Old Friend Came
Yutang Lin
Gliding over moonlight on Colorado
Drove from Denver under garment of starry night sky
Nineteen years of days and months and winds and frosts
A single man under thirty had transformed into
A middle-aged gentle man with wife
One visit to the Dragon Palace and offered one precious vase
Busy and tight circumstances with much pressure
Suddenly evolved into an easy and stable state of living
Whenever turning points of life turned up
Offering vases to Dragon King yielded helpful blessings
Couldn't help to have the wish arising in mind
Together with sweet wife, to visit again the Dragon Palace
And to meet again in person
The man who led to the vase offering
The long-held wish eventually came true
And a long-looked-for print of Amitabha painting is also found
Carrying a bag of Dharma books, holy images and chanting disks
Drove onto the path home with feelings of missing something
Going to narrate in details to Dharma friends back in Denver
The sentiments felt and the Dharma words carried in hand
Comments:
In the front pages of one of my Chinese books a photo of Upasaka Wang Long Shu's Vows to Attain Rebirth in Pureland as written by Upasaka Chunan Chen in his blood was displayed. Nineteen years ago, Chunan came to visit, and followed us to offer precious vases at the Dragon Palace. At that time he was under the pressure of busy work and study with both sites far from his residence. Soon after the vase offering, his situation evolved into a much improved state beyond his expectations. Later, whenever he was facing turning points in life, he offered vases to the Dragon King and had always received helpful blessings. Even though he had not offered many vases to the Dragon King and yet he felt that he had been constantly favored by the Dragon King. Hence, in gratitude he wished to visit me again and to visit the Dragon Palace once more. Recently he found leisure to drive from Denver, Colorado with his wife to come visit me, and then to the Dragon Palace to pay respect to the Dragon King. In my altar room they also found a print of Amitabha Buddha as painted by the late Rev. Dao Zheng. They worship a print of this painting at home, but the color had long faded over years, so they had been looking for another print for long time, and now they found it here. So they were very happy about this. They also took many copies of Dharma books, holy images and chanting disks to share with Dharma friends back in Denver.
Disciple Xin Ping heard about this, and asked me to write it for all to share the significant story that many years of blessings from Dragon King had inspired an old Dharma friend to drive over thousand miles to revisit. Hence I wrote it down and composed the poem with sentimental strokes. This work had first been sent to Chunan and wife for their preview to make sure that all I had written down are correct. And then, with their approval, it is announced to the world.
Written in Chinese and translated on November 25, 2009
El Cerrito, California
Related email correspondences:
From: Yutang Lin
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 1:09 PM
To: Dharma Friends
Subject: FW: Approval for New Work
New works in Chinese and English attached.
I had no idea when they would reach home in Denver, and as it turned out, my poems arrived right in time to greet them at home.
May all beings attain Enlightenment soon!
Yutang
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From: Chunan Chen
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 12:32 PM
To: Yutang Lin
Subject: Re: Approval for New Work
Dr. Lin,
We arrived home around 10pm last night after 3 days driving.
Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful poetry. I have read both Chinese and English versions, all phrases touch me deeply inside. Please send it as you planed.
Chunan
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--- On Wed, 11/25/09, Yutang Lin wrote:
From: Yutang Lin
Subject: Approval for New Work
To: "Chunan Chen"
Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 11:00 AM
Chunan and wife,
This morning I wrote the attached work. Since it involves you, so I send it
to you for approval first, before I send it out to all.
Please let me know if all are fine with you.
May all beings attain Enlightenment soon!
Yutang
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