Temple Rebuild

I have just returned from Zhangjiajie in the Hunan Provence in China. It was here I spent the week with Master Li Zhiyi. I have studied the Taoist teachings of this man for about five years, they have altered the shape of my life. They have given me a different perspective on living and engaged in me a drive to fully understand my place on this planet. It sounds all very serious but a week spent in his presence is wonderful and packed with humour. He leads a simple life of honesty and compassion. Master Li is a quiet man of deep spiritual intelligence, he has a warm heart and quick smile which he shares often. Not so long ago he asked one of his senior disciples,Steven Burton to help raise funds to rebuild the ancestral temple located in a not so well known or visited area on Tianmen Shan (Heaven's Gate Mountain pic)

As a group we undertook some fundraising activities, from workshops and seminars to sponsored events as well as donations gratefully we received, we aimed to raise £10,000. Many of you who are reading this played a part in that. So it is from the very bottom of my heart that I thank you. It was a great honour to be in Master Li's house when we presented him with the funds and therefore the opportunity to rebuild this important place. The significance of the temple is lost to many but in the face of Master Li on that day I was privileged to get a glance at how a simple selfless act can change someones' world. This was made further apparent when Master Li took us to the mountain the day after, to perform a simple ceremony that bound our group even more tightly. The burning of incense within the ruined temple on the alter that is very much still in use. This is a sacred sight so I could not take pictures within the walls, but I can assure you that the alter is both beautiful and crackling with energy. After we made our offerings we were very happy to meet Mr. Yen. He is the ground-keeper at the temple. He is so devoted to the temple that he has moved away from the city and up the mountain to be close to it at all times. Around the temple is more ruined buildings in which the forestry workers used to live. They are dilapidated and without power, yet Mr Yen leads a happy peaceful life doing exactly what he needs to be doing. maintaining the grounds and praying at the alter everyday. When Master Li told him about the funds we had raised Mr. Yen was so moved he began to cry. Which had the affect of setting us all of. Several grown men in tears will be a moment I remember all my life.

Work begins on the Temple in October, the plan is to focus on the shrine room at the top. To rebuild the roof and steady the foundations. The money will be used to sort out the path and the stairs that lead up to it and to fix the damaged pagoda. (pic)

Pictured above you can also see the Guan Yin Temple which sits at the bottom of the slope. There are plans to see this rebuilt in time. So the efforts continue, I will return to China next year and will keep you up to speed with developments. If you wish to help you may donate or get involved in anyway. I would be happy to hear from you. Master Li's teachings will stay with me all my life and I shall pass them on where appropriate. What he has given me cannot be resigned to history nor can this temple. I expect it to stand for another 10,000 years.

Mr. Yen at the Temple