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Book 69 - Household
Feng-Shui
- Book 69: Household Feng-Shui
- Appendix 06 : A Regimented Life and Inexhaustible Energy
- Written by : Master Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated by : Janny Chow
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His Holiness attends to a myriad of affairs every day and is extremely
busy, but he lives a very disciplined and regimented life, as he
did when he was in military service.
Every morning at 6:30a.m., His Holiness rises and, after practicing
a sadhana, he writes. After eating breakfast at 8:30 a.m., he continues
to write until 11:30 a.m. when he goes outside to exercise, running
slowly around the temple once. After lunch at 12:00 noon, he spends
the next thirty minutes or so opening mail. At 1:00 p.m. sharp,
he begins replying to letters which he continues until 4:00 p.m..
He receives his visitors daily between 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m..
Dinner is usually at 7:00 p.m. but sometimes delayed until 8:00
p.m. if visitors show up at the last moment or ask too many questions.
Then after a bath and another session of sadhana, His Holiness takes
a stroll outdoors to give some thought to his writings for the next
day. After dark (Seattle's summers become dark around 9:30 p.m.),
he opens more letters and reads some books. Sometimes he will play
the piano or watch television to improve his English. Before retiring
at midnight, he often sips a small glass of mild wine. This timetable
is followed strictly except for evenings when visitors may cause
delays in this schedule.
What amazes me most is that, despite this very busy schedule, His
Holiness is always energetic. He has never taken afternoon naps
or dozed off. I have asked shi-mu about this, and she said, "It
has been this for the last nine years. It is lucky that he has so
much energy; otherwise, how would he deal with so many things?"I
was reminded of the time I had visited with the Living Buddha in
1983 when he was already this full of energy, never showing fatigue.
Several times I have followed His Holiness during his daily jog
around the temple. On sunny days, at 11:30 a.m. sharp, he puts down
his pen, does some warm up exercises in the living room, and opens
the front door to go outside. After running from his house to the
front of the temple, he jogs up the temple steps and turns to the
right to circle the outside of the temple. Every time, upon reaching
the left side of the temple, he pauses momentarily and joins palms
to acknowledge the Dragon Spirit under the three tall pine trees.
When he comes around to the front of the temple, he either stops
again to join palms and pay respect to the Bodhisattvas inside the
temple, or he will simply go inside to perform Great homage. Afterwards,
he joins his palms and bows before the outdoor incense burner before
running down the steps to go home. It was a joy for me to run behind
him. He looked so natural and unrestrained with the loose apricot
monk's robe swaying gently in the wind, and his cheer and humor
warmed me like a spring breeze.
The days were bright and sunny, with fresh air, and warm gentle
breezes; I felt so blessed to be able to jog together with the carefree
and unrestrained Living Buddha, as we ran slowly around the temple,
surrounded by beautiful scenery. This period of time was a most
unforgettable interlude in my life!
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