Visiting Fahai Temple

When people live in the secular world for a long time, their souls and bodies easily become detached. Temples are like Noah's Ark, ferrying the souls of all living beings... I recently visited Fahai Temple, located in Xiazhuang, Chengyang District, Qingdao. Originally built during the Northern Wei Dynasty over 1,600 years ago, it is the oldest temple in Qingdao. Upon arrival, two white magnolia trees, their branches reaching beyond the yellow courtyard walls, greeted me with their blossoms, adding a touch of elegance to the temple. Entering the gate, I was welcomed by the smiling Maitreya Buddha in front of the screen wall. Inside the courtyard, two ginkgo trees stood out. A tall, thick male tree is over 1,600 years old, while a slender, shorter female tree is over 1,000 years old. It is said that the current female tree was planted after the original one died. They stand side by side in front of the Mahavira Hall. Under the two ginkgo trees, many students were either quietly reading scriptures or sharing their thoughts. This scene reminded me of a similar sight I witnessed years ago at Yonghe Temple in Beijing, where numerous students would queue early in the morning, waiting for the temple gates to open. Their visits seemed driven by a pursuit of inner peace and tranquility, unlike their elders who might be seeking blessings or repenting for their sins... The temple also houses the Guanyin Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Three Sages Hall, God of Wealth Hall, Sutra Depository, Drum Tower, and Bell Tower. Beside each hall, winter sweet flowers, nearing the end of their bloom, still emitted a lingering fragrance... On the west wall next to the Drum Tower, a large inscription reads, "One should dwell nowhere," a verse from the Diamond Sutra, encouraging detachment. By "dwelling nowhere," people can let go of their attachments to people and things, thus finding inner peace. ‌Approaching noon, the temple volunteers announced the vegetarian meal. A pink magnolia tree in front of the hall was about to bloom. The simple vegetarian meal reinforced my sense of detachment. I scanned the QR code at the merit box and made a small donation to express my gratitude. Many eminent monks and temples in China are named Fahai, meaning "Dharma as vast as the sea." For me, each visit to a temple is not a pilgrimage of conversion, but rather a reflection on my soul, a pure journey in pursuit of the unity of body and mind... From spring blossoms to autumn fruits, I look forward to returning when the ginkgo trees in Fahai Temple are lush and leafy again... As winter turns to spring, I anticipate returning when the winter sweet flowers in Fahai Temple are once again fragrant in the cold...