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things and nothings's avatar

awesome! this is crazy - i have been to the hupao area of west lake. there is another daoist temple on the other side of the lake called baopu temple.

what a lovely practice in storytelling! i was transported to the gallery.

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Thank you so much! 🙏 We are going to the Hupao Temple this Spring. Baopu is for sure on the list too.

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things and nothings's avatar

baopu is great. AMAZING view of west lake + the city. peaceful. i believe they have dorms there for students. music.

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Nevena Pascaleva's avatar

The story is amazing, yes. However, I can't sympathize with those men having one hundred wives and three hundred children....the poor wives. 😢(Master Hongyi actually got my heart when he refused to get a third wife and chose the monastery.)

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Janaka Stagnaro's avatar

Thank you, Paul, for sharing about this artist turned monk. I can relate to him, although I am committed to the householder life. If my wife were to depart before me, that would be a possibility for me. But who knows. Here is where I am.

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Thank you, Janaka, I’m with you. My gut reaction is to judge yet I realize the full story won’t be told in the temple. We will search and look for the answers.

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Nevena, thank you, this is the part of his story I struggle with accepting and want to know more. What was the fate of his two wives and five children? I have now been to two places with Hongyi museums (second to publish later) and neither took the time to answer or even mention these questions.

May I ask you a question? You mention a third wife, is that a part of the story you heard/read elsewhere? I was aware of only the two wives.

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Feb 4
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Paul Dotta's avatar

🙏 Means so much to have company on this quest. Next stop, Tianjin.

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