小城的美

王欣平講於2010年10月8日星期五晚 萬佛城大殿  A talk given by Sharon Wang on October 8, 2010


諸佛菩薩,宣公上人,各位法師,各位善知識,老師,同學,阿彌陀佛,我是培德女中11年級的王欣平,我今天要分享我的故事。

Buddha, Bodhisattva, Venerable Mater, Dharma Mater, all good knowing advisers, teacher and students. My name is Sharon Wang. I am in 11 th grade from Developing Virtues Girl’s School. Amitabha!

如果我們說人生有80歲的話,在這80 年的人生中, 能有多少圓滿的事情發生呢?在平常人的生活中,人們總喜歡抱怨自己的人生是如何的沉悶,不圓滿, 即使有很好的工作和幸福的家庭,可是仍然無法滿足,我來聖城之前也是如此。

If we say there are eighty years for one’s life span, how many satisfying incidents can happen during these eight years? In our daily life, people always complain how their lives are plain, boring and dissatisfying; even though they have a high pay job and an adoring family, people still feel empty. My attitude toward life was as pessimistic as those people before I came to CTTB.

我曾經覺得我的人生不圓滿,我有個殘障的爸爸,每天被娘家煩到受不了的媽媽,一個不是很值得驕傲的哥哥,還有看到我就會咬牙切齒的姊姊。在外面,我總是那個爛好人,功課平平,不引人注目;每次看到別的女生總是能吸引眾人的目光被一群人簇擁,就覺得好羨慕,反過來看我自己,沒有一處特別的地方,真是令人沮喪。我從來沒有足夠的信心,我看到的總是自己的缺點,日積月累自然也沒有了笑容。來了聖城以後,我的不圓滿漸漸變圓滿了。

I always felt as if my life was never in my favor. I have a father who is handicapped, a mother who is annoyed by her own family, a brother who procrastinates (which is not a really something to be proud) and a sister who always insults me whenever she sees me. Besides my family, I was a yes- man girl. My grades were average in class. I did not have any attractive appearance or character. I admired those girls who are attractive and were surrounded by groups of people. Then I reflect myself: it was so depressing that I am not special at all. I never had enough confidence because I usually saw bad points in my characters. Day after day, I left no smile on my face. After I came to CTTB, my attitude toward life changed gradually.

2007年的夏天,我踏進這座小城的城門。當時,我腦海中不由自主地浮現兩個字- 簡陋。看盡大城市的繁華的我,這小城只顯然非常地的單調,當然,我當下對這裡的人做出了預測- 土包子! 然而,接下來在小城的的日子卻轉變了我的一生,開啟我的夢想,具體肯定我的存在。

The first time I stepped into the gate of CTTB was in the summer of 2007. At that moment, my head popped out a word unconsciously- primitive. CTTB seemed so simple and boring compared to the ostentatiously prosperous Taipei. Of course, I immediately made an assumption of the people here- a group of Buddhist hicks. However, the days I spent in CTTB changed my life to a brighter perspective; it aroused my dream, and built up my specialty.

座落在小城裡的學校,從外貌上,怎麼看在一點都不像一間學校,兩層樓的建築爬了些許的藤蔓在紅磚上,加上木頭格子的窗戶,開關都得使上吃奶的力氣不說,還會配上喀嘰喀機的音樂! 讓人有身置在在哈利波特城堡的感覺,所以說它是一所廢棄的建築老式建築,可能還比較令人相信吧! 在這所小學裡從幼稚園到高三,學生人數不超過一百人,肯定每個人的個性、身家……..大家都瞭若指掌吧! 老師當中,大多數也是修行人。在這小城得學生,不能交男女朋友,不能隨便上網,不能隨便外出,當時我真的懷疑自己是否真的待得下去?

The school in CTTB does not look like a school on the appearance: a two- floor building with some ivy crows on the wall; the wooden windows that made weird music when we try really hard to open it. This building is more like a discarded building rather than a school. In this school, there are approximately a hundred students only. For sure everyone knows each other really well. Among all the teachers, most of them are cultivators. During the school time, students cannot go on the internet, go out without permission, and the have a relationship with opposite gender.  When the school just started, I was wondering how would I survive in this kind of environment for one year?

一開始,我也很沒有信心,但是當我跟這邊的人相處後,我才覺得自己是很幸福的,有些同學可能沒有一個很完整的家庭,但卻很知足,他覺得這樣就很幸福了。有位女生,她長得蠻普通,但在我的眼力,她的自信使他光采亮麗,經由跟同學的相處,我發現了我自己的價值,我不是一位爛好人,我喜歡幫助別人,我不喜歡拒絕別人,是因為我不想要人家傷心,我活得更有自信,更開心,對於我的家人,我不再感到不好意思,我的爸爸即使是殘障,他卻努力工作來讓我有更好的教育,我的媽媽是位好媽媽,他勤儉持家,總是把家人擺第一,我的哥哥即使有一點懶,功課不好,但他是一位很體貼的哥哥,把自己的本分做得很好,雖然我跟姊姊不好,但他卻教了我人生很重要的一課,那就是「己所不欲,勿施於人」,我再也不覺得我的人生不圓滿,反而它比誰都圓滿。

In the beginning, I lacked confidence in myself.  However, after I had the interaction with the girls in the school, I started feeling that I have a really fortunate life. In the school, some the girls have a single family, but they never complain about it because they think that it is happiness. There was a girl, she is not as pretty as a movie star, but her confidence makes her appearance just like one of the people in Hollywood. After the few months in the school, I discovered my values as Sharon Wang; I am not a Yes- Man- Girl. I like to help people; I don’t like to reject others because I feel guilty for not helping. I live in a more confident and happier  way than before. I don’t feel embarrassed about my family anymore. Even though my dad is a handicapped, he works really hard to give me a better education in America; my mother is a really good mother because we are always the first priority in her heart; even though my brother procrastinates all the time, but he is a considerate person who does his duty as a brother very well; I know I do not get along with my sister, but she taught a really important lesson in my life, which is “ Do unto others as others unto you.” I feel my life is no longer dissatisfying, instead, I have the brightest life compared to others.

而且,我慢慢發現小城的美,在這小城,我學到外面學不到的價值觀和平靜,透過打坐和佛學課,我學到要以理性來看待每一件事情,學習管理自己的情緒和降低慾望,並用最原始的心來處理困難。同時我們也尊重別人,尊重生命,因為這也正是對自己的尊重,當我學到人生是因為有妄想,才有煩惱時,我知道要如何以平常心看待一切的不順利。在小城,我想當史懷哲,到非洲當義工醫生的夢想得到了支持。我第一次知道原來我沒做一件可笑的事情,而是人生中最有意義的抉擇。在小城的學校,修行人老師讓我重新建立了希望,讓我知道我是特別的,我可以是一群中最閃耀的星星,我的人生將多采多姿,因為每個人都是特別的,我也是。

Gradually, I discovered the beauty of CTTB. During these three years, I learned the values and the calmness which I have never known before. Through meditation and Buddhist classes, I learned that I should solve a problem in a more rational point of view, and how to self control and understand our desires through our most original conscious.  Also, I learned how to respect others and all living things, because this is the respect toward one’s self. When I learned that we have desires because we have false thinking, I know I should not expect to much on myself and other in any difficulties. In the CTTB, my dream of being a volunteer doctor in third world country was supported. This is the first time I realize that I did not dream about an impossible mission. It is the most meaningful decision I have made in my life. In school, the cultivating teachers built up my confidence and hope by letting me know I am special. I can be the brightest star in the crowd. My life will be full of meanings because everyone is special, therefore, so am I.

聖嚴法師曾說過:「山不轉,路轉;路不轉,人轉;人不轉,心轉。」只要有對的心態,沒有不圓滿的事情,每件事都是圓滿的。

Dharma Master Sheng Yan once has said, “ if the mountain does not turn, the road will turn;if the road does not turn, the person will turn;if the person does not turn,the mind will turn” . As lone as we have the right attitude toward our life; there is no such thing as dissatisfaction.  Everything is satisfaction.

成長的經驗

Laurel Shern講於2010年10月8日星期五晚 萬佛城大殿  A talk given by Laurel Shern on October 8, 2010


諸佛菩薩、宣公上人、各位法師、各位善知識、老師、同學,阿彌陀佛,我是培德女中11年級的Laurel Shern,我今天要分享我的故事。

Buddha Bodhisatva, Venerable Master, Dharma Masters, all good knowing advisors, teachers, and students. Amitaba/Amitopho. My name is Laurel Shern. I am in 11th grade in Developing Virtues Girl School.

首先,我想先說,我並不是很了解癌症,那大概是因為我並不想知道關於癌症的細節,我並不清楚有關醫院對此癌症的治療和抗癌過程的艱辛,在這整件事中,我知道的不超過百分之五。但是,我清楚的了解當你的身邊的人得到癌症卻不知道下一秒他是否就會天人永隔的感覺。這是我在我的姊姊得到癌症時所經歷的,也因為如此,他轉變了我的人生。

Before I start, I have to admit, I don’t know much about cancer. I think it’s because I don’t want to know the details of what could happen. I don’t know what goes on at the hospital or the hardship of going through cancer. I think I know less than 5 percent of the things that went on. However, what I do know is the feeling of having someone close to you getting diagnosed with cancer, and not knowing about what could happen at any moment. This is my experience with dealing with cancer and how it changed my outlook on life.

去年九月,我的姊姊,Laurice,被診斷出得了骨癌。原來那一年的夏天,我跟姊姊一起去照胸腔的x光片,當時,醫護人員就發現姊姊得片子異常,在醫生更深入的研判後,醫生宣判了姊姊的病情,那時,我跟我的家人才知道事情的嚴重性,即使姊姊得到癌症是一個令人不敢相信的事,但是,我們仍希望這個不是一個攸關生死的病症。

My sister, Laurice, was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma last September. Last summer, my sister and I went to take a chest x-ray and they found something unusual in my sister’s scan. After further investigation, and about a month of not knowing what was in her, they found out what the problem was.  That was when my family and I realized, the thing that they had found, was serious. Before, we were anxious because we didn’t know what it was. However, we hoped that it would just be a slight problem that wasn’t a life or death matter. The fact that my sister was diagnosed with cancer was shocking.

當我知道姊姊的病情時,我驚訝到說不出話來,我想我的家人應該都是如此吧!一個十八歲,看似健康的女孩,居然生病了 ,我們都不知道要如何接受這個事實,我仍然記得,那時,我一直哭,就連上課時間也是如此,就算沒有眼淚,也忍不住地悲從衷來。

When I first received the news that my sister was diagnosed, I was numb. I guess all of my family was just shocked. Here, my sister, a healthy eighteen year old girl, was “sick”. We didn’t know what to do or how to deal with the fact. I remember crying throughout the whole school day, and still crying when my tears had dried up.

當時,父母決定姊姊要在史丹佛醫院接受治療,我的姊姊跟我的媽媽搬到阿姨家住。剛好在那時候,我的姊姊才正要上他的夢想學校,Williams,讀書。Laurice 原本並不想去醫院,但還是半推半就的去了,醫生說姊姊要接受九個月的治療,包括化療,放射線治療,和手術。

It was decided that my sister would have treatment at the Stanford hospital. My sister and my mom would live at my aunt’s house. At that time, my sister had just started attending her dream college, Williams. Laurice didn’t want to be moved, but reluctantly went. It was decided that my sister would have nine month of treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

癌症治療實在很痛苦,縱然我只看到一小部份,但我清楚地到我的姊姊在跟死神拔河,他要不是會昏倒,不然就是血壓太低,他也常常發燒,如果身上有一丁點的創傷,那有可能會是帶走他生命的致命傷,接受治療的時間,他的頭髮全掉光了,也沒有一點胃口吃東西,一直吐,他的指甲全變成黑色的,臉上也只剩下蒼白的肌膚。

Treatment was harsh. I only saw a little bit of what went on, but even from what I saw, I knew. My sister was constantly in danger. She could pass out at any moment or her blood count could be too low. She could catch a fever and with the smallest cut could endanger her whole life. During treatment, her hair fell out, she lost her appetite, her nails turned black, she turned pale, and she kept throwing up.

在這段時間,我想我應該也適應了新的生活和接受事實,但有些時候,想到姊姊的病情,我的眼淚還是忍不住掉了下來,對我來說,遠離媽媽和姊姊是一件很困難的事,我一直很想知道發生什麼事,但得到的卻總是模糊的答案,我不想要一無所知,但我想我的媽媽是為了保護我,才讓我不要知道接受化療的痛苦。有很多時候,我一直問為什麼,為什麼我姊姊得到了癌症,這是不公平的,這對Laurice和我的家人都不公平,每一件事都不公平。即使我知道這不會改善家庭的情況,但我時常情緒低落,現在來看,我沒辦法說明那時的感覺和心酸,但當我想要喚起一些情緒時,我的腦袋卻不聽使喚,自動地封鎖記憶。

I guess, throughout the whole nine month, I got use to the new lifestyle and the fact. However, there would be one or two times where I would actually realize that my sister had cancer and start crying. It was tough for me because I was away from my sister and mom. I wanted to know what was going on, but I never really did get an accurate description. I didn’t like being left in the dark. However, there’s not much to say about how horrible the treatment was, and I guess, my mom wanted to protect me from the truth. Many times, I would wonder, why. Why did it happen to my sister? Why? Why? Why? I resented the fact that my sister had cancer. Many times, I thought it was unfair. Unfair how it was Laurice that got it, unfair that my family was just apart the whole entire time, unfair at how the treatment was going. Everything was unfair. I was depressed many times, even though I knew I couldn’t really do anything about it. Even now, I can’t really describe how it felt and what I was going through. As of now, it seems as though it was ages ago, and when I try to recall some emotion, I find that my mind blocks them out.

看到化療的過程並沒有對我影響很大,因為我並沒有看到姊姊最糟糕的樣子。那時,我待在家中,用功讀書,想要拿到好成績,好讓我的父母只要擔憂我的姊姊就夠了,我不想要在`這個節骨眼上增加他們的負擔,在姊姊結束治療前,我有兩次見到他的機會,我真得很雀躍,因為以前我不把家人間的相處當成一回事,但我終於知道家人的團圓有多麼溫馨。在家時,我常常跟媽媽頂嘴,但因為這一件事,我了解道媽媽是想要讓我成長,看到他對姊姊無微不至的照顧,我了解道媽媽是有多麼愛我們姊妹,多麼盡力的幫助我們。

My experience throughout the whole treatment was all right. I wasn’t there to see my sister at her worst, so I was somewhat shielded. I just stayed at home and tried to get good grades to ease my family’s worries. They had enough to worry about without having me add to their pile. However, the two times I was able to see my sister and mom before the whole was process finished, I was delighted. I realized how important it was to actually be together as a family because before, I would just take the family bond for granted. At home, I use to argue with my mother a lot. However, after this experience, I realized that my mom was just trying to help me grow up. To see her tend to my sister for the whole time made me realize how much she loved my sister and me, and would dedicate herself into helping us.

在這段時間,或許我看起來很孤獨,因為媽媽沒在我的身旁,但也因為如此,我知道友情和獨立的重要性。一開始,我覺得朋友只是朋友,我從不了解我有多依賴他們。在姊姊接受治療時,我的朋友一直鼓舞我,讓我的想法更正面,當我需要肩膀來依靠時,他們總是在那裏陪我。還有,我也學習獨立自主,在媽媽不在時,我需要照顧好自己,把功課做好,因為並沒有人會在旁邊時時刻刻盯著我。

Many times throughout the treatment, it seemed as though I was ‘alone’ because my mom wasn’t there to help me. However, from this, I discovered the value of friendship and learned how to be independent. At first, my friends were just my friends. I never realized how much I depended on friendship before. During the treatment, my friends would always encourage me and tell me to be more optimistic. They were there when I needed a shoulder to cry on or when I just needed to talk. Also, I learned how to be independent. I needed to take care of myself and get all my schoolwork done on time. There was no one else to nag me and tell me I had to do this and that.

九個月之後,Laurice,結束他的治療了,他的頭髮又開始長回來了,健康也慢慢有起色了,在九月時,我姊姊也返校讀書,現在,他還是很難相信他進了他的夢想學校,現在的他,非常有活力,只要他有能力,他也盡量幫忙,在治療中,姊姊發現道人生是如此的短暫,所以她要享受人生,現在,她參加學校的報社和食物委員會,他也繼續學中提琴,最近,她還寫信給我,說她真的很高興能回到學校,只要在他體力允許的範圍之內,他一定會盡力的參與每一件事。我真的為我的姊姊感到非常的驕傲,經歷過抗癌的艱辛之後,他仍是這麼地樂觀,追求美好地人生。

After nine long months, Laurice finished her treatment last June. Her hair has started to grow back again and her health is better. My sister just returned back to school this September, and she still thinks that going to college is a too good to be true. As of now, my sister still remains enthusiastic and helps out whenever she cans. Laurice realizes how short life can be, and is doing everything she enjoys, while taking rests in between. [She is in the school newspaper, as well as one of the food commitees at Williams. She continues to learn and play the viola. Lately, she has wrote to me and told me how happy she is to be back at school. She wants to do as many things as she can.] As of now, I’m really proud of my sister, of how much she’s been through and how she is still optimistic and always hoping for a good future.

這九個月也改變了我的原本的人生,這一段時間,我學到生命的價值,之前,我覺得人生就只是平淡,沒有什麼意義,當一位學生,只要寫功課和考試就是我的職責,但發現到,死神可能就在不遠處時,我知道了我要感謝我每一天,此刻,我想要有一個有意義的人生,我要當一個有意義的人,我不要再在意我的外表和名氣,我知道,當我死的時候,當我回想得時候,我可以為我的人生感到驕傲,因為,人生真的很短暫。

The nine months changed my life entirely. The most important lesson I got out of the whole time, was the value of life. Before, I had thought that life was ok, but there was nothing to it. As a student, I just thought that life was just filled with homework, quizzes and tests. However, after realizing that death could be around the corner, I have appreciated the fact that I am alive today. Right now, I want to have a ‘life’. I want to be someone. I’ve stopped caring about all the little things in life, such as status or my daily looks. I realized that when I die, I want to be able to look back at my life and be proud of it. Life really, is too short. Thank you.

我的學佛因緣

李劍卓 講於2011年4月8日星期五晚 萬佛城大殿  A talk given by Lee, Jian Zhuo on April 8 (Friday evening), 2011


阿彌陀佛!諸佛菩薩、宣公上人、各位法師、各位佛友:大家晚上好!

今晚又輪到李劍卓上臺報告了。今天我講的內容也是我最初信佛,直至來到萬佛聖城的這段經歷,以此來反省自己:千里迢迢来此,不要迷失在當下,隨梆唱影,空過了光陰。

說起我最初認識佛教,應該從我擁有的第一尊觀世音菩薩像說起:我生長在黑龍江省大慶市,是一個因生產石油,而新建起的城市。在我小的時候,那兒沒有什麼寺院,我的家庭也不信佛。大概是在我10歲左右,一次和媽媽去商店,在一處賣工藝品的櫃臺前,我被一尊手拿凈瓶的滴水觀音像深深吸引了。我非常喜歡,於是懇求媽媽買給我。回家後,我有時也會拜拜這尊觀音像,家人還為此笑我:「小小年紀,在哪裡學來的?」

後來上大學時,在哈爾濱,我就經常去那裡的極樂寺。那時也不懂什麼是佛法,也不知道去問誰,只是去那兒拜拜佛,待上一會,我就覺得心裡很舒服。所以,差不多每兩個月我就去一趟。

大學畢業以後,我們舉家搬到上海。從學校畢業走入社會,生活更加豐富多彩,我也同樣按照一般人的方式,追求著所謂的幸福,就是去滿足自己種種的欲望,盡情地享受著物質生活。雖然衣食無憂,但慢慢地覺得:生活就是不斷地追求一個接著一個的欲望和目標,去努力完成這些目標,得到暫時的喜悅之後,接下來,卻是更多的擔憂和煩惱,就這樣周而復始,沒完沒了……,總覺得心是懸在那裡,沒有踏實的感覺。

我有時候想:無論你擁有什麼,房子、車、財產,這些隨時都會沒有,就連最愛我的父母,也有一天會離開我……。對於未來的迷茫和不可掌控,想到這些,我就覺得心就像在一個漆黑的深淵裡一樣恐懼。和朋友說起我的感受,他們都是覺得我杞人憂天。我就問自己:我究竟在追求些什麼呢?活著是為了什麼?難道就過這樣一輩子嗎?我開始尋找答案。後來,我學了佛法以後,受了皈依,我的心才踏實了,真正感到心有所依了;雖然沒有完全踏實,但至少我有了方向,不再迷茫了。

我真正開始學佛,是在2003年時。那一年去普陀山過年,我從那兒請回了兩本書。我那時對佛教一點概念都沒有,只是隨意選了兩本書,卻選的是禪宗公案的書。回來我一看,有點傻眼了:天啦!這些字我明明都認識,可是我怎麼看不懂呢?這一問一答的都在說些什麼呢?你問南,他指北;你問東,他答西,這看起來完全沒有關係!我想我怎麼笨成這個樣子?再多看幾次,結果還是看不懂!

就在我對自己很失望的時候,聽家人談起:奶奶的乾女兒學佛幾年,癡迷地想要出家。我聽了心裡竊喜,終於找到一個學佛的了!恰巧,那個姑姑那時也非常希望奶奶在有生之年能學習到佛法,所以,托人帶來一大摞佛書來給奶奶看。我看後大喜:一直求之不得的書出現了!高興地和奶奶說:「我先拿回去看看。」說著,就抱起書拿到我房間裡,迫切地讀起來。這些都是一些基礎的佛學書,像《為什麼要吃素》、《因果實錄》、《高僧事跡》等等。

我真是生平第一次體會到讀書如饑似渴的感覺,那感覺就像一道陽光照進了我的心理,我興奮地在心裡說:「就是我要找的!我找到了!」看著,看著,我才知道:我天天在餐桌上吃的那些肉,我從來都不曾想過,牠們是怎麼來的?而看到這些活生生的生命是怎麼被殺死的,牠們也像我們一樣,愛惜著自己的生命……。我這時才意識到自己做了些什麼。我一邊看,一邊哭,我深深地懺悔過去的無知。在吃晚餐的時候,我打開了我的房門,向家人宣布:從今天起,我開始吃素了。當時家人也沒當真,可能覺得像我這種「無肉不歡」的人,大概也就是心血來潮,說說而已。

看完了這一摞書,我還想接著再看,其中有一本書,上海佛學書局出版的,我就照著那個地址找到那個書店,那裡應該是一家中國比較正規的,佛學書籍很齊全的書店。我進去一看,這麼多的書,看得我眼花繚亂,都不知道該選哪一本好!這時,一位法師帶一位在家人進來;這個法師要了一本書,對那個在家人說:「你要看這本書,這本書很重要的。」他們買完,很快就走了。於是,我也要來了這本書,一看,這本書像字典一樣厚,心想我能看懂嗎?不管了,法師都說很重要了,就買回去看看。

可能這本書就是我和萬佛城的最初因緣了,這本書就是上人講的《楞嚴經淺釋》。回去之後,怎麼看也看不進去;不單意思難懂,繁體字也讓我看得很辛苦。一向不愛讀書的我卻不知怎麼了,今天就要想看懂這本書在講什麼。那看不進去,我就做筆記抄寫,就這樣,好像過了一道障礙之後,我就慢慢地看進去了,而且越看越覺得有意思。

在家學佛很不容易,沒有善知識的指導和同修們的提點,雖然是有各種的書,和豐富的網絡訊息,但也讓人更加沒有方向,不知道什麼才是學習的重點和次第,所以只能自己在那兒盲修瞎煉,很容易走偏了自己還不知道。我一直很想來道場和大眾共修,每次去寺院回來以後,這個想法就更加強烈。我也打聽女眾道場的情況,曾經想去看過兩個道場,但似乎因緣總是不具足,所以一直都沒有去成。

在家學佛那一段,在我非常困難的時候,就會有夢境适時地來指引和教導我。這樣的夢不像是在做夢,大概是在凌晨的時候,都很清楚、很真實的,之後就會在夢境中醒來。那時,就在我迫切地找道場時,我一直求觀世音菩薩給我指點,哪裡才是我有緣的道場?當時就曾有兩個夢境來指引。

我有一段時間,特別喜歡看禪宗公案和講關於明心見性的書,成天心裡反覆琢磨著這些道理。有一天下午看著這本書,看著看著……我睡著了,夢見自己做錯了什麼事。之後我在洗澡,而對面懸掛著一臺電視,電視裡是在給我講法,講的原話我記不清了,大概的意思就是:明心見性不是想出來的,是要自淨其心。我醒了之後,明白這個夢的寓意是在告訴我:我現在有很多的習氣毛病,洗澡就是要我洗塵除垢;學佛,不能只在這兒研究理論,要放下身心去力行,實踐佛法,不能再耽誤時間了,要下決定找道場了。

在來聖城的兩年前,有一個早上又有一個夢境:我在處理結束一些事情之後,就鄭重其事地跟爸爸說:「我要出國了」,然後就醒來了;醒來知道這個夢是有意義的,但我想不通我出國做什麼。本來2004年是要來美國的,但是我放棄了。自從學佛以後,我哪兒都不想去,也覺得學佛當然應該是在中國了。我就想:出國是什麼意思呢?慢慢地想:是去國外的道場?去哪個國家呢?再想:要準備這些麻煩的出國手續,算了吧!還是等機緣再說吧!

我就先做好了去道場的準備,就這樣,一晃兩年過去了。我的好朋友來美國辦事,有一天打電話給我,急迫地希望我來能美國陪她,這時我知道:時候到了。於是我就開始辦理簽證,很快很順利地就辦理好了簽證。來到美國之後,有一位住在鳳凰城的朋友,她是我來美國之前一年認識的,她知道我來此的心意,而那時又正是她老公的假期,於是,就在我來美國的第三天,他們夫婦就駕車帶我從洛杉磯一路來到了萬佛城,到的那天正是觀音七的禪三。

本來,我在美國是沒有一個認識的人。說起來,這個朋友認識的因緣也挺有意思,回過頭去看才知道:原來是冥冥中早有安排。來聖城以後,就再沒再有那種特別的夢境來指點我了。我想,也許是因為現在天天都在上人的指點和教導中了吧?想想自己學佛以來,一路曲曲折折,最後能來到聖城,真是慶幸自己在這個末法時代裡,竟然能夠來到這個正法的道場。

雖然我沒有那個福報見到上人,但我覺得上人一直都在,就像昨天晚上上人的禪七開示裡說的:「師父領進門,修行在個人。已經給你們指出成佛的路了,走不走還是看你自己。」那就老老實實地去實踐上人的教導,那上人又何曾離開過我們呢?!阿彌陀佛!