The Pilgrimage
I
am a monk from the Changbai (Eternally White) Mountains, a Chan
cultivator from the Black Waters. I brought forth a resolve for the Way
in my youth. Hearing of the filial piety of Filial Son Wang (Great
Master Changren) of Shuangcheng (Twin Cities) County, I vowed to
emulate him. Every morning and evening, after bowing to the Buddhas, I
bowed three times to my father and mother. At first, they thought it
strange, but after a while they became used to it. Later on, I took
refuge with the Triple Jewel and had deep faith in Buddhism. I went to
study under Great Master Chang Ren (Filial Son Wang of Shuangcheng
County). The Great Master's instructions to me were always right on the
mark. After my mother died, I built a simple hut by her grave and had
my head shaved, leaving the home-life.
Hearing that the
Elder Venerable Hsu Noble Yun, a great wise advisor of the Chan school,
was teaching in Nanhua Monastery at Caoxi, I wished to go there.
However, that would have involved a difficult trek through mountainous
terrain. After the Japanese surrendered in 1945, transportation became
more convenient. In the fall of 1946, in the middle of the eighth lunar
month, I packed my bags and set out with two disciples, Guo Neng and
Guo Shun. (I have no news of Guo Neng. Guo Shun cremated himself as an
offering to the Buddhas.) We headed for Caoxi, wishing to draw near the
Venerable Master Yun. The journey was very arduous. We walked during
the day and rested at night, sometimes travelling even at night, until
we reached Prajna Monastery in Changchun (which was called Xinjing,
"New Capital," during the Manchu Empire regime). My two disciples
remained at that monastery, waiting to receive full ordination the
following year. Without carrying any extra clothes or luggage (the
clothes I wore didn't exceed five pounds), I travelled alone towards
the interior.
When I reached Tianjin, I stayed at Great
Compassion Temple and heard Elder Dharma Master Tanxu lecture on the
Shurangama Sutra. I met Dharma Master Tijing and rode in the same boat
with him to Proper Enlightenment Monastery in Hubei. Also travelling
with us were Dharma Masters Shengzhao, Shengmiao, Zhaoding, Yuanxiang,
Renhui, Benzhi, Jiaozhi, Yongling, Lingguan, Jingjie, and others. I
composed a verse which goes,
- Fourteen monks rode in the same boat.
Honored and noble were they; only I was poor.
Donned in ragged robes, I ate one meal and had no extra possessions.
People could scold and slander me as they pleased.
At
that monastery, I performed austerities and chores such as cleaning,
boiling water, tending the garden, watching the door, taking care of
the Buddhahall, and serving as verger. My skill in Chan samadhi
increased greatly. In 1947, after going to Mount Potola to receive full
ordination, I went to study the doctrines at the Buddhist Academy at
Lingyanshan Monastery in Suzhou. In the fall, I went to Kongqing
Mountain to take part in a Chan session and pass the winter. I paid
respects to Venerable Mingguan and Venerable Liaocheng. In the first
month of 1948, I left for Shanghai and then took a boat to Baotong
(Precious Penetration) Monastery in Hubei. When I boarded the boat, I
was penniless. On the boat I met a cripple who couldn't walk. When I
recited the Great Compassion Mantra to aid him, he was immediately
healed and could walk again. This evoked respect and faith from the
rest of the boat's passengers. Before parting, they donated over
700,000 fa bi (monetary units). Thus I was able to buy a train ticket
to go to Qujiang. At the train station I met Great Master Jouyi, a
native of Hubei. When I asked him, he told me he was also going to
Nanhua Monastery in Guangdong to draw near the Venerable Master Yun. I
asked him, "Have you got money to buy a train ticket?" He said, "No." I
bought him a ticket, and the two of us took the train to Maba. When we
got off the train, Master Jouyi said, "I'm hungry." After paying for
the train fare, I still had over 100,000 fa bi, which I gave to him to
buy breakfast. Again, I was left penniless.
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