94.寶華山隆昌寺 Visiting Lung Chang Monastery on Pau Hua Mountain

寶華山隆昌寺

朝九華山後。渡江至寶華山。隆昌寺。此寺乃專持戒律之道場。故人呼之為老律堂。凡受具足戒者。皆以寶華山受戒為榮譽。故國內新戒。每逢戒期。趨赴之。公禮聖性和尚。留住過年。

宣化偈曰： 寶華別名老律堂。尸羅梵行力弘倡。 金剛光明從此出。重重無盡網羅幢。

Visiting Lung Ch’ang Monastery on Pau Hua Mountain

After bowing at Chiu Hua Mountain, the Master crossed the river to Lung Ch’ang Monastery on Pao Hua Mountain. This Bodhimanada is known for its strict maintenance of the moral precepts, and so people call it the “ Old Vinaya Hall.” Pao Hua Mountain is a most honorable place to receive the complete precepts of a Bhikshu. Therefore, many of the new preceptees in the nation assembled there each time the precepts were transmitted. The Master bowed to the Abbot, the venerable Master Sheng Hsing (Sagely Nature), who invited him to pass the new year there.

The verse says: The other name of Pao Hua Temple is the Old Vinaya Hall. In Shila and pure practices, it is far and away the leader. A powerful vajra brightness emanates from within; It is wonderfully adorned with endless layers of banners and jeweled netting.