by Ji, Yun
Suddenly, he heard a person greeting him, "Good morning. How are you, Mr. Lin? What a lovely day it is? Why do you get up so early, sitting among those deserted graves and practicing your lute?" The blind musician recognized the voice, which was from one of his neighbors. Peddling breakfast in the market, he needed to leave home before dawn. The blind musician knew that he had been teased by ghosts for the entire night. Exhausted, he embarrassingly took the lute and went home.
In the village, this blind musician has a notorious reputation. Regardless of his visual impairment, he was cunning, belligerent, and narrow-minded. Many people were victims of his trivial, but annoying intrigues. Behind his back, they gave him the nickname “Ghost Lin.” The word ghost here represents sneaky, amoral, and unscrupulous.
Once they learned of this event, the villagers were amused. They often sneered at him and remarked, in contempt, that a phony ghost met genuine ones. He deserved this humiliating mockery.
As an old says, "You can outfox persons but you can't outmaneuver the Almighty. After all, the universe is in equanimity. The person who takes advantage of others will eventually have a taste of his own medicine, too. "
40 MASTER THE GHOSTS
My grandfather’s neighbor Mr. Pai spent lot of money in order to acquire a rare book of incantations. The seller claimed that he could use the magic book to control and manipulate otherworldly creatures. With enthusiasm and excitement, Mr. Pai meticulously followed its instructions and laboriously practiced them day and night. After a few months of study, he believed that he had memorized the volume thoroughly and mastered the skill of casting spells. He confidently went into the city to buy Tao's outfit, which would add dignity to his new status. On the next day, at midnight, he dressed up and visited a remote, deserted graveyard, and practiced playing for the dark creatures.
On his right hand, he grasped and waived a wooden sword toward the sky and, he used his left hand to hold and gently shook a small, bronze bell that was used for awakening and commanding wandering souls. Without hesitation, he proficiently murmured an incantation and repeatedly cast water, which was mixed with ash of spellbound paper, toward those anonymous tombs. The ritual had lasted for hours. It eventually worked.
From nowhere, a breeze mysteriously appeared that tranquil night. A small wind developed and gradually intensified, it became a gale. They were the indications of the approaching of evil spirits. With exhilaration, Mr. Pai could barely withhold his emotion and vaguely, he heard some vicious howling noises from afar. Due to all this commotion, his mind was a little blurred.
Periodically referring to the valuable book, he recited the spells louder and louder, zealously trying to speed up the process. Suddenly, an eerie gust of wind swept the book to the ground amongst the weeds. A ghost appeared, abruptly snatched it, and vanished himself into darkness. Without that book, Mr. Pai was too nervous to remember the details of that incantation. He became vulnerable and powerless.
A group of otherworldly creatures showed up and contemptuously browbeat him. They shouted, "How dare you attempt to enslave us! Imagine that! A below-mediocre human being intends to subjugate us for your selfish gains. Without that book, you are nobody. We will teach you a lesson. Be prepared to receive your punishment."
Frightened and flabbergasted, Mr. Pai turned around and ran toward his village. Chasing after him; the dark creatures cursed, yelled, jeered, threw shingles, stones, and mud at his back. He was severely injured and bedridden for months.
With great embarrassment and uneasiness, he disclosed this episode to my grandfather, who was an old and respectable individual in the village. After some contemplation, he remarked that Mr. Pai should consider himself fortunate. His failure was only a personal fiasco. If he had succeeded, it would be a misery for those otherworldly creatures, and it would have resulted in an ultimate catastrophe for himself. Working out its own ways, the universe is in equanimity. By possessing those of “dark power”, he would have unfairly tipped the scale to his favor and that would bring unforeseen calamity to himself.
41 REPAIR A COFFIN
My friends Mr. Lee and Mr. Hua once vigorously debated about the existence of ghosts. Mr. Lee firmly believed that there were ghosts in the world. On the other hand, Mr. Hua thought the complete opposite.
When they were heatedly arguing, Mr. Lee's servant humbly interrupted, "I didn't believe ghost before. However, my experience made me change my opinion. A few years ago one, I walked by a deserted graveyard and I accidentally stumbled upon and damaged an exposed coffin. Not thinking about it twice, I went home and weird things began to occur. A few days later, at midnight, I dreamed that a robust ghost had come to subpoena me. The charge was that I had damaged someone’s roof. With amazement and disbelief, I reckoned it was about the coffin. I was conveyed to the underworld court. After a brief announcement, a ghost judge read my allegation and allowed me to respond. In my defense, I pointed out that his 'house' should not block the route. After all, it occurred at night with poor visibility. The plaintiff ghost argued that his 'house' was built long before the road even existed. Carefully listening to both sides, the ghost judge, while smiling, declared his verdict; since it became a road, everybody had a right to walk on it. He said that the servant's behavior was not legally at fault. However, nobody broke this 'house' except me. As a misdemeanor, I was ordered to burn some underworld paper money as to the plaintiff. Furthermore, since the plaintiff couldn't repair his own 'house', the defendant was obligated to buy some planks to patch up the damage.
On the next day, following the decree, I went there to burn some ghost money and mended the coffin. An odd wind swirled the ashes away. On another day, by chance, I passed that location again and heard the ghost howling behind me. It sounded like an owl. I dared not to look back and rapidly, I ran away. Even now recalling it, I still feel a chill on my back."
Not convinced at all, Mr. Hua retorted, with calmness, "I don’t believe this nonsense. Of course, it’s natural that your servant supports your perspective by hook or crook. How can one mouth compete with and out-speak four lips. Until I personally observe a ghost with my own eyes, I will stand firm on my conviction."
"Don’t be so adamant and, if I may add, narrow-minded?" Mr. Lee courteously countered, in a lighthearted way, with logic and rationale. "In the vast universe, there are many things which are beyond our grasp and comprehension. If you were a judge, would you eyewitness a homicide before you can accept the evidence and render a sentence? After we die, we will all become ghosts. Would that be a little too late for you to change your opinion?"
As the two well-educated gentlemen, they both laughed heartily and discontinued this philosophical discussion.
42 VIRTUOUS AND COURAGEOUS In traditional Chinese society, temples would supply rooms for travelers and visitors. They only supplied vegetarian dishes and accepted “donation” instead of fees. With high integrity, Mr. Shi was virtuous and courageous. Once, he and his friend visited and stayed in a temple for a few days. At midnight; disturbed and awakened by an eerie chilly air, they annoyingly observed that on the surface of the wall there were two lighted lanterns. With close scrutiny, they recognized those were monster's eyes. Its face was as large as a desk. His friend was trembling and flabbergasted. On the other hand, Mr. Shi was utterly amused.
Unhurriedly getting off the bed, he properly dressed himself, remarking, with delight and with curiosity, "What a bright idea! You solved my problem. I intended to read a few pages of a book and was wondering where could I find a candle in such pitch-dark room? How fortunate am I? You appeared at the nick of the time and provided the light."
He selected a book, turned his back toward that monster, and started reading it. Since its appearance created no commotion, this otherworldly creature was a little bored. The two lantern-like eyes gradually merged into the wall. The room became dark again. Without hesitation, Mr. Shi politely tapped on and yelled at the wall asking the monster to come back. There was no response.
A few
days later, while he was still staying in the temple, he went to a rest room. A young servant followed and held a lighted candle for him. The huge monster's face slowly re-appeared from the ground, glancing and grinning at them. Amazed and horrified, the servant unconsciously dropped the candle and fainted.
With perfect tranquility, Mr. Shi pretended to look around and carefully picked the candle up, making a suggestion in murmur, "Well, I need your help to handle this candle. How convenient of you to show up. You came at the right moment."
Then, without waiting for a response, he mindfully put it between the monster's eyes. The scene was absurd and hilarious. With dejection mixed with humiliation, this cross-starred otherworldly creature was mystified and motionlessly looked up, attempting to balance this lighted candle with some difficulties.
Mr. Shi sarcastically asked, "Are you stalking me? Why do you come here? Maybe you prefer stink and sordid stuff? How could I disappoint you this time?" With alacrity, he abruptly jammed the used toilet paper down the monster's throat and ran away. Throwing up, the otherworldly creature was horror-struck, hopelessly howled and merged itself into the soil. From then on, the monster never attempted to approach Mr. Shi again.
My tutor periodically quoted this episode while he was lecturing us. We were reminded that the universe has numerous known or unknown species. Ghosts and otherworldly creatures may or may not exist. The virtuous are often the most courageous. As long as you have no misdeed and no evil-though toward others, your energy becomes pure, vigorous, and robust. None of those devils dare to pester or molest you.
43 SEEKING A GRAVE GROUND
In traditional China, the selection of the location of a grave was considered paramount of importance. They believed that it would affect a family's prosperity. Wealthy persons often had spent years on the discovery of a fortunate site for themselves. This is a story about Mr. Soong occurred in the Ming dynasty.
He visited Yi County and went into a deep mountain in order to find a blessed site as his future graveyard. At dusk, black and thick clouds edged in and gradually block the crescent moon. The wind howled and raindrops started violently falling on the trees. Not having an umbrella or a raincoat, Mr. Soong was in an embarrassing situation. Looking for a shelter, he vaguely detected a deserted temple and went there to stay away from the rain.
At the entrance, he heard a hollow sound, from deep inside of the temple, "Sir, please don't come any closer. A ghost has lived here."
"How could you know that?" With amazement and confusion, Mr. Soong, whose clothes was thoroughly soaked with rain, asked.
"Because I am he." In a timid tone of voice, the resident apologetically explained. Mr. Soong was an educated and upright gentleman. Broad-minded and virtuous, he was not afraid of and was interested in those oddities. Out of curiosity, he politely requested to meet with that otherworldly creature, "We belong to different worlds. You shouldn't see me at all," With hesitation mixed with uneasiness, the ghost reluctantly admitted him in and advised, "You must not come near me. You can stay on the corner and build a fire to warm yourself. We might exchange a few words from a distance."
"Why do you live in this pit, an ill-maintained and dilapidated place of nowhere?" The visitor initiated a question, revealing his puzzlement. "As a ghost, you must have a grave of your own somewhere. You should stay with your kind."
"How sophisticated you human beings are!” Obviously irritated and aggravated, the lonely otherworldly creature jeered and elucidated, in great length. “Why do I need to mingle with those snobbish superiors, crafty colleagues, unreliable friends, troublesome neighbors, and selfish folks? Am I living for myself or my peers? I often contemplate with and perplexed by such big questions. Whom or even, what am I living for? My existence is certainly not for them, at all. If I stayed with the herd, I will naturally develop a herd-mentality: For the welfare of the group, I have to cut back my ambition, down size my ideal, reduce my goals, and hold back my potentials in order to comply with their mundane norms. My individuality will be compromised. Otherwise, mainly due to jealousy, they will gang up against me. In compliance with others’ mediocrity, I could never become my own master, probing the limits of my ability. In fact, three hundred years ago, I was a small town mayor in your world." Recalling his past, with excitement tinged by a trace of melancholy, the ghost passionately narrated. "Fed up with political cronyism and racketeering, I resigned myself. Returning back to my native land, I became an ordinary, but respectable, citizen until my death. Due to my high status and integrity, I was constantly pestered by trivialities and didn’t have an easy life there, either. Villagers would ask me to solve disputes, settle differences and smooth disagreements for them free of charges. I was irritated. Furthermore, in my big family, I was exhausted and aggravated by my relatives' complicated interpersonal relationships which involved flattery, cheating, double-crossing, intrigue, and back-stabbing. As a fresh soul rendezvousing with the ghost master, in the underworld court, I zealously denounced the opportunity of returning back to the earth. I had enough of that kind of dog-eat-dog lifestyle. They appointed me to be a petty officer in the underworld. Well! I didn't know that I have to suffer a similar misery again. I resigned and retreated to my grave where there also have been the same issues among those otherworldly creatures. With frustration and amazement, I left those intrigue-minded ghosts, and relocated myself to this remote and deserted temple, far away from either human beings or ghosts.
At first, living here alone is very lonely. I have to tolerate the insufficiency of all kinds of material. Nevertheless, as a master of my own fate, I have a tranquil life and my mind is in peace. I don't need to kiss up my superior or to worship the affluent. My heart became pure and won’t be tempered or allured by greed, selfishness or fame. I am content." The otherworldly creature concluded and was silent.
Mr. Soong attempted to continue this conversation by asking a few more questions. Besides the rain hitting leaves and wind lingering among trees, generating humdrum monotone noises, there was no response from the secluded ghost. The silence remained till daybreak. Searching the whole temple, he couldn’t find any trace of the otherworldly creature. Mr. Soong was deeply touched by that statement. When he took out a brush pen and ink, he stood on the tips of his feet, respectfully brushed two large words, 'Hermit Ghost,' on the top of the entrance and departed.
44 FIREWOOD STACK
On the backyard of my grandfather's mansion, on a remote corner, a deserted firewood stack had been there for many years. Nobody knew when it had been constructed. Due to its old age, otherworldly creatures could reside in it. Villagers had a rumor that site was taken over by a pack of fox spirits. Keeping themselves away from trouble, people dared not to approach there especially, at night. One time, a servant was vastly intoxicated and inadvertently slept near that possessed site. At midnight, due to deep drunkenness, he unconsciously started to remove the firewood, one stick at a time.
Suddenly, he heard a voice of complaint, "I know that you are under the influence of alcohol and I will overlook your rudeness this time. Now, you may go back to your family." Regardless of this warning, he continued his mischievous behavior. After a few moments, he was exhausted and dozed off on the ground.
A few days later, the servant stayed in the middle of a melon field, guarding the almost ripped melons at night. His wife brought dinner for him. Under a dim dusky light, she vaguely observed his husband cuddling and flirting with a young female. From afar, with amazement and aggravation, she noticed that girl was rather attractive and she even wore red clothes, which was very conspicuous and unusual under such circumstances.
Without hesitation, she furiously dashed forward, picked up a stick, pushed that girl aside and continuously beat her husband. Surprised and overwhelmed by this assault, the victim crossed his arms, hopelessly trying to fend it off. After many hard blows, the wife began to cuss and curse him. With bruises, the husband was seriously injured, moaning, and murmuring. He couldn’t explain himself in clear te
rms due to this severe attack. Suddenly, they heard a giggling sound from the top of a tree. Then, they realized that they had been deceived by a fox spirit in response to the husband’s prior misdeed. 45 SEVEN THOUSAND PENNIES
Rustic but astute, an eighty-year-old man slept over seven thousand pennies. The copper coins were evenly spread over his wooden bed. Without leaving a written will, he had passed away quietly. However, his autumn-leaf yellow face showed a trace of remorse and sadness. He had a conference; his friends and colleagues discussed and interpreted the meaning of his unconventional arrangement. After a heated debate for hours, they finally reached a concurrence. The coins were used for the purchase of an above-average coffin and the organization of a decent funeral ceremony. The mystery was settled.
Several days later, Mr. Wu, who was a close friend of the deceased, confronted him in his dream.
Obviously irritated and aggravated, the ghost browbeaten him, meticulously instructing, “As a guard of the state pagoda for over forty-years, I am entitled to a few benefits. According to the law and regulations, I could have a coffin free of charge. The local government is also required to provide a simple funeral ceremony for me out of the public coffer. Those coins are my lifetime saving. They must be loaded into my coffin and bury with me. Who know how much money I need to spend in the underworld….”
In a tedious monotone, the ghost periodically reminded him how to arrange the ceremony, dispose his personal belongings and budget all related expenses thriftily. In the next morning, Mr. Wu disclosed this unique rendezvous to their friends and colleagues. With embarrassment and uneasiness, they abruptly turned down the prior solution and complied with the ghost's instructions faithfully.
After the ceremony, in a melancholy mood, Mr. Wu sighed profoundly and remarked, "How could he be so short-sighted? Money is valuable only in a human being’s mundane world. How could he expect to use them in another domain? Bury with those coins will only allure troubles. Learning his stupidity, tomb-burglars will raid his grave, and chop up the coffin, looting those pennies. His skeleton and bones will be exposed and violated. How sad it is. He had saved all those coins for this utter humiliation."