From: owner-monkey@valinor.eldar.org (Monkey Digest) To: monkey-digest@valinor.eldar.org Subject: Monkey Digest V1 #30 Reply-To: monkey@valinor.eldar.org Sender: owner-monkey@valinor.eldar.org Errors-To: owner-monkey@valinor.eldar.org Precedence: bulk Monkey Digest Thursday, June 12 1997 Volume 01 : Number 030 In this issue: [monkey] Where to get the book (unabridged) Re: [monkey] Episode Summary - "Monkey Goes Wild about Heaven" (Season 1, Re: [monkey] A Chinese Odyssey parts 1 & 2 [monkey] Remakes of "Monkey" series Re: [monkey] Trade TV eps Re: [monkey] Episode Summary - "Monkey Goes Wild about Heav RE: [monkey] Text Questions Re: [monkey] Remakes of "Monkey" series Re: [monkey] Episode Summary - "Monkey Goes Wild about Heaven" Re: [monkey] Episode Summary - "Monkey ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 18:32:54 -0700 From: "Thomas Nguyen" Subject: [monkey] Where to get the book (unabridged) You can get a full version of the book (called The Journey To The West) in english, translated by Anthony C Yu. It is in 4 volumes and each one costs about $40. You can order them from The University Of Chicago Press. This edition is very good as it is translated from the original Chinese almost word for word and contains all of the original poetry. For more information on the editions of the book, go to: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/1274/ and then click on the "Editions of Hsi Yu Chi" button Thank you Thomas Nguyen ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 03:26:19 PDT From: "Howell Parry" Subject: Re: [monkey] Episode Summary - "Monkey Goes Wild about Heaven" (Season 1, >According to Howell Parry: > >> I wrote this summary of the very first episode of Monkey the other day. >> I think perhaps I've gone into far too much detail... > >No, it doesn't. This is obviously a very important episode with much >information in it. That's what I thought; if I'd summarised it more briefly, I'd be leaving out important details, and, as you say, it's an important episode as it sets the scene for the whole series. >> Anyway, read it and let me know what you think. > >> The Dragon King complains to Heaven about Monkey's threatening >> behaviour, and a spirit, the Spirit of the Staff, comes down to see >> Monkey, and invites him to Heaven "to be rewarded". Monkey gets >> excited and agrees to go with him to Heaven. > >I thought it was the spirit of Venus, who has the appearance of a very >old man. Or am I thinking about Quon Li - The Compassionate? I'm not sure; I'll watch the episode again tonight, and check it out. Who exactly is Quon Li? >> We see a female Buddha strolling along, thinking, "Since gentleness >> seems to be needed in this case, perhaps I should be in my female >> aspect". Monkey is still fighting, and she calls out >> "Son-Aware-of-Vacuity listen to me. Come to the Himalayas, Monkey." > >I think his it's Acuity (keenness of perception) rather than Vacuity >(an empty space; the state, fact, or quality of being vacuous; >something (as an idea) that is vacuous or inane) which could sometimes >be used to describe Monkey As you say, both words fit :) But I'll change it to Acuity. >Apart from that, I think it's a great summary of an important >episode. Thank you! I'll wait for any other comments, and will put it up in the next few days. Something else I'm confused about is Buddha (Monkey flies it out of her hand). This was posted a few weeks ago to the mailing list: "Another bit I liked was Tathagata Buddha saying to Monkey... "Come to the Himalaya's Monkey!" and he turns up and she's sitting there HUGE - above the clouds! That is so cool. Of course, she is really not meant to be Tahagata,but the Bodhisatsva Kuan Yin..." Who is Tathagata Buddha in relation to Buddha? Should I refer to this "female Buddha" as "Tathagata Buddha"? Howell - --------------------------------------------------------- Get Your *Web-Based* Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 03:31:37 PDT From: "Howell Parry" Subject: Re: [monkey] A Chinese Odyssey parts 1 & 2 >> From: Howell Parry >> Hi! >> >> Has anyone out there seen the Cantonese films "A Chinese Odyssey", part >> 1 or part 2? >> >> They're based on the Monkey story, and were both made in Hong Kong in >> 1995... >> >> For more information on them, including the original Cantonese names, >> see these pages of the Internet Movie Database; >> Do you know if it's possible to get these films on video in the UK? >> >> Howell >> >Yes, I have seen both and they SUCK! Don't even bother with 'em they are >really bad. The (very few) fighting scenes are good (but you expect that >from a HK film) however the storyline and comedy really suck. The whole 2 >stories take place before the journey even begins (they start the journey >at the end of the second movie). Monkey isn't even trapped in the >mountain, instead he is reincarnated as a robber who lives on the mountain >and has no idea that he is the Monkey King. And he doesn't even become >Monkey until near the end of the second movie. Pigsy (or "Piggy" as he is >called) and Sandy don't make an appearance until the second movie and even >then they aren't seen much. It doesn't even explain that they were thrown >out of heaven. The whole 2 movies are just an excuse for Stephen Chow to >show off his bad comedy and talentless acting. There is one cool scene near >the end of the second movie where monkey plucks some of his hairs and >creates a huge army of monkeys..:) >But all in all theyre pretty crap (you don't even get to see Monkey on his >trademark pink cloud for god's sake!). If you want to see great HK movies >go out and hire a Jackie Chan or Jet Li movie (or my personal favourite >"The Iron Monkey" which doesn't star either of these two but is fantasttic >nonetheless). > >~Daniel Soam I right in thinking these aren't your favourite films then! :) Seriously, thanks for that, I won't bother trying to get hold of them then... Howell - --------------------------------------------------------- Get Your *Web-Based* Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 03:34:04 PDT From: "Howell Parry" Subject: [monkey] Remakes of "Monkey" series Hello... I've heard that "Monkey" has been remade twice: 1. A Chinese TV series "Apparently, TVB made a version of Monkey in 1996 called "Journey To The West" (the name of the full English translation of the story), starring Dicky Cheung , Chan Mui Ying ,Angie Cheung ,Kiung Wai, Lai Yu Chung , and Muk Chung Ching, and will have a followup series out in August 1997." 2. A new 1990s Japanese TV series Has anyone seen any of these, or any other (?) remakes of "Monkey"? What are they like? Howell - --------------------------------------------------------- Get Your *Web-Based* Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 03:51:00 PDT From: "Howell Parry" Subject: Re: [monkey] Trade TV eps >> Hello there Gareth! >> >> Most people on this list seem to be based in Australia and UK, which >> both use the PAL video format. >> >> Someone recently advised me that it's a bit dodgy discussing the >> copying of videos on an open discussion list, so maybe anyone who >> can help Gareth out should reply to him personally, i.e. not via >> the list? >> >> Looking forward to the UK video release of Monkey, whenever that is, > >Why on earth is it dodgy discussing copying videos on an open >discussion list ? I'm not sure; I was just passing on a message that someone else sent to me. >There's no law against non profit trading of video cassettes in the >UK, and certainly none in the US. Is there some Australian law >against it ? No idea... Howell - --------------------------------------------------------- Get Your *Web-Based* Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 22:16:46 +0000 From: "Sheep Groper" Subject: Re: [monkey] Episode Summary - "Monkey Goes Wild about Heav > >> I think perhaps I've gone into far too much detail... > > > >No, it doesn't. This is obviously a very important episode with much > >information in it. And there are people who would love detail as a memory jogger, too. > >> aspect". Monkey is still fighting, and she calls out > >> "Son-Aware-of-Vacuity listen to me. Come to the Himalayas, Monkey." > > > >I think his it's Acuity (keenness of perception) rather than Vacuity > >(an empty space; the state, fact, or quality of being vacuous; > >something (as an idea) that is vacuous or inane) which could sometimes > >be used to describe Monkey > > As you say, both words fit :) But I'll change it to Acuity. Aw don't! In the novelisation "Monkey" translated by Authur Waley it's 'vacuity'. Surely on the path to enlightenment you need to be aware of what is importaint in the world, all else would be a distraction, worth nothing except to the deluded people who value the material over the spiritual. Monkey was awarded the title after reaching a milestone in his spiritual education. For a spirit who epitomises the easily distracted restlessness of the monkey, being 'aware of vacuity' would be an asset to his spiritual ascent. Ok, so sometimes he's going backwards fast, but one of the themes to the series is that of the spiritual journey. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX Like meatloaf through a straw, so are the days of our lives. John Blackman shepherd@posgate.apana.org.au Suburban Shepherd in Canberra, Australia's capital city. First frost 14 March Bugger the rainfall stats, it's drought XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 15:30:31 +0100 From: Darran Taylor Subject: RE: [monkey] Text Questions Being new to this Mail-group I must ask a question which possibly has already been answered. Is there any electronic-Net rendering of "Monkey" texts, or "Journey to the West" Or what-ever (Even just the odd Chapter?). IM really keen to read the original story but, the Journey to gain enlightenment seems fraught with many difficulties. Darran - Reading UK ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 08:42:41 +0800 From: "Robert Vong" Subject: Re: [monkey] Remakes of "Monkey" series > 1. A Chinese TV series > "Apparently, TVB made a version of Monkey in 1996 called "Journey To The > West" (the name of the full English translation of the story), starring > Dicky Cheung , Chan Mui Ying ,Angie Cheung ,Kiung Wai, > Lai Yu Chung , and Muk Chung Ching, and will have a followup series out > in August 1997." It's OK, but, really boring, even though there is a lot of information contained. I think it may be reasonably faithful to the original texts. If I can remember correctly the series contains about 30 * 45 minutes episodes, but they don't contain many stories, and the order is not correct. Maybe in in upcoming sequel, they will complete the journey? bye. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 08:51:22 +0800 From: "Robert Vong" Subject: Re: [monkey] Episode Summary - "Monkey Goes Wild about Heaven" > Something else I'm confused about is Buddha (Monkey flies it out of > her hand). This was posted a few weeks ago to the mailing list: OK, here is what I think... > "Another bit I liked was Tathagata Buddha saying to Monkey... "Come > to the Himalaya's Monkey!" and he turns up and she's sitting there > HUGE - above the clouds! That is so cool. Of course, she is really > not meant to be Tahagata,but the Bodhisatsva Kuan Yin..." > Who is Tathagata Buddha in relation to Buddha? Should I refer to this > "female Buddha" as "Tathagata Buddha"? I think this Tathagata Buddha is "The Buddha". He was the guy who originally transcended the cycle of rebirth and attained enlightenment, so they titled him "King of the Universe" or whatever. However, since then, many have also accomplished the same feat - - Bobhisatsva Kuan Yin (goddess of mercy), being one. BTW, did you know that Kuan Yin was originally a guy hehe...? But, once you've reached enlightenment, gender is no longer relevant... bye. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 12:25:46 +1000 From: "Clare O'Farrell" Subject: Re: [monkey] Episode Summary - "Monkey Chris says >> The Dragon King complains to Heaven about Monkey's threatening >> behaviour, and a spirit, the Spirit of the Staff, comes down to see >> Monkey, and invites him to Heaven "to be rewarded". Monkey gets >> excited and agrees to go with him to Heaven. > >I thought it was the spirit of Venus, who has the appearance of a very >old man. It was indeed the spirit of Venus >> aspect". Monkey is still fighting, and she calls out >> "Son-Aware-of-Vacuity listen to me. Come to the Himalayas, Monkey." > >I think his it's Acuity (keenness of perception) rather than Vacuity >(an empty space; the state, fact, or quality of being vacuous; >something (as an idea) that is vacuous or inane) which could sometimes >be used to describe Monkey No I think it actually is 'son aware of vacuity' - There's a poem about this at http://www.lafayette.edu/~hahna/home/monkey.html Aware of Vacuity By Andrew Hahn Born of stone but made by wind - crafted into the shape of a monkey. Confidence that fell off the ledge and became arrogance. This drove the King of Monkeys. **** Though he fought, and though he won, and though he had a kingdom of peace, he knew he suffered from that which plagues all animals that dwell upon this earth, mortality. **** But he would not accept this imprisonment set forth by the forces of life. An ancient mountain sage he found taught him the secrets of immortality and helped him find the Way. **** Monkey traveled back to his Mountain of Flowers and Fruit where he christened himself the Sage, Equal of Heaven. **** But, an emptiness grew in Monkey, one not filled by great military wins or Narcissistic love. Thus the Guardians of Heaven subdued Monkey for he had become as empty as a hollow tree. **** Years later Monkey humbled himself before the pious Buddhist priest Tripitaka and helped him on his quest for Buddhist Scriptures kept in India. Goodness filled his empty trunk and with each new challenge the pilgrims faced he overcame it. **** With the Scriptures safely taken to China, Buddha made Monkey the Buddha Victorious Over Strife. **** And so Monkey had defeated his own vacuity. He had won the battle that takes place in one's own being - the most challenging battle one can ever face. *********************************************************** Clare O'Farrell email:c.ofarrell@qut.edu.au web page: http://www.qut.edu.au/edu/cpol/foucault/ 'Let battle commence. Wine and.... bananas!' *********************************************************** ------------------------------ End of Monkey Digest V1 #30 *************************** ----------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the Monkey Mailing List digest list, send mail to: majordomo@valinor.eldar.org with the following command in the body of your email message: unsubscribe monkey-digest To send a message to the list, send mail to: monkey-digest@valinor.eldar.org If you have any problems or questions, send mail to: owner-monkey@valinor.eldar.org For lots more information and news about "Monkey", check out the Monkey! web site: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/8153/