**Lingyin Temple, how to exude the charm of a thousand years?
The wind blows through the ancient blue bricks and black tiles of Lingyin Temple, as if singing a poem that spans thousands of years. This ancient temple hidden in the mountains and forests of Hangzhou is as quiet and beautiful as ever, but it exudes a sense of historical vicissitudes.
Entering the Lingyin Temple, the first thing that catches your eye is a simple couplet hanging on the wall of the main hall:"How can life be more satisfying, everything is only half satisfied"。14 words, the essence of this thousand-year-old temple.
So, where does this Lingyin Temple come from?How did it continue to exude charm over a long period of history?
In 502 AD, Emperor Wu of Liang of the Southern Dynasty had the heart to promote Buddhism, and specially set aside a piece of feng shui treasure land, dreaming of establishing a Buddhist holy place here. However, due to frequent wars, Emperor Wu of Liang's wish has been fruitless.
It was not until more than 100 years later that a monk from India, Hui Li, crossed the ocean to China and decided to build a temple here, that Emperor Wu of Liang's early wish was realized.
It is said that the monk Huili came to Hangzhou after all the hardships, and before entering the city, he was deeply attracted by the scenery of the West Lake and the Great Feilai Peak. He wandered around the mountain for three days and three nights, and finally found the feng shui treasure set by Emperor Wu of Liang in his early years.
Looking at the mountain forest in front of him with unique feng shui and fairy energy, Monk Huili's heart swelled with endless joy"This is a good place to practice!"
So, under the auspices of the monk Huili, Lingyin Temple broke ground here. Since then, this land has been engraved with the imprint of Buddhism's pure heart and few desires.
Monk Huili is humble, introverted and persistent and tenacious, he led them to practice penance here for three years, and finally completed the construction of Lingyin Temple. When Monk Huili saw the completed Lingyin Temple, a satisfied smile appeared on his face, and he sighed softly"It is hoped that this temple will be able to protect future generations of people who will pursue Buddhism. "
After the completion of the Lingyin Temple, its unique geographical location made it quickly famous. During the period of five dynasties and ten kingdoms, Qian Biao, the king of Wuyue Kingdom, once visited Lingyin in person and named this ancient temple hidden in the mountains and forests"Lingxin Hidden Temple"。
With the support of Qian Biao, the scale of Lingxin Yin Temple continued to expand, and the incense became more and more prosperous. At that time, the monks either chanted sutras or studied Buddhism, and lived a life of pure heart and few desires. They are indifferent to fame and fortune, and they put their minds on practicing and promoting the Dharma. This makes Lingxin Yin Temple a pure land world, attracting pilgrims from all over the world to come and worship.
Among them, the most talked about is the abbot of the temple, the monk Jinggong. He was highly respected and respected. Whenever pilgrims ask for advice, the monk always answers patiently and integrates his own experience into the guidance, so that the seekers have a great harvest.
Under the influence of the Jinggong monks, the monks of Lingxin Yin Temple also became more gentle and compassionate. They are not only highly skilled and conscientious in their work, but also always concerned about the well-being of ordinary people. This makes Lingxin Yin Temple occupy a special position in the hearts of the people"If you want to purify your soul, go to Lingxin Hidden Temple. "This became the consensus of many people.
Qing Shengzu Kangxi admired Buddhism very much, and during his reign he made three southern tours, each time he had to make a special trip to Lingxin Yin Temple to stop.
In the winter of 1699 AD, Kangxi came to the temple for the third time in the south, climbed the pagoda and overlooked, and couldn't help but admire:"This place is truly a pure land on earth!"After speaking, Kangxi decreed to expand the Lingxinyin Temple again, and personally inscribed the temple"Yunlin Temple"。
With the support of the emperor, Yunlin Temple ushered in the heyday of incense. At that time, the scale of Yunlin Temple was grand and magnificent, and the halls were splendid. Thousands of monks have become monks here, and more than 1,000 monks live there. They either held precepts and debated scriptures, or recited sutras to the Buddha, and built the temple into a monument in the Chinese Buddhist community.
In order to manage the affairs of the temple, Yunlin Temple has set up the Qinzheng Palace, which is the earliest deliberative body established by Buddhist temples in China. In the Qinzheng Palace, from the abbot to the Zen master, down to the handyman and the servant, all have the right to participate in political affairs. This was very rare in the feudal society at that time.
In the heyday of Yunlin Temple, pilgrims came from all over the world to worship, and the atmosphere was peaceful and solemn. Many scholars and scholars also came here to seek guidance from Buddhism. Among them, the most famous is Pu Songling, a great writer of the Qing Dynasty. He wrote a lot of articles in Yunlin Temple and made friends with many eminent monks.
It can be seen that in the heyday of Yunlin Temple, not only the incense was vigorous, but also became the meeting place of culture and art at that time. It promotes the integration of Buddhist culture and secular culture, and plays the role of a bridge connecting heaven and man.
When it comes to Yunlin Temple, the first thing that comes to people's minds is often a pair of quaint couplets hanging on the wall of the main hall:"How can life be more satisfying, everything is only half satisfied"。
This couplet has been around for a long time, but it has been passed down to this day. When the senior monks of the past dynasties interpreted it, they were all impressed by the connotation of its words.
According to legend, this phrase originated from a Zen master in the Tang Dynasty who lived in seclusion in the mountains. This Zen master has been contemplating Nirvana for many years and has no concern for the world. One night, he looked up at the bright moon alone, and suddenly realized the impermanence and suffering of life, and couldn't help but write this eternal swan song.
As soon as this couplet was written, it was universally acclaimed. A young monk couldn't help but ask the mystery of it, and the old Zen master said calmly"Life is bound to be unpleasant, but we can always find something that makes us happy. This realm is the true meaning of cultivation. "
These simple 14 words express the imperfection of life and the impermanence of life, and also point out the life principle of maintaining a peaceful mind in the face of unsatisfactory life. The wisdom it contains is far-reaching and simple, teaching people to maintain a noble spiritual pursuit in the materialistic world.
This philosophy of life has deeply touched generations of Buddhists and literati. Under their admiration, this couplet has been restored and repaired several times, and finally preserved intact to this day, and has become one of the most important cultural relics in Yunlin Temple.
Today, this Lingyin Temple, which has a history of more than 1,700 years, has been renamed"Hangzhou Lingyin Temple"。It not only retains its historical charm, but also strives to adapt to contemporary society and pass on ancient wisdom.
Lingyin Temple is no longer a place outside the world in the traditional sense, but a cultural place open to the society. It uses the new network to let more people know about its history, and holds cultural lectures and other activities to communicate with people from all walks of life.
At the same time, Lingyin Temple is also actively engaged in public welfare undertakings, such as raising education funds for schoolchildren in poor areas and carrying out environmental protection education. These initiatives demonstrate the Buddhist concept of compassion and help the world, and also enhance the social influence of Lingyin Temple.
It is worth mentioning that Lingyin Temple is also exploring a new model of combining traditional Chinese culture with modern commerce. The cultural and creative products in the temple are well received by consumers, which provides stable financial support for the self-operation of Lingyin Temple.
It can be seen that in today's fast-paced society, Lingyin Temple has not only inherited the history and culture of thousands of years, but also radiated new vitality in pioneering and innovation. It has become a bridge that integrates the past and the present, connects heaven and man, and will enter the future with a new attitude.
More than 1,700 years ago, Emperor Wu of Liang's dream of a pure land turned into the Lingyin Temple in the hands of Master Huili. Today, this ancient temple has not only experienced vicissitudes, but also crossed the times and become a link between the ancient and the modern.
Whether it is the inscription of Emperor Kangxi or the couplet hanging for thousands of years, it highlights its unique charm as a Buddhist holy place. These cultural treasures not only show the profound historical connotation of Lingyin Temple, but also achieve its magnificent and magnificent external image.
Looking forward to the future, Lingyin Temple will surely shine in the inheritance of tradition and innovative development. Its Buddha light, which symbolizes wisdom and compassion, will surely shine on people's hearts for a long time.