Gao Min Si started off as a private temple beside Emperor Kang Xi's palace. Later, Emperor Yong He gave the palace grounds to the temple as well making it an enormous place. Besides being a huge place, this temple is also filled with miraculous stories and famous contemporary cultivators. Too much to write here. Maybe I'll tell you all some other time. But this trip was an utterly amazing one.
The view of Gao Min Temple from the top of the 9 level pagoda and a picture of the Dharma Flower Sutra carved and layered with gold spray around the entire pagoda
The Meditation hall, picture with 知修法師 and 一清法師. And the dungeon for seclusion practices.
Buddha at Gao Min Si. Picture 2, the far corner was the spot where 虛雲老和尚 got enlightened when this place was still the meditation hall back in the early 19th century. Picture 3, a lady sunning 乾梅菜.
1. Taking the boat to 靜修寺, the bhikshuni's side of Gao Min Si. 2. Passing by the original entrance of Gao Min Si where the emperor used to disembark. The mountain gate's words were written by Emperor Kang Xi. 3. 靜修寺 in front of a field of 油菜, the plant you get vegetable oil from.
Paying respects to 來果老和尚's shariras; Inner court of 靜修寺; Chatting with the bhikshunis at 靜修寺.
The nuns of 靜修寺. The center picture is of the oldest nun in the temple. She left home at the age of 6 and is now 81 years old. 75 years of the left home life and having been through the war and the revolution, she has been through alot. But when we met her, she was just gleaming with this big smile on her face. A really special person.
1 comment:
Wowwww, 75 years as a nun? That is so wonderful :)
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