PEAK OF REPENTANCE
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by Edmund Lau
CHAPTER ONE : FORM AND EMPTINESS
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"Grasp emptiness, and emptiness is form;
Grasp form, and form is impermanent,
Emptiness and form are not mine --
Sitting erect, I see my native home."
Once upon a time, there lived a strange man. This man was neither a monk nor a
taoist. However, many of his best friends and worst enemies were monks and taoists!
Though many extolled him a great philosopher, he denied it strongly. He would often
say, "Look at my legs ... do you see the mud and soil from the rice fields I work in
from morning till late afternoon? Do philosophers have legs like mine? Definitely not!
They are all to be found in the courts of the rich and powerful... receiving a high pay
for their skills in flattery. In short, philosophers have no dirt on their feet... only
in their mouths!"
He loved saying such things, often ending with a hearty laugh. For he was a passionate
man. In the evenings, he was always with the children of the village; playing, laughing,
rolling on the floor, hiding, chasing... During winters, he can be found bringing coats for
the shiverring monkeys in the nearby jungles. Above all, he loved wine and chess. Nearly
everyday during the winter months, he stayed with the village headman, Master Fung. Master
Fung was his very best friend as they both loved wine and chess - but more so because Master
Fung was a rich man who had no airs... he never once looked down on the many poor families
who depended on his generousity throughout the years.
"Ah Pang - let's have another game, shall we?", Master Fung offered.
"Sure. Why not? Up till now you've lost a total of 1532 games to me... so maybe your
luck might change with the next round", Ah Pang answered with a warm laugh.
Master Fung sighed, "How can I ever compete with Wiseman Pang in anything?"
"There you go again. How many times have we been through this? I am no wiseman - I'm
Layman Pang!", Ah Pang answered, "Besides, your skills have improved over the last several
months, especially your offensive moves... However, I've noticed that you were more on the
defensive over the past few days. Is something troubling you?"
Master Fung did not answer. He appeared to be staring blankly at the chessboard before
him. After a while, Layman Pang smiled and said, "I know what's troubling you... Just let
nature take its course, shall we?"
Master Fung appeared a little shy knowing that his friend had guessed correctly. His
wife, Madam Fung, was well in her eleventh month of pregnancy already and the baby still
showed no sign of coming forth. Initially, the couple was overjoyed when they were finally
expecting their first child - after more than twenty years being married! However, it appeared
as though the heavens were playing a huge joke on them as the child was still not delivered
after eleven months of anxious waiting.
"I am trying my best not to get anxious, Ah Pang", Master Fung answered, "That's why I
invited you over for chess and wine but... it's already the eleventh month and..."
Layman Pang looked intently at his friend and, still smiling, answered, "Old Fung, it's
normal for you to worry. Yet the plain fact is that there is very little that either you or I
can do... just let nature take its course."
Maybe it's the assuring manner in Layman Pang's reply; or perhaps it's a sense of
resignation, Master Fung answered, "Maybe you're right. Sorry for spoiling our mood..."
Before Master Fung could complete his sentence, Layman Pang had already lifted up his
wine glass to propose a toast. Cutting him off in mid-sentence, Layman Pang said, "Old Fung,
if it will make you feel better... let me share a secret with you. I do not make it a habit
to foretell the future for people though many have begged me to... I've always believed that
man should live as naturally as possible without a care for tomorrow - as long as we live
as fully as possible today. But for you I will make an exception this time... I tell you the
truth, your son will be born before the sun rises tomorrow morning. He will also grow up as an
honest, heroic man. His destiny will be to soar high in the skies like the immortals."
Master Fung could hardly contain his joy. He, among the very few, knew Layman Pang's
past. He knew that Layman Pang was not always known as Layman Pang. He was once the chief
astrologer and advisor to the Emperor before the fall of the Yuen Dynasty. His fame spread
all throughout China. Everyone in that era had heard of Wiseman Pang who could foretell the
future. The rest of the details were sketchy at best... but Master Fung knew a little of it.
Seemed that many monks and taoists were envious of Wiseman Pang's fame so they conspired
against him.
His enemies began to spread rumours about him. They claimed that he was helping the Han
rebels to topple the Mongolian-led Yuen Dynasty. Soon the Yuen Emperor ordered his arrest.
Before the court, he predicted the fall of the Yuen Dynasty and the establishment of a new
dynasty by a Han surnamed Zhu. The Emperor wanted initially to have Wiseman Pang beheaded but
later decided against that action. He ordered to have Pang locked up instead - to let him see
with his own eyes that his predictions will all come to naught.
As we all know, Wiseman Pang's predictions did come true - the Yuen Dynasty fell and Zhu
Yuen Cheung established the present Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuen Cheung decreed that all prisoners
under the former Yuen rule be released (obviously hoping to gain more supporters while he was
still trying to strengthen his rule). Pang was also among those released.
From then on, Pang refused to have anything more to do with politics and titles. He
retired to this quiet farming village headed by Master Fung and lived a quiet life here. He
also changed his name to "Layman Pang" to truly live among commoners. He believed that this was
the most natural way of life : living each day at a time with no cares for tomorrow, enjoying
daily the produce of the earth and the fruits of his own labour at the farm.
This night was the first time he had predicted anything for anyone since his imprisonment.
Master Fung did not know what to say. He was overjoyed. He wanted to really thank Layman Pang
but before he could open his mouth, he heard a servant shouting, "Master, Madam is in labour -
come quick!"
The remainder of the night was a frenzy of activity. The village midwife came and the
rest of the household was kept busy preparing for the child's arrival. In the morning, before
the sun rose, the child was born. Master Fung was overjoyed. He held his son in his arms and
knelt before Layman Pang, thanking him and begging him to take the new-born baby as his
disciple. Layman Pang agreed as he too was bubbling with joy over the birth of this baby.
Master Fung remembered Layman Pang's prediction about the child's ultimate destiny. He
named his son "Ching Yeung" - "Ching" symbolizing honesty and a guileless character and "Yeung"
symbolizing the child's eventual greatness; like a great bird soaring to the heavens.
* * *
(end of chapter one)
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