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The Master had asked to me stay and sweep leaves
because he wanted me to distance myself from
the pursuit of fame and profit.
I feel very honored to come to Hong Kong to participate in the Venerable Master's Memorial Ceremony with the delegation from the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Today I would like to share some of my feelings about the City with everyone.
When I went to the City in the fall over two years ago, the Master was very kind to me. One day he asked me when I was returning to Taiwan. When I told him, he said, "Why don't you stay a little longer?" I thought it strange that the Master would want me to stay, but after some consideration, I decided to listen to his advice and stay at the City.
When I first started living at the City, I didn't know what work to do, so I swept the leaves on the streets of the City. I don't know why, but sweeping leaves made me feel extremely happy. One day as I was sweeping, the Master's third elder brother, who is ninety-two this year, walked over and said,
The Master says we should keep you here to sweep
leaves and not let you return to Taiwan.
"Oh," I thought, "so that's why the Master wanted me to stay--to help sweep leaves."
Later I saw in front of the Buddha hall a "Sweeping Song" composed by the Master. It goes,
Sweep, sweep, sweep the mind ground
Telling us to sweep the filth and defilement from our minds. It suddenly dawned on me that we live in this evil world of five turbidities, deluded by the desires for wealth, form, fame, food, and sleep. The Master had asked me to stay and sweep leaves because he wanted me to distance myself from the pursuit of fame and profit. Today I just wanted to take the opportunity to express my gratitude to the Master for what he taught me.
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