In
mid-November of 1989, Master had just delivered
a discourse, and we were on the way to the next destination. We arrived
in one airport in the early hours of the morning and had a whole day
to ourselves before the next flight. The immigration officer insisted
that we go sightseeing in the city. Also traveling with us was sister
Sun whom the immigration staff escorted to the transit lounge because
she did not have an entrance visa.
Master
and I took a cab. Very soon, we arrived at this world-famous beach.
Morning had just broken over a city still in sweet dreams. The cab
driver dropped us off at a seaside inn. Once we completed room registration,
Master asked me to go and shop for some swimwear, specifically reminding
me to buy water-resistant T-shirts and shorts. I was amazed. "I wouldn't
dare to wear a swimsuit in public. Master is truly considerate and
understands how conservative I am," I thought.
When
I returned happily from shopping, Master and I quickly changed into
our new clothes. We walked toward the beach behind the inn. As we
walked, Master laughed and said, "Don't we look like brothers?" "We
do!" The answer burst forth from my lips without a moment of hesitation.
As though reliving Her childhood days, Master winked at me and suggested
mischievously, "I'll race you to the beach." My feet picked up speed,
and the two of us laughed as we charged towards that undulating line
where the water kisses the sand. I don't remember who won; all I can
remember was how I panted and how the vast expanse of water before
me pulled at my heartstrings. "The sea is so beautiful. No one can
come so close to it without wanting to throw himself into its embrace,"
I thought.
We
placed a large piece of cloth on the inviting bed of soft, fine sand.
Master immediately lay down and, patting the space next to Her, said,
"You can lie down here!" My heart sang with joy. I quickly focused
my attention on my wisdom eye, dispelled all distracting thoughts,
and lay down slowly. The azure sky above was cloudless as far as the
eye could see, its pure clarity producing a calming effect on people's
minds. Thoughts and ideas usually flashed through my mind at lightning
speed. As the Lotus Sutra says, "One thought splits into three thousand."
I often derided myself as having "one thought split into three billion."
A failure to curb my thoughts here would surely disturb Master, so
I kept strict vigilance over my mind. I turned my head and saw Master
relaxing with Her eyes closed. I too closed my eyes, reciting the
Holy Names slowly, clearly and silently. As far as I can remember,
I have never again recited the Holy Names with such devotion and concentration,
not even in times of peril. For quite a while, I did not know that
my body and mind existed. I felt that Master and I had become one
with Nature; I had no desires or feelings; there was only contentment
and tranquillity. Looking back now, that blissful and desireless state
could only have been the state of "nirvana!"
After
some time, Master confided that She was hungry, so I bought some vegetarian
pizzas at a stall nearby. The pizza was indeed "pure vegetarian,"
its crust topped by a red coat of tomato paste. It was the mini of
minis, being no bigger than a slice of bread. That, plus two glasses
of Coke, was our simple lunch. Master enjoyed the sumptuous meal immensely.
She ate a lot too! I thought it was perhaps because She felt relaxed
and free from worries and troubles where there were few people, and
thus less karma.
After
the meal, we strolled along the beach in the gentle and warm sunlight.
Master walked and stopped intermittently. When She saw some lovely
seashells, She picked them up and washed them gently in the water.
When She had picked up too many, She put some in my hands and softly
told me to whom they were to be given, and that I should take good
care of them. After a while, Master found a new favorite - a small,
transparent, jelly-like, spherical creature wearing a star-shaped,
thorny outer jacket. Dozens of them had been washed ashore by perhaps
a sudden big wave. In a show of affection, She held these little creatures
in Her hands before putting them back into the sea slowly and gently.
I followed suit, carefully helping to send these "aliens" back home.
Until now, I am still uncertain whether these little creatures were
sea anemones. What they are called is not important. The precious
thing was that Master taught me the wonder and value of "protecting
life."
Unable
to resist the charming sea, Master set aside Her work and swam slowly
into the water. She is an extremely good swimmer, and in no time had
become one with the sea. It was hard to distinguish which was the
Pure Ocean (Ching Hai) and which was the great ocean. I both loved
and dreaded the water, so I remained by the shore. A near-drowning
experience in a swimming pool while in elementary school had made
sure that I never challenged the water again. I had become a "grounded
duck." While having fun in the water, Master noticed that I was only
"soaking" myself by the water's edge. She came ashore and tried to
teach me to swim, painstakingly demonstrating how to move the hands
and feet. I followed Her movements and practiced "swimming along the
shore" for a while. She then asked me to go into the water with Her,
saying that She was afraid to swim in the deep waters alone.
Together
we walked into the water until it came up to our waist. Then Master
taught me how to "jump the waves." The waves charged toward us, rising
tall and powerful, and as they fell to the lowest point, we jumped
over them, just missing the forceful impact. We stood face to face.
As Master held my hands lightly, I felt safe and free from fear. We
counted "One! Two! Three! Jump!" and did just that on that last note.
I had great fun watching the waves disappear beneath our feet and
felt very much relaxed.
Then,
Master slowly led me into the deeper waters. I felt the water rise
to my chest and said in panic, "Master, don't let go of my hands!"
She smiled and said, "It's okay. Just follow me!" We went further
and further out into the sea. Suddenly, She let go of my hands, and
before I could react, a wave had hit me and fed me a mouthful of water.
I heard Master shout, "Relax! Let your body relax!" I tried and the
waves pushed me to the surface. Although I sank a little when nervousness
overcame me, I was both thrilled and overjoyed. If my relatives and
friends could have seen me then, they would certainly have marveled
at this miracle, "Rou Er is floating in the sea!"
When
we came ashore, my mind was totally blank. I was awed by Master's
wonderful power of love. If my fate had been sealed as being "unable
to swim," then She had changed it all. She had rewritten history and
led me into the "restricted area" that I had never dared to trespass.
When
we were back at the airport, I learned the truth. "I was not particularly
keen about swimming today, but the salty sea water is good for you,"
Master said. "Your health is not very good." Her words filled me with
such a warmth that I can still feel it even today, nearly ten years
later. 
Between
Master And Disciples
