The Buddhist Priest of Ch‘ang-Ch‘ing

At Ch‘ang-ch‘ing there lived a Buddhist priest of exceptional virtue and purity of conduct. Though over eighty years of age, heconduct, who, though over eighty years of age, was still hale and hearty. One day he fell down and could not move. When the other priests rushed to help him up, they found he was already dead.move; and when the other priests rushed to help him up, they found he was already gone. The old priest did not know he had diedwas himself unconscious of death, and his soul flew away to the borders of the province of Honan. Now it happened that the son of an old family in Honanchanced that the scion of an old family residing in Honan, had gone out that very day with some ten or a dozen followers to hunt the hare with falcons. ⁵¹ But his horse bolted, andfalcons; ⁵¹ but his horse having run away with him he fell off and was killed. Just at that moment the soul of the priest came by and entered into the body, which gradually regainedthereupon gradually recovered consciousness. The servants crowded round to ask him how he felt. He opened his eyes wide andfelt, when opening his eyes wide, he cried out, “How did I get here?” They assisted him to rise, and led him into the house, where all his ladies came to see him and ask how he wasinquire how he did. In great amazement he said, “I am a Buddhist priest. How did I come herecame I hither?” His servants thought his mind was wandering and tried to bring him to his senseshe was wandering, and tried to recall him by pulling his ears. As for himself, he could make nothing of it. He closed his eyes and said nothing moreit, and closing his eyes refrained from saying anything further. For food, he would only eat rice, refusing all wine and meat. He also avoided the companymeat; and avoided the society of his wives. ⁵² After some days he felt like taking a stroll, which delighted all his family. But as soon as he got outside and stopped for a little rest, servants crowded round, begging him to examineinclined for a stroll, at which all his family were delighted; but no sooner had he got outside and stopped for a little rest than he was besieged by servants begging him to take their accounts as usual. However, he pleaded illness and lackwant of strength, and no more was said. He then asked if they knew the district of Ch‘ang-ch‘ing. When they said yes, he told them he intended to take a trip there, as he felt bored and had nothing particular to do. At the same time, he told them totook occasion to ask if they knew the district of Ch‘ang-ch‘ing, and on being answered in the affirmative expressed his intention of going thither for a trip, as he felt dull and had nothing particular to do, bidding them at the same time look after his affairs at home. They tried to dissuade him, pointing out that he had only recently risen from a sick bed. But he paid no attention to their protests and set out the very next day.him from this on the ground of his having but recently risen from a sick bed; but he paid no heed to their remonstrances, and on the very next day set out. Arriving in the Ch‘ang-ch‘ing district, he found everything unchanged. Without needing to ask the way, he wentunchanged; and without being put to the necessity of asking the road, made his way straight to the monastery. His former disciples received him with every sign of respect as an honoured visitor. He asked where the old priest was, and they toldtoken of respect as an honoured visitor; and in reply to his question as to where the old priest was, they informed him that their worthy teacher had been dead for some time. When he asked to see theOn asking to be shewn his grave, they led him to a spot where there was a solitary mound some three feet high, over which the grass was not yet green. Not one of them knew why he was visiting this place. After a while, he ordered his horse to be brought and saidhis motives for visiting this place; and by-and-by he ordered his horse, saying to the disciples, “Your master was a virtuous priest. Carefully preserve whatever relics of him you may have, and keep them from injury.” They all promised to do this. He then set off forthis, and he then set off on his way home. When he arrived there, he fell into a listless state and took no interest in his family affairs. After a few months, he ran away and went straight to his former home at the monastery. There he toldSo much so, that after a few months he ran away and went straight to his former home at the monastery, telling the disciples that he was their old master. They refused to believe this and laughed among themselves at his claims. But he told them the whole storyThis they refused to believe, and laughed among themselves at his pretensions; but he told them the whole story, and recalled many incidents of his previous life among them, until at last they were convinced. He then took his old bed and followed the same daily routine as before. His family came with carriages and horses, repeatedly begging him to return, but he paid them no attention.occupied his old bed and went through the same daily routine as before, paying no attention to the repeated entreaties of his family, who came with carriages and horses to beg him to return.

About a year latersubsequently, his wife sent one of the servants with splendid presents of gold and silk. He refused them all, accepting onlysilk, all of which he refused with the exception of a single linen robe. And whenever any of his old friends passed this monastery, they always went to pay him their respects, finding him quiet, dignified, and pure. He was then barely thirty, though he had been a priest for more than eighty years. ⁵³

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Footnotes

51. This form of sport may still be seen in the north of China. When a hare is startled out of hiding, two Chinese greyhounds (which are very slow) are let off their leash to chase it.A hare being started, two Chinese greyhounds (which are very slow) are slipped from their leash in pursuit. But, as the hare would easily run straight away from them, a falcon is released almost simultaneously. The falconlatter soars to a considerable height, and then swoops down on the hare, striking it a violent blow with the “pounce,” or claw. This partially stuns the hare and allows the dogs to regain lost ground. By then, the hare has recovered,hare, and allows the dogs to regain lost ground, by which time the hare is ready once more, and off they go again. The chase ends when the hare takes shelter in a fox’s burrow or is finally caughtis ended by the hare getting to earth in a fox’s burrow, or being ultimately overtaken by the dogs. In the latter case the falcon is given some of the meat as a rewardheart and liver are cut out on the spot, and given to the falconExplanation: The historical hunting note still explains the falcon’s reward. Graphic removal of the hare’s organs is softened for children.; otherwise he would hunt no more that day. Two falcons are often released, one shortly after the other. The falcons wear hoods, which are removed when they are released to fly. Each bird isThey wear hoods, which are removed at the moment of flying, and are attached by a slip-string from one leg to the falconer’s wrist. During the night beforeprevious to a day’s hunting, they are not allowed to sleep. Each falconer lies down with one falcon on his left wrist, and keeps tapping the bird’s head with his other handup an incessant tapping with the other on the bird’s head. This is done to make them fierce. If the hunted hare escapes, a hare’s skin is thrown down to lure the falcons back. They are then caught and made ready for anotherShould the quarry escape, a hare’s skin is thrown down, by which means the falcons are secured, and made ready for a further flight. Occasionally, but rarely, the falcon misses its blow at the hare and ends up withhare, with the result of a broken or injured “arm.”

52. Abstinence from wine and meat, and celibacy, are among the most important teachings of the Buddhist church, especially for its priestsdogmas of the Buddhist church, as specially applied to its priesthood. At the door of every Buddhist monastery may be seen a notice that “No wine or meat may enter here!” Even people who are not prieststhe laity are not supposed to drink wine.

53. His youth had been renewed when his soul entered the young man’s body.Having renewed his youth by assuming the body of the young man into which his soul had entered.