Two Precious Scroll Narratives of Guanyin and Her ... - Khamkoo

The Precious Scroll of Incense Mountain, Part 2 109
As soon as the metal wind rises, the jade dew turns cool, 7
And the osmanthus flower fills the sky with its perfume.
Namo Guanshiyin pusa
Marvelous Goodness immediately addressed them as follows:
‘‘Greening spring is exactly the time to settle one’s prospects!
All the pleasures in the palace are those of a bird in a cage,
The wealth and high status at court make you a fish in a net.
The myriad affairs of this human world are all like a dream,
So I want to practice cultivation, study the Truth of the Way!’’
The pretty maids and elegant ladies didn’t know what to answer,
And without saying another word, they returned to the palace.
Passing before the throne hall, they reported on their mission:
‘‘Your Majesty, please be so kind as to listen to our report.
The heart of Her Highness is as unshakable as iron or stone,
Kind words of good advice flit past her ears like a breeze.’’
Hearing this, her father the emperor was afflicted in his heart:
‘‘I’ve run out of methods to control her—what can I say?
We will have to go in person Ourselves to the inner garden
And convince Marvelous Goodness to take a husband!’’
Her father the emperor said: ‘‘As long as one holds the pearl in his
mouth without spitting it out, nobody will know it is a treasure, just
as the drum and bell in their tower will not resound unless they are
beaten. The old books teach, ‘When the father is kind, the son is filial.
But if the father is not kind, the son will be unfilial.’ Thus does the
way of father and son have its own principle of reciprocity. We will
go to her in person and speak with her face to face.’’ He prayed in
the family temple of his own clan, making a wish for the hidden
strength of his ancestors, so that this night he might quickly make
her change her mind and marry a husband to serve and uphold.
The feral dogs in the wilds may howl like the roaring thunder,
But the noble lion in his den will not be disturbed in his sleep.
Namo Guanshiyin pusa
Dragging up the moon from the water is all wasted effort,
Looking for the sword by the notch on the boat is hopeless. 8