Suzhou Tour: The Collision between Buddhism and Psychology

Love at first sight is fate, and so is where a journey begins.

20 17 165438+ October, early winter in the north, the weather is not too cold. At the end of the year, Leijiacha etc.

The 7th Zhuang Jie Forum sponsored by Zhuang Jie Buddhist Research Institute was held in Suzhou. When I learned the news, I didn't hesitate or struggle, so I signed up immediately and followed my unconscious or intuition, which saved me a lot of time and energy.

During the trip to Suzhou, Cylonski stayed for a few days, listened to the dialogue between the wizards and the predecessors of psychology, and quietly copied the scriptures in the stupa of Hanshan Temple. For the first time, he felt the significance of traveling, which was different from the past.

Traveling at a slower speed will be closer to the heart.

The first time I got in touch with the temple at zero distance, I ate, lived and studied. Compared with the previous tour, this tour should be considered as an in-depth tour. I am curious and uneasy, and I am prepared for a few days of poverty.

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 about 300 meters to saionji. As soon as I got off the bus, I looked up and saw two young monks coming. I went up to him and asked, "How can I get to saionji?" ? One of them asked me what to do. I said I would come to the forum meeting, and he asked me to follow. Just what I want.

Two monks are wearing blue robes, one with a backpack and the other with a gray cloth bag. Is it a charity bag? I followed them silently, and I couldn't help thinking a question. Why do people become monks?

When Master Hongyi abandoned his wife and other children, he decided to become a monk and wrote to his wife: Giving up you is not my fickle feelings. Whether it is to see through the world of mortals or to preach Buddhism to save the country, it is by no means an escape. His spiritual pursuit is not 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, do what you want to do, and pursue the state of mind of "peace of mind and a clear conscience".

I was led into the temple through a small door, and soon I was greeted by a female volunteer in a big gray suit. She helped me pull my suitcase, walked across the uneven stone road, led me to register, and even went upstairs with my suitcase. We followed behind empty-handed, so sorry to disturb others. I want to get my suitcase by myself, but I can't resist the enthusiasm of the volunteers.

Volunteers took me into the designated room, a clean bathroom with hot water, six beds, bunk beds, clean white quilts and sheets, which were completely tasteless. It's very different from what I imagined. I always imagined that the accommodation would be a bungalow, which would be very simple, and I bought dirty sheets specially. It seems that I worry too much.

Dinner at 5: 30, buffet, fruit, very rich. Once again, it is beyond my imagination. For me who like vegetarian food, besides not eating meat, it feels like a four-star hotel buffet.

After dinner, I sent the dishes to the designated place and saw volunteers picking vegetables, washing dishes, four cauldrons and running water. I looked at them silently for a while, only to understand that this is a kind of willing pay that is different from working for others.

Many people attended the meeting, and volunteers wearing vests were everywhere, smiling warmly and arranging meals and exits in an orderly manner. What questions can be answered patiently in detail?

When I first arrived in cylon, I felt very comfortable and flattered to be surrounded by enthusiasm and warmth.

I am full of food and fruit every day. Only two days later, I feel heavy. Originally, I wanted to experience the poor life in the temple and wash my mind. As a result, I ate, rested and relaxed all day. I even doubt whether I am in a temple or a hotel.

I didn't sleep well the first night In the morning, I was awakened by a regular sound. The ringing of the bell from far to near, from near to far, is particularly harsh in the silent morning. I'm nervous. Time and space seem so far away that I don't know where I am 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 at 6 o'clock and went to Ursa Hall for an early class. A monk kept knocking for about ten minutes. The drums are loud and feel solemn. I followed the crowd with my hands folded, circled, bowed down, sang the scriptures, and led the singing with a powerful voice, which was very powerful.

I was shivering with cold in the morning class, and I finally got to the end before I realized 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 makes the temple cleaner.

I have regular classes, sleep and eat every day. I always feel a little uneasy, and I have learned a lot of psychology classes, which makes me feel different. Walking on the road, I can't help thinking about a question, why can I eat and drink for free? I know that I can't do anything without losing a penny. Maybe I should do something.

The next night, I didn't eat. Give yourself an empty stomach. Everyone went to eat, and the road was deserted, but I didn't feel lonely alone. It's a little cold at night. I wrap my clothes tightly and feel very quiet and confused.

Meditate in Daigakuji at 7 pm. I arrived early, so I sat down and waited. A monk walked in with steady steps and led everyone to do mindfulness. This is not an easy task. I don't have time to adjust my posture cross-legged from time to time. In this quiet place, all kinds of distractions seem to be flying, and it is difficult to get to the end. Raise your hands together and send the teacher away.

With the efforts of Monk Puren, after ten years of expansion and renovation, Siangji has been developed and improved.

The temple is not very big, and the 500 arhats in Luohantang have different shapes. I went there again before I left that morning and invited a Lohan card according to the specified method. "Sweet and sour, plum blossoms are especially fragrant after snow" as a souvenir is also my heart.

There is a pond in the temple. It is said that there is a 400-year-old spotted channel catfish, which should not be seen before. Whether this is true or not is unknown.

Zhuang Jiefo College enrolls 65,438+08-40-year-old undergraduate and graduate students, male monks and laymen who are interested in becoming monks. Four years as an undergraduate and three years as a graduate, which is very formal. There are many books in the library, which is very quiet. In the students' classroom, the crimson wooden desks look heavy and have a strong academic atmosphere. A very quiet place to study and practice.

Master Ji Qun wrote many Buddhist pamphlets. Many Buddhist concepts are easy to understand and can be read for free. You can also join the Bodhi Academy and study in various places. I greedily asked for some pamphlets before I left. On the wall of the cylon, there are also many words, which you can 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 were in piles, muttering about the food on the ground. Most of them are elderly women wearing cotton-padded jackets, dressed in rural areas, and several people get together to eat around the ground, and they are also very skilled in chanting. At first glance, they are frequent visitors to the temple.

On the walls of the temple, there are various activities to promote Buddhism, such as the precepts of the Eight Officials Pavilion, releasing people, chanting Buddha, retreat camps and so on. Including the Buddhist salon of Bodhi College.

What makes my eyes shine is the Guanyin psychological counseling hotline. Consultants are mainly masters and laymen of the institute. They use the methods of Buddhism and psychology to provide listening and accompanying help for people in pain, and help them get out of the predicament and face life positively.

Cylonski is quiet most of the time, except for the strong incense and anger during activities. After the forum, most people left, and I stayed for another two days. When I calmed down, I gradually realized that the temple gave me the feeling of being close to the people in a Buddhist atmosphere.

Farewell to saionji, with a grateful heart, I cleaned the room, removed the sheets, folded them and put them in the designated place. I went to Mahayana Hall to present a little gift, put on my favorite Bodhi bracelet, picked up a red leaf falling on the ground and put it in the book. Will come again.

I like watching cats and taking photos with them, but I dare not go near them. I'm afraid of dogs, I like catching them, and I'm afraid to get close to them. I laughed at myself as Ye Gong Haolong.

This time, I met many cats. My companions love cats very much, and I also brought cat food. I take pictures wherever I feed them.

On the day when I didn't have dinner, I went back to the dormitory and three women chatted. Suddenly I found a cat lying on the lower bunk, as comfortable as a lunch break. We seem to disturb it. The three cowards were at a loss and told him to go. It blinked lazily, moved its head, ignored anyone, and continued to lie peacefully, watching home.

Finally, someone was asked to ask the cat to go away, and the cat flew down and disappeared.

Every room cannot be locked from the outside. Maybe the door was not closed tightly and the cat slipped in. The cats in the temple are probably a little Buddhist, and they are always calm when they see them.

I remember the cat named Runtu. I haven't seen it for over a year. When I opened the door this time, his big eyes were full of alert and preparedness, and he kept his distance from me all night. The next morning, as soon as I walked out of the bedroom, the earth touched my leg and made a "whirring" sound. I don't understand cats. I don't know what's wrong with cats. I'm a little scared. Later, I felt it was close to me.

A big home, it walks around quietly, often out of sight, but inadvertently found it passing by. Lying in the nest early at night squinting, like a lonely old man bored to night, sleepy early. Sometimes I see it crouching quietly at the door of a 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 nothing to worry about, but its world is only a house, only a family, only waiting. It will show alert eyes when it sees strangers. It lives a luxurious life, but it is very lonely. The cats outside have to feed themselves or wait to be fed. Its world is very big, watching small fish by the river, sunbathing in the grass, and even sneaking into the girls' dormitory is lawless. Its eyes are calm and calm, it comes and goes freely, and it does not lack companions to play, living like a wild crane.

Much like a different state of life.

1. Go shopping in the old street

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 Shantang Street is wider. Standing on the stone bridge, a wooden boat slowly passed by on the narrow river, with old houses scattered on both sides, mottled white walls and sporadic red lanterns. Time seems to go back, and the Jiangnan water town is just around the corner.

There are some clothes hanging outside the window. Through the window, you can vaguely see the crowded and shabby inside. There is a drain pipe under the house. Did all the water flow into the river?

In front of a food stall in Shantang Street, I spent 5 yuan to buy something called arrowhead, which tastes like original potato chips. A kind of flesh-colored scroll aroused my curiosity. I asked my boss if it was fried dried skin, and blisters appeared when I ate it.

I found a vegetable seller and saw something called arrowhead mushroom, which looked like garlic, but it was 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 chatting with local people I don't know, learning about their living customs and learning new knowledge. This kind of travel experience full of life is very interesting.

2. Climb Lingyan Mountain

The next day, I originally planned to go to Luzhi Ancient Town. Later, I felt that the distance was a little far, and my companions were afraid that they would miss the train. So I went to Mudu Ancient Town instead and climbed Lingyan Mountain by the way. The traffic is very convenient. Take the 1 line to the terminal Mudu, and do another three rounds of manpower. Ten dollars for two people, less than an hour.

Lingyan Mountain is the former site of the tile palace of the Wu King's Fucha Pavilion in the Spring and Autumn Period, and it is also the place where the State of Yue worships the Xi stone. Today, the ruins and monuments of the King of Wu are: King of Wu's well, dressing table, playing with a flower pond, etc.

Lingyan Mountain is not high above sea level. Four people walked and rested, and climbed 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 and go directly into the ancient town, which looks relatively new. I went to eat famous black rice, black porridge and black rice for lunch, all of which were 5 yuan. When I served them, I found that they were too small to eat. I asked for another bowl. The side dishes are pickles, 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.

Step 3 visit the most beautiful bookstore

I have decided on the next stop. I take the 1 line from the ancient town. In less than an hour, I got off at Xinghai Square and went 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 obviously an unreal world. The purple, blue and red curtains, which change like neon lights, are gently opened by hand and enter a world of dreamy books. It's really beautiful, and it amazes me.

I really want to try coffee, but I am worried about insomnia and don't drink anything. It seems that the mood of reading is not enough, so I ordered a cup of chocolate, sat down, enjoyed reading and enjoyed the satisfaction of the spiritual world. If I have time, I want to stay all day.

Such a large area is so beautiful, except for books that are not discounted, they are all very 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 that I often doubt, but it is said that the owner of a coffee shop and bookstore is playing with feelings, but there is no other way to make money.

4. Visit Hanshan Temple

Although I climbed the mountain and visited the ancient town yesterday, my legs and stomach hurt at night, so I decided to walk to Hanshan Temple today, about half an hour's walk from Xiyuan Temple.

Passing by the breakfast shop, I tasted the sesame scallion cake and tofu brain in Suzhou. Light and simple, enough for my stomach.

A night-mooring near maple bridge by Zhang Ji, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, made Hanshan Temple famous all over the world. Everywhere I go, the walls are covered with poems about Qiao Feng.

In the past, visiting temples was always so-so and I didn't want to stay, but today I am more patient because I feel it with my heart and look at it with my heart. I also found many people waiting for the bus, waiting in line, looking around and anxious. If someone cuts in line, fighting is common. 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 be quiet 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 Mindfulness and sat down to read it. I also want to try when I see someone copying scriptures. 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 is difficult to write quickly because the words are big and small.

In the process of copying, sometimes my mind is as calm as water, and sometimes my thoughts fly. Although I don't quite understand the meaning of scriptures, I have never experienced sitting in a temple copying scriptures 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 travel to me. I'm not looking at photos quickly, kowtowing and burning incense, nor visiting here, but I'm concentrating on doing something consistent with this place, as if I should stay here.

The Zhuang Jie Forum aims to provide a platform for communication between famous contemporary Buddhist scholars and psychologists. The theme of this forum is "Buddhism and Psychology: Life and Death, Mindfulness", which is conducted in the form of keynote lectures and expert discussions.

The similarities between Buddhism and psychology are all about "mind" and solving people's psychological problems. The difference is that psychology focuses on solving abnormal psychological problems, while Buddhism believes that as long as there is greed and ignorance, there are hidden dangers of mental illness and they are the carriers of troubles.

Greed is an excessive attachment to me and what I believe, and a direct source of negative emotions such as anxiety and fear. Anger is the psychology of estrangement, opposition, non-acceptance and even hatred for everything that is not mine. Insanity means that you can't see the truth about yourself and the world clearly, which leads to the wrong cognition and misunderstanding of "I" and "mine", which is the root of trouble.

Each of us should always be aware of our greed and ignorance, but Buddhism does not let us suppress our emotions, but learn to observe wisely, that is, mindfulness.

Mindfulness originally originated from Buddhist meditation and developed from meditation, meditation and enlightenment. It refers to consciously paying attention to and being aware of what is happening at the moment, without making any judgment, analysis or reaction to everything at the moment, but simply being aware of it. Later, mindfulness was developed by Kabajin into a systematic psychotherapy, namely mindfulness therapy.

Buddhism examines the phenomenon of life according to the wisdom of origin and puts forward the theory of three generations, which holds that life is similar and continuous. Life includes not only our present, but also our endless past and future.

Buddhism is not pessimistic and negative. It attaches importance to current efforts. The present is the key to linking the past and the future, and it is also the key to changing our destiny.

Therefore, Buddhism is actually very close to our lives.

The initial understanding of Buddhism became attached to different people and different things, met and separated, and was comfortable with it. Slow down and listen to your inner peace. I think I'm glad you came.