A Letter to Lay Buddhist Zhang
Dear Zhang:
My good friend, I would have to be parted with you for a period of time. Please forgive me for not taking leave with you as I don¡¯t want the sad scene at parting.
Every one of us comes to this world with certain missions. For me, a person who have experienced both live and death, it is Buddha who has saved me and brought me into new life. For this reason I shall live for the rest of my life trying to reward for what have been granted. Today I left by the wish of Buddha for my store. I will promote the ancient culture of China by means of my tongue and my pen, to accomplish the goal of helping the young generation of China. I felt this is my duty. Much as the though situation waiting for me ahead, I am full of confidence and determinations. That I will fight for the mission of passing down Buddhism.
During more than one year¡¯s time I spent with you, you took care of me for every single day. You never grudge when getting along with others. You always hurry to people¡¯s help whenever you are needed. You are like a team leader as lay Buddhist Duang, our fellow Buddhist said, you were found everywhere when you are needed. You are full of integrity and brilliance. The Buddhist House was charmed because of you. I feel happy at having a friend like you. You cared for me without making your efforts known; on the contrary you told me that if was your honor in having been able to help me. Such modesty was really overwhelming me. Every day you are sewing the seed of goodness, and some day you are bound to have the splendid result that shall make your family pride in you.
Every time when I saw that your husband Mr. Wei, a teacher he was, supported you whole heartedly with his honesty and sincerity, I was really touched. I often prayed that may happiness befall upon your family and thus prove to your family of the result of bliss. I thought that, dear zhang, please do not miss any chance of doing good,? for your families¡¯ supports for you must not be wasted .but my good friend, I noticed that you are not careful enough in some respects , which will diminish your bliss. For example, I have repeated to your several times about the sin of stealing. You know the concept for this? It means that one touches other¡¯s belongs without permission. For instance, you sometimes lend my books to others, and you give people food that you already gave me. These are trifles of cause, but these are what are called sins of stealing. Aroused by the fact that your do not obtain other¡¯s permissions. As a matter of fact I have reminded you many times; say ¡°the rules of disciples¡±. The first time when you took this book intending to give others, I have reminded you that, ¡°these book are meant for my pupils.¡± which you cannot take. If you took one away I shall need one more. I have even reminded you that this would be the last time for you doing so. But not long after, you did the same thing to me. Just then I told you: ¡°there are not many left, I shall hide them away from you.¡± You seemed really upset by this and were anxious to return the books to me. However, just a few days ago I found the book were on your table. You again forgot to return them to me. I was really amazed, Mrs. Zhang, how could you forget such thing? It only reflected how you ignore problem like this. I was really uneasy at the thought that later on there could be nobody here to remind such things to your. You are just practicing goodness on the one hand and ruin them on the other hand, in this way when can we expect the bliss come to you. I could not help writing down this when I thought that a good friend of mine, who toiled to practice yet, could not have the bliss because of her own carelessness. I wish to remind you again of this before I leave you. Do remember, my good friend, the principle for a Buddhist is just like ¡°walking on the thin ice.¡±One has to be careful while walk on the ice over a vast sea not to fail down. Each action you made is recorded. Everybody has his own history. I don¡¯t want the little oversights of yours ruins your pursuit of perfection. The reason why I now enjoy comes from home. One and half years ago I was chanting. I was able to pay the rent every month. When I went back business men in Hanzhen street sent me six bags of clothes I soon becomes the secretary to a minister. At the Spring Festival of 2005, I received donation of 20,000 Yuan. One and half years later when I went back to reopen my store and planed to redecorate it, I was penniless just then. But finally I did it; the store was decorated magnificent and brand-new, representing a school of promoting the ancient culture of China. My courage and determination came from the fact that I have been practicing for twelve years with caution and circumspect. I took care not to utter the wrong word and not to conduct myself in one mistake. I never spit publicly; never break the traffic light even in the night, because even if people don¡¯t see it, the demon shall see it, and Buddha shall see it. The truth in ¡°Essay on the Infinite Induction¡± and ¡°Four Pinciples for the World¡± are impressed on my deeply. I never talked ill behind others¡¯ back, and never hurt anybody; even it is a little rabbit. I protected it and tried not to wake an enemy with it. Just because of my cautions and humble carefulness, my deeds of goodness increased, and my sins diminished.
The Reverend Jingkong says, ¡°The practice in Buddhism shall represent the effect in 10 to 15 years.¡± Today, after twelve years, my careful conscientiousness has good effect now and bears good fruits. As your good friend, I sincerely hope that you will have the good fruits of bliss in ten years. And become an example in the practicing of Buddhism. That is reward for Buddhism.
At last I have one request. After I finished this letter I suddenly realized that there were quite a few friends around me who had the same mistakes like you, and I deemed that most of their fellow Buddhists paid no attention to their mistakes. How I wished to remind them of this and how I looked forward to seeing the bliss represents for them. Therefore I want to include this letter in the book that is to be published. For me, I have mentioned you in the book as a hard working person who is characteristic of integrity. I therefore expose you here once more hoping for eliminating your sins thus promotes the bliss to befall on you sooner. Do you agree? If you don¡¯t, please call me up.