Explore the group of Buddhist statues in the wilderness beside the Jialing River. How can we save sentient beings if they are so desolate?

An ordinary look at Chongqing (Issue 174)

Ordinary pictures and texts

Every time I pass through the Yanjing section of Hechuan District, Chongqing from the Chongqing-Hechuan Expressway, I can vaguely see a huge white Buddha statue standing on the other side of the river. However, due to the high speed of the car, it often flashes past and disappears suddenly.

But it is planted in my heart and I often think of it inadvertently.

This time, I finally took the time to come to Yanjing Town, Hechuan, to visit this mysterious Buddha statue that seemed to exist but also seemed not to exist.

Stepping into Yanjing Town, it felt like time suddenly went back thirty years.

This town, famous for its ancient salt wells, no longer produces salt. Instead, it mainly produces steel, cement, and quarrying. The whole town has lost popularity and has clearly been left behind by the times. several streets.

But here, I bumped into an old street full of red memories.

Most of the houses named "Zhongwan Street" were built in the 1950s and 1960s, and are full of the atmosphere of that era. Some interesting pictures and slogans are painted on the walls of some houses.

I believe that many people of the older generation who were born in the 1940s and 1950s will be very familiar with these paintings and slogans, and even feel a lot of emotion.

By the way, these are some "red" propaganda posters and slogans, such as the red portrait of Mao Zedong, the portrait of Lei Feng serving the people, the portrait of workers, peasants and soldiers studying philosophy, etc., as well as such as "No self-interest" , dedicated to benefiting people", "Self-reliance plays a song of victory, hard work creates a miracle" and other red slogans, which make people feel transported to that special era of the last century.

There are not many residents in the old street, and most of them look at me, an "alien species", with strange eyes.

An old man saw me taking pictures and said, "Come and experience the living quarters of our slums?"

I smiled and said that your place is very unique, and Ask him when these slogans appeared?

"Just the year before last, some college students came to paint."

That's it.

Then, I asked him about the Buddha statue by the river.

"You are talking about Haifo Temple. The new temple has been moved to the mountain. The original old temple has been abandoned and it is difficult to walk. You can go like this..."

< p> I walked along the river for a while and walked through the dense forest. It was really difficult to walk.

Suddenly I saw a fisherman sitting quietly on the shore, fishing and looking at his mobile phone.

I deliberately made a noise and prepared to ask him for directions. The middle-aged man was obviously unprepared. He suddenly heard a sound behind him and was startled. He stood up and took a step back. Not wanting to bump into a stone ridge, he suddenly fell onto his back and almost fell into the river.

I was shocked and quickly asked him if he had anything?

The middle-aged man got up in embarrassment, patted his butt, and muttered: "Nothing, nothing..."

Then, he showed me the way and his attitude was very good. .

I feel very sorry. Obviously, few outsiders come here.

Walking forward again, passing through a dense forest, there is a cliff in front, and next to it is the Jialing River. The river is as calm as a mirror, like a lake.

A small niche appeared on the left cliff, which housed the landlady's parents-in-law. The couple was unkempt and covered with dust. It was obvious that no one had taken care of it for a long time. There is a couplet written next to it: "Don't be false when doing things, and be pious when praying to God."

There is a two-person-high stone tower in front. The red paint has basically fallen off, and the stone bricks inside are exposed. There are Some stone caves, this tower should be used for burning paper money.

From here, it feels like entering a mysterious wilderness world of Buddha statues, which makes people inadvertently think of the Angkor Wat ruins that were once swallowed up by the forest.

There are more than a dozen Buddha statues of various sizes arranged here, standing quietly in the wilderness beside the Jialing River, silent, without sorrow or joy... Most of the Buddha statues are seriously damaged, missing limbs and limbs. Some of the Bodhisattvas with missing heads are vaguely identifiable, including Guanyin Bodhisattva, God of Wealth, Maitreya Buddha, Reclining Buddha, etc. Some Bodhisattva's faces have fallen off and are covered with moss and green vines. The only traces of human life are the chirping of birds and the chirping of insects, and the water of the Jialing River flowing quietly beside it.

Silence, silence...

When a person stands in this world of gods, although it is extremely dilapidated, it has its own kind of solemnity, and gradually a sense of alienation will arise, as if I have also sat here for many years, watching the boats coming and going, the bustling and desolate, the spring comes and the spring comes, letting the ivy climb up my body...

On the innermost riverside, there is a huge marble statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva. , about ten meters high, facing the river, and the base is submerged in the river. It is very spectacular. This is the white statue we saw on the opposite highway.

Master Guanyin is sitting cross-legged on the lotus platform, holding a vase in his left hand, and the fingers of his right hand are in the shape of lotus fingers. His face is quiet, as if he is deep in thought, and as if he is casting a spell to protect the people passing by on the river. Ships and creatures...

However, the desolation here reminds me of what the Buddha once said:

"All things are impermanent, and it is difficult to protect myself. If I can't protect myself, how can I protect myself?" "You?"

I checked the information and found out that Haifo Temple was a temple that prayed for the safety and good fortune of boatmen and travelers on the Jialing River waterway in ancient times. Although it is not big, it is somewhat famous along the Jialing River.

Before 2010, due to the relocation due to the construction of Hechuan Caojie Power Station, the new "Haifu Temple" was moved to the mountain next to National Highway 212, leaving the remnants of the old temple.

Due to the water storage at the Caojie Power Station, the Guanyin statue here is often flooded up to its waist during flood season, and is known as the "Water Guanyin" by the locals.

It can be seen that the annual flood period is a disaster for the Buddha statues here. Making it more vicissitudes of life every time.

This is the so-called "going through all the waves of tribulation".

Many people will say that these Buddha statues are like clay Bodhisattvas crossing the river. They cannot protect themselves, so how can they save sentient beings? Why should we worship them?

This involves a question of Buddhist philosophy.

According to the interpretation of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas never talk about how vast their supernatural powers are, but they all use themselves to transcend tribulations to influence and educate all living beings! This is the same as the crucifixion of Christ Jesus.

They all use their own suffering to tell the world some truths, such as "birth, old age, sickness and death", "formation, residence and destruction of space", "flying ashes and annihilation", etc., which are all normal reincarnations in the world, even the Buddha's body No one is immune.

Therefore, when we worship the Buddha, we actually seek our own enlightenment through the guidance of the Buddha, and ultimately "save ourselves." The so-called Buddha "sends all sentient beings" only to help you gain enlightenment, not to give you the "result" you want. The words "whatever you ask for" on the incense candle are just the obsession of the world, and often the result is "what you ask for". Those who place their hopes entirely on others, including the Buddha, find it difficult to understand this, and ultimately find it difficult to "save themselves."

How long can these wild Buddha statues along the Jialing River last?

Maybe one day, they will be washed away by floods, or swallowed by plants, or they will disintegrate and turn into dust, and finally disappear without a trace, as if they never existed.

It’s for remembering.

-END-

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