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, "Yuefeng" is going to publish a supplement on "West Lake". Layman Huang 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.

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 still in the 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, but layman Xia Mianzun and I went out to escape and went to the lake pavilion to have tea!At that time Xia Mianzun 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. In the summer of the fifth year of the Republic of China, because I saw Japanese magazines saying that fasting can cure various diseases, I became curious and wanted to fast.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 discussed with Ye Pinsanjun from Xiling Yinshe, and he said that the Hupao Temple near the West Lake could be used as a fasting place.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 who is the great protector of Hupao. You can invite him to talk about it." Tell me." So he wrote to ask Ding Fuzhi to introduce him. Because in the past, Hupao 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.

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.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. 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 Master Hongxiang.But he refused me to worship him, but 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 enter the mountain during the summer vacation this year.After living in the monastery for a year in advance, they will become monks.At this time, I made a sea green and learned two lessons. 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 Mianzun 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. After she lost her hair, she still had to take precepts, so Mr. Lin Tongzhuang introduced them 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! 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 when you are at home, I treat it the same way. !” 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.