Ling Jiou Mountain Monastics Visit Alishan to Experience Spiritual Ecology
‘Spiritual Ecology’ is more than just an idea or a slogan. It’s rather a practice that requires action-taking and it ought to be something you experience day in and day out. Led by Professor CHEN Yueh-fong, a reputable authority on Taiwan’s natural environment and its conservation, in-residence masters of the Ling Jiou Mountain (LJM) Buddhist Society paid a group visit to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area to experience ‘Calling on Ecology’ for an in-depth understanding of the overall concept of ‘Spiritual Ecology’ initiated by Dharma Master Hsin Tao, Founding Abbot of LJM. With expert guidance in Nature for the monastics to experience the direct encounter, the group visit had been designed to create a trigger mechanism to facilitate appreciation of linking theory and real life.
The visitors arrived in the afternoon of May 13, 2024, and gathered around the Dhao-ping railway Station of Alishan (Ali Mountain) for a joyous rendezvous with Professor Chen. Right there and then, Professor Chen offered a quick walk-through of geographical facts on Taiwan in general, and on Ali Mountain in particular. Chen has a reputation for being a smart and amicable presenter, and soon after his introductory remarks, he led the group into the natural setting.
Along the trail, the group was greeted by red junipers that seemed to be everywhere. It was explained that red junipers and Taiwan cypress trees belong to the cypress family and form mixed forests at mid-to-high altitudes in Taiwan. Professor Chen made a stop for hands-on by using nearby red junipers as a teaching aid. From the tree trunk, and bark, to the leaves, group members were to touch, feel, observe, and smell to imprint the direct encounter in memory. As such, they practically planted a tree in their hearts and minds.
Verdant is the color of the plants and trees along the trail running parallel to the railway, including foxgloves swaying in the wind, plantains standing upright beside the railway track, and polygonums with peculiar leaves. The monastics were new to it all and full of curiosity. They had many questions while they were busy taking pictures. Professor Chen offered detailed explanations of the plants, academically and in plain, daily terms. At the same time, he called out to everyone’s attention that ‘all phenomena await your direct observation because what others say is worthy of farm produces gone bad like dross.’
In the evening class of the same day, Professor Chen shared in depth the history of Ali Mountain in juxtaposition with Taiwan’s geological changes. Meanwhile, he also shed light on the Da Ta Ｍountain and its parent mountain range scheduled for the following day. While the group took in fascinating stories one after the other, people learned about how Taiwan’s plane field used to witness snowy days, and how plants gradually ‘migrated’ their natural habitat to best adapt to climate change. It was almost as if the plants vied one another against time for their proper spots for survival and growth. During the course, Professor Chen also shared quite a few beautiful scenes of Taiwan, from meteorology to geology, and the pictures speak volumes to impress the monastics. And, impressed were the monastics indeed.
Nature is a collective oneness of interconnected and interdependent components, whereby the humankind dimension has become indispensable. How to comprehend and appreciate ecology by way of spirituality was a part of the expectations of the group visit to Ali Mountain. Professor Chen commented that he has adhered to the two entry methods of ‘entry per understanding’ and ‘entry per action-taking’ as laid out in Bohdiharma’s ideology of ‘Two Methods of Entering the Truth, and the Four Methods of Practices’. ‘Entering the Truth’ calls for cognitive insight, whereas ‘Entering the Practices’ is self-explanatory and both are necessary to achieve enlightenment through relentless monastic practices.
Early the next morning in the chilly and moist wind in the mountains, LJM masters followed Professor Chen on the trail to the Da Ta Mountain. There are huge and tall trees everywhere in Ali Mountain, and Professor Chen explained to the group how best to gauge their ages. The monastics are familiar with Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s idea of Spiritual Ecology and they took the opportunity to get close to Nature by hugging the trees or just touching the tree trunks as a way of communication to express how the commonality of a shared spirituality was genuinely appreciated both in respect and in awe. It was felt that a cosmic energy filled their bodies, minds, and souls.
The pleasantly surprising foxgloves impressed the monastics and they seemed everywhere throughout the woods where the group was. Professor Chen explained that foxglove contains toxic glycosides, which can be applied as a cardiotonic in the appropriate dosage but are lethal when used excessively. The reflection and lesson from the professor’s comment boils down to the realization that the principle of the Golden Middle applies to most cases in life, as neither too much nor too little would do.
From the entry point of the passageway into the mountain, steps of varying heights make up flights that lead up to the mountaintop, and the scenes change along the way: at times in the woods’ thickets with the moist wind threatening to become dripping wet, and other times in the clearings with sunbeams shining through to yank up the temperature abruptly. LJM masters got to feel and experience different land- and mountainscapes as Nature displays itself randomly in the eyes of the beholder. The monastics were surprised at how the next generation of woods began to form and how moss and trees existed in their co-habitat. Birds were heard off and on, their chirping and singing were melodic to the ears. The visitors’ senses were thus exposed to natural cleansing to help get rid of the hustles and bustles of the mundane world and afford the comfort of homecoming.
Misty, chalk-white swirling clouds surrounded the mountaintop when the visitors reached the destination, thus blocking the view of Jade Mountain and its surrounding peaks. It then dawned on the monastics that no sighting does not equal non-existent, just like the invisible Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and our spirituality - as these are all omnipresent at all times. Thinking back to what Professor Chen said earlier about forestation planning: ‘It was not to manifest man’s will, but to look after the common good for all sentient beings.’ that notion echoed what the group experienced in person while ascending to the mountaintop, interacting alternatively and amiably with the woods, the clouds, the sunshine, the bird songs, etc. These, in turn, correspond well with Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s philosophy of ‘Respect for the Value of Existence,Tolerance of Living Environment,Love in Giving What Is Needed.’ The visit to Ali Mountain facilitated insight into the wisdom of Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s teachings while soaking in the natural surroundings for constant reminders of our awakened awareness of respect for others and inclusion for peaceful coexistence to render possible harmonious sustainability.
The visitors arrived in the afternoon of May 13, 2024, and gathered around the Dhao-ping railway Station of Alishan (Ali Mountain) for a joyous rendezvous with Professor Chen. Right there and then, Professor Chen offered a quick walk-through of geographical facts on Taiwan in general, and on Ali Mountain in particular. Chen has a reputation for being a smart and amicable presenter, and soon after his introductory remarks, he led the group into the natural setting.
Along the trail, the group was greeted by red junipers that seemed to be everywhere. It was explained that red junipers and Taiwan cypress trees belong to the cypress family and form mixed forests at mid-to-high altitudes in Taiwan. Professor Chen made a stop for hands-on by using nearby red junipers as a teaching aid. From the tree trunk, and bark, to the leaves, group members were to touch, feel, observe, and smell to imprint the direct encounter in memory. As such, they practically planted a tree in their hearts and minds.
Verdant is the color of the plants and trees along the trail running parallel to the railway, including foxgloves swaying in the wind, plantains standing upright beside the railway track, and polygonums with peculiar leaves. The monastics were new to it all and full of curiosity. They had many questions while they were busy taking pictures. Professor Chen offered detailed explanations of the plants, academically and in plain, daily terms. At the same time, he called out to everyone’s attention that ‘all phenomena await your direct observation because what others say is worthy of farm produces gone bad like dross.’
In the evening class of the same day, Professor Chen shared in depth the history of Ali Mountain in juxtaposition with Taiwan’s geological changes. Meanwhile, he also shed light on the Da Ta Ｍountain and its parent mountain range scheduled for the following day. While the group took in fascinating stories one after the other, people learned about how Taiwan’s plane field used to witness snowy days, and how plants gradually ‘migrated’ their natural habitat to best adapt to climate change. It was almost as if the plants vied one another against time for their proper spots for survival and growth. During the course, Professor Chen also shared quite a few beautiful scenes of Taiwan, from meteorology to geology, and the pictures speak volumes to impress the monastics. And, impressed were the monastics indeed.
Nature is a collective oneness of interconnected and interdependent components, whereby the humankind dimension has become indispensable. How to comprehend and appreciate ecology by way of spirituality was a part of the expectations of the group visit to Ali Mountain. Professor Chen commented that he has adhered to the two entry methods of ‘entry per understanding’ and ‘entry per action-taking’ as laid out in Bohdiharma’s ideology of ‘Two Methods of Entering the Truth, and the Four Methods of Practices’. ‘Entering the Truth’ calls for cognitive insight, whereas ‘Entering the Practices’ is self-explanatory and both are necessary to achieve enlightenment through relentless monastic practices.
Early the next morning in the chilly and moist wind in the mountains, LJM masters followed Professor Chen on the trail to the Da Ta Mountain. There are huge and tall trees everywhere in Ali Mountain, and Professor Chen explained to the group how best to gauge their ages. The monastics are familiar with Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s idea of Spiritual Ecology and they took the opportunity to get close to Nature by hugging the trees or just touching the tree trunks as a way of communication to express how the commonality of a shared spirituality was genuinely appreciated both in respect and in awe. It was felt that a cosmic energy filled their bodies, minds, and souls.
The pleasantly surprising foxgloves impressed the monastics and they seemed everywhere throughout the woods where the group was. Professor Chen explained that foxglove contains toxic glycosides, which can be applied as a cardiotonic in the appropriate dosage but are lethal when used excessively. The reflection and lesson from the professor’s comment boils down to the realization that the principle of the Golden Middle applies to most cases in life, as neither too much nor too little would do.
From the entry point of the passageway into the mountain, steps of varying heights make up flights that lead up to the mountaintop, and the scenes change along the way: at times in the woods’ thickets with the moist wind threatening to become dripping wet, and other times in the clearings with sunbeams shining through to yank up the temperature abruptly. LJM masters got to feel and experience different land- and mountainscapes as Nature displays itself randomly in the eyes of the beholder. The monastics were surprised at how the next generation of woods began to form and how moss and trees existed in their co-habitat. Birds were heard off and on, their chirping and singing were melodic to the ears. The visitors’ senses were thus exposed to natural cleansing to help get rid of the hustles and bustles of the mundane world and afford the comfort of homecoming.
Misty, chalk-white swirling clouds surrounded the mountaintop when the visitors reached the destination, thus blocking the view of Jade Mountain and its surrounding peaks. It then dawned on the monastics that no sighting does not equal non-existent, just like the invisible Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and our spirituality - as these are all omnipresent at all times. Thinking back to what Professor Chen said earlier about forestation planning: ‘It was not to manifest man’s will, but to look after the common good for all sentient beings.’ that notion echoed what the group experienced in person while ascending to the mountaintop, interacting alternatively and amiably with the woods, the clouds, the sunshine, the bird songs, etc. These, in turn, correspond well with Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s philosophy of ‘Respect for the Value of Existence,Tolerance of Living Environment,Love in Giving What Is Needed.’ The visit to Ali Mountain facilitated insight into the wisdom of Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s teachings while soaking in the natural surroundings for constant reminders of our awakened awareness of respect for others and inclusion for peaceful coexistence to render possible harmonious sustainability.