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Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and feel the tranquility and peace

"Nanhua Temple: Exploring the Wisdom and Tranquility of a Thousand-Year-Old Buddhist Holy Land" In Maba Town, Qujiang District, Shaoguan City, there is an ancient temple with a long history and solemnity - Nanhua Temple. 📖Nanhua Temple was first built during the Liang Wudi period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The long years in 502 AD have endowed it with a profound historical heritage. After thousands of years of wind and rain, this ancient temple has witnessed countless ups and downs, honor and disgrace, and carries people's faith and hope. Later, Emperor Taizu of Song Dynasty bestowed the name "Nanhua Temple" on it, and this name has been used to this day and has become an important symbol of Buddhist culture. As one of the famous Buddhist temples in China, Nanhua Temple is the birthplace of the "Southern Zen" promoted by the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, Huineng. In the Sixth Patriarch Hall, the Sixth Patriarch's real body is enshrined, allowing people to experience the greatness and sacredness of this eminent monk up close. Huineng, a great monk in the Tang Dynasty, was the founder of the Southern School of Zen Buddhism and is known as the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism in the history of Buddhism. His wisdom and teachings have influenced countless future generations and made great contributions to the development and spread of Buddhism. 📿The first thing that catches your eye is the land temple, which is small but contains profound religious significance. Next is the Hall of Heavenly Kings. The solemn and dignified atmosphere makes people feel awe. The Main Hall is magnificent, and the Buddha statues inside are solemn and kind, radiating the light of compassion and wisdom. The Sutra Repository houses numerous precious Buddhist scriptures and is a treasure house of Buddhist culture. Under the Bodhi tree, people can feel the tranquility and peace, as if they can hear the Buddha's teachings. Lingzhao Tower stands tall, witnessing the changes of time. The Sixth Patriarch Hall is the core of the entire Zen temple, where the Sixth Patriarch's real body is enshrined, attracting many believers and tourists to come and worship. The water of Jiulong Spring is crystal clear and the gurgling spring seems to be telling an ancient story. ❤️Some tips First, on the way to the Zen temple, do not buy items such as incense and candles, because these are not allowed to be brought into the temple. When entering the door, each person will be given three incense sticks for burning and praying. Secondly, there will be free vegetarian meals available at noon. Dining hours are from 11:00 to 12:00 every day, but due to limited supply, it is recommended to queue up in advance to avoid missing this rare experience. 📿Regarding gradual enlightenment and sudden enlightenment in Buddhism, this is a thought-provoking topic. Shenxiu once said, "The body is a bodhi tree, and the mind is like a bright mirror. Wipe it diligently from time to time and do not let it accumulate dust." This embodies the practice of gradual enlightenment, which emphasizes the purification of the mind through continuous efforts and self-reflection. But Huineng said, "There is no Bodhi tree, nor is there a mirror stand. There is nothing originally, so where can dust collect?" This expresses the state of sudden enlightenment, which means that when a person's understanding reaches an extremely high level, he can instantly comprehend the essence of things and transcend worldly troubles. Enlightenment requires extremely high levels of understanding and opportunity, and not everyone can achieve it easily. For most ordinary people, although it is difficult to achieve sudden enlightenment, through gradual enlightenment, continuous learning, thinking and practice, they can also make progress on the path of spiritual growth and enlightenment. Nanhua Temple is not only a building, but also a spiritual sustenance and spiritual home. Here, you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the world, immerse yourself in the profoundness of Buddhist culture, and feel the tranquility and peace.
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Posted: Feb 21, 2025
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