On July 6th, 2022, the Zen Source Temple in West Tianmu Mountain held the “Seminar on China Buddhism and Tianmu Mountain Culture and Master Zhi Yan’s Ascension Ceremony”. Zhejiang Provincial Religious Affairs Committee, United Front Work Department of Hangzhou Municipal Committee, Civil Affairs Bureau and relevant leaders of Lin ‘an District were invited to attend.
Shao Gensong, director of the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Religious Affairs, and Chen Na, member of the Standing Committee of Lin ‘an District Committee and director of the United Front Work Department, congratulated and delivered speeches at the meeting. On the afternoon of the same day, a “Seminar on China Buddhism and Tianmu Mountain Culture” was held, and representatives of cultural circles and eminent monks and great virtues discussed and exchanged views on China Buddhism and Tianmu Mountain culture.
The origin of Buddhist culture in West Tianmu Mountain spread. More than 1,700 years ago, Zhu Fakuang, a monk of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, went to West Tianmu Mountain to recite scriptures. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Zen masters Gao Feng and Zhong Feng successively spread the teachings of Linji Sect in West Tianmu, becoming famous in the world, and since then they have become the ancestral court of Linji Sect. In the fourth year of Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty, Yulin Buddhist Master rebuilt the Dojo here, and yongzheng emperor Imperial Book “Chanyuan Temple”. Since then, Tianmu Jungle has gradually become one of the prosperous areas of Buddhism in China. In recent years, under the leadership of Master Zhi Yan, all monks in Chanyuan Temple strictly abide by the party’s religious policy, adhere to the direction of China religion, actively carry forward the excellent Buddhist culture, practice the spirit of Buddhism’s compassion for the world, actively participate in social charity, take the lead in advocating the wind of advocating thrift and abstinence from extravagance, and make positive contributions to serving the society and promoting the healthy inheritance of Buddhism.
On the basis of strictly implementing the epidemic prevention and control work, this activity was held in accordance with the relevant requirements of the Chinese Buddhist Association. Chanyuan Temple also donated RMB 100,000 to the Red Cross Society of Lin ‘an District for social charity. Master Zhi Yan said that in the future, he will give full play to the role of religious representatives, lead the majority of believers to keep up with the pace of the Party, the new era, grasp the new situation, keep in mind the new mission, conscientiously study and implement the spirit of national and provincial and municipal religious work conferences, strengthen self-construction according to the requirements of comprehensive and strict management of religion, correctly interpret canon teachings under the guidance of socialist core values, fully tap the historical and cultural heritage of Chanyuan Temple, and contribute to building a “wuyue Famous City and Happy Lin ‘an”.