Great Compassionate Bodhisattva of Universal Wisdom

Author: Zhou Zhuojie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: In the Xinglin Kingdom, there stands a magnificent Buddhist sanctuary known as Baque An. The temple complex boasts a thousand rooms, hundreds of nuns, spans hundreds of acres, and is always bustling with incense offerings year-round. The lamps burn day and night, and the crowds of visitors flow like ants and tides. The entrance is always crowded with carriages, and the temple is in constant motion. It is renowned as the "Heavenly Temple of a Thousand Nuns." As the saying goes, "A large family relies on one leader." Despite its size, Baque An is led by only one elderly nun, Venerable Huoyuan, who is over seventy years old and holds the title of "Shitai" (a respectful term for a senior nun). On this day, as the sky began to darken, Venerable Huoyuan sat cross-legged in meditation, her hands clasped. Just as she closed her eyes, a door servant reported, "A female devotee is seeking an audience." After tidying her robes and washing her hands, she went to the ear room in front of the temple. There, she was already accompanied by a "Guest Receiving Official," who was in charge of external communications and hospitality.
Before entering, Venerable Huoyuan was struck by the sight before her. The female devotee opposite the Guest Receiving Official was extraordinary in appearance. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her intelligent eyes sparkled with vitality, and her fair, rosy skin seemed to shimmer with life. Her high nose bridge, pointed chin, and well-proportioned features were complemented by willow-like eyebrows and a melon-seed face. A slight smile revealed her glistening white teeth, creating a harmonious contrast of red and white. Her posture, facial color, and demeanor exuded an ethereal, spiritual aura, stirring even the jealousy of this elderly nun who had long been a virgin.
Venerable Huoyuan inwardly rejoiced: "Another generous benefactor has arrived." With decades of experience and keen observation, she could tell at a glance that the devotee was either a princess of the imperial family or the daughter of a high-ranking minister. Such individuals usually visited the temple for wishes. Either their parents were ill and sought blessings through vegetarian offerings, or their marriages were troubled, and they came to pray for a suitable husband. Often, a simple "temple service" would earn them vast wealth, jewels, and treasures, which would be recorded in the temple's ledger. Therefore, such devotees were always treated with great respect and honored as VIPs.
However, the arrival of this particular devotee was somewhat unusual. Given her status, it would have been unnecessary for her to appear in public. Instead, a wet nurse or maidservant could have been sent to make arrangements. Even if her presence was required, she should have arrived in a carriage or sedan chair, accompanied by attendants. Yet, there were no carriages or horses outside, and no companions by her side—she stood alone as dusk fell.