She was a stone taken by Buddha from the immortal mountains of Penglai. After absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, she cultivated a spirit and was made into a divine lamp, placed beside his lotus seat. Listening to Buddha preach every day, she could even improve her cultivation while asleep. She was delighted; she loved the place so much that she stayed there for more than a hundred thousand years. By then, she could conjure the faint shadow of a beautiful woman. Sometimes, when Buddha saw her shadow sitting cross-legged beside him and following along with their cultivation, the corners of his mouth would lift in a faint smile... Until she finally became substantial, Buddha told her, “Little thing, listening to Buddhist teachings alone won’t make you a divine lamp. You must go through trials in the mortal world to understand life’s sweetness and bitterness, the seven emotions and six desires, heartbreak, and freedom from desire... Only when your senses truly reach a state of desirelessness and selflessness will you become a true divine lamp.” With a turn of his hand, Buddha sent her soul down into the mortal realm...
