Now No Idle Dreams on My Pillow, Both Big and Small Plum Blossoms Smell the Same

Today, I visited Lingyin Temple. I didn’t seek anything, just wanted to stroll around. I thought I could find a quiet morning to casually wander the temple, but when I arrived at 6:30 AM, it was already crowded. Everyone was lost in thought, sincerely offering incense and prayers. This time, I just wanted to take a few photos, stroll around, and then move on with my tasks.

As soon as I entered the temple gate, I saw volunteers setting up tables. One table had three sticks of incense, and another had bouquets of fresh flowers being given away for free, probably leftover from the Buddha Bathing Festival on the 8th of April.

In May, Hangzhou is already in early summer. The cypress and camphor trees in the temple are lush and green, and the temples are nestled among them, giving the place a bit more vitality. The Daxiong Baodian, Yaoshi Hall, and Huayan Hall were as busy as ever. Volunteers were cleaning, lay Buddhists were preparing incense and candles, and the faithful were either walking around the halls three times with their hands in prayer or kneeling and bowing to pray for peace.

When visiting temples, I often pay attention to the couplets and plaques. This time, I discovered two plaques in Daxiong Baodian: “The Dharma Wheel Ever Turns” and “The Buddha’s Light Grows Brighter,” as well as “Quietly Observe the Wonderful” at the steps leading to Huayan Hall. Chinese Buddhism is the result of the fusion of Buddhist teachings and Chinese culture. The sutras and Zen ideas expressed in Chinese characters contain many meanings that are understood only intuitively, not through words. Sometimes, Buddhist practitioners can also explain profound principles in simple, everyday language—this is sudden enlightenment and Zen: “I remember when I had not yet attained enlightenment, a sound of a horn was a sound of sorrow; now, there are no idle dreams on my pillow, both big and small plum blossoms smell the same.” “When the heart is overly occupied, one fails to see the true nature of people, things, and matters. Only by maintaining self-control at all times can one avoid being swayed by external distractions and desires.” “Life has always been a dream, and only in death do we realize that everything is empty. The mind holds on to things, unwilling to let go, driven by desire. With a peaceful mind, cultivating Zen leads to both concentration and wisdom.”

Walking casually in the temple, I read these wise words, and they deeply resonate.