Lietse (1)

1 Lietse prepared luggage and was going to sojourn in the State of Qi. In the eve of leaving, his relatives and friends gave a warm farewell dinner to him.

2 After he had gone for days, he decided not to go. So, he returned. On the way back, he met Bohun Maoren.

3 Bohun Maoren asked him: “Had you gone to Qi. Why return?”

4 Lietse said, “It was a long story. I decided to return because I was frightened by something.”

5 Bohun Maoren asked curiously: “Brave and smart are you. What can make you frightened to return?”

6 Lietse said, “On the way to Qi, I have checked in ten different hotels, five out of those owners expressed on their own that they were willing to offer me free accommodation to show their respect.”

7 Bohun Maoren said, “Good! It is a good thing. What do you make a fuss about?

8 Lietse said, “When a man practices to some extent, his appearance and figure naturally gives out a kind of stateliness, grandeur and awful. Before the man, all people, from the young to the old, from the humble to the noble, are shocked, and willingly to give their belongings. I believe this phenomenon is no good to a man of practice.

9 Tell you the truth. I always remind myself to manage to avoid that if one day I’ve attained the stateliness. As you know, the owners of hotels make petty profit by selling simple food. What’s more, it is unnecessary and intent for them to cater for a man like me. If the hotel owners treat me like that, will the king of Qi disregard me when I arrive?

10 The king must appoint me a position, ordering me to take charge of some state affairs. I will surely be bonded by those worldly affairs, which might make me tired and in bad shape. How can I keep the sound, tranquil and peaceful heart?

11 So I was frightened to flee back on the way.”

12 Bohun Maoren nodded and smiled, “Well! Well! It is good to return. You really can recognize the whole through the observation of the part. I tell you that your stateliness has come out and your amiability has existed. Even if you come back, many people will come to cling to you. I am afraid that it is not easy for you to stay tranquilly.”

13 After some days, Bohun Maoren paid a visit to Lietse. In front of the door, he saw many getas and people crowded inside. Standing there and frowning, he signed and turned to leave without a word.

14 The receptionist at door hurried to tell Lietse. “Bohun Maoren came. He stood in front of the door for a while and left without a word.”

15 Lietse heard this and walked out immediately. Carrying his shoes, he ran and shouted. He finally caught up with Bohun Maoren at the doorway. He said in pant to him, “You come from far to see me. I think that you must have something to tell me because man like you seldom visits others. However, why you leave without a word?”

16 Bohun Maoren kept walking and said: “Forget it! No need to say anything yet. I thought that we were birds of a feather. I see people full and joyful in your house so I know that there is a distance between you and me.

17 Didn’t I remind you of many people will cling to you? Today what I see proves that I am right. Shouldn’t we, as men of practice, try to avoid it? Was it such an idea that made you return on the way to Qi? Why did you beware it on the way but forget it at home.

18 Your stateliness attracts so many people to approach you. Why not restrain it? You should know that a man of practice, the most needs is a tranquil place. A lot of people gabbling at your home spoil your sound, tranquil and peaceful heart. How could you practice?

19 Those people staying at your house don’t have anything good for your practice. On the contrary, what they said is nothing but gossip and nonsense which does harm to you. If you don’t realize this, how can I associate with you?

20 Those people who have wit get fatigued in body and mind.

21 Those people who are able, smart and acute in dealing are anxiety-ridden in inner heart.

22 He, who do no cause, seek for no glory and have enough food and clothes, can roam around, like a boat, free and easy.

A poem Fisherman by Su Dongpo goes like:

Fisherman gets drunk, straw rain cape dances. He looks for returning road in tipsiness.

Little boat with short oar drifts, where he doesn't know after wake.

Fisherman wakes, in afternoon on river of spring. His dream breaks, with flowers falling and catkin flying

He still gets drunk in wake, after wake he gets drunk, a laugh at the world of all ages.

23 So to speak, a man has nothing to worry about and gets free from vexation and consideration, so he can be free and easy. What can you practice when you are trapped in a lot of people?”

24 Bohun Maoren left after speaking, leaving Lietse held his shoes in hands and stood alone at the doorway with absent-minded.