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REGAINS HIS ESSENTIAL ENERGIES AND CONTINUES BOWING Wen Chi asked, "Why are you making this bowing pilgrimage to the famous Mt. T'ai?" The Master said, "I never saw my mother, for she died after giving birth to me. I am doing this to repay the kindness of my parents." "You have a pack on your back; the road is long; and the weather is bitterly cold. Do you ever expect to reach your destination? I urge you to discontinue your bowing." The Master answered, "My vows have already been made, I am not concerned with how far I must go, or when I will arrive." Wen Chi said, "Your determination is a hard thing to come by, for now there are no roads clear for travel why don't you follow my footprints in the snow? First you will come to Hsiao Chin Shan, and then Meng Chou." He then took his leave. The Gatha says: Not bothered by hundreds of bad breaks and troubles he was of iron resolve. The world is without a person of his equal he brought forth gold from sand. Seeking to repay the kindness of his parents everything else was unnecessary. So every three steps he bowed to the ground resuming his pilgrimage.
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