the ninth vibration-第43章

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But　what　His　Majesty　beheld　was　this。　The　evening　had　come　on　and　the　moon　was　rising。　The　snow　had　gone。　It　was　the　full　glory　of　spring；　and　the　flowers　sprang　thick　as　stars　upon　the　grass；　and　among　them　lotos　flowers；　great　as　the　wheel　of　a　chariot；　white　and　shining　with　the　luminance　of　the　pearl；　and　upon　each　one　of　these　was　seated　an　incarnate　Holiness；　looking　upward　with　joined　hands。　In　the　trees　were　the　voices　of　the　mystic　Birds　that　are　the　utterance　of　the　Blessed　One；　proclaiming　in　harmony　the　Five　Virtues；　The　Five　Powers；　the　Seven　Steps　ascending　to　perfect　Illumination；　the　Noble　Eightfold　Path；　and　all　the　Law。　And；　bearing；　in　the　heart　of　the　Son　of　Heaven　awoke　the　Three　Remembrances　…　the　Remembrance　of　Him　who　is　Blessed；　Remembrance　of　the　Law；　and　Remembrance　of　the　Communion　of　the　Assembly。

So；　looking　upward　to　the　heavens；　he　beheld　the　Infinite　Buddha；　high　and　lifted　up　in　a　great　raying　glory。　About　Him　were　the　exalted　Bodhisattwas；　the　mighty　Disciples；　great　Arhats　all；　and　all　the　countless　Angelhood。　And　these　rose　high　into　the　infinite　until　they　could　be　seen　but　as　a　point　of　fire　against　the　moon。　With　this　golden　multitude　beyond　all　numbering　was　He。

Then；　as　His　Majesty　had　seen　in　the　dream　of　the　night；　the　wood…cutter's　daughter；　moving　through　the　flowers　like　one　blind　that　gropes　his　way；　advanced　before　the　Blessed　Feet；　and　uplifting　her　hands；　did　adoration；　and　her　face　he　could　not　see；　but　his　heart　went　with　her；　adoring　also　the　infinite　Buddha　seated　in　the　calms　of　boundless　Light。

Then　enlightenment　entered　at　his　eyes；　as　a　man　that　wakes　from　sleep；　and　suddenly　he　beheld　the　Maiden　crowned　and　robed　and　terrible　in　beauty；　and　her　feet　were　stayed　upon　an　open　lotos；　and　his　soul　knew　the　Senju　Kwannon　Herself；　myriad…armed　for　the　helping　of　mankind。

And　turning；　she　smiled　as　in　the　vision；　but　his　eyes　being　now　clear　her　blinded　eyes　were　opened；　and　that　glory　who　shall　tell　as　those　living　founts　of　Wisdom　rayed　upon　him　their　ineffable　light？　In　that　ocean　was　his　being　drowned；　and　so；　bowed　before　the　Infinite　Buddha；　he　received　the　Greater　Illumination。

How　great　is　the　Glory　of　Kwannon！

When　the　radiance　and　the　vision　were　withdrawn　and　only　the　moon　looked　over　the　trees；　His　Majesty　rose　upon　his　feet；　and　standing　on　the　snow；　surrounded　with　calm；　he　called　to　the　Dainagon；　and　asked　this；

〃What　have　you　seen？〃

〃Augustness；　nothing　but　the　country　wench　and　moon　and　snow。〃

〃And　heard？〃

〃Augustness；　nothing　but　the　harsh　voice　of　the　wood…cutter's　daughter。〃

〃And　felt？〃

〃Augustness；　nothing　but　the　bone…piercing　cold。〃　So　His　Majesty　adored　that　which　cannot　be　uttered；　saying；

〃So　Wisdom；　so　Glory　encompass　us　about；　and　we　see　them　not　for　we　are　blinded　with　illusion。　Yet　every　stone　is　a　jewel　and　every　clod　is　spirit　and　to　the　hems　of　the　Infinite　Buddha　all　cling。　Through　the　compassion　of　the　Supernal　Mercy　that　walks　the　earth　as　the　Bodhisattwa　Kwannon；　am　I　admitted　to　wisdom　and　given　sight　and　hearing。　And　what　is　all　the　world　to　that　happy　one　who　has　beheld　Her　eyes！〃

And　His　Majesty　returned　through　the　forest。

When；　the　next　day；　he　sent　for　the　venerable　Semimaru　that　holy　recluse　had　departed　and　none　knew　where。　But　still　when　the　moon　is　full　a　strange　music　moves　in　the　tree　tops　of　Shiobara。

Then　His　sacred　Majesty　returned　to　City…Royal；　having　determined　to　retire　into　the　quiet　life；　and　there；　abandoning　the　throne　to　a　kinsman　wise　in　greatness；　he　became　a　dweller　in　the　deserted　hut　of　Semimaru。

His　life；　like　a　descending　moon　approaching　the　hill　that　should　hide　it；　was　passed　in　meditation　on　that　Incarnate　Love　and　Compassion　whose　glory　had　augustly　been　made　known　to　him；　and　having　cast　aside　all　save　the　image　of　the　Divine　from　his　soul；　His　Majesty　became　even　as　that　man　who　desired　enlightenment　of　the　Blessed　One。

For　he；　desiring　instruction；　gathered　precious　flowers；　and　journeyed　to　present　them　as　an　offering　to　the　Guatama　Buddha。　Standing　before　Him；　he　stretched　forth　both　his　hands　holding　the　flowers。

Then　said　the　Holy　One；　looking　upon　his　petitioner's　right　hand；

〃Loose　your　hold　of　these。〃

And　the　man　dropped　the　flowers　from　his　right　hand。　And　the　Holy　One　looking　upon　his　left　hand；　said；

〃Loose　your　hold　of　these。〃

And；　sorrowing；　he　dropped　the　flowers　from　his　left　hand。　And　again　the　Master　said；

〃Loose　your　hold　of　that　which　is　neither　in　the　right　nor　in　the　left〃

And　the　disciple　said　very　pitifully；

〃Lord；　of　what　should　I　loose　my　hold　for　I　have　nothing　left？〃

And　He　looked　upon　him　steadfastly。

Therefore　at　last　understanding　he　emptied　his　soul　of　all　desire；　and　of　fear　that　is　the　shadow　of　desire；　and　being　enlightened　relinquished　all　burdens。

So　was　it　also　with　His　Majesty。　In　peace　he　dwelt；　and　becoming　a　great　Arhat；　in　peace　he　departed　to　that　Uttermost　Joy　where　is　the　Blessed　One　made　manifest　in　Pure　Light。

As　for　the　parents　of　the　maiden；　they　entered　after　sore　troubles　into　peace；　having　been　remembered　by　the　Infinite。　For　it　is　certain　that　the　enemies　also　of　the　Supreme　Buddha　go　to　salvation　by　thinking　on　Him；　even　though　it　be　against　Him。

And　he　who　tells　this　truth　makes　this　prayer　to　the　Lady　of　Pity；

　　〃Grant　me；　I　pray；　　　　One　dewdrop　from　Thy　willow　spray；　　　　And　in　the　double　Lotos　keep　　　　My　hidden　heart　asleep。〃

How　great　is　the　Glory　of　Kwannon！



THE　ROUND…FACED　BEAUTY

A　STORY　OF　THE　CHINESE　COURT

In　the　city　of　Chang…an　music　filled　the　palaces；　and　the　festivities　of　the　Emperor　were　measured　by　its　beat。　Night；　and　the　full　moon　swimming　like　a　gold…fish　in　the　garden　lakes；　gave　the　signal　for　the　Feather　Jacket　and　Rainbow　Skirt　dances。　Morning；　with　the　rising　sun；　summoned　the　court　again　to　the　feast　and　wine…cup　in　the　floating　gardens。

The　Emperor　Chung　Tsu　favored　this　city　before　all　others。　The　Yen　Tower　soaring　heavenward；　the　Drum　Towers；　the　Pearl　Pagoda；　were　the　only　fit　surroundings　of　his　magnificence；　and　in　the　Pavilion　of　Tranquil　Learning　were　held　those　discussions　which　enlightened　the　world　and　spread　the　fame　of　the　Jade　Emperor　far　and　wide。　In　all　respects　he　adorned　the　Dragon　Throne　…　in　all　but　one；　for　Nature；　bestowing　so　much；　withheld　one　gift；　and　the　Imperial　heart；　as　precious　as　jade；　was　also　as　hard；　and　he　eschewed　utterly　the　company　of　the　Hidden　Palace　Flowers。

Yet　the　Inner　Chambers　were　filled　with　ladies　chosen　from　all　parts　of　the　Celestial　Empire　…　ladies　of　the　most　exquisite　and　torturing　beauty；　moons　of　loveliness；　moving　coquettishly　on　little　feet；　with　all　the　grace　of　willow　branches　in　a　light　breeze。　They　were　sprinkled　with　perfumes；　adorned　with　jewels；　robed　in　silks　woven　with　gold　and　embroidered　with　designs　of　flowers　and　birds。　Their　faces　were　painted　and　their　eyebrows　formed　into　slender　and　perfect　arches　whence　the　soul　of　man　might　well　slip　to　perdition；　and　a　breath　of　sweet　odor　followed　each　wherever　she　moved。　Every　one　might　have　been　the　Empress　of　some　lesser　kingdom；　but　though　rumours　reached　the　Son　of　Heaven　from　time　to　time　of　their　charms；　…　especially　when　some　new　blossom　was　added　to　the　Imperial　bouquet；…　he　had　dismissed　them　from　his　august　thoughts；　and　they　languished　in　a　neglect　so　complete　that　the　Great　Cold　Palaces　of　the　Moon　were　not　more　empty　than　their　hearts。　They　remained　under　the　supervision　of　the　Princess　of　Han；　August　Aunt　of　the　Emperor；　knowing　that　their　Lord　considered　the　company　of　sleeve…dogs　and　macaws　more　pleasant　than　their　own。　Nor　had　he　as　yet　chosen　an　Empress；　and　it　was　evident　that　without　some　miracle；　such　as　the　intervention　of　the　Municipal　God；　no　heir　to　the　throne　could　be　hoped　for。

Yet　the　Emperor　one　day　remembered　his　imprisoned　beauties；　and　it　crossed　the　Imperial　thoughts　that　even　these　inferior　creatures　might　afford　such　interest　as　may　be　found　in　the　gambols　of　trained　fleas　or　other　insects　of　no　natural　attainments。

Accordingly；　he　commanded　that　the　subject　last　discussed　in　his　presence　should　be　transferred　to　the　Inner　Chambers；　and　it　was　his　Order　that　th