《Guru’s Talks》
Book 129 Entering the Most Hidden Yin-Yang Realm: The Chronicle of the Stone
(《走入最隱祕的陰陽界》＜石頭記 ＞)
by H.H.Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-Yen Lu
(continued from issue #1513)
Now came my problem-
Since the stone belonged to Bixu Palace, naturally of course I should return it to Bixu Palace, but where exactly is Bixu Palace located?
I considered handing the stone directly to the elder in the dream. But would he be able to take the stone with him?
What sort of rare and precious stone was this that it had the ability to guard a palace?
Incredibly the elder knew I would pick up the stone the next day; was this not the divine ability of foreknowledge? Who was this elder? Was he a celestial being? If he were a celestial being, why did he not pick up the stone first? Why did he allow me to pick it up, then chase after me to return it?
These were the questions that bothered me. The situation was difficult to explain clearly, and I was quite confused.
I (Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-Yen Lu) indeed have supernatural and spiritual powers, but I still first try to make sense of things through inference and logic. However, whichever way I tried to make sense of this, my deductions met with dead ends, and I was unable to comprehend the situation!
●
The third night, the elderly man came again.
“Please return my stone!”
“Indeed it belongs to you and is the property of Bixu Palace. Now, how do I return it?”
“Return it to Bixu Palace.”
“But where is Bixu Palace located?”
“Where it came from, is where it should go!”
I was surprised:
“The stone is to be returned to the Zhuzikeng Creek?” I dared not believe it.
“That’s right,” the elderly man said.
“Where exactly is Bixu Palace?”
The elder said, “If you must ask, I can only answer you, that this stone is in fact Bixu Palace.”
When he answered as such, I was even more surprised! I was utterly unable to understand what had happened. Thus, the elderly man began to explain in great detail:
This elderly man was the river god of Zhuzikeng Creek. He resided within Bixu Palace. It turned out that the stone was in fact Bixu Palace.
Earlier on, a spirit official on duty came to give notice that Bixu Palace would face impending disaster, and someone would remove the entire palace.
The elder questioned the spirit official on duty, “Bixu Palace is invisible, and human beings are unaware of its presence, so how could the whole palace be taken away?”
The spirit official on duty replied, “This person is not an ordinary human being. He possesses the faculties of divine eyes, Dharma eyes, and wisdom eyes. He will swim underwater, and remove Bixu Palace.”
“Who is he?”
“He is Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-Yen Lu, the secret master of this present age.”
“What should I do?”
“Use the means of verification to claim it back.”
“What if I am unable to claim it back?”
“This secret master is one of reason. Would he still be the secret master if he was unreasonable? Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-Yen Lu is one with genuine feeling and a very reasonable person; you should definitely be able to get it back.”
The elder knew that Bixu Palace would be lost, hence he came the day before to tell me. Later on I indeed picked up Bixu Palace (the stone), and he manifested himself in my dreams several times more, indicating he wanted the stone palace returned.
After hearing the entire story, I of course brought the stone back to Zhuzikeng Creek. Bixu Palace was returned to Bixu Palace, and the river god returned to his place.
The river god once brought me to visit Bixu Palace – this stone was indeed a rare and precious treasure. Within it contained-
Magnificent and regal splendors constructed from exquisite and precious materials. It was like a palace in the human world, with golden tiles on its roof and doors made of white jade. There were many screens, all made from turtle shells. Coral beads adorned the ceiling. And within the palace an auspicious mist permeated throughout.
Although it was neither a scene from a Heavenly Palace, nor the Crystal Palace of the Dragon King, even then it was not bad compared to these two places!
The river god was also very regal and entertained his distinguished guests in the great hall. Officials of both higher and lower ranks sat alongside me, and we were served splendid and exotic cuisines such as musk deer, golden pheasant, and other wild game. We were also offered the eight treasures and delicacies of the heavenly kitchen, and drank fine mellow wine and nectars of the celestial court.
I remarked to the river god elder.
“That such a fantastic and wonderful sight exists within this stone is truly a cause for profuse amazement!”
The river god elder replied, “Various gods reside in many different places; small can be transformed into big, big can be transformed into small; reality can be transformed into illusion, illusion can be transformed into reality. As a person who understand Buddhadharma, you know that all heavens are within your heart, and your heart is the Paradise of Ultimate Bliss.”
The elder’s reply was deep and profound.
Whether the world of samsara is real or illusory, is quite a question for rumination!
While conducting feng shui consultations, I passed by Zhuzikeng Creek several time, and told my disciples, “Bixu Palace is here.”
“Bixu Palace? Where is it?”
“At the bottom of the creek.”
“Grand Master loves to joke!”
I laughed heartily.
(the end)
