Monk Shenying of the Tang Dynasty was the son of the Han family in Cangzhou. He became a monk at a young age and had a clear moral integrity and a will to seek the Dharma as firm as stone.
When he was in his prime, he took refuge under the master Nanyue Shenhui, hoping to learn the great Dharma. Time passed unknowingly, and one day Shenhui master suddenly said to him:
"Your destiny is to be in the northern Qingliang resort, so that you can build a Dharma pillar. You'd better not stay here forever!"
Following the master's teachings, he made a trip to Mount Wutai. In the fourth year of Kaiyuan, after a long journey, he finally arrived at Mount Wutai and stopped at Huayan Temple to rest.
One day after having a vegetarian meal, I went out to travel alone. Deep in the clouds of Xilin, I suddenly saw a temple with "Fahuayuan" written on the plaque.
He entered the temple and paid homage to the Buddha statues everywhere. He also saw a multi-treasure pagoda in the courtyard. The pagoda was decorated with pearls and jade and towered into the clouds. It was surrounded by clouds and mist. There were many bells in the niches. The whole pagoda radiated bright light and was burning with heavenly incense. The fragrance was elegant and fragrant.
There is the Renwang Hall behind it, with gold as the tile roof and colored glaze as the walls. There are pillars and rafters inside, all of which are strange treasures. There is an image of Manjushri in the middle. His hair and eyes are all cyan from the top bun, and his whole body is purple and gold. The rest of the Dharma Hall and the monks' residences are very far-reaching, and it seems impossible to see them all.
Looking at the monks in this temple, they all have extraordinary appearance, natural splendor and calm mind. Everyone is meditating silently.
Shenying thought: I will practice with these solemn monks here! I don’t know if the other party will answer? Then he asked the deacon what was on his mind.
The deacon agreed and said:
"You have your robe and luggage, go back and get them, and you can practice here."
Monk Shenying went back to get his robe and luggage, and then returned to this place to look for the Fahua Temple, but he saw clumps of trees but no sign of the temple.
Shenying lamented and made a wish:
"I must die here."
A Fahua Temple was built at this location and he lived in solitude to practice.
Of course, today, this ancient ashram has become nothing more than broken walls and tiles, and no longer exists.
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