Facebook
Instragram
College and Department of Buddhist Studies, FGUGO GO Gansu Day 2: Maijishan Grottoes
Under the warm sunshine and gentle breeze,
At the foot of Maijishan, gazing at the compassionate eyes of the giant Buddha,
Feeling the call of ancient simplicity, how could one not rejoice?
Looking at the mottled murals, the vivid colors still lingering above,
Struggling to make out the statue through the bars,
Imagining the flourishing incense from a thousand years ago,
One can't help but lament that time has carried away faith,
Yet left behind a glimmer of hope.
--
Finally arrived at the long-awaited Maijishan Grottoes.
Today, luck was on our side.
The round trip by public transportation was incredibly smooth.
We didn't have to wait long, and there were available seats.
Concerned about the reviews on Gaode Maps, which turned out to be unnecessary worry,
The site here is even more organized than expected, and the crowd was not as overwhelming as mentioned in the reviews (perhaps we managed to avoid it).
It's truly worth a visit!
Author: Deng Tingyu, Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Buddhist Studies
Entering the treasure mountain without returning empty-handed,
Before coming, I had been to the library many times,
Flipping through picture albums, reading related papers,
Imagining the possible scenery,
But seeing it in person today was still incredibly shocking.
Climbing the towering Maijishan,
One can't help but be amazed at the magnitude and difficulty of the construction by our ancestors.
The legend of "Ten Thousand Feet of Wood First, then Maiji Cliff" is a fitting footnote.
Examining the styles of the humanized sculptures in each cave,
One feels as if stepping into a Pure Land of Buddhism.
Seeing the weathered Buddha images is also saddening.
I hope this beauty can endure in the world.
Walking into Pingdeng Cave, recalling the gates of the past Pure Land caves,
Bowing respectfully is a necessity for everyone entering this place.
Passing by the great Buddha on the East and West Cliffs,
Standing beneath the towering statue, one can't help but feel small.
Great Buddha!
Have you stood here for an extended time,
Helping distant and numerous suffering beings?
The Buddha and Bodhisattva sculptures from the Southern and Northern Dynasties in small caves,
All bear a kind and gentle smile.
The weathered grottoes,
Seem to be waiting in anticipation.
Are you willing to become the next Buddha in this Buddhist realm?
Wild temples with few remaining monks, narrow paths in the mountain garden.
Civet sleeps among the stone bamboos, parrots peck at the golden peaches.
Rough stones make way for people, houses hang firmly on cliffs.
Above, multilayered pavilions in the evening, one can see a hair's breadth for a hundred miles.
-- Du Fu, "Mountain Temple"
⊙for more, see：https://www.facebook.com/TTC85912 (in Chinese)
