Tara Zenyora : and the Seven-Jeweled Lighthouse
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“Loving yourself means accepting yourself just as you are, flaws and all. Loving-kindness begins with forgiveness and letting go of past preoccupations of perceived imperfections. Essentially, love is an expression of equanimity and relinquishment. Letting go of the attachments, misguided notions, and judgments toward yourself and others is the beginning of purification and healing.
How true! Without forgiveness and letting go of the past, I won’t be able to move ahead with joy. Afterall, no one is perfect. What’s most important is a heart of magnanimity to embrace others for who they are, Tara thought.
“Love goes two ways: loving yourself and loving others. It is simple to practice loving-kindness meditation. All you need to do is to be mindful of the Four Love Mantras to imbue oneself and others with the energy of love:
To practice loving-kindness for yourself, repeat in your mind the Four Love Mantra:
May I be happy and kind
May I be healthy and compassionate
May I be safe and blissful
May I be at peace in equanimity”
“To practice loving-kindness for others – for those you love, those you don’t love, and those you have never met - repeat in your mind the Four Love Mantra:
May you be happy and kind
May you be healthy and compassionate
May you be safe and blissful
May you be at peace in equanimity”
“Practicing loving-kindness meditation enables you to open your hearts and minds to perceive the interconnectedness of all beings. All the negative emotions of hatred, anger, resentment, apathy, and judgment will melt away like glaciers flowing into a deep ocean.”
“Always remember that balance is the key to sustainable love. Loving too much, or too little, is equally unhealthy. Mindfulness of the Middle Way is the linchpin of unconditional love.”
“Now sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and place your attention on your breath. When your mind strays, gently return your attention back to your breath. Inhale through your nose for six counts, and exhale through your nose for six counts, repeat six times.”
“Repeat in your mind the Four Love Mantras to yourself and others.
May I be happy and kind
May I be healthy and compassionate
May I be safe and blissful
May I be at peace in equanimity
May you be happy and kind
May you be healthy and compassionate
May you be safe and blissful
May you be at peace in equanimity
“Feel the energy of universal love flowing within you. If you observe a sense of effortless freedom inside you, you are on the right path to healing and awakening.”
Tara followed the Snow Fairy in the recitation of the Four Love Mantra and she felt a sense of great liberation.
After the discourse was completed, Tara wanted to ask the Snow Fairy a question on how to unlock the Gate of Sunyata in Qibaota. Without Tara opening her mouth, the Snow Fairy seemed to have read her mind. She answered Tara’s question telepathically,
“It is wonderful that you ask this question. If you wish to open the Gate of Sunyata in Qibaota, you will need to anchor your meditation upon this Loving Heart mantra: Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha.”
“Thank you, Snow Fairy,” Tara said with a heartfelt gratitude.
“May you achieve success in your odyssey of awakening the Qibaota.” The Snow Fairy blessed Tara with her crystal willow that was placed in the white vase.
CHAPTER 34
THE WISDOM OF QIBAOTA
In conjunction with the Season of Repentance and Purification, Venerable Wenshu delivered a Dharma discourse called the “Wisdom of Qibaota: Awakening the Inner Qibaota toward Nirvana” at the Dragon Library. Prince Chen and Tara attended the discourse together.
In the Main Hall on the first level of the Dragon Library, Venerable Wenshu sat on his lion throne in front of the mural with the Dragon Flower Tree. Both Prince Chen and Tara were seated separately on the lotus bamboo woven mat in front of a small rectangular table.
“Have you attended this discourse before?” Tara asked.
“Well yes. I’ve attended similar Dharma discourses by Venerable Wenshu in the past. The wisdom of Qibaota is already at my fingertips,” said Prince Chen.
“This means you’re on par with Venerable Wenshu in terms of wisdom, I suppose?”
“Yes and no, it depends on the situation. I know about the wisdom of Qibaota but I’ve yet to awaken the real Qibaota, and that makes a difference. Hush…the discourse is starting soon, let’s pay attention,” said Prince Chen, giving her hand a slight squeeze.
“Ignorance of Nirvana is the ultimate cause of suffering from the endless rebirth in Samsara,” began Venerable Wenshu in an equanimous voice, mindfully twirling his 108 mala beads. “To nip suffering in its bud, you will need to awaken the Qibaota within you. Apart from practicing the Qibaota Meditation, it is important to understand the essence and wisdom of Qibaota.”
“The wisdom of Qibaota is encapsulated within the three characters of Qi, Bao, and Ta. Qi is the wisdom of Emptiness, Bao is the wisdom of the Middle Way, Ta is the wisdom of Great Nirvana. In other words, Qibaota can be understood as the Buddha suspended in Mid-Air, that is ‘Kong,’ (Emptiness), ‘Zhong’ (Middle Way), ‘Fo’ (Buddhahood).
Tara thought of Cloud Nine that was suspended in mid-air. That’s fascinating! Buddha in the sky…isn’t it like Cloud Nine?
“Once you are empowered by the wisdom of Qibaota, you have the freedom to create anything in life, be it realizing a dream or surmounting an adversity. The wisdom of Qibaota is the paragon of healing and awakening. It leads you to the illumination of the true nature of Life.”
Yes, I must find the Qibaota and bring all my family and friends back home.
“Qi is the wisdom of Emptiness, Dependent Origination, and the Buddha-nature. There are three ways to understand Qi:
“First, you are not the creation of any divine being who controls the destiny of your life; you are the expression of Qi, the primordial energy of life. Qi is your True Self, the essence of your True Nature, your True Being. Free from misguided illusions of external creation, you are empowered to be one with the limitless possibilities and potentialities from being one with Qi.
When will humanity relinquishes this misguided view of divine creator? If only they could awaken their True Love within to aspire for Enlightenment…
“Second, the fundamental mechanism of a conditioned world is the Law of Cause and Effect. In the same vein, the world you perceive is not the creation of any almighty being either; the world is dependently originated through causes and conditions. In short, the Universe is a collective manifestation of all thoughts, speech and actions of all living beings sharing the same interconnected Ether of Emptiness.
That’s true! We co-create our collective dream of reality in an interconnected space of infinite possibilities.
“Third, Qi is the essence of life, and life is merely an expression of the Qi - the Buddha-nature - which all living beings are inherently endowed. Qi cannot be created nor destroyed, but it can change from one life form to another, through the endless life cycles of reincarnation within Samsara.
Isn’t that identical to the Law of Conservation of Energy?
“If you wish to unleash the greatest power within you to vanquish the demons of temptations, you need to anchor yourself upon Qi. By imagining yourself as the empty space - without the dichotomy of light and darkness, good or bad, right or wrong - so that you are empowered to create anything in your mind without impediments.”
Yes, the Life-and-Death Judge taught me not to cling upon the extremes of good and evil, right and evil, love and hatred…
“Remember, you are invincible; only if you return to the original point of absolute zero. This is how you regain your limitless Vajra power as the essence of Qi.
Wow…going back to the absolute zero to become a hero…how amazing!
“Bao is the wisdom of the Middle Way. There are three ways to understand the Middle Way:
“First, the Middle Way means harmony and balance. Life in a conditioned world is a delicate balance between the two dichotomies. If you are too hard on yourself and push yourself beyond your limits, you will not achieve any results. To excel in the conditioned world, do all things in moderation. Balance and harmony is the key to sustainability in any endeavor.
Isn’t that identical to the Doctrine of Mean of the Confucian philosophy?
“Second, you need to understand yourself completely; your nature, aspirations, capacities and unique strength. To create the greatest values for others, focus on putting maximum effort into developing your talent to the pinnacle of perfection. Mastering your talent by giving it the fullest expression is the act of unleashing your greatest potential. With Zen in your heart, you will achieve Zenith in your life.
Will Princess Zenyora achieve zenith her life? Perhaps she will, if she could return to the Zen Hermitage with Bo…
“Third, practicing the Eightfold Path is the lifebuoy to master the Middle Way. By turning the Dharma wheel of the Eightfold Path, you will uproot the suffering of Samsara.
I vow to love you and cherish you forever, just like the eternal revolution of the Dharma Wheel…my wedding vow to Prakash…
“Ta is the Dharma-body of the Buddha, the ultimate wisdom of Nirvana. There are three ways to understand Nirvana:
“First, Nirvana is the crystallization of the Four Virtues of Tathagata - Eternity, Bliss, True Self, Purity – as well as the Four Immeasurables of Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity. The Buddha-nature is everlasting. Shakyamuni Buddha had attained enlightenment since the remote past. His lifespan is immeasurable asamkhya kalpas. Eternal and immortal, the Buddha has always been dwelling here without ever entering parinirvana.
Everything in Samsara is impermanent. Yet, the Buddha-nature is everlasting and the nature of Enlightenment is eternal…What a wonderful Dharma!
“Second, Nirvana is the embodiment of unsurpassed Vow and Action to deliver all living beings to the True Home of Enlightenment. By having a Vow of Vajra in your heart to lead everyone to the Light of Qibaota, you will become the ultimate Victor of Vajra.
A journey from vow to wow…Perhaps Bodhicitta is a Vow of Vajra…
“Third, Nirvana is the Lighthouse of Supreme Perfect Enlightenment. Nirvana is the pagoda of Buddhahood. Nirvana is the Stupa of Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi. Nirvana is the Qibaota of Absolute Happiness.
The Qibaota is my only hope of going back home to Singapore…But how can I possibly awaken the Qibaota?
“In summary, Qi is Bao, and Bao is Ta, they are all connected as the One Buddha-Wisdom. In short, Qibaota is the Solitaire of the One Buddha-Vehicle.
“Before we end the discourse, let us review one important verse in Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra that encapsulates the wisdom of Qibaota:
“‘Buddha-nature is the Emptiness of the Foremost; and Emptiness of the Foremost is known as the Middle Way. The Middle Way is the Buddha, and the Buddha is known as the Nirvana.’ – On Bodhisattva Lion’s Roar, Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra”
After Venerable Wenshu had finished his discourse, Tara approached him. “Venerable Wenshu, may you advise me on a strategy to successfully defeat the demons surrounding the Qibaota?”
“Don’t slay the demons, subdue them. Demons are illusions. If you try to win the battle with the intention of killing them, their population will increase incessantly. The more you kill them, the more they will materialize to defeat you,” said Venerable Wenshu. “Most important of all, however, always aspire to be empowered by the wisdom of Qibaota so that you can unleash the Diamond inside you to awaken the real Qibaota, vanquish the demons, and enter Great Nirvana.”
Don’t slay the demons, subdue them? I wonder how …Tara was absorbed in her own thoughts when Prince Chen nudged her with a hiss, “Darling, are you day-dreaming again? You’ve forgotten to thank Venerable Wenshu for his advice.”
“Thank you Venerable Wenshu for your enlightening advice,” said Tara with a bow and pressed palms.
“May you be one with the Qibaota to enter Nirvana,” Venerable Wenshu blessed Tara.
Prince Chen once again spiraled down to the abyss of infinite devastation knowing that Tara was unflinching in her search of Qibaota to return home.
CHAPTER 35
RETURN OF BO
A few days before the Winter Solstice, Prince Chen was informed of an unexpected guest.
“Master, there is a giant man with golden curly hair and blue eyes who requested to seek an audience with Tara. I wonder how he got into the Dragon Palace with such tight security. Do you wish to receive him?” asked Singha.
Prince Chen was confused. As a prince in the dragon world, he knew most of the dragon members. However, nobody in the dragon world fit this description. Suddenly, it struck him.
“Is he about 2.5 meters tall and has a golden aura about him?” asked Prince Chen.
“Yes Master.”
Prince Chen guessed that he must be the golden man whom Tara had mentioned to him before. While he was concerned if this man’s presence would affect his relationship with Tara, he knew that both of them could not be together because of due to so called ‘biological incompatibility.’
“Let him in,” said Prince Chen. “Wait, let’s arrange a temporary stay for him at my humble abode on Cloud Nine, it’s more secluded. I’m sure it will be more convenient for Tara to meet him over there.”
“Yes, Master.”
Soon, Prince Chen brought Tara to his humble abode on Cloud Nine.
“You have a special guest today. Guess who is it?” said Prince Chen, with an air of mystery. “It’s your long-lost friend whom you would love to meet.”
“Long-lost friend? Who could it be?” Tara wondered.
When she stepped into the humble abode and saw Bo standing there, she was exhilarated. “Bo? Is that you?”
Bo nodded with a benign smile. Without hesitation, Tara went over to embrace him warmly. Breathing in his delicate bodily scent of sandalwood made her heart swell with bliss. “When did you come back to the dragon kingdom? I miss you so much Bo! It’s so wonderful that you are back with me!”
Prince Chen was a little uneasy when he saw them embrace each other so intimately. It did not seem like a mere friendship to him.
“Sorry for the delay, Tara. Here is the Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus elixir,” said Bo, letting go of her embrace and taking out a small calabash-shaped vial with a stopper holding a silvery white potion.
Tara was touched by Bo’s sincerity in taking all the trouble just to prepare the elixir for her. But in her heart, the elixir was irrelevant; she wanted Bo more than any material item.
“Thank you for taking the trouble to bring me the elixir, but I don’t need it so soon,” said Tara. “When will you be leaving?”
“After you take the elixir, I will be going back to the Purple Bamboo Grove.”
“So soon? I hope you would stay longer. It has been a long time since we last met and I haven’t had the chance to catch up with you. Why don’t you keep the elixir for the time being and stay here a little longer on Cloud Nine? I hope to have a tête-à-tête with you some other day.”
Bo agreed and he decided to extend his stay.
CHAPTER 36
DRAGON MEMORIAL DAY
Winter was almost coming to an end; the Dragon Memorial Day would mark the Winter Solstice. The Imperial Crystal Palace was holding a celebration of the Dragon Memorial Day in honor of all the ancestors of the past dragon kings.
Early in the morning, the Dragon King and Dragon Queen, with all the immediate families of the sixteen princes, went to the Dragon Flower Dome for the Dragon Memorial Ceremony presided by Venerable Wenshu.
The Dragon Memorial Ceremony kicked off with a dragon orchestral performance and hymns by the dragon choir and a solo rendition by Venerable Splendid Music. After the hymn
performance, Venerable Wenshu led a short guided Qibaota Meditation.
“Winter is the season of repentance and purification; it is the season that serves to remind us of the inevitable destination of Death in the world of Samsara. Today, the day of Winter Solstice, is the Dragon Memorial Day, a day of paying respect to the deceased dragon ancestors. Therefore, the Dharma discourse of ‘Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path,’ will be relevant and enlightening for all of you,” said Venerable Wenshu, twirling his 108 mala beads as he began his Dharma discourse.
“What are the Four Noble Truths?
“The first truth is the truth of suffering. Suffering, together with impermanence, non-self, karmic impurities, are the irrefutable characteristics of Samsara.
“The second truth is the truth of the origin of suffering. Suffering arises because we perceive and interpret our world based on the six senses (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind) and the five aggregates of form, feelings, perception, volition, and consciousness. Clinging to the six senses and five aggregates as the way to experience life is the bedrock of suffering.
“The third truth is the truth of the cessation of suffering. Suffering is impermanent; it is an illusion of Samsara. Thus, suffering can be uprooted and eradicated through the practice of the transcendent wisdom of Qibaota.
“The fourth truth is the truth of the path to the cessation of suffering, which is the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is the veritable white lotus of Enlightenment.
“In summary, ignorance to the truth of Nirvana is the root cause of the ceaseless rebirth in Samsara. Thus, having an awareness of the nature of suffering in Samsara, and being mindful of the truth of Nirvana, one aspires for Qibaota to enter the light of Nirvana.