Last night in a dream,
I saw You Master,
more gaunt than before.
Sun and rain have dyed your habit a faded color.
Awaiting my return, you stood in front of the pagoda.
Since I left to begin
a busy life
Teaching the noble way
I've never forgotten:
"Without a Teacher, very few know success."
Your love will always be engraved in my heart.
From this island,
blurred by tears,
I thread these verses to offer you as a sacred rosary.
Even at a distance, you still take care of me -
Your blessings, so immense like the mountain and the sea.
I could never repay
even if I tried;
Carrying the vow to assist the human race,
I have to travel the five continents still
To sow spiritual seeds all over rivers and hills.
Hoping to earn numerous
good merits
To offer the Four Benefactors,*
to bless the Three Worlds of Misery,**
To repay your infinite mercy
In guiding me through the difficult initial steps!...
~Formosa, Season of Living in Tranquility '85~
* Four Benefactors:
Buddhist term denoting The Parents, The Multitude, The King, and
The Buddhist Trinity.
** Three Worlds of Misery: Buddhist term denoting World of Ghosts
(Fire Hell), World of Hungry Ghosts (Sword Hell), and World of Animals
(Blood Hell).