Enjoying a barbecue while celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Huanxin Celestial

• The morning glories quietly bloomed, in an unremarkable little corner, hidden among the roadside grass. They blossom quietly, without competing with the world, beautiful and flawless.

• The trees here have grown exceptionally tall and lush, with some branches already pressing down on the rooftops, posing a safety threat to the house. A few areas are so dense they block out sunlight, so we must trim some branches appropriately to maintain our normal daily life.

• We are transplanting the red spider lily (also known as Manjusaka), a flower to which people have attributed a certain mystical aura. It is said that "the flower and leaves never meet," symbolizing either the "heavenly flower" or the "flower of the underworld." But what is the other shore? I understand it as this shore being the same as the other shore—"your essence does not change," only the form and living space do. The other shore is the gate of LIFE. In The Anthology of Chanyuan, our guide described that there are only ten gates of LIFE (the other shore) that one can choose from: the Elysium World, the Ten-thousand-year World, the Thousand-year World, the Human World, the Domestic Animal World, the Animal World, the Plant World, the Underworld, the Frozen Layer, and the Fiery Refining Layer. After passing away, people will go to different other shore worlds based on their deeds, merits, and sins during their time in the human world.

• With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, everyone gathered together for a lively celebration—enjoying barbecue, karaoke, and games, raising their glasses in celebration of the festival. Life in the community is filled with joy and harmony, with each person contributing and serving one another, always creating a warm and beautiful atmosphere.

2023-9