|
法界佛教總會一年一度的敬老尊賢活動，於十一月三日在美國北加州達摩鎮萬佛聖城、洛杉機的金輪聖寺，以及聖荷西的金聖寺、西雅圖的金峰聖寺、沙加緬度的法界聖城、加拿大的金佛聖寺等地，同步舉行。此外，加拿大卡格利的華嚴聖寺、台灣花蓮彌陀聖寺、台中圓通精舍，也在十一月三日前後，相繼舉辦「敬老節」。
敬老尊賢活動是宣公上人於一九九二年發起的。宣公上人一生侍父母至孝。遠在青年時期，還在中國東北之時，他於母親亡故之後，在母親墓旁守孝三年，因此贏得「白孝子」的美名。但是上人仍認為他對他的父母仍做得不夠圓滿，所以對老年人特別好。「我要以所有的年老人做我的父母，是男子皆是我父，是女子皆是我母」。因此特別提倡敬老尊賢活動，以弘揚孝悌的美德。
華嚴聖寺
法界佛教總會，今年最早舉辦敬老節活動的分支道場，是位於加拿大卡格利的華嚴聖寺。一九九六年十月二十七日，華嚴聖寺在新址舉行敬老暨觀世音菩薩出家紀念法會。以卡格利的氣候而言，當天是個難得的暖秋，陽光普照，許多人早早便已抵達華嚴聖寺。上午八時起，展開一連串的法會儀式，包括大悲懺、普佛、放生法會、延生迴向、上供等，緊接著有團體合照。等到大眾在齋堂坐定後，計算人數共有三百六十餘人前來參加，其中一百三十位為老人家。
一位陳居士在開場致詞中，歡迎並讚揚現場的老人們。午齋時分，客僧法性師與常住恆興師、恆佐師相繼開示。接著華嚴聖寺週日學校合唱團演唱「觀音讚」；三名學生以電子琴、笛子與手鈴合奏「觀音讚」的旋律，另有太極拳表演。
在表演節目中，穿插著抽獎活動，特大獎由恆佐法師贈送給在座中，最年紀最長的一位八十八歲來賓。每位老人們離去前，都收到一份禮物。繼續留下的善信，則聆聽恆興師的長期講座——講解《菩薩戒》。
下午三時，慶祝活動在功德迴向後圓滿，大眾都感到法喜充滿。
萬佛聖城
萬佛聖城的敬老活節依慣例由育良小學與培德中學聯合主辦。兩校男女學生全體總動員，為數十位年長佳賓演出國樂合奏、鋼琴獨奏、長笛、合唱、中國羽扇舞「歡天喜地」等節目，並以中英雙語背誦「弟子規」；男校學生還表演中國藝技「扯鈴」，嫻熟俐落的架式，贏得滿堂采。柏克萊大學佛學社的同學們，也特地前來助陣，演出幽默短劇「老人家的智慧」。
萬佛聖城的方丈恆律法師歡迎所有來賓的光臨，並說明舉辦敬老節的意義。曼都仙諾現任郡長比特遜致詞時指出，每個人總有一天都要變成老人，因此敬老節活動別具溫暖的意義。帶著期盼的口吻，比特遜郡長說：「我今年四十九歲，明年也要成為敬老節的客人囉！」即將就任的下屆郡長舒梅克則表示，希望他的父母也能在場，他同時希望敬老節的精神能夠在一年三百六十五天中，天天如此。
聯袂前來參加敬老節的七十歲老夫婦勞斯卓普在人生路上已攜手共渡半個世紀，他們很高興能夠參加這項活動：「快樂能使我們活得長壽、健康。」
看著中西老人歡聚一堂，七十歲的老比丘尼恆謹師深有所感地說：「美國老人孤獨寂寞者居多，應多提倡這類的活動，以提醒大家對老人的關懷和尊重。」
華嚴精舍
位於馬里蘭州波多馬克城的華嚴精舍，首次舉辦敬老節。四十多位六十五歲以上的老人，其中年齡最長者高達九十一歲，共同懷著虔敬愉快的心情，從方圓近六十哩的範圍內很早就齊集到精舍的佛堂。
上午八時半法會開始，在法師的帶領下，胸佩鮮花的老人們在莊重嚴肅和喜氣洋洋的佛堂參與佛教儀式，誦念「阿彌陀佛」的聖號，領受了一次佛學教義的薰陶。
十點半上供，午齋隨即開始，精舍特別為老爺爺，老奶奶們預備了大拼盤，和冬菇白菜，雪裡紅毛豆，炸豆腐皮捲，素菜包子等八大盤，另加包紮玲瓏粽葉清香的紅豆甜粽。老人們口誦佛號列隊依次入席，情趣盎然地邊用餐邊體會到參加這樣的活動，既備受佛教義理的鼓舞，又領會了敬老尊賢傳統的美德，感到很有意義。
下午舉行文娛活動，節目豐富，有中文班學生的短劇、笛、琴、和法器等表演。有與會居士的箏，快書、與平劇清唱、更難能可貴的是有名琴手張天新居士的二胡與京胡演奏個個節目精彩，表演高潮迭起，使幾位老人也情不自禁地表演太極拳與氣功為大會增添了許多歡欣氣氛。與會老人們不約而同地稱讚過了極具愉快，值得深深懷念的一天。也都覺得這次華嚴精舍的敬老活動能辦的如此圓滿成功，冥冥中定是上人的慈悲加被，助弟子們事半功倍地成就這殊勝的因緣。三時宴會結束時，每位老人帶著法師們贈送的禮物，面帶笑容興奮地踏上回家的歸途。
父母恩重難報經
位於西雅圖的金峰寺和加州西沙加緬度的法界聖城，都以念誦《父母恩重難報經》來慶祝敬老節，祝福老人家耆年壽考，福慧雙修。
成立只有一年餘的金聖寺位於北聖荷西的一座山丘上，居高臨下正好俯瞰美國電子科技中心--矽谷。金聖寺也以念誦《父母恩重難報經》掀開敬老節活動序幕。這是金聖寺首度舉辦敬老節，邀請到八十多位來賓。當天恰逢恆實法師講《法華經》，恆實法師特別為在場來賓介紹敬老節的緣起。金聖寺的週日學校小朋友表演了舞獅等精彩節目，近十位慈濟會原也來為老人家表演手語節目，另有愛心團表演佛曲合唱。金聖寺的護法居士更為老年佳賓準備了手套、帽子等禮物，讓老人家的身心都倍感溫暖。
同樣以《父母恩重難報經》展開敬老慶祝活動的是加拿大溫哥華中國城附近的金佛聖寺。十一月三日的氣象預報原說是個雨天，不料當天竟然晴空萬里，氣溫適中。一百五十餘位老人，有些由兒孫陪同，有些則是互相約好，總計近兩百人，愉快地前往金佛聖寺過節。
在誦過《父母恩重難報經》之後，比丘尼恆貞為來賓解釋敬老節的深意。金佛聖寺週日中文學校的學生表演了三寶歌，心經，弟子規，小沙彌救螞蟻等節目，更贈送念珠與實用的個人清潔用品與老人家結緣。
當天下午再度誦經後迴向，敬老節活動功德圓滿。這時雨點才開始低落下來，氣象預報果然沒錯。有人說：「老天爺也在幫忙慶祝敬老節哩！」 |
|
The annual "Celebration in Honor of the Elders was held on November 3 at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Northern California; Gold Wheel Monastery in Los Angeles; Gold Sage Monastery in San Jose; Gold Mountain Monastery in San Francisco; Gold Summit Monastery in Seattle; the City of the Dharma Realm in Sacramento; and Gold Buddha Monastery in Vancouver, Canada. This special day for elders was also celebrated around that date at Avatamsaka Monastery in Calgary, Canada; Amitabha Monastery in Hualien, Taiwan; and Perfect Penetration Hermitage in Taichung, Taiwan.
The Venerable Master Hua began this special activity for honoring elders and worthies back in 1992. Throughout his life the Master had been extremely filial to his parents. In his childhood days in Manchuria, China, after his mother passed away he built a small hut by her graveside and lived there for three years in filial respect, thus earning the name "Filial Son Bai." But the Master still felt that he had not done enough for his parents, so he treated elders with special kindness. He said, "I want to treat all elders as my parents; all men are my fathers and all women are my mothers." He advocated the celebration in honor of elders and worthies in order to promote the values of filiality and fraternal respect.
Avatamsaka Monastery
The first branch temple of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association to hold the "Celebration in Honor of the Elders" this year was Avatamsaka Monastery in Calgary, Canada. On October 27, 1996, the Monastery held its celebration in conjunction with the "Celebration of Guanyin Bodhisattva's Leaving Home" at its new home.
It was an exceptionally warm, sunny day by Calgary's fall weather standards, and people arrived early. The celebration started at 8:00 a.m. with the ceremonies of: Great Compassion Repentance, Universal Bowing, Ceremony for Liberating the Living, Transference for Lengthening Life, and Meal Offering, followed by a group photo session. By the time everybody was settled down in the dining hall, an attendance of over 360 people was counted, among them 130 elders.
The elders were welcomed and praised in the opening remarks by Mr. Joe Chan. During the luncheon, Dharma talks were given by a visiting monk Fa Xing Shr, and our resident monks Heng Xing Shr and Heng Tso Shr. These were followed by other performances: "Guanyin Bodhisattva Praise" sung by the Sunday School Choir, "Guanyin Praise" with keyboard, flute, and handbell played by three students, and a Tai Chi Chuan demonstration.
Prizes were drawn in between performances, and a special grand prize was presented to the most senior (88-year-old) of all the elders by Heng Tso Shr. Also, each elder received a take-home gift on leaving.
Those who stayed were able to listen to Heng Xing Shr's serial commentary on the Bodhisattva Precepts. Finally, at 3:00 p.m., the celebration was adjourned with the Ceremony of Transference of Merit, and everyone was filled with Dharma joy.
The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
The "Celebration in Honor of the Elders" at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas was as usual sponsored jointly by Instilling Goodness Elementary and Developing Virtue Secondary Schools. The students of the Boys' and Girls' Schools performed Chinese classical music, piano solos, flute, choral singing, a Chinese fan dance called "Happy World," recitations of "Standards for Students" in Chinese and English, and various other programs. One student from the Boys' School gave an expert performance of Chinese yo-yo that drew many cheers from the audience. Students from the Buddhist society at the University of California at Berkeley also made a special trip to the City for the occasion and performed a skit called "The Wisdom of the Elders."
Heng Lyu Shr, the Abbot of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, welcomed all the guests and spoke about the purpose of holding the "Celebration in Honor of the Elders." Charles Peterson, Director of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, spoke next, saying that since every person will one day grow old, the celebration brings a special feeling of warmth and reassurance. With a hopeful tone of voice, he said, "I'm forty-nine this year, so next year I get to be a guest at this celebration, too!" Richard Shumacher, the incoming Director of the Board of Supervisors, wished that his parents could have been there too. He hoped that the spirit of the celebration would be remembered all 365 days of the year.
Pole and Lila Laustrup, a couple in their seventies who have been together for half a century, were happy to participate in the celebration: "Happiness makes us live long and healthy."
Seeing all the Chinese and Western elders gathered in the hall, seventy-six year old Bhikshuni Heng Jin Shr remarked, "There are so many old folks in the United States who live alone, without family. We ought to do our best to promote this celebration, to remind everyone to show concern and respect for elders."
Avatamsaka Hermitage
This was the first time Avatamsaka Hermitage in Potomac, Maryland, held a Celebration in Honor of Elders. More than forty seniors over the age of sixty-five, including one ninety-one-year-old, came in an earnest and happy spirit from sixty miles around to gather together in the Buddha hall of the Hermitage.
The celebration began at 8:30 in the morning. Led by the Dharma Masters, the elders, with red flowers pinned on their chests, recited the name of Amitabha Buddha in the adorned and joy-filled atmosphere of the Buddha hall. This occasion gave them a chance to absorb the truths of Buddhism.
The Meal Offering Ceremony at 10:30 was followed by an eight course vegetarian luncheon specially prepared by the Hermitage, which included assorted appetizers, black mushrooms and cabbage, fried tofu wrapper rolls, and vegetable dumplings. There were also exquisitely wrapped, aromatic rice dumplings with red bean filling. Reciting the Buddha’s name, the elders took their seats and savored the experience of participating in such a celebration, which not only promotes the teachings of Buddha, but also perpetuates the tradition of honoring our elders and worthies. Thus they found the celebration very meaningful.
Various performances were held in the afternoon. The Chinese school students performed skits and played the flute, guitar, and Dharma instruments. Some laypeople performed the Chinese harp, calligraphy, and Chinese opera. Tianxin Zhang gave a Chinese classical music concert. The fine performances inspired several elders to give impromptu demonstrations of taijiquan and qigong, making it a very happy celebration. The elders all said they had a wonderful time, and that it was truly a memorable day. They attributed the success of the celebration to the Venerable Master’s kind and invisible blessing. The celebration concluded at 3:00 in the afternoon, and the elders went home with gifts from the Dharma Masters and happy smiles on their faces.
Sutra of the Difficulty of Repaying Parents' Kindness
Both Gold Summit Monastery in Seattle and the City of the Dharma Realm in Sacramento celebrated the "Day in Honor of the Elders" by reciting the Sutra of the Difficulty of Repaying Parents' Kindness, wishing that every elder will live to a ripe, old age and will enjoy both blessings and wisdom.
Situated on a hilltop in north San Jose, Gold Sage Monastery, which was founded a little over a year ago, overlooks the heart of the American electronic industry--Silicon Valley. Gold Sage Monastery began its first-time "Celebration in Honor of the Elders" with the recitation of the Sutra of the Difficulty of Repaying Parents' Kindness. Over eighty honored guests attended. Dharma Master Heng Sure, whose lecture on the Lotus Sutra coincided with the event, explained the history of the celebration. The students of Gold Sage Monastery's Sunday school performed the lion dance and gave other fine performances. About ten members of the T'zu Chi Foundation performed a pantomime for the elders, and the Compassionate Heart Choir sang Buddhist songs. The Dharma-protecting laity of Gold Sage Monastery prepared gloves, hats, and other gifts for the honored elders, making them feel warm in body and heart.
Gold Buddha Monastery, located near Chinatown in Vancouver, also opened its "Celebration in Honor of the Elders" by reciting the Sutra of the Difficulty of Repaying Parents' Kindness. The weatherman had forecasted rain for November 3, but it turned out to be a mild day with clear blue skies. About 150 elders, some coming together, others accompanied by their children or grandchildren--a total of nearly 200 people--joyfully took part in the festivities at Gold Buddha Monastery. After the recitation of the Sutra, Bhikshuni Heng Jen Shr spoke to the guests about the profound significance of the occasion. The Monastery's Chinese Sunday School students sang the Triple Jewel Song, recited the Heart Sutra and the Standards for Students, and told the story of the young novice monk who saved the ants. The elders received gifts of recitation beads and personal care articles.
After reciting the Sutra again and dedicating the merit in the afternoon, the celebration adjourned. Only then, at two o'clock, did the first drops of rain start to fall. The weather forecast had not been wrong after all. Someone said, "Even the Lord in Heaven is helping to celebrate in honor of the elders!" |
