CHAPTER
30
VISIT TO THE 5TH PALACE AND TO THE PLATFORM FOR VISION OF NATIVE PLACE. DISCUSSION WITH KING YEN LO Master
Yang Tshieng who manifested on April 13th1977.
Year of the Snake (1977)
Yang
Ts’ien:
I am grateful for your coming in person to accompany me,
Venerable Master. But on the other nights, Buddha Tse Kong and I used to
travel with a dais of lotus. By what means shall we go tonight, and why
do you take along this dog? Master
Yang: Buddha
and Immortals possess their own means of transportation. Buddha Tse Kong
has his dais, I have this dog. We’re going to mount it. YT:
It doesn’t run fast enough. By the way, it looks pretty fierce.
No one would like to approach it. One risks having their bones crushed
by its terrible jaws. Master
Yang: It
isn’t a dog of the terrestrial world. It’s rather a celestial dog
and it is also the strength of my legs. Since it’s a wise dog, how can
it bite you? YT:
Our trip would be handicapped by its running speed. Master
Yang: Not
at all. It will run at top speed because its four legs are like the
wheels of a car. It can even exceed the lotus-speed. Don’t worry about
that. YT:
Here I am riding on it. I must make sure I am well seated, or
else a somersault would be a catastrophe. Will you sit right in front of
me and keep a sharp lookout, Master? Master
Yang: Take
it easy, young man. Everything will be all right. Now, shut your eyes. YT:
Where are we going, Master? Master
Yang: To the
5th Palace. Here we arrive. Master
Yang: Buddha
and Immortals live together under the same roof. It’s just like two
men in the world buying two cars of different makes. Each of them
believes his car is better and challenges
the other to race. Man’s heart is similar to an engine. If it’s a
good engine, then man will feel comfortable to roll on the road with
great confidence. YT:
You’re right, Master. I see before us a group of souls climbing
onto a platform and jostling each other. The sinful souls, male and
female, are escorted by the infernal guards, while some other souls are
not. They seem to be smiling and happy, instead. What is this place
called, Master? Master
Yang: This
is called the “Platform for Vision of Native Place”. All of the
sinful souls arriving in hell must pass by the 5th Palace to look in the
mirror of “Vision of Native Place” to see their living children.
Regrets and nostalgia make them shed bitter tears. The unchastised
souls are also permitted to look in the mirror to recognize their
children performing daily activities. YT:
Over there, I see men and horses standing in lines. They look
solemn and disciplined. Who are those saints and genii? Master Yang: They
are the King of the 5th Palace and military and civilian dignitaries.
They are coming down the steps to meet us. Let’s make haste. YT:
My name is Yang Ts’ien, disciple of the Temple of the Sages in
Tai Chu. By order of God, I have to prepare the book “Voyages to
Hell” with a view to convert humans. Tonight, I visit your palace
under the guidance of Master Yang Tsh’ieng. We are grateful for any of
your assistance. The
King: The
Temple of the Sages has contributed greatly to the propagation of faith
and publication of religious instruction books which have helped change
many bad elements and raised morally weak people from their downfall.
Its merits are admirable. Several souls detained in the 5th Palace had
read your precious books in their lifetime and printed them for
distribution. I have taken into consideration their good deeds and
granted them my pardon so they can free themselves and be rewarded
according to their good actions. YT:
Your clemency is really great, Sir. It is evident that the souls
must first exert effort and achieve merits before they can be rewarded
for it. The
King: Dispense
from ceremonials, Mr. Yang Ts’ien. Stand up please. Now, if you care
to follow me inside for some relaxation. Master
Yang: Thank
you, Sir. It will be done the next time we come. Could we have a look at
the “Platform for Vision of Native Place” now? The
King: Why
not? Let’s go right away. YT:
Thank you very much, Sir. The
King:
All of the sinful souls coming to the 5th Palace have to pass by
the Mirror of Vision. Most of them are sentimental and greatly attached
to their children and their native place in the living world. Sinful or
not, they are all authorized to look once in the mirror. YT:
The voice of the heart is hard to repress. Look at that old man,
escorted by the guards, who is crying his eyes out before the mirror for
“Vision of Native Place”. What could be the reason for his crying so
bitterly? The
King:
This old man had sinned heavily in his life. He later endured
torment in hell, which is now drawing to an end. He comes to the
Platform for Vision of Native Place to look back at his children and
grandchildren. Now, he realizes that his offspring have no feelings
whatsoever for him. He finds that some are absorbed in watching
television, the others are relaxing idly in their rooms. None of them
has any recollection of his onetime existence. He recalls the pain and
labor he experienced in his lifetime for the sake of his progeny, and
now their indifference dumbfounds him exceedingly. Master
Yang:
If one fails to practice virtue in order to regenerate when
living, it is useless in death to count on the prayers and requiem of
one’s children, in case the latter believe neither in saints and
immortals nor in the law of cause of effect. It is best to do good when
one is still in full possession of one’s vigor and vital energy.
It’s the only guarantee for one’s next life. YT:
I did look in the mirror, but I saw no images. The mirror was all
white. Why so? Master
Yang: Your
eyes are fleshly ones. Buddha Tse Kong had taken you to the “Pure
Heart Pond” to cleanse them of worldly dust. But it was a long time
ago, and several thick layers of dust have now formed on them, and this
is the reason why you see no images in the mirror. The “Vision of
Native Place” is a marvelous mechanism that allows for change. The
King:
Soiled by worldly dust, your eyes have become sandy and you
can’t see the images. Holy-water must be brought here to wash Mr. Yang
Ts’ien’s eyes! The
General: At
your request, Sir... Here it is! The
King:
Please, open wide your eyes, and wash them with this. YT:
Thank you, Sir. Well, well, I see clearly, now. That’s
wonderful! The
King: Look
in the mirror now. YT:
My God! I see the Temple of the Sages and its different images
appearing by turns in the mirror. In an atmosphere of veneration I see
myself seated in front of the mediumistic screen, in the middle of the
sanctuary. The celestial Cherub-medium Yu Hiu is directing my hands,
dipping the brush-pen in the inkpot, and writing the accounts. The
secretaries of the Temple, on my two sides, are taking notes. Brother
Sha Sheng Liu dictates the words as soon as they appear on the
movie-like screen. The
King: It’s
quite hard for you to comprehend the amazing operation and possibilities
of the Mirror of Vision. As you can see, the celestial medium Yu Hiu,
whose occult eyes capture every image, is transmitting on the screen all
the things you see in this prison. His eyes
resemble the Mirror for Vision of Native Place which focuses the rays of
the Yin and Yang that pierce through the obstacles. YT:
The divine mysteries are certainly beyond our comprehension.
Another old man is now here to climb on the Platform for Vision of
Native Place. He is without escort, and walks freely, guided by a guard.
He looks jolly and happy. The
King:
He was an honest man and a disciple of the religious order. He
died recently; his children and grandchildren are saying prayers before
his altar. This token of affection is a fine gesture of filial piety,
which affords him great satisfaction while watching them in the mirror.
Though he only acquired merits of average order, he will be allowed to
further his regeneration in the religious way, for he has understood
that birth and death are two inevitable things in a man’s life and
that every regret for, and attachment to life is useless. In the future,
he can be nominated a genius. YT:
Why is it that the dead people can perceive the images in the
mirror, whereas a profane man like me can’t? The
King:
Because you are still living, and your soul is tied to the flesh
of your body. The dead have their souls detached from their bodies.
Their condition of life has been transformed, and while staying in the
world of the dead, they can perceive the living beings. Their souls
possess infinite possibilities, which the living don’t. Master
Yang: We
don’t have much time left. We have to leave you, Sir; and the
dignitaries. YT:
Once again, we thank you for your hospitality. The
King:
Muster your troops, generals and officers. Present arms for the
salute. Master
Yang: Yang
Ts’ien, come down the platform... YT:
Master, I notice the third eye you have on your forehead, between
the brows. Master
Yang:
It’s a celestial eye, the three precious luminaries of the
cosmos: star, sun, and moon which are united in it and they shine in all
splendor. Its power is immense, its role consists of catching the
spirits and devils in the terrestrial world. My presence sows terror
among them. YT:
With your superhuman power,
you certainly can read men’s most hidden thoughts, I presume. Master
Yang: Don’t
peek at me like this. Any person with upright eyes looks upward, toward
the deities in heaven. The wicked one dare not to do likewise. YT:
I am still naive in my first encounter with you. It goes without
saying that I open wide my eyes without seeing the high mountain before
me. It’s quite ridiculous of me! Master
Yang: Not the least. It’s
quite normal, Yang Ts’ien. Now ride on the celestial dog. We’re
going home. YT:
I’m ready. Shall we go? |
CONTENTS |
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