Chapter 2 My Experience as a Monk in West Lake (1)

This place in Hangzhou can really be called a place of Buddha, because there are about 2,000 temples, and it is conceivable that Buddhism in Hangzhou is flourishing! Recently, the "Yuefeng" agency is going to publish a supplement on "West Lake", by Huang Jushi Huang Jushi: that is, Huang Pingsun, editor of Hangzhou "Yuefeng" magazine.I sent a letter asking me to write an article "The Cause and Predestination of West Lake and Buddhism".I think the scope of this topic is too broad, and without reference books in hand, it cannot be done in a short period of time; therefore, now I will summarize the few things worth remembering when I lived in West Lake. Speaking of which, it can be regarded as commemorating the process of my becoming a monk.

one The first time I went to Hangzhou was in July of the 28th year of Guangxu (1902) (note: the years and months recorded in this article are all according to the lunar calendar).I lived in Hangzhou for about a month, but I never went to a monastery.I only remember that once I went to eat tea outside Yongjinmen, and at the same time I took a look at the scenery of West Lake. The second time I went to Hangzhou was in July of the first year of the Republic of China.It’s been a long time since I came back to Hangzhou. I’ve lived here for nearly ten years, which can be said to be a long time.My residence is inside the Qiantang Gate, very close to the West Lake, only two miles away.Outside Qiantang Gate, there is a small teahouse named Jingchun Garden by the West Lake.I often go out alone and go upstairs to Jingchun Garden to have tea alone.

In the early years of the Republic of China, the situation of West Lake was completely different from what it is now—there were still city walls and many willow trees at that time, which were very beautiful.Except for the incense fairs in spring and autumn, there are always very few people by the West Lake; and outside the Qiantang Gate, it is even calmer. Downstairs in Jingchun Garden, most of the tea drinkers were laborers who rocked boats and carried sedan chairs; but I was the only one drinking tea upstairs.Therefore, I often drink tea on it alone, while leaning on the railing to watch the scenery of West Lake.

Near the teahouse is the famous big temple——Zhaoqing Temple.After I have tea, I often stop by there to have a look. In the summer of the second year of the Republic of China, I lived in Guanghua Temple in West Lake for several days.But the place where he lives is not within the scope of the monks. It is next to the temple, and there is an upstairs called the Pox Temple. The Pox Shrine is dedicated to the guests at home in Guanghua Temple.When I lived there, I sometimes went to see the place where monks lived, but I felt very interesting in my heart! I remember that at that time, I often took a boat to the Huxin Pavilion to have tea.

Once, a famous person in the school came to give a speech, Xia Zun and I Xia Zun (1886-1946), from Shangyu, Zhejiang.Famous Chinese writer and publisher.The original name is cast, the character is Mianzhan, and the name is Men'an.He studied in Japan in his early years and returned to China in 1907. He served as the dormitory supervisor of Zhejiang Provincial First Normal School.He and Uncle Li were colleagues and became lifelong friends.Later, he served as a teacher of Baima Lake Chunhui Middle School, a teacher of Shanghai Lida Academy, and a professor of Jinan University.In his later years, he served as the editor-in-chief of Shanghai Kaiming Bookstore.He is the author of "Pingwu Essays" and translated works.But the layman went out to hide, and went to the lake pavilion to have tea!At that time Xia Zun said to me: "For people like us, it is very good to become a monk." When I heard this sentence, I found it very interesting.This can be said to be a long-term reason for me to become a monk.

two In the summer of the fifth year of the Republic of China, I saw a photo of Li Shutong after fasting in the winter of 1916 (37 years old) because I saw a Japanese magazine about fasting. To treat various diseases, I became curious at that time and wanted to fast for a while.Because I was suffering from neurasthenia at that time, it is unknown if I could recover after fasting.When fasting is required, it must be done in cold seasons.Therefore, I made a reservation for November to fast. As for the location of fasting, we must first consider it. It seems that there must be a very quiet place.At that time, I had a three-leaf tasting with Ye Weiming from Xiling Yinshe: That is, Ye Weiming, a native of Hangzhou, was one of the founders of Xiling Yinshe.You came to discuss it, and he said that the Hupao Temple near the West Lake can be used as a place for fasting.I asked him: "If you want to go to Hupao Temple, someone must introduce you. Who should you invite?" He said: "There is a Ding Fuzhi: Ding Ren, Xiling Yinshe One of the founders, a famous Jinshi family in modern China. He is the great protector of Hupao, you can ask him to talk about it.” So he wrote to ask Ding Fuzhi to introduce it on his behalf.

Because the former Tiger Pao was not as lively as it is now, but a very calm place with few tourists. If it is used as a place for me to fast, it can be said to be the most suitable place. In November, I have not been there in person.So I asked someone to go to the Hupao Temple to see which room to live in.After returning, he said that the place downstairs from the abbot was very quiet.Because there are many houses over there, and they are usually closed, and guests are not allowed to go in; on the upper floor of the abbot, there is only one monk living, and no one else lives. At the end of November, I arrived at Hupao Temple and lived in the room downstairs of the abbot.After I moved in, I often saw a monk passing by my window (that is, the one who lived upstairs).I was very happy to see him!Therefore, I often talked with him; at the same time, he also showed me Buddhist scriptures.

When I was five years old, I often met monks, and I often saw monks come to my home to chant scriptures and worship.At the age of twelve or thirteen, he also learned to put flames.But I didn't live with a virtuous monk, and at the same time, I didn't know what the content of the monastery was like, and what the life of a monk was like. Now I went back to live in Hupao, and seeing their life, I was very happy and envious. Although I only lived there for more than half a month, I was very happy in my heart, and I was even more happy to eat the vegetables they ate.And when I got back to school, I asked my servants to cook and eat the dishes they did.

This time I went to Hupao Temple to fast, which can be said to be the proximate cause of my becoming a monk. Original page 193 picture on page 5 Master Hongyi in Yuquan Temple of West Lake in 1919 three In the second half of the sixth year of the Republic of China, I decided to become a vegetarian. In winter, I invited a lot of scriptures, such as "Psalmant Worship Vows", "Surangama Sutra" and "Mahayana Awakening of Faith" and many other Buddhist scriptures.In my own room, there are also statues of Buddha, such as the statues of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.So I burned incense every day.

How I became a monk in West Lake (2) When it came time for the annual leave this year, instead of going home, I went to the Hupao Temple to celebrate the New Year.I still live downstairs from the abbot.At that time, I felt even more interesting, so I made up my mind to become a monk.At the same time, I wanted to worship the monk who lived above the abbot as his master. His name is Hongxiang Master Hongxiang Master, the retired monk of Hupao Temple, Venerable Master Liwu... But he refused me to worship him, and introduced me to worship his master.His master lived in Huguo Temple in Songmuchang.So he invited his master back to Hupao Temple, and I received the Three Refugees on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the seventh year of the Republic of China.

I plan to go to the mountain during the summer vacation of this year and live in the monastery for a year before I become a monk.At this time, I made a sea green and learned two lessons. Master Hongyi—Li Shutong (photographed in 1937) The fifth day of February was the anniversary of my mother's death, so I went to Hupao two days ago and recited the "Ksitigarbha Sutra" for three days to pay homage to my mother. At the end of May, I will take the exam in advance.After the exam, we went to Hupao Temple and entered the mountain.After arriving in the temple for a day, he put on the clothes of a monk and prepared to be shaved in the next year. At the beginning of July, Layman Xia Zun came.When he saw that I was wearing a monk's clothes but hadn't become a monk, he said to me: "It's meaningless to live in a temple and wear a monk's clothes but not become a monk. So it's better to shave as soon as possible." !" I originally wanted to become a monk in the next year, but I accepted his persuasion, so I hurriedly became a monk.The 13th day of the seventh month is said to be the Christmas of Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, so he lost his hair on that day. Those who still have to take the precepts after losing their hair, so Lin Tongzhuang Lin Tongzhuang: a native of Ruian, Zhejiang.He was a classmate with Li Shutong in his early years, and he was the director of Zhejiang Water Conservancy Bureau during the Republic of China.The picture on page 48 of Junyuan shows the handwriting of Li Shutong's thesis when he was a student of Cai Yuanpei on page 7 Introduced, went to Lingyin Temple to receive precepts. Lingyin Temple is the largest temple in Hangzhou, and I have always been very happy.After I became a monk, I visited many big monasteries, but they were never as good as Lingyin Temple! The original picture on page 202 is shown on page 7, published by Xiling Yinshe in 1985 "Li Shutong's Common Seal Collection" At the end of August, I went to Lingyin Temple. The abbot and monk in the temple were very polite and asked me to live upstairs in the Yunxiang Pavilion behind the living room.At that time, Master Huiming was the Master Master.One day, I met this mage in the living room.When he saw me, he said: "Since you are here to receive precepts, why don't you enter the precept hall? Although you are a scholar when you are at home, can a scholar be so casual? Even if you are an emperor at home, I treat it the same way. Yes!" At that time the abbot and the monk still wanted me to live upstairs in the living room, and when there was an important Buddhist event in the precept hall, I would only attend once or twice. At that time, although I couldn't meet Master Huiming often, I admired him for his honesty and sincerity! After receiving the precepts, I lived in Hupao Temple.In December, he moved to live in Yuquan Temple.After that, I often went to other places, and I didn't live in West Lake for a long time. Talk about changing the experiment It’s the Lunar New Year, please see that the whole city of Xiamen is full of new atmosphere, with New Year’s couplets pasted on the doors, many people wearing new clothes, saying “Congratulations to the New Year” and “Happy New Year” and so on.Those of us who have always believed in the Buddhadharma, when all phenomena are renewed, we should also be renewed.What is the so-called "new" among us?Just like ordinary people posting Spring Festival couplets and wearing new clothes, do they think it is "new"?Said: No.The so-called "new" by us means reforming one's mistakes.However, the scope of the four words "rehabilitation" is too broad. If you want to make a speech, you don't know where to start.Now let’s take a look at those who have been experimented with in the past fifty years of revisions and reforms. Before I talk about it, there are things that need to be stated in advance, that is, although most of the books quoted below are from Confucianism, they are actually in line with Buddhism.Because of the wonderful talk about the mystery and the order of practice, the Buddhist books are the most detailed.And those of us who are beginners, hold the method of bowing and doing things, dealing with things and taking things. Although there are also sayings in Buddhist books, what Confucian books say is particularly clear and detailed, suitable for beginners.Therefore, I quote it more today, thinking that it will be helpful to those of us who study Buddhism.The following is divided into two sections: general remarks and specific illustrations. one The general commentator is to explain the order of reformation: ① Learning must first read more Buddhist and Confucian books, to know the difference between good and evil and the method of correcting mistakes and making good.If you are unable to read it all because the books on Buddhism and Confucianism are so vast, and it is difficult to understand, you can read "Proverbs Lian Bi" first.Yu has read this book since he was a child, and after he converted to Buddhism, he often reads it, feeling that it is kind and interesting.There is a printed version of this book in the Buddhist Bookstore, which is very fine. ② Now that the province has been learned, it is necessary to constantly examine yourself, whether every word or action is good or evil?If you are an evil person, you should correct yourself immediately.In addition to paying attention to correcting mistakes at all times, when going to bed every day, think about the things you did in the day in detail.You can write a diary every day, especially good. ③ After correcting and introspecting, if you know that you have made a mistake, you should try your best to correct it.You should know that the things that have been corrected are very open and aboveboard, which is enough to show a great personality.Therefore, Zigong said: "The faults of a gentleman are like the eclipse of the sun and the moon; when they are passed, everyone sees them, and even more, they all look up to them." And the ancients said: "If you pass and you can know, you can call it clear. Knowing and being able If you change it, you can become a saint." You gentlemen don't encourage it! two Those who do not show are to explain separately the things that have been corrected and improved in the past fifty years.But there are too many things to do.Now let’s cite ten items that ordinary people don’t pay much attention to, and let you talk about them first. The number "ten" is used in the "Avatamsaka Sutra", but "ten" is used to express the meaning of infinity.Now I talk about the things that I have done to correct my mistakes, but I only cite ten items, that's okay; it is just to show that I have many mistakes, and they are really endless.The time for this lecture is very short, and each article only has a general idea, but can't go into details; if you want to know, let's talk about it in another day. ① Open-minded ordinary people don't understand good and evil, don't fear cause and effect, never admit that they have done something wrong, let alone change it?But the ancient sages are not.To cite a few examples today, Confucius said: "It is easy to learn at fifty years, and there is nothing wrong with it." Make people like Confucius.Confucius sat with him and asked Yan, saying: "What is the master?" He said to him: "The master wants to be few and fails." The sages are still so modest, can we be complacent?Master Hongyi in 1920 Inscription for "Aesthetic Education" magazine ②Be cautious about what we do, what we do, what we think and what we do, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and even ghosts and gods, all know and see everything.If you think like this all the time, you don't dare to do anything wrong.Zeng Zi said: "What ten eyes see, what ten hands point to, is so strict!" He also quoted a poem: "Trembling with trembling, as if facing an abyss, as if walking on thin ice." These words are often remembered by the rest of the people. ③ What is forbidden by generosity and generosity, is said to be inscribed.The sages deal with things only broadly but thickly.There are many ancient teachings, which are not recorded in detail today. ④ The ancients said: "I don't know what it means to be a gentleman, but it is the one who is willing to suffer in everything. I don't know what it is to be a villain, but it is the one who sees everything is cheap." In ancient times, a sage died, and his descendants Please ask for the legacy, the sage said: "There is no other words, you just have to learn to suffer." ⑤ Reticence is the most important thing.Confucius said: "A four-foot can't match your tongue." It's awesome!There are many ancient teachings, which are not recorded in detail today. ⑥ Don't talk about others. The ancients said: "Always check yourself and don't have time to check others." Confucius also said: "Being self-righteous and ignoring others." I often dare not forget the above words. ⑦ Don't write about your mistakes Zixia said: "You must also write about the mistakes of villains." We must know that writing about mistakes is the most shameful thing. ⑧ Don't repeat your own mistakes. If we offend others, we must feel ashamed and fearful.Express your gratitude and repent your past mistakes.Don't be stingy about decency, forbear and keep silent, and deceive yourself. ⑨ Hearing slander but not debating the ancients said: "Why do you stop slandering? Say: No debate." It also said: "If you suffer a small loss, you will not suffer a big loss." I have experienced it many times in the past 30 years, and I am convinced that this number is true. . ⑩ The habit of not being angry is the most difficult to get rid of.Gu Xianyun said: "Twenty years of treating the word 'angry' has not completely worn away." But we have to do our best to treat it. The "Avatamsaka Sutra" says: "One thought of anger can open millions of obstacles." Don't be afraid! In 1911, when Li Shutong was teaching at the Zhili Industrial School, he wrote a calligraphy screen to Zhou Xiaolin three Due to limited time, what I said above is slightly omitted, but we can also know the general idea of ​​the correction.Finally, I still have a few words, which I would like to present for all the lords: It seems easy to say to correct the past, but it is very difficult to do it.Therefore, those who have repeatedly changed and committed repeated offenses, and they have not been able to force themselves to be masters, are actually caused by karma without beginning and end. Please, gentlemen, always recite the names of Amitabha Buddha, Avalokitesvara, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas, with sincerity and respect, sincerely repent of karma without beginning and end, and have incredible feelings in the dark.Inheriting the compassionate power of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and the karma eliminated and the wisdom cleared up, then the matter of rectifying the mistakes and making a new one can almost be achieved satisfactorily; the current life will be better than entering the realm of sages and sages, and at the end of life, you will be reborn in the state of bliss. Master Hongyi Calligraphy When ordinary people meet each other during the New Year, they all say "Congratulations", so they congratulate them on gaining fame and wealth.This time, when I met you in the new year, I also said "Congratulations", so I congratulate you that you will be able to truly correct your mistakes, and soon you will become a sage; Benefit all sentient beings. This article was given by Master Hongyi at Miaoshi Temple in Xiamen on January 26, 1933 (Lunar New Year).