《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
A student named Zhao Guangping (Lianhua Guangping) told me the story below:
During a Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day), Zhao Guangping went to the Songshan Temple in Taipei to pay his respects to his late grandparents. The cremated remains of his grandparents had been kept in the columbarium part of the temple for many years and every year during the Qingming Festival, he would make the usual visit there.
Many people went there to offer incense, and it was always busy at the Songshan Temple.
His character then was reckless and unrestrained, and at that time he had not yet taken refuge in me nor practiced any Dharma. He was merely accompanying his parents to offer respects and incense to the buddhas.
He entered the columbarium. Inside, the cinerary urns were stored in separate compartments, one after another. Despite the arrangement, it was still visibly chaotic.
He raised his head randomly and caught sight of a full color photograph. The picture was a lovely portrait of a young, beautiful and graceful lady and he was mesmerized, unable to tear his gaze away.
The lady was of medium build, her form and figure were handsome; especially her oval shaped face and soulful eyes. Her full head of glorious hair hung naturally; she was really an incomparable beauty.
He was dazed, and stared like a simpleton.
He even placed his palms together and sighed, “What a beautiful woman! Why did life and death mercilessly tear us apart? Today we are within inches from each other, and yet so far apart, what a pity!”
He continued looking for a long time and paid attention to the name on the plaque – Zhang Xiaohui.
Seeing that his parents were not around, and nobody was paying any attention to him, Zhao Guangping hastily bought incense for offering. He swiftly lit the incense and burnt the paper money for her, reciting the name of Zhang Xiaohui as he burned the paper money.
His parents thought this was strange, “For whom are you burning so much paper money?”
Zhao Guangping replied, “For grandfather and grandmother?”
His parents nodded, “Guangping has matured and become a dutiful grandson.”
He ignored the conversation between his parents and continued burning the paper money while reciting, “Zhang Xiaohui, Zhang Xiaohui, Zhang Xiaohui.” He recalled her fair features in his mind, thinking intently of her. Despite having seen her image only once, he felt like his soul had been wrenched away from him.
After burning all the paper money, he went back to see her again. Once more he placed his palms together to pray.
He felt that his actions had arisen entirely from an immense sense of adoration, and he had done what he did most willingly.
●
About half a month later, Zhao Guangping was in his study preparing for his end-of-semester examinations when he casually raised his head. Under the light before his eyes, as if in a dream, a lady dressed simply in unadorned white and enveloped by a delicate fragrance appeared before him. She seemed like a celestial maiden from among the flowers, or the daffodil spirit Fairy Ling Po herself. He took a better look and remembered; this was Zhang Xiaohui.
He was shocked.
Zhang Xiaohui said, “I came especially to meet you as I wasn’t able to contain my feelings of gratitude.” She continued, “Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.”
Zhao Guangping had heard that there were ghosts in the world, but he had not believed it; and now he had met one.
”Don’t be afraid, I’m a kind ghost,” Zhang Xiaohui tried to console him. His heart was calming down gradually.
He saw that she was gorgeously and exquisitely beautiful, and then he was not afraid at all.
At this time both of them held hands and sat together.
Zhang Xiaohui gave guidance on Zhao Guangping’s homework, “For tomorrow’s exam, you will be asked to solve this Calculus problem. If you can remember all these five practice exercises, you will be able to obtain full marks.”
”Really?” He was disbelieving.
”Of course,” Zhang Xiaohui replied, leaning towards him. “How do you know?” He was doubtful. “Because I’m a ghost!”
”A ghost!” Zhao Guangping was afraid again; but, what he embraced was a lady’s skin as fair as jade. Momentarily, he again forgot his fear.
Time passed…
During the examinations the next day, the five problems in the Calculus section were exactly the same as the ones advised by Zhang Xiaohui. Zhao Guangping finished all of them with ease.
The other subjects also appeared as Zhang Xiaohui said.
Zhao Guangping was really surprised.
After that, Zhang Xiaohui appeared often, but only Zhao Guangping could see her. Other people were not able to see her. Zhao Guangping and Zhang Xiaohui had become as inseparable as glue and lacquer – they were very much in love.
●
Once, he asked, “You don’t look like someone who might die prematurely. Why did you die so early?”
”I committed a killing in a previous life, therefore I died early. My guilt is profound. Since my death, I have had no place to go. If you are sincere about me, please recite the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra ten thousand times for me. I’ll never forget your kindness.”
”High King Avalokitesvara Sutra?”
”Yes.”
”Where can I find this sutra?”
”Presently in this world, only the True Buddha School of Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-Yen Lu prints the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra. True Buddha School has it.”
”I have heard of Sheng-Yen Lu and read his books, but there are many rumors that he has received much criticism from many people in the Buddhist world”
Zhang Xiaohui said, “I may be a ghost, but the eyes of a ghost are more perceptive. Those who proclaim themselves to be great masters and Dharma teachers – most of them base their teachings on the eight conventional Dharmas of the human world. Humanistic Buddhism is in fact a euphemism for and no different from worldly business. Actually, they are still after power and prestige. When it comes to cultivation they create a great spectacle, but all of it is mere pretense.
Zhang Xiaohui continued, “However, Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-Yen Lu is singularly unlike the others. He never pursues the world of politics or money; he is absolutely a genuine cultivator. He has profound meditation stability, and is a holy being whose sacred achievements are the most concealed. From understanding inherent nature and seeing emptiness, he obtained liberation. Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-Yen Lu’s life consists primarily of writing and teaching Dharma; he never blows his own horn or makes false proclamations and is neither boastful nor arrogant. He guides all sentient beings with affinity in the direction of the bright path of liberation.”
Zhao Guangping said, “What you say is the opposite of what I imagined. I previously thought that Sheng-Yen Lu is a liar, a demon, a heretic, a…”
”Please don’t say that – Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-Yen Lu is the only sage at this time in this world who can preach the great Dharma in all of the heavenly realms, as well as descend to the underworld to give teachings and guidance to ghosts. I listened to his preaching and sermons in the underworld.”
”Can there really be such a thing?” Zhao Guangping shook his head.
”I personally experienced these teachings of Buddhadharma, how can it be false!” Zhang Xiaohui said, “We have a Buddhist hymn in the underworld to praise Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-Yen Lu; do you want to hear it?”
”Yes!”
Thus, Zhang Xiaohui began to sing:
Words of Dharma that guide one to the treasury of joy and blessings,
Gush forth like a hundred thousand great rivers,
Completely filling the underworld,
This is the illuminating all-knowing wisdom of Lian-sheng,
Like the infinite stars in Space,
Lighting the previously dark altar of the soul.
Zhang Xiaohui’s singing was not only a pleasure to the ears and wonderful, her voice and praise were extraordinary and indeed, seldom heard in the world. The melody seemed to resonate throughout the vast emptiness, containing eighty-four thousand Dharma doors that caused the people who were listening to become dumbfounded. It was as though invisible nectar was falling from the heavens, causing people to have marvelous righteous thoughts.
”I believe it now,” Zhao Guangping said.
”If you believe, then you have to take refuge.”
”Okay, I will take refuge.”
This was the cause and condition for Zhao Guangping’s transformation to Lianhua Guangping!
(to be continued)
