Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 99 -
BISHOP MARTIN IS EMBARRASSED BY CHANCHAH'S INQUISITIVE QUESTIONS.
1
(Says Chanchah): "Oh yes, I understand all your explanations. However, you just said that you and your brothers understand the great Lama's gentlest hint. Therefore, you must see the great Lama; how else could He give you hints? Or, at least, you must be able to hear Him to receive His hints. If you do see or hear Him, do give me details so that I may be able to form some sort of mental image of Him."
2
(Says Bishop Martin, somewhat embarrassed): "Oh, my dearest, sweetest Chanchah, that is a most awkward question. Even if I answered it, you would not understand. Therefore, it would be better if you did not insist on an answer which, at this stage, could help neither you nor me."
3
(Says Chanchah): "Oh friend, haggling over goods may be the usual thing in your country, but not in China. We Chinese have a firm price for every item we offer for sale, and the one who offers it must also sell it and pay the emperor a sales tax. If the one who offers merchandise for sale cannot sell it, it only proves that its price had been set too high and that the seller wanted to make excessive profit, for which he is duly punished.
4
Thus, people have to watch their speech and must under no circumstances say only half a thing, be it from fear or ignorance. One is punished for either, for it is considered unworthy of a man either to be afraid unnecessarily or to try and pretend to be more than he actually is.
5
I am a strict Chinese and shall not absolve you from supplying any information the course of your speech has given me reason to hope for. It is a rule with us that if a person, through his words, induces another to ask a question, he must also answer that question. Otherwise, he is considered a braggart, which is as much as a liar, or an incompetent coward, himself ignorant of the subject discussed by him. If you do not want me to think of you as one or the other, give me a complete and exact answer to my question."
6
Bishop Martin is extremely embarrassed and quite at a loss what to do. If he tells her the truth, he must give Me away before the time is right. If he refuses to answer, Chanchah will declare him a liar or a fool and coward in front of all the guests, which would be most disagreeable for him as, secretly, he is rather proud of being the host. So he comes to Me and asks Me what he should do.