Chapter 5 5. Fayuan Temple

Ding Nengtong was thinking about what Lin Dake entrusted, so he drove to Fayuan Temple early in the morning.  Ding Nengtong was interested in Fayuan Temple because he read a novel written by Li Ao in Taiwan. The novel introduced the history and history of Fayuan Temple in Beijing in detail. Out of curiosity, Ding Nengtong visited Fayuan Temple many times. By chance, I got acquainted with Master Zhishan, and the two became good friends.  Once, Xiao Honglin went to Beijing to go to the "Ministry" and "Qian" Jin. He heard that Ding Nengtong was a good friend with a great monk from Fayuan Temple, and he wanted to meet this master on a whim. , when parting, Xiao Honglin asked for Master Zhishan's calligraphy, and Master Zhishan sent a couplet:

Chan Chan Fayuan Temple Ask about politics in Zhongnanhai Although Beijing is the imperial capital, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace are the most famous historical sites at home and abroad, but in Ding Nengtong's mind, the most important places of interest are Prince Gong's Mansion and Fayuan Temple. Yuan Temple has demonstrated official loyalty because of the loyal soul of Liaodong who died in battle in the Tang Dynasty, Xie Fangde, a survivor of the Southern Song Dynasty, Yuan Chonghuan who died because of Qu, and Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, and Tan Sitong who were reformed in the Reform Movement of 1898. 

Ding Nengtong is a person who is both treacherous and full of compassion. He once dreamed of becoming an all-powerful political hero in the officialdom, but the reality forced him to become a smooth and sophisticated little bureaucrat. He became more and more like Wei Xiaobao. Satisfied, but unable to deal with the powerful windmills like Don Quixote, he can only linger between the painted red walls and tall ancient trees of Fayuan Temple full of compassion, mourning his dreams.  When the car arrived at Caishikou, Ding Nengtong immediately thought of Xiao Honglin and Jia Chaoxuan who were sentenced to death. Caishikou was the place where death row inmates beheaded in the past, and it used to be the most lively place in Beijing. The ruler chose to behead the prisoner in the most lively place. The head is to warn the common people not to make trouble. 

Now the busiest places in Beijing are Xidan, Wangfujing, and Houhai. After the Wal-Mart supermarket opened at Caishikou, the commercial atmosphere has already diluted the bloody and heavy history of the past.  However, every time he comes to Fayuan Temple, Ding Nengtong can't help but silently recite in his heart the poems of "no one dies in life since ancient times, keep the loyalty to reflect the history", "I smile from the sword to the sky, and leave the Kunlun with my heart and gall."Because Wen Tianxiang, a famous anti-Yuan general in the Song Dynasty, was beheaded at Caishikou, and Tan Sitong and the six gentlemen of the 1898 Movement were also beheaded at Caishikou. 

Thinking about the deaths of Xiao Honglin and Jia Chaoxuan, Ding Nengtong's heart suddenly tightened. He was a little scared, but also a little lucky. There are feats of Wen Tianxiang and Tan Sitong, but at least there is still a chance to stop living carelessly.  The gate of Fayuan Temple is open. The old red paint is mottled and peeled off, losing its bright colors. There is a marble plaque inlaid on the gate of the temple, on which are written three golden characters of "Fayuan Temple" in regular script. , the font is upright and strong, as concise as the dilapidated temple gate, it is Mr. Qi Gong's calligraphy. 

This is the gate of history, with a sad back, lingering on the threshold of Fayuan Temple for a long time, Ding Nengtong stared at the long-lost Fayuan Temple, and suddenly realized that Fayuan Temple is actually different from other temples. Fayuan Temple did not originate from The eminent monks and great virtues who practice Buddhism are not an extraordinary pure land, but when their roots are established on the earth, they have lingering compassion.A person's life is short of dozens of cold and summer, no matter whether he rises or falls, he is just a passer-by, and the flow of people travels from east to west. Fayuan Temple is just a bystander, or, rather, it is a Buddhist world that accommodates all kinds of suffering. 

When Ding Nengxun walked to the Hall of Heavenly Kings, he was attracted by the statue of Budai monk, the incarnation of Maitreya Buddha. There are also a few places on the body where the paint has peeled off, and there are still some creases and scratches, which are of different shades, making it a bit bleak.Just when Ding Nengtong was fascinated, the monk Zhishan had already stood behind him with his palms folded.  "Maitreya is the real Maitreya, with tens of billions of incarnations. He shows the world all the time, but the world doesn't know it. It's been a long time since I can understand it!"

"Master Zhishan, I wanted to call you before I came, but after much deliberation, I still didn't call, just to see if I have a Buddhist relationship with the master." Ding Nengtong said with a devout smile.  "Where is the Buddha? The Buddha is in the heart. It doesn't matter if you have the Buddha's affinity or not. The key is to have the Buddha's heart. Fortunately, you have the Buddha in your heart, and you can save yourself from danger!" Zhishan said with a pun.  "It seems that you already know that the "Xiao Jia case" happened in Dongzhou. Mayor Xiao has already subdued the Dharma. Master, Mayor Xiao is also a person who respects Buddha. bless him?"

"Mayor Xiao enshrines Buddha statues as gods, prays in front of Buddha every day, offers flowers and fruits, and then asks him for blessings. The offerings are bribes. If you send a little bribe, you hope that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will bless you, and you treat Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as corrupt officials. Look at it, how serious is this crime! On the one hand, I offer bribes to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, on the other hand, on the other hand, I accept bribes, and I create sinful karma every day, thinking that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will protect me, which is completely wrong." Zhishan said sharply. 

"I understand that the so-called Buddha's fate is actually a good fate. Goodness is dedication, not asking for it. Most people in the world worship Buddha for asking for it." "You are very Buddha-nature. In fact, human beings originally have Buddha-nature, but they are covered by delusions and desires. Incense candles represent the fragrance and light of the heart. It is to educate us to always remember the teachings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and get rid of the delusions in our hearts. And desire, to reveal our original heart fragrance and light. If you don’t do good deeds, even if you make a wish and burn high incense, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will not bless you. Karma goes hand in hand. If you want to be safe and healthy, you Do more good deeds and avoid greed; if you want to be rich, you must give to the poor, this is what the Buddha and Bodhisattva taught us!" Zhi Shanyu said earnestly. 

"Master Zhishan, can the rosary in your hand really eliminate afflictions?" "A rosary, also called a horse lock, is a metaphor for the human heart to be like a galloping wild horse, full of distracting thoughts, non-stop for a moment, pinching the rosary with your hand, and reciting the names of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, you can let go of everything, focus on your body and mind, and stop it. Stay away from selfish thoughts, increase concentration, and increase wisdom. The meaning of the rosary is to remind us to take refuge in the Three Jewels." "Master Zhishan, I came to see you this time because I was entrusted by a friend to consecrate the rosary." After Ding Nengtong finished speaking, he handed the rosary in his hand to Zhishan.  Zhishan took the rosary from Ding Nengtong, chanted the Buddha's name and said: "Nengtong, the owner of the rosary is a living Bodhisattva. These beads have been consecrated with her Buddha's heart. The old monk is ashamed of himself! In fact, the monk consecrated the scriptures. The above is to open the inner light of believers and raise confidence in the Buddha and Bodhisattva. The Buddha's dharma body is all over the void and all over the dharma world. If you have great compassion, you will get the blessing of Guanyin Bodhisattva; if you are filial, you will get the blessing of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Induction. The owner of the rosary is very compassionate, and the friends who entrust you are very filial, and they are all people who face life with respect and sincerity." "According to what you mean, if I recite 'Amitabha Buddha' to the rosary, wouldn't that be equivalent to consecration?"  "Recite the Buddha's mantra, and you will receive blessings from all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the ten directions. Recite it every day, and bless you every day. Not only will you bless the rosary, but you will also bless yourself. Why not do it?" "Master Zhishan, what's the difference between me and a monk?" Ding Nengtong said with a smile.  The two walked forward while chatting, and walked into the Daxiong Palace unconsciously. In the spacious algae well, there were countless little sparrows flying around, chirping freely, rising and falling at will, as if this was their home.Ding Nengtong had been to Fayuan Temple many times, but this was the first time he saw such a sight, and he was stunned.  Ding Neng thought to himself, what kind of compassion makes these sparrows feel so at ease?What kind of mind makes them so free?An inexplicable emotion surged up, and Ding Nengtong became even more respectful of Fayuan Temple!  "Master Zhishan, I actually prefer the name Minzhong Temple." "Can communicate, what is called is not important, what is important is what to think, what to do!" "Master Zhishan, I have come here this time with a different meaning, the career is ups and downs, I want to ask the master to give me some advice!" "I give you four words." "Which four words?" "The true source of Fahai." Ding Nengtong has benefited a lot from seeing Zhishan every time, especially this time.The two chatted all morning, and Ding Nengtong left after eating his fast.When he walked out of the mountain gate, several monks were pushing to cover the gate, as if pushing Ding Nengtong out of the vortex of history.  The gate of Fayuan Temple is like an open eye. What flows outside the temple is the river of time. The floating lights on the river surface are filled with the ups and downs of sadness and joy for thousands of years. Threading through the thin thread, once again put Ding Nengtong in the world of yesterday, to taste the truth of history.Ding Neng couldn't help but think of the ending of Li Ao's novel, which he had a close relationship with Fayuan Temple:  "Ah! Beijing Fayuan Temple, Beijing Fayuan Temple! We dare not say goodbye to you. It is you who bid farewell to us, to our generations. We have fallen from generation to generation, and only you stand still. However, we are happy to see you Stand still, generation after generation, we deposit the blood and tears of the Chinese people with you—your life is ours."