Tathagata's decision temporarily stumped all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas present, leaving them at a loss for words!
To punish Xuanzang? How exactly should he be punished, given the complexities involved!
First, the punishment must not pose any danger to Xuanzang's life, otherwise, if he were to actually perish, it would be necessary to wait for his reincarnation to gather Sun Wukong and the others anew, and embark again on the Journey to the West for Scriptures, wouldn't it?
There are too many variables in this!
Moreover, the Journey to the West has reached this stage, and restarting it? Nobody is willing!
Secondly, precisely due to the calamity of the westward journey now nearing its end, if Xuanzang's punishment takes too long, thus prolonging the completion of the journey for scriptures, this is equally unacceptable.
