PICTORIAL BIOGRAPHY OF THE VENERABLE MASTER HSU YUN

Continued from issue #67

Composed by the Venerable Master Hua

Illustrated by a student of Prajna
Translated by Bhiksu Heng Yo

BOWS TO THE RELICS AT KING ASHOKA TEMPLE #33

After his pilgrimage to P'u-t'o Island, the Master returned to Ning-po, where he passed through King Ashoka Temple. He arranged for provisions at a cost of three Yuan per month. Making obeisance to the relics and the Pitakas1 he sought to repay the toilsome labor and kindness of his parents. The charier enshrined by King Ashoka are reputed to be those of the true body of Shakyamuni Buddha, and therefore many people came to make vows and bow before the relies. The Master then reached T'ien-t'ung Monastery and after hearing an exposition of the Analytical Commentary on the Surangama Sutra, continued on his way.

The Gatha says:

Within the Real Body's sharira

The Tathagata is abiding,

They remain in the world and are conferred

To people who plant blessings.

If one does not move to plough his fields

How can he reap his harvest?

By irrigating and enriching

And not by stealing leisure.

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1Mahayana and Hinayana