Gaomin temple 高旻寺
Gaomin Temple 高旻寺 (literally, “tall heaven temple”) is located just outside of Yangzhou 揚州, Jiangsu province 江蘇省, in Eastern China. This unique Chan monastery has an estimable reputation for strict discipline, attracting only serious meditation practitioners. Indeed, while touring the temple our group was informed that there was an ongoing meditation retreat in which hour-and-a-half sitting sessions were routine.
Part of the reputation and allure of Gaomin Temple as a rigorous and authentic Chan monastery has to do, no doubt, with the legendary Xu Yun 虛雲 (commonly Romanized as Hsu Yun), whom was said to have attained enlightenment in the dining hall of Gaomin Temple in 1900 upon hearing the sound of a teacup breaking. Xu Yun was known for his use of hua tou 話頭 (literally, “word’s head” or “head phrase”) which, during meditation, was a question or statement designed to push the practitioner beyond dualistic cognitive limitations. Most notable among the hua tou endorsed by Xu Yun was, “Who is reciting the name of the Buddha 念佛是誰?” This hua tou was printed on fans, which were used by monastics in Gaomin Temple during meditation on hot days and is carved on a large plaque which hangs above the door inside the meditation hall (named the Daohai Hall 道海堂). Also reinforcing the idea that Gaomin Temple was only for the most serious Chan practitioner is the solitary retreat island, in which monastics were “to either become enlightened or die.”
We were also told during our visit that in an effort to remain free from government intervention Gaomin Temple does not charge visitors an admission fee. The relative autonomy Gaomin Temple seems to have from bureaucratic influence demands a strict work ethic on the part of monastics, who are currently rebuilding much of the monastery with help from independent laborers who temporarily live on temple grounds.
Although much more could be said concerning Gaomin Temple, suffice it to say that this temple is particularly attractive to those wishing to see a fully functioning contemporary Chan Buddhist monastery.
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