As the story goes, Bonze Dan was confronted with a stone bridge made slick by rain on this, his third Duan Wu Day attempt, but he suddenly came up with a plan. Laying down that Waltzing Matilda of his and strapping the roll of finely wrapped paper onto his back he crouched down on all fours and placed his hands on the bridge. Now of course, down on the sides were a few rough and uneven spots, not as smooth as the top surface, where he could get a foothold and propel himself across and in a moment the bridge was behind him. Bonze Dan clasped his hands to his body, thanked Heaven and Earth and was up and running toward White Cloud Cave.

Once inside and in front of that jade incense burner he fell upon his knees and kowtowed, begging. "Take pity on a poor monk!" he prayed. "Three times now I've come here. Please, oh holy spirits, hand me your secrets! Surely will I assist Heaven and always walk the right path, and if I do evil may Heaven cause me and the entire world to perish!"

Having so pleaded he entered the stone room, spread out his cloth bundle and removed the papers, spreading them out on the ground and piling them in numerical order. And from the beginning of the script on the right wall he began taking the mysterious rubbings, picking up the sheets and placing them against the writing on the wall and firmly wiping his hand across the backs, thirteen pages in all, finally bending a corner of each to note its copying before placing it in a new pile.

And then he turned his attentions to the right hand wall, and copied it as well, producing another 24 pages before he sensed that fragrance once more coming from the incense burner. There remained yet one more segment on the back wall but there was no time for any more rubbings. He frantically scooped up the thirty-seven pages he had copied, rolling them up as one and wrapping them in that fine cloth. Hastily tossing aside the unused paper he rushed out of the stone chamber just as the jade burner began emitting great billows of smoke. And dashing out of the cave he strapped that cloth roll right to his back in mid-run, eyes straight ahead, and with hands and feet fairly flew across that slippery-faced twenty-foot-long by one-foot-wide stone bridge just like a monkey sailing through the trees. As with his previous forays here, he sure was slow in coming but fast in leaving!

Bonze Dan was doubly happy this time, having escaped danger with something to show for his time and trouble as well. After retrieving his cudgel he lengthened his stride and before long arrived back at his straw hut. Before even catching his breath he flung open the roll of paper for a look, only to receive a shock. For back in the shadows of the cave in his frantic haste the characters seemed to be copying as black as the originals, but now the pages were blank. Could nothing at all have been copied? He examined every sheet in disbelief; they were indeed all like this. Now Bonze Dan was struck blind and dumb, arms paralyzed and legs like jelly; his sense of failure was truly indescribable. For some time he had visions of Gods and spirits and seemed entranced, totally oblivious to his surroundings. Having thrice suffered so and all for naught he could see nothing at all to feel good about; it was as if he had wasted his entire life on a doomed effort. Truly and totally bitter and depressed he felt a pain in his heart and burst forth in tears like torrents of pearls, wailing in grief. And so crying he wandered toward that clear mountain pond where he sought to end his life. But before going very far he met that same white-haired old man.

"It's too painful to talk about," whined Bonze Dan, his tearful face contorted in grief and agony. "It wasn't fated to work out and the paper is as bare as when I left. I didn't get anything. Only death awaits after a failed life like this!" And having said that his tears fell like rain.

"Now, now, young monk, this really isn't such a tragedy. Why, it's not even so clear that you've failed to be granted a copy. Just think; you know very well that they aren't transmitted by brush and ink, so why are you expecting to find such characters printed on the paper?"

"What do you mean by that?" asked Bonze Dan in great surprise.

"Heaven's writing is different from worldly script. Sunlight obviously belongs to Yang and lacks Yin. So Yin is concealed under brightness because it's overwhelmed by dominant Yang. Now, if you want to determine if the writings were fated to be yours just wait until a couple of hours before midnight and go out into a field broadly lit from a full moon, with no one else around. Hold the pages up to the moon and in its soft light the secret charms will appear in green. Only then will you know if you were destined to get them."

Bonze Dan seemed to awaken as if pulled back from the opening dreams of eternal sleep. "I'll do as you say," he answered, "but I don't know what the moon's going to be like tonight."

"The light is insufficient during this first ten days of the month. Wait till the five nights between the eleventh and the fifteenth and it should be bright enough to see the charms, provided you've followed the instructions, and you'll be able to brush them in with ink. I'll come to see you again just before the time comes."

Bonze Dan couldn't find the words of thanks, and the old man turned and vanished in a flash. Our monk couldn't have been more pleased as he returned to the hut, regathering the scattered sheets from the earthen floor and placing them in two files, one for each wall, East and West, each arranged by numerical order and each wrapped up in cloth for safe keeping. Then when the eleventh night arrived he did as the elder had instructed, preparing a bottleful of ink and carrying everything up to a broad, flat clearing atop a high mountain where he opened the cloth and laid its contents out on the ground. Picking up the pages of rubbings from the left wall and holding them up facing the moon he was quite shocked to find no traces of writing, just as before. But forcing himself to stay calm he began scanning the pages taken from the right wall. Sure enough, shadowy Yin-laden green characters that he could only about half recognize appeared about the size of copper coins in a foreboding and powerful script.

Filled with joy at his achievement he set himself to his next assignment. Taking brush in hand he inked in those glowing letters on the paper until the moon sank in the western late-night sky and its light became too dim. Then he packed up and left to return the next night, and as the entire five-night period was clear he continued his work without pause, illuminating the hidden Yin letters in the moonlight and inking them permanently until the entire job was done and he'd wrapped up the last of the finished sheets in that cloth.

Back in the straw hut he was unable to sleep. "I wonder if any other mortal has ever seen these words," he thought. "And that old hermit promised to meet me again before I went out but he never showed up, leaving me to do my best on my own." By the fifth watch he had finally fallen asleep when what should enter his dreams but a voice from outside, very much like that old man's, calling:

Bonze Dan leapt up from his sleep. "Who is Holy Auntie?" he blurted out, dashing out of the hut. The sky was already pink with dawn's light; when he leapt outside for a look he found no one. "How strange," he thought; "I'm sure I heard somebody. How could he have disappeared?" Then he thought for a moment. "I've got it!" he went on. "Why, that old man was a transformation of the White Ape God. He took pity on my sincere search for the Way and came here twice to help me when I was lost. And tonight he shouted his advice to me in my dreams, why, yes, of course that's it, and there certainly must be a 'Holy Auntie' somewhere who can explain Heaven's writings, only I just don't know where she might be. Well, wherever she is, I'll find her no matter how long it takes, even if I have to travel to the ends of the earth. There's sure no use sitting like a trapper in this useless hut!"

At this point he stuffed the cloth tubeful of documents into his sack, finished his breakfast of baked rice and again tied that bag to the end of the long staff. Then with his cudgel he shuffled some glowing coals from the earthen firepit onto a broad pine branch which he then used to throw them onto the roof of the grass hut, setting it afire. And while walking away he only stared back at the blazing hut, truly rash and selfish in treating that dwelling as if it had only been fated to help him for a short while. And here's a poem about it:

Now there was a stiff northeasterly wind and it whipped up the hungry flames until they had completely consumed the roof of that little hut. And with a sharp report the roof beam snapped and fell to earth pointing to the northwest. "It sure is strange, huh," thought Bonze Dan, " wind blowing toward the south and that hut's roofbeam falling back toward the north. North by northwest, why that's the direction of the pass where our Emperor has built the capital, bustling with the different races of humanity. Perhaps I'll yet find out where Holy Auntie is."

Then kneeling in the direction of White Cloud Cave he kowtowed thankfully in parting to the White Ape God and set off in long strides toward the north. Now, later people have got a poem devoted to Bonze Dan's three attempts at seeking the Dao and it goes like this:

As the story goes Bonze Dan trekked forth into the rolling countryside of Neixiang County. This being early July the weather was scorching hot, and he realized that only a fan to cool himself with would be just what he needed. In a stroke of good timing he came upon a fanseller's shop. Now, in those times folding fans were not yet in widespread use and the shop sold only the five types of fan then fashionable. What were they? Well, your paper and silk round fan, black and white feather fan, thin bamboo and paper fan, and two types of palm fan, China palm and banana palm. He loudly disapproved of the feather fans, complaining that he couldn't write characters on them and that the round fans weren't suitable for a holy man to hold. But if he were to buy a thin bamboo framed paper fan, he thought, he could write the three characters for "Visit Holy Aunt" on it, and anyone passing in the road who knew of her could then hail him and perhaps even tell him the way. So he called into the shop for the assistant to come out and show him some bamboo fans. Selecting one that suited his fancy he settled on a price of five small silver coins and bought it.

Now, this shop had three partitions constructed in its back room, creating three study rooms complete with table and chairs for each. And each had a view through its window of the courtyard with quite a few stalks of bamboo growing. The tables had some writing implements, brushes and inkstones and the like laid out upon them, and Bonze Dan's eyes quickly fixed on that paraphernalia.

"Sorry to bother you but do you think I could use one of your brushes and stones to write something?" asked Bonze Dan.

"I suppose there's no harm in writing out here in front," answered the shop assistant, "as long as the boss is out." And he hurriedly went and brought a set to the counter where Bonze Dan quickly wet up a head of ink. But before he could lower his brush to write a loud voice could be heard in back.

"Who just took that brush and inkstone?"

"There's a holy man here who needs to borrow them to write something so I was just getting a set for him to use." Then he turned to Bonze Dan. "Hurry up, the owner is coming!"

There was no more shouting to be heard but a man wearing a long gown and a head wrapping emblazoned with swastikas appeared from that space behind the shop. Seeing that Bonze Dan had just written "Visit Holy Aunt" on his new fan, he respectfully clasped his hands high in front and bowed in greeting. "Where is your holiness from," he asked, "and how come you want to see Holy Aunt?"

I'm out of the Yinghui Temple in Sizhou City. I've heard that Holy Aunt's got wide knowledge of the holy Way and so I've come seeking her."

"Why, Sizhou is in Lingnan. You mean to say they've heard of Holy Aunt that far away?"

Bonze Dan was astounded. "So," he hissed quietly through clenched teeth, "there is a Holy Aunt after all!" And then he addressed his host. "Have you, sir, actually met her?"

"I have indeed."

"Where is she now? Can I trouble you for directions?"

"Please come inside and be seated" said the master, gesturing toward the small study rooms at the rear. Bonze Dan entered one of the cubicles. Rudeness provokes Heaven's wrath. Please be seated May I pour out a cup of tea for your holiness to enjoy?" The master then joined him at the table.

Bonze Dan noticed the presence of some assorted books on the table. Now, among them was a particularly dog-eared and incomplete one, and he casually noted the title: "Handbook of Original Nature Terms". Thumbing through it, this passage caught his attention:

Bonze Dan was then lost in thought. "This here Neixiang County's got a Chrysanthemum Pond as well as the Red River. I've heard that really fragrant chrysanthemums grow on the cliffs around that little lake, and that those who drink its water live on to great longevity. But I didn't know that the Red River gave birth to such strange things. Why, if I'd mastered that magic earlier I sure wouldn't have suffered that dunking at Luojia Manor!"

The arrival of a tray with two cups of fresh-brewed tea broke his train of thought. "Have some tea, holiness," his host said, putting it down on the table.

"All this fuss for me!" said Bonze Dan humbly, and the two men sat enjoying the hot drink.

"My surname's Qin, like the first emperor, and I've got a single first name, Heng. Last year when I made a pilgrimage to Mt Hua over in Huayin County I overheard folks talking about her in the streets. They were saying that the county's Deputy Magistrate Yang was sheltering a living Buddha in his home. 'How do you reckon she's a living Buddha?' I asked them, and they told me that the Yangs had procured a Golden Sutra and nobody but Holy Auntie could read it. They said Deputy Yang respected and worshipped her like a God and kept her in the west garden of his estate. Folks from counties all around mobbed the place seeking to worship her as their teacher, and once there they had a lot of fun as well in all the general gaiety. Pretty soon though the crowds got bigger and bigger and they closed the place to outsiders. I've heard that as of now she's been living there for over a year."

"Aside from reading Sanskrit has she mastered any real magic powers?"

"I've heard there are some mysterious things about her. She can go a whole month without eating and not feel hunger. And she often meets with Bodhisattvas but ordinary folks aren't allowed access to her. "

What did she look like when you saw her?"

"Like an ordinary old woman," answered Qin Heng, "but there's something about her looks, like, well, it's as if there's a certain sagely quality to her. If you go there, holiness, the biggest problem is that she might still be under lock and key. If you do get to see her don't be too brash about seeking the Way. Ask her if she can grant you a meeting a few days later."

"Yeah, that sounds about right," said Bonze Dan, "it seems like what I should do." And thanking his host for tea he asked about the road to Huayin County and was once more on his way.

After a short time on the road he asked someone the whereabouts of the Chyranthemum Pool and went directly there, finding it as pure and clear as promised. "Although the flowers aren't in bloom there's no mistaking it!" he marveled. And after quaffing up a few mouthfuls of water he bared his body and had a bath, and then upon dressing afresh set out to find the Red River of legend. Now there was to be an extra Chinese month that summer. It was the twenty-first day of the fifth lunar month, corresponding to the twentieth of June, and the first day of summer was to be the second of the sixth Chinese month, ten days from then, the first of July. Bonze Dan saw the obvious good timing here and spent a night in a grass lean-to, and next day bright and early, the tenth day before the first day of summer as specified in that old book of Original Nature Charms, he found himself standing by the bank of the Red River. How grand it looked! According to local histories it had once been a transport canal, and for this two or three li its fish were all red and its waters were undisturbed, hence the name. One could see that its fish were a breed apart, a miracle of nature. And because they were few in number, small and not very good to eat, there weren't any fishing boats in this section of the river.

Bonze Dan hiked up to the head of the waters and chartered a fishing boat. Then he bought some food and drink and enjoyed it with the old fisherman. "If I could trouble you to cast your nets and get me some of those red fish tonight I'll put on a real show for your enjoyment," he told the startled man.

"Just what kind of a show?" he asked warily.

"I simply take the blood of those red fish and smear it onto the soles of my feet. Then I utter a magic charm and with a "hi ho" I step right out onto the water just like it's dry land."

"We fishing folk could sure use a trick like that! Be sure and teach me how to cast that spell."

"That's no problem, as long as I get the fish."

By now the old man was feeling the wine and had forgotten to bring the net up from storage at the stern. His old wife was disgusted at his drunkenness and they had quite an argument, but finally the net appeared and was all laid out in tip-top condition.

"Stop for awhile!" shouted Bonze Dan just as they were ready to cast the net overboard. "I've just cast a spell on the waters. If you wait a minute the fish will all swarm around here and you'll be able to net them right up."

Then the two men sat chatting at the bow until the old fisherman, drowsy from drink, nodded off to sleep. Bonze Dan was surprised to see something breaking the surface of the water and heard a splashing sound as well but he couldn't see any flaming red. By as the night wore on and the moon rose higher in the east the fish came to reflect its light, appearing red like fire. He hurriedly awakened the old fisherman who threw in the net with a shout as if casting dice against hopeless odds. When he pulled it in there weren't many fish and upon tossing back the remainder scattered in fright. In all they caught perhaps ten head, and killing them yielded very little blood.

"I've got a mind to do something a bit naughty," thought Bonze Dan darkly; why not try out those instructions on this here fisherman? If it works I'll come back better prepared next year and I won't be late, either!" Then telling the old man to bare the soles of his feet he smeared them with the fishblood and pretended to mumble a chant, finally activating the spell with the Daoist command "Attack!" and telling the old fisherman to step out onto the surface of the river. Now, the old man was honest and gullible and jumped right down into the water, and with a loud "ker-plunk" and a mighty splash disappeared completely from sight.

The old fishwife had been watching from the stern and cried out in horror for Bonze Dan to rescue him; he hurriedly threw some deckside planks and bamboo pails into the river. Fortunately the old man was wise to the ways of the river and clambered back up over the stern. Husband and wife then ganged up on our monk and scolded him long and hard, demanding compensation while all he could get in were a few meek denials and apologies. The boat would cost a lump of silver with two more coins thrown to buy wine for treatment of the old man's shock; he agreed and only then did they let him out of their clutches and allow him to land on the riverbank before sailing off.

"It's long been said that a little knowledge can be dangerous," whispered Bonze Dan beneath his breath; "maybe all the Daoist craft passed down since the beginning of time is just empty illusion. And even though after three tries I finally got those writings of Heaven from White Cloud Cave who knows if I can ever really know them, even after a lot of learning and careful study."

It was after all Bonze Dan's violent curiosity and impatience to learn the truth that led him to test out those instructions he found in the "Handbook of Original Nature Terms" and to make a fool of himself, even giving rise to doubts in his mind about the very secrets of Heaven that he had copied from the walls of White Cloud Cave. And here is a poem that tells it well:

In the blazing heat of the days that followed Bonze Dan passed by Mt Qiulin with its elegant rock formations and springs. "According to Qin Heng," he mused, "Holy Aunt is probably still under lock and key and it isn't all that certain that I'll be able to meet her or even to wait around until they open up the place. Why not avoid those problems and wait out the sixth lunar month, and when autumn's coolness comes I can continue on the journey and arrive just in time."

Now, in the Qiulin Temple the bonzes all took note of his fan with the three words "Visit Holy Aunt" written on it. Some of them didn't know of her and noisily enquired of our monk, while others who had heard of her explained to their colleagues about that old woman over in Huayin County. Bonze Dan listened carefully to the questions and opinions that they voiced.

Now let's pick up another thread of the story. When we left Holy Auntie it was the fifth month of the previous year and she was living in Deputy Yang's west garden. More than a year has now past; it is now the seventh month. The sudden, painful realization came to her of how Mei'r had fallen by the wayside into the world of the unknown, and how the Queen of Heaven had assured her that people would come for her at some time and place in the future and that she only need wait. But how would they find her with outsiders forbidden to come in?

"What would I do," she mused, "if Lyu Chunyang or Zhang Daoling came mysteriously and tried knocking at my door late one night?" Why, if I could meet outsiders again it would be easier for them to find me. I've hear Granny Yang's fallen gravely ill with a bad cold and that the doctor has been no use at all, and that Deputy Yang is desperate...this might be my chance! All I need do is persuade him to allow me an open meeting to exorcise Granny's illness and pray for her recovery, and when all the Buddhists and Daoists flock here I'm bound to hear some news."

So that evening when the pageboy came with a delivery she relayed her idea of holding an open prayer vigil for the exorcism of Granny Yang's illness. "If Master is willing," she added, "I'll make an urgent request to the Puxian Bodhisattva for some sacred water and bring it right to Granny, and she'll be cured on the spot."

The pageboy transmitted the message to Deputy Yang. "I really forgot about Holy Auntie," he answered, "why, yes, how can I refuse such powerful medicine!" He then summoned old Mumma, the chief housemaid, and sent her over to the west garden to request the sacred water and arrange the site for the Daoist healing prayer meeting according to Holy Auntie's instructions. Mumma arrived at her quarters in the west garden and recited Deputy Yang's instructions in short order. Now, what did that old fox spirit do for the "sacred water" but go darkly into her bedroom lair, pick up a porcelain vessel and pee in it. Then she emerged holding it up in front of her and with a look of confident wisdom presented it to old Mumma.

The maid held it fast to her body as if it were some sweet potion in a jade cup, trembling with fear of losing even a single precious drop, and brought it back tightly covered to Deputy Yang. Now of course he had always had faith in Holy Auntie's works and there was certainly no reason to suspect that she might now be tricking him. In fact he took it for a marvelous medicine made of miraculous cinnabar and had a slave girl prop up Granny's head while he himself poured this fox urine into her mouth. It so happened that this stuff was given on top of her original medication and, entirely by chance, greatly boosted its ability to control her malarial temperature and chills. Later that evening Granny suddenly felt cool and refreshed and even asked for some soup. Deputy Yang felt blessed and delighted and heaped endless praise upon Holy Auntie.

There is something profound to be seen here. How could he have ever trusted that cure if she'd told him from the start that it was just the urine of an old vixen? This sort of miracle happens naturally all the time; it's the way of the world. And here's a poem:

The next morning Deputy Yang entered the west garden and walked down that private rear path to visit Holy Auntie. He thanked her repeatedly and then asked about her plans for the site of the grand prayer meeting.

This is to be billed as an open meeting," she answered, "hopefully we will shed light on the character of mankind and read the sutras, concentrating on our lives in the next world. People are naturally endowed with very dull minds and few resources, so I aim to discuss the cycle of deeds and results to encourage people to live prayerful lives. Man or woman, lay or clergy, any who are willing may listen. and you, lord, shall be the grand patron, welcoming and feeding them. The nuns and bonzes alone, not even counting the lay folk, will number fully ten thousand. And when they depart on the last day humanity will be better off for our good work. Not only will you and your wife be assured long life due to your good deeds but the Puxian Bodhisattva herself will send down her own son, Crown Prince Wenchang, to assure eternal wealth and blessing and to strengthen my powers."

Deputy and Granny Yang had always had nothing but great praise for Holy Auntie; why, they followed her every request, bountiful as the sea in their support. They would happily go along with anything if she said it was for the best. And now hearing of that son their hearts overflowed with joy; how could they be anything but delighted? Looking at the calendar they decided to request that Holy Auntie end her retreat on the third day of the eighth month, and that the site for the grand meeting would be open from the eleventh. And after informing his superior the county magistrate, Deputy Yang himself painted signs and hung them at the entrance to the west garden with the following message:

As things happened Granny's fever and chills subsided after swallowing that sacred water. Her strength hadn't yet returned but the ravages of the illness had been halted without further problems and that was enough cause for rejoicing. Wishing to give Holy Aunty some reward for having saved her life she sewed a turquoise Daoist's turban and a flowery purple gown complete with white silk lining to go with it, a dark plum-green cotton dress and a pair of Daoist's shoes with turned-up "cloud toes". On the second of the new month she had a slave girl and old Mumma carry them into the west garden over the private path and present them to Holy Auntie.

"Granny has recovered greatly," they announced, "and wishes to express her deepest gratitude to Holy Auntie for having saved her life. When you come out of seclusion tomorrow she won't be able to come see you, so she has sent this suit of clothes for you to worship in. She only hopes that you aren't disappointed in them."

"Tomorrow will be a hard day for the household. How can I expect Granny to strain her heart yet again?" Holy Auntie then received the gifts. "When you get back," she continued, "give my regards to Granny and tell her to take care of herself. On the eleventh when the meeting opens, health permitting I'd like her to come and offer incense in prayer, and by the final day of the grand meeting we will have ensured that she will give birth to a boy."

"Granny has already been talking about that but there is one problem," answered Mumma. "She's already had five children, both girls and boys, and she now seems barren."

"How old is Granny?"

"Master is forty-one," said the slave girl, "and Granny being two years younger, well, that makes her thirty-nine."

"This illness of hers is a stroke of nine years' bad luck, but it will leave her unharmed. There is another child in her fate but it's just going to be a little time in coming."

Upon these happy words the meeting ended; they thanked each other and said their goodbyes.

Next day, the third, Deputy Yang went into the west garden, broke the seals and unlocked the public entrance to Holy Auntie's quarters. He then ordered a few servants to clean the monks' dining room and had some others repair the cooking stoves and prepare the utensils. Next he called Holy Auntie into the shrine to discuss the arrangement of the meeting site and the required furniture. And then there was the problem of provisions; aside from vegetables there was hot water to be provided daily for tea. In addition both wheat and soybean flour would be provided, along with oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar, tables and chairs, bowls and plates; all of these were discussed in advance.

By this time the whole of Huayin County had been rocked by the news to be heard everywhere that Old Buddha Yang's estate was once more feeding and supporting monks and nuns. And there were those beggars and peddlers as before coming to chant the sutras all day long just for a free meal, now racking their brains over how to properly wrap their heads in Tang scarves and Daoist turbans and waiting for the food to be all prepared so they might come and join in the chorus of prayer at the end, unnoticed. And at the crack of dawn on the eleventh there were already people bustling around for a look at the goings on. Just imagine:

The gateway is clear and the shrine is open to all. Under lanterns of glass, rows of candles are to be seen in their holders. In front of the lion-faced furnace the joss altar is covered with ivory trays brimming with incense sticks. Upon the stage a throne has been erected so high, named in honor of an Enlightened One's coming reign, reserved for her. In the monks' dining hall the tables are set with wine and treats for the exclusive enjoyment of the clergy. The cook is already shouting desperately for an axe to split more firewood with, and that there aren't enough hands in the kitchen for all the work to be done. It's a shame but it's plain to see that what a rich family spends on one day's feast can carry a poor family over an entire year.

To get back to the story, Deputy Yang entered the west garden with his household musicians and conducted an inspection tour of the entire ground. By now bonzes and wizards, disciples and believers, men and women were all really flooding into the place, and among them were a number of delinquent children, come just to be fed and to enjoy the sights and sounds without praying at all. They too blended into the ever-swelling mountainous waves of humanity. Then from the inner sanctum three strokes of the bell were heard some time apart. The first accompanied Holy Auntie's washing and grooming, the second her breakfast and dressing, and the third heralded a performance by the musicians. Inside the shrine, frescoes were illuminated by candlelight while joss smoke curled upward.

A crowd of slave girls and maids then appeared, ever so carefully carrying Holy Auntie, in her new clothes, out in front of the Buddha to offer incense and a blessing, with Deputy Yang following prayerfully. The musicians then emerged from the hall while Holy Auntie brazenly climbed onto the throne and seated herself. Deputy Yang then publicly proclaimed her to be his teacher and fell upon his knees before her. Among the masses gathered there some had worshipped her the previous year and others were new, but they all followed him in the spirit of the occasion and all kowtowed in unison to her while the old vixen just sat, solidly unmoving.

Now, the leader of worship at this grand meeting was known to all as the Head of Buddha. When she spoke everyone listened and when she chanted they all followed along in harmony. She had an air of great self-importance and sat there more or less alone, just blindly following the old custom. When calling for worship she commanded all those assembled, first the men on the left and then the women on the right, to pray and be seated.

Deputy Yang felt that the crowd was getting a bit noisy for his liking and he sought some relief in a study room, resting for a moment before ducking out of the meeting early. Meanwhile, a group of women, old and young alike, were clawing and pawing their way into the right side of the crowd in search of companions to sit with, even though the monks and wizards were seated on the left. The right was crowded with many so-called nuns, some apparently taking leave of their common sense in all the excitement. And there were some standing crowded together and unable to sit, around the fringes of both sides. Outside some others who had come only for the food were milling about, standing or sitting.

Holy Auntie suddenly made three vigorous overtures to the crowd, ordering the faithful to be silent one and all: "Your time will come before you know it!" she continued, "There'll be no time left to hang around and repent, so avoid a fall from the wheel of fate, and let's chant now before it's too late!" And she began:

And with each mention of Lord Buddha the crowd roared and wailed their praises in response. "I, a humble nun, have come to you from Sichuan," continued Holy Auntie; "I have enjoyed the hospitality of this high official for over a year now. There are three reasons why I have called this grand prayer meeting upon my emergence from solitude. One is to ensure an abundant harvest, civil peace and prosperity. The second reason was to bless and protect the people of this good official's household, that they should enjoy a long and gentle road ahead of wealth and peace. And the third reason why I have brought this meeting of a hundred thousand together was to discuss the development of your hearts and souls so that you can embark as soon as possible on your path to salvation. I shall not recite to you today from sutras or charms, but instead I shall tell you about the origins of Buddha and the saints. Are you familiar with the humble beginnings of the Bodhisattva Guanyin? And she began to chant:

And the old woman on the throne lectured on and on about the eight difficulties and nine sufferings of Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy, the tale of her leaving home for enlightenment, with genuine involvement and feeling. Reciting one passage, singing the next, she could really choke up that naive audience, moving them to tears and sniffles.

When lunchtime rolled around Holy Auntie wrapped up her lecture and descended from the throne to join the crowds in dining. Among them were some being served at their places and others helping themselves at the serving lines and carrying their food back. In the monks' dining hall all were fed at their seats, each getting a large bowl of rice covered with a portion of dried vegetables, along with two slices of beancurd, and two big buns. And each informal group received thirteen gift coins strung together on a length of fine chord, to be divided among them. This being the first day there were only a bit over two hundred of these participants, still relatively few, and the household staff kept a careful account of the amount dispersed. And the resulting leftover rice was saved in a large bamboo container for the nourishment of the legions of sickly, jaundiced monks and the many begging lepers, skin covered with pathetic scabies, for them to eat as desired. This continued into the next day.

Now, each succeeding day saw more and more people in attendance and the cash and provisions on hand became a bit short. When this was reported to Deputy Yang he issued new directives: the gift money would be given to the representatives of each temple or monastery for distribution to its individual monks. There were, after all, clergy from all over now pouring into that dining hall. And he further called upon the group leader from each monastery to consider the spiritual achievement and moral cultivation of their followers in dispensing the cash, carefully recording good deeds or startling feats of alchemy and reporting them to the estate staff. This was all at Holy Auntie's insistence.

But enough of these boring details. Let's get back to Bonze Dan, who is just concluding his two month stay on Mt Qiulin. The weather has become cool, allowing him to pick up his bundle once more and set off on the to Yongxing. He had to beg for food by day and for shelter by night, and sooner or later somebody he met told him of the grand prayer meeting being held in Huayin County on the estate of the local official Yang, to encourage the reading of the sutras. "Holy Auntie must be in charge of this," he whispered decisively; "so I'd better be on my way there!"

"You there, monk!" shouted old Zhang the gatekeeper. "Haven't you got any ears? We're giving out alms today! Why don't you get over to the shrine and receive your share instead of wasting your time here?"

"If I've got no no ears, well, you've got no eyes!" answered Bonze Dan, raising his fan indignantly. "How come you can't read the characters written on this? I've come seeking Holy Auntie, not a handout!"

Before he could finish speaking he caught sight of two rather elderly women, followed by a boy servant holding up a plate of food under a fly-screen tent. Now just who do you suppose those two might have been? One was our chief housekeeper, old Mumma, and the other was what's called a "hostess" by trade. And why that name? Well, if a male scholar wants somebody to play with to lighten up his idle moments at home this is the woman he turns to. She is neither tutor nor seamstress but rather a lighthearted and laughing drinking companion, typically lifting the pot to serve wine while playing chess. If her client is religious she will just as soon born incense and worship by his side; adult males have patronized them for a long, long time.

"If your reverence wishes to see Holy Auntie," answered old Zhang self-consciously, "just ask those two ladies to show you the way."

Bonze Dan sprung to his feet and hurriedly stated his business. "Your holiness," he hurriedly addressed the two, "Sorry to bother you but I'm seeking Holy Auntie. Would it be too much trouble to take me to her?"

Old Mumma was the most senior in residence of the three. "Where does your reverence come from," she asked, "and why do you want to see her?"

"I'm a wandering monk who grew up in the Yinghui Temple in Sizhoucheng. Last year when I was gravely ill Holy Auntie came to me in a dream and saved my life. I've been seeking her ever since and fate led me here, by no plan of my own. I simply heard tell that the monks coming to pray at some meeting here in this fine county of yours would receive gift money through their temple channels and it all seemed very formal, nothing for me to get involved with. Then I realized that with all those priests and rules there must be a bodhisattva like her to be worshipped. The Buddhist faith is open wide to all, so if you'd only take me over there and introduce me to her so I, too, can kowtow once, that deed would be a real asset to your fate."

"Of all the people over there," answered old Mumma, "the monks receiving alms are the spiritual leaders but there are huge crowds of ordinary folks as well, because it's open to one and all. And as this is the last day I don't suppose there's any harm in taking you to meet her,

"Fortunately," added the hostess, "Granny Yang isn't over there so it won't cause any problems."

"Granny is still feeling ill today," explained old Mumma; "she too was happily saved from death by Holy Auntie. That's why we called this the 'grand meeting to restore Granny's health'. She'd be there herself to burn joss and bend a knee in worship if her condition weren't still a bit unsteady. We're taking the tea cakes on this here dish over to Holy Auntie now, on Granny's behalf."

Bonze Dan was relieved to find the women so relaxed and open. "I've heard that Holy Auntie's got the deepest and most profound of reading ability. Is it really true that in this whole great district of yours only she could make any sense out of some so-called Golden Sutra"?

The whole truth and nothing but," answered old Mumma; "that there classic couldn't be read by quite a few famous monks, but that old Daoist nun understood every word of it. That was when our master began to respect her so greatly."

And chatting as they walked along they soon arrived at the west garden entrance, where a noisy crowd was gathered inside and out. Many could be heard saying that a single step on such hallowed ground could guarantee one's afterlife; indeed, that strange talk was Bonze Dan's first impression of the meeting.

"Go over to the monks' dining hall and wait there, your reverence," said old Mumma. "After I've finished my business with Holy Auntie I'll call you over and introduce you." And after a few more steps she turned and continued: "And just so I can tell her, what's your name again?"

"I haven't got a first or last name. Ever since I was born I've only been called Bonze Dan."

"Hah, that's the ultimate name for a bald-headed priest...Bonze Egg!" she laughed as they entered the ground.

On this day Holy Auntie was busily expounding upon the tale of the Precious Lotus; she alternated between lecturing and chanting. Then at noon by the sundial the service ended and old Mumma entered the quarters to await her bearing the dish of teacakes and snacks. There were cakes and pastries, fluffy fried treats, dumplings, jujubes, chestnuts and the like. In a while Holy Auntie entered. "You've worked so hard over the past week," said the old hostess," and Granny really appreciates it. She's sent these cakes over just for you to enjoy!"

Holy Auntie fell all over herself in thanks. Then pushing the old companion out of the way she sat in the place of honor and tugged at old Mumma, who protested repeatedly, to sit by her side. "All are equal before God," said Holy Auntie; "it's really all right for us to sit together."

Old Mumma reached for a small stool, apologized loudly and sat down; she ever so respectfully began serving the tea and cakes. And in the ensuing discussion the topic arose of Granny's longing for another son. "Old Buddha," asked the companion, "have you ever had any children of your own?"

"I've got a son" answered Holy Auntie, "and he's under vows in a faraway place now, being trained as a Daoist wizard."

"Why isn't he becoming a Bonze," said the hostess, "what with his being the son of a Buddhist saint and all."

"One law rules the universe, and the three great teachings are one and the same," answered Holy Auntie; "I teach Daoism as well as Buddhism."

"You teach medicine, too," old Mumma butted in, "how else could you have saved the sick and dying like that?"

"Granny luckily got just what she needed," replied Holy Auntie, "my sacred water."

"And is it true that you've really gone and met people in their last dying dreams and saved them?" asked the hostess.

"Why, no, I haven't."

"Just now there's this monk here from Sizhoucheng who says you came to him in a dream and cured him, saving his life. He insists upon visiting you and carries around a bamboo fan with the message "Visit Holy Auntie" written on it. And his name is strange; he's called 'Bonze Round'..."

"You mean Bonze Dan," interrupted the hostess, correcting her; "Bonze Egg-Dan".

Now this struck a chord deep inside her old vixen heart and it all came to her in a flash. "This Monk is a brother of mine from a previous incarnation," she was inspired to say, "he really honored and deferred to me, and saved me when I was ill by cutting a piece of flesh from his own leg and boiling it in a soup for me. And in this present life if I save him it's only natural. Bring him here at once!"

Now, over at the dining hall Bonze Dan had been ignored as a freebooting monk, but the Chief Housekeeper old Mumma and the old hostess saw to it he was immediately both fed and issued a stipend. After eating he turned to look toward the door, where old Mumma was calling him. "Brother Dan, your sister from your last life is calling you!"

"And who may that sister be?"

And old Mumma told him what Holy Auntie had said, and that she had requested he be brought over. Now, Bonze Dan knew to go along with the joke and not deny it, and went over to Holy Auntie's with the two women. Upon arrival it was she who took the initiative, rising to receive Bonze Dan who in turn cast aside his staff and bundle and fell to his knees to kowtow in gratitude. Holy Auntie helped him back to his feet and they recognized each other as brother and sister; pulling up another stool she told him to sit next to old Mumma. And for a couple of moments there was only silence between them, until the two inevitably began bantering in ghost talk. And this meeting in large part tells us that a monk who has stolen Heaven's secrets will soon become conversant in their tadpole-like script, while an old hag of a sorceress will suddenly change from a cloistered reader of the sutras into a fearsome goddess of evil. And the cost to be paid due to Deputy Yang's domestic indulgence in religion will be far beyond his reckoning. Consider this: