"Dong!... Wuuuu!... Om!!"
The North Sea was so vast that a day and a night of sailing felt like measuring out a single hair upon the Buddha's heaven-propping, earth-standing dharma body. The piercing, far-carrying sound of conch shells rang out from time to time among the Tendai Fleet, directing the Kan-style ships ahead as they carved neat, orderly arcs, nimble as living things.
When that blowing sound entered the sturdy cabin of the Hokke-maru, Master Juehui sat cross-legged in meditation, his eyelids lowered, as if he had not heard it at all. Amid the heaving waves, amid the most restless voyage, he had entered samadhi.
"Om, Anale, Vishade, Vishade, Vishade, Vishade..."
The sutra-chanting, instinctive as breathing, was vibrating through the cramped cabin, as if it were coming from the crown of the master's head. This was the "Great Buddha Crown White Umbrella Dharani," also the longest divine mantra in daily practice within Chinese Buddhism, the Shurangama Mantra. To recite all four hundred and twenty-seven lines once would take even the monk most skilled at chanting half a quarter of an hour. And according to the rules of cultivation, chanting it a hundred times a day would make the whole day's work pass just like that.
"Wuuuu!!"
"Tap, tap..."
An urgent conch blast suddenly sounded outside the cabin. Then the Kan-style ship, which had been advancing at a steady speed, began to slow sharply until it stopped completely. Monk Official Shiba Shin'i hurried down from the deck. Seeing the master reciting the Shurangama Mantra, which "breaks evil, subdues demonic obstacles, protects the true dharma, and increases wisdom," his steps instantly faltered, and he opened his mouth hesitantly.
"High Priest Juehui?..."
"?..."
Master Juehui stopped chanting and abruptly opened his compassionate eyes. He looked at the Shiba monk official, whose expression was