國清百錄 2.24

2.24

Xu Ling bows with folded hands. The sentiments of my attentive admiration are difficult to set forth in full. Master Ba arrived, and I was blessed with your instruction of the twentieth day of the third month, which comforted the longing of accumulated years. In this wheat-cooling season, how is your physical condition? I hope that day after day you enjoy surpassing well-being, and that in the mountains through spring and summer there are no other obstacles or vexations. I have been slow to respond to your kind words. In the past two or three years, old age has suddenly arrived upon this disciple: eyes and ears are deaf and dim, mental energy is confounded and blocked, so that I am no longer as people should be. In addition, last year my sixth son died young, and the agonizing grief turned into an illness from which I have not yet recovered; just in the middle of this month there was yet another mourning. Year after year being thus, my desperate distress deepens further; I consider that for my remaining life there can no longer be much time left, and having no way to pay my respects in person, how can my tethered admiration be spoken? Venerable Master Zao is now returning, so I state this letter without formal sequence. The disciple Xu Ling bows with folded hands.