Now that Wesak is over, the temple is peaceful and quiet again. Head Nun and the nuns had a hectic time doing additional prayer sessions for this occasion and were relieved they could now take some rest.
Ah Hoe had also been very busy. In conjunction with this auspicious day, he had decided to give away free vegetarian burgers to the poor and needy in the village. It was a noble act on his part and he and Ning worked hard and came up with one hundred burgers to give away.
The news had somehow got round and on Wesak Day, a long queue had already formed when Ah Hoe arrived at his stall with Ning. They had a busy time giving out the burgers which were of course eagerly received with much gratitude. Ah Hoe told me later that a small thin boy about 9 years old standing at the end of the queue had caught his eye because of the blue cap he wore on his head. His clothes were also torn and dirty and he looked very hungry indeed. Feeling sorry for him, Ah Hoe took a few burgers, went down the queue and gave them to the boy, who was so grateful that tears gushed from his eyes. He told Ah Hoe in-between sobs that his name was Li Wei and that he and his grandfather had not eaten a decent meal for days as they didn't have any money. Most of the time, they lived on bread and water which some kind neighbours gave them. Ah Hoe sent him home with the burgers after asking for his address so that he could send them some dry rations.
The next day, I went over to Ah Hoe's place to help him pack some rice and other dry stuff to give to the boy. Ning had taken a couple of days off as preparing all those burgers had knocked him out! While we were working, we heard a knock at the door. Ah Hoe opened it and was surprised to find Li Wei standing there. The little fellow was smiling and said he had a thank you gift from his grandfather for Ah Hoe. He then took from his pocket a string of wooden prayer beads. He said his grandpa had personally carved the beads himself some time ago and that he would like Ah Hoe to have them - and before Ah Hoe could say anything, he ran off.
"Look, Da, let's finish packing and visit the boy and his grandpa tomorrow," said Ah Hoe. "I would like to thank them personally for the gift."
So we set off the next morning. The boy had told Ah Hoe that the hut he lived in was some distance from the village and was near a cobbler's shop. We decided to take a trishaw and finally arrived at the cobbler's and made inquiries as to the whereabouts of Li Wei's hut. The cobbler, an old man in his seventies, looked rather puzzled, then said, "How come you don't know? The boy and his grandpa were drowned in a fishing accident more than a year ago."
We were stunned.
"But...but I saw the boy with my own eyes, I even gave him some burgers...." Ah Hoe stammered.
The old cobbler shrugged. "Are you sure? Maybe it was someone else."
"No, it couldn't be, oh I almost forgot, I took a selfie with the boy....." cried Ah Hoe and with trembling hands showed it to the cobbler.
It was the cobbler's turn to be shocked. "Oh my God, that's Li Wei alright! He always wore that blue cap wherever he went!"
When we got back to Ah Hoe's hut, he said, "Da, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
I nodded, chills running up and down my spine.
Ah Hoe sat down wearily. "I can't believe this is happening," he said.
Then suddenly we heard the sound of chanting and when I listened closely, I found it was the Goddess Kuan Yin's Compassionate Mantra which we recite daily at the temple.
"Ah Hoe, it seems to be coming from the drawer near your bed," I said, astounded.
"Oh my goodness, that's where I put the old man's beads," he exclaimed. Both of us rushed to the drawer, opened it and there were the beads, singing away the Compassionate Mantra! We stood there speechless; the beads continued until three rounds of the mantra were completed, then stopped.
"They're magic beads," gasped Ah Hoe.
We waited to see whether they would start chanting again but they didn't. And for the next few days, they were strangely silent.
Then one morning, Ah Hoe rushed to the temple to inform me that the beads had disappeared. He had locked them in the drawer as usual but when he opened it that morning, they were not there. He searched everywhere for them but with no luck.
"Well, I guess they are not mine to keep," said Ah Hoe wistfully.
"Maybe, Ah Hoe. Then again, maybe they're trying to tell you something," I said.
"Like what?" asked Ah Hoe, scratching his head.
"Well, my guess is they want you to learn the Compassionate Mantra!"
Ah Hoe laughed. "Spoken like a true monk! Well, I'll think about it."
Ah Hoe did make an attempt to learn up the mantra. At first he had difficulty with the pronunciation of the words but managed to overcome it and I believe he now recites it every day.
We never saw Li Wei again and I often wonder what his mission was - to give Ah Hoe the beads and help him on his spiritual path? As for the beads, I guess they have gone back to their maker. They had served their purpose and will serve another sentient being when the opportunity arises.
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