它是杭州唯一的一所女众寺院，还有这三大看点（中英双语版）-zenme

大家好，很荣幸分享一下2019年春节前夕我曾拜谒过的一座寺庙：法镜寺。

Hi everyone, I am very honored to share something about Fajing temple, which I visited before this Spring Festival.

法镜寺全名法镜讲寺，又称下天竺。其位于杭州市天竺山莲花峰下，东晋时由西印度高僧慧理建立，距今已有1600多年的历史。据我看来，该寺主要有以下四大特点。

Fajing temple, the full name is Fajing lecture temple, can also be called Xia Tianzhu. It is located under the Lotus Peak of Tianzhu Mountain in Hangzhou. It has been over 1,600 years since it was built by an eminent monk Huili from western India in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In generally, there are four characteristics for this temple in my opinion.

第一、它是杭州市区唯一的一座女众寺院。游完此寺，有两位女僧尼给我留下了深刻的印象。一位在佛前虔诚跪拜，有许久。另一位则双手合十在来回踱步，但神情却没有一点焦虑或慌张，而是非常得祥和平静。

The first is that it is the sole temple for Buddhist nuns in the urban area of Hangzhou . After paying visit to it, two nuns impressed me the most. One knelt to pray in front of the Buddha image for a long time. The other paced to and from putting her hands together without any anxiety and hurry but peace and calmness.

第二、这里曾有不少历史典故。首先，法镜寺名是由乾隆皇帝游历后改定，一直沿用至今。还有三个典故都与友情有关。诗人李白曾邀朋友游览此地，留下了《送崔十二游天竺寺》这首诗。苏轼曾留下《雨中邀李范庵过天竺寺作》的诗篇。

The second is that many classic historic stories happened here. The name, Fajing temple, was given by Qianlong Emperor after his visit and continues to be used nowadays.The other three stories were all about friendship.The poet Li Bai invited his friend to have a view of this place and left a poem named “See Cui Shi’er off to visit Tianzhu Temple”.The poet Su Shi wrote a poem with the name “Invite Li Fan’an to visit Tianzhu temple in the rain”.

另一个比较有名的便是“三生石”的故事。唐代隐士李源与圆泽禅师是好友，相约从湖北出发去四川峨眉山礼拜普贤菩萨。圆泽想走陆路，而李源坚持走水路。圆泽不得已非常伤心地同意了。路遇一妇人，圆泽便哭诉道，她已怀孕三年等的就是我，看来我跑不掉要投胎做她的儿子。于是便请李源协助念咒语马上投胎，并说三日后来见他，他会以微笑示之，然后相约十三年后的中秋夜在杭州天竺寺外相见。李源三日后，去见那位男婴，果然报以微笑，十三年后便真的远赴杭州天竺寺。便遇见一位牧童，其唱道：“

三生石上旧精魂，赏月吟风莫要论。

惭愧故人远相访，此身虽异性长存。

身前身后事茫茫，欲话姻缘恐断肠。

吴越山川寻已遍，却回烟棹上瞿塘。”

两位友人短暂会面后，又得分离，以待今后的缘分。

圆泽通过转世实践了对友人的诺言和情谊，李源也信守承诺千里迢迢去赴约，成就了一段千古佳话。

Another famous story is the “Three life stone”. Li yuan, the hermit in the Tang Dynasty, had a good friend who is a Zen master Yuanze. They appointed to depart from Hubei Province to worship Samantabhadra Bodhisattva in the Mount Emei of Sichuan province. Yuanze prefer to go there on foot,while Li yuan insisted on going there by boat. Yuanze had to agree at last vary sadly.When they encountered a woman, Yuanze cried “She has been pregnant for three years just to wait for me to reincarnate his son and I had no choice now”. Afterwards Yuanze asked Liyuan for help to incant for his immediate reincarnation and he would smile if Liyuan came to see him after three days. Three days later, Li yuan witnessed this moment and went for Tianzhu temple in 13 years indeed. He met a shepherd boy who sang like this”

I am your old friend’s soul now on this three life stone. It is not necessary to talk about anything like appreciating the moon and singing in the wind.

I am sorry to see you my friend come here from so far away. My temperament still remains although my body changes.

My target is so hard to realize when reviewing the last life and having an outlook of the next one. I am afraid of being so heartbroken once mentioning my matter of marriage.

I Haven’t found my lover although going all over the Mountains and Rives of Wuyue and I had to turn the boat around for Qutang to continue my seeking and we may see at some time in the future."

After short meeting, the two friends had to separate temporarily. Yuanze realized his promise and friendship through the reincarnation while Li Yuan took thousands of kilometers’ journey to keep the promise too, which has become an eternal story.

第三、这座寺庙历史上曾三次遭遇过火灾而损毁，分别发生在唐末、元末以及清朝咸丰年间，但每次却都得以重建,香火绵延不断。 这足以说明了这座寺庙在历代人民和当政者心中的位置。实际上古代很多富丽堂皇的建筑被损毁后，都未获重建，比如主要为满足皇帝私欲而建立的皇宫。而作为，普度众生、祈福天下的寺庙则具有极其重要的历史、文化及现世价值，历朝历代的民众都尊敬有加。另外，不管古代哪个皇帝的文治武功再厉害，也几乎没有受到后人朝拜的。这也充分说明了，利他精神从古至今都是更为世人所推崇。

The third is that this temple was destroyed because of fire three times in the history, which happened in the end of both Tang Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty and also Qing Xianfeng years. And it got to be rebuilt every time and the incense burnt without interruption. This is sufficient to convince this temple’s important role in the eyes of the people and rulers of successive dynasties. In fact, very few grand buildings in ancient were rebuilt after being destroyed including the palace which was founded mainly for meeting the personal desire of the Emperors. While the temples, which were built for serving and praying for the public, has tremendous historic，cultural and earthly value.Therefore,they were greatly respected by the populace throughout the history. And no emperors were worshiped by the descendants no matter how remarkable the political and military achievements they had made after their dynasty was replaced. This also fully testified that the altruistic spirit is so admired by the common people in all ages.

第四、这是一座讲寺，即讲经说法的地方。我发现这里跟别的寺庙有三处很不一样的地方，很能说明这一点。一是，这里有黑板报，普及基本的佛法及相关知识；二是，这里有免费赠阅的书架 我就随缘拿起一本读了起来，这本是来自台湾慧律法师的2014年新春开示，有位施主看到我在读这本书，便问书名，发现是2014年的，便说道”“现在都2019年了，2014年还有什么可看的。”我当时用沉默不语进行了回应...... 。三是，这里有很多地方都竖起了刻有佛偈的牌子，上面写的格言读一读，或许对你我都会有些益处，这里特别分享如下。

The fourth is that this is a lecture temple for preaching. And I found there are three aspects which are different from many other temples and can illustrate this point.Firstly there is a blackboard which wrote the basic idea on Buddhism and related knowledge; Secondly there is a book shelf for free reading . I just took one book by chance when a man saw me and asked the name of it. I showed him. When he saw it was printed in 2014 and said how can I read a book so many years ago(meant no value anymore) I replied with silence and continue to read this book which was the new year’s speech of Huilv Master from Taiwan. Thirdly there are many boards which were carved with Buddhist maxims, I call them also “Inspirational Quotations “ which may enlighten both you and me and are shared below.

We are rich to have a life with both pains and pleasure.It is rational to experience both successes and failures. It is fair to win and lose something. To have birth and death is natural for us.

The true power comes from enduring. The true wisdom lies in lenience. The true mercy derives from tolerance. The real wealth is satisfaction.

No rejection no matter anything comes into our life, no detainment when anything leaves from us.

Let it be and we can be at ease.

Putting down can free ourselves.

Letting it be doesn’t mean we can drift through the life but cherish the present,which is not in the pure land somewhere else but in the thought of our heart.

Face everything with smiles. No matter favorable or unfavorable circumstances, they are all aids for us.

The best medicine to cure disease is no worry and no fear and being roused to vigorous diligence.The first secret to eliminate worry is no exclusion and no refuse when things occur and putting down the obsession.

Nothing is better than fasting and alms giving for seeking good.

To learn and listen more is the best way to pursue wisdom.

The most efficient way to pray for longevity is the precept against killing and liberating the creatures.

We’d better avoid dispute to live a quite life.

We own our life and we just bless ourselves.

All the happiness is just around us.

We can sense everything as long as we seek from our heart.

Be respectful to the chief .Be merciful to the subordinate. Be kind when communicating with others. Be real when dealing with things.

Avoid the evils, just do what are good and purify our mind.These are what Buddha tells us.

Usually we can only live within a hundred years， so we’d better learn from Buddha as early as possible.

Don’t be reluctant to leave from five immoral world. And the bliss of the lotus state is waiting for us to experience.