8/16/2015

ThePerceptionofHardship|TsemRinpoche

ThePerceptionofHardship
AUG1,2015|VIEWS:182
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What is hardship? Is there really a definitive way of classifying a certain situation as

hardship? What may be difficult for you and I may not be a problem for another
person. I have been a Dharma teacher for more than 25 years and during this time, Ive
encountered many people who face obstacles when they try to engage in spiritual
practice. Many times, these obstacles are self createdand the answer is instant if
they choose to view things differently.
I recently read an article about a group of ascetic nuns in China and it reminded me of
how many people often give excuses when it comes to practicing the Dharma although
there is every reason to practice. The article described the lifestyle of these ascetic
nuns during their annual two-week pilgrimage. They travel on foot, live outdoors, and
beg only for food. They give no excuses, no complaints they are just focused on their
spiritual practice and it shows their sincerity and devotion.
I want to share this article in hopes that it will inspire all Dharma students to realize
and understand that Dharma is worth sacrificing for. There is nothing to fear in
dharma. The fear is if you dont have dharma. So the next time you feel like skipping
Dharma class because you dont want to get stuck in traffic, or because you want to do
something else, think about these sincere ascetic nuns, and reflectsincerepractitioners
goallthewayforDharma.

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Tsem Rinpoche

AsceticNunsLifeOfPilgrimage()

DaoyuanTempleofHaicheng,LiaoningisanunneryinChinathatupholdsstrictdiscipline.
Thistempleiscomprisedentirelyofwomen.ThenunspracticeBuddhismattheDabei
TempleinHaicheng,LiaoningandbelongtothesameGuiyangSchoolofZenBuddhismas
theDabeiTemple.

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Accordingtoreports,intheHaichengDaoyuanTemple,muchliketheHaichengDabei
Temple,moneyisforbiddenforallthenuns.TheymustabidebytheBuddhaspreceptsand
nevertouchnorcollectmoney.Thisphotoshows[thenuns]holdingamonkstaff,carrying
anincenseburner,walkingoutsideintheearlydawn.

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Theirtempledoesnothaveadonationboxandtheydonotdealinbusiness.Allthenuns
eatonlyonceadayatnoonandsleepfourhoursaday.Theymeditateforthelengthof
timeittakestoburnfiveincensesticks.Thisphotoshowsthemwalkingintherain.
4
()

Everyyearafterthemidautumnfestival,theymustgoonatwoweekpilgrimage(Angya).
Duringthisjourney,theypracticebegging,onlyforfoodandnotmoney.

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Duringthejourney,theydonotliveinhotels,peopleshomes,ortemples.Theylive
outdoors.Thisphotoshowsthenunsatrest,withbystanderswatching.

DaoyuanTemplenunsbegantheirpilgrimagetraditionin2000,beggingforfoodontheir
journeyeachyearforthepast15years.

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200015

Today,DaoyuanTemplenunshavealreadywalkedacrossLiaoning,Hebei,Jilin,
Heilongjiangandotherprovinces.Thisphotoshowsthenunsontheroad,bravingthe
winds.

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Ontheroadtheymeetfaithfulworshipers.

Thisphotoshowsthenunsonthepilgrimageascuriouspedestriansstoptowatch.

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Whileontheroad,whenthenunsfindanimalskilledbytraffic,theywillpickitupandbury
it,sothattheycanputanendtoitsresentment,andcultivatecompassion.

Thenunsstanddignified,holdingrefugetakingandanimalliberationceremonies.

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Thebelieverstheymeetontheirjourneywillbringthemanimalssavedfrombeing
butchered,andthenunswillholdceremoniestoliberatetheseanimals.TheDaoyuan
Templeabbotconductstheceremony.

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Meditationduringrest.

AccordingtoBuddhistprecepts,theyonlybegforfood,notmoney.

Aftercompletingtheiralmsrounds,thenunswillputallthefoodtogetherandgiveittothe
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jingren.

Aftercompletingtheiralmsrounds,thenunswillsitdown,fastandchantinaccordwiththe
numberanddurationoutlinedintheprecepts.

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NunreadingtheSutras

Journalwriting

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Repairingtornrobes.Afteralongperiodoftime,theirrobesarefullofpatches.

DrawingpicturesandwritingSutrasonleaves

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TheBuddhistimplementthatmustbebroughtalongduringpilgrimage:themonkstaff.

Journalwriting

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Settingupthesleepingbagsandpreparingtorest.

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