Assignment 3, Jin Rou

In Memory of the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua by Pan Xiumin

Below are some brief accounts given by Pan Xiumin that correspond with many of the stories that the Master told about his life and that are recorded in Records of the Life of Venerable Hsuan Hua.

At the age of eight or nine, the Master's mother became ill and needed to see a doctor. Upon hearing of my grandfather's reputation, the Master came all the way to Liuzheng-wei Village, over twenty Chinese miles away from his home. My grandfather was a herb doctor who was well-known within the hundred mile radius of Shuangcheng County. He was known as "Good Man Pan." He was also leader of the Way Virtue Society where the Master volunteered.

The Master became good friends with my father, Pan Yizhen, who was a year younger than he... My grandfather wanted his children to learn to read and write, so he hired a private tutor. No one wanted to study except my father, and he invited the Master to join him. (The Master's account of where he went to school differs from story to story. In In Memory of the Venerable Master, it is stated that he went to school in his village.)

The Master had considerable influence on my father. They both knew how to play the flute. their favorite piece was a Chinese folk song called "The Shepherd of Wu," a song that encouraged people to be faithful to their country. The Master could also play the two-stringed Chinese violin, and was so proficient at Chinese chess that he never lost a game. He was talented in painting and knew the theory of music.

The Master guided my father to teach his younger and nephews Chinese. Later they started a free school...my grandfather supported the Master and my father...he would buy both books and notebooks for the school. the time,

During the time the Master was practicing filial piety by his mother's grave, my father would walk some ten Chinese miles to bring food to the Master. Sometimes, he would stay and keep him company. Once when my father went to see him, the Master said, "Please go home. I have people bringing me food every day." Who would have guessed that the Master lived only on icy water and the Avatamsaka Sutra by his mother's grave?"

In the fall of 1943, my grandfather (Good Man Pan) left the home life at 58 years old; the Master shaved his head. The entire family became Buddhist.

When the Master wished to make a journey to pay respects to Great Master Hsu Yun, he consulted with my father and grandfather, who both gave their approval. My father accompanied the Master all the way to Xiaosui to see him off.