HOÀNG-ÂN:  Ashes And The Livings

Once there was a town in Tibet.  There in a part of town was a field of ashes.  It was the ashes of the unclaimed deaths; those who died without loved o­nes and when they died no o­ne came to claim them.  They were cremated and their ashes poured into that field of ashes.  A young monk who came from Northern Vietnam visited that field of ashes of the unclaimed deaths every twilight to pray.  This young monk was tall and muscular.  He was energetic and proactive in outlook and attitude.  After praying for the unfortunate deads at the field of ashes, he would left with a mark of ashes o­n the middle of his forehead.  But o­nce left the field with that mark of ashes o­n his  forehead, Toan the Monk Phước-Tĩnh also left the unclaim deads field of ashes and the unclaimed deads behind.  All through the day he concentrated o­n praying for the livings.  He reasoned the deads had achieved the state of peace while the livings struggled with the many complex issues of living.  He understood human nature and understand the complication that created dramas in human interrelationship.  So the day was for the living.  Even so all those who came to him for help were reminded of his twilight praying because they saw his mark of ashes from the field of ashes for the unclaimed deads o­n his forehead.  Amen.