黃親月居士2025年6月21日講於萬佛聖城大殿

諸佛菩薩、宣公上人、法師和法友們，阿彌陀佛。我是親月。今天是我第二次上台分享，想與大家談談一些修行上的心得與體會。若有講得不如法或不如理之處，懇請大家慈悲指正。
All Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Venerable Master Hua, Dharma Masters and All Dharma Friends. Amitabha! I am Chin Yue. Today is my second time sharing and I would like to share some thoughts and experiences on spiritual cultivation. If there is anything improper or not in accord with the Dharma, I sincerely ask for your compassionate guidance and correction.

我現在負責照顧女校宿舍的飲食，也要留意宿舍的安全。乍看之下，煮飯似乎是一個很適合修行的機會，但越是反省，越發現並不那麼簡單，反而很容易生起種種煩惱。
Currently, I am responsible for taking care of the meals at the girls’ dormitory, and I also have to watch over the safety of the dorm. At first glance, cooking seems like a great opportunity for cultivation, but the more I reflect on it, the more I realize it’s not that simple. In fact, it’s actually quite easy for various afflictions to arise.

為什麼會生煩惱呢？如果煮得太多，就會剩下很多；煮得太少，孩子們吃不飽，有時候還得自己煮泡麵。連該煮多少菜，有時候都要看天氣。天氣冷的時候，孩子們胃口大——如果剛好煮的是他們喜歡吃的，他們就會吃得特別多，結果就不夠大家分。但若天氣太熱，他們又吃不下，煮得太多就剩下來了。這時候我就會開始煩惱，不知道該怎麼處理這些剩菜剩飯。
Why do afflictions arise? If I cook too much, there will be a lot of leftovers; if I cook too little, the children won’t have enough to eat, and sometimes they even have to make instant noodles themselves. Even deciding how much to cook sometimes depends on the weather. When it’s cold, the children’s appetites grow—and if I happen to cook something they really like, they’ll eat even more, and it ends up not being enough for everyone. But when it’s too hot, they don’t have much appetite, and if I make too much, it gets left over. At times like these, I start to feel afflicted, not knowing what to do with all the leftover food.

有一天，我遇到一位法師，便請教她說：「我來這裡快一年了，到底我是在修什麼呢？怎麼覺得自己的煩惱還是這麼多？」法師很慈悲地對我開示：「修行就是修這顆心，把煩惱一點一滴去除。我們要慢慢磨練自己，要有耐心。有一天功夫成熟了，習氣自然會淡化。別人讚歎你的時候，不要太高興；別人批評你的時候，也不要生氣。我們就是這樣，一步一步，把壞習氣改掉，把這顆心修好。」
One day, I met a Dharma Master and asked her, “I’ve been here for almost a year—what exactly am I cultivating? Why do I still feel like I have so many afflictions?” The Dharma Master compassionately gave me this teaching: “Cultivation is about working on this very mind, gradually removing afflictions bit by bit. We have to patiently train ourselves. When your practice matures one day, your bad habits will naturally fade. When others praise you, don’t get overly happy; when others criticize you, don’t get angry. This is the way we practice—step by step, we work on transforming bad habits and refining our minds.”

當我反省這個過程時，發現自己常常把煮飯的事情擺在修行之前。有時候一忙起來，就顧著煮飯，結果就忽略了自己的日常功課。那位法師提醒我，修行應該擺在第一位，煮飯可以學著簡單一點，才不會每天花太多時間在備菜上。她也鼓勵我，等到秋天課程調整後，要盡量安排時間去聽宣公上人的晚間講經。
When I reflect on this process, I realize that I often put my cooking duties before my cultivation. Sometimes I focus so much on cooking that I neglect my own daily recitation practice. The Dharma Master reminded me that cultivation should come first and that I should learn to simplify the meals so I don’t have to spend so much time prepping. She also encouraged me to readjust my schedule in the fall semester so I can attend the evening lectures by Venerable Master.

我真的非常感恩常住法師們，以及所有在廚房發心的義工。每天煮飯真的不是一件容易的事。你想想看，他們要為這麼多人準備午餐，有時甚至是幾百人一起吃。如果煮得太多，就會剩下；煮得太少，大家又吃不夠。但他們總是這麼有耐心、這麼慈悲，默默地付出。
I want to say that I truly feel very grateful for the Dharma Masters and volunteers in the kitchen. Cooking every day is really not easy. Just think about it—they have to prepare lunch for so many people, sometimes hundreds at a time. If they cook too much, there will be leftovers. If they cook too little, it’s not enough. Yet they are always so patient and compassionate, quietly giving of themselves.

這個過程讓我想起《地藏經》第四品中的一段經文：
「佛告地藏菩薩：一切眾生未解脫者，性識無定，惡習結業，善習結果，為善為惡，逐境而生。輪轉五道，暫無休息，動經塵劫，迷惑障難，如魚游網，將是長流，脫入暫出，又復遭網。以是等輩，吾當憂念。」
This process made me reflect on a passage from Chapter 4 of the Earth Store Sutra:
“Then the Buddha told Earth Store Bodhisattva, ‘Beings who have not yet obtained liberation have unfixed natures and consciousnesses. Their bad habits reap bad karma; their good habits bring rewards. Reacting to situations by committing good or evil deeds causes them to turn in the Five Paths without a moment’s rest. Throughout eons as numerous as dust motes they remain confused, deluded, obstructed, and afflicted by difficulties. They are like fish swimming through waters laced with nets. They may slip through and keep their freedom temporarily, but sooner or later they will be caught. I am concerned about such beings.’”

每當我誦讀這段經文時，心中都會生起一種深切的感觸。我忽然覺得，也許自己在前世也曾經修行過某種法門，但因為沒有真正用心實踐，才在今生仍然感到迷惘和不明。我們一次又一次地來來去去，就像魚游在網中，時而掙脫，時而又被困住，從未真正獲得解脫與自由。
When I recited this passage, I suddenly felt that perhaps in a past life I did engage in some kind of cultivation—but I failed to truly practice well. Even in this present life, I still feel lost and muddled. We come and go, again and again—just like fish, swimming in and out, caught and released, but never truly free.

成為長期素食者之後，我常常將功德迴向，希望我的親戚們也能慢慢走向素食的生活。他們住在紐約市，平常都很喜歡吃肉。但每次我回去探訪，都會為他們和朋友們準備各式各樣的素食料理。我嘗試把一些原本用肉的菜譜改良成蔬菜版本，味道依然美味可口。
After becoming a long-term vegetarian, I often dedicate the merit of my practice, hoping that my relatives will gradually move toward a vegetarian lifestyle as well. They live in New York City and usually enjoy eating meat. But every time I go back to visit, I prepare a variety of vegetarian dishes for them and my friends. I try to adapt certain recipes that usually require meat, making them delicious with vegetables instead.

剛開始我們家轉為素食時，親戚們普遍有些誤解，認為素食營養不夠，以為只是吃青菜和豆腐而已。於是我用一個方便法門——就是親手做出美味的素食菜餚，希望讓他們能減少吃肉，慢慢接觸素食。我花了好幾年學習如何把素食做得既營養又好吃，現在我的親戚們也越來越喜歡素食了。
When my family first became vegetarian, there was a common misconception that vegetarians don’t get enough nutrition. Many people thought it was just about eating green vegetables and tofu. One of the skillful means I used was to cook flavorful vegetarian dishes for my relatives, hoping they would eat less meat and gradually embrace a vegetarian lifestyle. Over the years, I have learned how to make vegetarian dishes that are both nutritious and delicious, and my relatives have come to enjoy them.

有一次，我的嫂子說：「如果每天都能吃到你做的菜，我也可以天天吃素。」現在回想起來，我的許多親戚已經開始在農曆初一和十五吃素了。我的小嬸（小叔的太太）現在也已經是完全的素食者了。

My sister-in-law once commented, “If I could eat the way you cook, I could be vegetarian every day.” Now that I think about it, more of my relatives eat vegetarian meals on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month. The wife of my husband’s younger brother is now a full-time vegetarian.

此外，在我的工作場所，我有許多西班牙裔的同事，他們大多都很喜歡吃肉。我常常為他們準備素炒麵當午餐。他們吃了之後都很驚訝，沒想到素食竟然可以這麼好吃。我會多做一些，讓他們打包帶回家與家人分享。他們非常喜歡我的炒麵，甚至有同事願意出錢請我幫他們聚會做菜，但我都婉拒了，告訴他們我很樂意無償分享這些素食料理給他們與家人。
Also, at my workplace, I have many Hispanic colleagues who mostly enjoy eating meat. I often prepare vegetarian stir-fried noodles for them as lunch. After tasting it, they are always surprised that vegetarian food can be so delicious. I make extra so they can take some home to share with their families. They really like my stir-fried noodles—even some colleagues have offered to pay me to cook for their gatherings—but I always politely decline, telling them I’m happy to share these vegetarian dishes with them and their families free of charge.

這些年來，也有一些人邀請我一起開素食餐廳，但我婉轉地拒絕了。我說，自己年紀已大，沒有那個精力創業。不過，我的一位前主管特別喜歡我做的炒麵，即使我已搬到加州，她還是會傳訊息問我，下次回德州能不能到她家裡，一步步教她怎麼做素炒麵。
Over the years, many people even approached me about starting a vegetarian restaurant together, but I declined and told them I was too old to start a business now. One of my former managers loved my noodles so much that even after I came here to California, she would still text me and hope that when I return back to Texas, I could go to her house and teach her step by step how to cook vegetable stir-fried noodles.

我的初心一直都是分享素食料理與食譜，推廣素食文化。每當有人來請教，我也總是樂於教導他們素食的做法。
My intention has always been to share vegetarian food and recipes with others and to promote vegetarian eating. I also enjoy teaching others vegetarian recipes whenever they ask me.

這次夏令營期間，我看到有幾位已經大學畢業的女生回來探訪。我注意到她們對老師非常尊敬，也願意自願投入時間與心力來服務學校。此外，還有一些正在就讀大學的女生，也回來擔任夏令營的輔導員。這讓我感受到，這裡的學生真的是非常優秀，她們品德善良、心地正直，身心健康，對長輩充滿敬意，對每個人都很有禮貌。
During this summer camp, I saw several girls who had graduated from college come back to visit. I noticed how respectful they were toward their teachers, and how willingly they volunteered their time and effort to help the school. In addition, some of the girls who are still in college came back to be summer camp counselors. This made me feel that the students who study here are truly outstanding. They have kind and upright character, as well as good physical and mental health. They are very respectful to elders and very polite toward everyone.

當然，也有一些學生剛來的時候，還不太習慣這裡的生活。我曾問一位學生：「妳習慣這裡了嗎？」她說：「還沒有。」我接著問：「那妳為什麼要來呢？」她說：「是我媽媽叫我來的。」我再問：「那妳媽媽為什麼要妳來呢？」她回答：「她說我在這裡學到的東西，會受用一輩子。」
Of course, some campers aren’t very accustomed to life here when they first arrive. I once asked a student, ‘Have you gotten used to it here?’ She said, ‘Not yet.’ I then asked, ‘So why did you come?’ She replied, ‘My mother told me to come.’ I asked again, ‘Why did your mother want you to come?’ She answered, ‘She said that what I learn here will benefit me for a lifetime.’

當我聽到這句話時，內心非常感動。我心想：哇，這位母親真有智慧。這句話說得真對——在這裡學到的，不只是知識，更是受用一生的品格與態度。
When I heard this, I was deeply moved. I thought to myself, ‘Wow, this mother is truly wise.’ What she said is so true—what we learn here is not just knowledge, but character and attitude that benefit us for a lifetime.

每位學生的狀況其實都不太一樣。有些學生是被父母半強迫地送來，但後來反而喜歡上了團體生活，並在宿舍中學會獨立；也有些學生本來就喜歡這種寧靜的環境，很快就能適應。
Very often, each student’s situation is actually quite different. Some were somewhat reluctantly sent here by their parents but later grew to enjoy camp life and learned to be independent in the dormitory; others already liked this peaceful environment and were able to adapt quickly.

有一天午後，天氣特別炎熱。有位學生跑來請我開冷氣。我說：「除非真的很需要，否則盡量不要開冷氣。」她說：「真的太熱了，熱得快受不了了。」我想了想，就說：「好吧，我們先開一個小時，讓房間稍微涼一下，然後再關掉。 妳也可以改用電風扇。把窗戶和門關起來，風扇一開，也會慢慢涼下來。」
One afternoon, it was very hot, and one student asked me to turn on the air conditioning. I said, “Try not to use the AC unless it’s really necessary.” She said, “It’s so hot, unbearably hot.” I thought for a moment and said, “Alright, let’s turn on the air conditioner for an hour to cool the room a bit, then we’ll turn it off. You can also switch to using a fan. If you close the windows and doors, the fan will help cool the room gradually.”

我還告訴她：「你媽媽真的很有智慧，讓你來這裡，是希望你能親身體會、親自了解。有些地方非常貧窮，連冷氣都沒有。並不是每個國家、每個家庭都像這裡一樣。所以你能有這樣的經歷，其實是很珍貴的。」
I also told her, “Your mother is truly wise to send you here, hoping you can experience and understand things for yourself. There are places that are very poor, without even air conditioning. Not every country or family is like this. So having this kind of experience is actually very precious.”

我也和學生們分享：將來無論你們在社會上扮演什麼角色，都要學會適應各種環境。我們每週都會安排分組，讓學生輪流負責打掃、洗廁所、洗碗，或者幫忙餐廳工作——大家一起努力、互相配合。這種合作與實作的經驗，會對妳們日後的人生產生深遠的影響。不論是在家庭中，還是職場上，這些經歷都會成為很重要的養分。
I shared with the student that no matter what roles you play in society in the future, you must learn to adapt to different environments. Every week, students have to learn to work in teams for cleaning, washing toilets, doing dishes, and helping in the dining hall—we all work together. This kind of cooperation and hands-on learning will truly benefit you throughout your life. In the future, whether it’s in your own family or in your career, it will help you tremendously.

接下來，我想跟大家分享一個往生牌位的故事。我有一位認識多年的朋友，她平時只會在農曆新年初一上香拜佛，或是逢初一、十五吃素。但當我們後來長期吃素、常常去寺廟後，她卻時常批評我們，問我：「你們為什麼那麼常跑去寺廟？你女兒都那麼大了，怎麼還不結婚？你們到底在寺廟裡做什麼？」甚至還會開玩笑說：「吃素幹嘛？吃點肉比較營養！」
Next, I would like to share a story about a rebirth plaque. I have a friend whom I’ve known for many years. Normally, she would only visit a temple to offer incense on the first day of the Lunar New Year, or occasionally eat vegetarian meals on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month. But after we became long-term vegetarians and frequently visited temples, she often criticized us, asking, “Why do you go to the temple so often? Your daughter is already grown—why isn’t she married yet? What exactly are you doing at the temple?” She would even joke, “Why bother eating vegetarian? Eating some meat is more nutritious!”

我從來沒有和她爭辯，只是笑著說：「吃素對我們身心有益。 妳吃妳的，我吃我的，我們不需要爭論這件事。」
I wouldn’t argue with her. I just smiled and said, “Being vegetarian is good for our body and mind. You eat what you want, and I’ll eat what I want. There’s no need to argue about it.”

因此，我們後來就很少聯絡了。因為每次聊天，話題總是圍繞這些問題，我也不再主動找她說話。
Because of that, I rarely contacted her. Our conversations didn’t have common ground. Every time we chatted, these same questions would come up again, so I didn’t contact her very often.

後來她過世了，而我完全不知道。我曾打了兩三通電話給她，都沒人接。我記得上一次見面時她身體已經不太舒服，於是開始擔心她的情況，就去問另一位朋友為什麼都聯絡不上她。那位朋友說：「我在報紙的訃聞欄看到她的名字，但那時她已經過世一週了。」
When she passed away, I didn’t know. I called her two or three times, but no one answered. I remembered she was sick the last time I saw her, so I started wondering what happened. I asked another friend why I couldn’t reach her. My friend told me, “I saw her obituary in the newspaper. But by the time I saw it, it had already been a week since she passed.”

得知這件事後，我立刻在觀音法會中為她寫了一個牌位。過沒多久，有一晚我夢見她，她對我說：「我已皈依宣化上人。」這段經歷我至今記憶猶新，醒來時心裡只有一個念頭：哇，真的是不可思議。
After learning about this, I immediately wrote a rebirth plaque for her during the Guan Yin Session. Not long after, one night I had a dream of her. In the dream, she told me, “I have taken refuge with Venerable Master Hsuan Hua.” This experience remains vivid in my memory to this day. When I woke up, I thought to myself, Wow—this is truly inconceivable.

這件事讓我深刻體會到，為往生者設立牌位，是一件非常有意義，也極具力量的事。即使一個人在世時與佛法沒有多深的因緣，往生之後仍然可以透過牌位的功德，得到幫助與轉化。這也是為什麼我常常鼓勵他人，若有親友往生，能替他們設立一個牌位，是一種極大的福報，他們真的能得到佛菩薩的加持與護佑。
This experience gave me a deep understanding that setting up a rebirth plaque for the deceased is something truly meaningful and powerful. Even if a person didn’t have a strong connection with the Dharma during their lifetime, through the merit generated from the plaque after their passing, they can still receive help and transformation. This is why I often encourage others—if they have relatives or friends who have passed away, establishing a rebirth plaque for them is a tremendous blessing. They can truly receive the blessings and protection of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

還有一件小事想分享。我每天睡前，都會持誦〈大悲咒〉七遍當作日常修行。但自從來到這裡後，日子變得忙碌，有時候太累了，就沒有持誦。結果有一次，一位很熟的法友告訴我，他夢見我那天晚上沒有誦咒。
There’s also another experience I’d like to share. Every night before going to bed, I recite the Great Compassion Mantra seven times as part of my daily practice. But ever since I came here, my schedule has become busy, and sometimes I’m so tired that I skip the recitation. Then one time, a close Dharma friend told me that he had a dream and saw that I didn’t recite the mantra one night.

這讓我感受到，佛菩薩其實一直都在照顧我們，也在提醒我們要勤修精進。即使有時候我們自己懈怠了，也會有人，不論是在夢中或現實中，適時地提醒我們，要記得回到正念與修行的初心。阿彌陀佛。

This made me realize that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have always been watching over us, gently reminding us to diligently cultivate and make progress. Even when we become lax at times, there will always be someone—whether in dreams or in real life—who reminds us at just the right moment to return to mindfulness and to the original intention of our practice. Amitofo.