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January 24, 1979
El Granada, Cal.
25
miles S. of San Francisco
Dear Shihfu,
Here's
a rundown of the last two days bowing to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
Sun.
Jan 22: Quiet morning. Horseback riders trot by, "Hey what you're
doing is great. I'd do it myself if I had the time." And off they
gallop. A young family in an old car stop. "We're going back to the
East Coast but we really feel like we have to see the Ten Thousand Buddhas
place before we go."
"The
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas," I say.
"Yes.
There's something about it...we wouldn't feel ready to travel back East
until
we visited it. We are looking for a pure and holy place to christen our
new baby and the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas feels right." The
mother proudly holds up the little baby. "I chant Om Mani Padme Hum.
I learned it from a Tibetan Buddhist monk in New Jersey. He was a good
person but there wasn't any heart there, you know? I mean it was all very
intellectual. We are looking for a method, a Path to really practice and
walk. We saw a picture of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. It feels clean
and has lots of light."
A
man in the back seat asks, "What kind of Buddhism do you
follow?"
"Buddhism
is just the best in the hearts of all living beings. It has no country or
sect. It belongs to everyone. Buddhism is the teaching of all beings.
Nothing is excluded, we don't discriminate."
Big
smiles and nods of agreement. "What system do you practice?"
"World
Buddhism. All traditions, all schools are practiced and taught. Whatever
suits you is available ch'an vinaya, secret school. Pure Land, or
teaching and someone to teach the method. All paths for all beings."
More smiles.
"Got
a nap?" "Is it near Mt. Shasta?" "Far out, that's
great."
After
they left two young Mormon missionaries in spotless vested suits walk
up. "This is Elder __ and I am Elder __. We were wondering what
you're doing."
"We're
Buddhist monks on a bowing pilgrimage."
"Oh,
Buddhists. We thought so. For what purpose?"
"To
get rid of our faults and help the world." I am half expecting a
sermon and conversion pitch, but they simply say,
"That's
wonderful! We're behind you 100%. Good luck!" And they leave. Good
vibrations, there.
TOLLGATE
As
we bowed up to the last intersection out of town a strange man appeared.
He moved slowly, totally in control. His face was hidden from view behind
a full beard and the shade of the tall black hat he wore. He circled us
and then positioned himself in a field about 75 yards ahead and watched
us. From a large shopping bag he pulled bottles of whiskey and beer and
downed one after another like they were water. The vibes he put off were
black and cold. As soon as I saw him I found myself doing a couple of the
42 hands.
After
he settled in, strange things began to happen. Fire trucks and police
cars went roaring through the intersection and then weird people started
showing up. A car skidded to a stop inches from Heng Sure's head and a
woman offered him a ride. A man kept hollering from behind the black hated
man, "What religion are you?" and laughing strangely. People in
bizarre clothes and long scraggly hair walked by mumbling. The man in the
black hat calmly watched over it all nodding his head and laughing. Then
he rang some bells that hung from his neck.
Immediately
five or six yelling and cursing men appeared on the embankment across the
road from us. They were angry and violent. "This is devil's land
here," said one. "May you be cursed!" cried another.
"Wait 'til you get to Devil's Slide," threatened one with a
menacing laugh. (Devil's Slide is a steep and narrow stretch of sheer
cliffs and mountains about seven miles north. We've had many warnings
about it.) They tossed some rocks but they missed us. The man in the black
hat downed another bottle in one long swallow. Then he rang his bells and
waved to the men. They climbed back over the embankment and disappeared,
cursing and howling.
The
black hated man approached to check us out up close. He's laughing under
his breath, "Heh, heh, Buddhists, Krishnas, Buddhists, Heh, heh..."
I catch a glimpse of his face. It sends a shiver through me. I couldn't
describe it except to say that it was full of delight for evil and harm,
fleshing red and full. He wanders over across the intersection and
stands next to our car. He just stares and drinks. Without moving an inch,
you can feel him directing the whole negative show with his presence. He
gestures and the men and weird people return and start coming toward us.
This could be tight. Heng Sure and I have discovered that no matter what
happens we can come through it just fine if we don't let our spirits sag.
If we don't let fear or anger or bad vibrations come into our hearts, we
can slide through the tightest spots like greased fish. We are learning to
counter punch with kindness, compassion, joy, and giving instead of our
fists and false thoughts. "Everything is made from the mind
alone...as one thinks, so one receives in return." (Avatamsaka
Sutra). It's so true. Our survival has come down to not allowing an inch
of doubt or yin energy to enter and pollute our minds. Put out light and
the sun shines. Put out darkness and it rains. The heavier it gets down,
the brighter you've got to go up and shine.
So here
they were, all these hostile strange people gathering to test our temper
and resolve. What to do? Just the day before we read from the
Avatamsaka, and the verse came into my mind as we bowed into this tense
"tollgate,"
It's
just like the sun
Which
appears in the world
But
does not hide or fail to appear
Because
there are blind people who fail to see it.
When
the Bodhisattva takes on all this grievous suffering his vigor increases.
He
does not cast it off, he does not hide from it.
He
is not scared or startled.
He
does not retreat, he is not frightened.
He
has no fatigue...
I
do not seek liberation for my own body,
But
only to save all living beings
So
that they all attain the mind of All Wisdom and
Cross
over the flow of birth and death, and
Gain
liberation from all their suffering.
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