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菩提田

 

BODHI FIELD

法界佛教總會首次中國佛教歷史文化訪問團報導
A Report on the First DRBA Buddhist History and Culture Delegation to China

譚果式 報導 by Madalena Lew
薛麗梅 英譯 English Translated by Echo Hsueh

 

法界佛教總會主席恒實法師、馬來西亞法界觀音聖寺住持恒章法師、萬佛聖城方丈恒律法師、法界佛教總會董事恒斌法師,與香港大嶼山慈興禪寺監院恒興法師,率領由美國各地、澳大利亞、馬來西亞,及香港之男女居士32人,於2006年九月五日,分別抵達北京國際機場,以參加首次舉辦為期十四天的中國佛教歷史文化訪問團。

此行主要目的是禮拜國寶佛牙舍利及佛身舍利,並拜訪大德高僧如中國佛教協會會長一誠老和尚、百歲耆英弘法寺方丈本煥老和尚、湛山寺方丈明哲老和尚、天臺山國清講寺方丈可明老和尚,以及閉關數十年95歲的彌光老和尚等;訪問團備受所到各大道場,以及各地宗教局官員等的熱烈歡迎及款待!

訪問團的法師及居士所到之處,均能表現出師父宣公上人的教化,處處持守聖城家風,舉止如法如儀,而備受各地人士讚賞,更有當地的信眾於眾目睽睽之下,不顧地面污穢,頂禮我們法師。例如有一次在寧波的一家素菜館用午餐後,服務員們都列隊合十恭送法師,有的頂禮,有的感動流涕,泣不成聲。問其所以,據他們說從來沒有遇見過出家人有像我們的法師那樣的莊嚴威儀。

九月六日,訪問團正式開始行程的第一天。清晨,北京的陽光特別燦爛。在許居士特別安排下,我們才有幸前往郊區的法海禪寺,參觀寺內的明代壁畫。這個寺廟和壁畫一向不對外開放。壁畫雖然經過560多年,但仍然鮮豔奪目,由此可想見當時佛教藝術創作的風采。


DM Heng Sure, the President of the Board of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association (DRBA), together with the DM Heng Jang, Abbot of Dharma Realm Guanyin Sagely Monastery in Malaysia, DM Heng Lyu, Abbot of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, DM Heng Bin, Director of DRBA, and DM Heng Hing, manager of Cixing Monastery on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, led 32 laymen and women from America, Australia, Malaysia and Hong Kong, on the first Buddhist History and Culture delegation to China. They arrived in Beijing on September 5th to begin the 14 day tour.

The main purpose of this trip was to worship the tooth and body relics of the Buddha, which are a national treasure, and to visit virtuous and eminent Chinese monks, such as Venerable Yi Cheng, the President of the Chinese Buddhist Association; Ven. Ben Huan, the 100-year-old Abbot of Hongfa (Propagating Dharma) Monastery; Ven. Ming Zhe, Abbot of Zhanshan Monastery; Ven. Keming, Abbot of Guoqing (National Purity) Monastery at Tiantai Mountain; and Ven. Ming Guang, the 95-year-old monk who had cultivated in seclusion from the outside world for decades. The delegation received a warm welcome and great hospitality at all of the monasteries they visited, as well as from the local officials in charge of religious affairs.

All the Dharma Masters and laypeople in the delegation comported themselves in accord with the Dharma and with CTTB traditions and the Venerable Master’s teachings. They were admired by the local people, some of whom even prostrated themselves before the Dharma Masters in front of everybody regardless of the dirty ground. For instance, one time after lunch at a vegetarian restaurant in Ningbo, the waiters and waitresses all lined up with palms together to see Dharma Masters off with reverence. Some prostrated themselves; others were moved with tears and speechless. When asked why, they replied that they had never met any monastic as adorned and dignified as those in our delegation.

September 6th was the delegation’s first official day of activity. The sun shined magnificently in Beijing that morning. With the help of layman Hsu, we had the opportunity to visit Fahai (Ocean of Dharma) Monastery in the suburbs and view a fresco done in Ming dynasty. This monastery and fresco are normally not open to the public. Even though the fresco was painted more than 560 years ago, its colors were still bright and dazzling. We could imagine how vibrant the Buddhist art must have been in that period.

法師: 恒實,恒斌, 恒興,恒律, 恒章和許居士
Dharma Masters: Sure, Bin, Hing, Lyu, Jang & Layman Xu

手畫韋馱像
Hand-painted Weitou picture

法海襌寺
Dharma Ocean Monastery

訪問團也難得稀有的能到北京八大處的第二處大靈光寺參拜國寶佛牙舍利,據報導在全世界只有兩顆佛牙舍利,一顆在斯里蘭卡,一顆則在北京此處供奉。

由大靈光寺方丈常藏法師親自迎接,先於客堂講述佛牙舍利的歷史文化背景,繼而親自向各法師居士饋贈結緣品以表歡迎。

隨後以最莊嚴、最隆重的傳統佛教儀式,伴以古佛教音樂笙簧等吹奏,一路引領至佛牙寶塔(招仙塔)大殿前上香禮拜。然後步上螺旋階梯到供奉佛牙舍利的佛殿前參拜。

 

The delegation also had the rare opportunity to visit the second of eight major places in Beijing, Dalingguang (Great Effica-cious Light) Monastery, to make obeisance to a national treasure: the tooth relic of the Buddha. It’s said that there are only two tooth relics of Buddha in the world. One is kept in Sri Lanka, and the other one is enshrined and worshipped here in Beijing.

The Abbot of Dalingguang Monastery personally welcomed and received the delegation. At the guest house, he related the history and cultural background of the tooth relic of Buddha, and then personally presented gifts to the Dharma Masters and laypeople.

Thereafter, in the grandest and most dignified traditional Buddhist ceremony, with ancient Buddhist music played by traditional instruments, we were led to the main hall of the pagoda housing the Buddha’s tooth relic (called Greeting Immortals Pagoda) to offer incense and make obeisance. We then walked up the spiral ladder to the Buddha Hall where the tooth relic of the Buddha was enshrined and prostrated ourselves in veneration.

互相交談
A group discussion

實法師代表法總贈送禮物給靈光寺 方丈常藏法師代收
DM Sure presents the Abbot, DM Chang Zang, with gifts for Dalingguang Monastery

隆重的靈光寺佛教儀仗隊伍
Buddhist ceremonial procession at Dalingguang Monastery

迎請法師
Dharma Masters on the way to the Pagoda

招仙塔大殿前禮拜
Prostrations at the main hall of Greeting Immortals Pagoda

常藏方丈更進一步解說佛牙舍利的殊勝,也特別介紹站在一旁守護佛牙舍利的演道法師─鐵羅漢,他因保護佛牙舍利不顧生命而得此美名。

故事是發生在1996年12月25日,緬甸政府迎請佛牙舍利至仰光供該國人瞻禮。豈不知當地亂黨欲將佛牙舍利炸毀以圖政變,首枚炸彈於佛牙舍利寶塔前獅子像旁爆炸了;另一枚炸彈則放置於佛前的花瓶內,奇怪的是該枚炸彈並沒有在花瓶內爆炸,卻連帶花瓶直線地衝向供桌前方才爆炸。當時,演道法師正守衛於供桌側,看情況不對,立刻撲身護著佛牙舍利。這場兇險死了五個人,十七人受傷。可是演道法師卻毫髮無損,也因此被冠上「鐵羅漢」的美譽!真是不可思議的感應!

 

Abbot Chang Zang further spoke about the remarkable wonders of the tooth relic and introduced the DM Yan Dao who stood to the side and guarded the tooth relic. He was known as the Iron Arhat, because he had protected the tooth relic at the risk of his life.

It happened on December 25, 1996. At the invitation of the Burmese government, the tooth relic was delivered to Rangoon to be viewed and worshipped by the Burmese. Unexpectedly, a local rebellious faction tried to blow up the tooth relic in an attempt to force a coup d’etat. One bomb exploded by the side of the lion statue in front of the Tooth Relic Pagoda. Another bomb was placed in the flower vase in front of the Buddha statue. Strangely enough, the bomb didn’t go off in the vase. Instead, it moved forward, taking the vase with it, and didn’t explode until it was in front of the altar. DM Yan Dao, who was on guard by the altar, took in the situation and immediately hurled himself on top of the relic to protect it with his body. Five people were killed and seventeen were injured in this disaster; however, DM Yan Dao escaped without a scratch. This is how he got the name “Iron Arhat.” It’s truly an amazing response!

佛牙舍利塔
The Pagoda containing the Tooth Relic

佛牙舍利供奉在蓮花座上
The Tooth Relic enshrined on top of lotus

供奉佛牙舍利的招仙塔和寶殿
Greeting Immortals Pagoda

 
法 師: 恒興、恒斌、恒律、恒章、恒實、聖輝、張琳書記,和演覺、宏度、普正、道林等法師
DMs Hing, Bin, Lyu, Jang, Sure & Sheng Hui, Secretary Lin Zhang, DMs Yan Jue, Hong Du, Pu Zheng, & Dao Lin

法總訪問團與中國佛教協會眾人合照
DRBA delegation and Chinese Buddhist Association

道別、 送行
Farewell & Bon Voyage

 
演覺法師介紹廣濟寺
DM Yan Jue introduces Guangji Monastery

 
廣濟寺的指繪畫
Finger painting at Guangji Monastery

 
娑蘿樹(七葉樹)
Sala Tree (Seven-leafed tree)

中國佛教協會設在廣濟寺內,監院演覺法師帶中國佛教協會是設在廣濟寺內。廣濟寺的監院演覺法師帶領訪問團參觀寺院,佛教協會副會長聖輝大和尚、國際部主任普正法師、佛教協會的張琳副書記都熱誠接待。他們都希望日後法總與佛教協會能時多聯繫,互相交流。1987年,上人邀請中國百位僧眾,來美參加萬佛聖城水陸空法會,聖輝大和尚當時曾到過萬佛聖城並與恒實法師一見如故。

中國十個最年輕的住持之一,就是哈爾濱大菩提寺的正修法師。他因為得知法總的法師來中國訪問,不辭辛苦坐了19個小時的火車,帶領11個弟子從哈爾濱到北京來向法師們請法。因此訪問團便邀請他們一同在次日同去參觀遠近聞名的「先有潭柘寺,後有北京城」古寺以及房山雲居寺的石經。午飯後,恒實和恒律兩位法師則隨喜開示,聞者均霑法喜。

由於北京宗教文化出版社的史主編極力推薦,我們認識了製作三十集「虛雲老和尚生平事蹟」電視劇的製片商唐居士。也許不久將來,虛老的生平事蹟能廣播深入每一個人的心坎裡!在此末法時代,這也不失為一種教化眾生的方便法門啊!

待續

 

Chinese Buddhist Association is headquartered at Guangji (Vast Salvation) Monastery. The supervisor, DM Yan Jue, gave the delegation a guided tour of the monastery. Ven. Sheng Hui, the Deputy President of the Association, DM Puzheng, the Director of International Affairs, and Lin Zhang, the Deputy Secretary, all received the delegation with warmth and sincerity. They all hoped to have more frequent contact and interaction with DRBA in the future. In 1987, Ven. Master Hua invited 100 monastics from China to attend the CTTB Water, Land and Air Dharma Ceremony. Ven. Sheng Hui was one of them, he felt like old friends with DM Sure at their first meeting.

DM Zheng Xiu from Daputi (Great Bodhi) Monastery in Harbin is one of the youngest abbots in China. Learning that Dharma Masters from DRBA were visiting China and undaunted the hardship of the long journey, he led a group of eleven disciples and on a 19-hour train ride from Harbin to Beijing to request the Dharma. The delegation invited them to join them the next day in visiting Tanzhe Monastery, a famous ancient monastery which was established much earlier than the city of Beijing, and the “Stone Sutra” at Yunju (Cloud Abode) Monastery in Fangshan. After lunch, Dharma Masters Heng Sure and Heng Lyu gave Dharma talks, filling the audience with Dharma joy.

At the fervent recommendation of Chief Editor Shi of China’s Religion and Culture Press, we met layperson Tang who had produced a TV documentary series of 30 episodes entitled “The Biography of Venerable Xu Yun”. Perhaps in the near future when this program is aired, the life and achievements of the Venerable Xu Yun will make deep impressions in every person’s heart. In this Age of the Dharma’s Decline, this is an expedient way to teach living beings.

To be continued

訪問團和大菩提寺居士
潭柘寺前門
潭柘寺遠景

(from top to bottom) DRBA delegation and the assembly of Daputi Monastery
Front gate of Tanzhe Monastery
Distant view of Tanzhe Monastery

 

潭柘寺大雄寶殿
潭柘寺內
潭柘寺冬景
(from top to bottom)
The Grand Hall at Tanzhe Monastery
Inside of Tanzhe Monastery
Winter scene at Tanzhe Monastery

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