In the heroic and unrestrained land of Sichuan, there is a solemn and mysterious place, it is called Yaqing Temple.
It is the largest nunnery in China, where nearly 20,000 women practice.
There are strict rules here, and there is a death rule that must be followed after dark.
Why is that? What is so magical about it that it attracts 20,000 women to dedicate their youth to it?
01: A place where tens of thousands of women gather, a mysterious daughter country
Yaqing Temple, located in Changtuo Village, Acha Town, Baiyu County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is the largest existing nunnery in the mainland, and some people also call it "the mysterious daughter country".
So, who built this special Yaqing Temple on such a piece of land?
Born into an ordinary farming family in Tibet, he grew up hating patriarchal practices and was committed to upholding equality.
As an adult, he studied at a great monastery in Lhasa, and after more than ten years of dedicated study, he became a well-known local master.
In the course of his lectures on Buddhism, he discovered that the status of women was far lower than that of men, even in temples, and that there were countless temples where monks gathered, but very few nunnery dedicated to women.
This gave him the bold idea of choosing a beautiful place to build the world's largest Nigong Gong, so that all women who are willing to emancipate themselves can find a home.
After many investigations, Aqiuren chose Baiyu County to establish Yaqing Temple.
It is also known as the Buddha country on the water. The temple and the surrounding environment reflect each other, the blue sky and white clouds blend together, and the strong natural charm makes people let go of their fatigue and meditate here.
There is no internet and only a small number of communication devices to get in touch with the outside world, but everyone who comes here to practice must abandon earthly distractions and concentrate on reciting the Dharma.
It is precisely because of this that they can find a place to live in a fast-food society, and they are no longer burdened by the world.
The architecture of Yaqing Temple is also very simple, all red wooden houses, which look solemn and solemn under the blue sky and white clouds, full of Buddhist atmosphere.
Everyone who comes here is amazed by the ingenuity of nature and falls in love with it before you know it.
Aqiuren's belief is to enable women to find a place of spiritual refuge, and countless women have taken a fancy to this and have come to Yaqing Temple to practice.
Here, they are not good wives and mothers bound by the world, and they do not have to live for anyone's will, each of them is an equal living individual, enough to find themselves again in this vast space.
The women who come here are called Kyaw Mu, which means excellent girl in Tibetan, and it is also an affirmation of these women.
All women here are on an equal footing, no one is superior or inferior, they do not look down on anyone because of their language, size, appearance or knowledge, they are family and like-minded friends, and they will write their own stories on this land.
It is this tolerant attitude that has made many women who have suffered and struggled in the earthly world give up everything to come to Yaqing Temple to practice.
They may have been delicate white-collar workers or unkempt housewives before that, but as soon as they come here, they will be treated with full respect and begin their daily journey. The main duty of Yaqing Monastery is to purify the mind and practice the Dharma, so everyone who comes here must observe strict discipline.
These bright red huts in Yaqing Temple were built day by day by these women.
Their industrious hands shine particularly brightly in Yaqing Temple, and they sleep very comfortably looking at the hut they have built by themselves.
In Yaqing Temple, these people have to get up before dawn to meditate, bid farewell to the busy traffic of the city, and look for a pure land here, which greatly cleanses their souls, and many people can't put it down here, and don't want to go back at all.
When the sky is light, they gather to read the scriptures and discuss with each other, they listen to the teachings of the masters, and they continue to discuss with their peers based on their own life experiences.
Everyone here has a vision to become a master, and they want the Dharma to heal not only themselves, but also to help more people.
Perhaps it is precisely because in meditation that these women have gradually let go of their earthly troubles and seen their true selves, they live calmly and consistently, and the smiles on their faces are so warm and warm, which makes people feel more intimate.
The highest state of life is probably peace, which is a state of mind that has gone through the world without being shocked, and is calm and calm after seeing through all things.
This high-level state can be seen on the faces of every woman in Yaqing Temple, which is enough to show that they have already been cleansed when they come to Yaqing Temple, and now they are very happy and satisfied.
However, it wasn't always smooth.
First of all, the environment of Yaqing Temple is very difficult, there is no network, there is not enough communication equipment, you can't play with mobile phones at will here.
There are only a few convenience supermarkets indoors, and you can only buy the most basic daily necessities.
The temple is very penance, and although the conditions are difficult, these women enjoy it because their hearts are sublimated.
Another rule that is often mentioned is that the Yaqing Temple stipulates that once it is night, no one can go out to play, let alone buy goods.
This regulation is for safety reasons, after all, Yaqing Temple is located in a remote area, in case these women walk out of danger at will, the consequences are unimaginable.
The more important reason is that I hope that everyone who comes here can meditate and practice without being disturbed by things in the outside world.
Cultivation is never a glamorous thing, and only by cutting off contact with the outside world can you find yourself here more quietly.
Most of those who came to the temple and were willing to practice painstakingly accepted this rule.
They no longer need to be in contact with the outside world, they have emptied themselves and sublimated their lives.
02: Life is really hard, Yaqing Temple is the destination of more than 20,000 women's hearts
Is it easy for a woman to live in this life? The answer is no.
When I was a child, I was given important responsibilities by my parents, and when I grew up, I endured unfair treatment, and once I started a family, got married, and had children, I might wash my hands and make soup for others, and even encounter betrayal.
In today's society, women have encountered too many injustices, and they are extremely disappointed in their lives, and they desperately hope that there is a paradise where they can let go of all their troubles and see life as it is, Yaqing Temple is undoubtedly the best choice.
The conditions of Yaqing Monastery are very difficult, once you come here, flowers, clothes, nails, bags, food, everything that was originally at your fingertips in the real world has become a luxury, and all that is left is to recite scriptures and meditate day after day.
The temple only has one hut to rest, a few simple clothes to keep out the cold, and the temple only provides water and food, you can't buy anything else, and you are not allowed to buy it.
This harsh environment is the hallmark of Yaqing Temple, and it is also a test for those who come here.
Since you want to break with the past, find a peach blossom paradise, and meditate on yourself, you shouldn't be bothered by any distractions.
Only by getting rid of the disturbances of the outer world can people completely calm themselves down and achieve the double sublimation of the heart and spirit.
The women who came here later got used to the simple days of no mobile phones, no Internet, and so on.
Although life may seem boring, in fact, they can learn new knowledge about the Dharma every day, and they don't have to fight with each other, and this kind of simple life is the happiest.
Today, Yaqing Temple has become a sacred place for more than 20,000 women, and its name is still being spread, and it is estimated that more and more women will come here.
They are free from the shackles of the world, seek freedom in Buddhism, and find themselves again in this pure land.
The temple is like a paradise where people can escape from strife and regain their simple and peaceful life.
No quarrel with the world and no quarrel with others is the place where the soul returns.
If you are tormented by the worldly life and you want to find a place where you can completely relax, then Yaqing Temple is the place to be.
Once you get used to living here, you will find that many people and many things are not important, but the important thing is that people live calmly, cleanly and freely at this moment.
Resources
[1] National Geographic Network "Go to Yaqing from June to August and experience a wonderful summer with a clear mind!" 》20170611