Gengsang Chu (2)

1 After retired, Nanrong Chu intended to learn the way of practice. By the introduction of his friend, he was being a disciple of Gengsang Chu.

2 Nanrong Chu had accumulated rich experiences in many respects during the past working years. For this reason, he always had his own idea about everything. Such an old student is a challenge to any teacher.

3 One day, Nanrong Chu said to Gengsan Chu solemnly, “I am aged so my days are in number. In the relative short time, how can I practice to be a man of perfect practice?”

4 Gengsang Chu said, “You must keep yourself as a whole and guard your six sense organs – eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and consciousness, keeping them from the stimulation of objective conditions. Guard your heart and don’t scramble like a monkey. Avarice, wrath, obsession and desire are kept far from your mind. No intention for the interest, fame and fortune.

5 If you can meet the said requirements, you will be a man of perfect practice within three years.”

6 Nanrong Chu couldn’t understand completely the dogmatic instruction. He replied, “You stress “ONE”, so it requires intactness of shape, namely keep body intact. However, eye is a part of body. In the light of the theory of intactness of shape, eye and body are the one of combination. However, the blind can’t see because of disability of eye, so eye has its unique function and is different from the other parts of body.

7 For the same reason, the relation between ear and body is so. The deaf can’t hear because of the disability of ear.

8 The tie between heart and body is that heart controls body. The insane is regarded as disability of heart, so their behaviors are out of control.

9 In this view, each organ is relatively independent, and is a closed unit. There is an interval between them. They can’t replaced by each other, so they are not a whole.

10 You told me that only if I can keep body and nature intact and don’t think exhaustedly, I can achieve the goal of practice. Don’t you think it is contradictive and ambiguous?”

11 Gengsang Chu felt uneasy when facing such a student. He said, “I am confused by what you said, and don’t know how to enlighten you, which is like the worldly trope: Small bee can’t hatch the big green worm; chick can’t hatch egg. Hatch is the work of hen. Both chick and hen are chook, but their function is different due to the size and the gender.

12 My ability is too weak, like the chick who can’t hatch egg. I suggest you to see my teacher—Laotse. He is a hen. He can resolve your problem.”

13 It took Nanrong Chu seven days to reach Laotse’s place.

14 Laotse greeted him. “Are you from Chu?”

15 “Yes” he replied.

16 “Why do you come with such a multitude of attendants?” Laotse asked again.

17 Nanrong Chu felt bewildered, because actually, he came alone with no company. Why did Laotse ask him that a multitude of attendants follow him. Turning back, he took a look to ensure that nobody followed.

18 Laotse saw his response and said, “You don’t catch me, do you?” Embarrassed, he held his head down and murmured, “I don’t know how to answer. And I seem to forget my question which takes me such a long journey to be here.”

19 Laotse soothed him kindly. “Take it easy. Think it carefully.”

20 Nanrong Chu came to regain his balance and said, “My question is that suppose I don’t read and study, others regard me as a fool and mock me; in case I read and study, I feel depressed.

21 Suppose I am not kind, I will hurt others. But in case I am kind, I worry about others, so I am depressed all days.

22 Suppose I am unjust, I will trespass others. In case I am just, I will feel pity. Why don’t I take more or occupy more such good things?

23 How can I throw off the dilemma? This is the question which takes me such a long journey to ask you.”

24 Laotse said, “Just now I have found something from your eyes. Therefore, I’ve clearly detected your question. Now what you said is what I detected. You look as if you were deprived of parents, or intended to measure the depth of sea with a bamboo pole. Speaking frankly, you are lost. You eager to find ego to recover yourself but you are bewildered and don’t know where to start. I really feel sad for you.”

25 Laotse’s words untied him. His frame of mind was out of order. He knew that it was not suitable to discuss any question in this moment. So, he asked to leave and repose in the hotel.

26 Closing himself in the room, he reflected on what he wanted on earth, what he pursued for and how to eliminate the fear and worry.

27 He self-examined alone in this way for ten days. When he felt quiet in mind, he went to see Laotse again.

28 Seeing him, Laotse smiled and said, “You finally wash off yourself, but it is just on the surface, lay in the bottom of your heart there still some dirty things. You should remove all those dirty things and then you are possible to seek inner tranquilness.

29 When your mind is blocked and out of control, you should cut off the tie between the inner heart and the outward worldly affairs.

30 They who are distracted and stimulated by the outward factors for not bewaring, can’t conserve their original virtue. Once they lose the virtue, how to conserve Tao and follow Tao.”

31 Then Nanrong Chu gradually had grasped some points of practice. He said, “A guy got ill. His neighbor came to see him and the patient’s parents told the details of his illness. The visitor understood well the sadness and helplessness of the family. However, the visitor came to see him; his purpose was not to look for the feeling of worry.

32 As the generally acknowledge about Tao; however, it seems to be a drug that incurs illness.

33 I don't like this kind of drug, could you tell me a better way for soul healthcare?”

34 Laotse thought him being enlightened and could teach him more about Tao.

35 Laotse answered, “The way of soul healthcare is that you must identify with the conception: same loves to everything and all things are integrated. You conduct in the requirements of no-self and being flexibility. You must hold on and never give up Tao.

36 You yourself are able to infer your destiny without seeking help from the future teller. You should know when to give up and when is allowed to take. You should always leave far away from the trivia.

37 You should learn to be independent instead of relying on others. By this way your spirit can be free to shuttle between heaven and earth.

38 You should purify your soul. You should become innocent like a baby. Babies cry everyday but they will not become hoarse since they conserve natural harmony.

39 Baby’s hands clutch for all day long but they are not tired, because actually, they grasp nothing in hands. Baby’s eyes are open for long time as if they seldom blink, because they don’t stare at a certain object.

40 Kids walk around all day long, they have no fixed direction to go; they stop at random and have no intention to do anything on purpose. They completely get well alone with surrounding, being a part of it. This is my way of soul health.”

41 Nanrong Chu asked, “If one can conduct like so, is he a man of perfect practice?”

42 Laotse said, “Not yet. The said practice only arouses a man from the smeary world. It is the work of preparation only. He, who practices perfectly, never worries nor intends and devotes about the life of materials. He accepts peacefully what is in surroundings. If he is doomed to be a beggar, he has to accept the fate and then try his best to be an excellent beggar. He is intoxicated with the life of begging along the street.

43 If he is doomed to be given birth in a family of high position or great wealth, he tries to play the role of a good entrepreneur who manages his business well by creating a good environment for his staff and making fortune for the shareholders, among which he enjoys in his business also.

44 Under the objective environment, he doesn’t hurt other or doesn’t frame other to death. So, his success is not on the sacrifice of others.

45 In dealing with the objective environment, he wishes that he could keep a forever, independent individual to maximal extent and could roam freely in the universe.”

46 “If one reaches this level, is he a man of perfect practice?” Nanrong Chu asked again.

47 Laotse answered, “Not yet too. I told you that a man of practice should imitate the behavior of babies, didn’t I? Babies keep moving, but why to move? Actually, he has no purpose. Kid who plays in field has no fixed direction.

48 A man of perfect practice should be like a withered branch which stands there but doesn’t germinate new buds and leaves any more. His heart is like burned-out ash, not hot, no fire and smoke. Lying quietly, he isn’t disturbed and asked by others. He doesn’t offer any service to anyone anymore.

49 Once he can conduct like so, he will really calm down. He is kept far from both misfortune and fortune. He never incurs man-caused calamities. Then, he becomes tranquil, settled, sound and peaceful. Great wisdom rises slowly and lightly. He will be a real man of perfect practice soon.”