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Chapter Fifteen : Obtaining a Child There was a couple named Chou I who had been married for several years. They had no children, and they went to doctors everywhere. They prayed to deities, bowed to Buddhas, and took secret remedies, but they still had no result. The relationship between the Chou I couple was very harmonious, and they loved each other very much. Both of them came to consult me, asking: "Are we going to have a child?" I did a divination, and the answer was "No." They asked: "Is there any secret remedy?" My answer was: "No." "Does that mean that there is no hope for us, for the rest of our lives?" "Yes." "We have heard that you are gifted, and there is nothing you cannot accomplish. Can you help us?" The two of them begged me sincerely. I replied: "I really don't have any solution!" The Chou I couple told me the following story: Chou I's father had been the richest in the whole area, and Chou I had been their only son. Chou I's parents' only hope was that Chou I could have a male heir, in order to continue the family line. Now Chou I and his wife had been married for many years, and they not only hadn't had a son, but they also hadn't had a daughter. The older generation doesn't share the same modern notions as contemporary people. The Chou I couple was quite open about their situation, and they didn't think that it was a serious matter to be childless. However, older people of the previous generation don't think this same way. For them, to be without an heir is a serious matter. They would be ridiculed and scoffed, especially if they were well esteemed in town. For them, being heirless is like having committed a great sin. "What is the result of the doctor's complete examination?" I asked. "Normal." "What about artificial insemination?" "It was a failure!" I said, "I do possess a talisman for obtaining a child. Unfortunately, I asked a high spirit who claimed that even if I gave you the talisman, it wouldn't have any effect. I'm really sorry about this!" The Chou I couple had to leave without any alternative. Before they left, I handed them the High King Sutra, and told them, "Recite this sutra one thousand times." "Will it help us to obtain a child?" "Let's hope for a miracle." I also felt frustrated, without any other alternative. In fact, the Chou I couple not only recited the sutra one thousand times, but each of them both recited it five thousand times, altogether reciting it ten thousand times. Nevertheless, there was still no miracle. I also felt discouraged about it. Of course, I know that the High King Sutra is a very efficacious sutra. It has been in circulation since the T'ang Dynasty, and there are many stories of miraculous events associated with it. Nevertheless, the Chou I couple had recited the sutra ten thousand times, and where was Avalokitesvara bodhisattva? I, of course, felt that this was unjust. Chou I was very understanding. "Grand Master Lu, please don't be upset, don't be upset. We can't blame the bodhisattva for not being responsive. We must blame ourselves for not having such a blessing!" Chou I's wife was very kind. "We felt that the High King Sutra was very good, and we felt more at ease by reciting it. We don't have to ask for anything. Everything is due to karmic affinity, and we will just follow the natural course. We will continue to recite the sutra." This situation was like the so-called emperors (the ones in charge) being not so anxious, while the eunuchs who served the emperors were anxious to death. The parents of Chou I could no longer remain patient. Without consulting the couple, they bought a young woman from a remote countryside as a concubine for Chou I, expecting Chou I to have a child by her. Chou I was against this. His wife was very noble. "It is an old custom that in order to conceive a male heir, a man can have a concubine. We can try it out to fulfill the wishes of the older generation." Chou I still would not agree. Chou I's parents and Chou I's wife wanted him to take a concubine. In the end, Chou I also gave in! On their first night together, Chou I observed the girl closely. Her appearance was not boorish. She had a round face and round body, but she was not heavy. She was the type that people always say is conducive for reproducing children. But the girl was in tears, and she was sadly weeping. Chou I asked her, "Why are you unhappy?" The girl answered, "I dare not tell you!" "Dare not means that you have a grievance. You can tell me about it in detail, and I will try to help you resolve it!" Chou I said this with sincerity. The girl saw that Chou I was a very honest person, and thus she did not intend to hide the truth from him. The girl said, "My father farmed for a landlord for many years. His income was very low, and he was barely surviving. Recently, he lost his job and borrowed some money from other people to do some small business. He failed in his small business, and could not repay his debt. So, he has sold his daughter." The girl continued, "Ever since the time I was in school, I knew a classmate from my village. Our personalities are similar, and our feeling for each other is more than an ordinary friendship between man and woman. I promised to myself that I would marry him in the future. And my boyfriend also swore that he would not marry anyone else but me. Now I am in this situation here, and that is why I am in tears." Upon hearing her, Chou I was sympathetic, and made a decision at once. He planned to return this girl to his father without asking for any refund. That night, the girl slept in the bed, and he slept on the sofa. The next day, Chou I's parents and wife inquired from him about the night before. Chou I explained to them what he had learned and what he had decided. Both his parents and his wife couldn't disagree with his plan. Later, Chou I had a dream. He told me: "I saw a magnificent palace in heaven, and various towers radiating colorful lights. The place was very flat, with golden sand covering the ground. There were two children playing in front of the palace. Suddenly, Avalokitesvara bodhisattva emerged. Avalokitesvara was adorned with a boundless solemnity. A boundless fragrance filled the air. There was a boundless light like the pure moon. When the two children saw the bodhisattva arriving, they were filled with joy. One of them held the left hand of the bodhisattva, and the ther held the right hand of the bodhisattva. Following the bodhisattva, the two children walked down through the clouds. Having observed this scene, I woke up from my dream." I made a divination of this dream, and I was very pleased. I said: "You let that girl go, and therefore, you don't have to worry about being childless." I went on: "On your forehead, the line of children has appeared. This is a very good sign." Chou I said: "I haven't been able to have a child for many years. I probably just had a false dream and false thought. Is it really possible?" I replied: "This time, it is certain that you are going to have children!" Later, the wife of Chou I, who had not been able to conceive for many years after their marriage, was actually pregnant. Before labor, his wife also dreamt of Avalokitesvara bodhisattva, holding two children in her hands. At the end, she actually gave birth to twins. When these two children were born, both of them formed the mudra of Deva Lord Indra. According to my knowledge, it is wrong to purchase a girl as a concubine. It sounds reasonable to trade a girl for money, but, if one thinks about it, the unity between a man and a woman should be in accordance with the wishes of the woman as well as the man, even if she is poor and powerless. Forcing her to be a mistress is already acting against her will. Something even more awkward that has occurred too often is that a young woman is required to serve an old man. This situation is like an old cow eating soft grass, or a flower is planted in cow manure. In this situation, the young concubine, so gentle and soft, is abused by the older wife, who is so fierce and jealous. This causes the enmity of the concubine, who becomes so depressed that she wishes to die. Since ancient times, there has been tremendous suffering from such poisonous circumstances. This is very sad and deserves sympathy. Most men who end up having several wives and concubines say they do so because they can't produce any children, but this is the real reason for only a minority of men. The majority of men who have several wives do so because they are rich and cannot control their sexual desire. The consequence is that the wives and concubines fight each other for the man's favor. Their struggle becomes too ugly and stinky to conceal. There is much harm in having many wives and concubines. If it's not absolutely necessary, then it's best not to commit such a bad karmic affinity! One should contemplate on the situation as follows:
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