Ning and Ah Hoe had been staying at Lao Lo's hut since the 7th moon prayers and one evening, I brought them some food as requested by Head Nun. They both got on well and both missed Lao Lo very much. After briefly chatting with them, I made my way home.
It was a beautiful evening and as I walked, I couldn't help humming a little song. I had heard it over TV the other night and it had somehow got stuck in my mind. "Peace, peace, peace, peace on earth, peace, peace, peace, for all the universe". It was a most appropriate song for this troubled universe!
Much to my surprise, I suddenly heard a voice behind me singing the same song. I turned round and found myself looking at a gorgeous white cat with blue eyes and a pink nose, and well, if I weren't a monk ...ahem ...I quickly shook myself out of my reverie and said, "Hello there, I'm glad you like the song too."
She smiled and said it was what the world needed - peace. What a strange coincidence that someone should be thinking the same thoughts as I was, I said to myself.
"Er ... I haven't seen you in these parts before," I said. "My name's Da and I live in the temple nearby."
She smiled again and said, "My name is Allura. I'm new here and I live in the Buddhist monastery nearby."
"Oh? I didn't know there's a monastery nearby." I replied, a little surprised. I had been living in the area for some years now and I've never heard the nuns mention it.
Before she could reply, the sky suddenly darkened and thunder rolled.
"Oh, I'm so scared of thunderstorms. Would you ... I mean, if it's not too troublesome ... could you please accompany me home? You can then take a look at the monastery at the same time," Allura said.
"Sure," I said, very curious to see the monastery and so we walked quickly in the direction she pointed. It was not the usual path that I always take, we went in a different direction and soon arrived at a lovely picturesque garden. There were graceful weeping willows, rose bushes, jacaranda trees, even a small lake.
"Wow! Where is this place?" I asked, quite enchanted by its beauty "I haven't been here before. I don't even know it exists."
Allura smiled and beckoned me to follow her. We walked along a little path and I was surprised when it led to the ocean! And there reclining gracefully on the waves of the ocean was a magnificent image of a golden Lord Buddha! He was surrounded by fragrant lotus flowers and as I stood there stunned, I heard sweet celestial music playing in rhythm to the sound of the waves.
"Allura, where is this place?" I gasped.
"This is where I live," she replied softly.
"Really? It looks like a lost paradise!" I said incredulously.
"I'm glad you like it," she said.
"But where is the monastery?" I asked.
"Look, why don't you rest awhile, at least until the storm passes?" she replied, not answering my question. "I shall prepare some refreshments for you."
"I must be dreaming," I thought to myself as I walked around looking for the monastery. It was so peaceful and I felt so much bliss with the Lord Buddha watching over me. I began to feel reluctant to leave.
Allura returned shortly with a bowl of soya bean milk (my favourite - how did she know?) and I sipped it slowly, savouring each delicious sip.
Then, all of a sudden, we were both lying on a luxurious bed of soft white feathers, her arms wrapped around me. "Why don't you stay here with me, handsome? I can give you everything you want..." she whispered, stroking my head.
"I'm sure you can ....." I whispered back, mesmerized by those two blue eyes. Suddenly, I heard the ringing of a temple bell. It rang loud and clear, yet I could see no sign of any monastery or temple around. And strangely, I began to feel warning signals running up and down my spine, signals that told me to get out of this place ASAP!
I sat up with a start and said, "Sorry, Allura but I have to get back to the temple. Head Nun will be worried if I don't turn up for dinner."
Allura laughed and said, "Don't worry. That old hag won't miss you." She held on to me but with some effort, I tore myself free and jumping up, cried, "Look, Allura, I'm a cat monk, in case you don't know. You enticed me here using the Lord Buddha as a bait but I've taken my vows and I shall not go against the Lord Buddha's teachings!"
I tried to move away but to my horror, I found I was rooted to the spot. "Na Mo Ah Mi Tuo Fo! O Enlightened One, please help me!" I repeated frantically. What have I got myself into? It certainly looked like I had been taken for a ride and was being seduced by some femme fatale from hell.
Suddenly, a change came over Allura's face. Her blue eyes turned red and saliva dripped from her mouth. Horrified, I yelled, "Don't come near me!" She ignored me and moved menacingly towards me.
"You poor innocent monk!" she said, laughing. "Haven't you heard of me before? I'm Allura, the Queen of Lust, Passion, Greed, Sensual Desires, Hatred, Anger .... no man ever escapes from me, they all succumb to what I have to offer .... and you're no different ...." Laughing, she reached out for me .....
Suddenly a voice rang out. "Leave him alone!"
I looked up and saw to my shock that it was Head Nun.
"It's impossible, she doesn't know where I am ...." I gasped disbelievingly.
Allura laughed, eyes still blazing red. "So you've come to rescue your little protege," she smirked.
"Let him go. He belongs to my temple," said Head Nun quietly.
"Head Nun, run! Don't worry about me," I shrieked.
Allura laughed again. "My, my, isn't this all so touching! I must say this is the first time I've seen so much genuine affection and love between two beings. Hmmm, most unusual, most of the time I see nothing but selfishness, greed and ego."
She looked at me, thought for a while, then said, "Alright, I'll let him go this time but (turning to Head Nun) you make sure he doesn't meet me again....."
She vanished, then everything around us began to crumble - the Buddha's image, the trees, the mountains, the flowers .....it was like an earthquake had hit the place.
"Run, Vege Cat," I heard Head Nun say.
"But ... but what about you?" I protested.
"Do as I say!"
I ran like I had never run before. I was gasping for breath when I reached the temple and collapsed in the kitchen.
I didn't know for how long I fainted and when I came to, I found Head Nun peering at me anxiously.
"Head Nun," I began. "I've got so many questions to ask you. How did you find me? You couldn't have known where I was. Thank God I heard the temple bell, it brought me back to my senses! Was it you who rang the bell? You appeared and disappeared so fast .... was Allura and that place all an illusion ..... oh I don't know what to think ....."
Head Nun smiled mysteriously. "Vege Cat, you've been living in this temple for so many years now and I'm surprised you still don't know so many things. You shall get your answers one day but for now, off you go to bed, I don't want to hear another word from you."
Sometimes I think Head Nun is the reincarnation of some great Buddhist master. Sometimes I think she comes from another planet.
It was a beautiful evening and as I walked, I couldn't help humming a little song. I had heard it over TV the other night and it had somehow got stuck in my mind. "Peace, peace, peace, peace on earth, peace, peace, peace, for all the universe". It was a most appropriate song for this troubled universe!
Much to my surprise, I suddenly heard a voice behind me singing the same song. I turned round and found myself looking at a gorgeous white cat with blue eyes and a pink nose, and well, if I weren't a monk ...ahem ...I quickly shook myself out of my reverie and said, "Hello there, I'm glad you like the song too."
She smiled and said it was what the world needed - peace. What a strange coincidence that someone should be thinking the same thoughts as I was, I said to myself.
"Er ... I haven't seen you in these parts before," I said. "My name's Da and I live in the temple nearby."
She smiled again and said, "My name is Allura. I'm new here and I live in the Buddhist monastery nearby."
"Oh? I didn't know there's a monastery nearby." I replied, a little surprised. I had been living in the area for some years now and I've never heard the nuns mention it.
Before she could reply, the sky suddenly darkened and thunder rolled.
"Oh, I'm so scared of thunderstorms. Would you ... I mean, if it's not too troublesome ... could you please accompany me home? You can then take a look at the monastery at the same time," Allura said.
"Sure," I said, very curious to see the monastery and so we walked quickly in the direction she pointed. It was not the usual path that I always take, we went in a different direction and soon arrived at a lovely picturesque garden. There were graceful weeping willows, rose bushes, jacaranda trees, even a small lake.
"Wow! Where is this place?" I asked, quite enchanted by its beauty "I haven't been here before. I don't even know it exists."
Allura smiled and beckoned me to follow her. We walked along a little path and I was surprised when it led to the ocean! And there reclining gracefully on the waves of the ocean was a magnificent image of a golden Lord Buddha! He was surrounded by fragrant lotus flowers and as I stood there stunned, I heard sweet celestial music playing in rhythm to the sound of the waves.
"Allura, where is this place?" I gasped.
"This is where I live," she replied softly.
"Really? It looks like a lost paradise!" I said incredulously.
"I'm glad you like it," she said.
"But where is the monastery?" I asked.
"Look, why don't you rest awhile, at least until the storm passes?" she replied, not answering my question. "I shall prepare some refreshments for you."
"I must be dreaming," I thought to myself as I walked around looking for the monastery. It was so peaceful and I felt so much bliss with the Lord Buddha watching over me. I began to feel reluctant to leave.
Allura returned shortly with a bowl of soya bean milk (my favourite - how did she know?) and I sipped it slowly, savouring each delicious sip.
Then, all of a sudden, we were both lying on a luxurious bed of soft white feathers, her arms wrapped around me. "Why don't you stay here with me, handsome? I can give you everything you want..." she whispered, stroking my head.
"I'm sure you can ....." I whispered back, mesmerized by those two blue eyes. Suddenly, I heard the ringing of a temple bell. It rang loud and clear, yet I could see no sign of any monastery or temple around. And strangely, I began to feel warning signals running up and down my spine, signals that told me to get out of this place ASAP!
I sat up with a start and said, "Sorry, Allura but I have to get back to the temple. Head Nun will be worried if I don't turn up for dinner."
Allura laughed and said, "Don't worry. That old hag won't miss you." She held on to me but with some effort, I tore myself free and jumping up, cried, "Look, Allura, I'm a cat monk, in case you don't know. You enticed me here using the Lord Buddha as a bait but I've taken my vows and I shall not go against the Lord Buddha's teachings!"
I tried to move away but to my horror, I found I was rooted to the spot. "Na Mo Ah Mi Tuo Fo! O Enlightened One, please help me!" I repeated frantically. What have I got myself into? It certainly looked like I had been taken for a ride and was being seduced by some femme fatale from hell.
Suddenly, a change came over Allura's face. Her blue eyes turned red and saliva dripped from her mouth. Horrified, I yelled, "Don't come near me!" She ignored me and moved menacingly towards me.
"You poor innocent monk!" she said, laughing. "Haven't you heard of me before? I'm Allura, the Queen of Lust, Passion, Greed, Sensual Desires, Hatred, Anger .... no man ever escapes from me, they all succumb to what I have to offer .... and you're no different ...." Laughing, she reached out for me .....
Suddenly a voice rang out. "Leave him alone!"
I looked up and saw to my shock that it was Head Nun.
"It's impossible, she doesn't know where I am ...." I gasped disbelievingly.
Allura laughed, eyes still blazing red. "So you've come to rescue your little protege," she smirked.
"Let him go. He belongs to my temple," said Head Nun quietly.
"Head Nun, run! Don't worry about me," I shrieked.
Allura laughed again. "My, my, isn't this all so touching! I must say this is the first time I've seen so much genuine affection and love between two beings. Hmmm, most unusual, most of the time I see nothing but selfishness, greed and ego."
She looked at me, thought for a while, then said, "Alright, I'll let him go this time but (turning to Head Nun) you make sure he doesn't meet me again....."
She vanished, then everything around us began to crumble - the Buddha's image, the trees, the mountains, the flowers .....it was like an earthquake had hit the place.
"Run, Vege Cat," I heard Head Nun say.
"But ... but what about you?" I protested.
"Do as I say!"
I ran like I had never run before. I was gasping for breath when I reached the temple and collapsed in the kitchen.
I didn't know for how long I fainted and when I came to, I found Head Nun peering at me anxiously.
"Head Nun," I began. "I've got so many questions to ask you. How did you find me? You couldn't have known where I was. Thank God I heard the temple bell, it brought me back to my senses! Was it you who rang the bell? You appeared and disappeared so fast .... was Allura and that place all an illusion ..... oh I don't know what to think ....."
Head Nun smiled mysteriously. "Vege Cat, you've been living in this temple for so many years now and I'm surprised you still don't know so many things. You shall get your answers one day but for now, off you go to bed, I don't want to hear another word from you."
Sometimes I think Head Nun is the reincarnation of some great Buddhist master. Sometimes I think she comes from another planet.
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