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An exclusive interview with Venerable Ren Da of Zhengjue Monastery who made three-step-one-prostration to Wutaishan
2016-07-02 23-21-49 来源: 作者:Qian Xiangning 点击:次
鐵鞋踏破心無礙 濁汗成泥意志堅 ——記山東博山正覺寺仁達法師 ◎錢湘寧原文刊于《香港佛教》第552期 An exclusive interview with Venerable Ren Da(仁炟法师)of Zhengjue Monastery (Monastery of Right Awakening) who made three-step-one-prostration to Wutaishan (五台山) Reporter: Qian Xiangning (Note: The original article in Chinese was published in the 552nd issue of the Journal “Buddhism in Hong Kong” (香港佛教). This translated article is an edited and abridged version of the original article.)
The Journal published a series of articles regarding Venerable Ren Da who performed three-step-one-prostration in 2005 from his temple in Boshan, Shandong Province to Wutaishan in Shanxi Province, a journey of more than 800 km. Venerable observed strict precepts and was 64 years old then. Below is the exclusive interview by a reporter of the journal with Venerable in 2006 soon after the Chinese New Year.
Reporter: Venerable, what feelings do you have after completing the 5-month long three-step-one-prostration to Wutaishan?
Venerable: My feelings are beyond words. Let me just sum up with the poem written soon after the pilgrimage: “As my forehead kisses the earth, my heart is as calm as still waters. Prostrating for a thousand miles, no complaints nor regrets” .
Reporter: Our journal made an unprecedented move by publishing a series of more than ten articles since June last year reporting your arduous 5-month journey to Wutaishan by performing three-step-one-prostration. In the editorial column of our 543rd issue, the editor had even likened you to the great Master Xuan Zhuang (玄奘大师) and Master Xu Yun (虚云大师). What are your opinions on this?
Venerable: I am just an ordinary monk. My knowledge about the Dharma and my cultivation are far below those of highly distinguished monks. The honour bestowed on me by your journal should be viewed as an encouragement for members of the Sangha (monks and nuns) who practice asceticism. Buddhism is now part and parcel of Chinese culture. The Buddha’s teachings on self discipline, compassion and loving kindness have gone into the hearts of many people. Buddhists, monks and lay persons, should observe strictly the precepts, purify our minds, set good example to others so that the society can be more peaceful and harmonious.
仁炟法师朝礼五台山路线图 Route map of Ven. Ren Da’s pilgrimage to Mount Wutai
Reporter: There have been incidents where good relationship between friends turned sour when both of them become Buddhists because they follow the teachings of different Buddhist traditions; each claiming that his school is the best and they started to argue with one another. What is your view on this, Venerable?
Venerable: The cause of this phenomenon is that the self ego or attachment of the followers is too strong. Since there are many types of people, we need to have different schools in order to lead these different types of people to enlightenment. As there are different patients with different sickness, there have to be different medicines to treat them. It is the efficacy of the medicine that counts. We should not think that only expensive medicine will work. As mentioned in the Diamond Sutra: All Dharmas are equal. All schools and factions of Buddhism must unite together and help one another for the sake of Buddhism and dharma cultivation of Buddhists.
Reporter: Can you please tell us what method of cultivation does the Zhengjue Temple adopt?
Venerable: The blueprint and development objectives of the temple are as follows: ? ○ Promote the three Yanas (三乘) and propagate the 10 Traditions(十宗) without differentiation. ? ○ Always observe the precepts, accept and accommodate the teachings of various Buddhist schools.
朝山途中接受采访 Interview on the way of pilgrimage
Reporter: Many Buddhists, although have been practising Buddhism for many years, are too afraid to observe the five precepts, not to mention, the Bodhisattva precepts, can Venerable enlighten us on the importance of taking the precepts?
Venerable: The “Flower Ornament Sutra”(华严经) says precepts are the supreme fundamental Buddha nature (Bodhi) and one should always observe strictly the precepts. Buddhism is a religion with wisdom and one would get wisdom and get rid of worries by learning Buddhism. However, one needs to turn the three wheels of learning – precepts (discipline), concentration (meditation) and wisdom (prajna). Precepts are the basic requirements in order to gain wisdom. In recent decades, the decline of Buddhism in China is obvious. Many Buddhists were saddened and disappointed by this. There were some black sheep among members of the Sangha (monks and nuns) who did not live according to the precepts laid down by the Buddha. They hanker after fame and wealth, live and wear lavishly. As a result people do not show much respect to the monks nowadays. Apart from historical and societal reasons, some Sangha members who failed to live up to the precepts are to be blamed. In order to remedy this situation, we must stress on education and cultivation of the Dharma (teachings of the Buddha). Twelve years ago, the Bodhisattva Kishitigarbha (Earth-store Bodhisattva) saved my life and I made three vows then to repay my gratitude to the Buddha and Bodhisattva. One of the vows was to perform three-step-one-prostration to Wutaishan. I also laid down five strict rules for the three-step-one-prostration: 1.Perform one prostration after every three steps; 2.Not to receive any money or donation during the pilgrimage; 3.Not to enter any restaurant; 4.Not to stay in hotel or guest house; and 5.Not to enter any lay Buddhist’s house or bedroom. By observing these precepts, with the blessings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and support from all quarters along the way, we managed to overcome all difficulties and successfully reached Wutaishan in five months.
Reporter: The world has entered into an information technology era. In China, the religious affairs department had directed religious organizations to adopt the idea of “self surviving”. What is your view on this, Venerable?
Venerable: In this respect, Buddhist temples and Sangha members can place emphasis on “Work and Zen” simultaneously. In orthodox Buddhism, Sangha members in India then went on alms-rounds with their bowls. When Buddhism spread to China, such alms-rounds practice conflicted with the local Chinese culture and hit a snag. During the Tang dynasty, the Emperor then permitted monks in temples to grow their own food. Subsequently the “Agriculture and Zen” concept solved the alms-bowl problem. By the way, the “Agriculture and Zen” concept was first introduced by the 4th Patriarch, Venerable Dao Xin (道信大师) who was a great monk from the Zhengjue Temple. Majority of the Buddhist temples are facing livelihood and food problems after the establishment of new China in 1949 because they do not have their land anymore. Thus, they have to rely on donations and entrance fee. For their survival, some temples have to rely on chanting for the deceased or organizing dharma assemblies in order to raise funds, but there are also some monks who are real dharma cultivators. Now the world has entered into an information technology era. Can we replace the “Agriculture and Zen” concept with “Work and Zen”? Temples should be able to organize themselves according to their local conditions and put the “Work and Zen” concept into practice, without affecting the dharma cultivation of monks.
博山正觉寺的法会上,法师领众绕佛念佛(摄于2006年) In the Dharma function of Boshan Zhengjue Monastery, Venerable led disciples to walk around Buddha and chant Buddha’s names (Photo taken in 2006)
Reporter: What is the significance of using your own blood as ink to copy sutras?
Venerable: More than a thousand years ago, Venerable Bao Zhi Gong (宝志公), the national religious adviser to Emperor Liang Wu Di was ordained as a monk at Zhengjue Temple. The 3rd Patriarch and 4th Patriarch of the Zen School, Venerable Seng Can (僧璨大师) and Ven. Dao Xin (道信大师) were resident monks here. It was at the requests and invitations of the devotees here that I took up the re-construction responsibility of this historical temple. Without any funding from the government, it’s not easy to complete such a huge project which runs into millions of dollars, everything has to come from donations of devotees. As a monk, I have already decided to offer my life to the Triple Gems. I just used my blood to copy the sutras and transfer the merits to all the donors with the hope that the project can be completed early.
仁炟法师朝山圆满,在五台山与信众合影 The mount pilgrimage came to the perfect end, and Ven. Ren Da had a picture taken with followers
Zhengjue Temple is a religious venue meant for those who genuinely want to practise Buddha-dharma without factionalism. Our objective is to promote the Three Yanas (三乘) and propagate the teachings of the 10 Traditions (十宗). Zhengjue Temple needs the support of everyone and welcomes anyone from all over the world who really wants to practise the Buddha-dharma.
Conclusion: Ven. Ren Da is indeed a genuine ascetic practitioner and who is also a knowledgeable monk with wisdom. Ven. Ren Da uses his physical body, speech and mind to let us understand the purity of precepts. He has shown us the power of “faith, vow and practice”. Let us wish the re-construction of Zhengjue Temple will be completed soon.