Painting by Xiang YeYoung

Buying Shoes

(Zhen Ren Mai Lu)

A man was ready to go buy a pair of shoes, but he wasn’t sure of his size. After taking time to measure his feet and write his size down on a piece of paper, he was ready to go to the market to find shoes. When he found the shoes at the market he realized that he had forgotten his measurements. He went home to fetch the paper, but when he returned the market was closed. His friend asked him, “Why didn’t you just try the shoes on?” To which he responded, “I believe the measurement more than myself.

Translation by Xiang YeYoung and Li

Here is a link to watch clips from the BBC documentary on Google Video: Wild China (BBC documentary series)

Painting by Xiang YeYoung

Cover Your Ears So No One Will Hear

(Yan Er Dao Zhong)

A man was walking by an abandoned house when he came upon a wonderful large  bronze bell that he decided to steal. He knew he would have to take the bell in pieces in order to move it because it was so heavy. This was going to be too noisy a job to do without getting caught, so he thought he should use earplugs. The thief covered his ears thinking that if he could not hear the bell, no one else could either.

From Lu’s Annuals (475-221 BC)

Translation by Xiang YeYoung and Li Evon

Master gave a speech thanking every one of his students, for without them he would not be who he is. I am sure that every student was humbled by his gracious appreciation, and in fact we all know that it is we, who should be thanking him. We should be thanking him for putting up with our shenanigans, and still moving us forward like a bullet train towards happiness and peace. Perhaps now is the best time for us to take his advice and finally let go of our egos. Doing this seems like we are giving something up, like sacrificing an arm or surrendering to the evil opponent. When in fact what you are doing is opening yourself up to the possibility (stop the presses for this may actually be true) that you can live a happy peaceful life every day.

Let us ask our selves as his students, what do you suppose his mission is in doing this type of work? Is he looking to make our lives worse? Would we continue to pay him for that!? If you remain his student without making much progress, you need only look to yourself, for the power to change is with in you, but with out a teacher, when you let go there will be no one there to guide you. So, fear not, because if you are a student of Master YeYoung then you are in for a treat. There is no other teacher like him, for usually someone of his caliber is not going to be dealing with people on an individual basis, with specific guidelines catered to your specific needs. For example, the Tao De Jing may be a great book and all, but when your life is going to pieces is that book going to help you put it back together? Can you call Lao Zi up and tell him that you just had a fight with your spouse and you feel like you’re in hell? But you can call Master. Anytime. Really, he’s that sort of teacher. And if you follow his advice you will get out of that hole your in. And you might be happier at home. And you might get a raise! And you might get healthier and have less pain. For that is the goal of this work. Perhaps some of you wanted super powers like levitation, or abilities to control other people, or astral projection, or some other crazy idea. But what you get with Master is a reality check. Cold hard facts about what you are doing to sabotage yourself. And then you slowly get yourself out.

And so, what possible birthday present could you get to show appreciation for the person who is helping pull you out of hell? Well, perhaps gratitude is where you begin. And then you continue on your path with a more humble mindset. And you allow yourself the possibility that you are wrong, and he is right. Then we can have a good time. And have cake and drink tea too.

Students of Master YeYoung at his Birthday Celebration. Thanks to Tom and Michael for making tea in their elegant Yixing teapots.

Debby and her daughter Nicole decorated this incredibly thoughtful and meaningful cake. The teapot on the right has a white crane on it to symbolize longevity.

Nicole decorated this teapot, and figured out by herself how to write "thank you for everything". Mrs. YeYoung said Nicole writes characters better than she did when she was learning how to write, Master said he couldn't tell a non-Chinese wrote it.

where koi glide,

Emerald grass, quiet living room, the door is silent.

Buddhist way or Taoist way all pacify the world,

Only meditation frees one from the Six Realms.

The thousand year-old Tang and Song tea bowls, and scrolls,

Idly we are, with full teapots, and full tea bowls.

Wives provide fine foods with great kindness,

In the constant awakenings,

let’s have 49 more birthday celebrations.