Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

"cigarette" to wake me up. (But I did not take it up as a
habit). In this way I was always first in the school.
After attending the Primary and High Schools, I went for
six years to the Normal School in Changsha, the capital
of Hunan. Since I had the desire to learn everything, there
was little I did not put my hands to, even to playing the
piano. No lights were available in my room and so for
long hours during the middle of night I would study in
the only place where one was continually burning (the
latrines). This tolled upon my health and though my
father said I should rest, I continued to work hard. I was
able in this way to graduate well and obtain a post as
teacher in the High School.
A meeting of the provincial educational committee was
called in order to select a secretary. There were 72
districts in the province and each sent two candidates,
thus 144 altogether competed for the job; but I had the
good fortune to succeed. The committee had the
responsibility for maintaining the provincial library and
museum. The library here was very extensive and I had
the chance to read widely and to my liking were the
Taoist authors. They promised many different ways of
prolonging life, and the hope for which attracted me
greatly.
The puja-drum outside had ceased its rhythmic beat;
perhaps the bhikshu was taking a draught of well-earned
tea. Mr. Chen also paused before continuing while other
sounds of his crowded neighbors, the cries of babies, the
shouts of women and children, sharply punctuated the
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