Celebrities and Buddhism: Lin Zexu who believes in Buddhism

     名人与佛教：笃信佛教的林则徐 

The vast Buddha Dharma and boundless wisdom are the guiding lights of our life and career!

---Zhuge Changqing

Zhuge Changqing's research found that many outstanding revolutionaries, statesmen and great national heroes believed in Buddhism and practiced it. Because Buddha has boundless wisdom, it can make you understand the true meaning of life, so that you can correctly treat everything in life and deal with every bit of life.

Lin Zexu, an outstanding politician and famous national hero in modern Chinese history. He "has been in charge of 14 provinces and has unified the army of 400000" (he carved his seal in his later years). His meritorious deeds are recorded in the history books, and are admired by future generations. However, few people know that Lin Zexu devoted his life to Buddhism and was a faithful practitioner of Buddhism.

Lin Zexu, with the name of Shaomu, was born in Fujian Hou Guan (now Fuzhou City). In 1785, Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty was born in a poor intellectual family. His father, Lin Binri, made a living by teaching a private school. Since childhood, he has followed his father to study Confucian classics such as the Four Books and Five Classics in the private school. He is extremely intelligent and studious. He can write eight-part essay at the age of seven and take part in the government examination at the age of twelve. His father, because he is young, let him ride on his shoulder and send him into the examination room. When the examiner saw it, he smiled and said to him, "The son will make the father a horse.". He replied, "Father wants his son to be a Jackie Chan.". The examiner praised him for his quick thinking and unusual speech. The result of the exam was the first place for the scholar. At the age of 19, the candidate was selected. In order to earn a living, he studied and taught at the same time, and once worked as a secretary in Xiamen Coastal Defense Tongzhi Yamen (similar to customs). At the age of 25, he passed the exam.

When Lin Zexu entered the official career in his early years, he was destined to hear the Buddha Dharma, that is, he believed deeply in it, wrote a small book of scriptures and mantras, and carried them with him. Although the government affairs were cumbersome, he insisted on reciting lessons, acted sincerely, and remained unchanged throughout his life. In his twenties, he was recommended to work in the Fujian Governor's Yamen Shogunate (similar to secretarial work) for four years. At that time, Zhang Shicheng, named Lanzhu, who was governor, was a Buddhist monk who advocated the Pure Land Dharma and had good understanding and practice. He has compiled the book "Path in the Path and Path in the Path", which contains the incisive treatises on the Pure Land Sect. It is edited according to the letter, wish and line. It is concise and concise. It has been handed down to this day and is regarded as the best reading of the Pure Land Sect. The founder of Jingzong, Master Yinguang, spoke highly of this book, saying: "For example, the book" Path through Path ", which collects the main points of various schools and classifies them into categories, so that readers can study and read without effort, and go straight to the Pure Land Pottery. It is of great benefit to the beginners." ("Master Yinguang's Banknote" is a copy of Zhang Yunlei's Book II) Lin Zexu worked with Zhang Shicheng for four years, and was highly valued by Zhang, and was also taught and influenced by Zhang in the study of Buddhism. At that time, Lin Zexu immediately set out to write five kinds of mantras, including the Amitabha Sutra, in small regular script (according to the enlarged photocopy when Shanghai Buddhist Publishing House republished it), and carried them with him for life. In February 1998, Shanghai Buddhist Publishing House republished the book "The Curse of the Sun in Lin Wenzhong's Handwritten Script", which included the postscript written by Lin Daren, the great-grandson of Lin Zexu, in June 1933, He said, "At an early age, Duke Wen Zhong was known in writing by the middle minister of Zhang Lanzhu (the middle minister is the honorific name for the governor), and then assisted his shogunate. When he was in a hurry, he managed to deal with the heavy tasks. He used his pen for thousands of words, his spirit was attentive, and he was not lax, and Zhang Gongtan was a wonder. The age when Duke Wen Zhong wrote the scripture, that is, the age when Duke Zhang Bingjie (referring to Zhang as the governor in Fujian) At that time. At that time, the details of incense and fire could not be heard. After the chaos, this book is the only one left, but it also shows that it lives in the pure land of its heart, and its actions are infinite, which is very unusual. Dharma Master Yinguang often said, 'If you want to gain the benefits of Buddhism, you must seek from respect.' Respecting means blessing, and slow means getting blamed. When I recite these words, I often feel awe-inspiring. Nearby people often write scriptures in broken characters or in cursive style. Many of the ancient codes of Coyette are not consistent. Looking at this book today, the writing is very strict and there is no lack of negligence. Without respect, Hog Kezhen is here. However, the spread of hand-waters is sufficient for the later generations to learn. It is not easy to deal with the dust and labor, but to have constant lessons every day; It should also be treated with sincerity and respect, and without or scorn, then it is necessary to be silent and able to feel. Here, we can know what we can do without asking our hearts! "

Then look at the statement of the eminent monk, Master Yinguang: "... One day, Duke Wen Zhong (referring to Lin Zexu), Zeng Sun Xiang (Lin Xiang, who was the former president of the Supreme Court of the National Government), was given by the word Bi. The text of the Buddhist books (folded binding) of the mantras of the Sutras of the Amitabha, Vajra, Heart Sutra, Great Compassion, and Past Life written by the public is shown. The volume (i.e. the cover) is titled" Pure Land Resources and Grain ", and the box is titled" Xingyu Daily Class " 。 I am fully aware that the public secretly cultivates the Pure Land Dharma, and though he goes in and out, he still refuses to abandon it. In order to prepare for the chanting of Xingyu (sedan chair), the sutra is only four inches long and three inches wide. His words are respectful and precise. It shows that he is respectful and sincere, and dare not touch on negligence. " (See "Continuation of the Jiayan Record of the Indian Light Master", page 6)

From the above, it can be seen that Lin Zexu was influenced by Buddhism in his youth and believed in practice, which laid a deep ideological foundation for his lifelong adherence to the principle of "not seeking peace and happiness for himself, but hope that all living beings will be free from suffering". He tried to write a couplet as his motto. The first is: "The sea embraces all rivers, and the capacity is great; the wall stands on a thousand feet, and no desire is hard." The first is: "The country's life and death have been pursued; it is not because of disaster or fortune." Therefore, he was able to burn the opium of the imperialist invaders without fear of being convicted and beheaded, regardless of threats and inducements, which is the manifestation of his majestic and fearless spirit. During the exile period, he put aside his personal honor and disgrace, devoted himself to the farmland water conservancy work in Xinjiang, organized the reclamation of nearly one million mu of wasteland, and put forward the "Kanjing" plan to solve the water conservancy problem in the desert. That is to dig deep wells, and then connect the well water with underground water channels to form an irrigation network to avoid the sun exposure and sand infiltration. At that time, people called it "Lin Gongjing", which still benefits the oasis in the desert. We should truly achieve the goal of "pursuing altruism in the spirit of being selfless". As the master of Indian Light said: "Take a detailed look at the ancient times of great loyalty and filial piety, building great achievements, and establishing great cause. At that time, the virtue of later generations was blocked by the vast air, and those who were loyal to the sun and the moon were all derived from the power of learning Buddha.... Duke Lin Wenzhong was Xu, whose knowledge, ambition, and loyalty were only seen in the previous generation of the Qing Dynasty. Although the political affairs were complicated and lengthy, the practice of pure cause was not interrupted. To learn Buddhism is the basis of learning, ambition, and loyalty. This is already achieved, but it is appropriate and appropriate. This ancient great People are higher than their peers. " (See "The Continuation of Jiayan Record of Master Yinguang", page 6)

Buddha believes that benefiting others is good, and benefiting others at the expense of others is great good. Lin Zexu ignored the dismissal and exile, but made immortal contributions to the country and nation. Not only is it deeply loved and respected by the people, but even in the Wax Museum in London, Britain, the wax statue of Lin Zexu still stands tall, reflecting the public opinion of history. At the same time, it should also be pointed out that the cause and effect link the three generations. As the Book of Changes says, "A family of good deeds must have Yuqing." The examples of this kind of induction contained in the "History of Induction" are true. Take Lin Zexu for example. His descendants have multiplied and talents have emerged in large numbers. Up to now, there are more than 300 people all over the world. (See the Yangtze Evening News on June 18, 1997) Among them, the more famous ones are Lin Xiang, who was the former president of the Supreme Court of the National Government, and Ling Qing, who was the chief representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations (Ling Qing, formerly known as Lin Moqing, was the fifth grandson of Duke Lin, and changed his name when he took part in the revolution in the 1930s.). On the eve of Hong Kong's return, he wrote a seven-jue poem entitled "Celebrating the return and remembering the ancestors", As the poem said, "destructed opium in Guangdong has raised our prestige, but Hong Kong Island is a sad place to be. The national humiliation and family feud are snowing today, because China has taken off.".

Taking a comprehensive view of Lin Zexu's life, it highlights the dauntless spirit of "selflessness and altruism". Just as the comment of Master Yinguang, "those who are powerful and loyal to the sun and the moon are all from learning Buddhism", Xun is not empty.

     佛法广大，智慧无边，是我们人生和事业的指路明灯！

                       ---诸葛长青

    诸葛长青研究发现，古往今来许多杰出的革命家、政治家和伟大的民族英雄，大多都信奉佛教，实践佛教。因为佛法有无边的智慧，可以让你认清生命的真谛，从而让你能正确对待生命中的一切，正确处理好生命中的点点滴滴。

   中国近代历史上杰出的政治家和著名的民族英雄林则徐。他“历官十四省，统兵四十万”（他晚年自刻印章语）。他的功勋业迹载于史册，被后世万代所敬仰。但很少有人知道林则徐一生虔心奉佛，是佛法的忠实履践者。
   林则徐，字少穆，福建侯官（今福州市）人。清高宗乾隆五十年（1785年），出生于一个清贫的知识分子家庭。父亲林宾日以教私塾维生，他自幼即跟随父亲在私塾学习四书五经等儒家经典。他聪颖异常，勤奋好学，七岁即能作八股文，十二岁参加府试，父亲因其年幼，让他骑在自己肩上送进考场。主考官看见，笑着对他说：“子将父作马”。他应声答道：“父望子成龙”。主考官对他才思敏捷，出语不凡，颇为赞赏。考试结果，以第一名中秀才。十九岁考取举人。为了谋生，一面学习，一面教书，并曾在厦门海防同知衙门（类似海关）任司书工作。二十五岁考中进士。
   林则徐早年进入仕途，有缘得闻佛法，即深信不疑，亲书小册经咒，随身携带，虽政务繁冗，坚持课诵，行持诚笃，终生不变。二十余岁时，经人推荐在福建巡抚衙门幕府工作（相似秘书工作）四年。当时任巡抚的张师诚，号兰渚，是一位提倡净土法门、解行俱佳的佛教居士。曾编著《径中径又径》一书，选录有关净宗精辟论述，按信、愿、行分类编辑，简明切要，流传至今，被视为净土宗一本最佳的读物。净宗祖师印光大师，对此书评价颇高，说：“如《径中径又径》一书，采辑诸家要义，分门别类，令阅者不费研究翻阅之力，直趋净土壶奥。于初机人，大有利益。”（《印光大师文钞》复张云雷居士书二）林则徐随张师诚工作四年，深受张的器重，在学佛方面也受张的教导和影响。当时林则徐即发心用蝇头小楷（按：上海佛学书局再版时，系放大影印。）书写《阿弥陀经》等五种经咒，随身携带，终生受持。1998年2月，上海佛学书局再版的《林文忠公手书经咒日课》一书，附录林则徐的曾孙林大任于1933年6月所书跋语，说：“先文忠公早岁以文字受知于张兰渚中丞（中丞为对巡抚的尊称），遂佐其幕府。尝以急促之时，治繁重之务，振笔累千言，精神贯注，略无疏懈，张公叹为奇才。文公忠写经之岁，即张公秉节吾闽（指张在福建任巡抚）之时。当时香火因缘，其详不可得闻矣。丧乱之后，仅存此册，然亦足见其栖心净土，行持无间，迥异寻常者矣。印光法师常谓：‘欲得佛法实益，须向恭敬中求。’敬则致福，慢则获咎。余每诵斯言，辄凛然生寅畏之念。近人写经，往往多破体字，或间以行草。揆诸古德规范，殊多未合。今观此册，笔意矜严，无少怠忽。非恭敬之至，曷克臻此。然则，手泽流传，足为后世法者，岂惟日有恒课，处尘劳而不易；又当将之以诚敬，而无或亵慢，则寂而能感，理有必然。吾侪于此，可不反求诸心而知所勉欤！”
   再看高僧印光大师的一段叙述：“……一日，文忠公（指林则徐）曾孙翔（林翔，曾任原国民政府最高法院院长。），字璧予者。以公亲书之《弥陀》、《金刚》、《心经》、《大悲》、《往生》各经咒之梵册（折叠式装祯）课本见示。其卷面（即封面）题曰：《净土资粮》，其匣面题曰：《行舆日课》。足知公潜修净土法门，虽出入往还，犹不肯废。为备行舆（行舆即轿子）持诵，故其经本只四寸多长，三寸多宽。其字恭楷，一笔不苟。足见其恭敬至诚，不敢稍涉疏忽也。”（见《印光法师嘉言录续编》，第6页）
  从上所述，可知林则徐青年时期，受佛法熏陶，并深信力行，奠定他终生坚持以“不为自己求安乐，但愿众生得离苦”为做人作事准则的深厚思想基础。他尝撰联语为座右铭，一为：“海纳百川，有容乃大；壁立千仞，无欲则刚。”一为：“苟利国家生死已；岂因祸福避趋之。”所以，他当年能不顾威胁利诱，不怕判罪杀头，毅然焚烧帝国主义侵略者的鸦片，正是他这种正气凛然的大无畏精神的表现。在流放期间，把个人荣辱得失置之度外，一心扑在新疆地区农田水利工作上，组织开垦荒地近百万亩，提出解决沙漠中水利问题的“坎井”计划。即挖掘深井，再用地下水渠连接井水，形成灌溉网，以避烈日曝晒和沙层渗透。当时人民称之为“林公井”，至今仍惠泽着沙漠中的绿洲。真正做到“以出世无我精神，办入世利他事业”。正如印光大师所说：“详观古之大忠大孝，建大功，立大业，道济当时，德被后世，浩气塞天地，精忠贯日月者，皆由学佛得力而来。……林文忠公则徐，其学问、知识、志节、忠义，为前清一代所仅见。虽政事繁冗，而修持净业，不稍间断。以学佛乃学问、志节、忠义之根本。此本既得，则泛应曲当，举措咸宜。此古大人高出流辈之所由来也。”（见《印光大师嘉言录续编》，第6页）
   佛法认为，利人是善，损己利人是大善。林则徐不顾罢官流放，却为国家民族立下不朽功业。不仅深受人民的爱戴崇敬，甚至在英国伦敦蜡像馆中，仍巍然屹立着林则徐的蜡像，正反映历史的公论。同时，还须指出，因果贯通三世，《周易》所云：“积善之家，必有余庆。”《历史感应统纪》所载此类感应事例，真实不虚。就拿林则徐说，其子孙繁衍，人才辈出，直到今天遍布世界各地的还有300余人。（见1997年6月18日，《扬子晚报》）其中较知名的如曾任原国民政府最高法院院长的林翔，曾任中华人民共和国驻联合国首席代表的凌青（凌青，原名林墨卿，为林公第五代孙，三十年代参加革命时更名。），香港回归前夕，他写一首题为“庆祝回归，缅怀高祖”的七绝，诗曰：“粤海销烟扬我威，但悲港岛易英徽；国耻家仇今日雪，只缘华夏已腾飞。”（见1997年7月11日，《四川省政协报》。）足证泽被子孙，因果不虚。
   综观林则徐一生，突出体现“忘我利他”的大无畏精神。正如印光大师的评论，其“浩气塞天地，精忠贯日月者，皆由学佛得力而来”，洵非虚语。

 (This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

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