A month has passed since the New Year, and it’s the season for plowing. Beneath the Buddhist temple on the hillside, farrs of various sizes bend over the yellow earth, while plows slice through the soil. Three or four people pull the plows forward; another person helps from behind. Baolian Temple’s vast temple fields are cultivated solely by human labor.
Ever since the old Abbot of Baolian Temple passed away, the temple has been increasingly prosperous, as if adorned with blooming flowers and flying eaves that touch the sky, with monks in yellow robes sowing blessings.
Looking up at the thriving Baolian Temple, the devoted n and won working the temple fields are even happier than during a bountiful harvest, working the land while chanting "Amitabha Buddha."
Recently, they are going to create new Buddha statues again.
The na of Jialan Treasure Land has long been renowned far and wide, especially given the chaos in the south caused by the White Lotus Sect, which despite its turmoil, never disturbed the Buddhist temple. It is regarded by many as the Righteous Dharma Sacred Land, under the protection of Buddha and Bodhisattva, where evil spirits dare not approach, and demons avoid assault.
Therefore, thousands upon thousands of worshippers co from afar to offer their tributes before Baolian Temple’s statues, and there are Mages and respected monks from other places visiting to discuss teachings. As spring approaches, a long procession of carriages approaches from afar.
It is the Mage Xian De from Lidu Temple—a practitioner of the Hinayana—from hearing of Baolian Temple’s True Dharma, he has traveled countless miles to seek it.
Raising one’s head, one can see Baolian Temple’s Golden Summit rising toward the sky, with layers of glazed tiles shimring in the morning sun, surrounded by halos like a manifestation of Buddhist Law.
Glorious splendor, shimring brightly.
Such a scene left a few accompanying disciples speechless in awe as they stepped down from the carriage.
"Is Buddhist Law really this invaluable?" a disciple couldn’t help but ask, realizing he had spoken out of turn, he shrunk his neck expecting his master’s reprimand.
However, Mage Xian De uncharacteristically said nothing, rely shaking his head slightly.
This surprised the disciples greatly.
The Buddhist Law practiced at Lidu Temple belongs to the Jushe Sect. Since Xuanzang returned from India in the Tang Dynasty and retranslated "Jushe Lun," it has been passed down for over a millennium. Yet, despite its long history, the incense has steadily diminished, and many temples have long since changed sects; so have joined the Zen Sect, others the Dharma Image Sect. The reason is not the correctness of the teachings, nor the profundity of the words, but because they practice the Hinayana.
The so-called ’Hinayana’ refers to the disciples who, through hearing the teachings of the Buddha, achieve enlightennt by listening to the Buddhist Law, hence they are referred to as ’the Lesser Vehicle.’
After Buddhism spread eastward over a millennium, those who claid enlightennt through spreading ’Bodhisattva Vehicle’ teachings often called themselves ’Mahayana,’ performing Bodhisattva acts and emancipating all beings while derogatively referring to ’Hinayana’ as the Lesser Vehicle. However, ’Hinayana’ insists: if one cannot save oneself, how can one save others? If one transmits ignorant teachings, wouldn’t it lead to hell?... Consequently, the common people gradually adopted the notion of "Mahayana saves others, Hinayana saves oneself," thereby preferring Mahayana temples in their travels.
Hence, Mahayana incense burned ever more vigorously, Great Halls built ever taller, Buddha statues’ Golden Bodies ever more lavishly gilded, with Buddhas and Bodhisattvas increasingly omnipresent and omnipotent in scriptures.
As a result, the Jushe Sect declined irreversibly, and by Xian De’s generation, the number of temples of the sa sect could be counted on one hand, forcing them to seek teaching externally for salvation.
Climbing the long steps, Xian De presented his worship card, sought permission inside, eventually crossing the high threshold of Baolian Temple.
When the morning mist had not yet dispersed, the stone steps twisted and climbed from the foot of the mountain, with lotus patterns embedded between moss on each level. The incense burner in front of the Heavenly King Hall emitted purple smoke, while the Four Heavenly Kings glared angrily under the painted canopy, and the round smiling face of Maitreya Buddha was covered with layers of silk provided by followers.
Such prosperity opened the eyes of Lidu Temple’s many disciples. In their own broken temple, there stood only one elderly wooden-carved Buddha statue.
Passing the Heavenly King Hall, they could still see thousands of hands of Guanyin, Manjusri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva... the glazed tiles of the Great Hall shimred in the clouds, with its open doors revealing the Three Buddhas of Past, Present, and Future with downcast eyes forming Seals, their golden foil beneath the shadows reflecting densely packed sutras as if displaying eighty-four thousand rays...
The more Xian De saw, the deeper his frown furrowed.
Until a poetic verse sounded in the distance,
"Hoeing grain under the noonday sun, sweat drips onto the soil below,"
"Who understands that every al on our plate, each grain is hardship-earned!"
From where does it co?
The plan for the year is set in spring, with the novice monks’ clear voices resonating in the temple’s fields.
At this mont, Xian De’s expression softened a little. Although Baolian Temple appeared splendid, the monks within continued to practice diligently, with offerings reserved for the Buddha only.
Yet throughout the entire journey, there seed to be a multitude of Gods and Buddhas; the Hundred and Eight Arhats were present, the Heavenly Dragon Eight Books were present, the Sixty-Four Dharma Protectors were also present, making it feel less like walking on earth but in a scripture.
"Namo Amitabha Buddha, you have co a great distance; such neglect is our fault, our fault."
Amidst the words, an elderly monk in yellow attire appeared from beneath the Great Hall’s eaves, his face weathered and his steps steady, barefoot beneath his garnt which seed plainer than that of the Jushe Sect monks.
Mage Xian De hurriedly put his hands together in a gesture of respect and said, "I have long heard of Brother Ji Yuan’s na, and dare not recklessly address as a great virtue."
Ji Yuan held onto his rough magic robe, as his nails scraped and murmured against it, his parched lips speaking words, "Too modest, too modest..."
......
Xian De journeyed from afar, seeking Baolian Temple’s True Dharma. For this, he resorted to indirect inquiries, and eventually asked directly. Ji Yuan spoke extensively of the Buddhas across the Three Realms, yet refused to share Baolian Temple’s True Dharma with others.
This inevitably led to great disappointnt, yet Xian De did not show it outwardly; a smile can disarm animosity, and Baolian Temple’s hospitality was warm and inclusive, so how could they respond with sour faces?
If the True Dharma cannot be discerned, then understanding the thod of practice would be beneficial.
User Comments
0 comments from readers