The Sixth Patriarch, Master Huineng, struck the ground with a tin staff to form a spring, which only solved the daily water problem for the monks in the temple. But when I think about the long absence of rain inside and outside Xinzhou County, resulting in thousands of miles of bare land, severe drought, and crop failures, I can't help but feel heavy.
At night, Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch, was sitting in his meditation room. He counted on his fingers and realized that he only had three days left to live... He resolutely decided to relieve the drought for the working people before passing away.
Early the next morning, Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch, led Shenhui, disguised as a wandering Taoist priest, and set out from Guoen Temple in Longshan. They went out of Jicheng, passed through Liangdong, and crossed the river head. They waded all the way to understand the disaster situation and understand the people's sentiments.
At noon that day, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng and the gods would follow a southwesterly mountain range in the Yunwu Mountains, cross fields and gorges, rise and fall like a dragon, until they reach the ground of Xinzhou County's paradise, where a Guanyin statue is built. The pavilion stopped abruptly at the foot of the stone mountain.
So, the master and apprentice observed near Guanyin Pavilion, hoping to find the water spring channel. However, I searched and searched, but could not find any sign. I only saw a Buddha hall on the highest floor of the pavilion, which is dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva.
The Bodhisattva is sitting on a lotus throne, with a kind and solemn expression. The back wall of the hall is a smooth stone wall, and in front of the hall is an open-air rooftop where the incense burner is located. There is a Yaochi in the center of the rooftop, with lotuses planted in it. Due to severe drought, the water in Yaochi also dried up.
In front of the lotus throne of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch, devoutly reported the purpose of his visit to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and then let his thoughts fly.
Suddenly, a ray of light flashed before his eyes. The Sixth Patriarch, Master Huineng, looked up and saw Guanyin Bodhisattva sitting on the lotus throne. The hand holding the purification bottle was pointing to the right.
In an instant, Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch, was shocked by this discovery and understood its mystery.
After the Sixth Patriarch Huineng paid his thanks to Guanyin Bodhisattva, Heshenhui went straight to the right.
Go right and you will find the Inner Cave of Paradise. Surrounded by mountains, there are two areas of flat land with rich fields. The locals call it the inner and outer paradise. The two major fields of farming are divided here. The beautiful paradise is beautiful in legends; the magical inner cave is magical in myths.
Neidong, this ancient land has a long history. The incense of the Qin and Han Dynasties has continued for thousands of years. The Neidong river flowing from north to south originates from the "Ding of Chao Xian Chair" on the majestic mountain of Houlong in Liantang. The large mountain waterfalls collect the water from the high mountains and flow through the Neidong River, and then merge with the Xinxing River and flow into the Xijiang River and out to the sea.
The sparkling Neidong River adds a bit of aura to the land on both sides of the river, irrigates the beautiful style of Neidong, brings vitality to all things, becomes the source of life, and nurtures the people of Neidong for generations.
At the entrance of the three temples in the inner cave entering the outer paradise, there is a "Sangong Temple", which is dedicated to Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, the three sworn brothers in the Taoyuan of the Three Kingdoms. People in Neidong pray that the "Three Lords" will guard the door of Neidong to ensure safety.
Sanmiaokou is a military fortress that is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It has the power of one man to guard the pass and ten thousand men to stop it.
In front of the entrance of Sanmiao, there is a grand archway. The famous Lingnan cave "Guanyin Sitting on the Lotus" - the Longzhen Cave where the ancestor of the Liang family was buried in Liantang Village, Neidong - is located on the Litchi Ridge Mountain, the north peak of Neidong.
This mountain originates from Meihuading in Guangxi, passes through Wangjunding and Datianding, and flexes and undulates all the way, passing through fields and gorges. It breaks off in Luoyang and rises up the Dayunwu Mountain. The purple tent is spread out at the shoulders, and the sycamores are pierced in the middle. The wooden branches are knotted with knots and bud holes. The inner hall is flat like an upturned palm. The lips are wide open. The remaining Qi falls down the mountain. The dragon and tiger pockets of the left and right brothers collect the remaining Qi. The shape is more like a lotus. The stamen hole is knotted on the case. Later, it was built in Liantang Village in Huayang, so it was also called "Guanyin Sitting on Lotus". The Liang family also chose this place to open its ancestral hall.
Some predecessors also called it Crab Land, with clams opening on the left and right, and crab mouths in the holes. Viewed from the top of the mountain on the opposite side, it is also very similar. It's just that: dragons come from thousands of miles away, and the weather is endless. If you tap the right acupoint, you will gain weight.
Damingtang at the foot of Qianshan is Neidong Township. There are more than ten villages in Neidong, which is like a huge cornucopia. The hall can accommodate thousands of troops and horses, and the overall water mouth is close.
The scripture says: The bright hall can hold ten thousand horses, but the mouth of the water can hold only one boat. There is a Wenchang Pagoda (Baoning Pagoda) guarding the water entrance. On the left, there are command flags and formation flags, and on the right, there are drums and horses. "Xue Xin Fu" says: "Left flags and right drums, military commanders and military power, front barrier and rear screen, civil servants and assistants. If the situation is powerful, military commanders and military power must come out." This is the description of this point.
From the tent under the "Guanyin Sitting on Lotus", you can have a panoramic view of the inner cave. It is high in the north and low in the south. The villages are connected together. The large and small buildings are well-proportioned, just like a city in the mountains. The inner cave is indeed a Feng Shui with outstanding people. Treasure land.
In this "magical blessed land" with abundant resources and outstanding people, there is a beautiful and touching story about the lotus pond in paradise:
In ancient times, when Pangu created the world, the area around the outer and inner caves of Tiantangtang was a vast ocean (the rock formations in this area are now limestone structures as a proof). Today, Liantang Village is located on this endless beach. There are depressions and depressions along the terrain, and it looks like a pond from a distance.
It is said that the Jade Emperor in heaven has a group of maids, some of whom are responsible for cultivating and managing lotus flowers and picking lotus seeds. Among them is the lotus fairy. Because she has the skills to make lotus seed syrup and lotus seed soup, she also makes lotus seed products for Jade Emperor. The emperor and queen mother enjoyed it.
This year, another peach event was held in the palace. The Lotus Fairy held an emerald tray and gave the boiled lotus seed syrup to the Jade Emperor to enjoy. Because the palace floor was smooth, she felt nervous, slipped and spilled the lotus seed syrup. , splashing wet the Jade Emperor's dragon robe. The Jade Emperor became furious and punished the Lotus Fairy. She was not allowed to participate in reception work at various feasts in the future, and was demoted to Lianhua Yao in the fairy palace to grow lotus. She was only allowed to pick lotus seeds with other fairies during the harvest season.
The lotus fairy has a stubborn personality and is not afraid of power. He felt that the Jade Emperor was making a fuss out of a molehill by giving her such a severe punishment for such an unintentional mistake, and he was not convinced.
This year, it was the season when lotus seeds were ripe again. When picking lotus seeds, the Lotus Fairy thought of the Jade Emperor's punishment to her, and became more and more angry as she thought about it. In a fit of anger, he scattered a batch of lotus seeds he picked on the earth. From then on, lotus roots, lotus flowers, lotus seeds and other objects appeared in various places in the world.
On this day, the Lotus Fairy and the four golden boys and girls made an appointment, secretly descended to earth on five magical horses, and visited the beautiful scenery of the world. On the way, the Lotus Fairy warned everyone: "Keep moving forward and don't speak, so as not to alarm the palace and attract punishment."
After the Lotus Fairy left the fairy world, she waved her divine whip, her divine horse soared, and rode on the colorful auspicious clouds to the sky above Tiantang Town, Xinxing County. It was covered with endless green leaves and red flowers. I was very surprised, so I rode my horse towards this area. When I arrived, I saw that there were red, purple and white lotus flowers blooming in the lotus pond. The Lotus Fairy then said to the four golden boys and girls: "The lotus seeds I scattered on the world in my previous life have blossomed and bear fruit. Let's go and watch them."
Because they were so happy, they had forgotten the warning just now, so they were laughing and chattering. This time it was terrible, the sound of laughter alerted the great protector in the Heavenly Palace. The Great God did not dare to hide it, so he informed the Jade Emperor.
After hearing the report, the Jade Emperor was furious and said: "The Lotus Fairy and others violated the laws of heaven and descended to earth privately. The Lotus Fairy, the four golden boys and girls, and the five divine horses are not allowed to return to heaven in the future."
From then on, the Lotus Fairy, the four golden boys and girls and the five magical horses all stayed in the world.
At that time, there were no grains in the world. What they ate were lotus seeds and lotus roots, and what they wore were lotus leaves and lotus flowers. The five magical horses had to eat grass to satisfy their hunger. Due to lack of feed, they became thinner and thinner over the years, until they became thinner and thinner. Lying on the ground, they turned into five hills, with the horses' heads facing the stables. Later, people called these five hills the "Five Horses Returning to the Nest (Stables)", and the two pairs of golden boys and girls became husband and wife. In this area Lotus plants were planted in this place to reproduce their offspring, so later generations called this place "Liantang".
After the golden boy and the beautiful girl became husband and wife, the lotus fairy was embarrassed to live with them.
She walked to the top of a high mountain behind the lotus pond and built a shed to live there. During the day, she returned to the lotus pond to guide the golden boy and the beautiful girl in farming. The top of the mountain where the Lotus Fairy lives is very similar to a dragon's chair. Immortals often come here to meet the fairies. Later generations called this place "the top of the chair to worship the immortals".
Although things in the mythical world are very innocent and magical, and have even become more beautified and mysterious after being processed by later generations, its emergence has a profound basis in life after all.
Besides, Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch, brought the Shenhui to the realm of the inner cave of heaven, but he saw the scene in the past when he helped the immortals of Guanggang relieve the drought reappeared: the bare ground here was thousands of miles long, the fields were cracked, and the seedlings were about to dry up. Groups of people carry buckets on their shoulders to carry water from the river to drench crops.
Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch, was moved again, and his compassion prompted him to relieve the people here from drought. So, he walked towards the crowd with a bowl in hand, said a long blessing, and then said: "The drought is so serious, although you have perseverance to carry water to water the crops, it is just like dripping water to water the flames. If you can trust me, how about you let me pray to heaven for rain on your behalf?" ?”
People were eager to relieve the drought, so they immediately took the two Taoists to Tiandusi Yamen and asked them to discuss with Dusi about praying for rain.
The next day, the local people followed the instructions of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng and built an earthen platform on the top of a mountain at Qianhai northwest of the inner cave (behind Liantang Village). Taking the meaning of "gold makes water", flags were planted all around the earthen platform. , and 28 strong men were selected to stand in all directions holding flags to replace the twenty-eight constellations. Then the Sixth Patriarch Huineng went to the altar, burned incense and prayed to God, chanting something.
After knocking on the wooden fish, he poured clean water in all directions, and then slapped the gavel. For a moment, the sky was covered with dark clouds, lightning and thunder, and then a heavy downpour lasted for a day and a night, and the entire land of Xinzhou was completely relieved of this Second drought.
After the rain, people wanted to thank the Taoist, but there was no trace of the Taoist. Around the earthen platform, there were some spiritual symbols from Longshan Guoen Temple affixed to the flags and banners, so people speculated that the Taoist who went up to the altar to burn incense and pray for rain was the Sixth Patriarch Huineng. From then on, the people in Neidong worshiped the Sixth Patriarch even more.
After the Sixth Patriarch Huineng passed away at Guoen Temple in Longshan, the people of Neidong initiated the process of making a golden body of the Sixth Patriarch for worship. Therefore, skilled craftsmen were invited to build a golden statue of the Sixth Patriarch. Someone suggested building a Temple of the Sixth Patriarch in the center of the inner cave and setting up an altar for worship. But most people think that it is better to set up altars for worship in different villages in Neidong. This will make them feel closer to the Sixth Patriarch. From now on, every time it is the turn of a village to worship, the people in that village will be celebrating a happy event. After bathing and fasting, the whole village, men, women, old and young, will beat gongs and drums to pick up the golden statue of the Sixth Patriarch, and then each household will report according to their financial ability. Number of tributes. From then on, whenever there was a drought, people carried the golden body of the Sixth Patriarch to the original earth platform on the top of the mountain to pray for rain. The people in Liantang here call it "Qiyu Ding" and it has been passed down to this day (this is a story later).
