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Heng Sure
March 23, 1978
VIOLENT AIRS
I climbed down to the saltwater to practice Shao Lin temple boxing.
Heng Chau had warned me not to do Shao Lin in public. Originally a monastic discipline to invigorate mediators, Shao Lin was later isolated into a martial art. The meditative aspect got left behind. When people see the flying fists and feet, it brings up the fighting spirit.
I didn't heed the warning, and the beach was too bumpy. Returning to the level road, I swung into the opening line. Sixty seconds later, the headlights of a passing car swung around and pinned me to the sand bluff in a brilliant spotlight. A drunken, burly man with long hair and bulging biceps ran up, his eyes aflame.
"Say, what do you call that? Teach me, huh? C'mon, do it again."
"He whose braveness lies in daring slays. He whose braveness les in not daring, gives life. For it is the way of heaven not to strive, but nonetheless to conquer. Not to speak, but nonetheless get an answer." -- Tao Te Ching 73
Tough situation. Couldn't ignore him, couldn't talk to explain. I recited the great compassion mantra, smiled, shook my head and stood very still.
"No joke man, that's good stuff, I want to learn," he insisted, standing so close I smelled his beery breath.
On inspiration, I gestured to him to follow. Heng Chau sat in Ch'an meditation in the Plymouth. I pointed to him sitting peacefully and nodded, "okay." I mocked the Shao Lin fighting stance and shook my head, "no good." I put on my precept sash and imitated the sitting posture, gesturing, "#1." It worked, or maybe it was the mantra's power that cooled us both down and carried the message home, without words.
"Oh, so you guys are monks, huh? And you don't teach kung fu? Too bad, that's hot stuff!" he said and left.
"It is best to leave the fish down in his pool. Best to leave State's sharpest weapons where none can see them." -- Tao Te Ching 36
Whew! No more Shao Lin in public. Violent airs breed violence. Peaceful practices promote peace.
Heng Chau
Thursday
March 23, 1978
Sheriff officer Connelly stopped to see if we were okay and to wish us a good day. "Be careful. This is Easter weekend and the worst section of the road is ahead," he advised us.
Two young men out driving the scenic coast in a convertible sports car. They were packed up and setting out, "to find something that college doesn't have." Miles and Steve, in their early 20's, stopped to make an offering of fresh fruit and bread. They asked some questions.
"We heard that this is how you get your food," said Steve. I nod. "Wow! That's incredible" answers Steve. "I know a lot of people must ask this, but I really want to know: why? What are you doing this?"
"Well, if you can find what was behind your impulse to stop and make an offering then you'll know why. The reason we became monks and are out here bowing is basically is the same reason you had the thought to stop and ask why," I said.
"Hmm," said Steve.
"What do you bow for?" wondered miles.
"To try to turn back for disasters and suffering in the world. We transfer the bowing to help cool off the overheating world little."
"That's far out! I mean you give it away, you're not doing it for yourselves?" said miles.
"Yeah." Cut in Steve, "that makes it real, ya know?" he continued, "One of my favorite quotes goes something like,
A bell's not a bell unless you ring it. A song's not a song unless you sing it. Love's not love until you give it away. It's not real live if you try to keep it.
I really like that. It doesn't mean romantic love, I mean, I think it means just being good and decent to everyone, not being selfish and uptight," he said.
Full moon today and celebration of Shakyamuni Buddha's nirvana.
Two men came up as we ate inlet. With folded hands they did a half-bow, then offered food, flowers and incense. They were really happy and full if light. They placed the food respectfully on our mat and offered incense and flowers at te small altar in the car. Not a word was spoken. It wasn't necessary. They bowed and left.
John (Kuo Jan) Scruggs and his brother tom stopped en route to their parents' home in Carmel. They offered some fresh orange juice and words of encouragement.
"Road looks pretty clean up this point. You must be working hard. Everybody at the city of 10,000 Buddhas has you two somewhere in the back of their heads bowing all the time," said Kuo Jan.
Kuo Jan is single handedly running the sewage plant at the city.
"It's not a fixed dharma," he joked.
"It's what he deserves," retorted his brother tom.
"No, it's my karma," corrected john.
A party of Tibetan Buddhists in a couple of cars stopped. Purple robes, and smiles. One, in a white shirt with yellow top and ponytail, seemed to be their spokesman. They knew we were from gold Mt. And doing prostrations.
"All the way," one kept saying.