An experience I had at fourteen made me feel that killing and
eating animals was very cruel, and so I stopped eating meat. In
1981, reading the book Three Steps, One Bow made me loathe the
fighting in the world, and think of leaving the home-life. In 1988,
the Venerable Master led a delegation to Taiwan, inspiring my
great admiration for cultivation. After work everyday, I started
volunteering at the Dharma Realm Buddhist Books Distribution
Society. While my daytime job was just for making a living,
working at a Way-place of proper Dharma was the real purpose of
life. Later, I felt that external giving was not enough. I wanted to
give my mind and body entirely to Buddhism, to seek joy and
peace for all beings. In 1990, with the Ven. Master's and the
Society's compassion, I came to the City of Ten Thousand
Buddhas, left the home-life, and received the precepts.
The City is a Pure Land in the world, and a great furnace.The
city's strict tradition of the six great principles purify and rectify
our bad habits. The Master's personal example of virtue makes me
deeply ashamed. I should vigorously cultivate, and not be lax.
Every night, after the bell has sounded, I always ask myself:
now that this day is over, have I gained control over birth and
death? Am I my own master? Or will I keep transmigrating? On
the other hand, as I understand more Dharma every day, I feel
fortunate to have heard the Dharma in this life. Though penniless,
I feel peaceful and at ease. A wise teacher's compassion has taught
me that "everything is made from the mind." We shouldn't
underestimate ourselves. We should "forge our lives as our basic
duty," without seeking comfort for ourselves. Even the slightest bit
of comfort should be offered up. That is "to renounce our lives to
do the Buddha's work." Not only should we do it once, we should
do so time after time, even more in the future. A Sanghan is the
model and teacher of people and heaven, a great hero who stands
straight and tall, honestly upholding the precepts, doing what
others cannot do. With untiring vigor, we can gradually wash
away our bad habits from limitless kalpas past, and regain our
original bright wisdom. This is "to rectify our lives as the
Sanghans' duty."
Even though the path of Bodhi is long and far, I'm not alone on
it, and it is brightly illumined. I hope all friends who aspire to
revitalize this holy religion will make a great resolve to zealously
advance together on this great, bright path. |
