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

88 ThePreciousScrollofIncenseMountain,Part1
When you are lazy or slow, I will hear no idle excuses,
My bamboo rod and meditation staff will show no mercy.
And at the first sign of the slightest disobedience, we’ll
Chase you out, and never allow you to enter the convent.’’
The abbess said: ‘‘Don’t think that leaving the family means lazy leisure
without a worry in the world! In my convent we don’t make
any distinction between high status and low caste, as everybody
has to accept my orders, even if it is all the work in the kitchen. If I
tell you to go, you go; if I tell you to stay, you stay. And you have to
be careful and diligent! You alone will be responsible for all the
tasks of fetching water and hauling firewood, rinsing the rice and
picking the vegetables, cleaning the bowls and washing the cups,
paying for the vegetables and buying the fruits, burning the incense
and changing the water, sweeping the floors and spreading the carpets,
refreshing the flowers and hanging up the adornments, sounding
the bell and beating the drum, and welcoming and receiving all
wandering monastics. The minute you commit even the slightest
mistake, it’s the meditation staff for major offenses and the bamboo
rod for smaller offenses, and you will immediately be expelled from
this convent. I inform you of all these matters in advance, so you
can make your choice. If you can practice this, then do so.’’ The
princess replied: ‘‘I happily accept this, and it doesn’t matter if I
have to do everything.’’ When the nun had explained the situation,
she descended from her seat.
The red phoenix faces the sun below the parasol tree,
Never will it share lodging and food with chickens.
Namo Guanshiyin pusa
When the abbess left her seat, she rode her gestatorial chair:
An arhat in the flesh, one who had accumulated great blessing!
All the nuns of the convent escorted the abbess, and after
Accompanying her to her room, they went their own way.
The princess alone went all by herself to the kitchen,
She made no attempt to be excused, did not fear hardship.
The acolyte who served as stoker welcomed her there,
And over a cup of tea they together discussed the work.
All the myriads of tasks she handed over to the princess,