馬來西亞紫雲洞弘法代表於7月26日至 31日訪問新加坡佛經流通中心。一團十人包括三位法師––比丘尼恒生師、恒融師、恒定師，和七位護法女居士。此行目的在教導新加坡學員基本靜坐，法器應用和開示等。其中鄧太太和劉月麗居士也教導學員如何烹煮可口的素食。
事實上，法師們能從馬來西亞來教導，一直是「新加坡佛經流通中心」會員們一大心願。若法師們能定期，如每三月一次到訪，對學員的修行將是一大幫助。
恆生師連續五晚指導基礎靜坐：開始半小時講解，接著一小時靜坐，最後半小時答問，出席人數很多。雖然很多人無法坐雙盤，但也都忍著痛試試看。
在五天內，三位法師帶領大家拜「大悲懺」，誦《地藏經》，拜「普賢菩薩懺儀」，也教會員打法器，以便日後領眾。
很多會員急需人指導如何烹煮素食。每位參與學員對鄧太太及劉月麗的手藝都極為讚賞。烹飪課程使非素食人士留下深刻的印象，也考慮為健康和修行理由，改吃素食。
以下是五天開示中的問答：
問：靜坐一小時後，為什麼我感覺很熱，而有些人覺得冷？
答：感覺冷或熱是靜坐所產生的狀況，覺得熱是因氣血循環，有時熱到像火爐一樣。修禪有功夫，可以穿著單薄的衣著在雪庫裡打坐入定。像釋迦佛似的。有的人體弱，氣血不足，會越坐越冷，尤其是冬天，但還是要忍受。一位居士說他一天工作18小時，但只用2小時打坐來恢復他的體力和精神。
問：我能把孩子留在家裡到道場修行嗎？
答：你應在家庭和修行之間達成平衡，不可忽略家庭……。如果要去道場，孩子及家務要有適當的安排。
問：佛教徒不可喝酒，如果家裡仍有幾瓶貴的酒，我能送人嗎？
答：不可以。不管對方是不是佛教徒，你都不能送酒給他……。
問：法師，我是素食者而我的孩子不是，我可以買魚或肉，或為他們煮葷的嗎？
答：持素者最好不參與。……
問：我有兩隻狗，每次帶它們出去走後，就會有一些小蟲黏在腳底。為了去掉就難免弄死蟲子，這是犯戒嗎？
答：若是無意的就還好，要小心。修行人，別養魚、鳥、野獸等寵物，不和它們結畜生緣。
問：我每逢初一，十五吃齋，有時別人宴請，是否可以第二天補回？答：這種情形，最好避免參加，不然吃飽才去。持素者參加社會的宴會，在非去不可的情況下是一個大考驗。但你能堅持吃素的宗旨是難能可貴的，而且必會有如意的安排。（恆定師記述她在社會工作時，必需要出席公司會議，在葷食的場合，不知如何是好，出乎意料之外，公司特別照顧她的素食。）
我曾在飛機上，航空公司忘了為我訂素餐，但也特別臨時為我做一份簡單的素菜。在旅館，我們可請廚師洗淨鍋子，炒清淡的素菜；在外面不方便的情形下，只要不參雜葷的就可以了。最重要是堅固持素的道心。
 |
講法 Speaking Dharma |
問：在「八十八佛大懺悔文」裡，什麼叫「蔑戾車」？
答：「蔑戾車」是梵語，譯為惡見。
問：不吃素，念經持咒有效嗎？
答：不吃素，仍可持經咒，但如果真正誠心，身口意必定要清淨，才有效。
問：法師，什麼叫放下，放下是不是把家庭，孩子都捨棄嗎？不要管他們嗎？
答：……記得在萬佛聖城，有位居士喜好布施三寶。一次他帶一些佛友到深山去供養一位老比丘，請教法師「如何看破放下？」老法師答：「我出家二、三十年，還在學習看破放下。」從這點，我體會看破放下不簡單。我們的執著、習氣毛病很難放下，難調難伏。上人曾說：「把你們的脾氣捨出來給我，我願意接受。」可是我們能捨嗎？
佛經流通中心的學員對法師及團員的教導都感激萬分。最後－天，代表團還到雙林寺、光明山一遊，並在黃雪玲居士家進素宴，餐後還講了開示。
 |
學習法器
Learning play the Dharma instruments |
|
|
|
On July26 - 31,2001, a Dharma delegation from Malaysia's Tze Yun Tung Temple visited the Buddhist Books Distribution Centre (BBDC) in Singapore. The group comprised three Dharma Masters (Heng Sheng, Heng Rong and Heng Ding) and seven laywomen. The purpose of the Dharma Masters' visit was to teach BBDC members the basic method of Chan meditation and the usage of various Dharma instruments, as well as to give Dharma lectures. Two of the laywomen, Upasika Deng and Upasika Yuet Li, also gave vegetarian cooking lessons.
In fact, BBDC members had always cherished the hope that some day, the Dharma Masters from Malaysia would come to Singapore to spread the Dharma. If the Malaysian Sangha could kindly visit BBDC regularly, say once every three months, it would benefit their cultivation tremendously.
Dharma Master Heng Sheng gave basic Chan meditation lessons for five consecutive nights. Each lesson started with half an hour of verbal instruction followed by an hour of sitting meditation and half an hour of questions and answers. The turnout each night was very encouraging. Although many members had great difficulty sitting in the full-lotus position, they bravely struggled on and endured the pain.
During the five days, the three Dharma Masters conducted the Great Compassion Repentance ceremony, an Earth Store Sutra chanting session and the Universal Worthy Bowing Repentance. They also taught some members how to use the Dharma instruments so that they could take turns to lead the assembly
At the same time, many members had difficulty in cooking vegetarian food and were in desperate need of good instructors. Everyone was amazed that Upasika Deng and Upasika Yuet Li could turn out such gourmet dishes and heaped praises on both of them. The cooking lessons also served to impress upon the non- vegetarian members the benefits of adopting a vegetarian diet for health and spiritual reasons.
The following are some of the questions and answers from the 5-day Dharma session:
Q: After sitting in meditation for about an hour, I felt very hot. However, I understand that there are others who felt cold. I wonder why?
A:Whether you feel cold or hot, these are states that arise during meditation. You felt hot because of the circulation of the qi and blood. Sometimes it can be as hot as an oven. When you have achieved some skill in your meditation, you can even wear thin clothes and meditate in the cold and enter samadhi, just like Shakyamuni Buddha. Other people have a weak constitution and the longer they sit, the colder they become, especially during winter. However, they must still bear it. There was a layperson who related that even though he had to work 18 hours everyday, he could still regain his strength and energy by meditating for 2 hours.
Q: Can we leave our children alone at home when we go to the Way-place to cultivate?
A: You should always strike a balance between your cultivation and your family. You must not neglect your family, especially your children.... If you want to go to the Way-place to cultivate, arrange for someone to look after your children and to do the housework...
Q: As Buddhists, we cannot drink wine or liquor. If we still have some bottles of expensive wine and liquor at home, can we give them away to other people?
A : No. After you have taken the precepts, you cannot give wine or liquor to anyone regardless of whether they are Buddhists or not.
Q: I am a vegetarian but my children are not. In this case, can I buy meat or fish and prepare food for them?
A: As a vegetarian, it is best not to handle those types of food....
Q: I have two dogs at home and every time, after taking them out for walks, they come back with bugs and ants clinging to their fur. I try to get rid of them by plucking them out. However, inadvertently, I kill some by so doing. Am I committing any offenses?
A: As you didn't kill them intentionally, it's all right. Just be careful in the future. In fact, Buddhists are advised not to keep any fish, birds or animals as pets. It is best not to create affinities with them.
Q: I only practice eating vegetarian food on the 1st. and 15th of every lunar month. I also attend many social functions. Sometimes, such occasions fall on those two days. Can I make up for it the next day?
A: Under such circumstances, it is best not to attend any functions on those two days, or you may eat first before attending. When vegetarians are required to attend social functions and there is no way to avoid them, then it is a great test. However, if you can maintain your vegetarian observance, it shows that you have samadhi power and things will definitely work out favorably (Dharma Master Heng Ding recounted that when she was working as a layperson, she had to attend company functions. As non-vegetarian food was served during the functions, she did not know what to do. Then unexpectedly, her company made provision for her vegetarian diet.)
When I was traveling on a plane, the airline forgot to provide for my vegetarian meal. However, they specially prepared a simple vegetable dish for me so that I wouldn't be hungry. If we stay in a hotel, we can request the cook to clean the pots and prepare simple vegetable fare for us. As it is not convenient to have vegetarian food outside, it is all right as long as your food is not mixed up with non-vegetarian food. The most important thing is that you must firmly maintain your resolve to be a vegetarian.
Q: In the Eighty-eight Buddhas Repentance, what does mlecchas mean?
A: Mlecchas is a Sanskrit term. It refers to those with evil views.
Q: Can a person recite Sutras or mantras when he is not a vegetarian?
A: If you are not a vegetarian, you can still recite Sutras or mantras. However, if you are sincerely maintaining a vegetarian diet, then the karma of your body, mouth and mind will be purified.
Q: What is the meaning of 'letting go'? Does it mean we give up our families and Speaking Dharma children and cease to care about them?
A: It means to let go of the myriad conditions. Leaving the home life is to leave everything behind. I remember when I was in the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, there was a layman from Taiwan who liked to make offerings to the Triple Jewel. One time, he brought a few Buddhist friends deep into the mountains to make offerings to an old Bhikshu. He asked, "How can one see through things and let go?" The old Dharma Master replied, "I have left home for about 20 or 30 years and I am still learning how to see through things and let them go." From this, I learnt that it is not easy to see through and let go. Our attachments and bad habits are very difficult to give up and overcome. I remember the Venerable Master once said, "All of you, give your bad tempers to me. I am willing to accept them." But can we give them up?
The BBDC members were very grateful and will cherish fond memories of the occasion. Special regards and thanks to the two wonderful cooks too!
On the last day, the Dharma delegation visited the two biggest Buddhist temples in Singapore: Shuanglin Monastery and Bright Hill Temple and had a vegetarian lunch at Upasika Rosaline Kang's home. The Dharma Masters performed the meal offering and after lunch, they spoke Dharma for the members.
|
