《Guru’s Talks》
Book 129 Entering the Most Hidden Yin-Yang Realm: The Search for a Daughter
(《走入最隱祕的陰陽界》＜尋女記＞)
by H.H.Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-Yen Lu
(continued from issue #1503)
Now, if Wu Tingjun was not on the registry of the drowned, she must not have fallen into the ocean. Could it be that she was actually on land, although she had apparently boarded the ferry, which the ticket stub was proof of? Surely it was impossible that she could have flown into space. These all seemed to be impossible alternatives. So where had Wu Tingjun gone?
●
I next became determined to look for her on land. I did not want to make any mistakes due to oversight. Perhaps she had boarded the ferry and her ticket had been torn, but she disembarked before the ship set sail. If this were the case, it was possible she was on land.
And if so, how was I to find her?
Should I ask the local Earth Deity, the local District Deity, the local City God, or the highest-ranking of the earth governing deities in that region? The City God Temple in Kowloon, Hong Kong was located at Temple Street in Yaumatei, and I had previously visited to pay my respects to the City God. There was also a City God in the Hong Kong Leizang Temple, and I had performed the consecration ceremony for his statue. Because of this, I had a closer connection, so I decided to ask the City God residing at the Hong Kong Leizang Temple for help.
Indeed, when I invoked him, he arrived immediately. However, I did not recognize him. “Are you the City God of the Leizang Temple?” I asked.
“Yes, I am the City God there.”
“Why don’t I recognize you?”
“Living Buddha, when you performed your consecration, it was for the City God of the local chapter Xin Fa Tang, and later, for the City God at the Hong Kong Leizang Temple. The original City God has left and it is now my turn. You did not perform my consecration, thus you do not know me.”
“I see,” I replied. “Never mind this. I would like to ask you about a lady by the name of Wu Tingjun. She is missing and her whereabouts are unknown. Can you look into this for me?”
“I will look into this right away,” ha happily replied.
“How long will it take?”
“Three quarters of an hour.”
The City God left hurriedly. Indeed, forty-five minutes later, he appeared again, but with an appalled expression on his face.
“How did it go?” I asked.
“I searched all over the land and found no such person. I feel very terrible that this is the first time I have had a chance to do something for the Living Buddha, and am unable to accomplish the task!”
“Do not feel had. This is not your responsibility. Never mind the request. You may leave!”
The City God bowed and left.
It was now my turn to be mystified. How very strange. She was not in the ocean, and nowhere to be found on land. Could she be in the empty space? How was this even possible? A human being flying into space?
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I was unable to think of any other explanation, and my last recourse was to take out a Dharma book, the “book of creation” detailing the separation of heaven from earth. This book traces the primordial soul. Regardless of the cause of disappearance, a person’s soul will definitely reappear. This book is a last resort and not to be used lightly.
The primordial life force,
Governs all spirits.
When the light of perfection is cast,
One’s soul manifests.
This Dharma book has two extremely powerful mantras.
This first is:
Tan, Ju, Lu, Wen, Lian, Wu, Po. Heaven opens, the earth splits asunder. One’s soul appears.
The second is:
Kui, Jun, Guan, Hang, Bi, Bu, Biao. Heaven opens, the earth splits asunder. One’s soul appears.
I had used one of the most advanced Taoist Dharma practices. This method used the primordial and elemental life forces to establish Wuji in virtual space, and manifest the light of Taiji. Wu Tingjun’s soul would be enveloped within the light of Taiji, and it would thus be possible to uncover the story behind her disappearance.
I cast out the light of Taiji, and thunderbolts and lightning radiated into infinity in continuous circles. Enveloping the entire universe in all ten directions,
This light was like that of forging metal, clear and bright.
All five sovereigns of the five directions were contained within
and utilizable at will with the secret keys.
An unexpected event then occurred. Within the circle of Taiji light a lady appeared – Wu Tingjun! However, she was wearing a heavenly imperial crown and donned a rosy red celestial gown. She was none other than the Heavenly Celestial Maiden of Wondrous Acts and Holy Mother Sovereign commonly known as Mazu.
I was very surprised.
The Heavenly Holy Mother said, “Dharma master, why have you covered me with the Taiji light?”
“You wear a royal red robe and hold imperial jade. Are you the Heavenly Holy Mother?”
“Yes, I am. Why do you restrain me here?”
I asked again, “Are you Wu Tingjun?”
“This is my secular name.”
“That is why. Your father asked me to look for you. I could neither find you in the ocean nor on land, so when I could think of no other way, I used the Tiaji light as a last resort. I never would have imagined that you had become the Heavenly Holy Mother!”
The Heavenly Holy Mother smiled, “I was originally a Holy Mother of the havens, but because I had unresolved karmic affinities in the earthly world, I was reborn and raised in the Wu family where my father treated me as the apple of his eye. This karmic affinity then came to an end. On the voyage from Hong Kong to Shantou, I gazed upon the ocean at night and saw a floating palace. Three figures appeared from within. They were celestial maidens fully adorned with sparkling jewels, dressed in a medley of silks and satins. I asked the celestial maidens why they had come and they replied that they had come to welcome the Holy Mother back to the palace, the Palace of Deep Green. After that, I followed the celestial maidens inside, and I understood completely my former existence.”
“What did you do when you were at the Palace of Deep Green?”
“I was reinstated as the Heavenly Celestial Maiden of Wondrous Acts and Holy Mother Sovereign and held a banquet for all celestial beings to meet the immortals. Music, song and dance greeted my return to the palace, and thousands of celestial maidens danced before the court.”
“Are you aware that Wu Gong is looking for you?”
“Yes, I know. Father and I hold a deep love, but our affinity has ended. What can I do!” The Heavenly Holy Mother covered her face and cried. She removed a hairpin from her hair, passed it to me and said, “This hairpin was bought for me by my father as a birthday gift, and it has a unique colored bird. He knows this is something he gave me, so this shall be proof that you found me. You can tell him this is a true occurrence.”
“You were not murdered?”
“I was not.”
“You did not commit suicide?”
“I did not.”
I was surprised!
The Heavenly Holy Mother said again, “As a matter of fact, my secular name Tingjun actually corresponds to the hidden design of fate. Tingjun refers to a sovereign of the heavenly courts.”
The Heavenly Celestial Maiden of Wondrous Acts and Holy Mother Sovereign was reinstated to her original position.
I wrote a verse to commemorate this:
Auspicious mist dissipates in splendor,
To reveal a girl guileless and true;
Where to find Tingjun,
This matter is too profound and deep.
This article is undeniably most mysterious and utterly profound. How will sentient beings in this earthly world believe it? And yet, the universe is vast and tremendous, the sun and moon illuminate and reflect with clarity and there are indeed many rare and peculiar happenings contained within!
(the end)
