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比丘恆朝爲了完成博士學位，於是在幾年前離開道場及師父，他從威斯康辛大學寄了一張生日卡給上人，上面寫著：「天天快樂，每天都是我的生日！」同時附帶了一封信，提到十五年前，大家正在金山寺爲上人慶生時，他在樓下遇到師父，很自然地就說出「師父生日快樂！」師父用英語微笑著說，「天天快樂，每天都是我的生日！」
上人簡短的話，卻有甚深的涵義，讓我們在生活上受用不盡。上人所說的快樂，並不能在市場買賣中購得。任何外來的快樂都是會變質的，不能久長的，自然也不會是天天快樂了。上人所說的天天快樂，就是要沒有煩惱，你必須捨去而不是獲得什麼。修行，是除去一切障礙快樂的東西。誰能在上人生日這天，或者永遠都做到這一點呢？
「每天都是我的生日」，或是我們可以這麼說，上人不像其他人，他不要禮物，不要奶油糕，或者特別的注意。上人根本也不做生日，更何況生日禮物？不過上人確實經常向弟子們化緣一樣東西，那就是煩惱。如果我們真能布施脾氣、自我、懷疑、內心的畏懼，把它交給上人，上人會歡喜地把眾生的煩惱，投入他那有如核彈威力的洪爐內給粉碎精光。或者這就是一位善知識每天所過的生日。這樣講是不是太誇張呢？我想不是的，因為自從我真誠懇切地把心中的煩惱送給上人後，確實感到非常輕鬆自在！
在長堤時，上人重提他的願力：「弟子不成佛，我也不成佛」。直到最後一個弟子證到無上菩提，才是上人遂心滿願的時候。如果大家不想讓上人永遠留在娑婆世界，那就應該每天報師恩，認識自己的習氣毛病，斷盡煩惱，並且把它布施給不可思議的師父。這表示弟子們都有一份沈重的責任。
當天我為自己、恆朝，以及其他所有不能親自出席賀壽的弟子，向上人頂禮九拜。我們用關懷與憂慮，跟這位天天快樂，天天生日的老法師結一個無形的結，朝著未來佛果更邁進！
面臨世界性物質極度上漲，所以《金剛菩提海萬佛城》月刊，從一九九三年一月開始，重新調整合理的定價。祈願十方善信，踴躍訂購，分贈親友，護持道場，弘通正法。
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Bhikshu Heng Chau, who has been away from the monastery and his teacher for several years while finishing his Ph.D., wrote a birthday card to the Ven. Abbot from the University of Wisconsin. On it in big letters were the words, "Everyday is happy; everyday is my birthday." A letter from Heng Chau explained. He told Shr Fu how fifteen years ago, the Abbot had spoken those words to a young monk, who upon meeting the Abbot downstairs in Gold Mountain Monstery on the day we celebrated the Ven. Abbot's birthday, had blurted out, "Happy Birthday, Shr Fu!"
The Venerable Abbot smiled and said in English, "Everyday I am happy, and everyday is my birthday."
Simple-sounding words, but profound in practice. The deeper meaning behind the words talks not of being happy in the marketplace sense, as if happiness were something that you can purchase. Any happiness that results from
getting will not be lasting happiness. Certainly not "everyday happiness."
The awesome aspect of the Abbot's statement is that to be happy everyday requires that you put an end to all afflictions. You
get rid of instead of getting. You cultivate away all things that obstruct happiness. Who can do it? On his birthday or ever?
Perhaps we can interpret "Everyday is my birthday" to mean this: Unlike most people on their birthdays, Shr Fu wants no gifts, no cake, and no special attention.
He doesn't usually celebrate his birthday at all, how much the less does he want people to give him things. But he does ask for something from all of us. In fact Shr Fu has often said he "begs" afflictions from his disciples. If we can give up our anger, our ego, our doubts, and our deepest fears, and really send them over to the teacher, he happily receives this "giving from the soul" and burns the afflictions up in his atomic furnace. This is perhaps the kind of birthday a good and wise advisor passes everyday. Is it hyperbole? I think not, judging from how much lighter and refreshed I feel after I honestly and sincerely make a gift of the troubles in my heart to the Ven. Abbot.
During his Dharma-talk that day in Long Beach, the Ven. Abbot mentioned his vow to go last to Buddhahood, after every one of his disciples. Only after the last refuge disciple cultivates all the way to Ultimate Bodhi will he consider his vows fulfilled. That means that the disciples bear a heavy responsibility. If we don't want to sentence the Ven. Abbot to an eternity of hanging around this Saha World, then we have to have to repay his kindness every day. This requires that we recognize our bad habits, yearn to get rid of these afflictions and then offer them up to an inconceivable teacher.
So I bowed nine times in respect to the Ven. Abbot that day, for myself, and for Heng Chau and the other disciples who couldn't attend the party in person. We take a step closer to future Buddhahood by invisibly giving a knot of cares and worries, every bit of it, to the every day happy, every day birthday Elder Master of the Dharma.
Due to the increase in the cost of materials, the Vajra Bodhi Sea Journal was forced to increase the subscription rate starting from January 1993. The faithful of the ten directions are welcome to order subscriptions for themselves and for friends, thus supporting Buddhist monasteries and propagating the Proper Dharma.
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