Deities have differing degrees of divinity… in Journey to the West. It is no secret that IceFrog is a bit of a Sinophile, and I think Dota badge names were probably influenced.
Immortals represent the highest level of attainment, and have great dharma-power.
They may have abilities such as knowledge of the three worlds–past, present, and future; ability to revive the dead, etc.
They are further split into top immortals, and different lineages have their own ranks. The greatest figures are simply known by their names, without honorifics-Buddha, Laozi, etc.
All figures who have attained a certain level of cultivation and have some magical dharma-powers are considered divine, and they may have honorifics such as Sage, Guardian, etc. The Monkey King self-styles himself as Great Sage Equal to Heaven, but his power is actually that of a great immortal.
Many divine ones on the path of cultivation are considered Ancient, having lived for thousands of years. One day in heaven is equal to one year on earth. The name Laozi literally translates to “old one.”
Many kings, demons, or other earthly incarnations are formerly deities in heaven. They have either chosen to take earthly incarnation–for example, to have a love affair which would be too scandalous in heaven– or more typically, they are punished for misdeeds in heaven, and have to take another form on earth to acquire merit. These could be the “archons.”
There are also numerous Guardians, of temples and mountains on earth, or Guardians in Heaven.
In heaven, and even earthly kingdoms, visitors are often announced by heralds, or heralds may serve as messengers, etc.
___
The Buddha was born a prince in Nepal, in the foothills of the Himalayas. He spent his life ministering in only one state of India, Bihar.
Buddhism in China was spread a millennium later by Bodhidharma. It was in China, where Buddhism meeting with Taoism became Chan, or Zen.
Here is a beautiful story of how Buddha and Bodhidharma are related, and how Buddhism in China came to be:
…Buddha created a very chosen circle. He created his circle with a person by the name of Mahakashyapa. This name is only mentioned once. Sariputra and Modgalayan were his chief disciples of the exoteric order; their names are known all over the world, they have shrines. But the real authentic key was given to Mahakashyapa — not to Sariputra, not to Modgalayan. But his name is mentioned only once, only once in the whole Buddhist scripture.
I will narrate the incident…
Buddha came one day with a flower in his hand. He was going to give a sermon. But no sermon was given, he just sat silently looking at the flower. Everyone wondered what he was doing. It continued for ten minutes, twenty, thirty minutes… Then everyone became uneasy. No one was able to say what he was doing. They all had gathered — at least ten thousand people — to hear him speak. And he was just sitting, only looking at the flower.
Mahakashyapa laughed. Buddha looked and said, “Mahakashyapa, come to me.” He gave the flower to Mahakashyapa and said, “All that could be said I have said to all, and all that could not be said I have given to Mahakashyap.” Never before or after is Mahakashyapa mentioned — neither who he was nor where he was born.
Why is the whole scripture so silent about him? — such an important person to whom Buddha says, “I gave to Mahakashyapa all that cannot be said.” Of course, the essential this is “that which cannot be said.” Only the nonessential can be said, only the superficial can be said, only the utilitarian can be said. The most significant transfer of knowledge is possible in silence only. But never again is his name mentioned, and then for centuries no one knew what happened to Mahakashyapa. But then after eleven hundred years, a person declared in China, “I am in direct contact, in the direct chain of Mahakashyapa.”
After eleven hundred years, someone declared in China, “I belong to Mahakashyapa. I am his disciple.” He was Bodhidharma. No Indian scripture mentions Bodhidharma. He was born in India, lived three fourths of his life in India. No one knows about him — where he was or what he was doing. Suddenly, he appears in China and says, “I belong to Mahakashyap, the man to whom Buddha gave the flower. And I have the flower with me, still fresh.”….
Public Notice 