Master Xu Yun's Pilgrimage to Mountain Wutai and was Received by Bodhisattva 文殊菩薩的應化故事 接應虛雲

English subtitles
Subtitles:
The Venerable Monk Xu Yun(1840-1960) is an eminent master
of modern Chan Buddhism. His surname is Xiao, and he lives in Xiang Country, Hunan. His father is named Yutan, and mother's maternal name is Yen. In 1830s, His father served as an official in Fujian Province.
His parents have no children after the age of 40. His mother went outside of the town to Guanyin Temple to pray for a son. They saw the temple and bridge were old and dilapidated, so they pledged to repair it.
That night, the couple had a same dream that a long-bearded elder, wearing a blue robe and striding a tiger, came to them and jumped on the bed. They were startled, sat up and told each other. Later, she was pregnant. His father was transferred to assist the district government next year.
On the 29th day of the 7th lunar month, 1840, between 3 and 5 a.m., Master Xu Yun was born. At first, it was a lump of flesh. His mother was astonished and breathed her last out of extreme distress. The next day, an old medicine seller came and broke the flesh lump and got a boy. He was raised by his father's concubine, Wang.
After becoming a monk, he practiced diligently and worked very hard. In 1882, he felt he had not accomplished much in the monastery since being a monk, and he felt ashamed.
In addition, considering the suffering of his parents, especially his mother's short life, he decided to worship from Mount Putuo to Mount Wutai(5 platforms) in three steps and one bow to repay his parents' kindness.
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Master Xu Yun chanted the Bodhisattva's holy name all the way, bowing every three steps.
In 1883, on the 2nd day of the last lunar month, he reached Yellow River and crossed it by ferry. It was already dark by then and there was no one around. He dared not go further. He saw an empty thatched hut with a stall on the roadside and decided to rest here.
That night, it was freezing cold, and a blizzard was raging. Next morning, he looked around and saw a crystal white world. The snow was a foot deep and there was no sign of a road.
No one was passing by, so it was impossible to discern the direction. Besides, the snow was too deep for him to kneel. Master Xu Yun had no choice but to sit in meditation and chant the Buddha's name.
Because there were no walls for shelter in the hut, and no food to eat, he was suffering from hunger and cold. In order to keep warm, he huddled in the corner. It's snowing heavily outside, and he was cold and hungry. Although he was at his last gasp, he still kept righteous thoughts in mind. It had been snowing for three days. The monk is gradually falling into a coma. On the 6th day, the snow stopped and the sky became clear, and the monk had been too weak to speak.
On the 7th day, came a beggar. When he saw the monk lying in the snow, he knew he had a cold. Then the beggar pushed away the snow on his body, burned thatch to make porridge and feed the monk. Then the monk warmed up and recovered.
The beggar asked Xu Yun where he was going for pilgrimage.
Xu Yun told him the process of the pilgrimage from Putuo to Wutai.
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Then the monk asked the beggar how he was doing. The beggar said his surname is Wén, and the given name is Jí, come from Mount Wutai and was going to Chang'an.
Master Xu Yun asked how to find him in Wutai. Wén Jí told him every monk in Wutai knew him. Xu Yun also asked how far it was to Wutai. Wén Jí said the distance is about 1000 kilometers.
Then Wén Jí nourished Xu Yun body with yellow congee. Wén Jí asked what the requirements were for worshiping famous mountains. I haven't seen my mom since I was born, so I want to repay her.
When wén Jí saw the monk had a backpack on his back and the weather was cold and the ground was frozen, he advised him not to worship anymore. However, Xu Yun had made up his mind and was unmoved.
The beggar was deeply touched and advises Xu Yun to follow his trail so that he won't get lost. Master Xu Yun bid farewell to the beggar and moved on. At the midway point, he stayed at Hongfu Temple.
The 3rd day of the 1st lunar month in 1884. Master Xu Yun bid farewell to the monks and continued his pilgrimage. That night, he came to South Sea Temple in Yu County and asked to stay overnight, but was refused. Xu Yun had no choice but to sleep rough outside the town. That night, he suffered from unbearable stomach ache and chills all over his body.
The 5th day, he suffered from diarrhea, but still insisted on going on the pilgrimage. The 13rd day, he was too sick to proceed, and he had to spend the night at a ruined temple on the hill. Master Xu Yun's diarrhea became more serious, with dozens of diarrhea day and night.
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He didn't drink or eat and was too weak to move. Because the temple is at the hilltop, rare people went there. Master Xuyun could only close his eyes and wait to die. On the 15th night, he saw a man lighting a fire under the wall.