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Roving Over The World
I have been to Kyushu, Honshu, Shikoku and Hokkaido, the four major islands of Japan. In fact, I can claim to have toured the whole of Japan. I like to pay visits to Japanese temples. As the founder of True Buddha School, which cultivates Tantra, I look forward to cultivation centres of Shingon school , Tian Dai School, Zen school and Pure-land school. I have been to: Takanoyama - erected by Hung-Fa the venerable monk as the headquarter of Shingon (Eastern Esoteric) school of Buddhism. Hieizan - erected by Transmit Abhidharma, the venerable monk as the headquarter of Tian Dai school of Buddhism. I have been to many Ling Chang (reijio), Japanese temples built by such venerable monks as Honen Shonin, Shinran Shonin, Nichiren Shonin, Eisai Shonin, and Dogen Shonin. Visiting Buddhist temples is like taking a course in the history of Japanese Buddhism! Apart from looking forward to the future of Japanese Buddhism and cherishing the memory of its glorified past, what other value can we derive from this? Maybe, this is how we are brought up in between the past and the future. Most of the Buddhist temples in Japan have antic looks. They are majestic, peaceful and have scenic views. The cleaniness of its bamboo and pine gardens gives the viewers space for reflection and meditation. Most of the temples are in the state of hibernation. Most of the temples are dimly lit. Some of them are very dark inside so as to protect the carvings from being exposed to light. We must try to feel what is present in the darkness after paying homage to the Buddhas. The temples are quiet, lonely and gentle, suggesting that we must transcend, forget about all our other thoughts, detach from other worldly affair and reach a state of no ego. I have an insight that life is: baseless confused hopeless full of fear and yearning for many things. Maybe these situations will help the propagation of Buddhist Dharma. As a result of these, we are able to transcend, to comprehend them. I talked to Mr. Nishiyama Iko, a professor at the Japan Buddhism University. He was a tall elderly man who shaved his head bald. With penetrating eyes and well-dressed in fitting coat, he look very witty. Mr Nishiyam told me: "Japanese Buddhism started its decline." "Why?" I asked. "Modern Japanese frequent the temples for the sake of asking for material benefit; they are not aroused by Buddhism. On the other hand, most of the cultivators are interested in running the Buddhist enterprises; and they do not have enough time to reflect themselves and do mediation, let alone to develop a spiritual insight." "What Buddhist Dharma do you teach in the university?" "I don't teach any Dharma in the university. I teach Buddhism history instead - when Shakyamuni was born, his biography, the influence of Buddhism, the doctrines of Buddhism; the people, times, places and event surrounding Buddha. Modern Japanese do not understand what is Dharma, moreover, they do not like to do meditation and seek the truth." Nishiyama asked me: "Master Sheng Yen, what is your objective in life?" "Realizing my mind and letting my self- nature emerge, so as to control my life and death." "Oh! I am afraid it is too difficult to achieve." He shook his head. I added: "Maybe this is the reason why Buddhist Dharma is so valuable !" My mettle and preservance must have impressed him quite a lot. After studying my face, he said: "Grandmaster, your eyes are full of endless wisdom. And your ears resemble that of Shakyamuni who came to succour all the sentient beings in this Samsara world." Mr, Nishiyama broke into smile when he said this. I visited Kanryuji at Ho Ju Zan in Kurashiki. There were four stone pillars of four meters height each, representing the elements of earth, water, fire, wind and emptiness respectively. Words were inscribed in the four sides of the stone pillars. The sides of the pillars facing the temple have the same inscription which read: "Stupa for dharma bliss - Hung-Fa, the venerable monk 1,150 years ago." I was pondering in front of the stone pillars: "I met the Bohdisattva previously, and was personally taught all the Mudra and Mantra." "Sat means "have" and tva means "passion". I think it was referring to Hung-Fa the venerable monk who met Hui Guo the elderly monk (the passionate Bodhisattva). Hui Guo the elderly monk later taught Hung -Fa all the Mudras and Mantras. This could be understood as sharing of Dharma lights and tantric teachings." "Living under the trees at Takayama, and taking a mytic trip to Tushita heaven." (Hung-Fa the venerable monk founded the Shingon school of Buddhism at Takayama; and he gained enlightenment at Maitreya Bodhisattva's Pure Land , i.e. Tushita Heaven.) The second couplet which reads: "Using the physical body to achieve enlightenment, we have to await the rebirth of Chi Shi (Maitreya Bodhisattva.)" There are other inscriptions such as: "The physical body given by our parents is being used to seek instant enlightenment." (The life given by our parents, the wisdom taught by our teacher are used to achieve Buddhahood - the ultimate aim in life.) "Cultivate the dharma of earth and sand empowerment, so that the noble, the lowly and all kinds of spirits can obtain enlightenment." (True Buddha School has the equivalent dharma known as Vajra-Sand dharma, and Seven-Treasure-Lotus-Pond sand dharma.) "Mind and Enlightenment" "Mind and Nirvana" "Mind and Expediency" "Mind and Buddha Land" These inscriptions merely confirm that: "all human minds have Buddha nature." An inscription talking about the law of Karma reads as follows: "Buddha tells the cause, everything arises because of interdependent origin. Everything will dawn once the causation comes to an end." At this very moment - - Suddenly a loud and pleasing sound of the bell broke the silence at the Kanryuji. The sound was very clear and could be heard from the bottom of the hill instantly; The flowers and bushes were awaken to put on their best show. Looking at the sky, I found it to be extraordinary blue. There was only a cloud with a splendid colour. In my heart, I could feel the tranquility arising from the thoughtless stablization. If the mind can be assimilated, even the hearing of the bell could trigger off a stage of oblivation. The sound of bell, and the human mind can create an echo that leads to a mediative stablization. It was Lian Jie, the youngest dharma master who toll the bell. When we walked towards the bell, "Grandmaster, please toll the bell for us", Lian Jie made a request. "You toll the bell, and I listen!" "No, Grandmaster you toll the bell, and all of us listen!" In my heart, I was thinking: "I have tolled the bell, and now its time for the rest of you to toll the bell." I carried on shouting: "You toll the bell for all of us to listen please!" When the bell of Kanryuji was tolled, it showed an imposing air, the sound is pleasing to the ear, clear and melodious. It is by no means a turbulent noise, more like water flowing from the stream; it is clear and bright, trying to soothe and moderate the human minds. I made a wish: May the sound of the bell travel far and apart, May the toll of the bell carry on without stoppage, So that all the minds of the sentient beings are purified.
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