accidents. I never meant to do any harm, but I was punished for my mistakes. There, you have the whole story.” Sensing awkwardness in the monkey, S’Nim kept listening quietly. Not wanting to pry anything out of him, S’Nim finally replies with “But, I don’t know how to release anyone.” Now, almost at an explosion point, Prince Simian tries his best to calm himself down. After about thirty seconds of counting to 100, prince Simian pleads “S’Nim, please try to do anything. You must know how to release me. Just recite your favorite chant. Your favorite song. Maybe your favorite poem? Anything please, you’re killing me here.”
The last phrase – killing me here, sent chills through S’Nim’s spine. Strictly forbidden to take any life from living things, monks are well known for their strict adherence. Even in jest, phrase like ‘You’re killing me here’ truly disturbs S’Nim. Finally, S’Nim closed his eyes and began reciting “Namu Ami Tabul, Guan Sam Bo Sal” over and over again. It is a phrase that many recite and its true meaning has been lost. People interpret it as ‘with Buddha’s mercy and grace, heavenly peace rains on earth.’ At first, this futile chant produced no result. Prince Simian began yawning loudly to let S’Nim know it’s not working. But, after about ten minutes of recitation, a faint rumble began shaking the ground. Still in the trance, S’Nim is immune to noises and continues his chant. The shaking gets ever more violent as time passes. It comes to a point where, from high up on the mound, rocks began falling down. Soon, with loud noise, there is split on the main rock that encased prince Simian. And, with an explosion, Prince Simian flew out of the rock that had imprisoned him for 500 years. “I’m Freeeeeeee!” yelled Prince Simian as he flew over the dissolving mound of rocks. Quickly, Prince Simian landed next to S’Nim, and was about to hug and kiss him. S’Nim, immediately pushed the monkey away and began chanting, giving thanks to Buddha. “Let me kiss you on your lips, no let me kiss your butt instead. Whew, S’Nim, I thought you would never figure out how to do this, I mean, you don’t exactly look sharp, you know? Man, can you imagine if you didn’t? Anyway, Thank you so, so, so much. I owe you a big one. Anyway, nice knowing you. Places to go and people to see.” With that, Prince Simian walks backward, away from S’Nim.
Slowly opening his eyes, S’Nim began his turn. “My understanding was that you would assist me in my journey.” This shocked Prince Simian. “How did he come up with that? Did I tell him?” wondered Prince Simian. But, still unsure of Buddha’s intentions and power, Prince Simian plays dumb. “Oh, shoot, Yes, you’re right. I did promise that I would help. I was supposed to help you a while. Sure, I’ll do that.” Out of his mouth came his commitment. What Prince Simian was thinking was that, soon, S’Nim will get sick and tired of Prince Simian, or ,better yet, he can bolt out if it doesn’t work out. Prince Simian smiled as the thought of S’Nim releasing Prince Simian, came to his mind. S’Nim was not sure if this monkey would agree to help, but, since he made the pledge before, there was nothing to lose by asking. “Let’s continue our journey.” tested S’Nim. Surprisingly, Prince Simian began following him! This was unexpected. However, S’Nim did not show any surprise on his face. “Whew” S’Nim exhaled quietly. Now, there was S’Nim on a donkey, and a monkey was following the group. Quietly, without any noise, the group walked toward the sunset. They walked toward India.
