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「三十五歲以前，我濫用生命。從那以後，老實說，我才學習善用生命。」
－－達瑪瓦那老法師
著名的一百一十歲高棉籍老比丘達瑪瓦那老法師，最近在美國加州史達頓他的寺廟圓寂，並於十天後七月九日荼毘，比丘恆實、恆顯、恆律、恆全等法師代表法界佛教總會參加追悼會。
老法師出生於高棉上層社會的家庭，就讀法語學校，並負岌法國巴黎大學深造。由於他不忍見人受苦流血，因此放棄醫學院，改習法政。學成歸國後，他不但是優秀的法官，也是高棉皇家法庭的顧問。他任職法官與省長七年，並娶妻育有一女。雖然當時吃香喝辣，菸酒不離身，老法師在出家之前其實過得並不快樂，而且一度病重不起。三十五歲以前，他已罹患纖維黏合脊椎炎（身體結構崩潰）、神經多重硬化症（人體神經系統自我攻擊）、潰瘍性結腸炎。老法師按照高棉民俗，在臨死前到廟上靜修；靜修期間，他得到知性的啟發與心靈的寧靜，使他得以為自己的生命賦予新意義。他「找到了生命的答案」，那就是「我自己才是真正問題的所在」，他就此決定出家托缽為僧。
在泰國叢林住山期間，他曾在著名的佛教師父座下研習教理七年。當時他住茅棚，日中一食，僅靠附近農民的簡單供養維生。他和弟子們在森林裡經常遇到老虎、大象、山豬、蛇等，那些動物並不相擾。或許是因牠們感受到這些僧人的和平慈悲之心。
住山七年後，老法師法師遠赴印度攻讀「治療」與「語言」，最後他精通十多種語言。老法師在新德里成立阿索卡修道中心，該中心不斷成長茁壯，設有寺廟、打坐中心、療養之家、青少年學習營。阿索卡修道中心自早期起即慶祝耶誕節，因為老法師的信念是：各大宗教本一家。老法師被選為世界佛教會主席，阿索卡修道中心也成為該組織在印度的中心。老法師曾在印度大學亞洲語文學系教書數年。住錫印度期間，老法師與印度聖雄甘地、當時總理尼赫魯等人交往密切，並成為尼赫魯的私人醫生。老法師在全球各地參加多項宗教與政治會議，旅居印度45年期間，老法師為印度重建佛教貢獻良多。
老法師曾重病約六個月，並高燒多次，在半昏迷狀態中他曾見釋迦文佛來到他身邊。這個景象大大鼓舞了他，使法師相信這回死不了。他咬牙忍受肉體的痛苦，吃得很簡單，雖然有嚴重黃疸與疑似瘧疾，他最後仍能恢復健康。大病之後虛弱已極，他得重新學站學走。
老法師曾治癒自己罹患的多種致命疾病，靠的是簡單的生活方式與素食。他生吃新鮮蔬果，米飯、茶。以後他也治癒許多其他的人。他經常提醒大家：「你是你所想的；你是你所吃喝的。」他發覺陽光、淨水與心念集中是最有力的治療工具。他告訴病人說：「我用雙手為你治療－－無藥、無手術刀；如果我的雙手沒能幫你，至少也未曾傷害你。」當問及何以他為人治療從不索取費用，只接受捐款？法師回答道：「窮人付不起醫療費，而我對待貧富必須一律平等。」
一九五零年代，老法師與全球兩千名教育家一同應邀至華府召開教育會議。稍後他在英國教書。一九七零年代初期，將近九十的高壽，來到美國在喬治城大學任教。此後在加州史達頓市創辦自己的道場，因為當地高棉裔人口眾多。在生命的晚期，法師足跡遍及世界各地教人打坐，為人治病，主持法會。過去數十年間，老法師與萬佛城關係密切。（請看下期紀念文。）老法師的部份骨灰將送回祖國給高棉總統－－前國王蘇哈諾，他已訂製龕位以便供奉。其餘骨灰則送至印度新德里法師創辦的阿索卡修道中心。蘇哈諾總統曾立老法師為高棉比丘之王。全世界都將懷念這位慷慨、慈悲的和尚，他活得簡樸、無私，全心全意為人類福祉而奉獻。
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"The first 35 years of my life, I practiced the abuse of life. Since then, to tell you frankly, I have been practicing and learning the use of life.“
— Bhante Dharmawara
The Venerable Dharmawara Mahathera, the renowned 110-year-old Cambodian Bhikshu, passed away at his temple in Stockton on June 25, 1999, and was cremated on July 9. Bhikshus Heng Sure, Heng Syan, Heng Lyu and Heng Chuan represented the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association at his memorial service and funeral.
Known as "Bhante" to his followers, Venerable Dharmawara was born to an upper-class family in Cambodia. He was educated in the French school system and sent to the Sorbonne in Paris, France. Because of his sensitivity at seeing human suffering, his educational track shifted from medicine to law and politics. Upon returning home, he became a distinguished magistrate and advisor to the Court of the King of Cambodia. He served seven years as a judge and provincial governor, got married, and had a daughter. Despite a life of indulging in rich foods, smoking, and drinking, he was unhappy, and in fact became deathly ill. By his mid-thirties, Bhante was suffering from ankylosing spondylitis (causing the structure of the body to disintegrate), multiple sclerosis (a disease in which the nervous system attacks itself), and ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory disease of the intestines). Following the custom of his culture, Bhante decided to enter a Buddhist monastery for a period of reflection and repose before what he thought would be his imminent death. In the solitude of the monastery, he found both the intellectual stimulation and the equanimity of mind that gave renewed meaning to his life. He "discovered the answer about life— that 'I, myself was the real problem." At that point, he decided to leave his home and become a forest monk.
Walking into the forests of Thailand, he studied for seven years under renowned Buddhist teachers. He lived in huts and subsisted on simple offerings from the peasant farmers, eating just one meal a day. He and his disciples often encountered tigers, elephants, wild boars, and snakes in the forests, yet these animals did not bother them, as they could somehow sense the monks' peaceful, loving thoughts.
After seven years in the forests, Bhante Dharmawara reentered the world and went to India where he studied healing and languages, eventually mastering at least a dozen languages. In New Delhi, Bhante founded the Asoka Mission Vihara, which grew to include a monastery, meditation center, healthcare home, and youth hostel. Very early on, Christmas was celebrated there as well, due to Bhante's belief that all spiritual traditions share a common thread. Bhante was elected to the presidency of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, and the Asoka Mission became the Indian Center of that organization. For several years, he taught in the department of Asian languages at the Hindu University in Benares. During his time in India, Bhante was close friends with Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Nehru, and even served as Nehru's personal physician. Bhante was active in promoting peace globally by participating in religious and political conferences throughout the world, and did much to reestablish' Buddhism in modern India during his 45 years there.
Once, Bhante was very sick for about six months. Many times he developed a high fever. When he became semiconscious, he reported seeing the Buddha lying on his bed, and that sight gave him great hope and inspiration that he would not die. He persevered in the face of his pain. He ate simply, and eventually, in spite of severe jaundice and what was probably malaria, he did recover. He was so weak that he had to learn to stand and walk on his own again.
Through his simple lifestyle and vegetarian diet consisting mostly of raw fruits and vegetables, rice and tea, Bhante cured himself of various life-threatening diseases and later healed many others. He would often remind everyone that "You are what you think. You are what you eat and drink." He discovered that the sun, pure water, and concentrated thought were the most powerful healing tools. He would tell his patients that he would "use only my hands to heal— no medicines, no knives— if my hands do not help you, at least I have not harmed you." When asked why he would not charge for his healing services but would only take donations, Bhante replied, "The poor people would not be able to afford it, and I must treat the rich in an equal manner to the poor!"
In the 1950's, Bhante was invited with 2000 other educators from around the world to Washington, D.C., for conferences regarding education. Later, he spent time in England teaching. In the early 1970's, Bhante, nearly 90 years old, moved to the United States to teach at Georgetown University. He later established his home temple in Stockton, California, where there is a large Cambodian population. During these last years Bhante continued to travel extensively around the world doing meditation courses, healing work, and ceremonies. In the past few decades Bhante Dharmawara developed a close relationship with the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. [See article in next issue.] A portion of Bhante's ashes will be given to Cambodian President Norodom Sihanouk (former King of Cambodia), who has commissioned a shrine for them, and the rest will be taken to India to the Asoka Mission Vihara. Sihanouk made Bhante Dharmawara the "King of all Cambodian monks." Bhante Dharmawara will be remembered around the world as a generous and compassionate monk who lived simply, and selflessly devoted himself to the well-being of humanity.
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