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9-22-07: Master Nis Love Story

At the end of the week after our beach walk:
L: Its for you. Master Ni.
Me: Hello.
Ni: You take me to bank?
Me: Sure.

I regularly took him banking. This meant that we would visit two or three banks to shuffle his CDs around when they became due to avail his savings of the best possible rates for growth. (Ni: Money is external chi. Important to cultivate external as well as internal chi.) This materialism may seem odd from the context of the Hindu or Buddhist gurus of India and Tibet. But it is quite normal from the Chinese perspective.

In Journey to the West, a classic Chinese novel which I have written volumes on, (see my webpage on The Monkey & the Tao of China) Tripitaka, the hero, is a Buddhist monk on the quest for enlightenment. After going through 80 excruciating ordeals he finally reaches the Buddha at the top of Thunderclap Mountain. He is so excited until the guardians put out their hands, obviously expecting to get paid. Tripitaka is obviously flustered because he has taken a vow of poverty and only has his begging bowl. The guardians are insistent, saying they have a responsibility to their children and grandchildren. Finally Tripitaka gives them his begging bowl, which satisfies their needs.

On another tack I could say that the Universe has arranged for us to regularly get together to share essences through his banking needs.

After we had exchanged pleasantries:
Ni: Got my passport.
Me: Already? But its only been a few weeks.
Ni: I told you. Goleta Post Office quicker.
We laugh.
Me: So whats next?
Ni: Stay here. At 93, very difficult to move. Dont want to be cremated.

I reflect on this abrupt about face. I understand that a major factor of his impetus for returning to China has been his wife. She has been agitating to return to Chinp?b *j*j**_llnprtvxz>>>>>>>>>>>>>>E |~^>>>aa~  X          # '          M ~@c ! " , - . / 1 3 7 ; ? C G K O Q S T V # # # # "$ B$ $ % % & & ' ( eU Y Z a b c d f h l p x Ā Ĉ Đ Ĕ Ę Ě Ĝ ` [ [ [ \ \ \ ] D] ] ^ D^ ^ _ mgĝ ġ D F ƪ ƫ Ƭ Ʈ ư Ʋ ƶ ƺ l D F  F ƥ  F Ʀ F Ƨ F 9i F ? .@ @ .A A B D F J N V ^ f n r v   H    # ' + - x𿪊" F H  H  H  H  k- 5 6 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 (9