Pictorial Biography of the 
Venerable Master 
HSU YUN

-Continued from issue 37
By 
TRIPITAKA MASTER HSUAN HUA

BRINGING UP THE CHILD #6    

 The Master’s stepmother, who was from the Wang family, took care of his upbringing. The 20th year of the Tao Kuang reign period in the Ch’ing dynasty (1840) was his first year. When he played during his childhood, he instinctively made Bodhisattva images out of dirt and bowed to them. He was quite happy to pursue Buddhist sutras and works on morality, self-cultivation, and wise sayings. Studies concerning the moral conduct of body and mind especially interested him. His preternatural gifts were developed and subtle, and not at all common.

      The Gatha says:

            Strolling, playing, and reading books, his character was natural and open.

            Taking pleasure in the sagely scriptures, how could it be by chance?

            Just right here he awakened to the Genuine and Worldly Truths.

            And thus he vowed to undertake the non-dual dharma door.

-Illustrated by a Student of Prajna

-Translated by Disciple Bhiksu Heng Yo