in November p>217, it was early winter in the north, and the weather was not too cold. At the end of the year, a little journey came.
The 7th Jiezhuang Forum hosted by Jiezhuang Buddhist Institute was held in Suzhou. After learning this news, I signed up immediately without hesitation or entanglement, and followed the unconscious or intuition, which saved me a lot of time and effort.
During the trip to Suzhou, saionji stayed for a few days, listened to the conversations between the wizards and the predecessors of psychology, and quietly copied the scriptures in the Buddhist temple of Hanshan Temple. It was the first time to feel the significance of traveling, which was different from the past.
Travel at a slower pace will be closer to your heart.
For the first time, I was in contact with a monastery at zero distance, eating, living and studying. Compared with the previous tour, this should be regarded as a deep tour. I was both curious and uneasy, and I was mentally prepared to live a poor life for a few days.
Take the high-speed train to get off at Suzhou Station, take Metro Line 2 to Shilu Road, then take the bus to Xiyuan East Station, and walk to saionji for about 3 meters. Just got off the bus, I looked up and saw two young monks coming. I stepped forward and asked, how can I get to saionji? One of them asked me what to do. I said I was coming to attend the forum meeting, and he asked me to follow. Just what I want.
Two monks are wearing a long blue cloth gown, one is carrying a backpack, and the other is carrying a gray cloth bag. Is it a alms bag? I followed them silently, and I couldn't help thinking a question. Why did people become monks?
When Master Hongyi abandoned his wife and other children and decided to become a monk, he wrote to his wife: It's not my fickleness to give up on you. Whether he sees through the world of mortals or preaches Buddhism to save the country, he is by no means an escape. His spiritual pursuit can not be satisfied by reality, and religion is the only choice.
Whether you are a monk or not, it is a kind of happiness to hear your inner call, to do what you want, and to pursue the state of mind of "inner stability and no guilt".
I was led into the temple through a small door, and soon I was greeted by a female volunteer in a big gray suit, who helped me pull my suitcase, walked across the uneven stone road, led me to sign up, and even went up the stairs with my suitcase. We followed behind empty-handed, and I was really sorry to bother others. I wanted to get the suitcase myself, but I couldn't resist the enthusiasm of the volunteers and didn't get it.
The volunteers took me into the designated room, a clean bathroom with hot water, six beds, bunk beds and clean white quilts and sheets, which were completely tasteless. Very different from what I imagined, I always imagined that the accommodation would be a bungalow, which would be very simple, and I specially bought dirty sheets. It seems that I worry too much.
Dinner at 5: 3, a buffet, fruit, very rich. Once again, it is beyond my imagination. For me who like vegetarian food, except for no meat, I feel like a four-star hotel buffet.
After dinner, I sent the dishes to the designated place, and saw volunteers picking vegetables, washing dishes, four big pots and running water. I watched them silently for a while, and realized that it was a kind of willing contribution different from working for others.
There are many people attending the meeting. Volunteers wearing vests can be seen everywhere, smiling warmly and arranging meals and exits in an orderly manner. Any questions can be answered carefully and patiently.
When I first arrived in saionji, I felt comfortable surrounded by enthusiasm and warmth, and I was a little flattered.
Rich food and fruit every day, and my stomach is full. I've only been here for two days, and I feel heavy. Originally, I wanted to experience a poor life in a temple and wash my mind. As a result, I ate and sat back and relax all day. I even wondered if I was in a temple or a hotel.
I didn't sleep soundly on the first night. In the early morning, I was awakened by a regular sound. The crisp sound was from far to near, from near to far, and it was extremely harsh in the silent morning. I was jumpy. Time and space seemed far away, and I didn't know where I was at the moment. Slowly returning to reality from sleep, I realized that it should be the sound of playing overtime.
There are morning bells and evening drums in the temple every day. That morning, I got up and went to the Ursa Hall for an early class at 6 o'clock. A monk drummed for about ten minutes without stopping. The drums were loud and felt solemn. I followed the crowd with folded hands, walked in circles, bowed down, sang scriptures, and led the singing with a strong and powerful voice, which was very powerful.
I was shivering with cold in the morning class, and I managed to stay up until the end, only then did I realize the feeling of an ascetic monk.
At 8 o'clock in the evening, drums and rhythmic chanting came from the bell tower. In the dark night, the unique sound made the temple more clean.
I always feel a little uneasy when I go to class, sleep and eat regularly every day, and I have taken many classes in psychology, which makes me feel so different. Walking on the road, I can't help thinking about a question, why can I eat and drink for free? I know, I can't do anything without losing a penny. Maybe I should do something.
the next night, I didn't eat, so give yourself an empty stomach. Everyone went to eat, and the road was deserted, but I didn't feel lonely alone. It was a little cold at night, so I wrapped my clothes tightly, and my heart was quiet and confused.
There was a meditation at Dajue Hall at 7 pm. I arrived early and sat down and waited. A monk walked in with a calm pace and led everyone to do mindfulness. This is not an easy task. I don't have the time to cross my legs and adjust my posture from time to time. In this quiet place, all kinds of distractions seem to be flying, and it is hard to get to the end. Everyone put their hands together and sent the teacher away.
With the efforts of the great monk Puren, saionji was developed and perfected after ten years of expansion and renovation.
The monastery is not very big. The 5 arhats in Luohantang are of different shapes. I went there again the morning before I left, and invited a arhat card according to the specified method. "Sweet and sour tastes, plum blossoms are particularly fragrant after snow" as a souvenir, which is also a heart.
There is a pond in the temple. It is said that there is a 4-year-old spotted catfish, which should not be seen. It is unknown whether it is true or not.
Jiezhuang Buddhist Research Institute enrolls undergraduates and postgraduates, male monks and laymen aged 18-4 who are interested in becoming monks. The undergraduate course lasts for four years and the postgraduate course lasts for three years, which is very formal. The library has a lot of books and is very quiet. In the students' classroom, the crimson wooden desks look very heavy and have a strong academic atmosphere. A very quiet place to study and practice.
Master Ji Qun has written many Buddhist pamphlets. Many Buddhist concepts and principles are easy to understand and can be read for free. You can also attend Bodhi academies and study in various places. I greedily invited several pamphlets before I left. On the wall of saionji, there are also many words, which are read while walking. Simple and philosophical words inadvertently hit the soul.
On September 19th of the lunar calendar, Guanyin Bodhisattva became a monk, and there was a large-scale incense burning activity in the temple. There are many good men and women gathered in front of the Hall of Heroes, and there are all kinds of fruits and other foods on the ground. People are divided into piles, mumbling about the food on the ground. Most of them are elderly women wearing cotton-padded jackets, dressed up in the countryside, and a few people get together to eat around the ground, and they are very skilled in chanting scriptures. At first glance, they are frequent visitors to the temple.
On the wall of the temple, there are all kinds of activities to spread the Dharma, such as abstaining from Baguan Pavilion, releasing people, chanting Buddha, practicing meditation and so on. Including the Buddhist salon of Bodhi Academy.
What makes my eyes shine is the Guanyin psychological counseling hotline. The consultants are mainly the masters and laymen of the Institute. By using the methods of Buddhism and psychology, it provides listening and accompanying help for those who are in pain, helping them get out of the predicament and face life positively.
saionji is quiet most of the time, except for the strong incense and anger during activities. After the forum ended, most people left, and I stayed for two more days. When I calmed down, I gradually realized that the temple gave me the feeling that it was a Buddhist atmosphere close to the public.
When leaving saionji, with a grateful heart, clean the room, remove the sheets, fold them and put them in the designated place, go to the Ursa Mahayana Hall to give a little token of my appreciation, put on your favorite Bodhi bracelet, pick up a red leaf falling on the ground and put it in the book. Will come again.
I like watching cats and snapping photos with them, but I dare not get close to them. I'm afraid of dogs, and I like to capture them, and I'm afraid to get close to them. I laugh at myself for being Ye Gonghao Long.
I met a lot of cats this time. My companions love cats very much and carry cat food with them. I pat them wherever I go.
On the day when I didn't have dinner, I went back to the dormitory and three women were chatting. Suddenly I found a cat lying on the lower bunk, which was very comfortable as a lunch break. We seemed to disturb it. The three cowards were at a loss and told it to go. It blinked lazily, moved its head, ignored anyone, and continued to lie peacefully, looking at home.
Finally, a man was called to invite the cat away, and the cat flew down and disappeared.
Every room can't be locked from the outside. Maybe the door is not tight, and the cat sneaked in. The cats in the temple are probably a little Buddhist, and they are always calm when they see them.
I remember a cat named Runtu that I haven't seen for more than a year. When I opened the door this time, its big eyes were full of alert and defense, and it kept a distance from me all night. The next morning, as soon as I walked out of the bedroom, the leap soil touched my leg and made a "whirring" sound. I don't understand cats, I don't know what's wrong with them, and I'm a little scared. Later, I felt that it was close to me.
a big home, it walks around quietly, often without being seen, but inadvertently finds it passing by. Lying in the nest early at night and squinting, like a lonely old man who stayed bored until night, he was sleepy early. Sometimes I see it crouching quietly at the door of the closed room, and it seems that I can't bear to disturb my master to sleep late. Its elegant but lonely figure makes me unable to project my inner loneliness.
The domestic cat has no worries about food and clothing, but its world only has a house, only family, only waiting. When it sees strangers, it will show alert eyes. It lives a luxurious life, but it is very lonely. The cat outside has to feed itself, or wait to be fed. It has a big world, watching small fish by the river, sunbathing in the grass, and even sneaking into the girls' dormitory lawless. Its eyes are calm and leisurely, and it is free to come and go without lack of companions to play, and it lives like a wild crane.
It's like a different life state.
1. Visit the old streets
This time I went to two old streets, Pingjiang Old Street and Shantang Street. They are all old houses, snack bars, small bridges and flowing water, and the streets of Shantang Street are wider. Standing on the stone bridge, a wooden boat slowly passes by on the narrow river, with old houses strewn at random on both sides, mottled white walls and sporadic red lanterns. Time seems to go back, and the water town in the south of the Yangtze River is in front of us.
There are some clothes hanging outside the window. Through the window, the crowded and shabby inside can be seen vaguely. There is a drainage pipe under the house. Did all the water flow into the river?
In Shantang Street, in front of a stall selling food, I bought a 5-yuan thing called arrowhead mushroom, which tasted like original potato chips. A kind of flesh-colored big roll, which aroused my curiosity. I asked my boss that it was fried dried skin, and I used blisters when eating it.
I found a vegetable seller and saw something called arrowhead mushroom, which looks like garlic, but is actually similar to potatoes. An old lady was picking, and I bent down to keep the same height as her and asked her how to eat. She told me that she would buy it every day and eat it with her wife and garlic at night.
I like to chat with local people I don't know, learn about their living customs and learn new knowledge. This kind of life-filled travel experience is interesting.
2. Climbing Lingyan Mountain
The next day, I originally planned to go to Luzhi Ancient Town, but later I thought it was a little far away, so I was afraid that my companions would be too late to catch the train, so I changed to Mudu Ancient Town and climbed Lingyan Mountain by the way. The traffic is very convenient. Take Line 1 to the terminal in Mudu, and then take a manpower tricycle. It costs ten yuan for two people, and it takes less than an hour to get there.
Lingyan Mountain is the former site of the Wa Palace in Fu Cha Hall of the King of Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period, and it is also the place where the State of Yue offered Xi Shi. Today, the remains and monuments of the King of Wu are: King of Wu well, dressing table, playing with a flower pond, etc.
Lingyan Mountain is not high above sea level, so four people walk and rest, and climb to the top in an hour. The scenery is simple and beautiful, especially suitable for relaxing on weekends.
It's faster to go down the mountain. It looks relatively new when you come down and walk directly into the ancient town. For lunch, I went to eat the famous black rice, black porridge and black rice, all of which were 5 yuan. When I served them, I found that they were too small and not full, and I asked for another bowl. The side dishes were kimchi, chicken feet and black pig hands. It doesn't cost much, even if you have tasted it and filled your stomach, you can pass by directly next time you meet black rice.
3. Visit the most beautiful bookstore
I have decided on the next stop. I will take Line 1 from the ancient town, get off at Xinghai Square in less than an hour, and go to the most beautiful bookstore in Suzhou. There are few people in the subway, which is simply too comfortable.
it's really beautiful. I was shocked as soon as I entered the door. This is clearly a fantasy world. The purple, blue and red curtains, which change like neon lights, are gently opened by hand and walk into a dreamy world of books. It is really beautiful and makes me amazed.
I really want to taste coffee, but I'm worried about insomnia and don't drink anything. It seems that reading is not enough, so I ordered a cup of chocolate, sat down, enjoyed reading and enjoyed the satisfaction of my spiritual world. I'd like to stay all day if I have time.
It's so beautiful in such a large area, except for books that are not discounted, which are expensive drinks. Reading for free here is very enjoyable for readers, but I can't help wondering about the profitability of bookstores. This is a question I often wonder, but it is said that the owner of a coffee shop and bookstore is playing with feelings, but in fact, there is no other way to make money.
4. Visit Hanshan Temple
Although I was tired from climbing the mountain and visiting the ancient town yesterday, I decided to walk to Hanshan Temple and walk from Xiyuan Temple for about half an hour today.
passing by the breakfast shop, I tasted the sesame and scallion cake and bean curd in Suzhou. It was light and simple, and it was enough for my stomach.
a night-mooring near maple bridge, written by Zhang Ji, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, greatly increased the fame of Hanshan Temple and made it well known to the world. Everywhere I go, the walls are full of poems about Fengqiao.
In the past, I used to visit temples so carelessly that I didn't want to stop, but today I am more patient because I feel and see with my heart. I also found that many people are waiting for the bus, queuing up, looking around, and anxious. If someone cuts in line, it is not uncommon to have a fight. In fact, sometimes people are not really in a hurry, but they just can't stand the feeling of waiting and being slow.
Being unable to stay quietly with yourself is the reason why modern people are impetuous.
When I walked into the Dharma Hall, I found many books in it, so I could sit down and read them. I took a copy of Strong Mindfulness and sat down to read it. I saw someone copying scriptures next to me, and I wanted to try. Because the estimation is time-consuming, I consulted my peers. After listening to the teacher's suggestion to read the Six Ancestors' Tanjing, I chose this book, sat down and began to copy it. It was difficult to write quickly because the words were big and small.
in the process of copying, sometimes my mind is as calm as water, and sometimes my thoughts are flying. Although I don't quite understand the meaning of the scriptures, I have never experienced sitting in a temple and copying them, with hot tea next to me, feeling that I am not a tourist but a host.
at this moment, I suddenly realized the significance of traveling to me. I am not taking a quick look at photos, kowtowing and burning incense, or visiting here, but concentrating on doing something that is in line with this place, as if I were staying here and should do it.
Jiezhuang Forum aims to provide a communication platform for contemporary famous Buddhist scholars and psychologists. The theme of this forum is "Buddhism and Psychology: Life and Death, Mindfulness", and a keynote lecture is adopted.