- Mountains, Spirits, and Humans
- 1 Sahng-jeh-nim went to Yohng-dahm Township in Mu-ju County and called for the Gyeh-ryohng Mountain spirit, the regional spirit of Yohng-dahm Township, and the Mu-gohng Mountain spirit. He gave each of them a drink. “Drink up and enjoy yourselves.”
- 2 “We do not know how to enjoy ourselves,” the spirits said. So Sahng-jeh-nim taught them how.
- 3 “How can people look like that?” Ho-yun asked. “They look red. They do not look like people.”
“They do not look like people because they are future generals.”
- 4 “Then, why do they look half human and half strange?”
- 5 “Is it easy for the dead to be reborn?” said Sahng-jeh-nim. “After transforming a few times, they can again be born as humans. How can a rotten corpse just rise?”
- 6 He then asked the spirits, “Who is the weakest among you? You need to make yourself strong.”
One spirit answered, “I will strengthen myself later.”
- 7 “It is not like that,” said Sahng-jeh-nim. “You will not gain strength immediately by just eating something. You need to be active and develop yourself to gain strength. How can you become strong by just sitting around and eating?”
- (JSD Dojeon 5,45)
