發大願朝清涼山

公出家二十餘年。道業未成。劬勞未報。故發願再朝南海。由法華庵起香。北禮五台清涼山。三步一拜。初有徧真覺乘。山遐秋凝四禪人。附香每日行拜不遠。附香者漸生退心。難矣哉。

宣化偈曰：
難行能行是真行。難忍能忍是真忍。
難修能修是真修。難受能受是真受。

Making serious vows to go on a pilgrimage to Ch'ing Liang Mountain bowing once every three steps

The Master had by now left the home-life for more than twenty years, but he had not yet completed his karma in the Way. He had not repaid his parents' kindness, and so he vowed to again make a pilgrimage to Nan Hai. From Fa Hua Temple all the way to Ch'ing Liang Peak at Wu T'ai (Five Peaks) Mountain, he made one full prostration every three steps. At the outset, four Ch'an monks, P'ien Chen (Pervasive Truth), Chiao Cheng Enlightened Vehicle, Shan Hsia (Distant Mountains) and Chiu 'ing Autumn Freeze accompanied the Master. But the daily progress - walking and bowing - was slow and they gradually had thoughts of withdrawing. It was not easy going.

The verse says:
Being able to do what is troublesome is true action.
Being able to bear the unbearable is true forbearance.
Being able to practice the difficult is true cultivation.
Being able to take what is unpleasant is true endurance.