No 272 of Living Life Series 1
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| Ji Gong the Living Buddha |
Who is Ji Kong 濟公?
Ji Kong Buddha 濟公活佛, is also known as DaoJi 道濟禪師. In Chinese, 'Ji 濟' means ---- to Relieve and to assist. 'Kong 公' means--- Fair or Impartial. In short, the name Ji Kong 濟公 means "To benefit the public in a fair way 濟世救人,公心不變".
Ji Kong Buddha was originally a celestial saint in Paradise 理天火精子. Steep in loving compassion, he reincarnated during the times of war.
Ji Kong (1130~1207) was born and grew up in Tiantai Mountains. His name was Li Xiuyuan 李修緣. His father was a former military advisor, Li Maochun. His parents could not have children and entered a temple to seek blessings for a child. Upon reaching the Shrine Hall of Five Hundred Arahats, the statue of Mahakasyapa fell off its lotus base. This was taken on himdsight to indicate that an arahat had descended to the earth. He was conceived thereafter.
His family was rich and well connected. However, in the turbulent war background, his parents passed away. He was only age 18 and to worsen matters, the family property was lost. Dejected and uprooted, he became queer, and roamed the land from Tiantai to Linan in Zheqiang.
Finally, he became a monk at the then Ling Yin Temple and was ordained as Daoji. Thus secluded, he focused his mind on spiritual development. He was determined to serve humanity and went about to lighten the burdens of living for the common man.
Finally, he became a monk at the then Ling Yin Temple and was ordained as Daoji. Thus secluded, he focused his mind on spiritual development. He was determined to serve humanity and went about to lighten the burdens of living for the common man.
On the flip side however, he was still noted for his wayward behavior and often broke the Vinaya - the rules of conduct of the order of monks. He openly ate meat and drank wine. He frolicked with monkeys at the hillside. He sang songs with children in wine-shops. He is always dressed like a beggar wearing worn clothes, hat, shoes and always with a fan in one hand and a gourd containing wine in the other. But appearance is deceptive for he was kind hearted and was always dead serious and ready to lend a helping hand to ordinary people.
The monks in the monastery where he was ordained were at wits end and tried time and again to make him toe the line but they could not succeed and had to ask him to leave the monastery to be on his own.
From that point onwards, he became a wanderer and where ever he arrived at, he helped people whenever he could especially those who were victimised and condemned. He championed the woes of the common men especially those who were considered outcasts and condemned by others. Soon, steep with the practice of the Amitabha Buddha's way, he attained sainthood and made use of his sainthood abilities to help the unfortunate and the down-trodden. He would help those whom others felt are beyond help and in ways that were not the norms.
He was eccentric and non-conformist but had a pure heart and mind of a saint. He was even nicknamed the eccentric or crazy monk. Many think that he must have his own reason to behave as “Crazy Ji”. Many who noted his eccentric yet benevolent and kind nature were of the popular opinion that he was an incarnate of a past posat or arahat.
One of the many legends has it that in his past lives, while cultivating in the Buddha’s teaching, Ji Kong was said to be a reincarnate of arahat with magic powers. He chose to be a holy fool who portrayed crazy eccentricity to provide a cover for his real identity as the incarnate of the Taming Dragon Arahat (Xiang Long Luo Han, 降龙罗汉) -- one of the eighteen legendary arahats. Thus he could complete the task set out by Amitabha Buddha for him to find the escaped Da Peng Bird (大鹏鸟).
When he passed on at the Jing Ci monastery on the 14th day of 5th lunar month (17 June 1207) from complication of measles, Taoists and later Buddhists revered Daoji as a deity or saint from Heaven. Followers of I Kuan Tao even believed he was later reincarnated as Zhang Tianran the founder of the I-Kuan Tao.
Ji Kong as he is better known is usually portrayed as jovial, smiling and in beggar-like tattered grey robes. He is portrayed with a bottle of wine in his right hand, and a torn fan in his left hand. He is adorned with a hat with the Chinese character Buddha佛. He may also be seen holding his shoes in his right hand. He is cheerful and smiling and carefree but yet he has tendency to be blunt and abrupt.
He is "Ji Kong" the Living Buddha to many of his admirers. It was his pleasure in defending people against injustice. He was keen in rewarding virtue and correcting vice. He gave alms to the poor. Before and after his passing-on, there were many occult sightings and accounts of him going round the holy Tiantai Mountains in Zhejiang Province. That is perhaps the reason why he is the Living Buddha. In a sense, he never passed on from the human realm. Up till today, he prefers to be on earth with men than to be in Heaven with the gods and saints.
Is this not in a way an example of resurrection? He continues to be present amongst men and prefers the floor amongst earthlings and spirits rather than be on his high seat in Heaven before the Jade Emperor. He is alive amongst humans though not in flesh. He is truly befitting status of the Living Buddha.
It is said in the scriptures that Ji Gong Living Buddha is well known for purity and perfection of four virtues. He is just, merciful, kind and selfless. He gives blessings and offers help to all sentient beings.
Commonly known as Ji Gong, he goes by many names. Ji Gong Huo Fuo, Daoji, Rinpoche Ji Gong, Master Ji, Li Xiuyuan, Hu Yin (Recluse from the Lake) and Elder Fang Yuan (Square Circle)
Followers celebrate his anniversary on the 20th day of the fourth lunar month.
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Ji Kong is most often quoted as saying thus -「酒肉穿肠过，佛在心中留」"What matters is the state of one’s heart (mind), and not what passes through one's gut."
His drinking and meat-eating (even of dog meat) were considered no-no in Buddhism. This has resulted in his being regarded as an unconventional but kind and eccentric monk in religious and cultural folklore. He is able to attain sainthood in a way not typical of what are the norms of mainstream religions and sects.
He is in a way an example of a freethinker. He practised the core values underpinning the way of Amitabha but not what others would do. He practised from the heart and not from the gut. He made good to the zenith of divinity. He was not part of any religion or sect and was in fact excommunicated from a Buddhist temple for his eccentric ways.
He was able to become a saint to help many irrespective of their faith or spiritual inclination. He is the best example of someone who is still able to see and practice that one same Inner Truth behind all religions despite being outside the confines of spiritual institutions.
To put it in another perspective, he chose not to go by the standard forms but chose his own form or free style to practice the substance. He went for the substance and freed himself from the limitations of the form of religiosity.
Thus his followers and admirers belong to the various sects and religions of the world and include those who belong to none. They are not ''JiKongists" but include free thinkers and existing adherents of various faiths. Who says we cannot be saved if we do not be followers of one of the many sects and religions in this world?
This is the Inner Truth connection behind Ji Kong.
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Before and after his death, there were many occult sightings and accounts of him going
round the holy Tiantai Mountains in Zhejiang Province. That is perhaps the reason why he is the Living Buddha. |
