|
1. Introduction In this volume we
have recorded all the work that the Master did in the propagation
of Dharma. When the Delegation Group from the Dharma Realm
Buddhist Association reached a place, audiences swarmed to see
them. In Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, young people were
attracted to attend lectures. In Taiwan, thousands of people took
refuge when the Master carried out the Ceremony of Protecting the
Country and Quelling Disasters. In Europe, in the countries of
England, France, Poland and Belgium, both the Mahayana and
Theravada Buddhists joined as one family in dialogue with the
Master. Despite his illness, the Master did not complained about
any hardship as he travelled about, even though he was mentally
and physically exhausted. In 1995, despite the fact that the
Master was sick in bed, he still gave his personal attention to
the group of young Sramaneras (novice monks), in whom he placed
high hopes. The Master was intent on educating them to be the next
generation of Buddhists that would carry out the responsibility of
the propagating the Buddha Dharma. We sincerely hope that the four
assemblies of disciples do not to forget the intention of our
Master and that each offers his talents, endeavoring to make
Buddhism a shrine. The Master was born into a
destitute family and lived in the deserted countryside. Since his
family was poor, he could only attended Chinese traditional school
for two and half years. But, because he read Mahayana texts day
and night, with special interest in the Avatamsaka, he was
inspired to follow the spirit of the Mahabodhisattvas. He was
willing to give up himself for the sake of others. He vowed to
help all others attaining liberation before he would attain
Buddhahood. After he left home at the age of nineteen and observed
filial piety by accompanying his deceased mother at her tomb site,
he made eighteen great vows according to the basics of the four
grand devotions. His mind was engaged in thoughts of helping
living beings; his vows were based on total compassion and
kindness. To summarize the vows of the Master in a sentence: "If
there is even one living being who has not yet become a Buddha, I
will not attain the Right Enlightenment." With a heart like that
of a Bodhisattva, no wonder the Master was destined to promulgate
the Dharma to benefit and save the world and its people. If this
person were not a Bodhisattva who came back to this world as an
ordinary person, he must be a Buddha transformed. During his
observance of filial piety by the grave, all day long he sat
inside a roughly constructed small A-shaped cottage and meditated.
One day, when he was in samadhi, he saw the Sixth Patriarch give
him instructions, "You have good conditions in the West.You should
protect the Proper Dharma and bring the Dharma to a new
territory." When the Second World War ended in 1945,
everyone thought that peace and happiness would soon come to the
country and its people. But who would have guessed that the
Communist movement rekindled right after that. The Communism
received help from the Soviet Union, and waved its flag
independently. Fighting and wars continued in the northern part of
China. People could hardly survived. Fortunately at that time
people could still travel from one province to another without
restrictions. Remembering the Sixth Patriarch's words, the Master
decided to go to Nan Hua Monastery in Shao Quan County, Kwangtung
Province to bow to the existing real body of the Sixth Patriarch
(naturally preserved since the Tang dynasty) and to pay his
respects to the authority in Chan, Elder Master Hsu Yun. The
Master left Northeast China and began travelling south in 1946. At
Pu To Mountain, he received the complete precepts at the Fa Yu
Monastery. Shortly thereafter he arrived at Cao Xi.
 Of
course, the Elder Master Hsu Yun, who was an enlightened,
bright-eyed advisor, realized who the Master was when he saw him.
At that time an American Upasika named Ananda Jennings who held
Elder Master Hsu Yun in high regard, came and lived in Nan Hua
Monastery with the help of the Chinese and American Embassies. She
wished to draw near to this respected and virtuous Chan Master.
"Come here, Dharma Master An Tze, let's take a picture with this
Upasika. She's from America. The Americans do not know much about
Buddhism. I'm old now. You young people must bring Buddhism to
every place in the world where there is no Dharma." admonished
Elder Master Hsu Yun. The three are shown in the photo. That was
the first time that the Master created an affinity with Americans.
In 1949, the Master, according with conditions, came to Hong Kong.
Following the Master was a young college graduate, Upasaka Guo Yi
(Heng Ting) who had taken refuge with the Master in Fung Tian,
Northern China. At that time, when he begged the Master for
permission to leave home, he was turned down. But he was
determined.
When he found out that the Master had gone to Nan
Hua Monastery, he rushed through province after province in order
to catch up with him. At that time, the Communists, who were
gaining power, laid siege to one place after the other. The
Nationalists retreated to Taiwan. It was a strange situation: it
always happened that only after Dharma Master Guo Yi left a city
did the Communists arrive and transportation was cut off. Heaven
will help those who are sincere!
Dharma Master Heng Ting finally found the Master at the Nan Hua Monastery. He
received the tonsure ceremony and took the complete Bhikshu
Precepts in the Nan Hua Monastery. Later on he accepted the
position of an assistant professor in the Nan Hua Vinaya School
and taught Classical Chinese. During that time, he received the
Master's teaching in-depth. To stop the extinction of the Proper
Dharma, he memorized the Surangama Sutra in one year. |
