Before Xuanzang passed away, he fasted and lay down on his right flank and made an admirable vow
Preface. Speaking of Xuanzang, the first thing we usually think of is Tang Seng's ** "Journey to the West", the story of the four masters and apprentices going to the West to learn the scriptures can be said to be familiar, and the theme of the four masters and apprentices going to the West to learn the scriptures is to kill demons and defend justice.
But in the real historical story, Xuanzang did not have the blessing of the three disciples, relying on a pair of legs, he also went abroad and went to the border of the Western Regions, which was the way back to the country of Buddhism.
While legends are often fascinating, the reality on which they are based is even more impressive.
i.Dear Xuanzang.
At the beginning of "Journey to the West", the story of Monkey King followed"Small streams"or"Xuanzang"story. "Small streams"A fatherless and motherless baby, he went down the river and was taken in by the monks in the temple, becoming the youngest monk in the temple.
In "Journey to the West", Tang Sanzang learned scriptures from the West, one for the Tang Dynasty and the other for the scriptures. The reincarnation of the golden cicada, the son of the Buddha, naturally has the Three Realms**, but the more ruthless and willful cunning monkey must recognize him as the master and protect him all the way to the Western Heaven Elysium.
But in fact, Master Xuanzang's luck was not good, and Jin Zicicada arrived in Tianzhu alone.
Master Xuanzang, commonly known as Chen Yi, has been familiar with various Buddhist scriptures since he was a child, and is good at thinking and memorizing, but he has different views on various teachings of Buddhism.
Therefore, Xuanzang wanted to go to the Western Regions during the Zhengguang period to establish a more in-depth Buddhist practice, but due to the restrictions at that time, ordinary people were not allowed to go abroad for exchanges.
Buddhist exchanges between monks seem to be very common, but international exchanges may involve contradictions in a series of systems such as politics, economy, and culture.
However, a year after the disaster, most of the inhabitants were displaced, and the imperial court issued a directive that all residents who were homeless and unable to support themselves in their hometowns should be automatically allowed to emigrate, and they could survive as best they could without blaming the imperial court.
Xuanzang seized the opportunity and began to travel west.
Buddhism was first introduced to China from Southeast Asia, and the Hexi Corridor area preserves the Buddhist culture that was first introduced to China, and Xuanzang traveled along this route.
From the prosperity of Chang'an's drunken gold fans to the grass growing and the warbler flying, and then to the rolling yellow sand of the desert, Xuanzang has gone through several spring and autumn seasons, seen many people, heard many stories, and gradually changed from a sturdy young man to a mature and stable middle-aged man.
The only thing that remains unchanged is that Xuanzang is still the Xuanzang who is willing to give everything for Buddhism.
2. The Western Regions of the Tang DynastyThe Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty.
In India, Xuanzang worshipped Master Xianshou as his teacher, and while practicing Buddhism, he consulted various original scriptures, and was also entrusted by Xianshou to preach for others many times.
Xuanzang traveled west for more than ten years, a total of 17 years, passing through 138 countries, large and small, under the influence of these countries, the origin of Buddhism and the enlightenment of Buddhism reached a lofty realm.
After returning to China, Xuanzang studied and listened to the scriptures with other travelers, was summoned by Tang Taizong, and has since lived in Chang'an Hongfu Temple and Daci'en Temple, and has instructed many teachers in Buddhism.
Due to differences in Chinese languages and cultures, the original Buddhist scriptures they brought back had to be translated before they could be presented to ordinary people. Through years of practice, Xuanzang personally translated as many Buddhist scriptures as possible, so that Buddhist disciples inside and outside the temple could learn them.
In addition, Xuanzang and his ** will also Xuanzang's experience in studying and researching Buddhism in the past ten years, and compile it into a book, recording what Xuanzang saw, heard and felt in the Central Plains, and listened to another way of speaking the culture of the Western Regions.
This is the prototype of the literary work "The Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty" or "Journey to the West".
Buddhism is broad and profound, and without the accumulation of difficult and difficult to understand, Xuanzang can gradually understand the nuances based on the experience of the first half of his life.
Therefore, Xuanzang often has to translate by himself.
The ability of a practitioner is great, and so is the mission and vocation.
Xuanzang has always regarded this as his life mission, but this task is too difficult for him.
iii.Death of the monk.
Xuanzang often translated in his later years, and continued to translate Theravada Buddhism until his death due to illness in his later years.
It is said that this high monk who walked through the yellow sand, climbed the peak, and crossed the river died of illness in his later years because he was about to step into a small ditch in his backyard.
Maybe God took away his sincerity, maybe his merits didn't need to be cultivated, maybe there were more important things waiting for him outside the Three Realms, Xuanzang only accepted the task of his own death.
When the ** asked about his afterlife, Xuanzang replied bluntly that everything was very simple, and he hoped that his body would not be in temples and palaces, lest the unclean corpse defile the purity of the world.
When the ** people asked about his past life, Xuanzang said:"Suppose I have a little good fortune and wisdom in this life, may I dedicate it to all sentient beings. I would like to be reincarnated to serve you in the inner courtyard of Tuyuhun, follow Maitreya Buddha to the lower three realms of the Dharma realm, return to Saha, practice Buddhism extensively, and benefit all sentient beings. "
He knows that his life is full of ups and downs, and he is practicing for the sake of the Dharma in his heart, for the well-being of all sentient beings in the world, and since he has a home, then he will spread the benefits of his cultivation to all sentient beings in the world, so that sentient beings will suffer less suffering and misfortune.
If he can pass away, he hopes to become a Buddha in the Dharma Palace, serve Maitreya Buddha, become the first person of the next generation of Dharma transmitters, and do his best for the well-being of all sentient beings.
Legend has it that Maitreya Buddha is the ** person selected by the Buddha, and Xuanzang hopes to be reincarnated as the attendant of the inner temple of the head Buddha, in fact, he hopes to be closer to the true Buddha's path.
After saying the last sentence, Xuanzang closed his mouth and stopped eating. On the third day of the second lunar month, Xuanzang suddenly changed his lying posture, with his right face facing west"Hui Ran lay down", motionless, did not die until the fifth day of the second month.
In this life, Xuanzang is worthy of heaven and earth, and worthy of all sentient beings. He went to great lengths to continue to explore the teachings of Buddhism and to keep the belief in perfection alive. The world may be dirty and tasteless, but his heart is always peaceful and pure.
He went to the Western Elysium, and no one knew what kind of difficult changes his heart had experienced, but everyone was sure that Master Xuanzang's merits were complete.