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Sun Wukong
and the
Journey to the West
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It was a snowy night in Tibet and Dorje the Monk was preparing to leave his monastery. He was going on pilgrimage to a holy mountain in the west.
His bags were all packed. His begging bowl was polished and his rosary was hung around his neck when the abbot called him down to the main prayer hall.
The Abbot floated in the darkness of the prayer hall. He waggled his fins in the chilly air.
Dorje the Monk approached reverantly. "Yes Master?" he asked.
"Have I ever told you," said the Abbot, "The story of Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, the Pilgrim Sanzang, and their journey to the Western Paradise?"
"No, I have never heard that story," replied Dorje the Monk.
"It is good that I tell it to you now," said the Abbot, "Because you are also going on a pilgrimage."