Snow in August by Gao Xingjian Read Free Book Online

at the sky .)
    It’s time for me to bid farewell to the human world. ( Exit .)

Act I　Scene 3
    In Which Huineng Runs Away from Disaster
     
     
    [ Enter Huineng. He is carrying a cloth knapsack on his back. His hands are performing a rowing movement .
     
    Huineng:
    ( Sings .)
    The water flows and flows,
    A strong wind drives the waves,
    Set adrift is a lonely boat,
    The Yangtze River it braves.
    The Dharma is mine to keep,
    I still have to run and hide,
    Even Buddha finds the world
    A trying place to reside.
    ( Enter Huiming leading Crowd .)
    Huiming:
    Look! There’s the boat!
    The lowly stinking little brat, that’s the guy!
    Don’t let him get away, go catch him at once!
    He’s got the old Buddha’s robe and almsbowl. Tell him to give them up. Leave them for us!
    What are you looking at? Go and get the boat.
    Crowd:
    ( Singing as they run .)
    Make haste, make haste,
    Don’t let him land before!
    Or we’ll be looking in vain
    For the other shore, oh, the other shore!
    Huineng:
    ( Sings .)
    It’s all the same,
    The human world or the western sky,
    It’s hard being a man,
    Even harder a Buddha, if you try.
    ( Huineng takes off his shoes, jumps off the boat and exits running .)
    Crowd:
    ( Sing. )
    Great Wisdom, on the other shore,
    Only fools give chase and dash out the door,
    It’s only futile,
    Futile…
     
    [ Enter Huineng barefooted, carrying a cloth knapsack on his back and holding his shoes in his hand .
     
    Huineng:
    ( Sings .)
    Cross every river,
    Climb every mountain.
    Crowd:
    ( Sing .)
    Search for the eternal and true,
    It’s tough going,
    A tough going task to do!
    Huineng:
    ( Sings .)
    The temple shuts its door,
    A wild man in the wilderness. ( Throws away his shoes and exits running .)
    Crowd:
    ( Running and singing .)
    Better to fame and fortune find,
    Easy on the body,
    Easy on the mind. ( Exit .)
     
    [ Enter Huineng, holding an almsbowl and a staff. He throws down the knapsack, panting .
     
    Huineng:
    ( Sings .)
    Mount Dayi is bare and drear,
    The wind howling,
    The spring water cold and clear.
    Huineng, where can you rest your life?
    The Dharma is with dangers rife.
     
    [ Murmuring sound of running water. Huineng opens the knapsack, takes out the almsbowl and stoops to ladle water with it .
    Enter Huiming hurriedly with a wooden club .
     
    Huiming:
    ( Hollers .) You son of a bitch! I’ve been looking for you for a long, long time. Let me give you a piece of my club!
    ( Huiming tries to club Huineng, who turns a somersault and dodges the blow, still holding the almsbowl in his hand .)
    Huiming:
    Give me your life or the robe and almsbowl!
    Huineng:
    ( Extends his hand, which is holding the almsbowl .)
    Here, take it…
    ( Huiming makes a swipe and threatens to strike Huineng, then leaps across, trying to snatch the almsbowl .)
    Huineng:
    Take this and go begging with it! ( Lets go of the almsbowl, which shatters into pieces on the ground .)
    Huiming:
    ( Shocked, and then becomes furious .)
    You rascal, you’ve broken the Patriarch’s almsbowl into pieces! ( Raises his club .)
    Your life or mine! Give me the Patriarch’s robe!
    Huineng:
    If you want it, it’s yours.
     
    [ Huineng leisurely opens the knapsack and takes out a robe .
    Huiming puts down the club and raises his hand, but he starts shaking continuously .
     
    Huineng:
    Master Huiming, the Dharma has no form!
    Huiming:
    ( Kneels down instantly .)
    Please forgive the mistake of this uncouth kung fu man! ( Kowtows .)
    Please also forgive my ignorance, which led to my endless pursuit of you. My quest is only for the Dharma , not the robe. Please teach me and let me be enlightened!
    Huineng:
    There’s no need to stand on ceremony. Since you’ve come for the Dharma , let your heart be at peace and listen to my words.
    If you didn’t contemplate goodness, and you didn’t contemplate evil, then how could the true face of Master Huiming be seen?
    ( Huiming is speechless. He and Huineng look at each other. Huiming looks down