Buddhism has a long history on the mainland, and Buddhism can be seen in all dynasties and generations. Today, there are also many people who believe in Buddhism, and they will light incense to worship the Buddha every 15th day of the first year. Even many temples have become popular attractions, visited by tourists every day.
Nowadays, some monastic temples have deviated from their intentions, repeatedly caused scandals, and Buddhist precepts seem to have become false. Under these circumstances, the reputation of the temple is getting lower and lower, and the public no longer worships Buddhism as before. However, in this environment, there is a temple that still retains its original intention, and the monks inside it can be called the last ascetics of our time.
1. The current situation of temples in China
With the increasing development of tourism, almost everyone chooses to go out during holidays, and temples have become the first choice for most people to travel. Because temples have a high reputation on the mainland, the influence of Buddhism is also very far-reaching.
In the eyes of most people, Buddhism is a solemn place, where nothing is allowed to be tainted with vulgarity. Monks are also outsiders who have abstained from seven emotions and six desires, fasting from meat and fishy every day, and accompanying the Green Lantern Ancient Buddha.
However, with the development of the times, many people have found that under the spotless mask of the monks, there is a naked lust for profit. Under the cover of the land of Buddhism, they did everything a merchant should do.
There are even some monks who set up many merit boxes in the temple in order to accumulate wealth. Whenever believers come to make a wish, they use all sorts of excuses to get them to donate sesame oil money. What's more, they will falsely claim that the temple is dilapidated and ask believers to donate money for repairs. In fact, all this money was taken by the monks and put into their own pockets.
Many monks sit in front of the Buddha statue in robes during the day and pray religiously, and at night they change into designer clothes and go out in expensive cars. This kind of behavior will undoubtedly chill the hearts of believers, and will also make the reputation of Buddhism lower and lower. However, there is a temple that has been made out of the mud and not clean, and this temple is the Temple of Great Compassion.
2. Dabei Temple
Located in Liaoning, Dabei Temple is different from ordinary temples in that there is no merit box here. Not only that, there are many billboards inside the temple that say "No donation of incense oil money." Tai Pei Temple strictly observes the Buddhist precepts and does not contaminate money and other things outside the body. The Buddha tablets, statues and other items here are not clearly priced like other temples, but are only given to those who are destined.
Believers who come here, as long as they have a relationship with the Buddhist sect or sincerely ask for things, the monks will give the goods to the people who are destined for free. This is enough to see the difference of the Tai Pei Temple, and how strict the Tai Pei Temple obeys the precepts.
It is precisely because of the above reasons that Dabei Temple has become a true Buddhist holy place in the minds of many believers. Every year, many believers come here to burn incense and make wishes, and some believers have offered to donate money to the monks in the monastery, but these proposals have been strictly rejected. The monks here do not eat meat or touch money for life, and all expenses in the monastery are self-sufficient and donated by believers. And they also hold a fixed practice every year, that is, foot practice.
III. The Last Dervishes
The monks in Tai Pei Monastery can be called the last ascetics of our time, and every August 15, they embark on a 3,000-mile trek under the guidance of the presiding officer. They carried their bags and scriptures, and walked in a regular line on the side of the road during the day.
In the process of practicing on foot, they can only live on the basis of karma every day. Even in the case of this act, the monks have strict rules that they are only allowed to beg from 7 families every day. If no one in these seven households is willing to give alms, then they will have to drink water for the day. If well-wishers are willing to give alms, they divide the meal evenly into multiple portions, ensuring that everyone gets the same portion.
When they were married, they did not accept money and alms, they only accepted simple meals, and the amount of asking for was not large, as long as they could meet the food and clothing. At night, most of them sleep on the floor, and if it is rainy, it is no exception, but they will choose some shelter from the rain to sleep.
This trekking practice usually lasts for months, but every year they stick to it without stopping. The abbot of the Great Compassion Temple believes that the suffering of the world is quantitative, as long as they suffer more, then others can suffer less, which is also the original intention of ascetics. Such monks are true Buddhist monks and incarnations of true Buddhas.
epilogue
Nowadays, it is difficult to maintain the purity of Dabei Temple in most temples, more and more monks have fallen into the earthly world, and the figure of ascetics is becoming less and less. I hope that there will be more temples similar to the Temple of Tai Pei in the future to pray for the blessing of the world. So what do the friends in front of the screen think about the Great Compassion Temple? What kind of monks do you think are real monks? Leave your thoughts in the comments section and let's discuss together.