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《菩提臺》

 

BODHI STAND

道心堅強入道易一介紹親龍居士
Entering the Way-place with a Firm Bodhi Resolve - Introducing Upasaka Qinlong

牧愚 編輯 Compiled by Mu Yu
仰聖 英譯  English translation by Yang Sheng

傑森﹒司提夫,加拿大人,22歲,法名親龍。他的父母知道他對佛教有興趣,便到華嚴聖寺取回介紹法界佛教總會的簡介。1997年耶誕節後,傑森來到華嚴聖寺。之前他曾經研究過形而上學及神秘異教,覺得都不究竟,所以轉向佛教來尋求真理。

在華嚴聖寺他研讀上人的經典淺釋,很快地就被這些深入淺出的道理所吸引,有似曾相識之感,知道上人是一位善知識。上人啟開了真理之門,從此他辭去工作,專心致志於佛法之研究;每早坐巴士到華嚴聖寺,幫忙清掃、鏟雪、維修等工作,並儘可能參加所有的法會和聽經。一個半月後他搬進華嚴聖寺常住。

1998年他來聖城參加上人涅槃三週年法會,並皈依三寶,成為親龍居士。兩個月後搬入聖城,九月受五戒入居士訓練班研習。

今年3月25日,親龍落髮參加了首屆的「沙彌先修班」,受盡形壽的八關齋戒;他的父母尊重兒子的選擇,特別遠道前來觀禮隨喜,在西方國家這是很稀有難得的因緣。他希望六個月後能正式出家,獻身三寶,把佛法弘揚於全世界。正如上人一樣:「流血汗,不休息!」


Jason Steeves, Dharma name Qinlong, is a 22-year-old from Canada. His parents knew that he was interested in Buddhism, so one day they went to Avatamsaka Monastery in Calgary and brought home a brochure on Dharma Realm Buddhist Association. Soon after Christmas on 1997, Jason went to Avatamsaka Monastery.

Previously he had studied other forms of metaphysics and pagan mysticism, but found their teachings to be non-ultimate. He turned to Buddhism in his quest for the truth. At Avatamsaka Monastery he began to read some books and Sutras with the Master's commentaries. He immediately knew from the Master's profound yet simple way of explaining the Dharma that the Master was a Good Knowing Advisor, and he also felt a familiarity with his teachings.

The Master's explanations had opened him up to true principles. He quit his job and devoted himself wholeheartedly to studying the Buddhadharma. He took the bus to the monastery every morning and spent the days cleaning, shoveling snow, making repairs, helping with renovation, as well as participating in all ceremonies and lectures. One and a half months later, he moved into the monastery.

In 1998 he came to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to attend the memorial ceremony for the Venerable Master on the third anniversary of his entering Nirvana. At that time he took refuge with the Triple Jewel and became Upasaka Qinlong. Two months later he moved to the City, received the five precepts in September, and enrolled in the Laity Training Program.  

On March 25 of this year, Upasaka Qinlong joined the first Training Program for Future Shramaneras and received the eight precepts for life. His parents respected his decision and came to celebrate and observe the ceremony-a wonderful and rare show of support in this Western country. He hopes in six months to leave the home life, offering his life to the Triple Jewel to propagate the Buddhadharma in the world, "sparing neither blood nor sweat, and never pausing to rest," following the Venerable Master's example.

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