A Sacred Quest: The Pilgrimage of Venerated Enlightened Master Xuanzang (vegetarian), Part 1 of 3

The venerated Buddhist Master Xuanzang (vegetarian) was a legendary Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, and traveler, best known for His epic pilgrimage to India in search of authentic Buddhist scriptures. Undertaking a perilous 17-year journey across Central Asia, the Silk Road, and the Indian subcontinent, Xuanzang visited sacred Buddhist sites, studied under eminent Indian Masters, and collected invaluable texts. Upon His return to China, He translated many of these texts into Chinese, significantly shaping Buddhist philosophy and practice in East Asia. His travelogue, “Great Tang Records of the Western Regions,” would become an important source of scholarship regarding 7th-century Central Asia and India.

When Xuanzang’s father passed away in 611, He became interested in Buddhism, influenced by His older brother Chen Su, who later became a Buddhist monk and was given the dharma name Changjie (vegetarian). Xuanzang lived with His brother for five years at Jingtu Monastery, where He studied Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism emphasizes personal enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of samsara, or death and rebirth, while Mahayana Buddhism, which Master Xuanzang preferred, focuses strongly on compassion. Mahayana Buddhists may choose to stay in the cycle of samsara to help others attain liberation and enlightenment. When Xuanzang was 13, He was ordained as a sāmaṇera, or novice monk.

In 622, Master Xuanzang, at the age of 20, became a fully ordained monk. As He studied Buddhist philosophy, He grew concerned with the many discrepancies and contradictions in the texts. This led to a seven-year journey across China in search of sacred Buddhist texts. Xuanzang sought out nearly all the renowned Buddhist masters of His time for guidance and clarification, but found their explanations unsatisfactory. As such, He developed the desire to go to India to seek the original Sanskrit texts and study Buddhism at its source. Xuanzang returned to Chang’an for a few years to study Sanskrit as well as other foreign languages.

Master Xuanzang’s arduous pilgrimage to India began in 629, following the route that would later be known as the Silk Road. Xuanzang faced significant challenges, including extreme thirst and mirages, while crossing the vast and treacherous Moheyanqi Gobi Desert, as detailed in His account, “Great Tang Records of the Western Regions.” His dependable horse companion led Him to an oasis, ultimately saving His life.