Tara Zenyora : and the Seven-Jeweled Lighthouse

by Samantha B. Adra

  When she looked into his eyes, she noticed an unusual sense of forlornness. “Is there something bothering you? It seems to me that you are not your usual self.”

  “I used to be a wanderer, but I’m going back home soon,” said Bo, his voice was calm but the sense of distraught was evident.

  “Where are you going? I thought you plan to preserve your body to witness Maitreya Buddha’s attainment of Enlightenment?” Tara was puzzled by his sudden change of plan.

  “Conditions have changed, and my plan has to change accordingly. I had contacted my people on the planet of Toba, and they will be coming soon to take me back home to Toba.”

  “When are you leaving? I hope you don’t leave too soon, because I still need your help to defeat the demons.”

  “I will help you in the battle of the demons before I leave.”

  Tara went over to touch his hands on the railing but Bo gently retracted his hands.

  “Prince Chen is a good man and he loves you immensely. Judge not his frivolous attitude, for he is loyal and committed to you. He will be a responsible husband whom you can rely upon for your future happiness. Could you promise your brother to cherish him wholeheartedly, just as you cherish your parents?”

  Tara nodded but the tightness in her heart was still intense. Personally, she preferred the calm and dignified-looking Bo to be her husband rather than the frivolously free-spirited Prince Chen. While she did have feelings of affection toward Prince Chen, the emotions with him were complex; they were always fluctuating between the extremes of love and resentment, happiness and sorrow, gratitude and regret. With Bo, it was always peace, subtle bliss, and serenity.

  “Prince Chen and I’ve been husband and wife for immeasurable lifetimes in the past. Our karmic affinity is just too formidable. It becomes habitual for him to choose me again and again for his wife, lifetime after lifetime. But you know, Bo, though I do love him, sometimes I really feel tired and bored eating candies and riding on a rollercoaster all the time. How I wish to take a break and drink more plain water; it’s healthier for me in the long run. How I wish my husband was someone who is more sensible and dignified just like you,” Tara admitted with sighs of disappointment. She took a quick glance at Bo to observe his response to her indirect declaration of love.

  “Much as plain water is healthy for you, it will become dull and dreary soon. Your personality is such that fun, surprises, and creativity are nutrients for you to stay lively and vivacious. Prince Chen is someone who will find ways to romance you; he is indeed an ideal match for you.” Bo encouraged Tara to see the positives in Prince Chen.

  “But excessive excitement and stimulation can be equally wearisome too. I need someone to ‘balance’ me, and I yearn for something more solid, practical, and down-to-earth that would bring me back to the state of calm and equanimity. Repetition forms habit and habit is difficult to break. Love Reincarnation is nothing but habitual spousal choice over countless lifetimes. I wonder how I can break this habitual chain of Love Reincarnation.”

  “Indeed, it is habitual for many living beings to be reborn in Samsara ceaselessly because most of them are not aware of the existence of Nirvana, the everlasting world of birthlessness and deathlessness. Suffering is the characteristic quality of Samsara. If you have a choice, always choose the Light of Nirvana, that’s how you can break the habitual chains of Love Reincarnation.”

  “Alright, I will choose Nirvana when I’m ready. You’re right, Samsara is the enclave of suffering. Good or bad, they are all illusions because Death will bring everything back to the point of zero. I really regretted buying a penthouse using my mother’s inheritance money. I shouldn’t have bought tonnes of dresses, bags, shoes, and books. I should have saved my money for the investment in humanity toward Enlightenment.”

  “With this aspiration, you are en route to Enlightenment,” chuckled Bo.

  “Thank you for leading me to Enlightenment, Bo,” said Tara with heartfelt gratitude, looking into his captivating deep blue eyes. “What is the major difference between Samsara and Nirvana?”

  “Freedom of choice is what makes Nirvana stand out from Samsara. Once you enter Nirvana, you can choose to stay in the bliss of Nirvana, or you can choose to be reborn in Samsara out of compassion to bring salvation of all beings toward Enlightenment. Those who have entered Nirvana once will always go back to Nirvana again and again for spiritual recharge and rejuvenation. As for those who are trapped in Samsara due to their ignorance of Nirvana, their lives will be governed solely by the inexorable Law of Cause and Effect, and there is no resting place in Samsara. Of the Three Poisons, ignorance of Nirvana is the greatest scourge of suffering. That’s why having the Right View is pivotal in Enlightenment.”

  Listening attentively and pondering upon the wise words of Bo, she secretly made it her aspiration to enter Nirvana when the conditions were right for her. “Bo, could you enlighten me on what the difference is between Heaven and Nirvana?”

  “Beings who are reborn in Heaven enjoy supreme bliss most of the time. The downside of Heaven is that there is excessive enjoyment and a lack of opportunities to accumulate good merits for their next lifetimes. When their merits are exhausted, they are forced to go through the wheel of reincarnation again according to the Law of Causality.

  “Nirvana is different from Heaven in that beings who enter Nirvana can choose to stay in the bliss of Nirvana forever. The merits of the Buddha and Enlightenment are immeasurable and inexhaustible, and the realm of Nirvana is beyond the control of the Law of Causality. Therefore, a person of true wisdom and compassion shall lead all beings, not to be reborn in the Heaven, but to the ultimate realm of Nirvana.”

  “I have something to give you,” said Bo, taking out a necklace. It was a square black pendant with a white round button in the middle that resembled a car remote key.

  “When you’re ready, you can visit me on the Planet of Toba. Just press the round button in the middle and verbalize your request. Someone will arrive with a spaceship to take you there. Remember, you can use this remote key only once; use it only when you’re absolutely sure you’re ready. May I help you with the pendant?”

  Tara lowered her head slightly to allow Bo to put on the pendant. She sensed something was amiss but she was not able to put a finger on it. “I will definitely look for you, I promise.”

  Then she suddenly remembered the paixiao she had given him in the past. “Do you still have the paixiao with you? Would you mind playing it so that I could dance with the melody?”

  “Yes.” He took out the paixiao and started playing a melancholic melody.

  Taking off her cloak, she started dancing her Twenty-One Movements of the Phoenix Silk Dance to her heart’s content.

  “The wind is strong, and it’s chilly here, let me walk you back to your chamber,” Bo said, concerned about her health.

  “Sure.” Bo helped her put back her cloak and both of them walked toward the chambers.

  When they reached the door outside her quarters, Tara could not bear leaving him; she wanted to give him a warm embrace but resisted.

  “Thank you Bo. Thank you for everything. I….I…” Tara stammered; she wanted to say ‘I love you and I hope to be your wife in my next incarnation,’ but she swallowed it all.

  Sensing what she was thinking, Bo said, “I will always be close to you.” Then he took the initiative to embrace her for the first time, much to her surprise and delight.

  With his embrace, she found the courage to say what was in her heart, “I love you Bo. I hope to be your wife in my next incarnation.”

  Every morning, Tara began her routine with a meditation practice and Phoenix Silk Dance practice with Bo, followed by an intensive Dragon Fists martial art revision with Prince Chen. She was exceptionally focused, motivated, diligent, and ardent in her effort to quickly master the skills required to enter the Qibaota. Her progress was admirable, and she improved by leaps and bounds.

  After a whole day of intensive training, she w
as dog-tired in the evening. Prince Chen was always looking forward to spending some time with her at night, much to her chagrin. She was not in the mood to entertain him and his requests; all she wanted to do was to sleep.

  One night, she had enough of Prince Chen’s persistent pestering. She barged out of the room and went over to look for Auntie Siew Lan.

  “Auntie Siew Lan, I’m so sick of Prince Chen! I don’t want to live with him. He is just so irritating!” Tara groaned.

  “What has happened, my dear? Sit beside me and speak slowly,” said Auntie Siew Lan, pushing a chair out for her.

  “I’m so exhausted; all I want is a good night’s sleep. I’ve no mood to entertain him at all. Why do men always need to be pampered so many times in a week? I really want a break!”

  “Communication is important. Try to understand his needs and speak to him about your needs as well. Learning to give and take is the secret recipe to a loving relationship.”

  “I’ve already told him but he just didn’t want to listen! I’m just too drained to want to do anything other than sleeping.” Tara crossed her arms in defiance.

  “Tara, you’ve worked too hard in the practice of the martial arts. You need balance and relaxation, if not, you’ll soon burnout. I’m sure Prince Chen must have good intentions for you.”

  Tara thought about it: Yes, he wanted to give me a good body massage for my relaxation but I know him too well, he’ll expect something in return for his efforts, which I’m not in the mood to give him.

  “Auntie Siew Lan, may I bunk at your place for a few days? I really need a few good night’s sleep free from unnecessary stress and interruptions.”

  “Okay, but promise me you’ll go back soon, otherwise he’ll be worried about you,” said Auntie Siew Lan. “Tara, nobody is perfect; all of us are imperfect beings walking on the path to spiritual perfection. The journey of love is to accept people for who they are, flaws and all, and always focus on the positive aspects of others to bring out the best in them.”

  “Auntie Siew Lan, it’s easier said than done. Do you know why I’m so insistent about going back home via Qibaota? It’s because I cannot accept the absurd imperial custom of having four concubines for a dragon prince. The thought of having to share Prince Chen with four other women makes me want to puke. That’s just too ridiculous, and it’s totally unacceptable.” Tara was still fuming thinking about it.

  “Moreover, Prince Chen had never mentioned this to me before we tied the knot; and that made me so mad at him. If I knew the ‘entire package’ of marrying a prince, I would not have agreed to the marriage at all. While I’m grateful to him for saving my life, and I do love his intelligence and caring tenderness toward me, I detest living in the prison palace with absolutely no freedom whatsoever. Whenever I see his impertinent smirk, it reminds me of his shrewd master plan to trick me into an unforgivable marital union with him.”

  Auntie Siew Lan finally gained a better understanding of Tara. “I could sense the sincerity of Prince Chen; he truly loves you for who you are. He must have suffered immensely when he decided to help you escape from the palace so you could go back home. For all the actions he did for you, Auntie Siew Lan can vouch that he is a reliable and responsible man whom you can count on for your future happiness. Tara, I’m sure you do not wish to repeat the same mistake as you did with the father? Forgive Prince Chen, love him for who he is, and cherish him dearly while you can. We’re going back home soon, and I wonder how you’ll eventually reunite with him. Auntie Siew Lan does not wish to see you filled with regrets in the future.”

  Auntie Siew Lan is right, I must not repeat the same mistake I did with my father. I must not disregard the advice of both Auntie Siew Lan and Bo. Yes, I must forgive him and love him for who he is, else I will have regrets in my life.

  “Thank you for your advice. You’re right, I think I will go back to his chamber now. So sorry to trouble you, Auntie Siew Lan.”

  “You’re welcome. I wish you marital bliss with Prince Chen. Go back and rest well, my dear.” Tara gave Auntie Siew Lan a warm embrace before going back to her own chamber.

  CHAPTER 43

  THE CONSUMMATION

  After a month of rigorous training, Tara found herself burned out, tottering on the brink of a nervous breakdown. One morning, Tara was so lethargic and drained that she refused to get up from her large, round bed. For the entire week, she refused to let Prince Chen share a bed with her. Thus, he had no choice but to temporarily bunk with Singha. She had lost all passion in life; it seemed everything in life was meaningless for her and she wanted to do nothing except lying on the bed the whole day.

  Knock. knock.

  “Darling, may I come in, please? Your favourite claypot rice, nasi bryani, satay, and ice-kacang are all ready for you. Please open the door, darling,” said Prince Chen, trying his best to entice her to have some food.

  “No! I don’t wish to see you and I don’t want to eat anything. Just leave me alone. Go away!” barked Tara. Loss of appetite had caused her to lose a lot of weight. Her face became hollow and her whole being had also lost its former glory. Thus, the last thing she wanted to do was to face the impertinent Prince Chen who might not feel happy looking at her in this state. His impudent grin would only serve to displease her more.

  “Tara, it’s me. May I come in?” said Bo, standing outside her chamber.

  Knowing that Bo was going to meet her, Tara felt a sense of peace and joy. She adored Bo’s sensibility more than Prince Chen’s sensuality.

  “Yes, please come in, Bo.”

  Prince Chen stood there outside the room, his mouth agape, unable to believe that Tara allowed Bo - and not her husband - to enter her chamber.

  Bo walked through the wall, without opening the arched semi-circle door, and sat on a chair beside her bed.

  With Bo inside the room, her heart instantly lifted. Sitting bolt upright on the bed, Tara went to hold Bo’s hands. The moment she touched his hands, a sense of peace washed over her entire being, bringing her tremendous calm and equanimity. Bo’s golden aura had the healing power to magically transform her sallow face back to its former glorious luster. His natural sandalwood bodily scent was enough to bring calm and mindfulness back to her.

  “You are assiduous in your practice with the aim of successfully defeating the demons. But are you aware that you may exert yourself excessively?”

  Tara lowered her head, knowing that she had gone overboard with training and preparation. “I’m sorry, Bo. Yes, I went overboard and I’ve forgotten to care for myself in the midst of training.”

  “Have you done the yoga pose ‘Lord of the Dance’ before?” asked Bo.

  “Yes, why?”

  “How do you balance yourself?”

  “I need to focus on balancing the weight of my bent leg and outstretched hand so that I won’t topple over.”

  “Exactly. Similarly, it’s important to balance between practice and play so as to avoid mental collapse. Remember, balance is the key to staying sane. Always dance your way to happiness. It’s time for you to take a break.”

  Having said that, Bo slowly disappeared right in front of her. A short meeting with Bo imbued Tara with so much positive healing energy that she was ready to pick herself up again.

  Prince Chen saw Bo walking out of the chamber through the wall. Consumed with jealousy, he went forward to confront him.

  “Stop there, Bo. I want to speak to you,” snapped Prince Chen, scowling at him. “Tara is my wife and I am her husband, and you have no right to break us apart, I warn you.”

  “Tara is my sister, and she knows that,” said Bo in a dispassionate voice. “You and Tara are husband and wife not just in this lifetime, but immeasurable lifetimes in the past. Both of you are meant to be together; you need to have more faith in yourself.”

  How did he know that we were husband and wife for immeasurable lifetimes? Impressed with Bo, Prince Chen relinquished his antagonism toward him immediately.

  “I’
m glad that you know your place well,” said Prince Chen with a wry smile. “I’m sorry to have misunderstood you; thank you for helping me look after Tara as a brother.”

  “Not to mention. Since you have chosen Tara as your wife, you will need to have a little more patience and less expectations of her. I trust you to bring happiness to her.” Having said so, Bo went back to his chamber.

  The long sea voyage in the odyssey of Qibaota wore down Tara’s loved ones heavily; especially those with motion sickness. The tempest of the ocean made the journey perilous and full of trepidation. Disheartened, they almost wanted to give up looking for Qibaota. It seemed impossible to find. Some of them even toyed with the idea of forgetting about going back to the human world and just settling on an island forever.

  The migration of snow cranes heralded the arrival of Spring. So everyone could rest and relax, Bo decided to conjure an idyllic tropical island with palm trees, a verdant craggy mountain, golden sands, and sparkling turquoise water.

  “Look! There’s an island in front of us. We can finally dock the dragon ship and settle down on an island,” Rashid said excitedly. Everyone was over the moon, looking forward to some relaxation and stable ground underfoot.

  “Yes, we can finally have some rest,” said Jun Yang, breathing a sigh of relief.

  Their time on the island was the most wonderful time that all of them had experienced in the dragon world. They had sumptuous food and engaged in various fun activities. It was a good time for all of them.

  Uncle Yong lazed around in a hammock, sipping coconut juice while Auntie Siew Lan sat on a chair under a beach umbrella, enjoying the breeze caressing her face and neck.

  Rashid and Jun Yang had a whale of time engaging in various ocean sports such as sea kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and wakeboarding.

  It was a joyous time for Tara as well. Apart from dancing to her heart’s content and having fun riding on her Queenzy, she had the opportunity to spend more quality time with her father. Reminiscing the good old days with her father when he had not been led astray by temptation, greed, and ego was indeed wonderful. She pushed her father’s wheelchair along the pristine, white golden beach, listening to his life stories and regrets.