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October 28, 1978
Santa Cruz, California
Dear Shih Fu,
We just bowed past the city limits of Santa Cruz. Ahead is about 80 miles of empty coastline before San Francisco, and whatever our minds create. I am happiest when I bow a lot, sit long, and keep my mouth closed. I've noticed that those around me are a lot more natural and peaceful when I cultivate. Minding my own business and tending to my own faults seems to allow others room to grow and move without feeling hassled and obstructed. I've put my mind to not getting worried or angry, no matter what. I've eaten my fill of afflictions for too long. They just pollute the air and give me gray hair and wrinkles. This verse from the Avatamsaka really struck me as the right way to be:
He is quite free from contention,
From troubling, harming, and from
hatred.
He knows shame, respect, and
rectitude
And well protects and guards his
faculties.
I recite this verse on and off during the day. Without fail it clears the shadows from my mind and leaves me feeling pounds lighter. I have never encountered anything more wonderful or true than the Buddhadharma.
In Santa Cruz we met Don Penners and his family. He is a local dentist who is selling his practice and moving to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to live and work. "We are all looking forward to the move. It's the best thing going in the world today. The Master's a great guy!" they said. When they first met the Master they were a little non-plussed. "Well, at first we weren't impressed. He looked so young and healthy--too much so to be a Venerable Abbot--so I crudely said, 'Who are you?' I thought he was one of the assistants. I've never seen anyone his age look so youthful and happy! We got no reply."
"In fact," the Panners went on, "The Master said nothing to us at all the first time. It was like looking into a big mirror. All we saw was ourselves. It was like the Master was empty inside. There wasn't any of the usual 'Hi, how are you... what you been doing?' It wasn't until later that we came to appreciate what a rare and valuable experience that was. We really got a clear picture of ourselves. It was quite something, frankly!"
We have met some strange people, too. One night while I was making tea on the back of the station wagon, two men pulled up to ask about the pilgrimage. One of them related during a perfectly straight conversation, "People think Jesus in coming again. But they're wrong. The UFOs are coming. They are out there watching us like a farmer watches over a corn crop. When they come, they are going to take some of us with them--alive, right out into outer space. The rest they will leave here on earth to blow themselves up with nuclear weapons and pollution. It says so in the Bible!" he insisted.
"Oh?" I said.
"Yeah, do you read the Bible?" he asked.
"Once upon a time..." I began.
"Well, I've read it! So what are you going to do?" he asked urgently.
"About?" I asked.
"When they come--the UFOs. Are you going with them or staying?" he pressed.
"We'll just keep bowing to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas." I replied.
"You will? Well, I guess, but ... well they are coming real soon.
I know it ..." his voice trailed off as he looked up at the stars.
There are a lot of different ways of looking at things. Heng Sure and I are slowly discovering that, with a proper mind, what is seen is proper; with a deviant mind, what is seen is deviant. Proper knowledge and views are essential, because however we look at things, that's what they become. As the Master wrote in a verse:
As one plants causes, one reaps the
fruit--look within yourself.
With reverence coming and going,
impartial is the Way.
All is well. There's no problem so big that a day of bowing won't solve.
Peace in the Dharma,
Disciple Kuo T'ing
(Heng Ch'au)
bows in respect.