The Life of the Legendary Monk Kumarajiva

-People who understand "Demi-gods and Semi-Devils" will remember this sentence: "It's just like a dream." This is a summary by Mr. Jin Yong based on the Diamond Sutra: "All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows; like dew and lightning; they should be viewed in this way." These four short words are exactly the fate of most people in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils." These original words come from the "Six Likenesses" in the "Diamond Sutra", translated by the eminent monk Kumarajiva.
-When we arrived at Wuwei Station on the Qinghai-Gansu Loop Self-Driving Tour, we came to the Kumarajiva Temple and saw the life of a great monk: he was born in India and was one of the greatest translators of Chinese Buddhism. He led his disciples to translate 74 Buddhist scriptures, more than 380 volumes. The Diamond Sutra mentioned above as well as many of the sutras we are familiar with, such as the Lotus Sutra and the Prajna Sutra, were written by him. He broke his vows many times in his life, but still became a saint.
-We are familiar with Tsangyang Gyatso, but few people remember Kumarajiva. It can be said that without the scriptures he translated, a large part of Chinese Buddhist philosophy, Song and Ming Confucianism, Taoist culture and even the entire Chinese traditional culture would be missing. But he came and lived in Liangzhou for 17 years, bringing more compassion to our originally ideologically barren land, giving later generations faith and worship, and allowing Mr. Jin Yong to create "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", which provides entertainment and makes people think deeply.
-This temple is very quiet, perhaps because we came late and there were basically no tourists inside. The place is not big, and the buildings are well maintained. The tall tower in the temple houses the tongue relic of Kumarajiva.
-In this era, we enjoy the achievements of our predecessors, and all conveniences seem natural and easy. This is exactly the achievement that many people like Kumarajiva have gained through their life-long efforts. Although they do not make a fuss about it, it permeates our minds and we silently receive their grace.
"A Dream Like This" pays tribute to the eminent monk!

Post by Abigail White | Feb 7, 2024