Maintaining the Buddha's spirit at Famen Temple

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Buddhist leaders from many parts of the world had been gathering at Famen Temple, in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, to mark the the 30th anniversary of the recovery of what’s believed to be Buddha’s finger relic. This temple is a holy place, and the CGTN team gained rare access to the underground sanctum.

The underground sanctum, Famen Temple. /CGTN Photo

Mystery over a millennium

68-year-old monk Yan Feng took us to the original home of the Buddha’s finger bone, the underground sanctum of Famen Temple. He came to Famen before the relic was found here, 30 years ago. He said when the old gates were opened, he was overwhelmed by the sense of history and felt an indescribable thrill.

He said thousands of treasures sparkled and shone, reflecting the splendid culture of the ancient empire. And the sarira, or relic, was discovered in the back chamber. Sakyamuni, known for his wisdom and benevolence, had re-appeared in the mortal world.

"When I first saw the relic, there was both sorrow and joy. The sorrow is we do not live in the time of the Buddha and see him. The joy is we can see his relic. But tears came to my eyes," said Yan Feng, a senior monk at Famen Temple.

Senior monk Yan Feng, Famen Temple. /CGTN Photo

Yan Feng said the Buddha is our mentor, the guidance of our endeavors. He is the beacon of salvation, to save people from suffering, to inspire us to stand firm in our faith and benevolence, to build unity among the adherents of Buddhism.

Protecting Buddhist doctrines

The temple's Heritage Museum keeps the Golden Chest that held the relic, in the smallest of eight nesting boxes. Today, the finger bone is venerated by countless followers as they seek spiritual uplifting. The philosophy of Buddhism and its intrinsic humanistic concerns provide a remedy for anxieties in life.

The Golden chest that held the relic. /CGTN Photo

The Golden chest holding the relic. /CGTN Photo

Yan Feng said he doesn’t care whether China is the leader of Buddhism. The Buddhist thought is: "I don’t want to be left behind, but I want everyone to make progress.” He thinks that they can’t use the relic to do things that depart from the Buddha’s teachings, such as using the Buddha to gain money, or the Buddha’s relic to raise local incomes.

Yan Feng said Famen is a mystical holy land to the monks, who pledge their lives to protecting it. But the challenges are not only to the temple building. In a time when commercialization is penetrating everywhere, keeping the true spirit of the Buddha holds greater significance than ever.

Monks and nuns from the Buddhist Institute, Famen Temple. /CGTN Photo

Monks and nuns from the Buddhist Institute at Famen Temple. /CGTN Photo

"We should use the Buddha's mercy, and his wisdom to push believers to learn and practice Buddhism in achieving enlightenment," says Yan Feng, Senior Monk, Famen Temple.

968km