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travel ❘ 15 CONTACT US AT: 8351-9456, [email protected] Monday June 26, 2017 TEMPLE TALES Master Ji Qun goes over notes outside a hermit- age near Huayan Temple, Ningde, Fujian. James Baquet James Baquet [email protected] IN the summer of 2006, I had the extraordinary opportunity to spend a week in a remote mountain temple, teaching Buddhism in English to about 100 children. There I met a great master who also joined us in teaching the stu- dents. Master Ji Qun is Abbot of the ancient Xiyuan Temple in Suzhou (which I vis- ited a few years later). Devotees have described him as one of the foremost Chinese monks of the 21st century. Yet, I found him delight- fully humble and unassuming. One of the best parts of the week was the evening where the master held a “Q & A” session with the students. Here are some of his very practical answers (paraphrased from notes I made with the help of a translator). Q: How can one be happy? A: Know who you are. Q: Who are you? [This question was greeted with gentle laughter.] A: There is no me. [Lifting his tea cup] “My” cup has no [intrinsic] relationship to me. Just so, my body is not “mine” in any real sense. It came to me as the cup came to me. This is simply the result of Cause and Effect. When we view a photo of ourselves, we may point to it and exclaim, “That’s me!” But the photo is not me, and just so the body is not me, because there is no me — only a concept of me. Q: How can one have a calm heart? A: (1) Simple life, simple heart. (2) Don’t care too much about things; move through life like a bird passing through the sky, not clinging to anything. (3) Let Dharma [the Buddha’s teachings] teach us wisdom. (4) Pray or sit daily. The Master had several more things to say. Perhaps I can share more next time. At the feet of Master Ji Qun WHENEVER we watch TV series or movies, it’s pretty common to see scenes of lovers, embraced by the cozy sea breeze, sitting or strolling together along a beautiful beach while watching the sunset and chatting away. We probably wish we could do the same with our other half at such romantic places, indulg- ing in the sweet dream of being together forever. However, most of the time we are fretting that places like this are millions of miles away and can only be reached during holidays. But fret no longer, there is in fact a place within easy reach for those who live in Shenzhen. This place is called Wailingding Island and it is just 27.5 nauti- cal miles from the city center of Zhuhai and only 70 minutes from Shekou by ferry. Wailingding Island is located in the waters just southeast of Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai. Talking about the island, there is a bit of sad story linked to its past. Wen Tianxiang, a scholar-general from the time of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), was entering Ling- dingyang Channel when he was captured by the invading Yuan armies of Kublai Khan in 1278. During the time he wrote the famous classic “Passing Ling- dingyang.” Today, Wailingding Island has become a perfect place to escape from the crowds. The pristine natural beauty of the island, with its fine and soft sand and crystal-clear water, is on full display. The island remains undevel- oped, with most of its residents living as simple fishermen. During the summer, if you are lucky you might even glance upon the racks of drying fish the villagers have set up. Unlike the suffocating con- crete and steel jungles most of us live in, here you will only find tile-roof houses bleached by the baptism of time. What to do for fun Here, you can bicycle freely as there are no crowds to worry about. You can take photos at will without fretting about being stuck with a crowd behind you when taking your selfies or snapshots. As well, there are majestic dives to check out and mountain trails to explore. What to eat Wailingding Island’s “three treasures” are not to be missed. Sea urchins, dog paw sea snails and abalone are the island’s main specialties. Transportation On June 15, the ship route from Shekou to Wailingding Island officially started opera- tions. The ferry from Prince Bay Cruise Homeport to Wailing- ding Island departs at 10:10 a.m. every day while the ferry from Wailingding Island to Prince Bay Cruise Homeport departs at 11:45 a.m. every day. (Chen Xiaochun) Wailingding Island, a romantic seaside retreat A glimpse of Wailingding Island. File photos Wailingding Island’s “three treasures.” Fishermen statues on the island.
