A trilogy of stormy skies
Between 1953 and 1954, I settled in Taiwan and was hit by a stormy storm that I had never experienced in my life. In my ordinary life, it became the most extraordinary year. I have been a monk for more than 20 years, and I have always lived a weak, poor, but peaceful and harmonious life. I felt that I had no quarrel with others, and I was loved and cared for by people from Taiwan when I did not come to Taiwan. In my ordinary life, I feel that everything is good.
In 1950 (aged 45), he lived in Tai Po Market Mei Xiu Fine House. I suddenly received a letter from Hong Kong that "should be sent" saying that someone in Taiwan had brought something to me and asked me to pick it up in person. I was very surprised, and according to the address on the letter, I found (near) Banshan District and met a Mrs. Ying, who was recently from Taiwan. She handed me 100 US dollars and said a little about the content: Someone in Hong Kong wrote to Master Nan Ting, saying: We study hard in Hong Kong, but we have no one to provide for us, and our life is difficult. Master Nanting talked with Master Bai Sheng, which aroused sympathy for the Dharma. Qian persuaded Mrs. X to be happy. She said: Just because you know, just write to thank Master Bai Sheng. I did so according to his words.
This Mrs. Ying, I have never met when I came to Taiwan, she is Mrs. Ying, who founded the Eastern American Buddhist Association in New York. I got this unexpected alms, discussed with them, put myself together, and with the help of Chen Jingtao, I asked for a copy of the Taisho Canon from Japan (about 250 US dollars at that time) for reference. Their hearts were filled with Dharma joy and they felt the care of their Buddhist colleagues. So when I came to Taiwan, I never thought of any surprises.
Some people say: Taiwanese Buddhism was originally calm, why did Yin Shun come, it is not so much! In fact, I am also feeling surprised: I have not come to Taiwan, I have been calm and quiet for more than 20 years, and I am deeply cared for by the elders and mages (including those in Taiwan). Why did I become a problem person as soon as I arrived in Taiwan! Looking back now, it was not me who changed, nor the elders and teachers who changed, but mainly that I attended the World Buddhist Friendship Association in Japan and lived in the Zendo Temple. I unconsciously and involuntarily created the cause, so I couldn't help but suffer some torture.
In mid-May 1953 (48 years old), I traveled from Taiwan to Hong Kong and brought back a statue of the Jade Buddha, provided by the Penang Buddhist Society (Master Mingde and others); a copy of the Taisho Collection, some personal clothing; Of course, the merit money for the construction of the fine house was also brought back. It was the end of June when I returned to Taiwan, and I was busy preparing for the construction of the fine house and the decoration of the Buddhist hall and utensils. On September 11, the inauguration ceremony was held. In mid-October, he gave a lecture on the Myohui Virgin's Sutra at the Temple of Good Guidance. In mid-November, the Buddha Seven and Mida pujas are held at Shandao Temple. Physically weakened, I have no mental strength to worry about anything else in this constant ritual, and I do not pay attention to everything in the environment.
The storm is coming, but incredible causes have also appeared! November 17, 1953 (Mida's birthday) is a difficult day to understand. At the end of the Mida Festival, I was extremely tired and wanted to return to Hsinchu on the day of the training to host the regular weekly lecture on Hsinchu tomorrow morning. But Yanpei replied, "No, I'm going to see Elder Tzu in the inner courtyard of Xizhi Maitreya." His personality, his speech, is how he goes straight to the point. He had to catch up with Maitreya's inner court that day; Master Cihang is a mage he used to be close to, and I should not stop him from not forgetting the master and going to pay homage. That night, I rushed back to Hsinchu and he went to Xizhi. Due to the excessive fatigue of the body, the heart is somewhat uncomfortable.
The next afternoon, Yanpei returned to the fine house, looking a little strange. According to him: As soon as he arrived at the inner courtyard of Maitreya, Elder Ci, when he saw it, he said, "Yanpei! Chinese Buddhism is in my hands and yours today." Yanpei was a little dazed in surprise, and Elder Ci threw an article to Guanwai (who was in retreat at that time): "Go and see it yourself"! The title of this article is: "What if (perhaps "make") there is no Mahayana". The article was written by Master Cihang, criticizing me, and it should be said that it was a ruthless attack on me.
The general effect of the article is that I want to overthrow Mahayana, advocate Hinayana Buddhism, and advocate Japanese Buddhism. Say I want to be a leader and ask me who sealed you. The article is only a third of the way written. Yanpei explained to him: "The teacher (referring to me) advocates the Middle View, isn't it Mahayana? How to say that he wants to bring down Mahayana? He also wrote a treatise on Mahayana as a Buddha! In Japanese Buddhism, the teacher thought that on the existing social basis on the mainland, it was impossible to imitate. Teachers, don't listen to other people's nonsense"! Master Cihang and Yanpei have a relationship between teachers and students, and they also have a good impression of Yanpei, so after talking for most of the day, he finally said: "Good!" You take the article, I won't write it anymore, I'll talk about it when I hit the mainland."
Yanpei also told me that Elder Ci made a special expression to him and said softly: "Someone wants him (pointing to me) to look good, wait and see"! I listened to these words, and I seemed to believe them or not, but the unfinished article was really in front of me. I think that I lament the middle path of dependent emptiness, saying that only knowledge is unrighteous, and Gen-la Cihang advocates the sect of enlightenment, perhaps because of this misunderstanding. Therefore, I sent this unfinished article to the disciple of Master Cihang ---- Youzun in Hong Kong, hoping that he could explain to me that I did not have the idea of defeating the Enlightenment Sect. I don't know if I'm sleeping in the dark, it's not like that at all. There are people like me who live without seeing, hearing and ignorant!
I couldn't focus on myself anymore, I had to open my window and look at everything in this world ---- Buddhism on the treasure island, and the situation gradually became clear. It turned out that Master Cihang's article attacking me was already the second part of a trilogy. The elders concealed the truth and launched a fatal blow to me.
The way of blow gradually unfolded, and the first part began with the posture of "encircling and suppressing Yuanming". Yuan Ming, a native of northern Jiangsu who was sent by the Buddhist Association of China (the era presided over by Li Zikuan) to study in Japan. He was a colleague of Master Bai Sheng at the Jing'an Temple in Shanghai; Master Nanting's student at the Qinglian Temple (in Nine Acres of Land) in Shanghai; After coming to Taiwan, he followed Master Cihang's right-hand man. I met twice and nodded my head twice. I don't know how to deal with people, of course, I don't have anything to say. However, during meetings in Japan, we met almost every day. But this is when everyone meets together, and there is no personal contact.
Yuan Ming studying in Japan, of course, will be influenced (or said to be progressive) by Japanese Buddhism, write some introduction or translation, how to reform the article, and publish it in "Juesheng" (Taichung Publishing); "Sea Tide Sound" has also been published in one or two translations. Of course, what he said was not in line with the traditional ideas of the elders. I don't know why; In a writing, Yuan Ming asked the teachers in Taiwan to learn from Yin Shun.
Su Chunpu wrote a text refuting Hu Shi and asked Master Cihang to appraise it. Master Cihang is straight, and when he thought of writing it, he added "according to the words one, two, three" and published it. Yuan Ming was an admirer of Hu Shi (in the sixties, for the sake of the Six Ancestors "Altar Sutra", Yang Hongfei, who criticized Qian Mu, is the current name of Yuan Ming; He seems to have always been an admirer of Hu Shi), criticized Su Wen, and criticized the three words one by one, and concluded that Elder Ci should learn from Yin Shun. This is really unreasonable!
Gen-la Cihang is a bodhisattva at heart, but he has not become a Buddha in the end, and he cannot remain indifferent to these words that undermine his dignity. Yuan Ming has freedom of speech, but I can be implicated. At that time, the Buddhist community in China (from the mainland) launched a siege and suppression of the Yuan Ming, some criticizing and some scolding. Master Zhang Jia, president of the Buddhist Association of China, and Wu Zhongxing, secretary general, informed Buddhist magazines that the text of Yuan Ming should no longer be published.
On the surface, in words, the mages and monks who came to Taiwan from the mainland almost unanimously hated Yuanming. But in terms of verbal propaganda, some people (who attack my core figures) have a different set. Legends, constant legends, legends seem to be true, doesn't Yuan Ming want everyone to learn from Yin Shun? The legend is that Yuanming's daring to publish articles was supported by Yin Shun. Further, that article was revised by Yinshun; That one was written by Yin Shun and was famous by Yuan Ming. It is even said: The editorial office of "Juesheng" is actually in the Fuyan Fine House in Hsinchu. Boundless verbal propaganda, from Taipei to Taichung, is popular everywhere (I occasionally hear a little, but it doesn't matter to me, just laugh). In this way, I should take responsibility for everything in Yuanming. Words like "evil knowledge," "destruction of the Dharma," "opposition to Mahayana," and "demon kings" have all piled up on me.
Let's give a tangible example! At the beginning of the first month of 1954, Taiwanese believers Li Zhuyu and Liu Huixian (and possibly Hou Huiyu) were the protectors of the Shandao Temple (Dharma Protector Society). They came from the Xizhi Ashram to pay me a New Year's salute. They said: "The master said: Yuan Ming has a letter to Elder Ci, saying that the past articles were written by Yin Shun and asked him to write this way, not his intention." They asked me, "Is there such a thing?" I said, "I also heard that Yuan Ming has a letter to Elder Ci. Elder Ci and I may also have misunderstood a little, but I trust his personality, he is not to speak falsely, you may as well ask Elder Ci directly for instructions." Later, Li Zhuyu and others told me that Elder Ci said: "Yuan Ming just said: He is discussing for the sake of truth, and there is no malice towards Elder Ci. There is no mention of Yinshun in the letter." I said, "That's it, just get it." There is no need to say more, it is useless to say more". Ming Li is to besiege Yuanming, and secretly is to deal with Yin Shun, which is the first part of the storm.
The article "If there were no Mahayana" written by Gen-la Cihang was the second part of a frontal attack on me. At that time, Master Cihang had a high reputation. Zhao Yanwu, Chung Boyi, and the elders of the Dharma Protectors all had considerable respect for Master Cihang. If Master Cihang criticizes me, then the perception of the Dharma Protector Elders will have an impact on my perception to some extent. Therefore, although the elder mages and Master Cihang may not be like-minded in normal times, in order to deal with me, the elder mages, as well as a small number of young Yihu, have all climbed the Maitreya Inner Courtyard of Xiufeng Mountain one by one (of course, there are also those who have repeatedly gone up the mountain) to meet Master Cihang. Everyone spoke in unison, asking Elder Ci to come out and save Chinese Buddhism. Elder Ci must rise to the top and subdue the devil, otherwise Chinese Buddhism will be invincible!
The elders and mages were so religious, so earnest, so enthusiastic! Master Cihang, who specialized in Guanzhong Province, finally picked up his pen and wrote "If there were no Mahayana". The cause is so incredible, Yanpei had to go up Xiufeng Mountain to see Elder Ci that day! In this way, the tension between the saber rattling suddenly became unhappy. Hi yes! Hi yes! I cannot fail to sing about the incomprehensibility of karma.
First caused a wide range of legends that were not favorable to me, and then came to the ascending of Master Cihang, which made me lose the support of the Buddha Gate Protector, then as soon as the third part appeared, I would undoubtedly fall. Although the second part was not played successfully, the performance of the third part is imminent. "Mountains and rain are about to come," and if we want to come, there will always be a future realm that will come first.
On the evening of the 8th of December, there was a small gathering at the temple (in the guest room outside my dormitory). Among those who came to the meeting were Master Bai Sheng, Wu Zhongxing, secretary general of the Buddhist Association, Master Nanting, and Zhou Zishen. The deputies spoke by Secretary-General Wu and Zhou Jushi. Ask me what I think of Yuanming; Whether or not you agree with Yuanming's thoughts. I said approximately: Yuan Ming studied in Japan and learned some academic methods; For example, the examination of evidence is one of the methods of academic treatment, but the result of the examination is not necessarily correct. I said: The thoughts of the Japanese scholars in the translation of the Yuanming section, as for the thoughts of the Japanese scholars in the translation of the Yuanming himself, I have no idea at all.
Zhou Jushi said something quite beautiful: Not long after Taiwan's restoration, some of them still have the consciousness of longing for Japan. We must not advocate Theravada Buddhism, advocate Japanese Buddhism! But in my opinion, Japanese Buddhism is not Theravada Buddhism, and Hinayana Buddhism is necessarily opposed to Japanese Buddhism. It is ridiculous to say that Hinayana is advocated and Japanese Buddhism is advocated, but where do I explain it! I can only be responsible for myself, and I do not admit that I have the same thoughts as Yuanming (because I don't know what his thoughts are), nor do I admit that I have anything to do with Yuanming (it really has nothing to do with it), which of course does not satisfy the wishes of the visitors. At the end, Secretary General Wu Zhongxing slapped the table and said, "Pave the way for the Communist Party" (Chen Huifu was next to him, and he quarreled with him for this), and he left. Such a small gathering, this is the end.
Secretary General Wu's remarks, I intuitively felt that there were a lot of articles in it, but I could only wait and see. I don't know who arranged this night's rally? What is the purpose? This may have been facilitated by several Dharma Protector elders of the Buddhist Gate (perhaps promoted by Zi Lao behind the scenes). I hope to meet and meet, exchange views and enhance friendship. A few days later, there was another (lunch) dinner party in the Huayan Lotus Society, which was invited by the elders of the Dharma Protector, and many mages and lay people also came. At lunch, everyone talks about Buddhism, exchanges views, and offers to hold it semi-monthly or monthly in the future. The kindness of the Dharma Protector Elders is palpable! But the third part was officially launched.
The Central Party Department of the Kuomintang has a monthly magazine (semi-monthly?) that is issued to party members and not disclosed to the outside world. In the most recent issue of Chang Shi, there is this article: (to the effect of) It is reported that Yin Shun's "Introduction to Buddhism" distorts the meaning of Buddhism, implies the poison of communist propaganda, and hopes that all parties will pay strict attention to banning it. Of course, this was caused by a Buddhist fandom and a member of the Kuomintang, who secretly reported my "Introduction to Buddhism" to the party or the security command, saying that it was caused by implicit communist propaganda.
Secretary General Wu went to see Master Zhang Jia, president of the Chinese Buddhist Association, and believed that the Chinese Buddhist Association should express something. Master Zhang Jia has always trusted Li Zikuan, so he asked him to negotiate with Zikuan. At that time, Zi Lao was only an ordinary director of the Chinese Buddhist Association, and there was no need for the secretary general to ask him for advice. In the name of the Chinese Buddhist Association (No. 1 of the 43rd Central Buddhist Secretaries), he immediately sent a telegram to the Taiwan Provincial Branch, county and city branches, members of various Buddhist organizations, Buddhist seminars, etc., "hoping to unanimously assist in banning it, and not circulating and disseminating it", and distributed copies to the Ministry of the Interior, the provincial government, the provincial security command, the provincial police department, and the county and city governments to express the assistance of the Chinese Buddhist Association. This day was January 23, 1954. Zi Lao said: "Everyone is shouting that people are left under the knife, so they stew and cut down, it's too powerful"!
This was, of course, the worst blow to me. If I have always been an active figure, preaching the Dharma everywhere, dealing with people everywhere, passing through the special telegrams of the Chinese Buddhist Association, I may run into walls everywhere, avoid seeing each other, or meet each other and no longer know each other, "snubbed in front of the door", it is inevitable to be a little embarrassed! Fortunately, I have never had contact with Buddhist associations in various counties and cities, and I don't know many people. I have always been from Hsinchu Fuyan Fine House to Taipei Shandao Temple, from Shandao Temple to Fuyan Fine House and neighboring temples. It is these familiar faces who meet now. Everyone (Wuyi and Chang Jue, who have recently come from Hong Kong, just in time, it is difficult for them) are not in a hurry, they are angry, and there is no expression of disgust on my face. So I'm still normal, but I just have one more pimple in my heart.
Since the writing of the Chinese Buddhist Association, more and more rumors have been spread at the end of the year and the beginning of the year. Some said: Yin Shun was arrested. Some said: detained for three days. It is also said that they dare not come to Taipei. It is also said: hiding. I don't want to hear this, but there are well-wishers who want to reach my ears. I'm a little ashamed in my heart! The old saying says; "Although I do not kill Boren, Boren dies by me." Now it is: "Although I do not have an ostomy industry, but the boundless mouth industry is made for me." I said to Zilao, "Zilao! I want to refute the rumors." He asked me how to solve it? I said, "Preach the Dharma publicly." Therefore, around the 15th of the first month, an advertisement was published in the "Central Daily" to explain the teachings. After seven days of speaking, there are still so many listeners. The topics of the lectures were: "The Religious View of Buddhism", "The Endless Flow of Life", "Environmental Determination or Freedom of Will", "General Morality and Buddhaized Morality", and "The Realm of the Liberated". When I do this, I just say: Yin Shun is still at the Shandao Monastery and is still preaching the Dharma; I answer the rumors with facts. In this way, those bizarre rumors and oral industry have been greatly reduced, but the oral industry cannot be completely extinct.
In the stormy seas, perhaps the one who is really anxious is Zilao. He is the guarantor of my coming to Taiwan, the proposer who invited me to Taiwan, and I am also the mentor of the Shandao Temple (the Shandao Temple is managed by the Dharma Protector Society, and Zi is always the president of the Dharma Protector Society). If I have a problem, he is loyal to the party and patriotic, of course, there will be no problem, but it is enough to embarrass him. Moreover, what about the Zendo Temple! Zi Lao should have known for a long time and knew a lot. He sometimes said, "Problems always have to be solved." He never understood and said to me, I thought it was just a misunderstanding of me by the elders! But he is one of the factors that makes me a problem, how can he eliminate this storm invisibly! Whether it was the siege of Yuan Ming, Gen-la Cihang came forward to write articles, and whistle-blowing to the party (government), the real problem was: I offended (hindered or threatened) almost all Buddhist fellows who came to Taiwan.
Related to myself, are:
1. I came to Japan to attend the World Buddhist Conference, and I took the honorable seat of the elders and teachers.
Second, when I came, I stayed at the Temple of Good Guide. Presiding over all legal affairs, Zi Lao did not resign Master Nanting, and Master Nanting never came. However, it is easy to leave the temple, and it is not easy to forget it (this is by no means just Master Nanting, the temple is Taipei's first brake, a powerful bodhisattva with a big heart, who doesn't want to preside over this temple, stretch his ambitions, and expand the breadth of all sentient beings!).
3. I inherit the idea of the virtual master, "The pure land is sheltered by the three multiplications." Chanting Buddha is not just chanting Amitabha Buddha, chanting Buddha is one part of the Dharma but not the whole thing; The Pure Land is not just about past lives, but also about making a wish to create a Pure Land. This sounds a little unpleasant to me by a pure land practitioner who only needs to say anything about Amitabha Buddha.
Fourth, I read a few more scriptures, and I threw out some methods that Chinese Buddhism had forgotten. Exalting that everything is empty is the ultimate righteousness, and idealism is unrighteous, causing the elders to be surprised and uneasy.
Fifth, I am introverted by nature, will not move, will not interact, and will not flatter, which is easy to cause the illusion of me arrogant and unsightly.
Zi Lao is one of the important factors that put me in the dispute. At first, as a standing committee member of the Chinese Buddhist Association, he presided over the Chinese Buddhist Association by supporting its president, Master Zhang Jia; He also supported (Song) Xiu Zhen to preside over the Taiwan Provincial Branch; He is also a Buddhist representative of the Sorority. He was too responsible and could not divide part of the responsibility, so that the Buddhist sect and others shared the burden, so it made everyone unhappy. The World Buddhist Friendship Association in Japan has a limited number of five delegates, and he prefers me from Hong Kong to attend. Half a month before I came to Taiwan, the Buddhist Association of China was re-elected, and he had lost its executive director, but was just an ordinary director. Needless to say, it is enough to illustrate the perception of him by Chinese Buddhist fandoms (from the mainland). In terms of personnel, in order to commemorate the memorial service for Master Fa Fang, (Master Nanting does not advocate opening and does not come to attend) Zi Lao began a misunderstanding with Master Nanting (this is what Master Chen Huifu said, but I think it will not be that simple). Master Bai Sheng and Secretary General Wu are fellow villagers of Zi Lao (Master Bai Sheng is still a fellow villager of Yingcheng), but I don't know why, they have deep opinions between each other.
Of course, the most important thing is the Good Guide Temple. Shandao Temple was followed by Li Zikuan and Sun (wife of General Liren) Zhang Qingyang, who donated a sum of money in the name of the World Buddhist Academy. In order to maintain the difficulties, he formed (forty-eight people) of the Dharma Protector Society, of which Zi Lao was the president. When the Buddha statue in the main hall of the Shandao Temple was almost sealed, of course, the elders and mages had nothing to say. When the temple was settled and cleaned (some of them had not yet moved out), the believers gradually gathered, and in the traditional view of the elders, the monastery should belong to the monks. Shandao Temple is the first temple in Taipei, the main hall is solemn, and it is impossible to lead legal affairs without a monk. After Master Daxing left, Zi Lao personally led the legal affairs and talked about the Diamond Sutra, but this was not satisfied by the believers, so he asked Master Nanting to be his teacher. Mentors are only responsible for legal affairs, not personnel and economics; This situation, of course, is not sustainable. It just so happened that I came and lived in the Zendao Temple, and my weakened body also maintained the legal affairs.
In this way, for the sake of the Good Guide Temple, to deal with Zilao, you must deal with me first. If I fall, it will be a problem for Zilao to maintain the situation of the Good Guide Temple. This is the deeper meaning of the elders dealing with me (so this time the problem is over, and the Zendo Temple will continue to be a problem).
Also, Yanpei has lived with me for many years, and it is too much praised for me everywhere (the continuation of the ming is much more implicit), which inevitably causes people's disgust. He came to Taiwan to preside over the Taiwan Buddhist Seminar, and there was a problem with the young teacher who used to live in the Taiwan Buddhist Seminar. Yan Pei was originally a student of Master Cihang, but he had approached me for more than ten years. In the spring of 42, Xu Ming and Renjun arrived in Taiwan. At the end of the year, Wuyi and Changjue also arrived at the Fuyan Essence House. At that time, Master Cihang's students Wei Ci and Yin Hai were already living in the Fuyan Essence House. And Miaofeng, Phantom Sheng, Guozong, etc., also went to Hsinchu Lingyin Temple, and the seminar hosted by Yanpei came to observe. At the seminar, of course, there were also some Taiwanese students. It seems that Buddhist youth, concentrating towards the Blessed Spirit, may have become a great force in Buddhism. Yuan Ming made irresponsible and obligatory propaganda for me in this way. In the opinion of the elders, the elders and teachers have a good understanding of Buddhism (?) The threat is too great, that's terrible! Disastrous! The intricate development of infinite causes and conditions has finally formed a storm that must go to me.
Thankfully, the government at that time was stable; Politics has become normal, and law and order has been controlled. Therefore, if we do not find out the suspected bandits and spies who are truly involved in the organization's activities, we will never rashly arrest them if they do not find out that they are secretly involved in the organization's activities. In this case, no one came to question me, I was not arraigned, I was arrested. Due to political progress, I am much luckier than Master Cihang and his young classmates (a few years ago). Later, it was dismissed by requesting revisions and republications.
I am still the same as in the past, from the Good Guide Temple and the Fuyan Essence House, from the Fuyan Essence House to the Good Guide Temple. In the Buddhist community in China, from Taichung to Taipei, the almost unanimous united front has only had a limited effect equal to zero for me. Why should I? I didn't pray for the Buddha and Bodhisattva's quilt, and there was nothing I could do. I just have a clear conscience and follow the causes and conditions. Everything is not satisfactory, let the cause and condition decide!