Read Online Snow in August by Gao Xingjian - Free Book Online Page B

helped along by a monk .
     
    Huineng:
    Please accept my deepest apology. I am unaware of the reason why the imperial court is involved and why your lordship had to undertake such an arduous journey. Please let me be enlightened.
    Xue Jian:
    I am Xue Jian, eunuch of the imperial court. By order of the Empress Dowager Zetian and the His Majesty Zhongzong, you hereby are to receive the imperial edict!
    Huineng:
    ( Clasps his palms to make obeisance and receives the imperial edict .)
    Huineng has not learned to read or write, may I trouble the honorable eunuch to read out His Majesty’s royal letter? I will listen attentively, so that I will know what crime I have committed!
    Xue Jian:
    The excellent teachings of the Grand Master have traveled far and wide and are respected by both Heaven and men. Why should there be any crime? The Empress Dowager and His Majesty in the royal palace are full of great admiration for the Grand Master and long for your presence, despite a distance of ten thousand miles. Therefore they have sent your humble servant to tender an invitation requesting the Grand Master’s presence at the royal palace, where there will be a temple for your exclusive use. May I ask the Grand Master to make preparations and set off for the capital as soon as possible? Your humble servant will be your escort!
    Huineng:
    I’m old and my feet are not well. I can’t walk far.
    Xue Jian:
    This matters not. We have brought along a steed for your use. The Grand Master doesn’t even have to walk an inch, and there are post stations that will provide for and look after your needs. There’s really nothing to worry about.
    Huineng:
    I have a bad back. I can’t ride horses.
    Xue Jian:
    Then we’ll use a carriage. We can carry you on and off the carriage. And the driver will look after everything.
    Huineng:
    These old bones of mine, I’m afraid they’ll end up all broken and cracked before I arrive at the capital and present myself to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. I might even have to trouble His Majesty to pick up my scattered bones. This will not do! This will definitely not do!
    Xue Jian:
    But I have orders to follow. How am I going to answer to His Majesty?
    Huineng:
    I’m a poor man, I have nothing in my possession except this kasaya robe handed down to me by my teacher. Let me give it to you and trouble you to present it to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. In this way, I can requite in part His Majesty’s solicitude.
    Xue Jian:
    It’s His Majesty’s wish to summon you, not your kasaya robe! What’s the use of having the rags worn by a monk? This edict is in His Majesty’s handwriting. Don’t be rude and give him the snub!
    ( Xue Jian takes one step forward and puts his hand on his sword .)
    Huineng:
    (Bends down.)
    You want this?
    Xue Jian What?
    Huineng:
    ( Sticks his head out .)
    Just take it.
    Xue Jian:
    Take what?
    Huineng:
    This old monk’s head!
    Xue Jian:
    What’s the meaning of this?
    Huineng:
    Doesn’t His Majesty want to have me? Just take it.
    Xue Jian:
    His Majesty wants you to go to the palace and expound your teaching. He didn’t say he wanted your head!
    Huineng:
    Excellent! Excellent! His Majesty also wishes to be a merciful Buddha.
    Xue Jian:
    His Majesty’s benevolence is spread far and wide. He has funded the renovation of temples all over the country and donated money to provide for Buddhist monks. His merits embrace the whole of China. Don’t be rude! Don’t be indiscreet!
    Huineng:
    These are not merits.
    Xue Jian:
    Then where can merits be found?
    Huineng:
    Building temples, almsgiving, and patronage are merely meritorious work. But true merits reside in the Dharma body, not in the field of merits itself. Realizing our nature is known as gong ; equality and righteousness are known as de. Together they make up gongde , which means merits. In our heart, we should see Buddha nature; in our behavior, we should be respectful. In all our thoughts we should espouse equality and