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Book 69 - Household Feng-Shui
We are all familiar with the adage, "Behind a successful man, there is always a virtuous and able wife." In his life, His Holiness has walked steadfastly and successfully on the path to reach "Buddhahood in the Present Life." He has succeeded in demonstrating to sentient beings that such a goal is possible. His footprints radiate sparkling golden lights guiding sentient beings who walk closely behind him. Behind His Holiness, there is the great and compassionate shi-mu! Shi-mu deserves great merits for her role in helping the Living Buddha. She has accompanied His Holiness during their many years of great hardship. Since their beginning with meager resources, they have endured tidal waves of malicious slanders and attacks from all directions. Supportively, behind the amazing steel-like will power and determination of His Holiness are the comforting words, encouragement, and friendship of shi-mu. They have shared many touching stories. Together, His Holiness and shi-mu have endured hardships and comforts, joys and sorrows. Shi-mu is the greatest Dharma supporter behind the Grand Master's achievement in realizing Buddhahood! During the process, shi-mu herself has endured trials and tribulations and gained a great deal of experience. She also has cultivated to a very hight spiritual level and developed admirable powers of stability. She shows deep understanding in her ability of perfectly handle many different situations. Shi-mu sets a superb example to others by sincerely "devoting herself to the guru, cherishing the Dharma, and actualizing the practice." Quietly, she has advanced on the pathway and gained profound understanding. Consequently she has received the Acharya Empowerment from His Holiness and become a master herself. My wife and I first met shi-mu seven years ago, when we traveled to Redmond to seek teaching and pay homage to the Living Buddha. During that stay in 1983 of more than half a month at their house, shi-mu did not teach me any Dharma. Last year, my wife and I had the opportunity to hear shi-mu teaching at the Taipei Chuang Yan Chapter and the Taichung Chi Chieh Chapter and were greatly impressed with her wisdom and progress. During my present stay at the Master's house, I have had the chance to chat with shi-mu on several occasions. Casually she imparted to me some gems of wisdom in her remarks. When I heard them, I was instantly amazed, secretly feeling both surprise and joy. I was surprised because she had made an inconceivable breakthrough in her cultivation; and I was happy because her remarks had unintentionally resolved a personal question I had had in my practice for a long time! The question I had was quite profound and complicated, and I had been waiting for a chance to seek His Holiness' advice. Unexpectedly, from my casual chat with shi-mu, I was able to resolve the mental knot in my mind. I immediately realized that she had reached an advanced level in her cultivation! Shi-mu also has in her the virtues valued of traditional Chinese women: simplicity, perseverance, thrift, knowledge of running a household and teaching the children. On top of the busy housework, however, she also has a heavy load of Dharma work. Her housework consists of taking care of the entire household: sweeping and cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, laundry, sewing, driving the children to and from school, and taking care of the children's general needs. In her daily Dharma work, she fills out piles of refuge certificates and piles of return envelopes for inquiring students (the total number of refuge students being 120,000 at the time of this writing.) Every day she prepares tea, fruit, and snacks for the people who have traveled from all corners of the world to pay homage to the Living Buddha, and she makes arrangements for them to see him in turn. She also listens patiently to the numerous long-distance phone calls that come at all hours from around the world. Nevertheless, her training and long-term exposure to these duties has enabled her to handle everything calmly and confidently. Additionally, shi-mu has one more important job?Xthe sacred task of attending to His Holiness, the Grand Master of 120,000 True Buddha School students around the world. This great service of hers in the aiding and deliverance of sentient beings will occupy a glorious page in the annals of the True Buddha School. In educating their children, shi-mu also proves to be a model mother. In addition to helping Fo-ching and Fo-chi with their homework, she also teaches them life principles and morals. She is kind but also strict, patient and detail oriented. I found myself very lucky to have the chance to go out every Sunday afternoon with the Grand Master and his family. One time, while visiting a downtown shopping center, Fo-chi went inside a toy store and did not come out for a long time. The Grand Master, shi-mu, and I sat down on a bench while Fo-ching went inside the store to look for him. As soon as Fo-chi came out, he wanted his mother to go into the store with him. Shi-mu resisted at first but, after a tug-of-war, she finally agreed to walk into the sotre. After taking a look however, she came out of the store again, with a grimacing Fo-chi in tow. We left the toy store and continued our stroll. I noticed that behind us, Fo-chi kept turning his head to look at the store, while secretly wiping his tears. So I bent over to him and whispered, "What if you and I go quietly back to the toy store, and I buy it for you?" I had hoped this would bring a smile to his face, but he shook his head and said, "No!" We were getting farther and farther away from the toy store. I was keeping company with Fo-chi behind and, seeing him crying, I tried three times to make him turn around to go back to the store. He continued to refuse. Finally, I asked him, "Don't you really want that toy?" He nodded. Then I asked again, "Then why won't you go back to the store? I will buy it for you, and your mom and dad won't scold you for it." He answered curtly and resolutely, "My dad and mom will not be happy about it!" I watched helplessly as this little eight-year-old Dharma brother took a tearful leave from the toy store. Yet I could not help but admire the proper way in which shi-mu had educated her son.
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