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《菩提田》

 

BODHI FIELD

生命的來去不再是謎
Coming, Going, and Solving the Puzzle of Life

□  吳霓裳    文By Wu Ni-shang

(接281期)
我是個性情中人,每提及這因緣,都會流淚 三分。我能來到萬佛城,是我每天對著師父的 照片痛哭流涕,叩頭叩來的,我很珍惜這緣份 。有一次,請師父解那夢境,他只笑笑說:「 沒錯,是有宿世因緣的,不然,你怎麼會這麼 發心來到萬佛城,罵也罵不跑呢!過去的都過 去了,唯有把握現在才是真的呀!」

來聖城前,我身體壞到極點,渾身怪病,無 緣無故地血尿不通順,走路都沒力氣,找不出 病因,心裡想,來聖城是活不成了。求救師父 ,說是因果病,往昔做了對不起人的事,要多 念觀世音菩薩。待在這兒都會好的。我想,這 麼久的病,不吃藥會好?但還是聽命,時常到 大殿拜觀音菩薩。最初連拜佛都想暈倒,真是 罪業不輕,但忍著忍著拜,並多做勞力的工作 ,忘掉我是誰。漸漸地,沒吃藥打針,病都好 了。感激菩薩顯靈,如今我能彎腰,精力十足 ,做很多勞動也不覺辛苦了。我住聖城天天都 很快樂。心得是,在道場要多做工,就能恢復 健康,只要有真誠心,佛菩薩都是千處祈求千 處應,苦海常作渡人舟的。

聖城的六大宗旨,真是法界最好的照妖鏡。 對師父嚴峻的家風,更是深深敬畏,使我萌起 道心。回想以前,我獨斷獨行又任性的脾氣, 做錯了很多無法挽回的事,如今感到很羞愧, 後悔。學佛後,發現我們生命為什麼不圓滿, 因為貪,瞋,嫉,障扭曲了本有風光。我在佛 法中找到真理,生命的來去不再是謎。輪迴警 示我,因果通三世,遇緣受報無差誤,循環業 永存,善惡分明永不消,要悟以往之不諫,知 來者之可追,時時刻刻得提醒自己在造什麼「 業」。

「佛在世時我沉淪,佛滅度後我出生,懺悔 此身多業障,不見如來金色身。」實在慶幸。 在這物欲橫流的時代,有這樣好機緣遇到好師 父做為我們人生學習的榜樣。他一生冰清的操 守,如疾風中的勁燭,似烈火中的精金,在亂 世中屹立不搖。拜讀上人的〈宇宙白〉––「 大慈悲普渡,流血汗,不休息。」更覺得師父 人格的偉大。

很幸運,我學佛從未遭遇親人阻撓。父母也 吃長素了,包括家中三條小狗,全家都皈依宣 化上人。人的命光實在短暫,但願我有生之年 ,能在聖城好好薰習,延續自己的善根,護佑 並裁培自己的心上田,行功立德,莫虧行正。 不論將來能否出家,我們一樣把所學的精神去 撫育這苦難的世界,使佛教發揚光大。「剎塵 之念可數之,大海中水可飲盡,虛空可量風可 繫,無能盡說佛功德。」在此,祈禱全世界的 佛教徒都能發大慈悲普度心,流血汗,不休息!

(Continued from issue 281)
Being a sentimental person, my tears fall every time I think about this. I have succeeded in coming to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas only after bowing and crying before the Venerable Master’s photograph. That’s why I really cherish this opportunity. When I asked the Master about my dream, he said with a smile, "It’s true. There are underlying reasons from your previous life. Otherwise, why would you be so willing to come to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and stay even if you were scolded? But the past is gone, and only the present counts."

Before I came to the City, my health was extremely poor. I had contracted a strange illness which hindered the circulation of my blood and urine, and rendered me too weak to walk. Not knowing the cause of the disease, I thought to myself that I would not be able to survive at the City. When I asked the Master, he said my illness had to do with cause and effect, and was the result of something bad I had done in the past. He said that if I diligently recited Gwan Yin Bodhisattva’s name, I would get better if I stayed. "Would this illness which I have had for so long really be cured without any medicine?" I wondered. However, I followed instructions and often went to the Buddha Hall to bow to Gwan Yin Bodhisattva. At the start, I almost passed out from dizziness as I bowed, so you can see how heavy my karmic offenses are! Nevertheless, I persevered and kept bowing, and also did a lot of physical labor, forgetting who I was as I worked. Gradually, without medicine or shots, the illness was cured. I am deeply grateful to the spiritual help of the Bodhisattvas, due to which I can now bend my waist, feel full of energy, and do a lot of physical work without fatigue. Living at the City, I am happy every day, and I have learned that by doing a lot of work in the monastery, I can regain my health. As long as we are sincere, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will respond to our every prayer, and take us across the sea of suffering.

The Six Great Principles of the City are the best mirror for spotting demons in the Dharma Realm. The Venerable Master’s pure and superior practice of them fills me with awe and respect, and causes me to resolve to seek the Way. Reflecting on the past, I see that my headstrong temper caused me to make a lot of mistakes that are beyond repair now, and I feel guilt and regret. From Buddhism, I have learned that our lives are imperfect because our greed, anger and stupidity have corrupted our inherent nature. I have found the truth the Buddhism, and the coming and going of life is no longer a riddle. The principle of transmigration warns us that the operation of cause and effect spans the past, present and future. When the conditions ripen, the retribution must be undergone without any deviation. The cycle of karma continues endlessly, and the distinction between good and bad is never lost. We should understand that we cannot change the past, but we can determine our future. In every moment, we should ask ourselves what kind of karma we are creating.

"When the Buddha was in the world, I was in the realms of suffering. After the Buddha entered Nirvana, I was born. I repent of all my karmic obstructions which keep me from seeing the golden body of the Buddha." In this age of rampant materialism and greed, we are truly lucky to meet such a wonderful teacher who can be our model of how to live. His life -long unswerving integrity is like the candle which is not snuffed out by the strong wind, and the pure gold which does not burn in the hot fire. In this chaotic world, he is a sturdy, immovable mountain. After reading the Ven. Master’s poem "White Universe" where it says, “With great kindness and compassion, rescue everyone. Spare neither blood nor sweat, and never pause to rest," I am even more moved by the Master’s magnanimity.

Luckily, my relatives never hindered me or gave me any trouble about studying Buddhism. My parents have become complete vegetarians, and the whole family, including our three pet dogs, have taken refuge under Ven. Master Hsuan Hua. Although life is fleeting, I want to spend my remaining days immersed in the wholesome atmosphere of the City, nurturing good roots cultivating my mind, amassing merit and virtue, and being a good person with a clean conscience. Whether or not we leave the home-life, we should use what we have learned to relieve the suffering of the world, and to make Buddhism flourish. "You may count thoughts as numerous as dustmotes in many lands; you may drink up all the water in the oceans; you may measure the size of space; and you may bind up the wind, but you will never be able to finish speaking of the merit and virtue of the Buddhas." Finally, I hope all the Buddhists throughout the world will bring forth a mind of great kindness and compassion to rescue everyone, sparing neither blood nor sweat, and never pausing to rest!

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