On an ordinary day in 2017, Yunhai Temple, a thousand-year-old ancient temple in Dazhou, Sichuan, ushered in a group of "uninvited guests".
There are more than 30 people, and all of them are elites with graduate degrees and annual salaries of one million, and they come to Yunhai Temple not to worship the Buddha, but to become a monk and take refuge in my Buddha.
Many people wondered, which tendon of these young men was broken? Don't put it in a high-paying and comfortable life, do you have to come to this ravine at an altitude of 1,000 meters to be a monk with an iron heart?
From the podium to the meditation hall
Before becoming a monk, Renqing was a young and promising university associate professor. Before the age of thirty, he was already making his mark in the field of law. However, behind the seemingly glamorous life, Renqing fell into deep confusion.
Going back and forth between home and school every day, facing those students who don't pay attention to classes, and her own unchanged PPT, Renqing feels that life has lost its meaning.
He began to question the value of his life and fell into serious mental exhaustion. In search of answers, Renqing began to read religious books, hoping to find salvation and liberation from Buddhism.
In 2014, by chance, Renqing and a friend came to Sichuan Fairy Mountain. Here, they found a dilapidated ancient temple - Yunhai Temple.
It is said that this temple was built in the Three Kingdoms period and was once full of incense, but with the passage of time and the development of the scenic spot, the temple gradually fell into disuse.
Standing in front of the dilapidated mountain gate, Renqing seemed to have received some kind of enlightenment. He decided to give up his teaching position, take refuge in Buddhism, and set about renovating the ancient monastery.
In this way, a university professor resolutely embarked on the road of becoming a monk and started his journey to "Yunhai Temple".
The "Dream of the Sea of Clouds" of 30 Graduate Students
Renqing's story spread quickly and attracted the attention of many people. Among them, 30 young people were deeply moved by his experience. Most of these people have master's degrees from prestigious universities, and even have doctorates from Tsinghua University and Peking University.
In the eyes of the world, they are "successful people", some are engaged in scientific research, some are entrepreneurial bosses, and some are executives in multinational companies.
However, behind these glamorous and glamorous, they feel the same emptiness in their hearts as Renqing. The busy work and high-pressure environment make them eager to find a new way of life.
When they heard that Renqing was renovating Yunhai Temple, it seemed that they had found a new direction in their lives.
In 2017, these 30 young people made an astonishing decision: to give up their affluent lives and go to Yunhai Temple en masse to become monks.
Some of them quit their million-a-year jobs, some gave up their upcoming PhDs, and some gave up their fledgling careers.
After coming to Yunhai Temple, they found that the situation here was even more difficult than they imagined. Only the main hall of the temple remains, and the walls and porticos have been tilted or collapsed.
Due to the remote location, craftsmen from outside are reluctant to come here for construction. So, this group of "proud sons of the sky" took matters into their own hands, carrying wood, mixing cement, and building walls.
They had never done heavy work, and they couldn't even hold a hoe at first. Some people had blood blisters on their hands, and some people were covered in mosquito bites.
But they encourage each other and persevere. Slowly, they not only learned construction skills, but also cultivated the land, grew flowers and vegetables, and achieved self-sufficiency.
In addition to the heavy physical labor, they gathered together to discuss the Dharma and share their insights. Problems such as insomnia and anxiety that once plagued them gradually disappeared in this simple and fulfilling life.
Highly educated ordained
However, the choice of this group of "highly educated monks" is not understood by everyone. Soon, doubts arose. Some people think that they are deliberately speculating in an attempt to develop tourism for profit;
Some accuse them of wasting the country's educational resources; Some people even criticize them for being ungrateful and evading social responsibilities from the perspective of ethics and morality.
Faced with these doubts, the monks of Yunhai Temple were confused and uneasy at first. But over time, they gradually learned to be calm.
As they often say, "Life and life are lived for oneself." As long as the heart remains quiet and peaceful, why should you care about the nonsense of mortals? "
In fact, highly educated ordination is not a unique phenomenon of Yunhai Temple. As early as 1995, a female college student who graduated from Tsinghua University insisted on becoming a monk and later became a famous philanthropist, Venerable Zhihong.
There is also Master Minghai, a graduate of the Department of Philosophy of Peking University, who became popular on the Internet for explaining Buddhism in English.
This phenomenon reflects the reflection of modern society on the definition of "success". In the age of material supremacy, some people began to pursue spiritual satisfaction. Their choices have also made people rethink the meaning and value of life.
However, being a monk does not mean shirking responsibility. In order to solve the problem of supporting parents, Yunhai Temple built a "filial piety hall" nearby, which was specially designed to provide a place for the monks' parents to live.
This innovative move not only solves practical problems, but also reflects their adherence to traditional filial piety.
Yunhai Temple six years later
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the "highly educated monks" of Yunhai Temple have been living here for six years. Over the years, they have gone through too much grinding and growth.
Today's Yunhai Temple has been renewed. Thanks to their efforts, the dilapidated ancient temple has been restored to its former glory. Many pilgrims come to worship every day, and the incense at the temple is gradually flourishing.
Most of the 30 graduate students of that year are still practicing today. Their life is simple and regular, living with the sound of the bell every day, chanting sutras and worshipping the Buddha, and working and practicing.
Although life is hard, their eyes reveal tranquility and contentment. Most of them have become proficient in memorizing scriptures and have a growing understanding of the Dharma.
Of course, there are also some people who choose to return to the vulgar for various reasons. Some people couldn't adapt to the life of the monastery, and some people had to go back because of their families.
But even those who chose to leave, they said that the experience at Yunhai Temple gave them a new understanding of life and became a precious memory in their lives.
Venerable Renqing has now become the presiding officer of Yunhai Temple. Under his leadership, Yunhai Temple is not only a place for practice, but also a platform for spreading Buddhism and serving the society.
They have opened a course on Buddhism for the community, which has attracted many people who are interested in Buddhism. They also actively participate in social welfare activities, interpreting the compassionate spirit of Buddhism with practical actions.
Xiao Li, a former scientific research worker, is now in charge of the monastery's foreign exchange work. He used his expertise to establish the website and public account of Yunhai Temple, so that more people can understand the story here.
"Although we have chosen a different path, we still want to make our own contribution to this society," he said. "
Another former company executive, Xiao Zhang, is now mainly responsible for the day-to-day management of the monastery. He jokingly calls himself the "CEO of the monastery." Under his management, the affairs of Yunhai Temple were well organized.
"There is not much difference in essence between managing a company before and now managing a monastery," he said. The key is to be attentive and serve everyone. "
The establishment of "Filial Piety Hall" has solved many people's worries. Many parents of monks choose to spend their old age here, where they can reunite with their children and enjoy a peaceful life. This innovative approach has also been recognized by all sectors of society.
In this day and age, their choice is undoubtedly an alternative. But it is this kind of alternative that allows us to see the multiple possibilities of life.
Their experiences have taught us that there is no single definition of success. While pursuing a material life, we should not neglect the spiritual needs.
Everyone has the right to choose their own path in life, and the key is to follow your inner voice and find a lifestyle that truly suits you.