There is a temple in the northeast that recruits all female disciples, and they can only eat one meal a day.
The main thing is that the temple is free to visit, and there is no charge for incense and offerings.
So, how do the female disciples in this temple live, and what makes this temple different from other temples?
The source in this article comes from the official media [Guangming.com, Baidu Encyclopedia] (the link is attached at the end of the article), but in order to improve the readability of the article, the details may be polished, please read sensibly, for reference only!
Unlike other temples
Walking along the quiet mountain forest trails of Daoyuan Temple, you will encounter some childish novices from time to time. Most of them come from poor rural areas, and their parents cannot afford to raise them for various reasons, so they send their children to monasteries.
They hope that their children can get a good life and education in Buddhism, and although Daoyuan Temple is not wealthy, it never refuses to take in these unfortunate children.
The nuns loved these little novices as if they were their own. In the brightly lit dormitory in the dead of night, there are always a few kind old nuns sewing and mending the worn monk's clothes for the little novice.
The rough fabric was cut and sewn in their hands, and gradually it took on a decent appearance. The old nuns poured out motherly love every stitch and thread, praying that these children could grow up healthy and happy.
Under the care of the monastery, the little novices are all excellent in character and learning, intelligent and well-behaved. They are very sensible and will take the initiative to share the work they can to lighten the burden of the elderly master.
Whenever they went out begging for food, the novices volunteered to carry the heavy head bag for their father. The young body picked up a large bag and followed behind the master in sweat, and the pious and lovely figure was moving.
Pilgrims and devotees visit the temple, and the temple always greets them in the most simple and warm way. Whether it's an early morning morning class or a big festival on the weekend, Dogen Temple never charges a penny from anyone.
Instead, they will provide free meals for those who come from afar, so that they can eat enough before leaving. Even though the monastery was not well stocked, the nuns preferred to cut back on food and clothing, and did their best to meet the needs of the pilgrims.
In order to allow more people to appreciate the essence of Buddhism and feel the joy of practice, Daoyuan Temple will also arrange for people to make audio and video recordings of the whole process when holding the puja.
After the event, the nuns will carefully sort out the materials and materials, edit them into CDs and make friends for free. Although the facilities of the monastery are relatively rudimentary, the nuns will do their best to use the resources available to them to promote the Dharma.
Although they are humble and low-key, they do not refuse to keep pace with the times, and always accept the new things of the development of the times with compassion and wisdom. Every pilgrim who comes to Daoyuan Temple from thousands of miles is infected by the tranquility and tranquility here.
Surrounded by mountains, the sound of wooden fish in the ancient temple and the Sanskrit sound are curling, which makes people feel refreshed and happy. The simple monastic life and pious practice atmosphere make the people of the world get a moment of respite from the fatigue of the red dust and obtain a long-lost peace in their hearts.
In addition, there are many differences between this temple and other temples.
Stipulate one meal a day
In the autumn of 2001, the Venerable Master, the abbot of the Great Compassion Temple, founded the hidden Dogen Temple on the site of the long-abandoned Guanyin Temple in order to divert the growing Sangha in the monastery.
The location in the remote mountainous area is precisely to create a quiet and tranquil environment for the monks to practice, away from the troubles and temptations of the world, and to concentrate on the practice of Buddhism.
In the beginning, only a few bhikshunis settled here, and life was very difficult. With the passage of time, Daoyuan Temple gradually attracted more and more pious women to come to ordinate them.
Today, it has become a large-scale nun ashram with more than 100 resident monks. In this paradise-like place, they have created a unique spiritual life.
At Dogen Temple, there is a set of precepts known as the "Nine Laws Temple Rules" that are strictly followed. The ordeal of entering the monastery is long and arduous.
First of all, the monks must break off all ties of family affection and love during the 2-3 year inspection period, and be completely relieved of the red dust. After passing the inspection, one still needs to observe the eight strict precepts, which will be followed throughout the entire life of the monk.
One of the most criticized is the precept of "cutting money and cutting off love". The nuns of Daoyuan Temple are not allowed to hold money in their lives, and they regard money as dung. All the necessities of life in the monastery are maintained by the work of the monks themselves.
No offerings from outside incense believers are accepted. At the same time, the monks must be completely cut off from the worldly family affection and love, and completely detached from the red dust. Some people think that this practice is too harsh and cruel, but the monastery believes that only in this way can one understand life and death and attain Bodhi.
In addition to cutting off desires on the material level, Daoyuan Temple also has strict regulations on the diet and daily life of monks. The most striking thing is that the monks of the whole temple are required to "eat once a day".
This means that from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. before going to bed, the monks are allowed to eat only at noon, and the rest of the time they are not allowed to eat or drink.
Even if you fast at noon, the diet is very simple, usually a bowl of white rice with a few simple vegetarian dishes. When eating, you can't indulge in your appetite at will, and you must use it up within the specified time limit.
If you miss the time, you will have to go hungry and wait until the next day's lunch. Such a strict diet system aims to exercise the will of the family and sharpen their hearts by enduring starvation.
The monks have a lunch all year round, and although their bodies are very thin, their hearts are becoming more and more pure and empty. When they are desperately hungry, they take this opportunity to reflect on their own hearts and feel the impulses within themselves.
Relying on strong concentration, they can finally surrender greed, hatred, ignorance and slowness one by one and gain inner peace. In addition to this, they have a regular activity.
Begging for food and practice every year
In the Buddhist system of practice, the head of the Buddha has always been one of the most arduous forms of practice. Every year after the Mid-Autumn Festival, Daoyuan Temple organizes nuns to begin a 15-day begging practice.
They took out their robes and bowls from their simple bags, carried heavy scriptures, and began a difficult journey of asceticism.
During this half-month-long begging process, the nuns had to rely on their feet to move forward without the help of any modern means of transportation.
No matter how far the road is, they have to endure the torment of carrying heavy burdens, and walk forward step by step. When night falls, everyone sleeps on the spot, washes their faces with dew, and uses the starry sky as a roof. Even in the face of violent storms, we must not stop.
The nuns get up every morning, wash briefly, and begin to beg for food along the way. Holding bowls and bowls, they lowered their eyebrows and recited the Buddha's name reverently while praying for alms from passers-by.
The food obtained from begging is usually very rudimentary, often cold tea leftovers. Everyone eats it all, and never stores too much. If there is a surplus, it will also be given to the poor villagers.
After lunch, the nuns did not eat any more. Even if you are hungry, you must fast until the sun rises the next day. On the way to beg, the nuns never stop chanting Buddhist scriptures.
They regard all the suffering beings they encounter as their past parents, who have heard the Mystic Dharma under the Buddha's seat. Through devotional prayers, the nuns pray for the transformation of those lonely souls and wild ghosts, and lead the helpless souls to ascend to bliss.
Whenever they met people who were suffering, they would give generously and give away all the food they had begged for. Even if you are struggling, you must do your best to help others out of the sea of suffering.
Through these 15 days of dārāṇa, the nuns have undergone extraordinary austerities. Day after day, they had to trek through the harsh environment, reciting the scriptures every step of the way.
When the journey is long and tired, they will chant together and use Dharma sounds to boost morale. When people who are poor and sick come to them for help, they always lend a helping hand with compassion.
Long-term eating and sleeping in the open and not having enough to eat tempered not only the will, but also the inner determination. During the 1,000-kilometer journey of 15 days, the nuns lived by begging for food, nourishing their souls with scriptures, and giving back to the world with compassion.
Despite adversity, they were able to be humble and gentle, enlightening their hearts with the wisdom of Buddhism. This kind of unrequited dedication stems from the firm belief in the spiritual path in the heart.
There is a lot of negative news about Buddhism
In this complicated red world, Daoyuan Temple is undoubtedly a pure land that people admire. The ascetic nuns of the monastery lead by example, interpreting the true meaning of Buddhism with their daily practice.
They regard poverty as the norm, temper their minds through hardships, and dedicate their lives to the cause of spiritual practice. In the harsh environment, the nuns were able to deal with it calmly, face up to all the troubles in their hearts, and face their own fears and delusions.
Through long-term hard work, their endurance has been greatly improved, and their attachment to materialism has also faded. In a poor and simple life, they have gained a rare peace of mind.
Buddhism has always advocated that "all evil should not be done, and all good should be pursued". The Sangha of Daoyuan Temple strictly adheres to the precepts of the Qing Dynasty and shows the noble character of ascetics.
They abandon the red and dusty customs, cut off all attachment to the sound of dogs and horses, and are determined to pursue the highest state of life. In them, we see a shining example of achieving liberation through self-cultivation and self-cultivation.
This unremitting search for the meaning of life has pointed out a bright road for the confused and hesitant world. They showed the world with their personal actions that only by believing in the Three Jewels can they find the eternal support of the soul in the impermanent world.
However, in recent years, there have been frequent negative scandals in Buddhism, and the public's doubts about the monks have become increasingly loud. Many monasteries have gradually deviated from their original aspirations and pursued excessive financial gains, leaving Buddhism in the dust.
In the turbidity current whirlpool, Daoyuan Temple is undoubtedly a pure land with independent legacy. The ascetic monks of the monastery demonstrated the essence of Buddhism with practical actions, calling on the Sangha to regain their duty to eliminate poverty, in order to revive the prestige of Buddhism.
Hundreds of nuns worked together to create this Pure Land homeland, silently supporting the Three Jewels, practicing diligently, and spreading the Dharma in their own lives. Their pious and dedicated figures are the most touching scenery in the glitzy world.
Dogenji Temple has erected an eternal beacon for contemporary practitioners. With unwavering bodhichitta, the nuns are willing to be poor and indifferent for the sake of benefiting all sentient beings.
They keep the precepts, stay away from temptation, and turn compassion into practical action to save all who have gone astray. Although we don't have to follow the same path as lay people, there is no doubt that the noble conduct of the nuns is worth emulating.
Only by having righteous thoughts and not being confused by external objects can we get a moment of peace of mind in the hustle and bustle of the world.
epilogue
All in all, with its unique and determined practice, Dogenji Temple has re-lit the light in the hearts of modern people who have been deeply lost. The nuns lead by example and show the true meaning of the practice of Buddhism.
With their devotion and fearless actions, they show us that only by letting go of attachments and practicing for pleasure is the road to liberation. In them, we have rediscovered the universal principles of life.
As the Buddha said, all dharmas arise because of causes, and all dharmas perish because of causes. What Daoyuan Temple opens for the world is a door to spiritual liberation.
Resources:
Guangming Net——
Baidu Encyclopedia——