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One day Lanchengen saw a Mountain. It was so high that its peak was invisible. Lanchengen came closer.
“Sister Mountain, you’re so high.“Full of grandeur, full of might.“Tell me in so many worlds:“Are you immortal in this world?”he asked hopefully.
“I am so sorry to say“I am not immortal, nay!“To my brother Ocean go“For the answer, he may know,”said the Mountain, emerging from clouds.
The indefatigable Lanchengen continued his way. Finally, he came to the edge of the earth where the boundless Ocean noisily played with blue waves.
“Blue-eyed Brother Ocean, cheers!“Dire necessity brings me here.“Tell me in so many words:“Are you immortal in this world?”asked Lanchengen.
“I am so sorry to say“I am not immortal, nay!“Go to my Brother Wind,“I have heard he has that gift,”answered the gray Ocean.
Lanchengen continued his way. He met the Wind.
“Brother Wind,“You are strong and full of zeal,“Tell me in so many words:“Are you immortal in this world?”“I am so sorry to say,“I am not immortal, nay!“If I were, it would be fun.“Go ask my brother Sun,”replied the Wind.
“Brother Sun, O Brother Sun,“That sends golden rays down,“Tell me in so many words,“Are you immortal in this world?”Lanchengen asked the Sun shining on tree tops.
“I am so sorry to say“I am not immortal, nay!“To my Father Heaven go,“He may be immortal, you know,”the Sun replied.
Lanchengen continued his quests. He had trodden the Earth, the Mountains and the Clouds until he met Heaven.
“Heaven, the Father of ages,“The most exalted of all sages,“Tell me in so many words:“Are you immortal in this world?”asked Lanchengen. By now, he almost lost hope of finding immortal friends.
“Rejoice, O Wanderer, immortal I am!“I do have all Time on my hands.“I know not a cycle of births and deaths.“All transformations I do, yes!”Heaven replied.
“I am glad you are the one“I looked for tirelessly,“I want to be your friend“And live on gloriously,”said the inspired Elephant and heard this:
“What’s required is self-denial,“No property of any kind.“You’ll be a loadstar for lost souls“And will acquire a peace of mind.“Your faithful guides“Will be love and compassion.“They’ll lead you to infinity.“And you will rise as a shining star,“Your reward will be Eternity.”Lanchengen fancied his future life on the Earth and realized that the Heaven had offered him the most rewarding way.
***
Lanchengen’s parents waited and waited for their son. His mother cried her eyes out. When one night she saw a bright star in the sky, she knew that her son had achieved the desired goal.
Thus Lanchengen immortalized himself: he became the brightest star in the sky! It is called the Polar Star or the guiding star because it is stationary and indicates the North. “Son, watch the Polar Star in the sky and you will never lose your bearings.” These were the words the wise Lanchenpo addressed to his son Lanchenkar upon finishing the tale.
How the Parakeet Was Saved
A long, long time ago there lived a Chinese emperor in his magnificent palace. He had a parakeet that could speak and tell the future.
Many overseas rulers coveted that wonderful bird but the Emperor wouldn’t part with him for all the riches of the world. He kept him in three cages. The golden one which was the Parakeet’s home, was inside the silver one, which, in turn, was inside the iron cage. The Emperor had the keys to the three cages, and ten brave soldiers guarded them day and night.
One day the Emperor fell ill. Neither the court doctor, nor the famous overseas doctors could heal him and he said to the Parakeet:
“O beloved Parakeet, you are my last hope! Tell me how my terrible ailment can be cured, how I can escape clutches of Death. If you help me, I’ll set you free.”
The Parakeet’s heart was throbbing excitedly for it was a good chance to acquire freedom. The Parakeet said these words:
“O, great Emperor! Find the poorest man in your country, shower him with your imperial gifts and your illness will pass of itself.”
***
Numerous servants were sent out and they soon found the poorest man in China. He was given beautiful presents, dressed in brocade raiment off the Emperor’s back and all his simple wishes were met. Hardly had three days passed, when the Emperor was cured of his bad illness. Yet he didn’t fulfill the promise given to the Parakeet.
***
No matter how hard the bird tried, the Emperor was implacable. The Parakeet decided to break out. He was thinking hard how to outwit the Emperor but could not come up with any idea: the metal bars were durable and the guards were watchful and vigilant.
“It looks like I am not fated to be free,” lamented the Parakeet looking at the azure sky.
At that very time a tiny Hummingbird was flying by. It heard the Parakeet’s lamentations and said: “Take counsel from the wise Elephant’s Child, Lanchenkar.”
“I wish I could. But how? I feel I’ll be a prisoner for ever,” answered the Parakeet.
“I’ll help you,” promised the kind-hearted Hummingbird and set course for India, where Lanchenkar lived.
***
It was a long journey. It flew across China, over the Tibetan mountains and valleys, and Nepal, and finally reached the jungles in southern India, where the white little elephant Lanchenkar lived. He was known for his sharp mind and the desire to help all living creatures.
It took the Hummingbird long to find the Little Elephant: the jungles are a wild tropical forest. It is dense and dark as its big trees are intertwined with lianas. Luckily for the bird, one day Lanchenkar felt thirsty and came out into a clearing on the way to the river.
“O wise Lanchenkar! Please help the Parakeet out. The Chinese Emperor keeps him in a cage and he has despaired of being free,” said the Hummingbird.
The little bird was hoping that Lanchenkar would tell it how to free the Parakeet from captivity, but no. The Prince didn’t bat an eyelid. Suddenly his legs gave way and he collapsed on the ground. The Hummingbird tried to wake him up, it knew that Lanchenkar was alive. But the Elephant persisted in playing possum. There was nothing the bird could do but fly back to China.
When in the Emperor’s garden, the Hummingbird said to the Parakeet: “It looks as if you’ll be confined to these cages till your dying day. As soon as I asked Lanchenkar how to save you, he fell to the ground. Try as I would, I could not wake him up.”
“Can it be that even the wise Lanchenkar is unable to help me?” asked the Parakeet, thinking about his mode of action and answered himself: “No, it can’t be!” All day and all night the Parakeet was lost in thoughts. The next morning terrible news spread all over the palace: “the Emperor’s pet is dead!”
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Примечания
1
The Old Crane wanted to open all secrets of life and get answers to all questions. He wanted to know what life is about.
2
In order to make sense of the world the Crane tried to ignore and neglect himself so that his desires and wishes did not overshadow the world.
3
The spirit incarnates many times in different bodies. The spirit that dwelt in the Crane’s body reincarnated in the little elephant’s body.
4
In this state he could feel and understand things he normally didn’t and, on the other hand, he was oblivious of the world around him.
5
His parents approved of his plan and blessed him for his journey.