Chapter 45 The Swallow of the Great Compassion Hall

Accompanied by the sound of the drum, the swallows in the temple also shuttled and whispered in front like a tide. When I say like a tide, I mean constant figures and voices. All the way down from the Hall of Great Compassion to the corridors and classrooms of the Women’s Buddhist College, there are densely packed nests of swallows. Every time you take a step and look up, there are one or two bird’s nests, some even It completely covers the chandelier on the ceiling, until the light is turned on and there is no light. But the monks are merciful, and Quan Bao loves the swallows. In the face of life, what is the light?

I looked at the bird's nest carefully, and found that the bird's nest is a long dwelling of clay sculptures. Its raised shape is very similar to the burrow of the country house mouse in the old days, and it looks quite solid. Each bird's nest has a lot of swallows, you see When one emerges and spreads its wings, one swallow flies away, and then the other emerges. There are always six or seven swallows living in a nest, which is not a small family. Almost at the same time as the Buddha drum was beating, swallows began to pour out of their nests. So there were one or two hundred swallows chattering in the sky at the same time, shuttling like a net. The large group of swallows had black backs, white bellies, scissors The same wings and tail feathers have an extraordinary beauty under the bright morning sky. There are also some people who skillfully fly in and out of the window of the Great Compassion Hall to play, so in the solemn chanting, there are one or two sentences that are light The murmuring of the tender swallows seemed particularly lively.

The swallow was also surprised when it returned to the nest. It did not slow down when it swooped into the eaves. It almost braked suddenly before the nest, and then got into the nest precisely. It seemed very interesting. The master does not know the number of swallows in the Great Compassion Hall, or the age of the swallows. One master said it well, she said: "If you don't ask, I thought they lived here all the time, and it seems that they have never been regarded as swallows." , but as neighbors. Don’t underestimate these swallows, they will listen to the scriptures, every morning and evening class, the swallows always fly out on time, the sky is full of swallows. Usually, it’s sparse.”

As for how to gather so many swallows, the master said that the solemnity, purity, sorrow, joy, and homes of Buddhist temples can be perceived by all sentient beings. This is the safest place in the world, so there are dogs that come from nowhere in the Great Compassion Hall, often squatting on the ground. In front of the hall, the big lake next to the hall is full of red and white lotus flowers. There are countless fish swimming in the lake. It is said that they will come to the surface of the water when they hear the sound of sutras. In the past in Conglin Temple in the deep mountains, there were often tigers and foxes listening to the scriptures. I heard a touching story. Once a mage was chanting, seven or eight tigers came to listen, and one of them dozed off halfway. The mage walked over and patted it on the cheek and said, "Don't fall asleep while listening to the scriptures."

We don't have the chance to see tigers and listen to the Dharma, but if we are lucky enough to see swallows worship Buddha and fish swim out to listen, isn't it just as moving? " All beings are like this, why can't people wake up from time to time?