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《菩提鏡》

 

BODHI MIRROR

精進勇猛的行者
A Vigorous, Courageous Cultivator
--介紹比丘尼恆涵師
--Introducing Bhikshuni Heng Han Shi

琉璃月 文 By Crystal Moon
摩尼珠 英譯 English translation by Mani Pearl

恆涵師從小看見生活中充滿了矛盾與痛苦,常憧憬著到渺無人跡,像喜馬拉雅山那樣的地方去隱遁。長大後唸的是最時髦的英語系,竟參加了校內的佛學社。在體會了人生的痛苦是與生俱來的,修行才是解脫之道後,心中便打定主意以修行為一生目標。

臺灣國立師範大學畢業後,特地選了一處人煙稀少的鄉下學校教書;課餘打坐、唸佛、拜佛、背《法華經》;長假時去佛寺打七。如此勤力修行了一年半,考驗來了。許是居住的環境與外在環境差距太大;住所闃無人息,外面人我是非,引起心理上適應的困難。

慢慢地,終於瞭解了遠避人群只顧作「自了漢」,不合佛意,因此搬進一所道場去住,希望今後在自己修行之外,還能學習慈悲度眾。哪知那竟是一所香火道場,造著不可說的罪業!一天想起讀大學時喜歡看的〈金剛菩提海〉月刊,封面上「萬佛城」字樣曾在她心裡現出一座正法住持的道場,上人1988年返臺時還曾皈依上人。如今想起上人,心裡直覺只有上人才有力量指引她,於是1990年住進正法佛學院上人的道場學習。1993年終於在上人座下剃度,學習上人嚴謹的戒律,度眾之弘願。如今長住萬佛城,整理上人講解的〈水鏡回天錄〉,以便早日出版。


As a child witnessing the contradictions and miseries of life, Heng Han Shi often fantasized about secluding herself in a place like the Himalayas. In college, she studied the most fashionable major, English, but joined the Buddhist Society. Realizing that suffering is a fact of life transcended through cultivation alone, she decided to devote her life to cultivation.

Graduating from National Taiwan Teachers College, she chose to teach at a rural school. Outside of school hours, she meditated, recited the Buddha's name, bowed to the Buddhas, and memorized the Dharma Flower Sutra. During long vacations, she attended retreats at Buddhist temples. After a year, she underwent an ordeal, caused possibly by the contrast between her life and the external world. Living in seclusion, she found the gossip and contention of the outside world hard to accept.

Gradually she realized that avoiding others and seeking self-liberation was not the Buddha's intent. She moved into a temple, hoping to learn how to teach others with kindness as well as cultivate herself. Haplessly, she chose a commercial temple and created many offenses there.

One day in college, she recalled joyfully reading Vajra Bodhi Sea journal. The words "City of Ten Thousand Buddhas" on the cover brought to her mind's eye a Way-place of Proper Dharma. When the Master went to Taiwan in 1988, she took refuge with him. Feeling that the Master alone could guide her, in 1990 she moved into the Master's Proper Dharma Buddhist Academy as a student. In 1993 she joined the monastic order under the Master and emulated the Master's strict moral discipline and vast vows to liberate living beings. Currently at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, she is editing the Venerable Master's lectures on Reflections in Water and Mirrors for publication in the near future.

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