At least I got to see the
Venerable Master!
I am an alumnus of the
National China Central University in Guangzhou,
mainland China. As early as the 1970's, I read of
the Venerable Master's lone journey to America to
propagate the Buddhadharma, a feat similar to that
of Dharma Master Jianzhen. I began to think of the
Venerable Master and of the City of Ten Thousand
Buddhas day and night. I hoped that one day I might
meet the Venerable Master and hear his teachings in
person. It was not until June 28, 1995, that I had
an opportunity to go to America (at the invitation
of the American Medical Academic Exchange Society).
As soon as I got off the plane in Los Angeles, I
made inquiries and was shocked to hear the Venerable
Master had completed the stillness on June 8. After
yearning for twenty years, I had missed by only
twenty days. Ah! (A Dharma sister from Taiwan found
the Venerable Master after only two years of
searching─how lucky she is!)
Still, I didn't come to
America in vain. During the farewell ceremony
preceding the cremation, I finally got to see the
Venerable Master! Today I have to go back to Los
Angeles with my group. Before I leave, I'd like to
share with the Dharma Masters some vows of this
little ant who has studied Buddhism for forty years:
1. I vow that all living
beings will learn the Dharma-door of perfect
penetration through the ear that Guanyin Bodhisattva
teaches in the Shurangama Sutra and realize
the Great Shurangama Samadhi. (As the Venerable
Master said, “The Bodhisattva is like the clear and
cool moon, constantly travelling in ultimate
space.”)
2. I vow that living beings will soon reach Amitabha Buddha's Land of Ultimate Bliss (Among the Venerable Master's Eighteen Great Vows, this is his vow that if living beings have not become Buddhas, he will not attain the Right Enlightenment.)
3. I vow that the world will soon turn into the Pure Land of Eternal Stillness and Light. (A verse in the
Flower Adornment Sutra says, “Everything is made from the mind alone.” If everyone recites the Buddha's name, then the Pure Land is in the world, right in front of us.)
Forgive my offenses with kindly patience.
Pardon his wrongs with a greatly compassionate mind.
With vows of equality, advance vigorously.
With wisdom and samadhi, the precepts pearl is bright.
── Composed by the Venerable Master Hua on March 10, 1984,
at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
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