What are the reasons why the two cultural masters, Qu Yuan and Master Hongyi, have different end points in their lives?

Qu Yuan and Master Hongyi (commonly known as Li Shutong) are two very representative masters in the history of Chinese culture, and are also two brilliant stars with extraordinary ideological realm among the literati throughout the ages. The lofty and passionate talent has made their cultural and artistic status ； Deep patriotism and the spirit of loving the people and always upholding justice have created their extraordinary personality and noble soul. However, the end of their lives is very different from the world, which is lamentable!

Qu Yuan was in love with Chu throughout his life, worried about the country and the people, and refused to turn his back on Chu several times. Faced with the decline of Chu, he would rather throw his stones into the river to end his full grief than to live in the world. He has a noble life but has been hurt forever!

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If Buddhism had been spread to China at that time, I wonder if the great poet Qu Yuan would have ended his life and ambitions in this way? Will he have more fulfillment and transcendence, see through the impermanence of the world, and break out of the meaningless struggle? Or turn your passion into great compassion and Bodhi, and devote yourself to the salvation of yourself and the people with a positive but not sad or resentful attitude, rather than throwing into the river, will you be hurt forever?

Looking at the ancient literati in Chinese history, like Qu Yuan, they only had a desire to serve the country, but they were depressed and ended up not knowing how many people were. Du Fu, Li Bai, Li He, Lu You, Xin Qiji, etc., no matter how dazzling they are in history or how famous they have been through the ages, they have never been able to escape the shackles of literati. “Learning civil and martial arts, selling and selling to the imperial family is what they have been seeking for life.

All their ambitions to stabilize the country and save the world and the people still use "seeking fame and fortune" as their life coordinates, and their lives have been spent in the struggles of their careers and the ups and downs of their officialdom. All their lofty ambitions die in the changes, impermanence and unsatisfaction of the world, and they are also unable to extricate themselves from the frustration and troubles that are as sad as spring water. Chen Zi'ang's "I don't see the ancients in front of me, and I don't see the coming from behind. I think of the vastness of the world, and I cry out in tears alone." This tells the desolation!

However, Master Hongyi, who was able to write that "life is like the sun in the West, wealth is like frost on the grass", has gone through the desolation of the literati with his unique insight into life. He implemented his feelings of worrying about the country and the people without any hindrance.

Master Hongyi said: "Anyway, in my opinion, Buddhism provides the world with a path to heal the fundamental pain of life, which makes me feel that there is no more positive and meaningful way to live than Buddhist practice. ”

1918One early morning in the spring of 2019, two boats faced each other in the mist of West Lake. Master Hongyi’s wife asked, “Master Hongyi, please tell me what is love? ”

Master Hongyi said a condensed heart: "True love is compassion. ”. Deep in the master's soul, it is never myself, nor my former love, but the happiness of the people and the salvation of all sentient beings.

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Before Master Hongyi became a monk, he served the motherland and the people like those patriotic literati. He chose to teach his writing. However, the cruel reality made the master find that like too many literati in history, he was trapped in the pain of being unable to change the status quo and social corruption. Fortunately, the master is not as decadent and abandoned as most literati. The lone soul still did not give up seeking in the turbulent dark world, and resolutely became a monk until he encountered the causes and conditions of Buddhism. After becoming a monk, the master is not like the kind of master who lives in the deep mountains, but instead works in the worldly cause with the spirit of being born, always implementing his patriotic ambitions and the practice of giving everyone happiness and relieving the sufferings of others.

1937In 2019, Japanese planes bombed Xiamen crazily, and the master wrote the word "martyrdom" on the wall. He was not afraid of life and death, and always insisted on opening lectures. He also wrote the central hall of "Reciting Buddha's name will not forget to save the country, saving the country must be chanted by the Buddha's name", and called on the monks: "We Buddhists are part of the people, and their patriotism is not the descendants..." Under the influence of the master, Buddhists set up wartime ambulance teams to treat the wounded and sick, bury the victims, and turn the temple into shelters, resettle the victims, and provide them with the victims to the best of their ability.

The master practiced throughout his life, was rigorous and self-disciplined, set an example for himself, and had a clear mind. Finally, he achieved the right result in the process of selfless benefiting others and saving sentient beings. He wrote the four big words "The intersection of sorrow and joy" three days before his death. After his death, the Dharma body burned more than 1,800 relics and 600 relics. The master put a perfect end to his life.

Looking back at Master Hongyi's life, we cannot deny that Buddhism has created a model of literati and an immortal legend. Compared with Master Hongyi's perfection, the author is even more sad about Qu Yuan's experience. We are in the same troubled times, with the same talent, the same lofty, and patriotism and the people, but the endings are very different! I am sorry that Qu Yuan had not encountered Buddhism and did not know the impermanence of the world. All things are the true meaning of causes and conditions. It is difficult to obtain human beings. Facing the vicissitudes of the world, they avoid suicide!

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This is the fundamental reason why the two cultural masters have very different ends in their lives.

Buddhism reveals the truth of the universe and life and everything. May the Buddha's light shine everywhere, and Qu Yuan's tragedy no longer happen ； May all literati be able to stay away from the helplessness and despair of facing cruel reality, and like Master Hongyi, do worldly careers with the spirit of birth, arm themselves with Buddhism, and save themselves and save them.

——End——

Written by: Li Ju Half-open

Editor: Shangfudi