What cosmic mystery does Sun Wukong's Havoc in Heaven reveal?

It was mentioned earlier that "Sun Wukong transforming from a stone into a monkey" embodies the Buddhist concept that "sentient and insentient beings share the same origin of innate wisdom", signifying that "insentient things can turn into sentient beings". This has been verified by modern scientific cloning technology—it is not a myth but an ultimate cosmic truth. Blood, regarded as an insentient substance in worldly terms, can be used to clone monkeys and other animals. This serves as scientific proof of the Buddhist belief that insentient entities are capable of becoming sentient. Similarly, Sun Wukong's Havoc in Heaven also conveys profound cosmic mysteries, which we will interpret step by step.

There are numerous supernatural beings and enlightened creatures in the world. Why did only Sun Wukong choose to wreak havoc in Heaven while other monsters refrained from doing so? This reflects Sun Wukong's irritable temperament, extraordinary abilities, and fierce combative nature—traits that are typical of an Asura. In Buddhist cosmology, sentient beings cycle through six realms of existence. Among these, the Three Evil Realms consist of the Hell Realm, the Hungry Ghost Realm, and the Animal Realm; while the Three Good Realms include the Human Realm, the Asura Realm, and the Deva Realm.

Typically, Asuras dwell in the heavenly realms because they possess immense karmic blessings that entitle them to celestial joys. However, they lack moral virtue—blessed with celestial comforts yet deprived of celestial integrity. They are short-tempered, physically powerful, and extremely belligerent, frequently waging wars against the Devas (celestial beings). The kind-hearted Devas cannot bear to take their lives, whereas Asuras fight without hesitation or scruple. As a result, the Devas are no match for the Asuras and often have to seek assistance from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Asuras are not confined to heaven alone; they exist across all six realms. In the human world, irritable and combative individuals are the Asuras among humans. Within the Animal Realm, some horses, cattle, donkeys, dogs, and even chickens and geese that are unusually aggressive are the Asuras among animals.

Sun Wukong's rampage in Heaven exactly mirrors the nature of an Asura, indicating that he embodies the characteristics of an Asura. Yet, Sun Wukong ultimately attained Buddhahood. This conveys a cosmic mystery: despite their irritable and belligerent nature, Asuras can also achieve Buddhahood through cultivation in accordance with the principles and teachings of Dharma. Beyond this, an obvious implication follows—if even Asuras are capable of attaining Buddhahood, then the Devas and humans, who possess greater moral virtue, can undoubtedly do so too.

Let us examine the consequences of Sun Wukong's havoc in Heaven. Unable to subdue him, the Jade Emperor sought help from Sakyamuni Buddha. With a mere flip of his palm, the Buddha trapped Sun Wukong beneath the Five Elements Mountain. His suffering there was akin to the torment endured in the Hell Realm. Trapped under the mountain with no food to eat, he had to "feed on iron pellets when hungry and drink molten copper when thirsty"—a life reminiscent of that in the Hungry Ghost Realm. As a monkey by nature, Sun Wukong inherently belonged to the Animal Realm. In this way, he manifested the traits of all Three Evil Realms simultaneously. Eventually, he still achieved Buddhahood, which reveals an eternal cosmic truth: sentient beings in the Three Evil Realms are also capable of attaining Buddhahood.