Ah Lin’s Great Discovery

Ah Lin was an intelligent Chinese youth who honestly wanted to make the most of his life. He had studied the wise writings of the great Chinese teacher Confucius. He had listened to the yellow-robed monks of the Buddha. He had read with care a small book that had been translated into Chinese, and he had been greatly attracted by what he read there about another teacher, Jesus of Nazareth.

“All three of the men are wise and great,” said Ah Lin to himself. “Confucius, Buddha, and Jesus. But the teachings of Jesus are new; my people have followed the rules of Confucius and of Buddha for many centuries. So, it is reasonable that I should try them first, for they have been tested by time. I will spend a month following the teachings of each and see what happens.

During the first month he carefully followed the teachings of Confucius. All through that month the young Ah Lin never lacked wise rules or good advice, for the books about Confucius were not hard to read. He understood them easily, and he always knew exactly what they said he ought to do. Yet somehow or other he found that knowing what he ought to do was quite another matter from doing it. At the end of the month Ah Lin had to admit he had not kept the good rules of Confucius.

For the second month of his test Ah Lin had decided to follow Buddha. Now Buddha had told people that the one thing that really mattered was to keep one’s mind quiet. Never get excited about anything. “The ideal state,” said Buddha, “is to be without feelings of any sort, and in the end you will succeed in reaching Nirvana, an ideal nothingness. That will be peace.” Ah Lin was young and enjoyed life; but he tried sincerely to do as Buddha suggested. At the end of the month he said, “It may be well enough for those who live in monasteries, but it doesn’t help me.”

That night in a dream it seemed to Ah Lin that he was travelling on a journey through a difficult and dangerous country. No path was clearly marked, and Ah Lin had no map or compass. Suddenly he found his feet sinking into treacherous mud, and before he could draw back onto firm ground, he was being sucked into a bog of back oozing mud. Struggle as he might, he was sinking deeper and deeper. No friendly bushes stretched out branches he could cling to pull himself free. There were only slippery rocks around the bog, and they were no help at all.

Then over the edge of the rocks a shadow moved; the face of an old man looked down upon the struggling boy. “My son,” said the man, “I am Confucius. Alas, you have not obeyed the rules! If you had lived as I advised people to live, this would never have happened to you. Let it be a lesson to you. If you get out of the swamp remember to obey my teachings.”

The old man left Ah Lin still struggling in the cutches of the swamp. Then he saw someone sitting motionless in the shadows. “I am Buddha,” said the quiet voice. “Remember, my son, that this swamp is an illusion. Rest your mind now on the thought of nothingness; gather your mind into peace. Cease to feel, and you will find Nirvana.”

“If I were out,” cried Ah Lin desperately, “I would try to do as you tell me. But how can anyone rest when quicksand is sucking at his body and he draws nearer and nearer to an awful death? Help me, Father Buddha, I beseech you!” But no one stirred in the shadows.

Then swiftly down the rocks, right into the swamp, came a third figure. This one was a Man, young, strong, active. His face was bright with kindness, yet it bore marks of the deepest suffering. He did not stop for words. Right into the swamp he came, wading into its clinging horror, till He was as deep in its grasp as the boy He had come to rescue. He stretched out His strong arms and grasped Ah Lin just beneath the arm pits. Then with strength greater than any human strength, He lifted the boy clear and set him on firm ground. He took off Ah Lin’s filthy clothes and gave him clean, dry ones. His very touch brough Ah Lin a glowing warmth and a new energy.

“Ah Lin,” said this Man, “will you continue to journey with me? I know the way; I have travelled the road myself. Follow me and I will show you the path. I will never leave you or forsake you.”

“And so,” said Ah Lin as he talked about the dream afterward, “I found my Master, Jesus Christ. He is not one long dead who has left only good advice for people to follow if they can. He is Master because He is alive and real; because, though He is God, He has come down to my life; and because He can show me every step of the path ahead and will travel beside me always.”

Jesus didn’t just leave us a heap of teachings and rules, but he gives us life. The Gospel is not just good advice, it is good news. Advice is about something we should do. Good news is about something already done. It is also about the journey and especially the wonderful destination.