
- Book 31 - The Flying Carpet of the East
- By Grand Master Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated by Shan Tung Hsu
|
Chapter 14 - Visiting Mr. Chu Fei
Mr. Chu Fei is a devoted Buddhist and the chief editor of the Buddhist-Muslim
magazine, Bodhi-Tree.
I thought, "Since he works with this knowledge all the time
he must be wise. Maybe I can learn something from him." I decided
to pay him a visit in Tai-chung City.
I told him right away of my spiritual experiences and of my interest
in continuing to learn. Chu shook his head and exclaimed that such
things were impossible.
His wife began to chant for me, reciting the Great Compassion Chant.
"Mrs. Chu," I said, "I do this chant every day too."
"Oh! Really!" she answered, somewhat embarrassed at having
been presumptuous.
I think, in Mrs. Chu's mind, if I was not mentally disordered I
must have been possessed. The chant is very powerful in expelling
evil. I practiced it so often that I could say it backward, forward
and inside out.
Chu, having been silent for awhile, finally said, "I think
that what is happening here is that your heart is possessed by evil.
There is no medicine for that."
"People on spiritual paths are like logs floating on rivers,"
I said.
"The stream carries them along. If the banks of the river,
the undercurrent or decay don't cause damage, eventually the log
will reach the ocean.
People on the spiritual path, if they are not disillusioned or
entangled by evil, and if they maintain a clean and simple heart,
are guaranteed by the Law that they will reach Tao. It was my good
fortune to have these spiritual experiences. Yet you say it is the
work of the devil."
Mr. and Mrs. Chu stared at me without answering. Finally, Chu said,
"Mr. Lu, please forgive the limits of our knowledge. You might
wish to visit our teacher, Li Ding-nan. We are ail his students.
He has worshipped Buddha much longer than we have and he is much
wiser. Maybe he can answer your questions. Your experiences certainly
are unique!"
I thanked them and bowed to their Ksitigarbha Bodhisatva stage
and to their stage of Buddha. When I left the house I began to wonder,
"Is this really the work of the devil?" As I was doubting,
a circle of light appeared in front of my eyes. In the center of
the brightness was a Bodhisattva wearing the Five Buddha Golden
Crown.
"I am the Bodhisattva of Chiu-hua Mountain. I notice that
you begin to doubt yourself. That is why I come to say to you: maintain
your nature. Your original nature is cultivation. Ask for nothing.
This is the way you should place yourself. Keep in mind always that
you are Buddha."
"Lian Shen, Buddha is non-Buddha and non-Buddha is Buddha.
If you think it is an obstacle to live among the non-Buddha, it
will be an obstacle for you to live among the Buddha too. Now you
are in a trial period. I have come to tell you: do not doubt yourself."
After this message was finished the light zoomed away from me and
disappeared into the sky. I found that I was standing at a crossroad.
|