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News from the Dharma Realm

仉伯伯往生記
悼萬佛聖城方丈和尚恆律師之尊翁仉鴻逵

An Account of Uncle Chang’s Passing
In Memory of Mr. Hung Kuei Chang, father of Dharma Master Heng Lyu,
the Abbot of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

老漁翁 文 by Lao Yu Ong
周芳枝 英譯 English Translated by Fanny Chou

仉鴻逵先生(1927年出生於山東諸城,大眾尊稱仉伯伯)已於2005年9月27日早上約九點半,於其住所安然往生,消息傳開後,當下有空的人,不約而同,前往助念,只見他是斜靠床邊,兩眼微閉,呈坐姿而走,由於面貌平靜安詳,所以有人一直助念到中午一點,還以為他是已體弱到即將往生,不便言談,現在先來助念,送他一程,殊不知他早已走了。中午過後,助念的人越來越多,而且也越念越好,或許是誠心所致,氣氛非常祥和,有種說不出的法喜,等助念八小時後,才幫他更衣,移靈涅槃堂,繼續念佛。9月30日家屬依他遺願,火化後把骨灰灑向大海。仉伯伯這一生到此終於告個段落。

仉伯伯在1990年冬天弘法團由台返美時,與上人搭同班機一起回來的。以上人的智慧,很快便瞭解他的背景因緣;上人語重心長的告訴他:「我們命很苦,也多病呀!」上人好像是在講他自己,又好像想告訴仉伯伯什麼似的。

返聖城後,上人要他能夠為道場創立一個素食餐館;仉伯伯當然就開始打拼,只要有機會,他便到灣區甚至南加州的素餐館,去瞭解人家怎麼經營的。最後,君康真素齋餐廳終於有模有樣的成立了,他自己打前鋒做大廚;以他的年紀,這樣日以繼夜的辛苦操勞,實非易事。

在此期間,仉伯伯也在男校的學生宿舍擔任過舍監呢(1991年左右)!那時的男生宿舍還在如來寺,課餘仉伯伯還陪學生打籃球。95年後,有一位天津來的學生跟仉伯伯也成了忘年交,這是他生命中的一段插曲。

1993年內,他中風病倒,無法再做,可是意志力依然堅強,受多少苦總自己忍著,從沒聽他抱怨過什麼。隨著年紀,他的病情每況愈下,也就少出門,常在自己房裡念經,體力還好時,他能一天念三部《地藏經》,這個善根實在難能可貴。仉伯伯的個性一向豪爽好客,樂於助人,做事有衝勁,講話聲音很大,他嫉惡如仇,常會不假修飾,馬上表露出來。如今他走了,畢竟要如何結語呢?

七十年來不自在
多少辛酸多少病
幸得晚年遇高僧
點出靈光透古今
眾人一句阿彌陀
打開無盡法界門   仉伯伯!請進!

欲知他現安身立命處?

腳踏金蓮花
耳聽無生法
眼開見慈尊
一心禮彌陀


Mr. Hung Kuei Chang, who was born at Zhucheng, Shandong Province and fondly called “Uncle Chang”, passed away peacefully at his home around 9:30 A.M. on September 27, 2005. After this news spread, many people went to his house to recite the Buddha’s name for him that afternoon. When he passed on, he was seated and leaning against the bed with his eyes closed. Due to his calm appearance, some thought he was still alive but very weak. Since that was the case, it was not appropriate to talk then; and people just recited the Buddha’s name to see him off. Little did they know that Uncle Chang had already passed on. After noon, more and more people came to recite the Buddha’s name. Perhaps it was because of everyone’s sincerity that the atmosphere was very peaceful and filled with the ineffable joy of Dharma. Uncle Chang’s clothes were changed after eight hours of Buddha recitation. His body was then moved to the Nirvana Hall where people chanted continuously. On September 30th, his family members, according to his last wish, scattered his ashes into the sea after the cremation. The life of Uncle Chang had come to an end.

Uncle Chang came to the United States on the same flight as the Venerable Master when the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association (DRBA) delegation was returning from Taiwan in the winter of 1990. The Venerable Master, with his wisdom, quickly understood Uncle Chang’s background and personal history and said to him very earnestly: “At the City of 10,000 Buddhas (CTTB) we lead a bitter life and suffer a lot of sicknesses.” It was as if Venerable Master was talking about himself but at the same time, he seemed to want to tell Uncle Chang something else as well.

After returning to CTTB, the Venerable Master wished that Uncle Chang could establish a vegetarian restaurant in the City. Of course, Uncle Chang then started working very hard. At every opportunity, he would visit various vegetarian restaurants in the Bay Area or even as far as Southern California to learn how to run and manage a restaurant. Finally, Jyun-Kang Vegetarian Restaurant opened its doors at CTTB, with Uncle Chang as the first chef. It was truly a tough job at his age, since he was working very hard day and night.

In addition, Uncle Chang worked as a dormitory supervisor for the Developing Virtue Boys School around 1991. The boy’s dormitory during that period was at the Tathagata Monastery. He would play basketball with the students after school and became good friends with a student from Tianjin, China. This was another small episode in his life.

In 1993, he had a stroke and could no longer work. However, his mind and will remained strong. Regardless of how much he suffered, he never complained. As the years passed, his health deteroriated. As a result, he would stay in his room and recite the Sutras. When his strength allowed, he could recite the Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva three times a day. This is a commendable achievement in the practice of the Buddhadharma. Uncle Chang was not only forthright and hospitable, but helped others with enthusiasm. When he worked, he did it with great vigor. His voice was sonorous. Because he had a strong sense of justice, he would reveal his feelings very frankly when he felt something was wrong and unjust. Now, he has passed on. Let us conclude with a poem about his life:

For seventy some years, he was not free.
How many hardships, how many sicknesses!
Fortunately in old age, he met an eminent monk,
Who showed him the spiritual light that shines through past and present.
Everyone recites “Amitabha Buddha” in unison,
Opening the inexhaustible Gate of the Dharma Realm.
Uncle Jang, please come in!

Do you wish to know where he eventually settled down?

His feet stand upon a golden lotus flower.
His ears listen to the Dharma of the Unborn.
His eyes open to see the Compassionate Honored One.
With one heart, he makes obeisance to Amitabha.

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