I dreamed that Master Xuanzang's footprints in the west were embedded in history, and I dreamed of the footprints of growth.

In the past, the understanding of Master Xuanzang, or Tang Priest, only came from the classic The Journey to the West, the story of "Tang Priest's Learning from the Scriptures" taught by the people, and more directly came from the later TV series. It is precisely because of Professor Qian Wenzhong's lecture on "The biography of Master Sanzang" in "Lecture Room" that he has a strong interest in this master and is eager to know him. Professor Qian Wenzhong's explanation opened a window for me to yearn for the master, to pursue the dream, and to admire the perseverance and courage of the master. Through this window, I saw a true and great Xuanzang in the history of China. In the Danqing of the Tang Dynasty, I saw the figure of the awakened one who went deep into the dusk and walked into the night, vowed not to return to the East for the truth, and resolutely went to the west.

Out of Chang 'an.

Xuanzang, burdened with the ideal of seeking Buddhist proverbs, embarked on a road full of hardships, wealth, fame and wealth, national color and beauty, and began another 50,000-mile meditation enlightenment.

In Chang 'an in the early years of Zhenguan in Tang Dynasty, there were many differences in Buddhist etiquette. After visiting the great masters in Luo, Shu, Chang 'an and other places, Xuanzang felt that he was "prepared and detailed, and was good at reading the classics, but he was also different." He didn't know what to do, but vowed to go to the west and be confused by the problem. " He also said: "In the past, people who showed wisdom and strictness were able to seek the law and guide their lives. Can't you let Gao Ji not chase, and the breeze will never return? " This gentleman will be the heir. "So he went to Li Shimin without the permission of Emperor Taizong. But the master's determination to seek the Dharma in the West has been made, and he can't give up because of the emperor's imperial decree.

At the age of 26, Master Xuanzang was still so calm and far-sighted when he became a "swift horse liberating the door" and became famous all over Beijing. In order to obtain the supreme Buddhism, he has done a good job of double cultivation of body and mind.

It was a dusk in August of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the first year of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty (627), and it was also an evening when the emperor ordered the release of hungry people due to natural disasters. Xuanzang and Qin Zhou (now Tianshui, Gansu), a Buddhist student in Beijing, and Xiao Da, the hungry people who fled hand in hand, sneaked out of Chang 'an, the capital, under the cover of night, leaving only this one who was somewhat confused. At this time, the emperor didn't care much. He still didn't understand why Master Xuanzang was in such a hurry to return to the West, and why the journey to the West had to start at night and go through a long night. Just like the master's doubts about oriental Buddhism, it needs difficult exploration and verification. But the outstanding demeanor of the master always makes future generations admire him forever.

Smuggle into Yumenguan

Xuanzang left the West Gate of Chang 'an City at night, crossed mountains and mountains, crossed Qin Zhou, stayed in Lanzhou, and went to Liangzhou (now Wuwei, Gansu) with his business trip. Liangzhou, an ancient town on the Silk Road, has a prosperous scene of "Hexi Metropolis, Western Regions in the Front, Countries in the Rear, Non-stop Business Travel". Buddhism is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people here and is very prosperous. Xuanzang was invited to open an altar to talk about promoting Buddhism, also in order to gain his capital for going to the West. Xuanzang's lectures won unprecedented praise among Liangzhou officials, monks, laymen and western businessmen, and people scrambled to listen and support them.

Today, I think about it. Without the help of a predestined friend on Xuanzang's westward journey, even if he is determined, he can't walk out of the boundary of the Tang Dynasty. Master Xuanzang's personality charm, wisdom and belief in pursuing and practicing the truth are earth-shattering, so talented disciples like the Monkey King, Pig Bajie, Friar Sand and Bai in The Journey to the West can go to the West to learn from the scriptures. And these talented disciples are all Buddhist disciples in Hexi Corridor.

Sometimes, Master Xiwei, a Buddhist leader in Hexi, was deeply impressed by his great virtues. "When I heard that I wanted to seek Buddhism, I was so happy that I sent two disciples, one to Hui Lin and the other to Zheng Tao, and secretly sent them to the west." The weather in late autumn is full of coolness. However, Xuanzang can only walk day and night, stop and go, cross the vast Gobi and leave his figure behind. A devout Buddhist, Guazhou (now Anxi, Gansu) received the master generously and introduced him to the West Road: "From then on, there was a Hulu River in the north, which was more than 50 miles wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, and the waves were difficult to cross. If you put Yumenguan on it, the road will be taken by it, which is the throat of the western border. There are five beacon towers in the northwest of Guanwai, where all the people waiting for the lookout live. Each tower is hundreds of miles apart, and there are no aquatic plants in it. Beyond the five peaks is Mohe Yanqi, the boundary of Yiwu. "

The road ahead was vast, and the horse that was walking instead of walking died of illness, and two young monks from Liangzhou with him left him again. Xuanzang looked at the road ahead and Gu Ying, and his heart was full of gloom. At this time, the news that Liangzhou repatriated him arrived again. Fortunately, Li Chang, a state historian, believed in Buddhism, so he presented the secret book to Xuanzang and destroyed it face to face, thus saving the master from the worry of going west. I can't travel thousands of miles in the desert because there is no horse to walk on, so I bought another horse from the market. However, due to the lack of guidance, it was delayed for more than a month in Guazhou, and it was early winter. When Xuanzang was helpless, there was a famous stone? Tuo's Hu people sent him out of Yumen Pass, passed five beacon towers, and replaced Xuanzang with an old horse that knew the way.

It's another night when the stars move and the Gobi animals move. Guided by the lamp of truth and belief, Xuanzang walked towards the last pass of the Tang Dynasty, Yumen Pass. What a poetic name, what a bold frontier. Master Xuanzang has no poet's mood;

A bright moon rises from Qilian Mountain and crosses the vast sea of clouds.

The mighty wind blew Wan Li and crossed Yumen Pass.

At that time, Han soldiers pointed at the mountain road, and Tubo coveted the vast territory of Qinghai.

This is a land of wars in past dynasties, and few soldiers can survive.

Looking at the border town, I miss my hometown, and my eyes are full of longing.

Let it be at night, tossing and turning, sighing.

I wonder if I can sneak into Yumen Pass smoothly. With an anxious mood, how can the sigh of the master be idle? The silvery Hulu River and the locked Yumen Pass are depressed and horrible in the luggage at night.

At about midnight, in order not to make trouble, they went upstream and prepared to cross the river about 10 from Guancheng. There happened to be a forest on the river bank, Si Tong? Tuo cut firewood and built bridges, successfully crossed Hulu River and bypassed Yumen Pass. However, the master experienced his first danger here since his westward journey, and almost died by the sword of the conference semifinals. Maybe Buddhism saved him, maybe the master's solemn law saved him, I don't know. However, today, when we look at the Yumenguan Gate where Master Xuanzang rode forward, it is really touching to think of the back of walking at dawn in the Tang Dynasty, and even moved by the spirit of the sage. This feat of "a strong man will never return" has never been seen before.

Night enveloped five beacon towers.

Out of Yumenguan, Xuanzang was alone, and no one accompanied him anymore, only the "old thin red horse" accompanied him. In physical and mental exhaustion, he had hallucinations several times. In The biography of Master Sanzang, it was described as follows: "Suddenly, hundreds of pairs of moraines filled with sand appeared. At first glance, they were all ugly? The image of camel horse and the shape of banners and banners are easy to change in appearance and quality, flickering and fading from a distance. When a mage sees it at first sight, he calls it a thief; When you see it clearly, you will know the monsters. I heard a voice in the air saying' Don't be afraid, don't be afraid', which is safer. " In fact, this is not a castle in the air, but a young heart and strong willpower.

When he arrived at the first beacon tower, he wanted to get water at night, but the soldiers guarding the beacon tower found him. Wang Xiang, the commander of the garrison, wants his master to go to Dunhuang. The master said to Wang Xiang, "Luoyang Ling Sang Zi is a little eager for Tao. Craftsmen who know the law in Beijing and monks in Wu and Shu are responsible for their poor obedience and understanding. Talking to Yang, I also want to be a disciple of the times and raise my reputation, so why not go to Dunhuang? However, I hate Buddhism. I have a bad experience and lack a sense of justice. Therefore, I am not greedy for my life, and I am not afraid of hardship. I swear to follow western laws. Tan Yue didn't encourage each other, just dissuaded him from coming back. Is it because he is tired of dust and labor? The reason is also? If you want to be detained, you will be punished. Xuanzang will not take the initiative to move eastward. " Wang Xiang was moved by Xuanzang's sincerity. Not only did he not persuade him to go back, but he also sent someone to fill his master with water and prepare food, and personally delivered it for more than ten miles. Let Xuanzang bypass the second and third beacon towers and go straight to the fourth beacon tower. Because the conductor of the fourth beacon tower is Wang Bolong, a relative of Wang Xiang. At night, I arrived at the fourth beacon tower, stayed for one night, set out at dawn, abandoned the fifth beacon tower and went straight to Yanqi, Mohe, 800 miles away. Left the pious figure in Datang and left it to future generations. ...

Ride into the sand sea alone

The 800-mile Mohe moraine was called Shahe in ancient times. There are no birds, animals and water plants here. Only bones lead the way, camel dung leads the way, but there is a wild horse spring hundreds of miles away, looking around, attracting Xuanzang and his old horse to trudge aimlessly in the sand. The master recited Guanyin Bodhisattva and Prajna Heart Sutra, and traveled more than 65,438+000 miles, but Ma Yequan was not seen. At this time, people were exhausted and wanted to drink water, but they accidentally dropped the water-filled skin into the sand, and there was not a drop left in the blink of an eye. And lost my way, walking around always wandering in a small area. In desperation, I wanted to go back to the fourth beacon tower, but on second thought, I swore to preach the Dharma. "So I turned around and entered the northwest. It's time to look around and see no people or birds. Demons fire at night, rot like stars, and sandstorms scatter like rain during the day. Although in this case, the heart is fearless, but the bitter water is exhausted, thirst can not move forward. Is it four nights and five days without a drop of breath, dry mouth and abdomen? After a few days of death, I couldn't get in any more, so I lay on the sand and meditated on Guanyin, although I was sleepy. The enlightened Bodhisattva said,' Xuanzang's trip is not for fame and fortune, nor for fame. It is the supreme dharma. Look up to the bodhisattva, care about the masses, and take suffering as a service. This bitter, I would rather not know? "If so, my heart will not stop beating. At the fifth midnight, a cool breeze suddenly blew on me, as cold as cold water. If you can see clearly, a horse can get up. Because the body is resting, it needs less sleep. It was he who dreamed in his sleep that a great god was dozens of feet long, holding a halberd and saying,' Why don't you force him to lie down!' Is the master surprised? March forward, the line can be ten miles, the horse suddenly changed lanes and did not return. After walking a few miles, I suddenly saw several acres of grass and dismounted to eat. Turn around on the grass ten paces away, and then go to a pool. The water is sweet and clear, and Kagami Akira, you can drink it when it comes down. Life is heavy, and both men and women can rest. This should not be an old water plant, but a bodhisattva who lives on compassion and has the same sincerity. That is, the grass pond stopped for one day, and the next day it was filled with water and grass, and it took two days to get out of quicksand to Yiwu. This kind of crisis, hundreds of thousands can't prepare. "

This passage is the most thrilling, life-threatening and wonderful description of Xuanzang's westward journey. If it weren't for this old horse who knew the way, Xuanzang would have died long ago, and The Journey to the West would have lost his knowledge of the road. I can't help but wonder whether Luo Guanzhong, the author, deliberately arranged the Monkey King, Pig Bajie, Friar Sand and Bai to show Xuanzang's multifaceted personality characteristics in order to show his personality charm more fully and perfectly. This four-in-one idea is to show Xuanzang's image more fully, vividly and deeply. The author's admiration and reverence for Master Xuanzang can be said to be beyond measure, so that only deifying him can express the author's intentions.

Today, when I opened The biography of Master Sanzang and walked into The Tale of the Western Regions of Datang, I followed the footsteps of this master who was embedded in history more than 300 years ago, and followed his majestic and elegant back with my heart. However, the figure walking in history suddenly came alive in front of my eyes and has been lingering. Lu Xun said: "Xuanzang is the backbone of the Chinese nation." He was destined to be a dazzling star in a magnificent opening song in the Tang Dynasty. At that time, he was magnificent, magnanimous and broad-minded.