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我的學佛因緣-塗世玲居士
How I Came to Study Buddhism — Upasika Tu Shr-ling

仁德 採訪 Interviewed by Ren De

塗世玲居士,一九五二年生在一個基督教的家庭,臺灣省新竹人。大學期間,以半工半讀、自給自足的方式取得銀行保險文憑。後又到美國繼續深造,主修財務,也獲得碩士學位。從此學以致用,在臺灣、美國的銀行界先後服務十多年。

她的物質生活豐裕,卻常感精神上有所欠缺。負笈海外,經同學介紹也曾入了一貫道,但是飄蕩的心仍然沒有落腳的歸宿,而婚姻也不能帶給她平靜與滿足。一九八九年起開始吃素,後來讀到《釋迦牟尼佛傳》及《玄奘大師傳》,因此對生命的意義有了新的領悟,也生起皈依佛門之心。

九一年如願以償,成為三寶弟子,常誦《金剛經》與《普門品》。九二年參加萬佛聖城舉行為期七天的水陸空大法會,很歡喜道場清淨的環境,和精勤辦道的精神。回家後就發了一個願:此生要為萬佛聖城盡自己棉薄之力。

在拜讀宣公上人開示錄與佛經的淺釋後,她更明白世俗的吃喝玩樂,男歡女愛,既不久長,更帶來煩惱痛苦,只有佛陀可以解除眾生的悲苦。但感慨的是,世人為金錢奔波忙錄,而學佛的人,卻寥寥無幾!因此她學佛向道之心更加殷切,並願有生之年,要緊隨宣公上人教誨,為自己紮下根基,幫助更多的眾生獲得法要與利益。


Upasika Tu Shr-ling was born in 1952 to a Christian family in Hsin-Ju, Taiwan. During her college years, she worked half-time and studied half-time, supporting herself until she received a diploma in banking and insurance. Afterwards, she came to the United States and earned a Master's in Finance. Since then, she has used what she learned in working for banks in Taiwan and the United States for over ten years.

Although she led a very comfortable material life, she often felt something was missing spiritually. When she came to study overseas, a classmate introduced her to the Yi Gwan Dau Religion. However, she still could not find a refuge for her restless mind. Marriage brought her neither peace nor satisfaction. In 1989 she became a vegetarian. Upon reading the biographies of Shakyamuni Buddha and Great Master Hsuan Dzang, she discovered new meaning in life and wished to become Buddhist.

In 1991, she fulfilled her wish to become a disciple of the Triple Jewel, and frequently chanted the Vajra Sutra and the "Universal Door Chapter." In 1992, when she came to the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to attend the seven-day Water, Land and Air Ceremony, she was delighted by the City's pure atmosphere and vigorous spirit of cultivation. Returning home, she vowed to do everything she could to help the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

After reading the instructional talks and commentaries on Sutras by Venerable Master Hua, she recognized that a life of eating, drinking, partying, and romance cannot last, and in fact brings pain and affliction. Only the Buddha can relieve the sufferings of all living beings. It's a pity that the world's people are all busy making money, and only a handful study the Dharma. In light of this, she is even more determined to study Buddhism and cultivate the Tao, and vows to closely follow the Venerable Master Hua's teaching to strengthen her own foundation, and devote her life to propagating the Dharma so more living beings can receive its benefit.

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