At 12, the Venerable Master was tonsured under Venerable Master Zhi Kai at Qixia Temple, Nanjing, and became the 48th successor of the Linji School. He studied Buddhism at Qixia Vinaya College and was then accepted by Jiaoshan Buddhist College at age 19. It was at Jiaoshan where Venerable Master gradually established his philosophy in Buddhism and aspired to one day establish a newspaper and a college for Buddhism.
Age 15｜Precept Marks: Burnt and Dented Skull
When he received full ordination at 15, during the Incense Mark Burning Ceremony, the Precept Master blew too hard onto the burning incense cones that were placed on his skull. After that, he became very forgetful and very slow at studying. However, he didn’t resent this at all; instead, he prayed to Guanyin Bodhisattva everyday. Gradually, his memory recovered and his mind was even sharper than before. Praying has thus become the Venerable Master’s daily practice.
Age 17｜Half a Bowl of Pickles: At Death's Door
At 17, the Venerable Master contracted malaria and thought he was probably not going to make it. At that emotional moment, Venerable Master Zhi Kai sent someone to deliver half a bowl of pickles to him. Extremely sick and lacking appetite, the pickles tasted especially delicious. Eating it in tears with immense gratitude for Venerable Master’s care, he vowed to do his best to propagate Dharma in return for his Master’s great kindness.
