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我們只收世上最優秀的學生，所以不可抽煙、喝酒或跳舞，要專心用功、熱心向學。我們要提供高品德的學習環境。人為什麼做壞事或犯罪？都因為他們沒有被教育要做好事的道理，要利人利己。所以在「法大」，教授和講師不飲酒、不吸煙、不跳舞或不做顛倒的事；學生也要照樣。相信所有的人都可品德端正、負責任，在慈悲、耐心的教導下，他們的潛力都可發現。未來的希望在現在年輕人的身上，我們希望培育出品學兼優的年輕人。
─宣公上人
以前在讀到上面這一段的第一句話時，我自忖還不夠好，猶豫著是否要在法界佛教大學註冊…。
法大獨特之處，在於它是一位大聖人創辦的。上人曾說，如果可能，他會親自教每一個學生。
不論在上人示寂之前或之後，我常常蒙受他及時的指引、教誨，或訶責。舉個例子：打我小的時候，大自然就一直是我安慰和歡喜的源泉，但在走過一段蒼涼歲月和漫長憂傷之心路歷程後，大自然就失去吸引與鼓舞我的力量了。從此，我只想鑽研佛法。但是為了要完成法大「佛學及修持」的課程，我得上生物課拿學分。生物課滿有趣，老師也很認真，但它已非我願再花許多時間的課程了。我有了壓力，也變得愈來愈不開心，有天晚上，我甚至於在心裡跟上人抱怨。
我的最後一節生物課，和關於曼都仙諾郡的樹木與灌木的測驗，是在1995年的10月21日。那晚，一樁最奇妙的事發生了！早先晚間聽經時間，因為《法華經》有些錄音帶有點問題，聲音不清楚，因此我們不得不跳過好多處的經文和上人的開示。因此在1995年10月 21日這一晚，當錄音帶恢復正常播放時，說的正是〈藥草喻品〉。發生在萬佛城的境界真是不可思議！當我滿懷驚喜，聆聽上人談說樹木、森林，植物，並用它們來做各種譬喻，我大受激勵又由衷感激。
一如往常的感應，它難以置信的來得正對時機！為準備期末考，我一直在腦袋裡填塞這些「植物王國」的資料，本來打算一考完就把它們全忘掉；然而那晚聽了錄音帶，我才意識到可以、也應該把它們跟佛法連貫起來。真是不可思議！上人能為了教化、利益眾生，經常回應這樣奇蹟性又驚人的妙安排！
師父慈悲以其有力而另類的方式，悄巧地復甦了我對自然世界的欣賞。此後，我多次徜徉在聖城步道間，以不同的視野歎賞城內的動植物，才開始發現聖城是多麼的端嚴美麗！那時，我在「國際倫理與哲學研究院」的預定興建地散步時，感覺真安全，一片愉悅與靜謐瀰漫大地。
有時我覺得實在難以維持這個法大學生的身份，真的，要不是有上人經常不可思議和出乎意料的激勵，我是無法畢業的。對師父上人無限的慈悲，我永懷感恩！
《華嚴經》裡述說諸佛如來教化眾生不失時也不失機，所以我誠盼任何人都不要小看聆聽上人錄音帶開示的機會；這些開示仍是活生生的、珍貴的，也是切要的。每位同學都有他們自己珍貴的故事，希望法大校友也都能分享他們的經驗。
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We are recruiting only the most outstanding students in the world. For this reason, there is no smoking, drinking, or dancing allowed. Students are expected to concentrate single-mindedly on their studies and to pursue them with enthusiasm. It is our intention to provide a learning atmosphere which is of high moral character. The reason why people fall into bad behavior and even criminal behavior is because they were not properly taught the basic principles of good conduct, which is to benefit oneself and benefit others. Therefore, at DRBU, the professors and instructors do not drink, smoke, or dance or indulge in any other types of upside-down behavior. Students are expected to follow suit. We believe that all people have the potential to be morally upright and responsible and that with compassion, patient training, their potential can be developed. The hope of the future lies with today’s youth. It is our wish to instill in them both academic and moral excellence.
--- Venerable Master Hua
In the past, when I read the first sentence in the paragraph above, I felt I was not good enough. Therefore, I was hesitating whether to enroll in the Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU) or not...
What makes DRBU so unique is that it was founded by a great sage. Venerable Master Hua said that if he could, he would personally teach every student.
Whether before or after the Venerable Master’s manifestation of stillness, I have often received his timely guidance, instructions, and admonishment. Here is an example to illustrate what I mean:
Since childhood, nature has been a constant source of comfort and delight for me. But after undergoing a chronically bleak and intense period of prolonged grieving, the natural world no longer had the power to captivate or inspire me. From then on, I wanted only to concentrate on the Buddhadharma. However, to complete my Buddhist Study and Practice Program, I needed to take a biology class as well. Biology is interesting and we had a dedicated teacher too, but it was not something I would want to spend so much time on anymore. I felt the pressure and became increasingly unhappy. I even complained to Shr Fu in my mind one night.
My last biology class and test on the Trees and Shrubs of Mendocino County was on October 21, 1995. That evening, a most wonderful thing happened. Prior to that, there were problems with some tapes which we were listening to during the evenings on the
Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra. The sound was unclear and we had to keep skipping a lot of the text and Shr Fu’s commentary on it. Due to that, when the tape was played again on the evening of October 21. It was on the Medicinal Herbs chapter. The states that occur at the Sagely City of 10,000 Buddhas (CTTB) are truly inconceivable. As I listened, overwhelmed with joy and total amazement, to the Venerable Master talk about the trees, forests, and plants, and using them as analogies, I felt greatly inspired and profoundly grateful.
The timing as usual is always so incredibly perfect! I had been cramming my head with information about the Plant Kingdom for the final examination. I was looking forward to forgetting them all once the test was over. However, when I heard the taped lecture that night, I realized that I could and should connect what I have learned to the Buddhadharma. It is indeed most inconceivable, how the Venerable Master is able to constantly respond so miraculously and make such astounding arrangements in order to teach and benefit living beings.
My compassionate Teacher had imperceptibly revived my appreciation for the natural world in a powerful and different way. After that, I walked around CTTB many times, admiring its fauna and flora through a different perspective. I began to discover how awesomely beautiful CTTB is. At that time, while I was strolling around the future site of the International Institute of Philosophy and Ethics, I felt so safe. A very pleasant and deep kind of serenity pervaded the land.
It was sometimes exceedingly difficult for me to continue being a DRBU student. In actuality, it would have been impossible for me to finish the courses if the Venerable Master had not inspired and encouraged me frequently in such inconceivable and unexpected ways. I am eternally grateful for his infinite compassion as a Teacher.
In the Avatamsaka Sutra, it describes how all Buddhas would never miss an opportunity or the right time to teach living beings. Thus, I sincerely hope no one would look lightly upon the chance he/she has to listen to the Venerable Master’s taped lectures. They are still so ALIVE, precious, and relevant. Each student has his/her own unique story to tell. I hope the DRBU alumni can share their experiences also.
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