Sunday, September 12, 2004

The Chicken Rice Sutra Vol. 3

In the third volume of the Chicken Rice Sutra, we are told the story of the most prominent student of the wise elder mentioned in Volume Two. The world knew him only as the Hermit of the East (HE) and many interesting tales were told of this wise Hermit, both true and false.

The Hermit's wisdom was well-known even when he was but a student of the wise Elder, and it was evident that he would grow to be much wiser than his teacher, the Elder. When he was but a junior student in the Elder's tutelage, he would often have his ritual partaking of chicken rice together with two other junior students. One day, however, he was seen having his chicken rice by himself, and speculation was rife among the other junior students that he had fallen out with the other two students.

One brave soul came to the Hermit after his ritual of mind-opening and inquired about the solitary ritual. After hearing his fellow student's question, the Hermit smiled and shook his head gently. "Gossip does not a wise man make, my friend. I am pleased that you came forward to ask me instead of making needless speculations about falsehoods that are as formless as the smoke that rises from the chicken rice."

The other students, who were trying to listen in on the Hermit's explanation, started to gather around him.

"We all know, my fellow learners of the Art, that chicken rice is normally served with soup and cucumber. And yet, there are times when we do not eat the cucumber or we are deprived of the soup. It is a truth that we can still savour the chicken rice without the cucumber and the soup, but the experience of partaking will be fully expanded only when the rice is taken in combination with soup and rice.

"We often overlook the importance of the cucumber and soup when they are given to us, so much so that some of us tire of them. When they are not there, however, their absence becomes profound, and we realise their importance. We must realise that all objects, no matter how small and insignificant they might seem, play significant roles in the world. Do not take them for granted."

After the passing of the Elder, the Hermit took upon himself the responsibility of guiding the naive masses in understanding the secrets of chicken rice, having himself learned much from the Elder. With the help of his fellow philosophers, he set up a school in the East, which was why he came to be known as the Hermit of the East. He took in as many students as he saw were willing to learn and had the gifts of insight.

Some years after he opened the school, an incident became the setting for another well-known story passed through the ages. This day, there was an altercation within the grounds of the school, and it became known that one of the students, Zheng, had toppled the sacred plate of rice that another student, Bai, was carrying. When Bai confronted Zheng about this, Zheng loudly proclaimed that he believed Bai was not worthy of being a student in the school, and that he had toppled the rice on purpose. Things soon came to a head between the two of them, and the students of the school were polarised behind either Bai or Zheng, creating much mayhem.

The Hermit of the East was told of the conflict within his students, and he frowned deeply. With pressed lips and a fire in his eyes, the Hermit strode out of his study and called for a meeting of the students in the Great Hall of Chicken Rice. The atmosphere was tense as the students walked in briskly, knowing that their teacher was greatly displeased.

"My students," the Hermit began, speaking softly but firmly so that all could hear him clearly in the silence of the Hall, "you must know that I call you here today because it has come to my attention that there is some disagreement amongst you. I am greatly aggrieved that such a thing should happen in my school, because it means that I have been a poor teacher, that my students should fight each other.

"Tell me, have you learnt nothing from what I have painstakingly taught you? Every one of you here has the potential to grow and blossom in the Way of Wisdom, and yet you throw away your future in pursuit of petty disagreements. Who are you to make judgements on others? Only the gods, who see our every move and know our every thought, can judge us. We are but mortals."

Turning his fiery glare on Zheng, who lowered his head in shame, the Hermit continued, "Why do you fight amongst yourself? Chickens in cold weather, flock together. If you fight amongst yourselves, you will be easily broken by difficulties. There is strength in unity, so much so that no matter how difficult the circumstances you face, you will be able to overcome them, if you are united.

"If the black chicken fights with the white chicken over who gets the largest worm, then it is the sparrow which will fly in and get the worm. Think about what I tell you today, and I hope to see no more of this infighting."

Note: Do not ask me why a hermit can open a school when he is supposed to live in seclusion. It is not I who wrote the sutra, I am merely telling it as it is written.

Avaris / 9/12/2004 01:50:00 PM

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