Husband.—What you say is quite correct. Dreams, proceeding as they do from organic disturbance, do not come true nine times out of ten. Still, mine have affected my spirits to such an extent, that I think of making some pilgrimage or other to offer up prayers both on your behalf and on my own.
Wife.—Then where shall you go?
Husband.—I mean (to say nothing of those in the metropolis and in the suburbs) to worship at every Shiñtau shrine and every Buddhist temple throughout the land.
Wife.—No, no! I won't allow you to go out of the house for a single hour. If you are so completely bent upon it, choose some devotion that can be performed at home.
Husband.—Some devotion to be performed at home? What devotion could it be?
Wife.—Burning incense on your arm or on your head.[171]
Husband.—How thoughtlessly you do talk! What! is a devotion like that to suit me—a layman if ever there was one?
Wife.—I won't tolerate any devotion that cannot be performed at home.
Husband.—Well, I never! You are one for talking at random. Hang it! what devotion shall it be? [He reflects a few moments.] Ah! I have it! I will perform the devotion of abstraction.
Wife.—Abstraction? What is that?