Notes on Two Days at Yanshou Temple

In early summer, on the banks of the Fuchun River, there is the Yanshou Zen Temple.

At around 9pm on Friday, June 30th, we rushed to the foot of Fuyang Dongshan Mountain, passed through the village at the foot of the mountain, and then walked a hundred meters up the mountain road to the temple gate. There is a square stone tablet in front of the temple, about 8 meters wide and 3 meters high, with the words "Yanshou Zen Temple" in red characters on the front. The temple gate is not closed. After passing the Four Heavenly Kings Hall, you go straight up the mountain and winding slopes, with bamboo forests on both sides. Occasionally, the wind blows violently, causing the bamboo forest to roll and the fallen leaves to fly. Because it was my first time to visit the temple at night, and I was alone, the surrounding scenery made me both excited and a little scared.

I was waiting at a lighted bulletin board, and a WeChat notification invited my senior to pick me up. Because there are many tombs in the temple. But the senior brother never came back, so he had to bravely go up the mountain to the building of Dazhi Lecture Hall alone. When I met my senior brother, he took me to register, get a quilt, and arrange a place to live. The quilt accommodation was very clean, and I chose a clinical bunk.

After the arrangements were made, my senior brother took me to a large room, where more than 20 people gathered around a long table for a discussion. Several senior roommates were discussing Fanbai and teaching everyone how to chant Fanbai. There are many vegetarian snacks and fruits on the table, so you can eat and drink freely.

Personally, I don’t think the chant is pleasant, but it is monotonous and long. However, the senior sisters present here found it very useful. As soon as they heard the chant, they burst into tears, thanked the Buddha and Bodhisattvas for their kindness, and whispered Amitabha in their mouths. Before the Master's sermon in the lecture hall the day after tomorrow, a chant started, and most of the women on the left shed tears and were very moved.

After eating a lot of fruit, I felt a little bored, so I went back to the house to wash up and go to bed. I admire the management of the temple dormitory for their attentiveness and providing all necessary shower needs. It was the first time I spent the night in a mountain temple. The sound of insects outside the window was unusually pure and natural. I fell asleep without any other thoughts.

On the morning of the second day of Saturday, before 5 o'clock, someone started calling the clock. I don't usually sleep too much, and I get up when I hear the sound of the watch.

Wandering around the temple, I saw many monks wearing Haiqing living in their rooms and heading towards the Main Hall. At a quarter past five, it's morning class time. In the main hall, in front of the big Buddha statue, monks and laymen stand facing each other from east to west, holding a small book and chanting scriptures. For nearly an hour, it is not easy to be a monk. I got up early, had early classes, and stood and chanted.

At half past six, breakfast time. Before the meal, one has to make an offering to the Bodhisattva. Breakfast is very rich, including fried dough sticks, flatbreads, eight-treasure porridge, corn, sweet potatoes, and various vegetarian options.

After dinner, my senior brother arranged for me to sweep the floor. Yes, you can exercise your muscles and bones. After sweeping a lot of stairs, I saw a very familiar senior fellow sweeping the floor, so we started chatting. He is about 50 years old, has a kind face, and has a little gray hair on his temples. He comes all the way from Beijing. It is said that in volunteer groups, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers. There is no talk about life in the secular world, presumably everyone who comes here wants to have a pure heart. And to listen to the lecture on "Six Groups of Forum Sutras" on Sunday.

After scanning for more than an hour, I went back to the Dazhi Lecture Hall to listen to the Master teaching and singing Sanskrit chants. The abbot introduced the temple. Composed of longevity extension, resident monks, visiting lay people, and volunteer groups. Among them, the volunteer group is a special feature and an important component of the temple. It is responsible for publicity, reception, and organization of meetings. Specific tasks include photography, editing, updating WeChat public accounts, planning events, etc. The temple respects the famous Taiwanese teacher Xiao Pingshi in terms of doctrine.

At half past eleven, lunch. I ate an extra bowl because I was sweeping the floor.

Lunch break.

At 1 p.m., the Great Compassion Repentance Ceremony will be held. In the main hall, there are more than a hundred people, led by the abbot, standing, kneeling, worshiping, singing or reciting. The scriptures I can recognize include the Universal Door of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, the Great Compassion Mantra, etc. Among them, the Great Compassion Mantra can be sung 14 times continuously, which is enough to kill all raps instantly. and various incense chants. The nearly two-and-a-half-hour Fa conference was indeed very tiring. Finally dedicate. The Dharma conference is extraordinary, praise and praise.

Five-thirty in the afternoon, dinner.

Sunday morning, lecture on "The Forum Sutra". The ceremony is solemn and solemn, with chansons sung, water provided, incense, flowers and fruits offered. Welcome Master.

I came here because of the Altar Sutra.

The lecturer has a broad vision and keeps pace with the times. First, he criticizes heretics and fake monks who make money in the name of Buddha. The decline of Dharma, the crisis of faith, and the national security are in danger. The series of lectures on the "Tatan Sutra" are held to promote orthodox Buddhism and promote unity among famous people. Admire admiration.

Because I had something to do in the afternoon, I returned to Hangzhou early at ten o'clock on Sunday morning.

After leaving the temple gate, I saw the other side of the big stone tablet, which was inscribed "Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva". I only listened to half of the Tan Sutra, but I felt that it was very rewarding.