Hongfa Temple#
I stayed in Shenzhen during the May Day holiday, initially planning to rest at home for a few days, but after a while, I felt a bit restless and decided to go out for a walk. In Shenzhen, aside from shopping malls, there aren't many places to relax. I thought about the Xianhu Botanical Garden, which I hadn't visited yet, and there’s also a Hongfa Temple there. Although I'm not a devout Buddhist, I have a keen interest in visiting various temples. So, I set off.
Entering the Xianhu Botanical Garden requires a ticket, priced at 10 yuan. After entering, I took a shuttle bus up the mountain, which cost another 10 yuan. The queue seemed endless, so I decided to walk up instead.
Hiking up the mountain, the scenery along the way was quite nice, with a refreshing breeze from the distant mountains that reminded me of my hometown; it had the same scent of wind. The entire botanical garden is vast, with exhibition halls scattered in various locations. I wasn't sure where the flower pavilion was, so I walked towards Hongfa Temple, but I didn't see many flowers, which was a bit disappointing.
There were quite a few people who specifically came to visit Hongfa Temple. At the entrance, volunteers offered incense for free, which was nice, so I didn't have to spend any money. However, I didn't take any, just smiled in response. Since I started learning about Buddhism, I haven't worshipped.
This is a Zen temple, and the entire complex is beautiful, with the architecture rising from low to high, layer by layer. The Zen courtyard is lush with greenery, arranged in a pleasing manner, exuding a sense of Zen. It's very suitable for sightseeing and photography.
I looked at the introduction of the temple; the founding master of this Zen temple was Elder Benhuan, who passed away at the age of 106, indicating some level of attainment. The current abbot is Master Shunyin. Previously, when I studied Theravada Buddhism, I read many articles written by a monk named Shunyin. Visiting Hongfa Temple today feels like a special connection.
Many rooms in the temple are blocked off with barriers, not allowing entry. I wonder if it's to prevent damage from the midday sun, as the Buddha statues are covered with netting, while the devotees outside continue to bow. This scene is somewhat peculiar, embodying a sense of "non-attachment."
Every temple has a "connection area," where some Buddhist texts are offered for free. Hongfa Temple is the most generous temple I have ever seen. They displayed dozens of scriptures and general reading materials, along with some amulets and bracelets, truly living up to the name "Hongfa."
These materials are available for free, and if you wish, you can also donate some money, commonly referred to as "joyful giving." My wallet was tight, so I could only express my admiration for this generous Zen temple. I took two books: the "Diamond Sutra" and the "Lotus Sutra." The "Diamond Sutra" is beautifully printed and is a rare fold-out edition, perfect for collection. I haven't read the "Lotus Sutra," so I took this opportunity to read it.
The return journey was already past six in the evening. The subway was packed with people, even more than during the weekday evening rush hour. Since the train's starting station is by the coast, it was already filled with people returning from there. By the time I reached Xianhu Station, each subway train could barely squeeze in one or two more people.
Those already on the train naturally didn't want anyone else to squeeze in. Thus, curses and complaints filled the carriage. Here, the people on the train and those waiting to board could never understand each other.
I felt exhausted and just wanted to get home quickly.
Death Stranding#
After 100 hours, I platinumed "Death Stranding."
In my over twenty years of gaming, "Death Stranding" is one of only two games that made me cry.
The first order in the game is to cremate your mother, and the last order is to cremate your child. Fortunately, the child ultimately survived. Amidst the pouring rain and the witness of a rainbow, death and rebirth continue anew.
"Death Stranding" brought me many feelings; it is a game that truly needs to be felt with the heart. I rarely describe a work as great, but it is no exaggeration to say that this should be included among the foremost works in the ninth art.
No amount of words can fully express my admiration for this work. I should write a separate recommendation for "Death Stranding" later, discussing its uniqueness from the perspectives of music, literature, and film.