77.至北岳朝名山 Visiting a famous mountain and going to the North Peak

至北岳朝名山

至大營渾源南境。朝禮北岳恆山。至虎風口。有朔方第一山。石坊。詣廟云級插天。穹碑森立。進香下山。按恆山乃五岳名山之一。非但中國皆聞名。即世界各國人士。亦皆知名來參觀。

宣化偈曰： 北岳恆山世知名。公亦至此朝聖尊。 云級插天真奇蹟。穹碑森立太驚人。

Visiting a famous mountain and going to the North Peak

The Master went south of Hun Yuan (Turbid Source) to Ta Ying (Great Camp) and visited the North Peak of Heng Shan (Eternal Mountain). At Hu Feng K’ou (Tiger Wind Mouth) Pass, he saw the stone which reads, “The First Mountain of the Northern Region.” When he arrived at the temple, he visited the Stairway to the Clouds, which towered into the sky. There was a forest of stone memorial tablets. The Master descended after offering up incense. (Heng Shan is one of the Five Sacred Mountains. Not only is it a famous place well-known to the Chinese people, but it is renowned by people throughout the world who often come to see it.)

The verse says: The North Peak of Heng Shan is known throughout the world. The Master went to pay his respects at the holy sites. The Stairway to the Clouds reaches for the sky truly a wondrous sight! The forest of stone memorial tablets are awe inspiring indeed.