And so the three sages slowly descended the mountain, taking care to assist Tzu-yu, until they were again beside the altar to the grain spirits and beneath the plum tree of the old woman.
As the sages were taking a dinner of over-ripe plums in the gathering dusk, two sturdy young men carrying stout staves appeared, the oldest shouting: “Thieves! By whose leave do you eat our plums and sprawl about in our fields!? And what has befallen you that one of you has a head like a pumpkin!? You are an inauspicious trio for sure. Get on with you.”
At this Chen Jen replied, “As to our unfortunate comrade with the head of a pumpkin, he was assaulted by bandits and robbed of all we possessed. And as for . . .”
“Enough!” said Number One Son, “Not only do you steal and trespass, but you would bring bandits upon us as well! There is the road, take it!”
“As you command, Sir, we will do,” said Chen Jen while rising to his feet. “But I would have you know that had not the dear and generous woman, whom I take to be your mother, earlier given us permission to feast upon your plums and stay beneath this tree, you would not now see us so employed.”
“What,” said Number Two Son, “our dear mother has given you leave to be here? I shall go this very minute and confirm what you say.”
Thereupon, after only a few minutes, Number Two Son came running across the fields saying, “Not only does my mother confirm what you say, but she begs you to come and spend the night in our home. Please then, Sirs, forgive us our rashness and grant our mother her desire.”
“It would indeed be a blessing if we could again spend time with your wise and noble mother,” replied Chen Jen.
And thus, the three sages soon found themselves around a warm stove in a rustic home, simple, but generous of space, and he of the pumpkin head, Tzu-yu, tenderly ministered to by the kindly old woman.
But still Number One Son murmured saying, “Are you not still parasites, reaping where you have not sown, living off the generosity of others?”
“But why do you begrudge your dear mother her pleasure?” replied Chen Jen. “For does she not find pleasure in showing compassion to three sages in need? And is this pleasure not of the spirit and of the most enduring kind? As for us, we gladly receive what destiny provides us, whether hardship or comfort. And we would most certainly now be upon the road with equanimity should not your mother have decided otherwise.
Moreover, were I a cobbler here to mend your shoes it would only be meet that I be repaid either in coin or sustenance. Or were my comrade here, King Ching Chi, a doctor here to bind your wounds, surely some compensation would be in order. Or were my companion with the pumpkin head, Tzu-yu, a wandering minstrel bringing music to your home, would you not gladly allow him the warmth of your stove and a meal from your pot? Then why not also the wandering sage who brings a service far surpassing any of these worldly things?
By what pains does a cobbler, doctor or musician obtain his skills? However great, they cannot compare to the price paid by a wandering sage in suffering of cold and wet, hunger and thirst, and yes, even the loss of his own self.”
“You speak truthfully,” replied Number Two Son, “and I would pay you well beyond my means to see the smile that now graces my dear mother’s blessed face!”
“And I,” said the old woman, “would gladly give you all that I possess to hear you so instructing my two remaining sons! For they are strong and sturdy of body, as surely you have seen, and will soon inherit these fields and have families of their own. Yet all that they possess and all that they accomplish will never give them the peace and harmony that alone can be said to be of any worth. Please, Masters, eat and sleep well, for I would have you strong and healthy before you wander once again with neither hearth nor home.”
And so the three sages spent not only that night, but three, in warmth and comfort. And before they were once again upon the road, even Number One Son was loath to see them go, for he and King Ching Chi had become fast friends and while working shoulder to shoulder in the paddies had taught each other much in humility and flexibility.
This post is part of a series. To view the index, go here.
As the sages were taking a dinner of over-ripe plums in the gathering dusk, two sturdy young men carrying stout staves appeared, the oldest shouting: “Thieves! By whose leave do you eat our plums and sprawl about in our fields!? And what has befallen you that one of you has a head like a pumpkin!? You are an inauspicious trio for sure. Get on with you.”
At this Chen Jen replied, “As to our unfortunate comrade with the head of a pumpkin, he was assaulted by bandits and robbed of all we possessed. And as for . . .”
“Enough!” said Number One Son, “Not only do you steal and trespass, but you would bring bandits upon us as well! There is the road, take it!”
“As you command, Sir, we will do,” said Chen Jen while rising to his feet. “But I would have you know that had not the dear and generous woman, whom I take to be your mother, earlier given us permission to feast upon your plums and stay beneath this tree, you would not now see us so employed.”
“What,” said Number Two Son, “our dear mother has given you leave to be here? I shall go this very minute and confirm what you say.”
Thereupon, after only a few minutes, Number Two Son came running across the fields saying, “Not only does my mother confirm what you say, but she begs you to come and spend the night in our home. Please then, Sirs, forgive us our rashness and grant our mother her desire.”
“It would indeed be a blessing if we could again spend time with your wise and noble mother,” replied Chen Jen.
And thus, the three sages soon found themselves around a warm stove in a rustic home, simple, but generous of space, and he of the pumpkin head, Tzu-yu, tenderly ministered to by the kindly old woman.
But still Number One Son murmured saying, “Are you not still parasites, reaping where you have not sown, living off the generosity of others?”
“But why do you begrudge your dear mother her pleasure?” replied Chen Jen. “For does she not find pleasure in showing compassion to three sages in need? And is this pleasure not of the spirit and of the most enduring kind? As for us, we gladly receive what destiny provides us, whether hardship or comfort. And we would most certainly now be upon the road with equanimity should not your mother have decided otherwise.
Moreover, were I a cobbler here to mend your shoes it would only be meet that I be repaid either in coin or sustenance. Or were my comrade here, King Ching Chi, a doctor here to bind your wounds, surely some compensation would be in order. Or were my companion with the pumpkin head, Tzu-yu, a wandering minstrel bringing music to your home, would you not gladly allow him the warmth of your stove and a meal from your pot? Then why not also the wandering sage who brings a service far surpassing any of these worldly things?
By what pains does a cobbler, doctor or musician obtain his skills? However great, they cannot compare to the price paid by a wandering sage in suffering of cold and wet, hunger and thirst, and yes, even the loss of his own self.”
“You speak truthfully,” replied Number Two Son, “and I would pay you well beyond my means to see the smile that now graces my dear mother’s blessed face!”
“And I,” said the old woman, “would gladly give you all that I possess to hear you so instructing my two remaining sons! For they are strong and sturdy of body, as surely you have seen, and will soon inherit these fields and have families of their own. Yet all that they possess and all that they accomplish will never give them the peace and harmony that alone can be said to be of any worth. Please, Masters, eat and sleep well, for I would have you strong and healthy before you wander once again with neither hearth nor home.”
And so the three sages spent not only that night, but three, in warmth and comfort. And before they were once again upon the road, even Number One Son was loath to see them go, for he and King Ching Chi had become fast friends and while working shoulder to shoulder in the paddies had taught each other much in humility and flexibility.
This post is part of a series. To view the index, go here.
The logic of Chen Jen's argument to the two son's was genius and inspiring. I'm really enjoying these posts.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but when will the book be available?
Not sure when OR if this will ever come out in book form. As this comes from Scott's work, it's up to him. I'm simply glad that he was agreeable to allow me to post portions of the rough draft here on the blog.
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