Filial Son Wang Practiced Filiality
Beside the Grave for Six Years

王氏孝子　守孝六年

Speaking of that, I recall another true incident I would like to relate to you. This is no story, it's a true tale.

讲到这儿，我想起一件事实，这不是公案，这是实实在在的一件事，讲给各位听一听。

When I was in Manchuria there were several causes and conditions which inspired me to cultivate the Way. The person whom I admired the most in Manchuria was Filial Son Wong. He started his filial period of mourning when he was twenty-eight. It gets very cold in Manchuria. He used wooden boards and nails to build a small hut, but it didn't keep out the bitter cold.

我在中国的东北──那时候叫满洲里，最初我发心修道，是有种种因缘的。当时我最崇拜的人，就是东北一个叫王孝子的。这个王孝子，二十八岁开始守孝，东北那个地方很冷，他就用木头板钉那么一个小茅棚住着，很冷的。

He lived there for three years and then continued the filial mourning period for another three years. He spent six years there altogether. During the last year, he did not talk to anyone, no matter who came to visit him. Every day he sat in that small hut either meditating or reciting sutras. He recited the Vajra Sutra.

先住了三年，三年过后，他又继续在那儿守孝三年，这样前后共守了六年。在最后第六年，他就不讲话了；任何人去，都不和人谈话，天天在小茅棚里参禅打坐、诵《金刚经》。