Saints & Sages Part III (pt.2): 锺离权 & 吕洞宾 Zhong Li Quan & Lü Dong Bin

云房因与同憩肆中，云房自为执炊。洞宾忽就枕昏睡，梦以举子赴京，状元及第。始自郎署擢台谏、翰苑、秘阁及诸清要无不备历。两娶富贵家女，生子婚嫁蚤毕，几四十年。又独相十年，极势薰炙。偶被重罪，籍没家资，分散妻孥，流于岭表。一身孑然立马风雪中，方兴浩叹，恍然梦觉。炊尚未熟。
As both [Master] Cloud Chamber and [Lü Dong Bin] were staying together at the tavern, [Master Cloud Chamber] prepared a meal [for both of them].
[Lü] Dong Bin suddenly rested [his head] on a pillow feeling drowsy and sleepy. In his dream, he went to the capital as an exam candidate, where he passed it as a top scorer. He first started off as an palace secretary, and was later promoted to the investigatory agency, imperial academy, and imperial library, as well as various noble and influential [positions], all of which he has held and experienced. Twice he took wives the daughters of rich and influential families, giving birth to children, and arranging marriages with them – all were completed early, in 40 odd years. He was also the sole prime minister for 10 years, with extreme influence that was assailing and pervasive. He was accidentally accused of a serious crime, his family property was confiscated, he was separated from his wives and children, and was sent to exile to the outside of the Five Ridges. He was all alone by himself amidst the winds and snowfalls, and he could only raise a deep sigh. Suddenly he awoke from the dream. The food was still not cooked yet.

云房笑吟曰：
[Master] Cloud Chamber said with a smile:

黄梁犹未熟，一梦到华胥。
The yellow millet is still not cooked yet, in one dream you arrived at Hua Xu.

洞宾惊曰：
[Lü] Dong Bin was startled and said:

先生知我梦孜孜不耶？
Does the elder know whether I was hard working and diligent in my dream or not?

云房曰：
[Master] Cloud Chamber said:

子适来之梦升沉万态，荣悴千端，五十年间一瞬耳。得不足喜，丧不足悲，世有大觉，而后知人世一大梦也。
Mister, your dream just now [presented] the ten thousand manifestations of rise and fall, the one thousand causes for glory to distress, and fifty years [has gone by] in a flash. What you gain will not be worth the pleasures, and what you lose will not be worth the sorrow. In this world, there are the supremely awakened ones, who subsequently know that that this human world is [nothing but] a great dream.

洞宾感悟，遂拜云房，求度世术。
[Lü] Dong Bin came to a realization, and consequently asked to be accepted as disciple by [Master] Cloud Chamber, seeking the art to bring deliverance to the world.

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Post-Scriptum:
This full article will appear in last part called Book III: Book of Humanity’ in Purple Cloud Press’ forthcoming publication of 《The 49 Barriers of Cultivating the Dao》 by Xing De/Li Shi Fu, a manual for refining one’s Inner Nature based on Liu Yi Ming’s 50 Barriers. Li Shi Fu is abbot of Five Immortals Temple (www.fiveimmortals.com).

Post-Post-Scriptum:
Part I can be found under this link:
https://purplecloudinstitute.com/saints-sages-part-iii-%e9%…/