我在家時因歡喜坐禪,故常上香港大嶼山慈興寺打坐。那兒環境幽靜,人跡罕到,打坐很容易上路,也很容易讓人升起脫塵離俗之想。在出家前三年,為方便學習佛法,索性搬入寺中居住,同時也幫忙道場做點事。
住山期間,深感人生虛幻,無常迅速,只有修行才是真的。故於一九八八年上人蒞臨香港弘法時,因緣成熟,求師出家剃度,並蒙接納。
一九九○年前往台灣時,曾親受師父和師兄們教導。因為自己習氣毛病過多,所以也曾多次受責。幸而次次都蒙師父上人寬恕,常使弟子感動淚下。上人對眾生的關懷,使每一位親受他老人家教化過的弟子,都留下不可磨滅的印象,這是我親身的體會。
次年往加拿大接受訓練。同行的師兄們精進辦道,毫不馬虎苟且。他們修習傳授師父的法,不遺餘力;我在那兒學習期間,受益良多。
一九九五年上人圓寂,弟子才親臨萬聖佛城受三壇大戒。雖然我很遺憾未能親得上人傳戒,但在師兄們教導下,如能依法奉行,我相信在正法的大道上,也一樣會有所進步。但願上人將來倒駕慈航,再來普度眾生時,能再在上人座下受教。 |
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Before I left home, I liked to meditate and often went to Cixing (Flourishing Compassion) Monastery on Lantao Island in Hong Kong to meditate. The environment was serene and secluded, and it was easy to make progress in meditation. Being there made one feel like wanting to leave the mundane world forever. Three years before becoming a monk, in order to study the Buddhadharma, I moved to the monastery to live and help out with the monastic chores.
While at the monastery, I deeply perceived the illusory nature and brevity of life, and felt that only cultivation was real. And so when the Venerable Master came to Hong Kong to spread the Dharma in 1988, my conditions ripened. I asked to leave the home-life and was accepted.
When I went to Taiwan in 1990, I received various teachings from the Master and from my Dharma-brothers. Because I had many bad habits and faults, I was often admonished. Fortunately, the Master forgave me every time, always moving me to the point of tears. The Master's concern for living beings has left an indelible impression in the heart of every living being he has taught. I experienced this personally.
The following year I went to Canada for training. My Dharma-brothers cultivated vigorously and were never the least bit casual. They spared no effort in cultivating and propagating the Master's Dharma. I learned a lot during the time I spent there.
When the Master entered the stillness in 1995, I had just come to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to receive ordination in the three-fold precepts. Although I regret that the Master could not ordain me personally, I believe that if I can practice the Dharma under the guidance of my Dharma-peers, I will still be able to advance along the path of the Proper Dharma. I only hope that when the Master compassionately turns his ship around and returns to save living beings, I will be there to receive his teachings.
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