The Lake God

(Book 129 Entering the Most Hidden Yin- Yang Realm《走入最隱秘的陰陽界》)
‧Written by Master Sheng-yen Lu
　Occasionally, I would walk towards Lake Sammamish, where there are often water ducks and blooming lotuses.
　I love walking along the floating pier, where one can look to the bottom of the lake and view all those fishes swimming right above the fine sands.
　When True Buddha School students come to pay homage at Ling Shen Ching Tze, the Leizang Temple in Redmond, many of them also make time to visit Lake Sammamish.
　Once, while looking at the fine sands at the bottom of the lake and at the carefree fishes swimming there, I started counting: one fish, two fish… With tails swishing, the fish were nibbling on the water grasses, causing them to undulate from side to side.
　Suddenly, a moving shadow under the water caught my eye. At first, there was just the appearance of hair and beard; then, after a short while, a face with eyes, ears, nose, and mouth emerged. The person’s eyes looked as if they were shut, and the sight startled me greatly.
　It was not a floating corpse. Except for the visible facial features, the face was actually transparent, and I could still see two or three fishes swimming underneath it. Submerged under in water, this trans-parent face was leisurely gliding along.
　At the same time of the appearance of this face, I also heard the sound of jazz music playing and smelled the fragrance of orchids.
　I noted it mentally although I did not understand it. If someone else had seen such a face in the water, he or she would have undoubtedly started screaming or yelling. But I did not, as I was used to such things. I stood up. I was sure it was not my reflection in the water, as I did not have any hair or beard.
　Quietly I started walking back towards the direction of Ling Shen Ching Tze. It was at that moment when I became aware of something moving next to me, right at the level of my cheek. I could hear the stepping sounds on grass and sand.
　He spoke to me, “You are a god, and I am also a god.”
　“I am not a god,” I replied.
　“But you have the signs of a god.”
　Without answering him, I asked him instead, “Why did you show your face in the water?”
　“Because I felt that you are Master Lu from the Leizang Temple.”
　“Why did you approach me?”
　“I just want to ask you for a glass of wine.”
　I nodded, agreeing.
　I believe if someone had happened to be in the vicinity while I was conversing with “the man in the lake,” they would only have witnessed me talking and nodding to myself and nothing else.
　“Are you a lake ghost?” I asked him again.
　“Master Lu of the Redmond Leizang Temple, you indeed live up to your reputation. You saw right away that I am a ghost and not a lake god.”
　I laughed and said, “Among the divine lights of the devas in this world, those of the water devas are the most beautiful, and are known to be resplendent with various colors. Water devas also have their own attendants, and when they do appear, people who are able to, would see a lake brimming with rainbows. They certainly won’t have over- grown beard and sideburns like the ones you have. Besides, I have met the lake god of Sammamish, and his name is Shariff. Who are you and what is your name?”
　“My name is David. I got drunk, fell into the lake and drowned.”
　“Ha! So you are a drunken ghost?”
　“Do not laugh at me, Master Lu.”
　With a stern countenance, I asked him, “What is it like for you in the lake?”
　He replied, “This world is just too unfair! I heard that Shariff had also fallen into the lake after getting drunk. But, after meeting the Dragon King who greatly admired his talents, Shariff became the lake god. I also got drunk and drowned, but no one has paid any attention to me, and now I am a lake ghost. What great disparity between his and my luck!”
　“This is karma!” I explained, “Shariff gave up drinking and started cultivation, but you have not!”
　“You can’t blame me, Master Lu. As soon as I start drinking, I feel like I am in heaven.”
　Well, I had no reply to that.
　***
　During those days, I often took with me a small bottle of wine on my walks to the lake. At the edge of the lake, I would sprinkle the wine onto the sandy beach.
(to be continued)