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林佩珍，法名果森，廣東臺山人，生於清宣統元年，家境富裕，有兄弟姐妹七人。父母認為「女子無才便是德」，能識字就好，因此僅受初中教育，畢業後，經好友介紹而入佛門。為宣公上人在香港最早一批的在家弟子。上人所贈的《地藏經》，念了幾十年，也學會念＜楞嚴咒＞、＜大悲咒＞。但她最喜歡念「阿彌陀佛」，待人誠懇，經常自謙什麼都不會，是最蠢的弟子。見人就合掌彎腰，口中同時送出一句阿彌陀佛。
一生當中從未在外做事，先生曾經事業鼎盛，後因抗日戰爭，時局影響公司財務，困難無法維持，家庭也遭變遷而被迫分家，親人生離，先生失業。一切不順利令她招架不住。當時上人對她說：「不用怕，逆來順受。」慈悲無畏的攝受力，延續至今，幫助她度過種種境界。她並以當時環境挫敗經驗 ，教導兒子們要有一技之長，自食其力，世事無常，父母庇蔭不可依恃。果然後來一門俊彥。
「人身難得，佛法難聞，善知識難遇。」果森居士非常惜緣，並且引領家人入佛門。一家之中，有子三人、媳二人、孫七人，均拜在上人門下。
此次與香港朝聖團前來，一心拜水陸法會，法會圓滿，她本來擬整裝回香港，後來改變主意留下常住。並且告訴家人：「不用擔心，師父會照顧我。」果森居士說修行最好要在萬佛聖城，因為這裡很清淨，飲食起居很自在。
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Lin Pei-jen, whose Dharma name is Gwo Sen ("forest"), was born in Canton in 1908. She comes from a well-off family of seven children. Feeling that "a girl with no skills is virtuous," her parents thought it enough for her just to learn to read, and she discontinued her education after graduating from junior high school. At the recommendation of good friends, she took refuge in Buddhism, and was among the Ven. Master's first group of lay disciples in Hong Kong. For several decades, she has been reciting a copy of the
Earth Store Sutra given her by the Venerable Master. She also learned to recite the Shurangama Mantra and the Great Compassion Mantra. But what she likes best is to recite the Buddha's name.
She is very sincere, always joining her palms and greeting people with an "Amitabha Buddha!" She modestly says that she doesn't know how to do anything, and calls herself the stupidest disciple.
She has never held a job in her life. Her husband used to run a prosperous business, but later the war of resistance against Japanese caused the company to fall into financial difficulties, and there was no way to continue it. Her family was also forced to split up. With relatives leaving and her husband out of a job, all kinds of misfortune befell her, and she could not withstand it. At that time the Venerable Master said to her, "Don't be afraid. Just accept adversity calmly." This power of compassionate and fearless acceptance has, up to today, helped her through all kinds of states.
She has used that experience of failure to teach her sons the advantage of having one skill to support themselves. Life is impermanent, and one cannot rely on one's parents. Indeed, starting empty-handed, her sons all found successful careers.
"It's hard to get a human body. It's hard to get to listen to the Dharma. It's hard to encounter a good and wise teacher." Upasika Gwo Sen greatly cherishes this rare opportunity, and has guided her family to approach Buddhism. In her family, three sons, two daughters-in-law, and seven grandsons have taken refuge under the Venerable Master.
This time she has come with the pilgrimage group from Hong Kong to bow single-mindedly in Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly. She originally planned to return to Hong Kong when it was over, but decided to move here instead. She reassured her family, "Don't worry. The Master will take care of me."
Upasika Gwo Sen says, "The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is the best place to cultivate because it's very pure here and life is very carefree."
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