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Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

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TO THE FIVE TATHAGATAS<br />

CHAPTER II<br />

WHAT IS THE REAL AND ULTIMATE<br />

PURPOSE OF PRACTICING BUDDHIST<br />

MEDITATIONS?<br />

From the vihara to Mr. Chen's hermitage is about<br />

two <strong>and</strong> a half miles <strong>and</strong> nearly all downhill. We left<br />

in pleasant sunshine, but halfway there it began to<br />

rain, so with protecting umbrellas <strong>and</strong> quick steps<br />

we made our way down the slippery streets. At our<br />

sides gutters roared <strong>and</strong> gushed with dirt-brown<br />

water. Kalimpong at any rate would be washed<br />

thoroughly after this shower. Seeing all this put the<br />

transcriber in mind of a simile. Just as men <strong>and</strong><br />

women huddle for shelter in doorways to escape the<br />

rain's force, so many people go to unstable refuges,<br />

transient pleasures, useless austerities, petty<br />

godlings, saviors, <strong>and</strong> presumed creators of this<br />

world. With perverted minds they fear <strong>and</strong> scuttle<br />

away from the beneficent rain of the Dharma. Few<br />

are those who go forward unafraid in this joyous<br />

teaching. May all beings be rid of false fears <strong>and</strong><br />

enjoy this gentle rain so that the Dharma may wash<br />

away their impurities, leaving them as fragrant in<br />

mind as this town after its cleansing!<br />

Occupied with these thoughts, we soon arrived at<br />

47

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