These monks can be described as extraordinary, and they have followed the path of rigorous practice for thousands of years, without slackening, and passed it down from generation to generation. It has attracted the admiration and yearning of all sentient beings around the world. I want to see the scenery.
However, the prohibition of the residence that this monk cultivated made all sentient beings prohibitive and confused.
"Women are not allowed here!"
"It only receives 10 foreign non-Orthodox male tourists and 100 Orthodox Christians a day."
"Visitors can only stay for a maximum of three nights."
Because of this rule, this place of practice became the only "country of men" in the world.
People don't know why a pure land has such peculiar gender segregation.
Layers of checks, to enter this place of monks' cultivation, it is even more difficult than ascending to the sky. For example, this special place is truly a pure land on earth, and mortals cannot cross it.
As everyone knows, the reason under this prohibition shows the true practice of the hermits.
Next, let's follow these monks and see this special dwelling place of God through their eyes. To feel their special spiritual path day after day.
The scenery is beautiful, isolated from the world, like a hidden abode of the gods on earth. This is Mount Athos, located east of Çalkidi, Greece.
In just 360 square kilometers, there are 20 monasteries. 2,000 monks and 12 monks became the sole masters of the place.
This group of practitioners, who believe in the Orthodox Church, has been passed down from generation to generation for nearly 1,000 years.
This dwelling, controlled by this generation of monks, has made this beautiful area the only region in the world with monastic autonomy, that is, the autonomous monastery state of Mount Athos.
And the path of practice of these monks has also been known to the world along with this pure land on earth.
However, no one would have thought that the monks would sit and lie down in the future, inheriting thousands of years of wind and bones, and clearing the rules and precepts, which made tens of thousands of foreign beings feel unthinkable, but they were helpless to hold back.
Day after day, the monks' day's homework begins with the rising day in the distance of the Aegean Sea.
It can only be seen that the monks follow the monastic collective living system. He works on the slopes, grows fruits and vegetables, raises chickens and ducks, and is self-sufficient. Or focus on clay pots and making handicrafts. Different monks and monks were often assigned a series of different jobs such as farming, painting, winemaking, carving, and accounting according to their strengths and physical abilities.
This scene is like showing the style of Zen Buddhism, "one day without doing, one day without eating". The laws of China and the West are shown here as one.
This is the source of their livelihood here, and it has become their daily practice. This fixed assignment will last for a full 8 hours.
Immediately, the monks entered the monastery, singing and chanting, and melodious hymns echoed through the valleys. Suddenly, one mantra after another is floating on earth, floating in the ears of the Lord in their hearts.
Singing and chanting has become their only way to never slacken day after day. This homework also lasted a full 8 hours.
In this way, 8 hours of hard work, 8 hours of chanting, and 8 hours of rest, thus composing the daily practice of thousands of monks on this peninsula.
And this practice, passed down from generation to generation, has been maintained for nearly 1,000 years.
For 1,000 years, monks have adhered to the teachings of the teachings, and have practiced day after day, without slackening. Everything here is as if a thousand years of time have been frozen here.
The humble monks in black robes, hoeing one place after another, singing hymns endlessly, continue the ancient style here, which is really special.
Such a rigorous practice, isolated cultivation path has also attracted many foreign beings to want to see its true appearance.
After all, at the moment when material desires are rampant, there are such a special group of men in this world, who practice at ease on this island and are not disturbed by the outside world.
However, no one expected that for 1,000 years, the entire prefecture would strictly abide by a number of special prohibitions. This prohibition finally caused an uproar among the visitors.
"Sacred Mountain Special Zone, women are forbidden to enter!"
"Only 10 non-Orthodox foreign visitors and 100 visitors from our sect can be accommodated daily!"
As soon as this ban came out, it can be said that everyone was shocked. In the current era, with such regulations, it naturally has some unthinkable, even unequal meaning.
After all, only by opening up tourists can the incense continue to burn. After all, no temple in the world will distinguish between genders and tours.
However, I never expected that the reason behind this unconscionable prohibition would amaze those who knew it.
"This is the true path of practice, this is the true hermit."
It turns out that for thousands of years, generations of monks and catechists here believed that the presence of women would distract monks from their practice. Moreover, the idea of abstinence is practiced here, and naturally there is no contact with women.
And this ban, but not so simple as casual talk, the degree of strictness, can be called the extreme.
For monks on the island, any photographs and publications about ladies are strictly forbidden on the island, and if discovered, monks are severely criticized. They were even disqualified from practicing here.
For the outside of the island, it is even more layer-by-layer. Vessels in the open sea can only sail beyond 500 meters in case a lady is present on board.
Even for men, there are only 10 non-religious tourists who can actually receive it every day, and there is not one more. In order to ensure that the practice environment is not disturbed, there are clear rules for the length of stay for men who come to travel or pilgrimage, and they must stay for a maximum of three nights.
Entrants need to submit an entry application in advance and need a letter of introduction from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs to go to Karier in exchange for an entry permit.
Before landing on the island, you need to go through layers of security checks to prevent you from bringing any worldly items. Here, these ordinary items become "contraband".
If you're lucky enough to pass the rigors and be lucky enough to be one of those 20, don't be overly happy. All the tours are not as arbitrary as you might think.
Visitors who are able to visit the island must follow the route set by the monks. Have a vegetarian lunch with the monks and pray and sing a song together. Humble monks will often talk to you about wisdom and truth, teach you and solve your worldly problems. Take you to understand the true meaning of practice for thousands of years.
In the eyes of outsiders, such a laborious and hard-won parade is a little boring.
However, tourists who came here were happy to visit.
"Everything here is mysterious."
"Coming here to travel, I feel that my heart has been sublimated."
For example, they did not go to an island of practice, but to God's dwelling place on earth.
This is the state of the monastery of Athos and its special monks.
Some people say that practicing under such strict precepts is really boring. And it seems to me that, perhaps, their hearts have long been abundant. This may be the reason why it has endured for 1,000 years.