8/16/2015 The Perception of Hardship | Tsem Rinpoche

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The Perception of HardshipAUG 1, 2015 | VIEWS: 182

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What is hardship? Is there really a definitive way of classifying a certain situation ashardship? What may be difficult for you and I may not be a problem for anotherperson. I have been a Dharma teacher for more than 25 years and during this time, I‛veencountered many people who face obstacles when they try to engage in spiritualpractice. Many times, these obstacles are self created… and the answer is instant ifthey choose to view things differently.

I recently read an article about a group of ascetic nuns in China and it reminded me ofhow many people often give excuses when it comes to practicing the Dharma althoughthere is every reason to practice. The article described the lifestyle of these asceticnuns during their annual two-week pilgrimage. They travel on foot, live outdoors, andbeg only for food. They give no excuses, no complaints… they are just focused on theirspiritual practice and it shows their sincerity and devotion.

I want to share this article in hopes that it will inspire all Dharma students to realizeand understand that Dharma is worth ‘sacrificing‛ for. There is nothing to fear indharma. The fear is if you don‛t have dharma. So the next time you feel like skippingDharma class because you don‛t want to get stuck in traffic, or because you want to dosomething else, think about these sincere ascetic nuns, and reflect… sincere practitionersgo all the way for Dharma.

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8/16/2015 The Perception of Hardship | Tsem Rinpoche

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Ascetic Nuns’ Life Of Pilgrimage (女性苦行僧的行脚生活)

Daoyuan Temple of Haicheng, Liaoning is a nunnery in China that upholds strict discipline.This temple is comprised entirely of women. The nuns practice Buddhism at the DabeiTemple in Haicheng, Liaoning and belong to the same Guiyang School of Zen Buddhism asthe Dabei Temple.

辽宁海城道源寺，是国内一所戒律严明的尼众寺院。该寺院僧人全部为女性，僧团依止辽宁海

城大悲寺修行，与大悲寺同为禅宗沩仰宗法脉。

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According to reports, in the Haicheng Daoyuan Temple, much like the Haicheng DabeiTemple, money is forbidden for all the nuns. They must abide by the Buddha’s precepts andnever touch nor collect money. This photo shows [the nuns] holding a monk staff, carryingan incense burner, walking outside in the early dawn.

据报道，海城道源寺与海城大悲寺一样，全体僧人持不捉金钱戒，僧人依照佛陀戒律终身不摸

钱，不储蓄。图为执持锡杖，手捉香炉，身披霞光，行脚野外。

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Their temple does not have a donation box and they do not deal in business. All the nunseat only once a day at noon and sleep four hours a day. They meditate for the length oftime it takes to burn five incense sticks. This photo shows them walking in the rain.

寺院无功德箱，不搞经营买卖。全体僧人日中一食，过午不食，每天睡4个小时，日打坐时间

为“五支香”(禅宗术语：燃烧五支香的长度)。图为雨中行走。

Every year after the mid­autumn festival, they must go on a two week pilgrimage (Angya).During this journey, they practice begging, only for food and not money.

每年农历八月十五后，要外出“行脚”半个月左右，行脚途中托钵，只乞食物，不乞金钱。

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During the journey, they do not live in hotels, people’s homes, or temples. They liveoutdoors. This photo shows the nuns at rest, with bystanders watching.

沿途不住旅馆、不住人家，不住寺院，露宿野外。图为途中休息，路人围观。

Daoyuan Temple nuns began their pilgrimage tradition in 2000, begging for food on theirjourney each year for the past 15 years.

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道源寺僧团从2000年起开始行二时头陀，行脚乞食，至今已有15年历史。

Today, Daoyuan Temple nuns have already walked across Liaoning, Hebei, Jilin,Heilongjiang and other provinces. This photo shows the nuns on the road, braving thewinds.

目前，道源寺僧团已经走过辽宁、河北、吉林、黑龙江等省份。图为行脚路上，忽遇大风。

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On the road they meet faithful worshipers.

路遇信众顶礼。

This photo shows the nuns on the pilgrimage as curious pedestrians stop to watch.

图为僧侣正在“行脚”，好奇的路人止步观看。

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While on the road, when the nuns find animals killed by traffic, they will pick it up and buryit, so that they can put an end to its resentment, and cultivate compassion.

路上遇到被过往车辆碾死的众生，僧人用随身携带的方便铲将众生铲起，就近掩埋，以息其怨

气，长养慈悲。

The nuns stand dignified, holding refuge taking and animal liberation ceremonies.

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僧人们威仪具足，为众生进行三皈依等放生仪式。

The believers they meet on their journey will bring them animals saved from beingbutchered, and the nuns will hold ceremonies to liberate these animals. The DaoyuanTemple abbot conducts the ceremony.

途中信众送来从刀下抢救回的众生，僧人为其做三皈依等放生仪轨，道源寺住持释妙融法师主

法。

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Meditation during rest.

休息时打坐。

According to Buddhist precepts, they only beg for food, not money.

依照佛制出家戒律，乞食时只乞食物，不乞金钱。

After completing their alms rounds, the nuns will put all the food together and give it to the

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“jingren”.

乞食归来，所有僧人将乞到的食物倒出，交给“净人”。

After completing their alms rounds, the nuns will sit down, fast and chant in accord with thenumber and duration outlined in the precepts.

乞食结束后，僧人们依照受持戒律的条数多少和受持戒律的时间长短，依次而坐，等待过斋。

僧人诵经。

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Nun reading the Sutras

僧人诵经。

Journal writing

写日记。

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Repairing torn robes. After a long period of time, their robes are full of patches.

缝补破了的僧服，久而久之，僧服便成为“百衲衣”。

Drawing pictures and writing Sutras on leaves

捡起枯叶，画上漫画，写下法语。

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The Buddhist implement that must be brought along during pilgrimage: the monk staff.

行脚需要携带的佛门法器——锡杖。

Journal writing

写日记。

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Setting up the sleeping bags and preparing to rest.

铺好睡袋，准备休息。