化東法師東北人，幼年失學，長而皈依倓虛老法師出家修道。雖不識字，但好學不輟。南遊就學寧波觀宗寺，追隨諦閑老法師，雖目不識丁，然習經學教十餘年，憑記問之功，居然能升大座，暢談佛法，辯才橫溢。老實念佛，過午不食，衲衣儉樸，道心彌堅。後於蘇洲靈巖山往生，堪稱末法龍象，人天師表。
註解：
化東法師個子很矮，但精神很飽滿。他是東北人，年輕的時候沒有讀書，長大了想要出家，拜倓虛老法師為師。雖然他不識字，但勤於求學。隨後到南方寧波觀宗寺跟諦閑老法師學習經教，入天臺宗的佛學院聽講天臺教。
他雖然笨拙，每天記幾個字，不懂的就低聲下氣向旁人耐心求教，絲毫不懶惰，精神難能可貴。經過十幾年居然學會講經說法，字也學會了，所謂「鐵杵磨繡針，功到自然成。」
當他在蘇州靈巖山住時，我也在那兒住。我那時二十多歲，我倆常在佛學院一起研究佛學，所以我對這位法師很了解。他坐在繩床上每日用功修行，住在寶塔，上殿過堂從不懶惰。他升大座的時候，講得頭頭是道，辯才橫溢。
他平時吃得很少，過午不食，衣著簡樸，穿的衲袍洗得很乾淨，補了很多補丁。化東法師道心堅固，老實念佛，後來在蘇州靈巖山往
生。堪稱末法法門龍象，做人天的師表。
偈曰：
出家修道志求學，
切磋琢磨品德高。
不貪名利淡然樂，
勤修佛法講習超。
衲衣過午嚴戒律，
繩床竟日重守操。
坦蕩無我悲心普，
清淨離染自逍遙。
註解：
「出家修道志求學」：他出家修道想要做法 師。
「切磋琢磨品德高」 ：「切磋」就是像磋牛 角，用刀切了它，再把它磋一磋；「琢磨」是把玉石剖開，用東西磨光它；「品德高」：他的品德很高。
「不貪名利淡然樂」：他不貪著名利，很知足，很淡泊很快樂。
「勤修佛法講習超」：他勤修佛法所以會講經說法，講的道理也很高超，很真的。
「衲衣過午嚴戒律」：他穿很破的衣服，瘦瘦矮矮的，過午不食，戒律謹嚴，絲毫不犯。
「繩床竟日重守操」：坐在繩床上一天一天過著，他很守規矩，節操很好。
「坦蕩無我悲心普」：他很坦然自在，心平氣和無我的樣子。他的慈悲心很普遍。
「清淨離染自逍遙」：他的品格非常清淨，沒有什麼污染的念頭。「逍遙」：不貪名利也不貪錢，什麼都不要，所以一點煩惱麻煩也沒有，很是自在快樂。 |
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Essay:
The Master was born in Manchuria. As a child he never had an opportunity to go to school. As an adult he left the home-life under the Venerable Master Tan Xu. Although the Master was illiterate, his love of learning spurred him on to study unceasingly. Later, he traveled to the south and stayed at Guanzong ("School of Contemplation") Monastery in Ningbo, and studied with Elder Dharma Master Dixian ("Truth of Serenity"). Although he was illiterate to begin with, after spending over ten years investigating the Sutras and the teachings, his memory and learning enabled him to become the chief Dharma-lecturer, and eventually he could lecture the Buddhadharma with great eloquence and ease. The master specialized in sincerely reciting the Buddha's name. He did not eat after noon and kept only a rag robe. His lifestyle was frugal and simple, while his resolve for the Way grew ever more solid. He went off to rebirth at Lingyan ("Magic Grotto") Mountain in Suzhou. He can truly be called an outstanding cultivator of this Dharma-ending Age, a teacher and model for gods and humans.
Commentary:
The Master was born in Manchuria. Dharma Master Hua Dong was rather short in stature, but full of spirit. He was from Manchuria. As a child he never had an opportunity to go to school. When he was young, he didn't go to school. As an adult he left the home-life under the Venerable Master Tan Xu. After he grew up, he bowed to the Elder Dharma Master Tan Xu and left the home-life under him.
Although the Master was illiterate, his love of learning spurred him on to study unceasingly. Later, he traveled to the south and stayed at Guanzong ("School of Contemplation") Monastery in Ningbo. After he left the home-life, he went to the south to study at Guanzong Monastery in Ningbo (in Zhejiang Province) and studied the Sutras and teachings with Elder Dharma Master Di Xian.
Although he was illiterate to begin with, his determination to study was extremely strong. He was also vigorous and not lazy. After spending over ten years investigating the Sutras and the teachings... He enrolled in the Buddhist Academy of the Tiantai School established by the Elder Dharma Master Di Xian. He listened to the lectures of the Tiantai School and his memory and learning enabled him to become the chief Dharma-lecturer. By relying on his memory and by asking other people, he was able to learn. His memory was rather poor and he was not bright. But since he single-mindedly wanted to learn, even though he was dull-witted, he still learned. He would learn a few characters each day. Every day he studied how to lecture on the Sutras, along with learning characters. He was simple-minded, but never lazy. Whenever he encountered something that he didn't understand, he would very humbly ask other people to teach him. After more than ten years' study, he finally learned to lecture on the Sutras and to speak the Dharma. He also could recognize quite a few characters and read the Sutras and lecture on them, too. There is a saying:
An iron pestle can be ground into an embroidery needle;
With enough effort, the Middle Way is effortlessly accomplished.
Simply because he had the patience to learn, even though he had been stupid, he eventually learned to lecture on the Sutras—and eventually he could lecture on the Buddhadharma with great eloquence and ease. When he ascended the High Seat, he could lecture with eloquence.
The Master specialized in sincerely reciting the Buddha's name. That was how he applied his effort. He did not eat after noon, and only kept his rag robe. His lifestyle was frugal and simple. When I was living at Lingyan ("Magic Grotto") Mountain in Suzhou, he was there, too. He lived under a pagoda on Lingyan Mountain. He ate very little, and was not particular about food, either. He wore a rag robe. It was a sewn patchwork and kept very clean. At that time, he treated me as a friend, despite our age difference. He was in his sixties; I was in my twenties. We were very good friends and often studied together. At the time, I was a student at the Buddhist Academy, and he was a Dharma Master. I knew him very well. He didn't eat after noon. He also used to sit on a rope bed. He sat day after day, cultivated very hard, and was not the slightest bit careless. Although he lived under a pagoda, he still participated in all the ceremonies and ate the formal meal with everyone else. There was never a time when he was idle. He was not interested in being sociable. He preferred cultivation, while his resolve for the Way grew ever more solid. His resolve for the Way was very firm. No one could destroy it.
Later he went off to rebirth at Lingyan ("Magic Grotto") Mountain in Suzhou. He can truly be called an outstanding cultivator of this Dharma-ending Age, a teacher and model for gods and humans. In this Dharma-ending Age, people like him are rare; he is "a dragon and an elephant" within the Dharma. He can be considered a model for gods and humans.
A verse in praise says:
He left the home-life to cultivate the Way, resolved to pursue learning.
Filing and polishing, he developed a lofty and virtuous character.
Not greedy for fame and profit, he delighted in a simple lifestyle.
He diligently cultivated the Buddhadharma and gave excellent lectures.
He wore a rag robe, did not eat after noon, and strictly held the precepts.
Sitting upright on his rope bed, he preserved his honor and integrity.
Open-minded, magnanimous, and selfless, his compassion reached all.
Pure and undeflled, he could roam everywhere with ease.
Commentary:
He left the home-life to cultivate the way, resolved to pursue learning. He left the home-life to cultivate the Way and to learn how to be a Dharma Master.
Filing and polishing, he developed a lofty and virtuous character. Filing and polishing refers to methods of working with ivory and jade. First, you cut ivory with a knife, then you use a file to polish it. After you have broken open a jade stone, you use tools to polish it.
Not greedy for fame and profit, he delighted in a simple lifestyle. His character was very high-minded and wholesome. He was not greedy for or attached to fame and profit. He was always contented and never wanted more than what he had. He was very happy.
He diligently cultivated the Buddhadharma and gave excellent lectures. Because he diligently cultivated the Buddhadharma, he eventually learned to lecture on the Sutras and to speak the Dharma. When he spoke the Dharma, the principles in what he had to say were profound and true.
He wore a rag robe, did not eat after noon, and strictly held the precepts. His clothes were tattered; he didn't eat after noon; and he was short and slight in build. He was very strict in holding the precepts and did not violate them in even the slightest way.
Sitting upright on his rope bed, he preserved his honor and integrity. He sat on the rope bed day after day. He followed the rules strictly. He had great integrity.
Open-minded, magnanimous, and selfless, his compassion reached all. He was open and relaxed, always calm and peaceful, and devoid of an ego. His kindness and compassion pervaded everywhere.
Pure and undeflled, he could roam everywhere with ease. His character was unblemished, and he was free of polluted thoughts. Not greedy for fame, profit, or wealth, he didn't covet anything. And so he didn't have any problems at all. He was very relaxed, happy, and carefree. |
