Girlhood's Shi Zheng Xiaotong
In 1989, an ordinary Henan family gave birth to a lovely girl, she was Shi Zheng Xiaotong. Her mother was a devout Buddhist, who often chanted, meditated, and went to the monastery to burn incense.
Shi Zhengxiao never felt that there was anything wrong with her mother's beliefs, on the contrary, she gradually developed a strong interest in Buddhism. Listening to her mother's chanting and following her mother to the monastery were the things she was most happy to participate in when she was a child.
The parents are also relieved to see that their daughter has gradually settled down and is no longer so naughty.
In this way, under the careful guidance of his parents, Shi Zheng Xiaotong completed his studies smoothly and was finally admitted to Shandong University, a key 985 university. When she came to university, she looked like she was no different from other ordinary students, but in fact she had her own unique world—she often nestled in the library and studied Buddhist texts whenever she had free time.
The days of three points and one line are not boring in Shi Zhengxiaotong's opinion, because she has found her faith. Buddhism has brought her spiritual comfort in a way that no other one can match.
In this way, in her freshman and sophomore year, in addition to completing the necessary coursework, almost all of her free time was spent on Buddhist scriptures.
However, a series of dreams completely changed Shi Zhengxiaotong's originally peaceful rhythm of life. In that dream, she dreamed that she was incarnated as a little boy beside the Buddha, accompanying her.
The theme of this dream is the same every time, and the frequency is getting higher and higher. Shi Zhengxiao faintly understood in his heart that this might be God signaling to her that she was about to embark on the path of cultivation.
Choose to become a monk with the support of your parents
After careful consideration, Shi Zheng Xiaotong finally made a major decision in his life in the second semester of his sophomore year - to drop out of school and become a monk. She thinks that God is calling her, that the path of cultivation has been opened, and that she can't wait any longer.
This decision is really unbelievable in the eyes of teachers, students and students.
"Are you kidding? Buddhism can be a hobby, but it's too hasty to make it a lifelong choice. Besides, you're only in your early twenties, and you haven't suffered any trauma, so how can you suddenly want to become a monk?" Shi Zheng Xiaotong's friend Zhan Sixuan persuaded.
In the face of everyone's incomprehension, Shi Zheng Xiaotong just shook his head, saying that his determination had been made and would not change. She believes that everyone will understand eventually. When the classmates and teachers saw her resolute attitude, they didn't say anything more.
Compared with classmates and teachers, Shi Zhengxiaotong is most worried about the reaction of his parents. After all, planning her own life is one thing, but the support of her parents is the decisive factor in the direction of her life.
Fortunately, unlike many traditional Chinese parents, Shi Zhengxiaotong's parents expressed their understanding and support after learning about their daughter's thoughts.
"Baby, your mother never wanted you to stick to us, she just wanted you to live the life you wanted. Since you have made up your mind, then we can only respect and support you. The mother hugged her daughter with tears in her eyes and said from the bottom of her heart. The father also nodded heavily, his eyes shining with pride.
Shi Zhengxiao, who was understood by his parents, was relieved, and the whole person became brisk. In 2008, at the age of 19, she walked out of school with her head held high and embarked on a new journey in life.
In the stunned and reluctant eyes of her friends, she rushed to her faith without hesitation.
Join the art troupe, simple and compassionate
After leaving Shandong University, Shi Zheng Xiaotong did not enter the temple directly, but returned to the Tiantai Temple where he had traveled two years ago and officially became a nun. Tiantai Temple has China's first all-monk art troupe, which uses Zen music as one of the monks' practice methods.
Shi Zheng Xiaotong joined this unique group.
The Tiantai Temple Guangxuan Art Troupe will perform quietly in a corner of the mountains, and the audience is often blue sky and white clouds. The Zen spirit contained in the music is long-lasting and can sublimate people's souls.
Shakti is also gradually finding balance in this unique form of practice.
In the art troupe, Shi Zheng Xiaotong was promoted to host with his good education and eloquence. Before the performance, she will introduce the origin and connotation of the music to the audience, and taste the life insights contained in it.
During the day, she would chant, labor, and meditate with other nuns; In the evening, I got together with the members of the art troupe to rehearse. The regularity and simplicity of temple life are in line with the mind of Shi Zhengxiaotong.
She also found her own peace in such an unchanging life.
If the motivation for Shi Zhengxiaotong at the beginning came from the yearning for Buddhism, then now, she is truly pleased by this simple life of faith.
She will enlighten pilgrims who come to worship at a fixed time, so that more people who are confused can also get the guidance of Buddhism.
Internet celebrity photos, still calm
After a performance, the atmosphere was just right, and Shi Zhengxiao rose at the same time, closed his eyes and played a solo song dedicated to nature. Unexpectedly, this move was recorded by a tourist who was present at the time and posted on the Internet.
In the picture, she looks attentive, upright and beautiful, and soon set off a wave of attention on the Internet. "Is this the legendary Tiantai nun? It's a pity to be so beautiful, if you come out of the entertainment industry to develop, it may become popular. Netizens were talking.
Gradually, because of this photo, Shi Zhengxiao was called "the most beautiful nun" by everyone, and many curious tourists began to make a special trip to Tiantai Temple to see the real face. In the face of sudden popularity, Shi Zheng Xiaotong did not have the slightest wave, and still lived his original life.
She will calmly respond to the good men and women who come to worship, and there is no arrogance. In the face of those entertainment companies that wanted to pull her out of the mountain for development, she only smiled slightly, saying that she had found a place in this life.
"I was in the camera because of a rash move, and I wouldn't have been bothered like this if it weren't for that. Shi Zhengxiao said so.
The indifference of her mentality has surpassed ordinary people, so that all those who meet her feel a kind of warmth and shock. She enlightens every living creature with her own peace, like the sun that illuminates the earth.
Now, 14 years later
In the blink of an eye, 14 years have passed. Today's Shi Zheng Xiaotong is 33 years old, much more mature and complete than when he first entered the temple. She will enlighten the little sisters who come to learn Xi and pass on her many years of experience, just like she was as ignorant as she was at the beginning.
Parents often come to visit, and they will ask their daughter in a subtle way if she regrets her decision. And she just shook her head gently, indicating that she had found stability in this life in this pure land.
"I wasn't born a nun, I had my own choices, and this is my life. Shi Zhengxiao responded with a smile.
Today, she still lives a regular life, just like when she first entered the temple 14 years ago. Regular prayers, meditations, labor, and the occasional return to the stage during performances by the Monks' Art Troupe.
The Dharma is still the most important part of her life, and that will not change.
Perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, this repetitive life is boring and boring. But for Shi Zheng Xiaotong, it is the happiest journey of her life. She would also often recite the Buddha's teachings silently, thanking God for allowing her to achieve happiness in this life.