Emperor Huang ruled China around 2600 B.C; which marked the beginning of China as a nation. Many inventions appeared during this period including: money, medicine, clothing, boats, carts, bows and arrows, compass, calendar, astrology, musical scale, palaces, etc and the invention of Chinese characters.

Emperor Huang was seeking for the truth from seventy two masters but all of them knew only about the worldly matters. One day the Emperor posted an announcement in the city that a reward of a thousand gold pieces would be given to the person who could introduce the Emperor to the True Master of Tao.

There was a living Buddha incarnated as a priest who was only thirteen years old and living at a small temple called Small Grove Temple. His name was Kuang Cheng Tzu and his uncle was a soldier taking care of horses. His uncle saw the announcement and removed it from the post and was then taken to see the Emperor.

He reported that his nephew possessed great virtues and wisdom. The Emperor replied: The ages of all my seventy two teachers are between fifty and sixty years old and they knew the dharma of the worldly but not the dharma of the divine. How is it possible that a thirteen year old boy is able to possess such great virtues? But the Emperor accepted his recommendation on the condition that if he was enlightened in three days after being initiated, he would award the soldier with a high position, otherwise he would execute him by chopping off his head.

The soldier was very frightened and returned to the temple. He mentioned the matter to his nephew, but Kuang Cheng Tzu regarded the event as a trivial matter.

On the next day the Emperor came with five hundred palace guards. With supernatural power knowing that the Emperor was coming, Kuang Cheng Tzu ordered a boy monk to cut down a tree to block the road. When the Emperor came upon the fallen tree, he realized that he had come without sincerity, and decided to return to his palace and come back through a small road with his General Juen Lien.

Again, Kuang Cheng Tzu ordered the boy monk to block the road, but this time with reeds tied in seventy two knots. When his impatient General encountered the reeds, he was ready to cut the knots with his sword, but the Emperor said one should be humble when one comes to receive the initiation from a teacher, so he asked the General to untie the knots one by one so that he would kneel down and bow when each knot was being untied.

When he arrived at the temple after seventy two bows, he saw the boy monk and asked if this was the Small Grove Temple. The boy monk replied: Small Grove Temple is only known by a few. Tying the reed as a gate is the secret of revelation. The dharma of the Buddha is just and without comparison of high or low. Do not enter if you are arrogant.

Obtaining realization from the poem, the Emperor came to the second gate and saw another boy monk using a stick to hit a peach tree. The Emperor asked why he hit the peach tree. The boy monk answered that he is punishing the tree for not bearing fruit. The Emperor asked how long ago the tree was planted. The boy monk answered that the tree was planted three days ago. The Emperor said: "How can the tree bear fruit only after three days?" The boy monk answered with a poem:

The peach tree planted three days ago did not bear fruit yet, how can one become enlightened after receiving Tao for three days. With a generous heart and cultivating calmly, the time will arrive when the roots are deep and leaves are dense, then the fruit will appear.

The Emperor came to the third gate and saw an old monk sweeping the ground. He asked for the master and was shown to the east room. The Emperor bowed and entered and saw a child sitting calmly inside. The Emperor kneeled down. Kuang Cheng Tzu said: I heard my lord has been seeking Tao through seventy two masters. Which one has the true Tao?

The Emperor answered: Each teacher has Tao, but the disciple was unable to learn. I would like to ask the noble teacher how could one transcend ones own life and death?

Kuang Cheng Tzu answered: If a person is away from all visible forms, he will not grow. And when wood is away from fire, it will not turn to ashes. Study Tao carefully by following the dharma persistently, then you will succeed.

The Emperor was enlightened and thanked the teacher before returning to his palace. Later, the Emperor returned to the temple and cultivated Tao diligently until he reached Nirvana.

This is a poem from my Heavenly Teacher, JiGong:

From ancient to modern times, ten thousands affairs have been changing and disappearing like burning candles. The fleeting existence turns out to be a journey in the dream. Those who realize this deeply are like spring water in the mountain, and the moon in the sky how leisurely it shines!

Blend into the light of the sun and the moon. Unify with the virtue of the heavens and earth. Be together with the Ever-Existing Old Mom (Lao Mu God). Get on the same vehicle and ride together with all Light Beings (Buddhas and Bodhisattvas). Explode the sparkle of life and light up the gloomy world. Keep the sources flowing forever and ever then it is not a waste to encounter the Holy Way (Tao) in this life.

Author: T.A Chew