Monk (m):
The Wutai Mountain has been a Buddhist center for many years. And now a Buddha
image has appeared on this mountain. This is an auspicious sign.
HOST (IN CHINESE):
Delightful viewers, welcome to The World Around Us. Today we travel to the picturesque
Wutai Shan,
one of the oldest and the most prestigious Buddhist mountains in Shanxi
province, China, home of the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Manjusri in Sanskrit, or
Wenshu (文殊) in Chinese.
Covering an area of over 2,800 square kilometers, Wutai Shan (五臺山) literally means the “Five Plateau Mountain.” The name comes
from its distinct topography, consisting of five rounded peaks topped with
plain terraces: Wanghai Peak in the east, Guayue Peak in the west, Jinxiu Peak
in the south, (Jin Shee-oh)
Yedou Peak in the north, and the central Cuiyan Peak. (Tway-Yen) The summit of
the North Peak is called Beitai Ding, soaring up to an altitude of over 3,060
meters. As the highest point in the region, Beitai Ding is known as the“Roof of
Northern China,” surrounded by mystic clouds all year-round.
Monk (m):
The temples on the Central Peak (中台) are mainly Tibetan
Buddhist Temples.
Monk (m):
On the East Peak, there are temples of Exoteric Buddhism and Tibetan Esoteric
Buddhism.
Monk (m):
The temples here on the South Peak are for Pure Land Buddhism.
Monk (m):
The temples on the West Peak are for Zen Buddhism. The temples on the north
peak are also for Pure Land Buddhism. The Pure Land practitioners practice
mainly by reciting the name of Buddha. Sometimes, we also meditate for a little
while. In Zen Buddhism, meditation is the main focus. Before reciting the
name of Buddha, we will read the Amitabha Sutra, or sing the Amitabha Chant.
Then we circle around
the Buddha statue and recite his name.