来到宿营地，这是山东临沂市平邑县一个乡镇里，荒废的旧小学的教室。我来到的时候，惊讶不已，怎么还有这么破的房子？！如同三十几年前广东经济尚未发展时期的农村老屋，长满苔藓的老井，乌漆抹黑的厕所。师兄们在教室里搭了帐篷，我跟师兄们一起住下来后，师兄们互相关怀照顾，倒也其乐融融。在那寂静的学校里，虫叫声陪我们度过了几个美好的夜晚。过了几天，朝山队伍前进了，宿营地也就跟着搬了。 
        Coming to the camping site, which is located in a county of Pingyi of the city called Linyi in Shandong Province, I was amazed, because what came into my view was the classroom of a derelict primary school. Surprised on seeing it, I marveled at the age and the run-down state of this house. It is just like old rural residence during the period of economic underdevelopment in Guangdong, which is about thirty years ago: the old well covered with moss and the pitch-dark toilet. Senior fellow apprentices had pitched tents. After settling down with them, we looked after each other and enjoyed each other’s company. In the silent school, the chirps of insects and bugs accompanied us to spend several nice nights. Several days later, the pilgrimage team set off with the cantonment.

    一路叩拜，风尘仆仆。我们越过乱石，跨过崎岖，穿行于汽车的废气和纷纷扬扬的尘埃，汗水湿了衣衫，透过护具，滋润了大地。 
        Showing respect to Buddhas by kowtowing all the way, we are travel-worn and weary. Getting over messy stones and bumpy roads, weaving in and out of traffic in spite of all the exhaust fumes and dusts drifting profusely and disorderly, we were busy with traveling; our perspiration had soaked clothes, dripping through protective garments and moistening the soil.

    几天下来，我的皮肤开始抗议。一天几百个头磕下来，护具磨破了皮肤，磨出了血，我真希望它一直这样磨下去，直到它磨出了老茧，这厚厚的茧便会掩盖它原先的脆弱。 
        Several days later, my skin began to protest. Due to several hundred kowtows per day, the protective gears had abraded my skin and blood seeped through the clothes. I really hoped that the friction can go on until my skin became calloused, which can cover the original vulnerability.

    连续几天下雨，路面变得泥泞，我们的鞋底沾满了泥巴，走起路来稍不留神脚下就打滑。朝山的路，愈发艰难。 
        It rained several days and the road become muddy and slippery. Our shoes had been covered with mud, so we had to walk cautiously to avoid falling down. The journey of pilgrimage became increasingly difficult.

    其实最艰苦的，还是我们新的宿营地。这个宿营地是块空地，但旁边是猪圈和养殖场。养殖场里养鸡，养火烈鸟，养羊。也许我们的到来令这些大小精灵都非常非常好奇，我听到它们经常热热闹闹地交流不同的意见……；更有蚊子和跳蚤，欢呼雀跃，因为我们的到来而每天享受着饕餮盛宴！几个回合的供养下来，妙甘师兄的腿上长满了红包包，圣强师兄腿上至少也有二十个了，而我，除了红包包红点点，被师兄们发现我背上还长了大片大片的痱子…… 
        As a matter of fact, the most challenging aspect is our new camping site, which was a clearing but close to pigsty and livestock farm where poultry, flamingos and sheep were raised. Perhaps our arrival had startled and amazed those big and small creatures, as I can hear their frequent exchange of opinions enthusiastically. What’s more, mosquitoes and fleas jumped for joy since they can feast on us every day. After serving these creatures several rounds, fellow apprentice Miaogan’s legs were full of red bumps, and there were at least twenty of them on Shengqiang ‘s limbs; as for me, besides those pink spots and swellings, I was told by fellow brothers that my back had been covered by large areas of prickly heat.

    每当下雨，帐篷里根本就没有办法住人，更别说好好地睡一觉。可更槽糕的是，没有水源！我们吃饭用水都要跑很远的地方去打水，每天的吃饭、洗漱就只有两桶水，如果有信众来跟拜，那我们晚上连洗脸、刷牙的水都没有。洗澡更加成了奢侈的事情。对于每天洗几次澡的广东人来说，这实在太郁闷了。我曾经跑到五六十米外的水沟里去洗澡，可是被师兄和信众们阻止了，因为水沟里有蛇！天呐，我每天身上都脏得不成样子。下雨时，衣服都是湿的，也没有办法晾干。后来我发现，连被子都是潮潮的了……。 
        Whenever it rained, people can hardly live in the tents, let alone to sleep well for a night. Worse still, there was no source of water. We had to fetch water for food and drink from a very distant place. There were only two pails of water for meals and cleaning. If there were other believers to join us, we had no water for washing face or breathing teeth. And shower had become a luxury. For Cantonese who are used to take showers several times a day, such a situation was just too depressing. Once I ran to a channel fifty or sixty miles away to take a bath, but I was stopped by apprentice brothers and other believers because there were snakes there. Gosh, I got too dirty each day. When it was a rainy day, my clothes were soaked and there was no way to dry them. Later I discovered that even the duvet was moist.

    有一次下大雨，我们都要套上雨衣叩拜，一会儿，身上的汗就开始往下流，雨衣贴在身上，粘得难受，等叩拜完了一段路，我急不可耐地把雨衣脱下来，想找点清凉，但湿漉漉的后背被风一吹，直起鸡皮疙瘩。回到宿营地，我就发烧了。第二天凌晨三点，烧到39度多，师父不让我跟拜，我就恳求师父说：“不要再劝我了，我一定要坚持，就是倒下了，也要倒在朝山路上”。师父见劝说不起作用，就任我跟拜。一直拜到中午，饥肠辘辘，头晕眼花，这时我才感觉每磕一个头都有可能爬不起来，浑身冷得直打颤。但是想想能够跟随师父一起朝山，心里那份满足感，竟也就忘记了发烧和饥饿。在经过一段乱石路的时候，我的腿磕破了，就算这样，我还是一瘸一瘸地坚持，一个头也不少磕。师父的腿上也是充满疤痕，我没有理由停止叩拜。 
        Once it rained heavily, we all needed to practice Buddhism in raincoat. A moment later, sweat began to run down my body. With the raincoat stuck to my body, I felt annoyed and uncomfortable. After covering a stretch of road, I took off the raincoat impatiently to feel the coolness and comfort. But I got the goosebumps when my sweaty back blown by the wind. Returning to the camping site, I got a fever. At three o’clock the next morning, my temperature had reached 39 degrees Celsius. Rev. Master Renda forbade me to follow the crowd to do the routine work of showing respect. But I begged him by saying, “Please stop persuading me from doing this. I have to be persistent. Even if I fall down, I would like it to be on the journey to the mountain.” Seeing his words to no avail, he allowed me to kowtow as usual. I kept doing this activity until noontime; I was so hungry that my stomach began to gurgle, feeling dizzy with my sight blurred. Only by then did I feel I had a difficult time to stand up from each kowtowing. I shivered with the cold. But satisfied with the thought of being able to be on the pilgrimage journey with Rev. Master Renda, I forgot fever and hunger. When passing a rugged road with pebbles and stones, my legs were bruised. Even so, I still hobbled along and went on without being lagged behind in my efforts. The legs of Rev. Master Renda were also covered with scars. And there was no reason to stop my practice.

    要感谢随行的师兄们，他们给我配了药并悉心照顾，感恩佛菩萨，我的烧很快就退下去了。难忘的是，因为病号的特殊待遇，我还吃到了一碗热腾腾的面条…… 
        I want to express my gratitude to apprentice brothers for they made up a prescription and took good care of me. Thanks to the blessing of Buddhas and Buddhisattvas, my fever was gone very quickly. What was memorable is that I had the special treatment of a bowl of hot noodles because of my sickness.

    朝山路上有太多太多的艰辛，也有满满的收获。当重重叠叠的艰辛来临的时候，师父坚持着，师兄们坚持着，考验总是圆满通过。每当小憩时，严谨又严肃的师父总是为我们讲故事、讲笑话、讲修行，不但没有露出疲惫的样子，而且说话幽默风趣。其实我们都明白，师父已经很累了，可是依然不忘为我们打气，鼓励着我们。七十多岁的老法师，忘了自己的疲惫，忘了自己腰腿的痛，用一种坚定的信念和意志，带领我们走不一样的路。我想，师父教给我们的这种坚韧，影响了我们朝山队伍的每一个人，在未来的每个日子，甚至，一生。 
        There were too many hardships and rich rewards on this journey of pilgrimage. Facing considerable difficulties, Master Renda and apprentice brothers persisted in their efforts; and they can always pass the tests with flying colors. Whenever we took a rest, the rigorous and strict Master Renda would always tell a tale, play a joke or talk about how to practice Buddhism. There was no tired look on his face; his remarks were humorous and witty. Actually we were all fully aware of the fact that our master had been exhausted but he did not forget to give us a pep talk to encourage us to achieve our goals. Aged more than seven decades, the old master had forgotten his fatigue, his backache and skelalgia. He led us to walk a different road with his firm belief and absolute determination. In my opinion, the indomitable spirit that our teacher had taught us had affected each and everyone of us within the pilgrimage team and this lesson will have a profound influence on every day of our future lives, even the rest of our lives!

    2011年8月23日，我终天请到了法号！恩师赐我法号：吉发！师父说，“你是正觉第一吉啊！”大家很高兴，师父也很开心。而我，除了感激，感动，感恩，还有很多很多…… 
        On August 23, 2011, thanks to my respected teacher, I finally acquired my Dharma name: Jifa! Teacher said that, ‘You are the first auspicious one of Zhengjue Monastery’! Everyone was happy, including Rev. Master Renda. As for me, I had more feelings besides gratitude, thrills and appreciation.

    我很幸运。很多人一生中也不曾有这样的机缘跟着师父朝山、修行，而我，在这不一般的日子里，跟着师父走了这一段毕生难忘的路。 
        I am the lucky one. Many a people does not get such an opportunity to go on a pilgrimage and practice Buddhism with Rev. Master Renda; however, in those special days, I set out on a journey with my teacher, which is an unforgettable experience to be remembered for the rest of my life.

    曾以为生命的山峰只有一个高度，才明白其实它是可以有一个又一个的高度。曾以为修行的殿堂上才有佛菩萨，才明白其实我们身边的每一个人都是佛菩萨。曾以为朝山的路只有磨练和提升，才明白它更给予我人生路上的一路芳香。 
        I used to believe that there was only an equal altitude for the mountains of my life, but now it dawns on me that there can be peaks of different heights. I once believed that Buddhas and Budhisattvas only stayed in monasteries and temples; however I have realized that each and every one around us is one of them. I thought that there were only trials and tribulations as well as cultivation and improvements on the pilgrimage; nevertheless, it more than fills my journey of life with fresh fragrance.

    不知不觉，已经跟随朝拜了两个星期，就要离开朝山队伍了，我感恩，再感恩，我想告诉师父和师兄们，这种人生的体验，将会在我今后的生活中，留下永不退却的印记. 
        Unknowingly, I have followed the pilgrimage team for two weeks and it is time to bid farewell to the group. I want to express my gratitude repeatedly; and I want to tell Rev. Master Renda and apprentice brothers that this experience of my life will leave an indelible mark on my memories and have a positive effect on my later life.