Many go singly and laboriously, kneeling and bowing every
few steps. Others go in happy companies, chaperoned by a pious, village
dame, who has organized the group. Some go because their turn has come.
They are members of a guild which has a fund devoted to pilgrimages by
its members. Some go for the performance of a vow made to Kuan Yin, when
the father was sick unto death and the goddess prolonged his life. To
others it is the culmination of a pious life. All go for the joy which
travel in the spring gives.
Puto, an island off the coast of Chekiang, is the goal of many pilgrims
from all parts of China. In, the monasteries on the island are about two
thousand monks. In the pilgrim season this number is increased to ten
thousand monks and thousands of lay pilgrims.
A group of pilgrims was going along merrily. The sun was bright,
lighting up the white caps on the deep blue sea. Spring was rioting all
about. One member was an abbot from Hangchow. A small, humble-looking
man with a few straggling long hairs where the mustache usually grows,
was a lay Buddhist from Wuchang. One was a bright young monk from
Tientsin. Last, but almost omnipresent and always bubbling over, was a
servant of the abbot from Hangchow. He was in the presence of divinity
and his whole life was heightened for the time being. "Why did you
come!" they were asked. "We came to worship the holy mother, Kuan Yin."
When they entered a shrine each purchased three sticks, of incense and
two candles and reverently placed them before the image of the goddess,
kneeling and bowing.
Pages:
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73