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我的家庭是信外道的虔誠教徒，雖然吃素多年，但對於佛教的教理一點也不瞭解，總認為佛教是消極逃避或苦惱不幸的人才信仰的。也認為自己這一生中又沒做什麼壞事，問心無愧就好了，何必去信佛、念佛、拜佛呢？由於對佛法有種特別的偏見，所以沒有進一步的深入探討。
其實佛法有如大海中的指南針，有了佛法的信仰才能增長我們的智慧，發揮自己的良知良能。研究佛教的教理，能滿足現代科學中，所追求不到的真理實相。了解尊重自己，禮敬他人，如何來以平等心對待一切眾生。佛法是廣博深遠，圓融無礙，使我們真正獲得了身心解脫與自在的境界。
也許是受了姊姊的影響，成就我出家的因緣。那時候她說要去讀佛學院，去了沒幾天，打電話回來說已經出家了，於是我去廟裡看她，也在廟裡住了一個星期，覺得出家人的生活，是非常清靜與高尚。這種寺廟的生活，深深地讓我覺得人生過得非常實在。從此對佛教有了真正的認識。
結束了一星期的寺廟生活，又回到社會上工作，身心與思想起了很大的改變，世間上所有的一切事物，都比不上佛法的清高。能得到這個人身是很難，能聞到佛法也是很難，現在已經得到了，也已經聞到了，今生不以佛法來度這個身心，又要等到什麼時候呢？所謂「人身難得今已得，佛法難聞今已聞。今生不向此身度，更待何時度此身？」 |
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My family are sincere believers in another religion and although they have been vegetarian for decades, they do not understand anything about the doctrines of Buddhism. They think that only people suffering from depression who wish to avoid distress and afflictions believe in Buddhism. They also feel that if a person has never done anything to be ashamed of in this life, then why should he have to believe in, be mindful of, or bow to the Buddhas? Because of their prejudiced views, they never went further to find out what Buddhism is really about.
Actually Buddhism is like a compass on the vast sea. Faith in Buddhism can increase one's wisdom and one's wholesome capabilities. The timeless principles of Buddhism are full of truths that modern-day science seeks for but fails to find. Beyond helping us gain an understanding of ourselves and a sense of self-respect, and teaching us to be polite and respectful toward others, and to treat all beings equally, the Buddhadharma is vast, deep, far-reaching; perfectly fused and unobstructed. It can enable us to attain the state of genuine physical and mental liberation and self-mastery.
Perhaps it was my older sister's influence that made it possible for me to leave the home-life. At that time she told me she was going to join a Buddhist Academy. She'd only been there for a few days when she called back home saying, “I've already left the home-life.” I went to the monastery to see her, and after staying a week I felt that the life of a left-home person was extremely pure and lofty. I felt that monastic life was an extremely practical way of life. From then on I began to truly recognize Buddhism.
After a week in the monastery, I returned to my job outside. But a great change had already taken place in my whole being. Nothing in the world could compare to the pristine and exalted Buddhadharma. It is very difficult to obtain a human life and very difficult to get the opportunity to hear the Buddhadharma. It's said “It's hard to gain a human body, but now I have it. It's difficult to get to hear the Buddhadharma but now I've heard it. If I don't save myself this life, when will I ever be able to save myself?”
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