Brooke's dates

This is a nice place, Leader.

My master said that being close to nature is good for practice.

The basics are inhaling qi and sitting meditation.

Those are just the basics.

Would you like to try it?

Let's give it a try.

Meditation, then.

Meditation clears your mind and lets you reflect on yourself.

The method is simple. Quiet your breath, and let your mind go.

You just need to take the first step, and the rest will fall into place.

Sit down, Leader, and I'll teach you meditation. I'll also recite the Pure Heart Sutra at the same time to get you in the right mood.

Listen to me recite the scripture...

"The spirit tends to purity, but the heart may disturb it. The heart tends to stillness, but desires pull it away."

Wait until the lights on the eyelids fade away.

"Constrain your desires constantly, and the heart stills itself."

"Clear your heart, and the spirit purifies itself. Thus the six desires cease to be born, and the three poisons are extinguished."

(Brooke's eyes remain closed.) When the heart is still, the spirit is undisturbed, away from exterior objects.

Leader, do not let exterior objects disturb your thoughts.

My master would say, "Stillness settles the spirit, and lets you see the operation of all things clearly."

Only by seeing the operation of all things correctly can you use the power that is within your grasp.

By using your power in harmony with the operation of all things, you can unleash your potential to the fullest.

Let us put the meditation aside for now. I'll answer your questions first.

The operation of all things relies on Yin and Yang.

Alright, the operation of all things relies on Yin and Yang.

Let us put the meditation aside for now. I'll answer your questions first.

Yin is passive, soft, dark. Yang is active and bright.

The life cycle of all things flows naturally between the duality of Yin and Yang and their eternal dance.

Strength belongs to Yang, but can only express itself through Yin. When the two things clash, the power diminishes.

That's the general idea.

Well, Leader, your current mindset isn't suited for meditation right now. Let's try inhaling qi instead.

Follow me.

Sit under the waterfall, Leader.

I believe that you can take it.

Nothing in the world is softer than water, yet the hard and strong cannot overcome it, and nothing can substitute it.

Persist, Leader.

The highest virtue is like water, benefiting all things without competing with them.

Well done, Leader.

It's getting late. We should head home now.

If anything comes up, just tell me.

Farewell.

I was observing the stars and realized that you would come here.

We meet again, Leader.

My master passed it down to me. I have to study it seriously.

Heaven, earth, and the myriad things move in harmony.

I can't change your mind, Leader.

You don't look well. Is something on your mind?

My master said that you can't keep problems on your mind to yourself.

I think that your troubles have to do with your dream from yesterday.

Am I correct, Leader?

Alright. I'll help you out with it.

Don't be so hasty to refute me, Leader.

All things have a solution. I can help you.

Come with me, let me take you somewhere!

This is the best place to analyze your dreams.

Pure and still, without a hint of disturbance.

Leader, you can tell me your dream now.

The early bird gets the worm, huh.

That's a common story, why do you look so worried?

It feels better to say it aloud, doesn't it?

You have to face your fears if you want to conquer them.

Let me guess.

Do you feel that you are the bug?

Take my hand, Leader. Close your eyes.

Swiftly, according to the commands of heaven!

Heaven moves powerfully, and the superior man strengthens himself unceasingly.

Leader, you can open your eyes now.

My analysis of the dream is the same as what was written on the paper.

It means that heaven, or nature, moves persistently and powerfully.

Similarly, the superior man must act like heaven, and improve oneself persistently without ceasing. To try his best without falling into laziness.

Leader, did you put something off that you shouldn't have?

This must be troubling you.

...

Fortune and tragedy are made by one's own actions.

The karma of good and evil follows one like a shadow.

What one does now will be reflecting in the results of the future.

It is right for you to worry, Leader.

However, you shouldn't just worry about the misfortune that your laziness might bring.

You should work to make up for it instead.

This will clear away the fog over your heart and turn the situation around.

Yin and Yang harmonize, and tragedy and fortune follow each other.

Realize your mistakes quickly, and correct them. That is the best way to restore peace to yourself.

Leader, you are wise.

It's hard at the start, but you have to begin somewhere.

Alright, it's time to leave.

Until next time, Leader.

I hope that you will be at peace next time.

We're here, Leader.

This is the best place to watch the stars.

If Leader is happy, then I am happy.

The sea of stars has been moving rapidly these days. There may be a meteor shower tonight.

Calm down, Leader.

After we watch the meteor shower, you can tell me about your perceptions.

The ancients were foolish, and saw comets as an omen of misfortune, and overreacted in response.

They thought that their appearance caused disaster.

But fortune and tragedy are made by one's own actions.

It's alright.

Some say that it's just a rumor.

Leader is truly brave.

Although I hear that it's just a rumor.

The constellations are a difficult and arcane subject.

There are 28 constellations, divided into the 7 constellations of the Eastern Dragon, the 7 constellations of the Southern Phoenix, the 7 constellations of the Western Tiger, and the 7 constellations of the Northern Turtle.

The green dragon rules over spring, teeming with life.

The red phoenix is the lord of summer, fiery with passion.

The white tiger dominates the cold autumn, vanquishing all evil.

The black turtle rules over winter, seeking rebirth in death.

Some of the beasts documented in the ancient Classic of Mountains and Seas were created based on the constellations.

In their daily lives, the ancients would observe the movement of the constellations and determine the calendar and the seasons for farming.

I have seen books on Western astrology at Phoebe's house, but there are some differences with the teachings of our elders.

Although some interpretations are similar, and provide me with inspiration sometimes.

Star-gazing isn't just about astronomy.

The ancients also found a moral side to it.

Indeed.

Star-gazing isn't just about astronomy. There's also a deeper moral meaning to it.

I live with heaven and earth, I am one with all things.

The ancients gazed to the sky and observed the earth, mapping out the connection between nature and man. They created their own world-view from this.

They believed that the behavior of man was closely related to the movement of the stars.

When people acting morally and altruistically, they would be protected by the heaven, and auspicious stars would shine, bringing them good luck.

When people acting negatively and without virtue, they went against the wishes of heaven. Heaven would warn the people with evil omens in the stars and even punish them.

So, don't the stars symbolize the wishes people had for a harmonious and just society?

The good are protected by heaven.

And the evil are punished.

All acting in accordance to karma and the order of heaven.

That's true!

There are many evil people in this world.

But there are many good people as well!

As I said, all act in accordance to karma and the order of heaven.

Those that do evil are destined to be punished.

Leader, you eliminate Nightmares. Aren't you acting in the name of good to uproot evil?

You surely will be protected by heaven and be blessed.

Leader, look up.

You came here to see a meteor shower, and heaven did not disappoint you.

In a way, this is a kind of blessing as well.

As long as you have good intentions, you will always be blessed.

For example, for you to be with me is my blessing!

It's not just you; I have also been blessed.

Besides the meteors, it is my blessing to have met Leader.

Looks like the meteor shower is going to end soon.

It's pretty late as well. Let's head home after the meteor shower.

I look forward to when we meet again.