Gymnastics 169
I recall that several years ago, acting on the junior guardian’s
command, I went on the offensive, and then headed back to E [Hubei].
On my return route I suddenly noticed a wandering monk. His appear-
ance was otherworldly, of the same type as the arhats (luohan). In his
hands he held a letter. The monk entered the camp, and entrusted me
with delivering it to the junior guardian. When I inquired for his
reason, he retorted: “General! Do you know that the junior guardian
possesses divine strength (shenli)?” I replied that I did not, but added
that I did see my commander the junior guardian drawing a hundred
stones bow, which is something an ordinary person cannot do.
The monk said: “Do you think that the junior guardian’s divine
strength was bestowed upon him by heaven?” I answered that it must be
so, whereupon he retorted: “No, I gave it to him! In his youth the junior
guardian studied with me. Once he had attained extraordinary powers,
I exhorted him to join me in following the Way. He was not convinced
however, and strove instead for achievements in the human world. Even
though he will become famous, it will be hard for him to realize his
goals. This is heaven’s will. This is fate. Nothing can be done about it!
Today, the general is in danger. May I trouble you to deliver him this
letter. Perhaps it will prompt self-examination, thereby preventing him
harm.
Hearing the monk’s words, I was completely taken aback. I asked
for his name, but he did not answer. I inquired where he was going to,
and he said: “to the West, to look for Master Bodhidharma.” I was awed
by the monk’s divine aura, and I did not presume to urge him to stay.
Suddenly, he vanished like the wind.
The junior guardian received the letter. He had not finished
reading it when he broke into tears. “My Master is a divine monk,” he
said to me. “If he does not wait for me, it means that my end is near.”
Then he took a volume from inside his gown, and handed it to me,
exhorting me with the following words: “Treasure this book. Choose a
worthy disciple and transmit it to him. Do not let the Dharma Gate of
Entering the Way be closed. If the book’s transmission ceases, this will
amount to a betrayal of the divine monk.”
Before several months had passed, the junior guardian fell prey as
predicted to the evil prime minister’s trumped-up charges. I am grieved
that the injustice done to the junior guardian has not been redressed.
Nowadays, fame means no more than dirt to me. Therefore I no longer
wish to live in the human world. I cherish the junior guardian’s com-
mand, and I do not wish to carelessly betray it. However, I regret that as
a military man I lack perception. I do not know who in this world is
capable of becoming a Buddha, and could therefore be entrusted with
this volume. Since it is hard to identify such a person, there would be no
benefit in random transmission. Today I will hide this volume inside a