By Admin 
A small spot on the world map, Beagan, a remote island just a few miles off the coast of China. There is silence here, the noise of the ocean waves and bitter memories of history. But there comes one night in the year when there is no space to keep sesame seeds in ‘Wuwei Ling Temple’, a small temple of this silent island.
People do not come here to do charity or to recite mantras loudly. They come here to do a very simple, but mysterious thing, i.e. to sleep.
Yes, you read it right. This is perhaps the only temple in the world where ‘sleep’ is the biggest prayer. When a recent report by Reuters revealed the layers of this tradition, what emerged seems like a film of magical realism.
That one night, when the temple becomes a ‘laboratory of dreams’
Imagine, the hall of an old temple, incense sticks smoking and hundreds of people lying close to each other on the ground. Some have brought their old torn quilt, while others have brought a modern sleeping bag. Everyone is just waiting for a ‘hint’ with their eyes closed.
According to local beliefs, the deities of this temple, the Nine Immortals of Jiuli, come here only once a year. They talk only to the person who is in deep sleep. Here ‘dream’ is not considered to be a figment of the mind, but an ‘inbox message’ sent by the gods.
The story of the storm that changed Beagan’s fate
The story behind this tradition is as interesting as the temple itself. These nine immortal gods are actually considered to be brothers and sisters living in Fujian province of China. Folktale says that on the 29th day of Lunar New Year, this god came to this island to meet his uncle.
While returning, there was such a fierce sea storm that the gods had to stay here for an extra day. Just that one day became a boon for the people of Bigan. Today the situation is that in Fujian, China, people can dream 364 days a year, but on this small island that window opens only once a year. And this ‘simik boon’ has made this temple viral all over the world.
Shocking True Tales: Yang’s Story
For 60-year-old Yang Jui-yun, who runs a small restaurant here, this is not a superstition. 10 years ago his daughter was going to America for studies. A mother’s heart was panicking. Yang slept on the floor of the temple that night.
He told Reuters, ‘I heard ‘Hello-Hello’ in English in my dream. Then I saw a blurry picture, a couple was standing holding hands and two small children were with them. Yang did not understand at that time.
But years later, when his daughter got married and gave birth to twin daughters in America, a miracle happened. When the children came to the beach of Matsu to meet their grandmother for the first time, the ground slipped beneath Yang’s feet. His daughter and son-in-law were walking holding the children’s hands, exactly as Yang had seen in his dream a decade ago.
Career, Marriage and Money: Direct ‘Consultation’ from God
Chen Shih-tian, honorary president of the temple, says that people’s wishes have changed with time. In olden times people used to ask about farming or health. Today’s era is of ‘cut-throat competition’. As-
- Career dilemma: ‘Should I quit this job?’
- Business Risk: ‘Is it right to invest money in this stock?’
- Marriage question: ‘Is this boy/girl right for me?’
The surprising thing is that the people coming here include not only the elderly but also educated youth and tech professionals from Taiwan. They see it as ‘spiritual therapy’.
Matsu Island: From the smell of gunpowder to the smell of tourism
The Matsu Islands in which this temple is located, have a history stained with blood. After the 1949 civil war, this area has been a ‘flashpoint’ between China and Taiwan. Those bunkers are still present in the hills here where soldiers once deployed cannons.
But today Matsu’s identity is changing. The blue sea here (Blue Tears), rare birds and now this ‘dream-seeking’ temple has brought it on the global tourism map. The Taiwanese government is also now promoting it as ‘cultural heritage’.
If you want to go: Some important things
If you also want to dream of your destiny, remember, there is no VIP treatment. Here, whether rich or poor, everyone has to sleep on the floor. Local people say that if there is doubt in the mind, then the dream does not come. Beigan is a small island, to reach here you have to take a short flight or ferry from Taipei.
Is it true? Or is it just a game of our subconscious mind? Psychologists say that when we think too much about a problem, our brain ‘simulates’ its possible outcomes in sleep. But for those devotees of Began, this is not science, it is a belief. A confidence that gives them the strength to fight the challenges of the year.
After all, in a world where Google has the answer to every question, how relaxing it can be to close your eyes and wait for the ‘call’ of the gods for some answers!
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