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在萬佛聖城的最後一個黃昏，我們出去散步，沿著上人「無言堂」的道路行走，一邊呼吸著我們回家後即將懷念的聖城之清新的空氣，一邊觀看神奇的天空美景。在毫無預料下，突然之間，一隻母孔雀無端的出現了；緊跟在牠後面的，是四隻「啾啾」歡叫不停的小孔雀。
三年前，當我第一次看到萬佛聖城和孔雀的照片，我就許願一定要前來聖城接受三皈五戒，並觀賞孔雀，尤其是白孔雀。三年後的此刻，我終於達成我的願望。但唯一遺憾的是 ，我在萬佛聖城的一個月時間裡，卻始終沒有見過這些小孔雀。
眼前的這幕情景，讓我心裡充滿感激，就好像上人能透視我的想法，而讓我在聖城的最後一夜，能如願看到這些小孔雀。對許多人而言，或許這是再尋常不過的事，但是對我而言，卻是充滿意義。為什麼呢？因為在我的故鄉，除非是在鳥園裡，否則是不可能有機會看到孔雀到處自由走動。我不能解釋為什麼？但每每想到這種經歷，看到這樣的照片，就會帶給我無限歡欣，讓我心裡充滿溫暖。
您看，牠們不是很可愛嗎？為了捕捉一些牠們寶貴鏡頭，我急急地緊跟在孔雀後頭。母孔雀感受到我的接近，於是加快腳步，同時我也能聽到小孔雀們提高嗓門兒。此次牠們的叫聲，卻像是向母孔雀呼叫：「等等我們！」
我瞭解到我可能驚嚇到牠們，便開始放慢腳步，但是母孔雀似乎已受到騷擾，因此飛上牆頭，而將小孔雀留在地面上，雖然小孔雀們也想飛上牆頭。
此時，我原本真想走進前去觸摸牠們，但我終於控制住我的興奮而退後，而不要再驚嚇牠們。母孔雀立即飛回地面，若無其事地繼續牠們的黃昏散步。
而我小心翼翼的跟隨牠們，在接下來的數分鐘內，牠們展現了牠們的技能。我從來沒有想像孔雀可以高飛，但是相信我，這就是她所做的，高飛到枝頭上，啄食樹葉或果實。母孔雀越爬越高，從一個枝條飛到另一個枝頭。讓我更感到驚訝的是這些小孔雀們，發出美麗的叫聲，我還以為是別種鳥的叫聲；而事實上，是當時牠們在枝頭上飛來飛去時，所發出的叫聲。
當我見到只有小白孔雀停留在陳列台上，我心想：『天呀！又來了。總是獨自走在隊伍之後。這是和牠的顏色有關嗎？千萬別告訴我，孔雀之間也有種族歧視？』當我腦筋正要打轉時，這隻小白孔雀也展翅飛上枝頭。我終於明白，原來叫聲是來自牠的兄弟們，要牠加油。現在牠們又成行的跟在母孔雀的腳步之後走著。或許這隻小白孔雀是最幼小的，我料想這就是為什麼，她總是走得最慢的一個，但她仍是這個孔雀家庭中的一份子。
這讓我想到，就像我們都是一個大家庭中的一份子，我們之中雖然有些人在修行上比較慢，但是只要有努力和信心，佛陀就像我們的父母一樣，不會拋棄我們；我們追隨他所引導的路，就能達到覺悟的境界。我們所要做的，就是跟著他正確的腳步。以耐心和勇氣，我們不會害怕「飛到高處」。哇！牠們示現得多美好啊！當我最後向牠們說再見和謝謝時，我忍不住也笑了；因為牠們給了我一個看似渺小的表演，而卻是偉大的一課。
這個經驗對我而言，是十分寶貴的，就像一個小孩終於找到一顆糖果。這氣氛是這麼樣的惹人喜愛，我的感覺，就好像是師父給了我一份小小的臨別禮物，滿足了我的小小願望。
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On our last night at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB), we went for a walk, appreciating the beautiful evening sky. We were walking along the road, by the side of Shr Fu’s “Hall of No Words”, breathing in the pure air of this beautiful place, which we will miss back home. All of a sudden, a peahen just appeared from “nowhere”. Tagging behind were her four little baby peacocks, chirping happily away.
Three years ago, when I first saw pictures of CTTB and the peacocks, I made a vow to come here to receive the Three Refuges and Five Precepts, and also to see the peacocks, especially the white one. Now, three years later, I had achieved my objective. But, during my one month stay here, I had been wanting to see these little ones, but yet, could not find them.
Now this sight filled my heart with gratitude; it was as if Shr Fu knew my thoughts and had granted my wish to see these babies on my last night. To many people, it may be just a normal thing, nothing out of the ordinary, yet, for me, it meant a great deal. Why? Because back home we have no chance to see peacocks wandering about freely except in the Bird Park. I cannot explain why, but it brought a sense of joy each time I recall this experience and looking at these pictures, a sense of warmth just wells up in my heart.
See, aren’t they cute? In my eagerness to catch some precious photos of them, I hurried after them. The mother peahen, sensing this, hastened her pace, and I could hear the little ones chirping even louder, but this time, it was as though calling out to her, “Please wait for us.”
Realizing that I might be frightening them, I began to slow down my pace, but by then, the mother was quite disturbed. She flew onto the fence, leaving the babies on the ground, while they too tried to fly up.
I was so tempted to go forward and touch them, but contained my excitement and backed away, so as not to frighten them. Immediately, the mother flew back onto the ground, and as if nothing has happened, they all continued their evening walk.
Gingerly, I followed them, and in the next few minutes, they displayed their skills. I could never imagined that a peacock or peahen could fly so high, but believe me, this is what she did, flying up onto the tree, pecking at the leaves or berries or fruit. Higher and higher she went, flying from one branch onto another. What amazed me were the little ones. I heard the beautiful chirping sounds of what I thought were some other birds, who were flying around the branches of the tree at that time.
Seeing that only the white one was left alone down on the bench, I thought, “Oh dear, there it goes – alone again, always walking behind the rest. Is it because of its color? Don’t tell me that racism also exists among peacocks!” Before I could think further, this little white baby just flapped its wings and flew onto the branch of the tree. I then realized that the chirping sounds came from its siblings. Now again, they’re walking in a row behind their mother, following her footsteps. Maybe she is the youngest, I reckon, that is why she is always the slowest, but she is still part of her family.
This brings to my mind a thought. Just as we are all part of a big family, some of us may be slow in our cultivation, yet we still have faith that the Buddha, like our parent, will never desert us. We will walk the way that leads us to enlightenment. All we need to do is to follow him on the right path. With patience and courage, we will not be afraid to “fly high”. Wow, what a great sight they displayed. A little chuckle rose from my throat as I finally bade them farewell and thanked them for their little show, which was also a great lesson.
This experience was just so precious to me. I was like a child who had finally found a piece of candy. The energy of it was so endearing…and I felt like Shr Fu had given me a little farewell present, fulfilling my little wish!
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