Two Precious Scroll Narratives of Guanyin and Her ... - Khamkoo
Two Precious Scroll Narratives of Guanyin and Her ... - Khamkoo
Two Precious Scroll Narratives of Guanyin and Her ... - Khamkoo
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The <strong>Precious</strong> <strong>Scroll</strong> <strong>of</strong> Incense Mountain, Part 2 115<br />
Before he had finished speaking, the skies all darkened,<br />
A mist arose on all sides, blanketing heaven with clouds.<br />
A black twister arose, shaking the cosmos with its force,<br />
Ghosts wept <strong>and</strong> gods wailed, frightening the folk, who<br />
Then saw a fierce beast appear, a motley-striped tiger that<br />
Leapt, to everyone’s terror, across them in three bounds.<br />
Grabbing the princess in its maw, it took her <strong>of</strong>f to the forest—<br />
The <strong>of</strong>ficial rushed <strong>of</strong>f to the court to report to the emperor.<br />
The presiding <strong>of</strong>ficial returned to the court <strong>and</strong> reported: ‘‘Your<br />
Majesty, in conformity with your order, we tied the princess up,<br />
took her to the execution ground, <strong>and</strong> had her strangled to death.<br />
When we ordered her shot through by arrows <strong>and</strong> trampled by<br />
horses, heaven <strong>and</strong> earth darkened, <strong>and</strong> a fierce tiger dragged the<br />
mortal remains <strong>of</strong> <strong>Her</strong> Highness into the Deceased-Many forest.<br />
I don’t dare not report this!’’ When the emperor heard this, his<br />
dragon-mien showed his joy: ‘‘Our heart accords with Heaven’s<br />
heart! Those who are disloyal <strong>and</strong> unfilial should be done away<br />
with <strong>and</strong> annihilated!’’ The emperor also asked: ‘‘What is the<br />
Deceased-Many forest?’’ His ministers replied: ‘‘It is a piece <strong>of</strong> unused<br />
public l<strong>and</strong> in the hills. Whenever there are corpses that are<br />
left unburied, they are hauled to this place where they are eaten by<br />
birds <strong>and</strong> beasts.’’ The emperor said: ‘‘Thank you all for your divine<br />
assistance in freeing Us from this worry.’’<br />
Once one has shed his mortal feelings, the sagely mind is Truth,<br />
Like gold extracted from the ore, the moon emerging from clouds.<br />
Namo Guanshiyin pusa<br />
Let’s not speak <strong>of</strong> the great joy <strong>of</strong> Marvelous Splendor,<br />
Let’s talk about the princess’s journey to the Underworld.<br />
The light <strong>of</strong> her spirit emerged <strong>and</strong> went to the realm <strong>of</strong> shade,<br />
Without a care for her illusionary body, which remained behind.<br />
Part shade, part darkness: she went as if in a dream,<br />
Without knowing where she was going, to which village.<br />
‘‘I have no idea which prefecture this is or which county!’’<br />
Pondering this, tears dropped from her eyes in pr<strong>of</strong>usion.<br />
‘‘If your disciple has been fated to practice cultivation,<br />
May the empty sky respond <strong>and</strong> show me the way to go!’’
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