Light Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva Stories #13
The Lamp Lighters had been in company with the Light Bodhisattva generation after generation. Wherever there were Lamp Lighters, there was the presence of the Light Bodhisattva. In this small town, light was a sacred and rare object. Only the Lamp Lighter was permitted to take the fire from the eternal lamp in the temple at dusk each day, walk through the town’s streets, and light the lamps for each household. The Lamp Lighter’s task was passed down from his great-grandfather, and to this day, he still carried out the same job. It was not that people did not understand how to make fire, but everyone believed that the small flame was a manifestation of the Bodhisattva. People cherished and valued the appearance of the Light Bodhisattva.
This happened many generations ago. At that time, some villagers, fleeing a plague, left their original home and wandered in the wilderness. On a moonless night, they lost their way in a deep forest and ended up on the shore of a pitch-black river. At this dead end, a lotus lamp floated down the river. A young man bravely volunteered to wade into the river and picked up the lamp. Led by the light of the lamp, the people followed the river downstream, and by dawn, they had arrived at a flat and fertile piece of land. They settled there, established a village, and it gradually grew into a town. The people built a temple and enshrined the lotus lamp within it, calling it the Light Bodhisattva. The young man who bravely went into the river to retrieve the lamp became the Lamp Lighter, bringing the Light Bodhisattva to every household each night.
Every dusk, the Lamp Lighter respectfully invited the Light Bodhisattva from the temple, carried the lantern with the flame to the streets and alleys of the town. In addition to bringing light to each household, the Lamp Lighter also lit each street lamp in the town. The town was brightly illuminated every night, making it a very safe place. Whether on the streets or at home, people were under the protection of the Light Bodhisattva. As dawn approached, people turned towards the rising sun, put out the lamp, and respectfully sent off the Light Bodhisattva. The Lamp Lighter then retraced his steps, extinguishing each street lamp.
Like his ancestors, the Lamp Lighter took over the task of lighting lamps from his father when he was young. He married, hoping to have a son who would take over his job when he grew up. However, when both he and his wife were over fifty, they still had no children. This caused the Lamp Lighter great worry, and the issue of his succession was the subject of much discussion among the townspeople.
One night, the Lamp Lighter lit the lamps for the townsfolk as usual. After lighting the last street lamp, which was located at the edge of the town, he sat down under it. He raised the lantern in his hand and prayed to the Light Bodhisattva, asking for a son to be granted to him soon. Looking at the dim light, the Lamp Lighter unknowingly fell asleep and entered a dream. He dreamed of himself in countless past lives, carrying a lamp, flying in the pitch-black night sky, lighting up each star in the boundless void. Then he saw that these seemingly small stars were actually massive fireballs, where intense combustion and explosions were continuously taking place. Then, the massive fireballs slowly disintegrated into countless tiny glowing particles. Then he dreamt of himself in one of his countless future lives, dressed in protective robes made of uncertain materials, observing the movements of a glowing particle amidst oddly shaped machines. That particle was mysteriously elusive, as if it had a life of its own, deliberately evading his observation. He suddenly realized that both the massive fireball and the tiny particle were incarnations of the Light Bodhisattva. Then, a world-shattering explosion occurred. Amid the blinding flames, a mushroom-shaped cloud rose over a city. He saw the true form of the Light Bodhisattva, sitting at the top of the cloud. The Light Bodhisattva told him that the destroyed city was the future of his small town.
The Lamp Lighter woke up abruptly to find himself sitting under the street lamp, drenched in sweat. The lantern at his feet was extinguished. Looking up, he saw that the street lamp had also gone out on its own. In the dim sky, a new moon hung slantingly like a silver knife. The Lamp Lighter got up and started to retrace his steps. On his way back, all the street lamps had gone out. He became alarmed and started to run. When he returned to the temple and saw that the Light Bodhisattva on the altar was just as it had been, with a long, tranquil flame occasionally popping out a small spark or two, he finally sighed in relief.
When he got home, the Lamp Lighter was totally exhausted and went straight to bed. By his bedside, his wife told him that she was pregnant.