A pictorial biography of the
Venerable Master

HSU YUN

--Continued from issue 39

Composed by the Venerable Tripitaka Master Hua
Translated by Disciple Bhiksu Heng Yo
Illustrated by a Student of Prajna

A HUGE WHALE YIELDS TO THE DHARMA BOAT1 #8

In the second lunar month of the first year of the Hsien Feng reign period,2 the Master's father went to Taiwan to transact some business; he was accompanied by the Master. They boarded a small ocean-going vessel and sailed into the open sea where they soon encountered a monstrous whale, which looked as broad as a mountain as it was more than a half a mile in length. Everyone on board became alarmed and all together they began to recite the name of the greatly compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. In a short time the whale sank into the depths.

The Gatha says:

If the dragons of heaven make obeisance, there is nothing to delight in,

How much more is a giant whale, which submits just a common affair.

Foolish people do not know, and think of this as strange,

While those who understand have eyes, and tap the Dharma's source.
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1Two meanings of the word chia come through in this

title, l) a vehicle is the "Dharma boat" and 2) a yoke,

with the idea of yoking or controlling.

^t . 1851.