ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST 6

Simply focused on doing what he was supposed to do.

"... Same with you, Zhou Wang. What actually do you want to do in this world? What is your passion? Do you want people to respect you as a good leader? Do you want to get adoration and worship, so all this time you just struggle to get that kind of stuff? If so, then what humans usually get is the opposite. When a man is after adoration and respect, what he gets is usually humiliation and hatred. The process would not necessarily lead to the desired results. Because he was eager to something perishable - since everything is impermanent. But it is indeed the favorite of our perishable body. Anything perishable would always like perishable things - it was the law of nature. Therefore, we must let go of our attachment to everything in this world. After letting go, then we will know the true meaning of our lives..."

That long explanation came into his ear as if only in less than a second, and it penetrated into his mind so fast. Zhu Su looked heavenward, feeling doubtful of whether it was just his fantasy, or it was real.

Only the autumn night breeze responded to him.

Zhu Su continued reading another legend. It was the story of Buddha and a noblewoman who loved him, named Magandika. Magandika was a beautiful brahmana * woman. In her first meeting with Buddha, Magandika soon fell in love with him. This feeling became much stronger, she really hoped that Buddha would treat her specially, yet Buddha treated her the same as he treated others. Her love thus changed into hatred. Shortly after, she married King Udena of Vamsa. Queen Magandika used her power to spread insults to defame Buddha. She even ordered the officials not to let Buddha give Dhamma * talk in public. When King Udena's concubine named Samavati became a disciple of the Buddha, Magandika always made her suffer. Ananda, one of the best Buddha's disciples, could not stand in this situation. He suggested Buddha to leave this place and moved to a more hospitable place.

Buddha replied, "If we go to another place and get insulted there, then what should we do?"

Ananda answered, "Go to another place."

Buddha disagreed with him. "It is an inappropriate manner, Ananda. We mustn't give up every time we face difficulties. Because, the solution exists in the very midst of hardship. Ananda, if we practice equanimity, we will not be bothered by insults and slander. The people who slander us cannot harm us. They only harm themselves. When a man spits at the sky, the sky is not sulled. The spit falls back in the face of the one who spits."

It was so strange that the story just ended in this way. It did not continue even though Zhu Su hoped there would be retaliation Magandika deserved to get. Magandika was so bad towards Buddha who was so kindhearted, moreover, it all began with a very absurd problem - because Buddha did not accept her love. Magandika should realize that it was impossible for Buddha to accept such restricted love like the love of man and woman since the kind of love Buddha owned was universal love.

But instead of being aware, Magandika turned to hate Buddha. And, instead of getting bad karma, Magandika even became a queen!

Magandika who did bad things instead got better lives! Her lust to torture Buddha seemingly got agreement from Heaven!

So, why could it happen?

" ... the solution exists in the very midst of hardship. Ananda, if we practice equanimity, we will not be bothered by insults and slander. The people who slander us cannot harm us. They only harm themselves..."

But Buddha was not discouraged, He was not depressed. He instead could calmly assure Ananda. He was absolutely certain that this problem could be solved - even though the story never continued.

Although Magandika did not get bad karma and she still became a queen and used her power arbitrarily, Buddha never asked, "Why is my fate so unlucky, why must Magandika hate me, why must I get this suffering, does it mean I am guilty and Magandika does a good thing so that Heaven helps her to be a queen..." No. Buddha never asked such questions. To the contrary, he was so enthusiastic in searching for the solution. Because for him, the problem was just a problem, that was all. Problem, suffering, excitement, happiness... all is no more than the impulses from external situation which are perceived by our minds into various kinds of condition. It was subjective, not objective.

It was impermanent. Perishable. This too, shall pass.

And, Buddha was sure, the hooligans were actually insulting themselves. At the very least it was true, as their wish - seeing Buddha suffered - failed to be fulfilled. Buddha did not suffer. And because they was not fulfilled, they suffered. Buddha still gave public Dhamma talk. They still suffered, because they kept emanating their hatred by doing evil to Buddha, but Buddha was not disturbed in the slightest. Finally, who suffered? Buddha who had let go of his emotion, or those who were confined in their hatred?

"Zhou Wang, if you want to solve your problem, then do the same way as the Buddha did. Find your inner voice and your real passion, and then focus on it. And don't bother yourself with other issues. Your enemies slander you, the people hate you, riots ravage your city... those things are no more than impermanent illusions. It seems real, but actually, it's just an illusion. And the illusion just ends when you commit with your passion and devote yourself sincerely to this world. To the Truth."

That magical sound resonated one more time. It echoed so loud, yet when he looked up, same as before, he could just hear the sound of the breeze. At the same time, his eyes met with Hu Nayin's. She was staring worryingly at her.

"Your Highness?..." Actually, Hu Nayin was extremely worried with Zhu Su, she knew that his husband was in despair, however, she felt uneasy to call him. It was only when Zhu Su looked up for quite a long time she dared to ask him.

"Yes... Nayin..." Zhu Su replied.

Hu Nayin smiled. "Ah... nothing!... I'm just worried about you... but you look better now..."

Zhu Su smiled back at her. "Yes. I'm better right now. Because... I am halfway to success in finding a solution to this problem."

"Really, Your Highness?!" This time Hu Nayin and Wu Qi asked in one time.

"Exactly. Buddha has told me, many thanks to Him."

Hu Nayin and Wu Qi were dumbfounded. Meanwhile, Zhu Su faced towards the Great Hall of Daxiangguo Temple, then bowed in a respectful manner to the temple.

"Let's go somewhere else to find that solution."

***

* brahmana = one of a class of Hindu sacred writings composed around the 9th to 6th centuries b.c. and devoted chiefly to the instruction of Brahmins in the performance of Vedic ritual. (Meriam-Websters)

* The story of Buddha and Magandika can be found in Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha, by Thich Nhat Hanh.