Etiquette and taboo of burning incense and worshiping Buddha in Wutai Mountain

Wutai Mountain is a mountain of wisdom revered by Buddhists all over the world. Thousands of years of enlightenment and blessing have formed an invisible atmosphere. So what are the etiquette and taboos of going to Wutai Mountain to burn incense and worship Buddha? Let me introduce them to you below.

Etiquette and taboo of burning incense and worshiping Buddha in Wutai Mountain

1. Respect: Respecting teachers and attaching importance to teaching is the basic quality of any student. Without respect, all knowledge, knowledge, morality and quality will gain nothing, that is, all thoughts, words and deeds are related to body, mouth and mind, whether good or evil, evil or non-good, all of which are respectful from the heart. The more reverence and admiration you can have for the Buddhist monk Sambo, the more interest you can have, because respect is the minimum condition and prerequisite.

2. Solemn heart: Buddha statues, Buddhist temples, stupas, classics, instruments, sangha, etc. are all solemn, and they show us silently all the time. Because we didn't observe and realize with solemn heart, we ignored the enlightenment given to people. How can you get the corresponding enlightenment from the solemn Dojo if you don't solemn your heart?

3. Caution: Compared with teaching by example, caution is the most important foundation of wordless education. On this basis, we can embody and unify respect and solemnity in words and actions, and take care of the triviality of our hearts everywhere to enlighten us to realize the true meaning of the life universe. Only on this basis can we abide by the precepts and follow the teachings, and become an example for ordinary people and be self-serving. With this three-hearted quality, sin is not born, and fault can be avoided; If you want to multiply your fortune, you should also pay attention to your words, actions and intentions.

How to make a wish and keep it

1. How to make a wish: Generally, you can make a wish at Wuye Temple on an empty stomach in the morning. You can burn incense at : on the fifteenth or first day of the lunar calendar every month. In addition, according to different seasons, you can make a wish before 4: to 7: in the morning. According to the tour guide, you can make up to three wishes, and you must fulfill them. You can also ask for a wish, and you can't come to Wuye Temple to make a wish. When making a wish, the first step is incense, and the pilgrimage is to communicate with the Buddha. The second step is to worship in four directions, east, west, north and south, because there are buddhas on all sides of Wutai Mountain. The third step is to bow down to the statue of the Fifth Master and make a wish or beg for it.

2. How to make a wish: To make a wish at Wutai Mountain is to make a wish at Wuye Temple. Wuye is one of the incarnations of the vulgar bodhisattva, and he wishes in front of the statue of Wuye. After his wish is fulfilled, he will make a wish within one year. There are three main ways to make a wish:

1) Hanging a plaque at Wuye Temple (it has been hung a lot now, and it is said that it will often be replaced);

2) Put a dragon robe on the statue of Fifth Master (as you can see, a lot has been put on);

3) Because it is said that Wuye is particularly fond of going to the theatre, a stage was built opposite to the statue dedicated to Wuye, so that a qualified donor could donate a play to fulfill his promise, and also do things in Wuye Temple.

Treat people well

1. Common salutations when meeting monks are: put your hands together, bow your head slightly, or put your hands on your chest with your head slightly lowered. Do not use improper manners such as shaking hands, hugging and touching the monk's head.

2. Talking with monks: You should not mention the words of killing, marriage, or eating fishy meat, so as not to arouse the monks' disgust. When visiting a temple, don't talk loudly, give directions, ridicule, walk around or tamper with the things in the temple. Especially, it is forbidden to touch and carve statues. In case of Buddhist activities, you should stand still or leave quietly. At the same time, we should also take care of our children, so as not to do impolite things because of their ignorance.

3. Smoking, littering and taking photos in the temple are not allowed.

4. When entering the temple gate, visitors should try to walk on both sides. When entering the temple gate, they should take their right foot first and their left foot first. Don't cross the middle threshold, let alone stand or sit on the threshold, which is disrespectful to the Buddha and Bodhisattva.

5. The standard action of bowing to the Buddha: First, put the bag on your back and in your hand by your side, then bow down on the futon on the front right side of the Buddha, with your palms up, your head knocked down to your palms, and when you look up, turn your palms on the ground, and then fold your hands.

Travel time

The best travel time of Wutai Mountain is summer, especially in July and August. Wutai Mountain is very high above sea level. There is no obvious spring and autumn on the mountain, and the winter is long and cold. It usually snows in October until March and April of the following year. In July and August, the mountains are about 1 degrees lower than the flat land, which is very cool, so it is called "Qingliang Mountain" and there are many tourist activities.

When crossing Hongmenyan to Wutai Mountain from Fanshi and Shahe in the north, we should pay attention to the change of seasons and climate. Before May and after September, the highway high into the clouds was blocked by snow, making it difficult to pass, and it was only possible to pass from May to September. At this time, we need to pay attention to road traffic reports in advance.

regional distribution

Wutai Mountain is located in the northeast of Shanxi Province, between Wutai County and fan shi in Xinzhou City, and 24 kilometers southwest of Taiyuan, the provincial capital. Wutai Mountain Scenic Area is 78 kilometers away from Wutai County. Five peaks stand in the scenic area, and the summit is as flat as a platform, so it is called five. Among them, Wanghai Mountain in Dongtai, Guayue Peak in West Taiwan, Jinxiu Peak in South Taiwan, Yedou Peak in North Taiwan and Cuiyan Peak in Middle Taiwan. Outside the five peaks, it is called outside Taiwan, while inside the five peaks, it is called inside Taiwan, with Taihuai Town as the center. Taihuai Town is the concentration of most temples and a must-see for tourists. In addition, there are also a few temples and scenic spots in the mountains outside Wutai Peak and Wutai Platform.

Itinerary recommendation

Tayuan Temple → Luozi Temple → Xiantong Temple → Bodhisattva Peak

On the first day, starting from Taihuai Town, the temples in the northwest are the most distinctive and valuable. On this way, you will pass famous temples such as Tayuan Temple, Luozi Temple, Xiantong Temple and Bodhisattva Peak in turn. You can walk all the way. Return to Taihuai Town in the evening and have dinner in the town. Recommend Wutai Mountain famous dishes: sliced meat with fragrant mushrooms, stir-fried Taiwan mushrooms, and stewed Taiwan mushrooms with chicken.

The next morning, Wuye Temple → Dailuoding → Guanghua Temple, Bishan Temple, etc., you can go to Wuye Temple, where incense is the most popular in the town, burn incense and pray, then go straight north along the town street, and cross Qingshui River to the foot of Dailuoding. There is Guanghua Temple opposite the river bank at the foot of Dai Luoding. If you have spare time, you can go further north. There are Pushou Temple, Jinjie Temple, Qifosi Temple, Jifu Temple Temple and Bishan Temple all the way.

accommodation strategy

Taihuai Town is the geographical center and accommodation base camp of Wutai Mountain Scenic Area, with all kinds of facilities available. There are not many high-end hotels in the town, mainly middle and low-grade hotels, and between 1 and 2 yuan, the most are family hotels run by local people. Family hotels generally have four or five beds, 3-6 yuan per person. In addition, Xiantong Temple and Tayuan Temple in Taiwan, Xitai and Zhongtai outside the town, Lion's Nest and other temples provide lodging, and you can stay.

A little further away from Taihuai Town Street, such as near Jifu Temple at the northern end, there are also many farmhouse hostels that can stay at a price of less than 1 yuan. These hostels basically have televisions, bathrooms, etc., which can be used for bathing and meals. Nanshan Temple is about 2.5 kilometers south of Taihuai Town, and there are many hotels in this area where you can stay. Every hotel here occupies a large area, and its facilities are much better than those in Taihuai town, but the price is also much more expensive. Especially in the tourist season, the prices are generally higher than those of similar hotels in big cities, and they need to be booked in advance.

After winter comes into the off-season, farmhouses in Taihuai Town usually close down, but hotels with more than three stars are open.

Gourmet Raiders

There are many unique dishes and snacks in Wutai Mountain area, such as traditional famous dishes such as sliced meat baked with Formosan mushrooms, stir-fried Formosan mushrooms, stewed chicken with Formosan mushrooms, stewed meat with Formosan mushrooms, fried naked eyes with Formosan mushrooms, etc., which are fragrant but not greasy, and various vegetarian dishes are also indispensable healthy foods. Special snacks mainly include five sets of steamed meat, stir-fried rotten seeds, crystal jiaozi, tofu balls and five sets of stewed vegetables. In addition, Shanxi is a popular place for pasta in China, so you must try a variety of local pasta when you come here. In Taihuai Town in the center of the scenic spot, there are restaurants everywhere, and you can also go to the family hostel to taste the local flavor meals made by the host.

Precautions

Wutai Mountain is a vast area with overlapping mountains. Many places are undeveloped and there are many birds and animals. Visitors who are not familiar with the terrain and roads should never enter the wilderness to avoid safety accidents.

Mountain roads are complex, with rocks and thorns, and wetlands. It is best to wear waterproof hiking shoes, at least sports shoes that are breathable and comfortable for long-distance walking.