Life of Bāo - Chapters 35, 36 & 37
July 8-9, 2023 and July 1, 2031 (Eight years after the discovery on Mount Hua)
To summarize the last post: Surprise! And Master Zhao returns to his routine life. A preview of Chapters 35, 36 & 37: An Inquiry, Academic Excellence, a Reunion, and a Celebration. Enjoy
Chapter 35
July 8, 2023
Kang Jing sat in the director's office. She tapped her foot on the floor in nervous anticipation. So many years have passed. I am a stranger to him. Am I doing the right thing? All those years, I wished and wondered. Why am I so nervous?”
The Director had asked Bāo to meet him in the conference room, and he asked him to bring Yan. He was wise to know that Bāo would need as much support as he could get once he told him the news. Yan was the only “family” Bāo ever had. There was a knock at the door. The Director took a deep breath and then released it slowly, gathering all the wisdom he could muster, “Please come in.”
Bāo entered, and Yan followed. The Director stood and pointed to the empty chairs around the round table, “Please sit.” He paused, searched for the right words, and said, “I'm going to get right to the point. Bāo, the photo in the paper caused someone to recognize you, your mother.”
Bāo, shocked, said, “My mother? How can that be? My mother is dead. She and my father died in the earthquake.”
“That is what everyone assumed. The hospital, the police, the orphanage, everyone. I have met with your mother, and there is no doubt that she is who she says she is. An article of clothing and the location where you were found, documented by the volunteers who found you, leave no doubt.”
“What's her name?
“Jing, Kang Jing, a professor at Chengdu University.”
“So my last name is Kang?”
“Yes, Kang Tao and Jing were both University professors. You and your parents were traveling to Yingzui in Wenchuan County to visit with your grandfather, Kang Minshu, the day the great Sichuan earthquake struck. Your mother, Jing, was badly injured and in the hospital and rehabilitation for nearly a year.”
Yan sensed Bāo’s discomfort and took his hand in hers.
The Director continued, “Your mother would like to meet you. She is here now.”
“Now?” Bāo questioned.
“Yes, she is in my office.” He knew that waiting only would complicate things. “Let me give you time to collect yourself.” He walked out of the conference room.
“Yan, what am I going to do?”
Yan somehow knew the right words: "You're going to go and meet her.”
“But I don't know her.”
Yan reached and took his hand in hers, saying, “All your life, you wanted a family. You saw others leave this orphanage. Now it's your turn.”
“But I don't want to leave. I don't want to leave you, Yan.”
“Think about that woman. How do you think she feels? Do you think this was easy for her?”
“No.”
“You're right, no, it was not. And it is not. Meet her. You don't have to go anywhere, and we will never part.”
They walked to the Director's office. Bāo knocked and opened the door. Jing stood up from the chair. Seeing his mother for the first time, he said, “I’m Bāo.”
Chapter 36
July 9, 2023
The monks and nuns quickly returned to their normal routine of prayer and community service. The bell echoed as Mei opened the door.
“I hope it's okay to come unannounced. It's just that I -” Gripped with emotion and unable to continue speaking, tears welled in her eyes.
Mei rushed and wrapped her arms around her, saying, “Juān, there is no reason to explain yourself. You are always welcome here.”
Juān stood with a backpack over her shoulder and two suitcases on the ground beside her. She waved at the driver to depart.
Mei opened the door wider, “Here, let me help you with your bags. They picked a guest room, and Mei suggested, “Unpack and then meet me in the courtyard.”
Mei sat at a round, ornate black metal table near the fountain. The sound of falling water filled the air. As Juān neared, she said, “Remember the commotion here. Now, it seems like a distant memory.”
Mei agreed, “For a monastery, it was such turmoil. We are back to the usual routine now.”
“You're probably wondering why I am here. You probably imagined that you would see Bāo at your front door, not me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Bāo was the one who had the experience in the prayer hall.”
Mei explained, “Enlightenment can happen to anyone at any time. But then what? You go on with your life. You go to school, maybe get married, and have children. Or maybe you even become a Buddhist nun. There is no strict formula, Juān. You asked if I was wondering why you were here. Did you have an answer, or were you waiting for me?”
Juān replied, “I don't have a good answer. She looked at the water gurgling in the fountain and then back at Mei. “I feel drawn here. I feel at peace here. When the four of us were here, I would wait until everyone was asleep, and then I would go into the prayer hall to sit and breathe.”
Mei said, “The answer is closer than you think. You do not have to make this decision immediately. Stay, pray, sit, and find the path, your path.”
Juān said, “Thank you.” She stood and said, “Pray with me.”
Mei and Juān walked to the prayer Hall, lit an incense stick, and sat in silence.
Chapter 37
July 1, 2031 (Eight years after the discovery on Mount Hua)
The monastery prayer hall was decorated with red chrysanthemums, red orchids, and Lucky Bamboo plants. Incense sticks burned before the Buddha statue, and the wrist was adorned with a gold bracelet displaying a yellow moon disc. The Abbott stood at the front of the room, filled with monks, nuns, and family guests. Three bell tones sounded at the beginning of the ceremony.
Bāo walked down the aisle with his mother, Kang Jing, at his side. They reached the front, hugged, and Jing said in Bāo’s ear, “I am the luckiest mother in the world. I am so proud of you.” Bāo wiped a tear from his eye, walked to the front, and stood to the right of the Abbott.
Juān, followed by Mei, made her way slowly to the front of the assembly. Both wore the traditional yellow Buddhist nun robes. Juān stood to the left of the Abbott, and Mei sat beside Jing.
All the guests turned to the back entrance at the sound of the Suona. The Venerable Zhao Sun Feng walked Deng Yan down the aisle. Yan wore a traditional Qipao wedding dress made of silk. The red silk was elaborately embroidered with gold dragons and phoenixes. Master Zhao placed Yan’s hand in Bāo’s. They turned hand in hand to face each other. Bāo bowed three times to worship the heaven, parent, and future spouse.
The ceremony began with a chant:
Incense-fragrant smoke reaches for heaven.
Permeating the whole Dharma world.
Spreading upward everywhere like a cloud blessing.
All Buddhas take notice and appear in their perfect bodies.
We observe with a clear mind and a sincere heart.
Live, never-ending.
As the Abbott lit the incense stick, those in attendance visualized the Buddha of all the worlds in the smoke. Small malas’ and rings were exchanged. The Abbott gave a blessing, and the ceremony ended with applause. Bāo and Yan signed the wedding certificate issued by the temple, confirming their marriage officially.
***
The guests walked to the courtyard, which was filled with tables. Each table was covered with a red cloth and centered with pink Cherry blossoms or red and yellow orchids. Ai was the first to congratulate Yan. Yan hugged her and said, “Little Ai, I am so happy you came.”
Ai replied, “I'm not little anymore. I'm 15 now. I begged the Director to bring me. He relented. I had to be here today.”
Yan approached Juān and Mei and said, “I am so happy you are here to share our special day.” Juān stood, and Yan whispered, “Are you happy?”
Juān replied, “I have never been happier. All of my life, I thought I had been running away from something. I realized that I had been running toward something. I have finally found where I belong.”
Mei said jokingly, “I saw the way you looked at Bāo. What a perfect match!”
Bāo joined Yan and sat at the table with Master Zhao and Jing. Jing said, “I am so very proud of both of you.” She raised her glass in a toast, “To Yan, my son’s once Xiao Mei, now his beautiful wife. He found a life partner, and I found a daughter.”
Master Zhao stood and raised a glass of champagne. “May I have everyone's attention, please? I once set out on a great adventure with three willing students, Bāo, Yan, and Juān.” As he said each name, he raised his glass and bowed to each. “Our adventure has concluded. Now, Bāo and Yan have chosen an even greater adventure: marriage. May we all raise our glasses to their success.”