Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

lessing of the Buddhas that I was born in such
circumstances.
Before my birth, my mother during both day and night
saw before her inner eye a large sun shining in her throat;
but when a doctor was consulted, this symptom was not
traced to any known disease and indeed my mother was
perfectly healthy. The young Chen was born covered by
an unbroken placenta and so undefiled by the mother's
blood. Nor did he cry at birth as most children do. My
mother noticed in my forehead a depression between or a
little above the eyes—an evil omen according to worldly
astrology standards but favorable sign for Bodhisattva.
After giving birth, my mother developed two extra
breasts and I took milk from all four. My father joked
with her that she was just like an old sow.
There were eight in the family, four girls and four boys,
and I was the fourth. Even while I was young most of my
brothers and sisters died and for them my mother was
often crying. One day, a blind, wandering fortune-teller
told my mother I too should have a short life and I
overheard him saying that although I was the last son yet
I should die early. Seeing so much death and hearing this
made me fear it very much. My mother loved me deeply
because she had lost so many of her children and feared
to see me die as well and still there were other troubles in
our family. My father not only took a second wife but
was always running after the wives of others. On women
and drinking he spent the family's money.
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