宣化上人慧眼慈鑒：智真早聞給上人寄信不便，故，以前的幾封信，我都是託人捎去。今信又想借人之便，多帶幾句話去。打擾清靜，願請諒解。並願上人，慈悲鑒覽。
上人的開示錄、經典淺釋和弘法事蹟，在國內流布日廣，凡有聞者，無不感歎。在國家尚不能公開於社會上發行此類書籍的今天，每每有教外人士從居士手中有幸借閱者，都得到了啟蒙。不少人就是從開示錄中受到啟發而皈依了三寶。讀者的最大收穫是：想不到佛教的道理是那樣令人信服；想不到被扣上「迷信」帽子的佛教，卻處處啟發人們覺悟；想不到佛教從根本上就是強調覺悟的；想不到「覺悟」和「迷信」、「智慧」和「愚昧」有時也容易搞顛倒；更想不到只有按照佛法去修行，才能獲得真正的覺悟和究竟解脫。於是這些受到啟發的教外人士就來皈依三寶。
上人，雖然說能夠起到同樣啟蒙作用的書籍，多得不勝枚舉，但上人的語言是最通俗、最平易近人的，年輕的知識分子也一看就懂。同時，上人的弘法事蹟，也是當代最突出、最感人、最有成就的，因此也就有最強的轉化力。現在，人們發現，在東方已經衰微的佛教，而在西方卻正在興起。智真常聽到教內外讀者興嘆：美國是正法住世，而我們卻是在末法時代…。美國的弘法事業，是上人在諸佛菩薩的加持之下，歷經三十年勤苦，一手做起來的。故在恩師上虛下雲老和尚的接法弟子中，上人是舉世公認的最有成就者，是我等之楷模。
人們有這樣推斷的：若能在科學最進步、經濟最發展、國力最強大的美國，把佛教弘向全國，作全世界的表率，就有可能 出現一個沒有戰爭苦難、佛法昌隆的新世界，這希望就寄託在師兄上人身上。唯願上人法體安康、久住娑婆，再接再厲，弘法利生，轉大法輪，讓佛法弘遍全美國，弘遍全世界。
智真所在國度不同，境況亦迥異，自從五七年恩師上虛下雲老和尚傳我臨濟法卷以來，梵行極度坎坷，人間之苦，幾乎都學遍了。也好，等於修苦行了。所以我心不退轉。然而，環境條件對學佛也不無影響。從因果來說，一切遭遇都和宿業有關，故我心常懺悔。
近幾年來，國內條件有所好轉，宗教雖不能公開於社會上活動，但卻受到法律的保護。尤其最近一、二年，人們越來越認識到，宗教對於國家政權的鞏固、社會的安定、生產的發展、枓學的進步、文明禮貌的建設等等，並無不利之處，相反的還會有一點好處。所以，宗教的自由程度也比過去越來越大了，數十年不聞佛法的知識分子，偶爾有幸聞到佛法，反而感到新鮮，容易起信（如前面說的幾個「想不到」）。所以近年來，知識分子皈依三寶者，越來越多了。
智真於數十年來，蒙佛菩薩教誨和加持，熬過了種種磨難，縱觀世界，佛法當興，為報佛恩，我發願印經。在目前印經起步階段，雖然坎坷猶存，但有諸佛菩薩加持，一切都在進展中。從九０年到現在已經結緣了七百部《大方廣佛華嚴經》，此外還有《大般涅槃經》《金剛經》等。目前還有六百部《大方廣佛華嚴經》在印。
我說要印《大方廣佛華嚴經》一百萬部，引出世上三種看法兩種態度。三種看法是：一曰，此願不可思議：二曰，此願是大妄語：三曰，經多無人看，此願不該發。兩種態度是：一者樂助，二者不助。對此三種看法兩種態度，智真以為本應如是。勿須理會。智真大願發之於心，見之於行。事先難看清，事後有結論。我住世一天，就要印一天經。現在印漢文經，將來也可以印各國文字的佛經。什麼時候印完一百萬部華嚴經就算滿願。
智真印經與商業出版，有著顯著的區別。商業出版經書，是印了賣錢。然後，再印再賣，循環不斷，賺取利潤。而我印經，全靠四眾發心助款，用布施的錢印經，再將印好的經書布施出去。下次再印還是 如此。錢從十方來，經到十方去，我手永空空，所以，我所走的是最難最難的路，但我就是要用這樣的方法，來為真正的修行人創造條件。當今世人慳貪最重，而慳貪不除，是學不了佛，開不了悟的。故印經結緣一法，專破慳貪，而真正修行的人，事實上對廣大眾生和修福者來說，也為他們提供了，可以隨時栽種的大福田。
我知上人所遵循的原則是：「不化緣，不攀緣，隨緣就分」，智真對此十字原則深為讚歎。奈何智真業重障深，尚有諸多塵勞於世，故我發此真實大願，以期滿願而得清淨。為了滿願，我不得不重覓原則，至少在近年印經起步的階段，是無法採用師兄上人現成的十字原則的。我所確定和遵循的是十三個字：「人力加佛力，因緣和合，諸法如意」，我要靠這十三字的原則，來實現印經大願。
在實現印經大願的整個過程中，有諸佛菩薩加持，也會有大量的、越來越多的發心人，來做功德、度慳貪、修福慧。其中將有不少人，學會以無我無人無眾生無壽者修一切善法，來成就道業。在這一過程中，會有越來越多的人聞法學佛，乃至使佛法家喻戶曉，人人奉行，出現末法轉正的昌隆局面。而這一切，都是眾生自己的事情。我智真僅僅是發了個願，什麼也沒有做。
今借先生赴美探親之便，煩謂攜帶此信，向師兄上人通通情況。智真希望能在住世之年，見師兄一面，相信終會如願以償的。
敬頌
佛壽無量佛光普照法輪常轉
未見面道友、師弟 西安臥龍寺
釋智真 頂禮
一九九二年十一月九日 壬申年十月十五日 |
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To the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua's attention;
Please reflect on this kindly with your wisdom:
Jr Jen (True Wisdom) heard that it is not convenient to send letters to the Venerable Master; therefore, someone carried my past few letters to you. Now I would like to take this opportunity to say a few more words. Please compassionately understand and forgive me for disturbing your purity.
Venerable Master, your books of Dharma-talks, commentaries to the Sutras, and biographies that propagate the Dharma are widely distributed in this country (China). They are so moving that everyone who hears about you praises you.
At present, Buddhist books are not yet allowed to be published openly in this country. Buddhist or not, whenever people are fortunate enough to borrow these books from lay people, they get inspiration from them. Many people take refuge with the Triple Jewel because of the enlightenment attained from your instructional talks. The great advantages of the books hold several surprises: people don't expect the principles in Buddhism to be so convincing and respectable; they don't expect Buddhism, scoffed at as superstition, to still be inspiring people everywhere to enlightenment; they don't realize that the fundamental theory emphasizes enlightened awareness. They don't realize that sometimes the meanings of enlightenment and superstition, of wisdom and stupidity, can easily get reversed. Moreover, they don't expect that only through cultivation according to the Dharma can a person achieve real enlightenment and ultimate liberation. Because of all this inspiration, even non-Buddhists have resolved to take refuge with the Triple Jewel.
Venerable Master, there are inexpressibly many Buddhist books that serve a similar function; your words however, are most plain and easy to understand. Young intellectuals are able to understand them right away. The stories of your propagation of the Buddha-Dharma are most outstanding, touching, and successful, and thus they are most powerful in transforming living beings.
People have discovered that although Buddhism has declined in the East, it is now rising in the West. Jr Jen has heard regrets like these: "In America the Proper Dharma is dwelling; we are, however, in the Dharma Ending Age." The propagation of Buddha Dharma in the United States, with the aid of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, you have done completely on your own, over thirty years, with diligence and hardship. Thus you are regarded as the most successful and exemplary among we who have received the transmission of the Dharma from our kind and Elder Reverend Master Hsu Yun.
People infer that if Buddhism can be introduced throughout the United States, the country most advanced in science and economics, most powerful in military strength, the land that serves as an example for the world, then it is possible to have a new world in which there are no wars and no suffering, a world where Buddhism prospers. Venerable Fellow Brother, you are the one we are counting on! Our best wishes for the health of your Dharma Body. Dwell long in the Saha World, continue your endeavors of propagating the Dharma and benefiting living beings, and turn the great Dharma Wheel so as to bring Buddhism to all of America and all the world.
This writer lives in another country and has an entirely different situation. Beginning in 1957 the Dharma of the Lin Ji School was transmitted to me from our kind Reverend Master Hsu Yun. It was extremely difficult for me to practice pure conduct. We experienced almost every kind of human suffering in the world. Well, that wasn't entirely bad, since it gave me a chance to cultivate ascetic practices. Therefore, I was able to not retreat. Environmental conditions do influence our study of Buddhism, and from the point of cause and effect, everything we experience has to do with our past karma. Therefore, I have been constantly repentant.
Although in this country we cannot openly conduct ceremonies, conditions have turned better for religious activities in recent years, under protection of the law. Especially in the past few years more and more people have realized that in terms of solidity of a country's political force, the security of society, the development of production, the advancement of science, and the establishment of civilized behavior, Buddhism brings no harm to the country. On the contrary, it bestows many good points. Therefore, religious freedom has become more and more widespread.
Those intellectuals who have not heard Buddhadharma for several decades now gain a fresh feeling from it, and it is even easier for them to believe in it (like the several surprises mentioned earlier.) So there are more and more intellectuals taking refuge with the Triple Jewel and becoming Buddhists.
With the instructions and blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the writer has been able to endure manifold sufferings during the past decades. Surveying the world, we have reached a time for Buddhism to flourish. In order to repay the kindness of the Buddhas, I made a resolve to print Buddhist Sutras. In this beginning stage, although difficulties still exist, the work is in progress, with the blessings of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. From 1990 till now, we have distributed seven hundred complimentary copies of the Great Means Expansive Buddha's Flower Adornment Sutra. Furthermore, we made available the Great Nirvana Sutra and Vajra Sutra .
When I told the public about my vow to print a million sets of the Great Means Vast Buddha Flower Adornment Sutra, I categorized their reactions into three views and two attitudes. The three views were: a) the vow is inconceivable, b) the vow is a great lie, c) few people will read that many Buddhist Sutra books and therefore this vow shouldn't be made.
The two attitudes were: 1) delighted to help, and 2) won't support this job. The writer thinks it is natural to hear these three views and two attitudes, and so he does not have to pay them serious attention. The resolve has come from my mind and I will put it into practice. In advance it is difficult to see clearly; to know the conclusions we must wait for later. As long as I live a single day in this world, I will print a Sutra on that day.
Now we are printing Chinese Sutras; in the future it might be in other languages as well. Whenever the one million sets of the Flower Adornment Sutra are completely printed, my resolve will be fulfilled.
There is a great difference between the sutra printing of the writer and that of businessmen. Businessmen are printing for money. With the money, they can repeat the printing and sell them again. They make a profit on each edition. As for this writer, I rely totally on the donations of the Four-fold Assembly. Donations of money make the Sutras available, and afterwards they will be given away. Such will be the case next time. Money comes from the Ten Directions, and the Sutras will go to that same place as well. My hands will always be empty. My path will be most difficult, but in such a way I will create the conditions for a true cultivator.
Greed is peoples' most serious fault nowadays. If we don't eradicate it, we won't be able to learn from the Buddha or become enlightened. By printing Sutras to create affinities with people we can counteract our stinginess and greed. A true cultivator at any time is a great field of blessings. He offers a chance for the multitudes of living beings to accumulate blessings.
I know, Venerable Master, your principles are to not beg for alms, to not climb upon conditions, and to do your best to accord with conditions without changing. This writer greatly admires these ideals. However, I still have heavy karma and weighty obstructions, and many afflictions burden me. Therefore, I make this great true vow, and hope that should it be fulfilled, I may purify this vow. In order to perfect this resolve, I have to apply another principle. That is to say, at least during the first several years, in the beginning stages of printing the Sutras, I will rely upon the strength of people and the Buddha, and when the causes and conditions ripen, everything will be just as I wish it to be.
During the whole process of accomplishing the printing of the Sutras, with the blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, there will be a lot of people, who come forth more and more to cultivate merit and virtue, to transform stinginess and greed, and to cultivate blessings and wisdom. Among them, there will be people who can have no signs of a self, others, living beings or a life span, and who will accomplish the Way by practicing all good deeds. During this process, there will be more and more people who are able to hear the Dharma, to the point that Buddhism will pervade every family and will be followed by everyone, so that the Dharma-ending Age will turn into the Age of the Proper Dharma. These things are all the proper business of living beings. I myself do nothing but make a resolve.
I am taking the opportunity of my friend's visit to his relatives in the United States, and I troubled him to bring this letter to you for your information. While I am in this world I wish to see my fellow brother at least one time, and I have confidence that this wish will be fulfilled.
I wish reverently that your life span will last as long as the Buddha's, that you will pervasively shine the Buddha's Light, and constantly turn the Dharma Wheel.
A cultivation-companion whom you have never met, a fellow brother from Syi An's Wo Lung Sz (Reclining Dragon Monastery)
Shr Jr Jen
Bowing in respect
Nov. 9, 1992 |
