The Flying Carpet of the East By Living Buddha Sheng-yen
Lu This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 31st book, 東方的飛氈. CHAPTER 35 - The Old Man Of The Orchard A beautiful young lady brought her old grandfather to me. She was 18; lovely and spirited, with rosy cheeks. Her grandfather, however, had a grayish cast to his complexion. The two stood in marked contrast. "Mister Lu," said the young woman, "I've heard that you do reading to help people to solve their problems. That's why I've brought my grandfather, Kuo Ju-feng here. Grandfather has had bad luck this year. Do you know when his luck will change? He is 63." The old man remained silent. I lit three incense sticks for them. The young lady received the incense from me, bowed, and put it in the incense holder. I prayed for guidance. There appeared to me a mountain with fruit trees growing on it. It looked well cared for. "Sir," I said to the old man, "do you grow fruit in the mountain?" After a pause the gray-faced man squeezed a small smile and answered, "Yes, I grow many papaya trees on my mountain. . .Please check to see what my ailment is. I would appreciate your insights so much. I've seen doctors and received shots and medicines to no avail. I can really use some help." I looked at his fingernails and a his skin. I judged that, most likely, he had a stomach ailment. "Yes, I do have stomach trouble. You are right again. It's strange though. The pain always starts at the same time: 3:00 to 4:00 a.m. It's like living hell. I am about ready to commit suicide! I've seen so many doctors, and I take so many painkillers. Frankly, I've never believed in the spirit world. My visit to you is the first time in my life I've searched for answers this way." I wondered about his pains coming at 3:00 to 4:00 a.m. I asked again for guidance. I envisioned the mountain full of papaya trees again. Among the trees I saw a tomb with the name Su on it. I asked "Is there a tomb on your mountain?" "Yes. When I bought the mountain the tomb was there in ruins. I never bothered to fix it, and no descendants have ever come to worship." "The person buried there is named Su, is that right?" Surprised, the man exclaimed, "How did you know?" I smiled. According to my psychic vision, the story was this: The old man grew papayas in the mountains and as the papaya trees grew the tomb site became very dense. Some roots pushed through the cement of the tomb, becoming entangled with the coffin and the corpse. The man in the coffin had died of a gastric ulcer. When I explained the reason for Mister Kuo's ailment, he couldn't believe it. I gave him a prescription: "prepare fruits and tea and go to worship at Su's tomb. Tell him you know you were wrong to ignore his tomb. Repair the tomb. Put the bones into a jar and make the tomb right. You will not need any medicine to recover." Mr. Kuo had tried all kinds of cures, and he was ready to try this one too, strange as it sounded to him. He had already spent a lot of money trying to find a cure. To fix the tomb would cost only a fraction of what he spent on medicine. When workers began the project they found the bones entangled with papaya roots. After the bones were in a new jar and the tomb was repaired, Mr. Kuo had no more stomach pains. He slept well. His body recovered strength and health. One day he came again to see me with his beautiful granddaughter at his side. "Sir, how do I thank you? Whatever you say I will do it," he said. "Okay. If I say it, you'd better keep your word." "Be assured I will. Ask as much money as you wish." "I don't want money. Every morning when you get up, I ask you to recite 108 times: "Amitaba Buddha," I said, smiling. "Chant Buddha? You don't want any money?" His granddaughter sighed and said, "Grandpa, chanting Buddha is very simple. Just promise him. Mr. Lu's purpose in life is just to help people. If you give him money, it's almost an insult." "Chanting Buddha has great merit," I said. The old man heard me finally and knelt down to pray to Buddha. He promised me that he'd chant every day. Before he left he thanked me profusely. |
|
