Translated from the True Buddha News
The Strange Old Man in the Rumor
Written by: Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by: Arica Lim
Edited by: Brenda Poulin
Proofread by: Mimosa
Padmakumara Translation Team
Website: www.padmakumara.org
After living in this small house for a while in my retreat, a rumor began to spread. Of all people, the subject of the rumor was me! I can’t believe an old man like me living here alone could become so famous.
The rumor goes like this:
Nobody knows where this old man came from. He shuts himself away in his house for a very long time. The people who live nearby desire to see him but rarely do. They never see him have any visitors.
The people in the market do not see him often either. His head is shaved bald, he wears cheap looking clothing and keeps his shirt un-tucked, and he always wears sandals. He appears to be very leisurely and laid back.
When asked about his past or future, he would not utter a word. When asked for his name, he would just smile and remain silent. He is a very mysterious and strange person. This old man doesn’t seem to have any friends or relatives, and this causes people to be even more curious about him.
The strange old man of the rumor is said to have some magical power. Once, when someone had an eye disease, he used his finger to point at the person’s eye, and the disease was immediately cured. Someone else came down with appendicitis, and the strange old man used his hand to touch the afflicted area. Light shone from his hand, and the person’s appendicitis was cured.
Sometimes, all he has to do is just lift his eyes up to look at you, and your sickness will totally disappear. There is so much depth in his look.
One night, someone walked past his house while the wind was howling and blowing terribly. The strange thing was that there was no trace of wind near his house while the surrounding area was greatly affected by the windstorm. The person was very curious and he deliberately walked past the house one more time. He proved that what he saw was accurate—there was not a trace of wind blowing near the old man's house.
When this person turned to look back at the old man's house, it appeared to be dream-like, resting peacefully in the middle of a mountain surrounded by fog and clouds.
Regarding all of these rumors, some of them are true whereas some are overly exaggerated. I am not bothered by these rumors. One day follows the other, and each day I live a simple, solitary life.
Early one morning, someone knocked at my door. When I opened the door, I saw an important looking person standing there. This person has power in this area. If we were in Taiwan, he would be the village head. Here, he would be the top member of a committee.
This person said to me,
"We want to express our concern to a lonely old man!"
"Thank you!" I was sincerely grateful.
"Do you have any relatives or any friends? We never see visitors at your home, and we empathize with you on your lonely plight."
"Oh, I see!"
"Do you need us to help you in any way financially?"
"No, thank you!"
"It is not very good for you to hide yourself in the house everyday. Do come to my house and chat when you have the time. We can get to know each other."
"Yes, I know, I know.”
I wanted very much to tell this "important" person that I have over four million disciples. I also really wanted to tell him that I am now in retreat, but he might not believe what I say. It can be very difficult to explain to people about living in seclusion!
The important man asked, "Do you want us to list you in any category?“
"What category?” I touched my bald head feeling puzzled.
"Let me explain. You can be socially classified as being ill, handicapped, homeless, or poor. This way, you can receive assistance from our Social Welfare care. The money isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing."
"No need, no need, no need.”
I was so taken aback that I kept waving my hands
I said, "My body is still in the pink of health."
Before he left, the important man said to me,
"Please remember to drop by my residence whenever possible. We are truly concerned about you!”
I bowed to him wholeheartedly and felt very thankful.
Regarding this, I wrote a modern verse:
I have forgotten the distant past,
Why am I still in this isolated place?
The days of youth are quickly slipping by,
and the years of age are catching up.
The mountains and the rivers cannot be questioned!
Do I plan to live in seclusion forever?
By the flowing water at the tip of the mountain,
One becomes immersed in eternal mist.
My memories transform into wind…
Impermanent is this human world,
so impermanent that I forgot to return.
The Strange Old Man in the Rumor
Written by: Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by: Arica Lim
Edited by: Brenda Poulin
Proofread by: Mimosa
Padmakumara Translation Team
Website: www.padmakumara.org
After living in this small house for a while in my retreat, a rumor began to spread. Of all people, the subject of the rumor was me! I can’t believe an old man like me living here alone could become so famous.
The rumor goes like this:
Nobody knows where this old man came from. He shuts himself away in his house for a very long time. The people who live nearby desire to see him but rarely do. They never see him have any visitors.
The people in the market do not see him often either. His head is shaved bald, he wears cheap looking clothing and keeps his shirt un-tucked, and he always wears sandals. He appears to be very leisurely and laid back.
When asked about his past or future, he would not utter a word. When asked for his name, he would just smile and remain silent. He is a very mysterious and strange person. This old man doesn’t seem to have any friends or relatives, and this causes people to be even more curious about him.
The strange old man of the rumor is said to have some magical power. Once, when someone had an eye disease, he used his finger to point at the person’s eye, and the disease was immediately cured. Someone else came down with appendicitis, and the strange old man used his hand to touch the afflicted area. Light shone from his hand, and the person’s appendicitis was cured.
Sometimes, all he has to do is just lift his eyes up to look at you, and your sickness will totally disappear. There is so much depth in his look.
One night, someone walked past his house while the wind was howling and blowing terribly. The strange thing was that there was no trace of wind near his house while the surrounding area was greatly affected by the windstorm. The person was very curious and he deliberately walked past the house one more time. He proved that what he saw was accurate—there was not a trace of wind blowing near the old man's house.
When this person turned to look back at the old man's house, it appeared to be dream-like, resting peacefully in the middle of a mountain surrounded by fog and clouds.
Regarding all of these rumors, some of them are true whereas some are overly exaggerated. I am not bothered by these rumors. One day follows the other, and each day I live a simple, solitary life.
Early one morning, someone knocked at my door. When I opened the door, I saw an important looking person standing there. This person has power in this area. If we were in Taiwan, he would be the village head. Here, he would be the top member of a committee.
This person said to me,
"We want to express our concern to a lonely old man!"
"Thank you!" I was sincerely grateful.
"Do you have any relatives or any friends? We never see visitors at your home, and we empathize with you on your lonely plight."
"Oh, I see!"
"Do you need us to help you in any way financially?"
"No, thank you!"
"It is not very good for you to hide yourself in the house everyday. Do come to my house and chat when you have the time. We can get to know each other."
"Yes, I know, I know.”
I wanted very much to tell this "important" person that I have over four million disciples. I also really wanted to tell him that I am now in retreat, but he might not believe what I say. It can be very difficult to explain to people about living in seclusion!
The important man asked, "Do you want us to list you in any category?“
"What category?” I touched my bald head feeling puzzled.
"Let me explain. You can be socially classified as being ill, handicapped, homeless, or poor. This way, you can receive assistance from our Social Welfare care. The money isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing."
"No need, no need, no need.”
I was so taken aback that I kept waving my hands
I said, "My body is still in the pink of health."
Before he left, the important man said to me,
"Please remember to drop by my residence whenever possible. We are truly concerned about you!”
I bowed to him wholeheartedly and felt very thankful.
Regarding this, I wrote a modern verse:
I have forgotten the distant past,
Why am I still in this isolated place?
The days of youth are quickly slipping by,
and the years of age are catching up.
The mountains and the rivers cannot be questioned!
Do I plan to live in seclusion forever?
By the flowing water at the tip of the mountain,
One becomes immersed in eternal mist.
My memories transform into wind…
Impermanent is this human world,
so impermanent that I forgot to return.