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約四、五年前，機緣成熟下接觸了佛法，始知佛法之殊勝，難遭難遇。後拜讀《虛雲老和尚年譜》與其開示，乃發心修行，求無上菩提。古來大德之高風亮節不僅令我生起求道成佛之心；也解除以往我對生命意義何在等種種的疑問。但當時仍然覺得，若要我放下一切來走修行的路，還可以等到學業、事業方面都有所成就之後再說。其實，修行是不能等的，往往一錯失機會，就離佛法十萬八千裏了。就在恭讀《宣化上人開示錄》及《精進者的日記》以後，才深深明白「時不待人，老之將至」；又想到古德為了策進後代學人，悲心切切，時時警醒眾生：「莫待老來方學道，孤墳多是少年人」。所以，不免對過去的決定再作一番思惟及反省，便生起提早修行的念頭，希望能先洗除累劫積染的習氣，清淨身心，再以這份清淨無染，為這熱惱的世間帶來一劑清涼。所以，在後來面臨上大學選科系時，就決定研讀語文學系，學習英文、西班牙文，打算將來若有因緣，或許能在經典翻譯方面，貢獻一己微薄的力量。幾位朋友鼓勵我來美國就讀「法界佛教大學」，因為其中有一系即是佛教經典翻譯系，所以就毅然決定來美國讀書；當然，一方面想來美國萬佛城，亦是因為怕自己定力不足，沒等四年大學畢業，就迷失在世法中，忘了佛法和修道的初衷。
一到美國，下了飛機，就直奔聖城，法師們將我安排在女眾喜捨院住。每天約兩點半左右，負責照顧我們的法師就會敲起木魚，唱誦〈楞嚴咒〉。當時同學很少，我們每天就跟著法師作早晚課、誦經、聽經、聽上人的〈楞嚴咒〉解釋。一學期下來，雖然語言方面沒有什麼進步，但是對佛法卻有更深一層的認識，亦將最長的咒－〈楞嚴神咒〉背會了。住了一段時日，覺得如果真想好好修行，應當落髮出家，做一個真佛子，才不枉我有幸能於此生得聞正法；又生中國；更遇著善導眾生的聖僧，何能再蹉跎歲月？
由於我僑居阿根廷—一個佛法邊地，少有人信佛，尤其內陸的居民於其一生中，連「阿彌陀佛」聖號都聞所未聞。我知道有很多落後地區的小孩，若教他們念「阿彌陀佛」，他們就「阿」…了老半天，卻成不了一句佛號。因此，倍感佛法的微妙甚深，真的是百千萬劫難遭遇，故今乃發願能在有生之年為佛教盡自己的一份心力，努力修行，學習翻譯，將佛法的種子散播在西方國家，流通弘揚，紮穩根基，此生未成，來生續之。唯深深懺悔的是自己過去未曾下真功夫，故今生智淺惑深，福薄罪重，三障所覆，始勤終怠。
慚愧己之無學，唯願十方諸佛啟我智慧光明，憫念眾等，善願成就。
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Four or five years ago, I met the Buddhadharma and discovered how supreme and rare it is. After reading the biography and instructional talks of Venerable Master Hsu Yun (Empty Cloud); I resolved to cultivate and seek unsurpassed Bodhi. His lofty virtue and incorruptible character not only inspired me to seek the Way to accomplish Buddhahood, it also resolved my doubts about the meaning of life.
However, I still felt I should finish school and have a successful career before putting everything down to walk the path of cultivation. But actually, cultivation cannot be postponed. Once you miss the critical chance, you are far from the Buddhadharma. After reading the
Instructional Talks of Venerable Master Hua and With One Heart Bowing to the City of 10,000 Buddhas, I deeply understood the saying,"Time never waits for people; old age will soon arrive." The virtuous sages of the past also alerted us with the compassionate sincerity, "Don't wait until you're old to study the Way; most lonely graves are filled with young people." Thus I reconsidered my plans and had thoughts of cultivating sooner. I hoped to wash away the bad habits accumulated in countless past kalpas and purify my body and mind, in order to cool the heated afflictions of the world.
Thus I decided to major in languages (English and Spanish) in college, thinking I might be able to help translate the Sutras in the future. Several friends encouraged me to come to the United States to study at Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU). Since DRBU offers courses on translating Buddhist Sutras, I resolved to come. On the other hand, I feared that if I went to college back home, with no samadhi power I would get lost in worldly dharmas and forget the Buddhadharma and my initial resolve to cultivate.
After getting off the plane, I came straight to CTTB. I was given lodging in Joyous Giving House. The Dharma Master who took care of us would get up at 2 a.m. to recite the Shurangama Mantra as she hit the wooden fish. There were only a few students then, and we followed the same schedule as the Dharma Masters, doing morning and evening recitations, reciting Sutras, listening to the Venerable Master explain the Shurangama Mantra, and attending lectures.
After a semester of school, although my language skills had not improved much, I gained a deeper understanding of the Buddhadharma, and also memorized the longest mantra - the Shurangama Mantra. After staying here for awhile, I started feeling that to really cultivate, I should leave home and become a true disciple of the Buddha. Then I will not have lived in vain. Under such wonderful conditions of being born in China and encountering a wise teacher who skillfully guides living beings, how can I waste any more time?
I grew up in Argentina, a "frontier land of Buddhism" where Buddhists are few and far between. Especially in the interior regions, people have never heard the sagely name of Amitabha Buddha. There are many children in underdeveloped areas who cannot even pronounce the name "Amitabha." Because of this, I truly feel that the profound and wonderful Buddhadharma is extremely hard to encounter, even in hundreds of thousands of kalpas. Thus, I vow to dedicate my life to Buddhism, make great efforts in cultivation, translate sutras, and spread the seeds of Buddhism in Western countries, planting a firm foundation so that the Buddhadharma can be widely propagated in all lands. If I cannot accomplish my vow in this life, I shall continue it in my next life. I am just deeply repentant that I never really worked hard in the past, so in this life I have shallow wisdom and deep confusion, heavy offenses and scarce blessings; hindered by the three obstructions, I begin with vigor but end up lax. Ashamed that my knowledge is so shallow, I only hope that all the Buddhas of the ten directions will help me open bright wisdom, and compassionately enable all living beings to fulfill their wholesome vows.
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