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十年前小學五年級的兒子，有一天忽然告訴我：「我跟觀音菩薩發願，初—、十五要吃素。」我一愣，回說：「我不會煮素菜！」基於愛子心切，我就說媽媽陪你吃素。孩子的父親表示吃素營養不夠，沒有力量工作；耶穌教、天主教都不叫人吃素，為什麼佛教卻要吃素？
為什麼吃素？很喜歡，但不明白。周圍也沒有學佛的朋友，就去請教一位素食店老闆。那位老闆介紹了「臺北法界印經會」，告訴我可以去加入為會員。有一天收到印經會寄來的一本書，同修隨手翻閱，所有的疑問都在書中獲得了解答，於是他宣佈：「我們都去皈依。」
1993年上人來臺，全家就同時皈依了，之後常到法界共修。初學〈楞嚴咒〉，誦一遍就要50分鐘，後來慢慢愈來愈順，誦咒時充滿法喜，自然也就背起來了。現在才明白原來〈楞嚴咒〉有這麼大的威力及功德。
不久兒子林聖傑很想到聖城讀書及學佛，他誠心祈求上人，終於順利突破簽證問題，於1995年和女兒珈如同到聖城。女兒已於1998年畢業於培德女中，現就讀大學；兒子也將於今年在培德中學畢業。
時間久了，聽上人及法師開示，對佛法更為瞭解。現在臺北法界印經會就像自己的家一樣，在那裏覺得很平靜愉快。上人圓寂時我曾到聖城當義工，參加法會，直到圓滿才回臺。感恩諸佛菩薩及上人，令我能認識佛法，懂得不要再造罪業，唯有勤修精進才能報佛恩。
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Ten years ago, my fifth-grade son suddenly
announced to me, "I have made a vow
to Guanyin Bodhisattva that I will be a vegetarian on the
first and fifteenth of the month."
Stunned, I replied, "But I don't know how to cook
vegetarian food!" Out of deep affection for my son, I
replied, "Mom will eat vegetarian
food with you." His father maintained that vegetarians do
not get enough nutrition and aren't
strong enough to do work. Besides, Protestants
and Catholics don't require vegetarianism; why does
Buddhism?
Why should one be vegetarian? It appealed
to me very much, but I didn't
understand the rationale. Since I had no Buddhist friends, I
asked the owner of a vegetarian
restaurant, who introduced me to the Dharma Realm Buddhist Books Distribution Society (DRBBDS) in Taipei and
encouraged me to join as a member.
One day we received a book from DRBBDS in the mail. My husband casually opened it and found the answers to
all our questions there in the book.
He then declared, We are all going to take refuge.
When the Venerable Master came to Taiwan
in 1993, our whole family took
refuge. Afterwards we went often to practice at DRBBDS. When
I first started learning the
Shurangama Mantra, it took me fifty minutes to recite it once through. Gradually my recitation became more
fluent. Reciting the mantra filled me with the joy of
Dharma, and I naturally memorized it. Only now I do understand the tremendous power and meritorious
virtue of the Shurangama Mantra.
My son Sam soon wanted very much to
enroll in school and study Buddhism at the City of Ten
Thousand Buddhas. He prayed fervently to the Venerable Master and finally got his visa. He and his
sister Grace both went to the City in
1995. My daughter graduated from Developing Virtue Girls
School last year and is now in
college. My son will graduate from the Boys School this year.
Having heard the instructional talks
given by the Venerable Master and
other Dharma Masters over the years, I have come to
understand the Buddhadharma better.
DRBBDS is just like home to me; I feel very peaceful and happy there. When the Master passed into
stillness, I went to the City of Ten
Thousand Buddhas to work as a volunteer, returning to Taiwan
only after the Dharma assembly was
over. I am grateful to the Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas, and the Venerable Master for bringing
me to the Buddhadharma and helping me
to understand the importance of not creating more offenses.
It is only through diligent practice
that we can repay the Buddha's kindness.
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