Original: People's Writer V Author People's Writer
Poems Song
Hearing Dinghui Zen Temple
Jiangsu/ Xu Boyin
When I was very young, I often heard the elderly say that Rugao has a temple called Dinghui Zen Temple. People from all over the countryside go there to burn incense and pray for blessings on the first day of the lunar month, the middle of the month, and the twenty-five days, pray to the Bodhisattva for blessings and peace in their lives.
When it comes to February 19, June 19, and September 19, the incense will become even more prosperous. It is said that it was a good day for Guanyin Bodhisattva to be born, become a monk, and attain enlightenment.
In front of the temple, both sides of the moat are like going to the market. There are small vendors who bring children to eat vegetarian noodles, sell fragrance, and various small merchants. With the sound of bells coming from the temple, a peaceful scene of prosperity and peace.
During this period, my father told us brothers and sisters the most exciting story about Dinghui Zen Temple. My father said that Dinghui Zen Temple was the largest temple in Jiangbei hundreds of years ago. There is a night pearl on the forehead of the Buddha in the hall, and it emits a shining light at night, illuminating the entire Great Hall.
The emperor at that time sent an imperial envoy to various places to search. The minister came to Rucheng and circled around Dinghui Zen Temple surrounded by water on three sides, exclaiming: Isn’t this a real dragon treasure land? But then I thought about it, the temple was full of monks, and it was impossible for a new true dragon emperor to make a living with the emperor. Let's let it go.
In that era, the royal family cared about these Feng Shui treasure lands very much. Therefore, every time I walk past the gate of Dinghui Zen Temple, a sense of awe arises from nature. I always think about finding time to visit the temple and exploring where the god is? Where is the odd?
The opportunity is here. On August 15 this year, our Writers Association has carried forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture, practiced the core socialist values, and reflected Buddhist cultural awareness and cultural responsibility. In conjunction with the Rugao Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, we jointly organized the literary fieldwork activity of "Love and Dinghui Zen Temple". I was fortunate to walk into Dinghui Zen Temple in depth and listen to the long bell sound from the thousand-year-old temple.
In the early morning, with the help of my wife, I followed the field trip team and began a special search for ancient times. As soon as I walked to the mountain gate facing north, it aroused everyone's interest. It was the only temple gate in the country facing north. It is said that it is on the same meridian as Tiananmen Square, and it is passed down by ancestors and grandchildren. Only a few special days can the door be opened every year. The mystery of this is something that we all living beings cannot understand.
Walking into the gate, the monk proudly introduced us to the five treasures of the temple: that is, the thousand-year-old ginkgo, the hundred-year-old boxwood, the magical grains, the landed golden osmanthus , and the thirteen Bodhi. It turns out that these five treasures are five precious strange trees . Growing in the southeast, northwest, north and middle of the temple, the ancient ginkgo trees have experienced thousands of years of wind and rain, with lush branches and leaves and flourishing. That century-old boxwood is the masterpiece of our Rupai bonsai. It looks around and is moving everywhere. Although the tree is flattering, it gives people a feeling of a childish face. My wife pulled my hand over and touched it again and again.
Let’s talk about the magical grain tree. I pulled my wife to the master and asked him to introduce it in detail. The master guided me to caress the tree body and leaves carefully. "This is an alien tree species brought back when Zheng He went to the West, and the fruits they bear are different every year."
"Then why?" I asked further, and the master replied; "I can't explain why, what kind of crops are harvested by the people, and its fruits look like. There are only two such trees in the country." "Uh! What a strange tree!" Everyone sighed and stood in front of the trees to take a photo.
Next, I followed the master and asked why it was called Jingui in the Land? The master smiled. This big golden osmanthus tree grew naturally from the seeds that came from flying. The flowering period was particularly long every year, and the flowers bloomed very many, and it was very fragrant. Everyone suddenly realized that "Oh!"
The most interesting thing is the Thirteen Bodhi tree, because people all know that Bodhi is the legendary sacred tree of the Buddha's kingdom. At that time, the Buddha Tathagata sat under the Bodhi tree for three days before he attained enlightenment and became a Buddha. Everyone carefully admired it and saw that each leaf had a different shape, which felt really magical.
Everyone sighed: Although we are all real people, we feel like we are in a fairyland.
The master of interest came, and then asked us a question in turn, "Do you know that our Dinghui Zen Temple has two alias?" Everyone shook their heads, and Chairman Ji of the Writers Association standing beside me couldn't help but ask, "There are two alias?" "Yes, one is called the Robber Temple and the other is called the Hulu Temple." As he spoke, the master pointed at the top of the Main Hall, and there was a large golden gourd, and there was a lotus-shaped green glazed tiles under the gourd.
According to records, there are small holes at four corners of each tiles in the hall, and the tiles are stringed with copper wire. Don’t underestimate this tiles. This has been granted the imperial seal. It comes from the Forbidden City in Beijing. Its meaning is "one tiles cover the entire temple." This explanation is understandable. However, the alias of Hulu Temple is also called "Robber Temple" that makes everyone confused.
According to historical records, more than 1,400 years ago, during the Sui Dynasty, Master Zhiyan built a temple in Zhumao in the southeast corner of Rucheng and built a seven-story pagoda.
According to folk legend, thirty-six pirates in the temple came to the temple to cut their hair into monks and escaped into monks. It turned out that I met the Bodhisattva Weituo sitting on the bow of their boat showing his holy spirit, and sent them down to put down their butcher's knife and became a Buddha on the spot. Therefore, the temple has maintained the tradition of thirty-six monks celebrating two statues of Weituo Bodhisattva.
While speaking, melodious bells and corresponding drums came from not far away. Everyone present closed their breath and listened to greetings from ancient times, washing away the fatigue of their lives and the dust accumulated in their hearts. As the master introduced, within a radius of hundreds of miles, Dinghui Zen Temple is the only temple that has always retained morning bells and evening drums and evening drums. It is rare to keep such a pure place in the bustling city today.
Go up the steps, "Please pay attention, raise your legs a little." My wife reminded me that the Main Palace has arrived. The moment I crossed the high threshold, I seemed to have crossed a spiritual hurdle, and my irritable and busy thoughts had a calmness that I had never felt before.
A 97-year-old lady welcomed us. She helped us watch the incense every day and welcomed and sent good men and women from all directions. Although he is nearly a hundred years old, he is full of energy, with a childish face, and his face is full of piety, like a living Bodhisattva.
In the main hall, the master's explanation is more magnetic and penetrating, and his tone is full of pride and pride. The large plaque with golden characters on the front red background is expressed by Cixi himself. Everyone stared wide, with a puzzled look on their faces. I would like to hear the details. The master explained, "In the late Qing Dynasty, foreign powers invaded China. The old abbot resolutely donated all the temple property and founded Rugao Normal University and Rushi Affiliated Primary School Education to promote the country. Cixi was grateful to the master for patriotism and was awarded words and commendations. Therefore, our Dinghui Zen Temple has maintained the tradition of donating poor students to this day."
"The statues of the same hall and the four heavenly kings are defective. It is the only wonder in the country and a mystery that cannot be solved." The single-rod lotus Buddha is the only country. The monks of Dinghui Zen Temple use their own creation of "sea tide sounds" to lead the chanting of scriptures, making themselves famous at home and abroad.
There is also the 6.5-ton white jade reclining Buddha, which is even rare in the world. Speaking of this, the master regrets: "The big Buddha and the eighteen Arhats of our Dinghui Temple were carved from a thousand-year-old sandalwood tree and eighteen pear trees. If they were not destroyed by the rebels during the Cultural Revolution, it would be fine to be ranked in the top five in the country."
"What a pity, what a pity!" I repeated, "Clang, Clang, Clang, Clang," a crisp ringing sound came from the southeast corner of the temple. I couldn't help but ask, "Can we go to the tower to feel it?" The master said happily, "Yes, all tourists who come here must climb the tower." When he heard about climbing the tower, several female writers cheered.
Following the stairs, he led the climb. "People often say that Baota suppresses demons, so which elves are in our Baota?" I asked the master jokingly."The pagoda of our Dinghui Zen Temple is not a demon-suppressing demons. It is a seven-story, eight-sided Guanyin pagoda, which enshrines Guanyin statues with various demeanors. And the strangeness is that the appearance is born from the heart. If you think of Guanyin Bodhisattva as a woman, just like a woman; if you think of Guanyin Bodhisattva as a man, just like a man. In other words, if you think of Guanyin Bodhisattva as your father, you will look more like your father; if you think of Guanyin Bodhisattva as your mother, you will look more like your mother."
Standing on the top of your tower, facing the gentle breeze, listening to the pleasant ringtones coming from the corner of the tower. ah! I realized that it is better to respect your parents first than to ask Buddha to burn incense here.
I had the honor to sit with the master at lunch. During the meal, I mentioned the treasures of Dinghui Zen Temple that I have heard of since childhood, such as the Night Pearl. Where did that rare treasure go? The master said angrily: "When Japan invaded China, it was stolen by the Japanese, including the gold characters embedded in it and the gold foil pasted on the statue of the Bodhisattva." The atmosphere in the dining room suddenly became dull and solemn, "Uh! Isn't today August 15?" Chairman Ji reminded. yes! It was today in 1945 that the Japanese Emperor announced to the world that he surrendered unconditionally. I picked up the cup and stood up: "Come on! Let's use tea instead of wine, make a drink! Do it! Do it..."
The afternoon field trip ended successfully. Just as I shook hands with the master and said goodbye, an inexplicable tranquility flowed all over my body. I seemed to recall the words the master said in front of the statue of the future Buddha, "Let go of the past, grasp today, and look forward to the future."
"Clang, tang, tang..." The bell of Dinghui Zen Temple rang again with the pace of the new era. It knocked away the wind and rain of thousands of years and warned the infinite future.
Editor-in-chief: Luo Shenghong
Column Editor: Chen Jinsong
Special Editor: Yin Xiaojie
Text/Xu Boyin
Boyin
Boyin
Bo to join the army in 1964, went to Yunnan to participate in the war in 1984, and in 1985, in order to cover his comrades, he was seriously injured and blinded by a landmine to protect his comrades. He is a first-class disabled soldier. A member of the China Light Music Association, a member of the Literature and Art Committee of the China Blind Association, a member of the Jiangsu Disabled Literature Association, a member of the Nantong Writers Association, and a leader of the Daai Online Art Troupe. The collection of works published in 2004: "I Want to Tell You".
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