Master Jingtian

Master Jingtian was originally from Ankang, Shaanxi. He became a monk at the age of twelve and received his ordination at eighteen. He initially studied Yogacara (the school of consciousness-only) under Master Miaokuo at the Xingjiao Temple in Chang’an, and later studied Vajrayana under Master Nenghai at Mount Wutai. He lived twice for twenty years at Zhongnan Mountain, where he paid respects to temples across more than ten provinces in China and several foreign countries, visiting over a hundred famous mountains and large temples. He helped restore and establish more than ten large and small temples in Sichuan and Shaanxi. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to teaching and spreading the Dharma. He held several prominent positions, including being a director of the Chinese Buddhist Association, vice president of the Shaanxi Buddhist Association, honorary vice president of the Sichuan Buddhist Association, and honorary president of the Jiangyou Buddhist Association. He also served as the abbot of more than ten temples, including Daming Temple, Foguang Temple, and Xichan Temple, as well as the chief monk of important temples such as Famen Temple, Donglin Temple, Wolong Temple, Guangxiao Temple, and Hongfa Temple.

On the afternoon of May 27, 2004, while escorting the Buddha’s relics to Hong Kong, Master Jingtian returned to Shenzhen Hongfa Temple, where he showed signs of illness and passed away peacefully at 12:15 a.m. on May 28, at the age of 80.

On May 30, Master Jingtian’s body was taken to Nanhua Temple for a memorial service, and preparations for cremation were made three days later.

On the 12th, when Master Jingtian’s body was being moved down the mountain, at precisely 6:00 p.m., a brilliant light shone in the sky above the Main Hall. A clear white lotus appeared in the sky, with Master Jingtian sitting in the lotus, glowing with blue light. A column of light pierced through the sky and the earth, flanked by two green lights resembling flying saucers, which hovered back and forth for about half an hour. At the same time, while the funeral procession was on the highway at exactly 6:00 p.m., those in the procession saw another miraculous scene: in the distance, the Western Pure Land appeared, with the sky turning golden. There were nine-tiered lotus platforms, eight types of sacred water, precious trees, and golden pavements…

Master Jingtian’s life can be summarized as follows:

1. Meticulous and Disciplined, Cherishing Life and Protecting Beings
   Those who interacted with Master Jingtian could clearly feel his meticulousness and his attitude of cherishing life. For example, when washing his face, he wouldn’t use too much water, just enough to dampen his face. He would rarely use a towel to scrub, only using it to dry his face, to save the towel from excessive wear. He would also eat the tea leaves after finishing his tea, as he didn’t want to waste any food or drink.
2. Practicing What He Preached, Spreading the Dharma
   Master Jingtian became a monk at twelve and received his ordination at eighteen. During the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to work in the countryside, enduring hardships, yet his faith grew stronger. Even under the threat of imprisonment, he continued to spread the Dharma and helped thousands of people. In the 1980s, when the religious policies were implemented, Buddhism was reviving, and Master Jingtian worked hard to restore and establish several temples. He dedicated himself entirely to revitalizing Buddhist places of worship, working tirelessly for the future flourishing of Buddhism and to provide a foundation of merit and blessings for the people.
3. Diligent in Practice, Aspiring to Help All Beings
   The late Master Jingyi, president of the Shaanxi Buddhist Association, once said, “There are many who are more fortunate, have higher status, and possess better cultural knowledge than Master Jingtian, but few possess his great compassion for helping beings, his diligent and vigorous practice, and his commitment to saving all sentient beings.”
   Master Jingtian practiced diligently throughout his life and made it his life’s mission to help others. Before his passing, he predicted the time of his death and repeatedly bade farewell to his followers. After his passing, many miraculous signs appeared, which were regarded as miracles. Even though he had passed away, his commitment to inspiring future generations remained. His aspirations to help others will ensure that he will return to help beings again in the future.

Source: Internet

Anecdotes of the Venerable Master Jingtian

Master Jingtian, from Ankang, Shaanxi. He became a monk at the age of 12, practiced austerities, and despite enduring great hardships, he showed compassion and helped others without wavering from his path.

In the winter of 1950, when Master Jingtian was 27 years old, he was giving a Dharma talk in Qian County, Shaanxi, when he was framed by others. On such a cold day, he was stripped of his clothes, his hands and feet bound behind his back, and hung upside down on a utility pole for a whole day and night. If it had been anyone else, they would have either been killed by hanging or frozen to death, but under the protection of the Buddha, Master Jingtian survived. The next morning, everyone thought the monk was dead, but when they approached, they saw he still had a breath. They were astonished and hurriedly brought him down. Although he was alive, he coughed up blood continuously. After receiving medical care, he slowly recovered, but he was left with a chronic cough, especially worsening in winter, which persisted for decades.

In 1988, the Venerable Master was invited to Chengdu, Sichuan, where he met Master Jingtian, who had been residing there since 1983. The two hit it off and talked happily for an hour or two. During the conversation, the Venerable Master noticed that Master Jingtian kept coughing and asked him, “Why do you keep coughing?”

Master Jingtian sighed and explained the reason, saying that he had been suffering from it for decades with no solution. The Venerable Master smiled and said, “What do you mean there’s no solution? If you stop coughing, then you’ll be fine! Have you forgotten? ‘The Buddha is the supreme great healer!'”

Master Jingtian immediately exclaimed, “Yes, yes, yes!” He stopped coughing, and the Venerable Master laughed, “See? You’re not coughing anymore.”

Master Jingtian was overjoyed and said, “I stopped coughing, I stopped coughing! I saw my fellow villagers, and I was so happy I forgot all about the cough, and now it’s completely gone!”

The Venerable Master, hearing the mention of “fellow villagers,” was also very pleased and said, “Ah! Right, originally we were ‘fellow villagers,’ so now we are ‘fellow villagers,’ and in the future, we will still be ‘fellow villagers.'”

When Master Jingtian heard these words, he was first stunned, then, upon looking at the Venerable Master, he suddenly understood the Zen teaching. Both of them smiled knowingly. After that, Master Jingtian’s cough was completely healed and never returned.

Not long later, five individuals, who had previously studied under the Venerable Master, came from outside to see him. They expressed their desire to become monks and asked the Venerable Master to recommend a capable master for their practice, stating that they were now determined to ordain. Yhe Venerable Master looked at them and understood that they were acting on a whim and not with true sincerity. He knew they weren’t ready for the Dharma path, so he did not agree. Instead, he advised them that one did not need to become a monk to learn Buddhism; practicing at home, doing good deeds and benefiting others, was just as valuable. Becoming a monk requires serious dedication, not just a fleeting desire.

However, the five individuals did not listen to the Venerable Master’s advice. They were determined to become monks and swore an oath to the heavens: “In this life, we will not become monks, we swear we will never be human again.” Seeing their stubbornness, the Venerable Master said, “Alright, if you are truly determined, go find Master Jingtian. He is the right master, and you can learn from him if you want to ordain.” The five were very happy and full of confidence as they went to seek ordination from Master Jingtian.

However, less than a month later, the five returned, disillusioned and complaining bitterly about Master Jingtian. They said he was an incompetent teacher who could not give Dharma talks properly, lacked understanding of human nature, spoke harshly, and often scolded them. They were disappointed and confused as to how such a master could have any accomplishments.

When they came to the Venerable Master and voiced their complaints, the Venerable Master advised them not to speak ill of Master Jingtian. The Venerable Master reminded them that if they were unwilling to learn, they could leave without spreading bad words about the teacher. “If you can’t recognize a true master, then go your way. But be careful—if you speak badly of a true master, you will have to face the consequences of your actions.”

The five individuals wandered from place to place, visiting temples but still lost and uncertain. Over a decade later, in April 2004, Master Jingtian passed away. A miraculous sign appeared in the sky—a massive and brilliant pillar of light pierced the heavens and earth, lasting for more than ten minutes. The sky was filled with auspicious signs that were miraculous and unimaginable, revealing the Buddha’s great achievement. The world was astonished, and only then did people realize that a great Bodhisattva had left the physical world. It was a deeply regrettable loss.

Upon hearing of Master Jingtian’s passing, the five individuals who had previously left him, now full of regret, realized their mistake. They had broken their vow and severed their connection with the Dharma, and could no longer blame anyone else for their misfortune.

Later, these five individuals continued to wander from place to place, seeking temples but without any clear path. Because they had broken their vow, they fell into the animal realm and their next lives would be difficult to achieve human form. This was their fate, as they had strayed from their vow and ignored the Dharma.

By Yao