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上人來美後，早期的信眾，大多數是西方人。這些人來自不同的民族，有著不同的文化背景。他們對傳統的佛教原理、儀軌，一無所知。所以上人必須要加以引導，並再三解釋每一種佛事活動及法會的程序、儀式等等，直至他的常隨弟子們瞭解和吸收了這方面的知識。這是上人在放生法會上，指導他的弟子及信眾，把裝有鳥的箱子排成一個「佛」字。 |
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In the early years of the Master's teaching, the assembly was primarily composed of Westerners who, regardless of their race and cultural backgrounds, knew virtually nothing about the traditional principles and practices of orthodox Buddhism. Thus, it was necessary for the Master to guide and direct, to teach and explain each procedure, ritual, ceremony and so forth over and over until the growing group of disciples who always followed him assimilated the knowledge and understanding. Here the Master is shown helping disciples and friends of the Dharma to arrange the crates, which contain birds about to be set free, into the form of the Chinese character for
“Buddha” prior to the Liberating Life Ceremony.
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