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How fortunate I am to have been able to set foot inside the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas! I have been even more fortunate, for I was able to leave the home-life under a greatly virtuous monk who upheld the precepts sternly and taught with skillful expedients, sometimes with awesome fury, sometimes with friendly smiles and gentle kindness.
Just as I was rejoicing in my good fortune for having found a wise teacher who could guide me in the proper direction, my teacher walked too fast, leaving me in the dark without a lamp, leaving me filled with regrets. I regret that I didn't have the blessings to receive further teachings from my wise teacher. I regret that I didn't let go of my attachments to wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep, and to my children, earlier－I was too late.
The Master was a compassionate father who regarded all his disciples－old and young, left-home and at-home－with equal kindness, teaching and caring for them with careful attentiveness. I remember when I met with the Master in his office in order to seek his permission to leave the home-life. When I was about to leave after the meeting, it was drizzling outside. The Master asked, “Have you taken dinner yet? Where are you going?” “We are practicing not taking dinner, but we're going to the dining hall because it's our turn to cook dinner.” The Master rose and invited us to ride in his little car back to the dining hall. We could hardly imagine accepting the Master's offer, but he insisted that we get in the car. Out of respect, we obeyed－it was truly a case of “the teacher saving you when you are confused.” What a pity－we are still confused, but our teacher has already left! We can only be very cautious and stick closely to the Master's Three Great Principles: “Freezing, we do not scheme; starving, we do not beg; dying of poverty, we ask for nothing. According with conditions, we do not change; not changing, we accord with conditions.” We should also observe the Six Guidelines: no fighting, no greed, no seeking, no selfishness, no self-benefiting, and no lying. We should always wear our precept sashes and take only one meal a day, so that we can take ourselves across. I believe the Master's Dharma body is all-pervasive throughout space and the Dharma Realm. As long as we sincerely practice the Way, the Master will always protect us.
With every thought sincere, every thought penetrates;
There's an imperceptible and silent response.
I would just like to share these thoughts and offer encouragement to everyone.
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