As an important event in the jungle, it has extraordinary significance. This article will give you an in-depth understanding of the origin and significance of Anju. I hope you can spend the hot summer with peace of mind and coolness.

Every year on the 16th day of the fourth lunar month, many Han temples will begin to celebrate summer retreats. As an important event in the jungle, it has extraordinary significance. This article will give you an in-depth understanding of the origin and significance of Anju. I hope you can spend the hot summer with peace of mind and coolness.

What is Jiexia Anju

Anju, free translation is the rain period, also known as Yuanju, Jiexia, Zuoxia, etc.

An means to keep the body and mind calm; Ju means to live in it for a long time; Anju means to practice quietly within a certain period of time in order to achieve enlightenment.

In the Buddha's hometown of India, the summer rainy period lasts for three months. In order to prevent monks from going out during the rainy season, they may trample and kill insects on the ground and new shoots of grass and trees. The Buddha stipulated that during these three months, monks are not allowed to go out. To live together in one place and devote yourself to spiritual practice is to live peacefully.

Most of the teachings collected in the Mahayana classics are the practice methods and the truths about the universe and life that the Buddha told during his summer retreat. Many monks will also practice diligently during this period. Therefore, Jie Xia Anju is also considered the first Buddhist jungle festival.

Why should we live in peace?

According to Vinaya records, there are three reasons for Buddhist monks to live in peace:

1. Parading in summer, trampling on cordyceps;

2. Weary roads and losing clothes;

3. To ridicule the world and harm the public Respectfully.

During the time of the Buddha, disciples can be roughly divided into two categories. One is those who always follow the disciples, or because they are not yet independent, so they must always follow the Buddha to learn; the other is the Bodhisattva disciples who are successful in their own cultivation and can abbot and promote Buddhism. However, we still need to continue to seek the Buddha's path, so we need to participate in the Summer Retreat, live with the Buddha for three months, listen to the Buddha's sermons, discuss with fellow practitioners, and exchange practice experiences.

During this period, it is strictly prohibited to go out without reason to prevent distraction. Therefore, summer residence is a kind of self-cultivation and self-contemplation, and it is also a practice of deep cultivation and self-immersion.

China's Summer Settlement

Although China's resettlement system was inherited from India, it was not completely followed, and there were some modifications. According to the actual conditions of climate and customs, Goode usually takes the period from April 16 to July 15 every year as the period of residence, and this period coincides with the summer in China, so it is called Xia Anju.

China's system of practicing Anju began in the Yao and Qin eras. At that time, due to the interpretation of " Ten Chanting Rules" and "Guanglu", the practice of Anju was explained in detail, and Chinese monks followed it to perform the summer festival.

Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, the Anju system has gradually become one of the rules of the Zen jungle dojo. In addition, Jungle Temple refers to the "summer ending" system and also conducts " winter retreat " from October 16th every year to the 15th day of the first lunar month of the following year. In modern times, some temples and monasteries have further implemented the "Winter Zen Zen" and "Summer Lectures" systems of "Winter Zen Zen" and "Summer Lectures".

How to protect the Sangha Retreat

During the summer retreat, the most extraordinary offerings are the four offerings. The jungle provides four things, namely clothing, food, bedding, and medicine.

"Zengyi Agama Sutra" records: The Buddha gave a tree to the Solitary Garden in Savatthi State and preached the Dharma for King Pasani. The king immediately asked the Buddha and the monks to make offerings for three months, and then outside the palace gate, he said In the large lecture hall, banners and flags are hung and all necessary clothing, food, bedding, and medicine are provided. Therefore it is said: provides support to with four things. This tradition has been passed down ever since.

Promoting Dharma and benefiting living beings is the responsibility and mission of the Sangha. Masters have spent their entire lives promoting Buddhism and benefiting people and nature as their own responsibility. They have no other business and will not accumulate unnecessary items. Therefore, the daily necessities must be provided by the vast number of faithful lay people. Motivation and support.

The four-item offering is the basic need to maintain the normal operation of the life of the Sangha. It allows the monks to spread the teachings with one heart and practice the cause of benefiting all sentient beings with the righteous Dharma. Because all sentient beings listen to the Dharma and realize the Tao, they can escape from life and death and be liberated from troubles.

During the Summer Retreat, the public has the opportunity to make four offerings to support the monks in their normal study and peaceful cultivation. This is an extremely special good deed, and it is also a great opportunity to accumulate immeasurable blessings and wisdom, build good relationships, and reduce karma. Not only do you stay away from troubles now, get rid of the constraints of the mind, and gain a pure mind, but you also plant good and wonderful seeds for attaining Buddhahood and liberation in the future.

Picture source丨Ten Wish Encyclopedia

Photography丨Miaozhuan