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Chapter 6 - Smoke At The Lakeside Along the lakeside are many wooden houses. Sometimes in early dawn or evening, the houses spit white smoke from red-bricked chimneys. White smoke that sways. He likes to watch the gossamer smoke swaying upward, making circles, veering off towards the horizon. The ethereal smoke seems to be there and yet not be there, pregnant with abstract thoughts and bewilderment. This is like human life. Indeed, this is so much like human life. Born of the Void, returning to the Void. Seeming to have, and yet not have. Each ribbon of smoke walks on a different path of its own! The path of cultivation is the same. Some people believe that they have learned much, and have risen high. They spiral upward, almost touching the sky. But the sky is still far away! Any waft disperses the smoke without a trace. He ponders this often. The smoke at the lakeside is analogous to the cultivation of the Way. Which ribbon of smoke can really reach up to the sky? This seems to be a very sad question, because almost as soon as a ribbon appears, it is blown apart, and once it leaves the chimney, it is dispersed. Among the cultivators of the Way, how many can really reach Nirvana? So many, many monks Denunciated home-life. So many, many professional Taoists. So many, many hermits in deep mountains. How many of them have really achieved Tao, and attained Nirvana? Many people question in their minds, "Has Master so-and-so really attained Tao and Nirvana?" But someone knows certain that this particular master has only learned gim-micks and publicity tricks with which he deceives himself and others. Many, many ascetics are really trying to cultivate. They practice cultivation every day. They are vegetarians, keep vows, and meditate. But they cannot find a truly enlightened guru to guide them. Even though they sincerely want to cultivate, they walk on paths that do not lead to supreme wisdom and Nirvana. How many people reach Nirvana? How many people attain enlightenment? So many masters. So many living buddhas. So many wise men. So many monks. So many learned Buddhist experts. Not to mention the master who specializes in advertising himself on television and in newspapers! The ribbons of smoke by the lakeside can be twisted and always changing. The ribbons of smoke by the lakeside can be like a sly person sneering. The ribbons of smoke by the lakeside can be a symbol of pain and sorrow. Truly, a sincere cultivator does not advertise himself. A true cultivator has a special trait-he must leave the worldly paths, not just in pretense, and go on the real path of cultivation. He has to seek knowledge constantly, to bear all kinds of suffering and pain. A real cultivator must find a truly enlightened Vajra master before he himself can become enlightened. He should take a very long time to observe and search, to offer his body, speech and mind.
In this world, there are many false masters who sell false goods and act like magicians. They juggle balls of false Taoism and astrology. A real cultivator will understand that that is just the facade of Tao, and not the real Tao. So to seek the real path of cultivation, one should not become enamored with facades. Today, Holy-Red-Crown-Vajra-Master tells everyone that there is only one Tao, which is finding the true Self, and awaken to original nature. What is Tao? Tao is not something that can be explained by written words, nor can it be transmitted by television. It is not a performance, nor can it be described. It is a deep evolvement of the Self to a point of total purification. The ribbons of smoke by the lake, floating gradually towards the sky, paint a picture of inspiration. In the eyes of a poet, it could be a poem. In the eyes of a painter, it could be a painting. In the eyes of a cultivator, it is an extraordinary revelation. Today, an illuminating sage who has suffered and pained has truly merged into the "Ocean of Perfection and Enlightenment". Starting from a low birth, searching and struggling for many years, he has finally understood the real Self. Troubles and worry have finally released him. To put it more clearly, reincarnation is in his hands. Whatever incarnate form he wants to be, he will be. Yet, his Dharma nature remains inviolate. Though he cultivates like a hermit, his Enlightenment is like a huge, bright sun illuminating worlds in all directions. Anyone receiving his illumination, including monks or officials of high ranks, will all bow down to him. He is an illuminating sage from the Lotus Land, and has come to this world to bestow lotus flowers on sentient beings. In the future, there will be millions of sentient beings taking refuge in him. Yet, he does not want any riches, jewels or gems. He does not want to leave any personal wealth behind on this earth. He would not appear on television nor newspapers just to sell false goods and gain popularity. In this world he does not care for fame nor profit. This person just stays by the Sammamish lakeside, away from the crowd. With both hands empty, he does not have anything except for one eternal thing, that is his Nirvana, his Enlightenment, which is the most precious and holiest. He appreciates the ribbons of smoke by the lakeside, and he also knows the true meaning of the Void.
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