Zong Lin’s Little Tea House (3)-It’s amazing. Master gets up at two o’clock in the morning to do morning classes

In the temple where Zong Lin is, he has to get up early at 3:30 in the morning to do his homework. The monks of the whole temple gathered in the main hall, chanting together, a bit like elementary school students getting up to read early. Just ask to stand and chant to prevent falling asleep. At the beginning, Zong Lin was not used to it. He was too sleepy in the morning and would fall asleep even while chanting while standing. Sometimes he had to admire himself and fell asleep while standing. Just be careful, if you are found by the abstaining lawyer, you will have to put a "incense board" on your back.

For a while, Zong Lin was Master’s little waiter. This is the job that Zong Lin is most unwilling to do. Because every day at two o'clock in the morning, I have to wake up early with the master. From the beginning of the monkhood, Master got up at two in the morning. This habit has been maintained for 40 to 50 years.

Master does his homework alone and does not go to the temple with us. There is a small Buddhist hall in Master's hut. His old man practiced in his small Buddhist hall every day. Only waiters can accompany you.

When we first became a monk, the lawyer told us that we are not allowed to enter and leave the small Buddhist hall casually. It is a place for Master to practice and cannot be disturbed.

When Zong Lin was a little waiter, he was awakened by the master every day. Ashamed and ashamed, my waiter is really unqualified.

At two o'clock in the morning every day, Master took me into the small Buddha hall. Before practicing, Master would lead me to clean the Buddhist altar carefully and do a good job of cleaning it. First use a clean cloth to clean the table where the water flower incense lamp is enshrined, and then gently wipe the Buddha statue with the peacock feather bundle. Remember not to touch the Buddha statue directly with your hands. Finally, use a broom to clean the floor of the Buddhist hall. After doing all this, I started to do my homework.

I'm very surprised. The temple is obviously very clean. Why does it take time to clean up? Every time Master cleaned, it was very slow, and the wiping was very serious.

Sometimes I think, it’s better to save time, recite more scriptures, and meditate for a while. Wouldn’t it be possible to get greater benefits?

Once, I couldn't help but tell Master this question.

Master told me that cleaning is not a preparation before practice. In fact, cleaning itself is practice. Cleaning has two meanings. The first one is to respect the Three Jewels, and the second one is to remove heart grime.

At that time, Zong Lin had just become a monk and didn’t understand cleaning and respect Sanbao ,What does it matter to remove heart dirt? Master gave me a metaphor.

In terms of secular etiquette, we need to clean the place before friends visit. If there are elders or nobles worthy of respect, you may need to be more careful, this is to show respect to each other. In the practice, we put water, flower, and incense lamps on the Buddhist altar, praying for the blessing of the Three Jewels. If we don’t clean it carefully, don’t we think that the Three Jewels are not as honorable as secular guests?

I asked again, Master, hasn't the Buddha surpassed worldly attachments, everything is empty without self, how can he mind having dust and no dust?

Master smiled and said, this is a naive idea. It is we who are practicing, not the Buddha. Buddha of course has surpassed common sense, but we have not yet. When we clean, we are also purifying our hearts and removing inner dirt. This is the method of cultivating the mind. So while we are cleaning, we visualize in our hearts that we are getting rid of unwholesomeness, bad karma, craving, hatred, and stupidity.

The so-called sharpening of a knife does not accidentally chop wood. Visualizing in this way will bring great benefits, and joy will be born in the heart. A good foundation has been laid for the revision of the law, which is very powerful.

If you lose your meditation recklessly, go to chant sutras, and do not pay attention to removing the obstacles in your heart, you will be inadvertent and difficult to move in the practice.

After Master explained to Zong Lin, Zong Lin suddenly realized that just sweeping the floor had so much meaning.

Since then, I have also started to clean up a little bit like Master did. Be serious and never neglect, because I know that the cleaning and cleaning I do with respect is all the food for my spiritual path.