Guangxiao Temple

Walking the lovely grounds of this temple I felt filled with peace. There are beautiful trees, statues and buildings at every turn. Be sure to visit the excellent vegetarian restaurant on site. Hui Neng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, studied and taught here. According to legend, in a dramatic poetry contest in 661 the senior monk, Shen-hsiu, wrote, “The mind is the stand of a bright mirror. . . . / Do not allow it to become dusty,” but Hui-neng wrote, “Buddha-nature is forever clear and pure, / Where is there any dust?” Thereupon the fifth patriarch transmitted the law to Hui-neng.