Zhou Enlai – Disciple of Master Xu Yu

Mao Zedong once asked Zhou Enlai, "Why do you always handle things so well, so perfectly?: Zhou replied, "Chairman, beside Marxism-Leninism, I also have Buddhism."

Original Chinese Language Article By: http://www.miaojsy.com 
(Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)

Few people are aware of the fact that Zhou Enlai was a devout Buddhist, and a disciple of Master Xu Yun (1840-1959).  This fact was revealed in the 1999 study entitled ‘Buddhist Culture’, published paper No.41:

A National Model Worker and a Party Secretary eventually entered the ‘Spirit Rock Temple’ (灵岩寺 – Ling Yan Si) – (this temple is located in Dayu County, Jiangxi province) – and became a deputy head monk named ‘Law Safety Dharma Master’ (法安法师 – Fa An Fa Shi) – (this person participated in the Huai-Hai Campaign, and after Liberation, he worked in the uranium mines which were administered by the nuclear industry.  He was then a Party Branch Secretary, and Mine Foreman.  Due to his efforts, he was named National Model Worker, and Model Worker-Scholar.  Later, he was promoted to Deputy Party Secretary, and Deputy Mine Manager and diligently worked on, eventually reaching the rank of Deputy Director Level until retirement, only afterwards becoming a monk).  This person stated that Li Xiannian (李先念) took Refuge in the Triple Gem at the ‘Little Forest Temple’ (少林寺 – Shao Lin Si), and Liu Shaoqi (刘少奇) took Refuge in the Triple Gem on Mount Potalaka (菩陀山 – Pu Tuo Shan), and this revealed important information about Zhou Enlai (周恩来) and his association with Buddhism.

When in Wuhan, Mao Zedong once asked Zhou Enlai: ‘Why are your actions always so successful?’  Zhou Enlai replied: ‘Mr President, I always apply Marxist-Leninist thinking, but also Buddhist thinking – a mixture of the two.’  Mao asked: ‘Who is your master?’  Zhou Enlai replied: ‘It is venerable old Master Xu Yun (虚云老和尚 – Xu Yun Lao He Shang).’ Mao said: ‘Tell me more about this venerable old monk Xu Yun.’  Zhou replied: ‘Xu Yun is a contemporary Buddhist monk and his father was the Prefect of Quanzhou.  His father and uncle both raised him as their son, and therefore two wives were chosen for him.  However, Xu Yun left home to become a Buddhist monk and ate leaves to survive.  He showed such endurance and forbearance that no ordinary person could have survived….’

Mao was so enthralled by hearing this biography of Xu Yun that he considered becoming a disciple of Master Xu Yun himself – as Mao understood that Master Xu Yun was a very pure being and true follower of the Dharma.  However, when Master Xu Yun was requested to come Wuhan, he could not come, and when Master Xu Yun asked Mao Zedong to travel southward – Mao could not travel at that time and so Mao’s intention to Take Refuge in the Triple Gem under Master Xu Yun could not be fulfilled.

©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2016.

Original Chinese Language Source Article:

http://www.miaojsy.com/forum/thread-2647-1-1.html

周恩来皈依虚云老和尚

鲜有人知，周恩来总理也是佛门皈依弟子，他的皈依师父是虚云老和尚。据1999年《佛教文化》第41期载文：

据全国劳模、党委书记出身的灵岩寺（位于江西省大余县的灵岩寺）副主持法安法师（参加过淮海战役。解放后在核工业部某铀矿工作,总支书记兼坑长。曾被评为全国劳动模范和学毛著标兵。后提拔当党委副书记兼第一副矿长，一直干到退休。副局级。后出家）说，李先念是在少林寺皈依的，刘少奇是在菩陀山皈依的，提起周恩来的皈依又生出一段故事。

有一次在武汉，毛泽东问周恩来：“为什么你办事总是那么圆满？”周答：“主席，我除了马列，还有佛法。”

“你皈依了那一个？”“虚云老和尚。”“这虚云老和尚何许人也？”“虚云老和尚是当代高僧，他父亲是泉州知府，父亲和叔叔就他一个男儿，给他讨了两个老婆，可他出了家，拾树叶充饥，忍人所不能忍，行人所不能行……”

毛泽东被周恩来说的心动，要周将虚老叫来武汉，虚老不肯：“自古法_王大于人王，毛泽东要皈依，叫他到南华来。”,结果是，毛不来，虚不去。皈依就此告吹。