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There was a period when for days in Seattle and at the Rainbow Villa, the air was filled with fluttering cotton-like fibers. I was told that we were right in the midst of “hayfever” season. It was quite a strange scene, the fluttering fibers flying along with the winds. Whatever direction the wind blew, the fibers followed, accompanied by the hissing sounds of the wind. The cotton strands are feathery light, like a group of dancers equipped with wings. Dispersing to the ten directions, they departed without making any noise. Those days when fluttering cotton strands were flying were actually days in which a secret relocation was happening. When karmic affinity came to an end, it was time to move on. I was aware that the days in which the air was filled with pollen were also the days when the cotton fibers were taking flights. The pollen was too minute to be seen, but the cotton fibers had these strand-like wings and even the slightest breeze would start them off in their wanderings. I looked at the fibers and felt like I was watching the inexplicable hand of fate at play. It was very difficult for the fluttering fibers to fly back once they took off. This was fate. While watching the fluttering fibers at Rainbow Villa, I suddenly thought of an amusing Buddhist story. An eminent Buddhist master was engaged in a dialogue with his students. The first disciple spoke to the master, “Shi-fu, I want to leave you and go to the Treasure Flower Mountain to learn about discipline. What do you think?” The eminent master replied, “Good, discipline is very important.” The second disciple said to the master, “Shi-fu, I shall be leaving you to go to the Spiritual Rock Mountain to learn aboutchanting the name of the Buddha. What do you think The eminent master replied, “Good, chanting the name of the Buddha can enable one to be reborn to the Western Pure Land.” The third disciple turned to the eminent master and said, “Shi- fu, I shall be leaving you to go to Tibet to learn about Tantrayana practices. What do you think?” The eminent master answered, “Good, Tantrayana can enable one to attain Buddhahood in the present body. With this practice, you can attain liberation in this life.” Finally, the fourth disciple could not contain himself any longer. He asked, “Great Master, you are a world-renowned lineage holder of a school, an expert in all kinds of Buddhist practices, and you have already attained great realizations in the present body. Why is it that so many students and followers still want to go somewhere else to seek other teachings? Why can’t they follow you and learn from you forever? Why do they change their minds the moment they see something new?” When the eminent master heard this, he replied very peacefully, “Good, because I still have you.” As I was thinking about this story, I laughed. Actually, to be human is to be inconstant. People like to swarm to places where there are novel things happening. Before man settles himself down, he is oftentimes just like the wandering and fluttering fibers. Man is a curious creature. He turns and churns, following whatever is in vogue, around and around. I say, Buddhist students are like water. Water flows all over the place. The minds of Buddhist students also flow from place to place. One moment, they want to learn from this master; another moment, they want to learn from another master. They change their minds the moment they see something new, and are always running from one place to another. Actually, as long as the students are learning Correct Knowledge and Correct View, I feel happy for them. If they have departed, I feel happy. If they have stayed with me, I also feel happy. The roaming ones are following their destinies. The ones staying put with me are also following their destinies.
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