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In 2014, a puzzling decision caused an uproar in the Buddhist community. Chen Renqing, an outstanding young scholar who was born in Hunan and taught at his alma mater, resolutely resigned from his teaching position, became a monk, and took refuge in Yunhai Temple in Sichuan to practice.
At that time, Renqing had already made small achievements in the academic world and had a bright future. He has been a devout Buddhist since childhood, majored in law in college, and has a persistent yearning for Buddhist culture.
He was enlightened by eminent monks several times, and his mind became more and more open, and his idea of becoming a monk became more and more determined.
After graduating from university, Renqing could have embraced a bright future, but deep down he always had a dream haunting him - to repair temples and promote Buddhism. This dedication finally overcame the temptations of the world, and he made up his mind to give up the affluent life and become a monk.
At that time, Renqing was in the rising period of his career. His decision undoubtedly surprised friends and family. Her mother cried and dissuaded, but Renqing turned a deaf ear, and her belief in Buddhism had long taken root in her heart.
"Although I have given up on a bright future, my heart has never wavered, and the promotion of Buddhism is my only obsession. Years later, Renqing looked back.
In this way, Renqing left the familiar environment and went to Yunhai Temple in Sichuan, opening a new path of cultivation. When he came here, he found that this thousand-year-old temple was dilapidated, the walls were broken, and it was inevitably desolate.
So, he made up his mind to use his own hands to restore the glory of the ancient temple to its former glory.
When Venerable Renqing arrived at Yunhai Temple, he began to plan how to rebuild this ancient temple. However, there is a shortage of manpower, and progress is difficult. Just when he was anxious and helpless, like-minded young people were infected by his deeds and joined the ranks of reconstruction.
At first, it was two master's students and a doctoral supervisor, and after seeing the old and dilapidated scene of Yunhai Temple, they resolutely joined Renqing's cultivation team. Soon, more young people came to this silent and sacred place to work together to repair the temple.
Among these young people, there are Internet company executives, well-known university professors, and monthly salaries as high as tens of thousands of yuan; There are talented people and independent literati.
Their devotion to Buddhism trumps all else. A master's student who once worked in a tech giant laughed at himself for "living the life of a poor monk ever since"; A young female professor also took the initiative to resign and leave her alma mater's superior faculty and staff.
In the end, more than 30 young people who were rich in learning and five cars resolutely became monks. Far away from their relatives in their hometowns, they traveled thousands of miles just to take refuge in this ancient Buddhist monastery and seek freedom of mind.
Although their families tried every possible dissuasion, and even the outside world questioned and blamed, they did not shake their determination.
A master's student once said to his family: "What I seek is not money and status, but inner freedom and liberation." You should be proud of me, not disappointed.
In this way, groups of young people with dreams came to Yunhai Temple to fight side by side with Renqing's master and apprentice. Faced with the old and dilapidated temple, their blood boiled and they were determined to restore it with their hands and restore it to its glory.
When they came to Yunhai Temple, what this group of young monks saw was a barren and dilapidated scene. The temple is cracked, overgrown with weeds, and is full of dilemmas that need to be repaired urgently.
However, they were not discouraged, but were enthusiastic and eager to start rebuilding.
A female professor who used to teach at a prestigious school, saw that weeds were everywhere, and without saying a word, she rolled up her sleeves and began to hoe the weeds. A young monk from a high-achieving background, who could have made a big career in society, picked up a hoe, began to take care of the vegetable garden, and lived a life of farm work.
The reconstruction effort has been arduous and long. They hoe the fields, transport slag, and carry building materials under the sun every day, and in the evenings they recite scriptures and meditate. Although life is hard, they enjoy it and never sigh.
A monk lamented: "After changing this robe, although I am poor, my heart is more comfortable than ever."
However, just as they were devoting themselves to rebuilding the Buddhist temple, the outside world never stopped criticizing and questioning them. "These young people are afraid that they have been deceived by the temple.
In response to these doubts, the monks sighed, but they were never discouraged. What saddened them the most was the disappointment and incomprehension of their families. A young monk once said in a choked voice: "I am just pursuing inner freedom, and my parents should be proud of me, not disappointed."
Parents are inconsiderate of their children's choices. The mother of a monk cried bitterly that her dream of becoming a son would be shattered. A high-paying female scholar, whose parents were proud of her career prospects, can only helplessly watch her become a monk.
In the face of the doubts of others and the disappointment of their relatives, Renqing and others never wavered, but insisted on their beliefs and pursuits more persistently. For them, inner freedom is above all else.
At the beginning of Yunhai Temple, the living environment was extremely remote, there was no room and board, and the cultivation was difficult, which really tested the endurance and perseverance of these "elite students".
Sure enough, soon some people could not bear such a poor environment and retreated. A high-achieving student with a doctorate, after living a grassroots life for several months, finally couldn't bear it anymore, and left Yunhai Temple with his wife and children without looking back.
A young and talented female professor could not bear such a simple and difficult life, and soon left.
For these people to escape, Master Renqing was not surprised. He said calmly: "Cultivation has always been lonely, and it is necessary to pay eternal dedication to faith.
Watching batch after batch of students leave, he did not waver, but became more convinced that this path was the only pursuit.
Undeterred, most of the young monks threw themselves into Buddhism with a more devout attitude. Every day, they are honestly afraid, tidying up the yard and taking care of the vegetable garden, even if life is hard.
In the evening, I have no leisure to read Buddhist scriptures and meditate.
A monk said sincerely, "Despite the hardships of life, I should be content to be able to practice at this Yunhai Temple." The path to the Dharma is only patience. "
In this way, after the departure of batches of students, there were finally more than 30 pious young monks who stuck to this dilapidated Yunhai Temple, reshaping the vitality of this ancient temple with their own hands and perseverance.
The doubts of the outside world and the disappointment of their relatives have never shaken their dedication to their faith.