Chapter 21 - The Green, Green Grass Of The Lake

Plop! I jumped into the water. It was a different world under the water. At the bottom of the lake was grove after grove of water grass, standing tall and green, and swaying in the water.

Isn't it also a joy of life that the bottom of the lake has sprouted bundle after bundle of green, green grass?

If one does not jump into the water, how would one know that there is another world at the bottom of the lake? How would one know that under the water there is an open expanse, cool and pleasant, without hustle and bustle, except for the primordial, priceless sounds of Nature and the water's deep breathing? How would one write its history?

I understand the water, and I also understand Lake Sammamish. I am familiar with them both. I know where there is a piece of rotten log, where at the bottom of the lake is a boulder, and where it is not safe for diving. I know where the undertow is, which direction the water is flowing, and even the location of the quick sand which swallows people up.

The first time I took a swim in a lake in the United States was in Seattle's Green Lake. As soon as I got to the middle of the lake, I noticed that some grass was entwining my feet. Out of curiosity, I dived under and found patches and patches of green, green grass in the lake. I swam leisurely on top of the water grass. It is the same here in Lake Sammamish; the bottom is also full of green, green grass.

When I dive into the water, I seem to turn into a grass-nibbling, little fish, swimming in a clear and refreshing environment. The water grass world at the bottom of the lake is very spectacular, and it appears as an endless expanse. Many, many aquatic organisms live inside it and, I say, this is also "another world".

I often think of my guru in the past, my root guru, whose feet had never trod upon expensive rugs, and who did not live in any stately mansion. My guru lived far from crowds, in a mountain forest, in a humble, thatched hut that barely shielded him from wind and rain. No one ever paid attention to him. Yet my guru's life was so gentle and so vigorous. It was just that the worldly people did not know him.

Who knew that he was highly learned? Who knew that his wisdom was as vast as the sky? Who knew that he was a sage?

I asked my guru, "Doesn't the guru have any desires?"

"I am from the light of the universe; I am with the light of the universe all the time. I have never lacked anything. I don't need anything, and don't know what desire is."

"Doesn't the guru want to achieve world fame?"

"Even world fame is nothing. Since knowing that world fame is nothing, there is no need for it. The most precious thing a man can have is freedom. To have world fame is to lose freedom. Lian-Shen¹, remember my words, to gain world fame is to lose your freedom."

From my guru, I have learned a lot.

I learned to think, to think about all kinds of problems.

I learned wisdom, wisdom of knowing there is nothing.

I learned freedom, freedom from desiring anything.

Now I live in the midst of "owning nothing" and "desiring nothing." I know that, in this world, people are running after something, people are running after necessities. Businessmen want money, students want knowledge, scientists want inventions, farmers want harvests, and fishermen want full catches .... Such is life. All are asking for something.

Everyone wants to own something.

Except for the Holy-Red-Crown-Vajra-Master who lives in the midst of no desires.

Someone asked, "Doesn't the master have a house and cars?"

I replied,"Those have come spontaneously."

Someone asked, "Isn't the master very famous?"

I replied,"That has come spontaneously."

I have never thought about how to become famous or how to seek profit. I have not even thought about how to make a living but, mysteriously, my carefree style of living spontaneously brings fulfillment in everything. I do not ask for these things, yet all of them arrive-people offer them to me on their own. This is what I have living in the midst of "asking for nothing."

I arrived at the lakeside beach of Lake Sammamish, took off my top and pants and, with only swimming trunks on, I went into the lake. In the lake was the green, green grass which, I thought, was like my guru. He just did not get out to the surface; the worldly people had no way of knowing him. But he was indeed most gentle and most vigorous, and he lived in the midst of "asking for nothing."

Today, a highly ranked official comes; I do not want to meet him. Today, a tycoon comes; I do not want to see him. Today, an extremely famous person comes; I also do not want to see him. I do not want to engage in polite conversations. I "need nothing" and "ask for nothing," and I have never been in lack. What I have learned is contentment.

I am that bundle after bundle of grass in the lake, that grove after grove of grass in the water; I am under the surface, not smart but hermit-like. I can live my whole life like this. There is no need to seek for more. There is no need to seek because, after all, there is no need for anything. I am just like the swaying water grass in Lake Sammamish.

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