《Guru’s Talks》
Book 129 Entering the Most Hidden Yin-Yang Realm
The Lotus in the Sea of Fire
(《走入最隱祕的陰陽界》＜火海中的蓮花＞)
by H.H.Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-Yen Lu
(continued from issue #1496)
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Half a year passed in this manner. They kept their secret well, and surprisingly nobody knew anything about it.
Zhao Guangping respected and honored Zhang Xiaohui’s request; every morning and evening he would recite the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra and dedicate its merits to her, while keeping count using a Buddhist rosary.
One sudden day, Zhang Xiaohui wept while lying in Zhao Guangping’s arms. Her tears poured down her cheeks as she told him, “We have been as intimate as though we were one person, but the time has now come when we must part! How can I repay the kindness I have received from you!”
”Why do you say this?” he asked, alarmed.
”You recited the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra ten thousand times for me; now that the number of recitations is complete, I have been destined to be reborn in the household of a kind and wealthy family.”
”Oh!” his mouth grew wide, “How can I keep you, so that we can stay together as before?”
”There is one way!”
”What way? Say it quickly.”
Zhang Xiaohui replied faintly, “On the tier where I resided at the columbarium of Songshan Temple, all the spirits know that you recited the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra for me, and are full of admiration. Now they beseech me to entreat you in turn; if you can recite the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra for all of them, all the spirits can then go through transmigration together, and I can also stay until then. As you recite the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra, there will also be merit for you.”
”How many times?” he asked immediately.
”One million times.”
”Alright, I will recite.”
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While Zhao Guangping recited the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra so as to keep Zhang Xiaohui, he was unable to not recite to delay the passing of time. Even for a million recitations of the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra, there would be an inevitable date of completion. As that day drew closer, he wrote a verse:
Enter my door to meet with me.
Come without a trace,
Go without a trace,
I want to pursue,
But there are numerous mountains,
I lean against the old pine under Qing Geng Peak.
After reading it, Zhang Xiaohui asked Zhao Guangping, “This verse has a flavor of separation and farewell, have you read Dream of the Red Chamber?”
”Yes, I have!”
”In the hundred and twentieth chapter of Dream of the Red Chamber, Jia Baoyu, in the company of a Buddhist monk and a Taoist, leave the world of samsara together. And as they depart there is a song that goes: The place I stay is on Qing Geng Peak; the place in which I wander is in the primordial space. Who will I leave with, and with whom did I come? Oh boundless uncertainties, all return to the vast emptiness.”
Zhao Guangping said, “This song evokes an immense sense of wonder – after hearing it one’s heart opens up, but doesn’t it seem unfeeling?”
”Having or not having sentiment originates from the same dream. Don’t laugh if people are blinded by ignorance and emotions.”
Finally one million recitations of the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra was completed. Both of them were emotionally torn apart…
Indeed:
Who will accompany one,
Alone to experience sentimental attachment.
One’s love will not return like the river that has run west,
Without the mythical dream grass,
Dreams cannot materialize through imagination,
With whom to exchange words of gentleness!
Both of them embraced and cried, heartbroken. At this time if there were other people around, they would only see Zhao Guangping by himself, arms outstretched in an embrace, with tears streaking down.
”You will see me off.”
”Of course.”
Zhang Xiaohui’s body was light as a swallow. She tugged at Zhao Guangping’s body a few times, and actually pulled out two of Zhao Guangping. One of them was lying on the bed in a deep sleep, the other followed Zhang Xiaohui and flew out the window directly to a plaza. Their feet did not touch the ground and they flew very quickly.
Martial arts novelists would describe this as gliding on water, flying above grass, catching cicadas in eight steps, or soaring across empty space.
Whatever the case may be, the way they carried themselves as they flew was extraordinarily splendid.
●
At a great plaza, several hundred people were gathering. There was not only one group of people, but multiple groups. Actually these were not people but milling crowds of ghosts.
Around the crowds were many officers, and one among them wore a red robe. He appeared to be an official of higher rank, and was in the midst of doing roll call and placement.
Carriages and chariots rattled, rumbled and rolled; horses whinnied and neighed; it was as though troops of soldiers were being shifted elsewhere for garrison duty.
”Fairy Ling Po is coming, Fairy Ling Po is coming,” someone yelled from among the crowd.
Everybody clapped with thunderous applause.
”Who is beside her?” someone asked.
”No trespassers may enter this place!”
An officer ordered loudly, “Stranger, stop!”
Zhang Xiaohui was Fairy Ling Po. She stood gracefully and said, “The one whom I’ve brought with me is not a trespasser. He is Lianhua Guangping, Zhao Guangping.”
”Wow! He is our benefactor!” The crowd of spirits placed their palms together, knelt on their knees and prostrated before him.
Even the surrounding officers placed their palms together, and the one who wore the red robe saluted him. In a place where outsiders were not allowed to enter, he had now become a special guest.
Zhang Xiaohui told Lianhua Guangping, “Because you developed a bodhi heart and the pure energy of reciting sutras, the nectar of Dharma rain appeared which could enter into the mind fields of those with wisdom and sincere faith. Now that seeds of blessing and virtue have been planted in their hearts, they can freely transmigrate to another life in samsara. And as for you, in the foreseeable and unforeseeable future, your karmic affinity with them, which is all good in nature, will develop and mature in various places.”
Zhang Xiaohui continued, “Karmic affinities and retribution are like a bright mirror that illuminates all causes and consequences in the world. In the future if you attain achievement and become a teacher of Buddhadharma in the human world, they will come and take refuge in you based on their affinity, and at the same time they will offer in homage all kinds of treasures – they will be your benefactors!”
Zhao Guangping nodded, “I understand.”
He then asked in puzzlement, “Why do they call you Fairy Ling Po?”
”I took refuge in a wise and great Buddha’s disciple, Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-Yen Lu, which enabled me to observe, analyze, and thus thoroughly understand the Buddhadharma. Through actual cultivation based on the liturgies, ignorance and dark delusions were extinguished, and I could enter into yogic union with the deva realm of Lakshmi. Now, with splendid bearing and wearing various adornments, I have a rare and precious Dharma throne, and have become a graceful celestial being.”
He looked at Zhang Xiaohui and then at the crowd of spirits, indeed there was a difference in their aura and countenance. Zhang Xiaohui radiated a resplendent aura, whereas the crowd of spirits emanated a turbid air.
Zhang Xiaohui next pointed to a single vehicle inlaid with mother- of-pearl. A beautiful canopy of embroidered curtain hung from above. Inside the vehicle was a lotus throne suffused with red light, and there were two attendant maidservants.
As for the crowd of spirits, the vehicles that carried them each contained ten or twenty people. All of them were merely ordinary vehicles.
”Will they not ascend to the deva realm of Lakshmi?”
”They will transmigrate to another life in samsara based on their karma.”
”What about the spirits’ places in Songshan Temple?”
”There will be a celestial fire!” Zhang Xiaohui said.
(Later it was verified that the columbarium section at Songshan Temple had been consumed by fire; nothing was left.)
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When the time came, the two maidservants led Zhang Xiaohui (Fairy Ling Po) into the vehicle. It soared and ascended into the sky. The crowd of spirits placed their palms together as they gazed upward.
Only after Zhang Xiaohui was inside the vehicle, did she look back at Zhao Guangping, “Farewell, go back quickly, and don’t forget to study the True Buddha Tantra. Hope to meet with you again.”
The chariot disappeared into the mist and rosy clouds.
Zhao Guangping returned to his own bedroom, and saw himself asleep on the bed.
With only a single thought, the two Zhao Guangping became one.
When he awoke, tears filled his vision.
(the end)
