Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 104 -
RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND MARTIN. ABOUT OFFENDING AND FORGIVING ACCORDING TO CHINESE CUSTOM.
1
(Chanchah now steps in front of Bishop Martin, smiles lovingly, and says in a sweet, trembling voice): "Dearest friend, you walked away without a word when I expressed my rather excusable suspicion about your nature following your inability to answer my question. I now believe that my suspicion has offended you deeply. If that should be the case, do forgive me after punishing me as you see fit. Do forgive me, and I make a sacred promise not to ask you any more questions ever, and never again shall I offend you, neither by glance nor word.
2
It is a customary belief in my country, for which I am not responsible, that men who are not very intelligent are actually animals. When I was under the impression that you were lacking in intelligence, I took you for an animal. However, I am now convinced that I made a mistake.
4
(Martin, deeply moved by the fair supplicant, says): "Oh, you heavenly Chanchah, pray rise immediately. How can you imagine that I would want to punish you, whom I love so much? Do you take me for one of those merciless Chinese? May the great, eternal, holy and true Lama guard me against such a thing! Get to your feet quickly, for I cannot bear to see you like this, my heavenly Chanchah!"
5
(Chanchah gets quickly to her feet and says). "You dear friend, the people in your country must be very much better than those in the great empire on earth into which I was born. With us, an offense cannot be forgiven as simply as you have just demonstrated.
6
If, in our country, you had offended somebody, you had to throw yourself down before him, ask him first for just punishment for the offense, and through that, for forgiveness. In cases of a serious affront, you had to beg to be put to death and, only then, to be forgiven. For they all believe that you can only make up fully for an affront by a physical counter-affront. Only after things have been straightened out like that can the offender ask the offended to also forgive him in his heart.
7
This is the way it is in my country and it will explain to you many things you see in me that may seem contrary to your country's customs. Our laws are very ancient and strict, and woe betide him who might try to mitigate the interpretation of those ancient laws that claim to be still the same that Lama Himself gave to the first human couple.
8
You know, dearest friend, your laws here are mild and kind. Since I shall probably never ever have any more to do with the laws of my country, I need not adhere to them here. Therefore, I will now adhere to your laws and then I shall not ever go wrong. What is your opinion?"