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一九七八年 馬來西亞 |
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1978 Malaysia |
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上人在東南亞弘法時，比丘恒朝（左邊）及沙彌果童（右邊）也同行。在馬來西亞時，兩人都因病而住在病房裡。因恒朝的病變得很嚴重，上人就叫比丘恒實二十四小時守護著他。一天下午，果童在念〈大悲咒〉時，打起瞌睡來，他突然看見無常鬼乘著一股冷風而來，三位僧人都感覺到這股冷風。戴著高帽、瘦長的無常鬼對果童說，時辰已到，要果童跟他走。果童怕得發抖，在這生死關頭，立即精進地持念〈大悲咒〉，無常鬼便消失了。
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When the Master went to Southeast Asia to propagate the Dharma, his delegation included Bhikshu Heng Chau (far left) and Shramanera Guo Tung (far right). During that visit to Malaysia, Bhikshu Heng Chau fell ill. Guo Tung also fell ill and joined him in the sick room. Heng Chau’s illness became critical and the Master appointed Bhikshu Heng Sure to attend and keep 24-hour watch over him. One evening things were grave and Guo Tung, who had dozed off during his recitation of the Great Compassion Mantra, suddenly saw the Ghost of Impermanence come in, riding on a cold wind that all three monks perceived as it blew through the room. Wearing a tall hat and looking thin and foreboding, the Ghost of Impermanence announced to Guo Tung that it was his time to go. Guo Tung shivered with fear and picked up his recitation of the Great Compassion Mantra with life-and-death vigor. The Ghost disappeared.
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當時，恒朝已陷入半昏迷狀態，只有上人能喚醒他。每次上人在一整天的巡迴弘法之後，還不顧勞倦地去探望他。上人會很慈悲地握著他的手，在這時，恒朝就慢慢地睜開眼睛，意識到周圍發生的事。
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Meanwhile Heng Chau had fallen into a semi-coma. Only the Master could arouse him when he came to visit in the late evenings despite his weariness at the end of long days of lecture tours with the delegation. The Master would compassionately take Heng Chau’s hand, and at that gesture, Heng Chau would slowly open his eyes and become aware of his surroundings.
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閻羅王要帶他走，最後上人用手印寫了個命令，說他的弟子虔誠地為佛教奉獻，無論如何也不能將他帶走。閻羅王最後被說服了，恒朝才逐漸復原。
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King Yama wanted him, and finally the Master had to use a mudra to write a mandate to King Yama. He said that this disciple was sincere and dedicated and that under no circumstances should King Yama take him yet. It took some persuasion, but in the end King Yama yielded and Heng Chau recovered.
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從這次的經歷中，這兩位出家人知道了打妄想的危險，並更加地在心地上用功，防止污濁念頭侵入。
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From these experiences, both monks learned about the dangers of false thinking and increased their cultivation of the mind-ground to try to prevent defiled thoughts from entering.
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復原之後，上人很慈悲地告訴恒朝：「我盡了最大的努力來說服閻羅王，讓你繼續活著。因此你出家幾年所累積的功德已經用完了。但別擔心，你可以繼續積功累德，為佛法努力精進。」
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After Heng Chau’s recovery, the Master kindly advised him,
“I had to use every effort to persuade King Yama to let you live on,
and so all the merit and virtue you had amassed so far in your years
as a monk has been used up. But don’t worry, you can generate more.
You should apply yourself diligently and work hard for the Dharma!”
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