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數十年來宣公上人從未公開讓弟子們知道信眾的供養，但因為一份非常特別的年禮，個中意義深長，本刊編輯同仁徵得上人同意，取得資料，特予披露。
禮物是由一位六十多歲的弟子－於傑民教授所寄來的。於教授在大學任教建築化學，是中國山東人，皈依宣公上人後，法名果空。九二年的歲末，將近中國農曆的年節，於教授特地精心選購許多胡桃，還寫了一封信。信中前前後後五個「自」字，表達了準備禮物的虔敬，以及稟告他躬行實踐上人的教誨，勸請安心。文中在在流露出一份弟子對師父的孝心，至誠感人。原文如下：
師父：
一年忽忽已過，又是胡桃季節的時候，自購、自剝、自燒烤、自包、自寄，願師心中歡喜。
師曾教我說：「不發脾氣就是修福！」我幾年就在這上面思考與修習，略有進步。
願萬佛聖城一切平安，讓師少費心。
弟子 果空早晚禮拜
大乘佛曆3021年12月17日
上人說：「你們看看一個大學教授，不生氣就摸索了幾十年，現在才有一點點成就。所以我對你們大家說，我不是只教你們每一個人不生氣，對大學教授我也一樣教他不生氣。人啊是以心換心，用真心相待，告訴你們這些，我就是希望你們每一個人都學著不生氣。」做為善知識的弟子，有多少人能聽從教誨，謹記在心？有多少人能身體力行呢？於教授從心地上直下功夫也正是給予我們最寶貴的一課。
上人在萬佛聖城冬季佛七開示後，轉手便將當天才收到的胡桃，散給了參加打七的十方信眾。男女老少，一人一粒，就送去了一半；另一半則送給在聖城義務教學的楊校尊。上人說：「他教書很盡心，年紀也高邁了，所以也給他嚐嚐胡桃的味道，以前他吃過沒有我不知道，我盡上我一點心。」上人這種「老吾老以及人之老，幼吾幼以及人之幼」的生活教育，就像甘霖普潤大地，陽光遍照寰宇一般，將於教授的一片孝思擴展的更是無窮無盡了。 |
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For several decades the Venerable Master has not publically informed his disciples about offerings made by the faithful. But because of one very special New Year's gift that arrived this year and has great significance, the Editorial Staff of Vajra Bodhi Sea has received the Venerable Master's approval and having gotten the details, would like to make this gift known to all readers.
The gift was from Professor Jye-ming Yu, a disciple in his sixties. Professor Yu, originally from Shantung Province in China, teaches Architecture and Chemistry at a university here in the United States. After taking refuge with the Venerable Master Hua, he was given the Dharma name "Gwo Kung" (Fruition of Emptiness).
At the end of 1992, as the Chinese New Year was approaching, Professor Yu himself carefully selected top-quality walnuts, and then mailed them with a letter. In this letter, he used the word "myself" five times to explain his pious respect in preparing the gift. He also reported that he was trying his best to put the instructions the Master had given him into practice, and urged the Master to rest assured he would do his best. His writing revealed the sincere filial regard of a disciple toward his teacher. His sincerity was moving. The content of the letter is translated below:
Venerable Master:
Another year has suddenly passed and it's walnut season again. 1 bought them myself, shelled them myself, roasted them myself, packaged them myself, and mailed them myself, hoping to make the Master happy.
The Master taught me before, saying "Not losing your temper is itself cultivating blessings!" I have been reflecting on that and trying to put it into practice for these many years now. I've made a little progress.
I hope the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is peaceful in all aspects so that the Master doesn't have to worry.
Disciple Gwo Kung bows in respect morning and night
Mahayana year of the Buddha 3021 December 17
The Venerable Master said, "All of you take a look: a university professor had to spend several decades groping in the dark to discover how to not lose his temper, and only now has he had some success. So today I want to tell you, not only do I exhort you not to lose your temper, I also urge the professor not to get angry. People should reciprocate kindness and treat others with sincerity. I am telling you this hoping that you will learn not to lose your temper." Of those who are disciples of a Good and Wise Advisor, how many are able to follow instructions. How many will keep them in mind and keep trying hard to put them into practice? Professor Yu applied effort directly on his mind. This has been an invaluable lesson to us all.
Right in the midst of the Recitation Session in winter, after the Venerable Master's instructional talk in the Buddhahall, he immediately gave the walnuts, which he had just received that day, to the participants in the Recitation Session who had come from many places. Each person—men, women, young, and old—received one walnut, until half of the box of walnuts had been given away. The other half was given to Venerable Chancellor Yang, who is volunteer Professor on campus. The Venerable Master said, "He exhausts his efforts in teaching and is advanced in years as well, so I want to let him have a taste of these walnuts. Whether or not he has tried them before, I do not know. This is just a token of my appreciation." In the Venerable Master's education as it occurs in daily life, we learn, "Just as one treats one's own elders so should one treat other elders. Just as one treats one's own children as one would treat other's children." Such education is just like sweet dew that moistens the entire earth and like the sun shining on the universe. Thus Professor Yu's expression of filiality can be extended limitlessly and boundlessly.
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