In May 2009 in Ji Gong's native land, Celestial Platform (天台) of Zhejiang Province (浙江), China, a tourist discovered that a part of the hill somehow resembled the image of Ji Gong.
Ji Gong was born as Li Xiuyuan. He lived from 1130 to 1207. He became a monk at age of 18 and then was named Daoji. But he was very different from other traditional monks as he drank wine and ate meat and was jovial, humorous, frank and appeared crazy.
Behind this external facade, he was serious and intent to help ordinary people. Many in his time failed to see the saint in him while he was with the monastery.
His fame and exploits to help the many have grown over the centuries.
He lives among men and even prefers the floor to be with men - more so the ordinary men.
To this day, many find it difficult to conceive that someone who drinks and eats meat can be a saint - a living buddha. He demonstrated that what matters is the heart and not what goes through the gut.
His life demonstrates that ordinary men can be enlightened and that what matters is the heart and not what goes through the gut.
