Vairochana Buddha in Journey to the West

In the Journey to the West, Vairochana is mentioned in the third book, and is part of the Avatamsaka Sutra. Obviously then, Wu Cheng'en is illumining the Avatamsaka Sutra through the imagined exploits of the Monkey King - by a stretch. :)

Indeed, Buddha Vairochana is represents Pure Awareness, and helps the disciple to center her consciousness in this sphere of Reality.

in the Vajrayana text the Mahavairocana Tantra, Vairochana is an emanation of Adibuddha and represents the cosmic element of form (rupa). He is the primordial (transcendent) wisdom of the sphere of reality. His is in the center of the mandala consisting of the five Transcendental (Dhyani) Buddhas, and his rites pacify negative emotions. He is white and his two hands are held against the chest with his thumbs and forefingers touching. He radiates the light of Buddhahood and his consort is Akashadhateshvari, who is the sovereign lady of infinite space.

So the dance of light and the space for it to radiate through creates the united dance of Dharmadhatu (Emptiness, the realm of truth known as Buddha Nature). It is this dance that is represented by these unions and the sexual imagery depicted in Tantra.

Other names for Akashadhateshvari is Dhatvishvari or White Tara.

The Story of Monkey King in Comic Format

Here is the Monkey King - in comic format. Wu Cheng-en wrote the original story, Journey to the West.

Finally Monkey Magic inspired me - the song Gandhara is the namesake of this blog. Another good site I recommend is the Wikipedia entry for Sun Wukong.

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Journey to the West: http://www.damo-qigong.net/journey-to-west-part1.htm
Journey to the West on Youtube (episode 1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp_Mt9Zfsqg
Monkey Magic the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2huJqFsFDE
Gandhara, the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrR-Y7gTZaA

Divine Offerings

Om devadhammoyam Priyasurasya - Divine offerings to the Highest Spirit.

Namo arahato buddhassamanam - Homage to Buddha, the essence of spiritual awakening.

Namo arahato dhammassamanam - Homage to the Dharma, the essence of spiritual duty to others.

Namo arahato sanghassamanam.- Homage to the Sangha, the essence of spiritual community.

Virupaksa is mentioned in Journey to the West as a guardian that the Monkey King meets when he is trying to discover a way to defeat the demon king of Mount Jindou.

Virupaksa is one of the Four Great Kings who guard the four directions of North, East, South and West. There is even a Heaven of the Four Great Kings in Indian Buddhist Mythology. These four Great Kings are also known as the Four Guardians of the Directions.