Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

HOMAGE TO JE TSONG-KHAPA, THE FOUR
AGAMAS AND THE FIVE HUNDRED ARHATS
Chapter VIII
THE FIVE FUNDAMENTAL MEDITATIONS TO
CURE THE FIVE POISONS
As a symbol of today's talk, Mr. Chen produced a
small carved ivory skull. The empty eye-sockets
stared, the toothy jaws grinned and the interlocking
bones of the skull were accurately reproduced. It
was a work of art which concerns us very personally.
"We shall talk on this today," said our host. "The
artist was Mongolian and has died; nobody can do
work like that now." Mr. Chen disappeared into his
shrine and returned with two further examples of the
ivory artist's work. One was a globe of the world on
the outside; when it was opened, it revealed the
Buddhist deity Sri Devi carved in minute detail. The
lotus base to the little globe had upon its bottom a
crossed vajra. The other was a free-standing
representation of Vajrasattva executed with the
greatest care and artistry.
With the skull resting on the table, Mr. Chen then
produced some refreshments of unusual variety and
quantity. The skull looked on. Bhante remarked that
it was evidently going to be a long chapter requiring
much sustenance. Mr. Chen, sitting very erect upon
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