1. Does a Ghost Reveal Its True Form?

It is said that in Jinan, there was a man named Zhu Ziqing who had a ghost friend. He could hear the ghost’s voice but could not see its form.

This “ghost friend” was highly talented. The two of them would discuss poetry, literature, and the Five Classics. The ghost friend was eloquent and never once conceded in their debates.

Many of Zhu Ziqing’s friends knew about this.

One day, Zhu Ziqing and his friends were drinking together, and someone suggested, “Why not ask the ghost friend to reveal his true form?”

The ghost friend then said:

“If you really want me to reveal my true form, how could my true form be seen? If you want to see an apparition of me, that is merely a form conjured up through transformation, which is no different from not seeing me at all. So why insist on seeing me?” 

Everyone thought this made sense, but they continued to ask again and again for the ghost friend to reveal his form.

The ghost asked:

“What form do you imagine me to have?”

One person said:

“You should look like an old Confucian scholar!”

The ghost immediately manifested as an elderly scholar, with white hair and a scroll of writing in his hand.

Another person said:

“You should have the appearance and bearing of an immortal!”

The ghost transformed into a Daoist priest, holding a whisk and wearing cloud-climbing shoes.

Then another person said:

“You should look like a Heavenly Official descending to the mortal realm!”

The ghost transformed into a Heavenly Official, wearing a Heavenly Official’s hat and a red robe, with a purple sash around his waist and white clouds beneath his feet.

Another person said:

“Perhaps you are not a man at all, but a beautiful woman!”

The ghost immediately manifested as a charming and graceful woman, her hair arranged in a bun, with a delicate and lovely appearance, adorned with gold and jade. She walked with graceful, measured steps.

Finally, someone said:

“Your true form should be that of a newborn baby!”

The ghost manifested as a chubby, fair-skinned baby, babbling and waving its hands and feet.

Zhu Ziqing said:

“All of these are merely transformations. We want to see your true form!”

The ghost friend replied:

“In this vast world, there is no true form that can be seen. Even you human beings have no true form. What is a true form? Hahaha!”

The ghost friend laughed heartily and departed.

Zhu Ziqing and all his friends were stunned when they heard these words. After thinking about them for a while, they realized that it was indeed true: upon careful reflection, there really was no true form to be seen.

Throughout a person’s life, from birth to old age, the body is constantly changing and transforming. What, then, is the true form?

Especially today, with cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine so prevalent throughout the world, what can be considered one’s true form?

A ghost is merely the residual energy of a human being, so there is even less reason to speak of it having a true form!

For example:

Zashi Lhamo is a ghost immortal. Her external appearance is that of a terrifying ghost with fierce eyes and a protruding tongue.

Originally, she was a beautiful imperial consort. She is a deity who manifests through transformation. So what is her true form?

The Buddha said:

“The Tathagata-garbha, the wondrously luminous true mind, is the true form behind the manifested appearances of the world. 

“All manifested appearances are false and illusory. Only the Tathagata-garbha, the wondrously luminous true mind, is the true form!

“The wondrously luminous true mind cannot be spoken of. Once spoken of, it misses the mark!”

Therefore,

There is no true form in this world; the true form is without form.

Translated by TBTTs

Edited by DJ Chang