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 一九九四年十一月五日，在洛杉磯長堤聖寺的敬老節聯歡會結束之後，一位八十餘歲的夏明強老居士，留住道場三星期，以了他與十位幼齡沙彌的「太極因緣」，義務教授「楊氏太極拳」。除實地演練外，並上課講解，盡心盡力，傾囊相授。餘則隨眾課誦，或念佛、打坐，分秒不虛度，精進猶勝年輕人。
一九八五年皈依上人，法名「果周」，他對上人的賜名，深含個人因果玄機，於是棄俗名而以「果周」為名了。他一九一四年出生於中國上海，就讀震旦大學，通中、英、法等多種語言，專修化學工程，故其講究實證之科學精神，不僅用於知識的追求，更發揮於佛法的研究上。
夏居士十七歲遭喪父之痛，深體世事無常，想明白生來死去的真相，故於十八歲時學佛，虔誦《金剛經》，此時即興起出家修行之念，但以身為家中獨子而因緣不足，乃娶妻生子。
太極拳的每一招式皆是「吃虧讓步」，這是夏老居士四、五十年練拳所得心要。所以他直心直行、澹泊名利，一生義務教授太極拳，不取分文酬勞。平日少與外界聯繫，不接電話、不看電視，報紙只略讀大標題，除勉勵眾生信佛外，鮮少書信，過著清修的生活，如同出家人一般。唯參加一年一度的夏季「萬佛寶懺」及冬季「一週彌陀七」與「三週禪七」。居家則專修淨土，每日以兩大願回向之：（一）為父母師長、歷劫冤親債主，頂禮三寶，求生極樂淨土。（二）為世界天災人禍所苦之眾生，懺除業障，早脫輪迴得生蓮邦。 |
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On November 5, 1994, after the celebration of Honoring the Elderly held in Long Beach Monastery at Long Beach was concluded, the elderly Upasaka Xia Mingqiang stayed on for three weeks to take care of his tai chi affinities with ten young novices. He volunteered to teach the novices the Yang-style tai chi. Aside from actual practice, he also gave lectures in the classroom. He spared no effort and taught everything he could. For the rest of the time, he either followed the assembly in doing daily recitations, recited the Buddha's name, or meditated by himself. He did not waste a single minute. His vigor surpassed that of most young people.
When he took refuge with the Venerable Master in 1985, Mr. Xia was given the Dharma-name Guo Zhou. Since his Dharma-name indicated the hidden workings of personal cause and effect, he gave up his lay name and used his Dharma-name instead. He was born in Shanghai, China, in 1914. He studied in Zhendan University and is fluent in many languages, such as Chinese, English, and French. Since his major was chemical engineering, he emphasizes the scientific attitude of proving things objectively. He applies this attitude not only in his pursuit of knowledge but also in his investigation of the Buddhadharma.
Upasaka Xia lost his father when he was seventeen. He deeply felt the impermanent nature of worldly affairs and wanted to understand the truth of birth and death. Therefore, at the age of eighteen, he started learning Buddhism and sincerely reciting the Vajra Sutra. At this time he conceived the idea of leaving the home-life. However, the causes and conditions were not ripe for him since he was the only son in the family. So he got married and had sons instead.
In tai chi, it can be said that in every set of movements, one "takes a loss and yields.” This is the idea Xia Mingqiang has derived from over fifty years of practicing tai chi. Therefore, he does things with a straight mind and takes fame and profit very lightly. He has been teaching tai chi for free throughout his life and has never accepted payment. He rarely corresponds with the outside world. He does not accept phone calls or watch television, and only browses the headlines of newspapers. He seldom writes, unless it is for the purpose of encouraging people to study Buddhism. His pure life emulates that of a left-home person. Each year, he attends the Jeweled Repentance of Ten Thousand Buddhas in the summer and the one-week Buddha Recitation Session and three-week Chan Session in the winter. At home, he cultivates Pure Land Dharma-door. Every day he transfers the merit and virtue with two great vows: (1) To bow to the Triple Jewel and seek rebirth in the Pure Land on behalf of his parents, teachers, creditors, and relatives of past lives. (2) To repent of the karmic obstacles of living beings who have suffered natural disasters and accidents in the world, so that they will be liberated from transmigration and be reborn in the Lotus Land. |
