¹After Sangjenim’s ascension, Bak Gong-u could not overcome his sense of emptiness and sorrow.²In the spring of 1911 (DG 41), while on his way to offer prayers on a mountain, he visited Jeonju market and was briskly striding through the market grounds³when someone behind him declared, “Gong-u, here you are!” and slapped him on the back. Turning around, Gong-u discovered to his astonishment that it was Sangjenim.⁴Bewildered and ecstatic, Gong-u fell to the ground as his knees buckled. Embracing Sangjenim’s leg, Gong-u let out a long sorrowful wail, and so Sangjenim said, “Gong-u, cease such grievous wailing. Let us go partake of a drink.”

⁵Sangjenim led Gong-u to an inn and bought him a drink, but Gong-u was too choked up with emotion to partake of it. Eventually, he asked Sangjenim, “Where did You go after You so heartlessly abandoned us?”

⁶“My, what a thing to say!” Sangjenim replied. “I shall one day return, so why do you speak such words?”

⁷After Sangjenim offered Gong-u three consecutive bowls of drinks, Sangjenim rose to His feet, declaring, “Go now to undertake your plans. I must now leave to carry out My own plans.”

⁸“Since You are here, what plans could I possibly have at this time?” Gong-u exclaimed. “I shall end my outing in the market—please allow me to follow You.”

“You cannot accompany Me,” Sangjenim answered.

⁹Loath to lose Sangjenim, Gong-u firmly clutched at His attire, but Sangjenim swiftly passed through the throng of people in the marketplace like the wind.¹⁰Gong-u wandered throughout the entire marketplace in search of Sangjenim, and he once abruptly spotted Sangjenim from behind and quickly rushed toward Him, but ultimately lost sight of Sangjenim.

¹¹Gong-u immediately traveled to Guritgol Village and opened Sangjenim’s temporary tomb, only to discover that His holy remains were gone, as well as the warmth that had always been present. ¹²Later, Gong-u said to others, “Our Teacher must be hidden from our sight, and it is ludicrous to believe that He has passed away.”

¹³Afterward, Bak Gong-u’s dao order called the day of Sangjenim’s ascension ‘the Day of Hiding From Sight.’