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十年前，宣公上人親臨卡加里為華嚴寺信眾弘法利生，並派了出家弟子住錫寺中，從此為卡城眾生開拓親近三寶的福田。為慶祝法界佛教總會在卡加里成立十周年，華嚴寺在今年八月特別舉辦了一連串活動，好讓大家一同重溫過去，並齊心在佛道上向前邁進。
八月一日晚上，道場灑凈完畢，隨著是七天的梁皇寶懺法會。二十一位比丘尼、沙彌尼早已在七月卅日前到達卡城，開始了禮拜梁皇寶懺的準備功夫。這次是華嚴寺，也是卡城第一次有機會拜梁皇寶懺。這兒的佛弟子固然為這難得的因緣而雀躍，就是專程由外地來禮懺的居士也有數十人。計有來自馬來西亞、香港、美國東西兩岸，以及加拿大各大城市，如溫哥華、愛民頓、 溫尼泊等。
法會期間，每天皆有上百人，在維那師的帶領下，誠心禮懺。晚上休息時，同修們還津津樂道白天拜懺的感受，以及懺文中發人深省之處，可謂各有所得。由此便可一窺梁皇寶懺的殊勝妙用。
由於梁皇寶懺的殊勝難遇，感召了百多人來護持法會。周末時，更有兩百多人來參加禮懺。這麼多人來共同熏修的機會固然可貴，只怕人多事多，大家的習氣毛病也給熏了出來。所以方丈佐法師在啟懺之前便提醒大家﹕「修行就是要吃點苦。」「在道場內，我們就是個大家庭，應該互相照顧。」
果然大家都很受用，不但能夠容忍道場中的種種簡陋與不足，反而還很積極地幫忙做各種工作。從其它道場來的法師居士們，更無分彼此，由大殿至廚房的功夫，都不遺餘力，盡心照料。所以整個法會都進行順利。
可能是龍天有意考驗，拜梁皇寶懺的頭幾天，巧是今年夏季最熱的日子，室外氣溫曾經高達攝氏３６ 度。然而炎熱的天氣並沒有動搖拜懺者的誠心。不少人拜完了懺，繼續作自己的日常功課，毫不懈怠。悶熱的天氣持續了五六天，到結懺的當天卻來了個突變。八號那天，忽然風起雲湧，雷電交加。雨點就在末段結懺時，大大地灑了一場，暑氣全消。梁皇寶懺終於在一片清涼中功德圓滿。
幸得龍天庇護，甘露雨洗滌了連日來的暑氣，卻沒有半點為難九號那天的放生及舞獅活動。精武體育館的人在星期六的中午時分抵達華嚴寺，當大眾一返回大殿結齋畢，隨即鑼鼓喧天。獅子的生動綵青及向寺內每位佛菩薩頂禮叩拜，場面熱鬧，吸引了不少路人，駐足街上觀看。亦有好些人參觀了下午的放生儀式，目睹一百隻被捕獲作活靶射擊玥首禽鳥，如井獲自由。
來卡城參加十周年紀念法會的出家人，有法總各道場的比丘尼及沙彌尼等共三十多人，真可謂僧眾雲集在卡城，創歷年來高峰。十多天的法會期間，男女眾法師都為大眾說法。有人講因果，有人介紹懺悔法門，有人深入淺出地寓佛理於故事中，也有人講到修行的通病。最吸引人的是法師們給我們講述的華嚴寺歷史。前塵往事彷彿很遙遠，卻又好像歷歷在目。尤其是宣公上人慈悲玩苳A那種無窮的受用，又焉能磨滅？片片舊事，法師們娓娓道來，洋溢著師父的巧善與智慧。過去十年，華嚴寺的出家在家二眾，有幸得蒙明眼善知識的指導與提攜，方能在這北地的小城市共同學習佛法。
正法所感，到華嚴寺的信眾們與日俱增。因此便在去年從市西南的運勝區搬至目前的第四大道河畔新址。８月１０日當日，有五百多人來到華嚴寺，參加十周年紀念法會。當天有四家居士供養上堂大齋，又適逢大勢至菩薩聖誕，大眾在早上誦讀祝儀，便由齋主們恭請和尚升座說法。請法儀式莊嚴而隆重，恒實法師響法雷字字鏗鏘，使與會大眾同沾法益。
當大眾享用美味午齋時，法師們普施法語，亦有周日學校的學生們表演歌唱及音樂演奏。一時間內，五觀堂內充滿了老幼歡聚的聲音。午齋後舉辦大家期待已久的三皈五戒儀式。參加者眾，分別有三十人皈依，二十人受持五戒。各人在菩提道上增添了堅定的信心。
雖然法會在十號當日圓滿結束，大家喜悅的心情沒有就此減退。眾人都忙著收拾東西準備參加翌日的朝山活動。在十一號早上，卡城的華嚴寺眾，加上外來的訪客約百多人，登上兩輛大巴士，浩浩蕩蕩的向洛磯山脈出發。一路上是以風景秀麗馳名的賓芙國家公園，最後抵達師父早年在金鎮附近購買的一片土地。這片土地有一千多公頃，座落在哥倫比亞河谷，預備將來發展成萬佛聖城一般的大叢林。
大家在松風送爽，鳥語花香的宜人環境中，享用果齋為眾人準備的豐富野餐。在樹影婆娑間，大家安坐草坡上，恭聽恒實法師講清淨知足的快樂。我舉目四盼，都是青蔥的山頭，不用受到世界物欲的 牽引及名利爭奪的纏縛，深深感受到國土清凈的福惠。
恒長法師在敘述舊事時，也提及師父曾在山區看到文殊師利菩薩住錫的道場（堡壘山），以及很多在深山中修行的眾生。只是我們凡夫業障深，就是面對彌陀也當面錯過。短短一日的金鎮之旅，大家也拓寬了視野和胸襟。原本世間無界線，我們的心凈則國土凈，希望眾佛子也努力淨化我們的心地，以拓展凈土的空間。
由於堡壘山的壯觀及眾人朝拜文殊師利菩薩之心切，今年有金輪寺及萬佛城的居士們特別抽空去探訪了堡壘山。金輪寺胡果相等居士，更發現了一座像極了師父銅像的小山峰。遠望儼然是師巍巍坐在山峰上，故此欣喜萬分，可見其思慕上人之心。另外萬佛城的居士們更攀登上山頂的兩個湖泊，並在湖畔至心頂禮文殊師利菩薩。
就在他們回卡城的路程上，恒長法師正在華嚴寺中向大家娓娓道出師父談及堡壘山的事。雖然師父沒到過山上，倒知道山上有個龍潭，潭中的青龍發願要護持誠心修道的人，在堡壘山上早成道業。假若那些居士們早知此事，不知是否要深入龍潭，還是不捨離堡壘山了？
今年藉者紀念法總分支道場在卡城成立了十寒暑，各道場的弟子都聚集到華嚴寺來一起作佛事。這兩個星期就像家人大團圓，大家都法喜充滿。希望很快能又再相逢，或在聖城，或在卡加里，或在其他道場，甚或在龍華會上。 |
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Ten years ago, Venerable Master Hsuan Hua came to Calgary and propagated the Dharma for the benefit of the people at Avatamsaka Monastery. He also sent a few left-home disciples to dwell at the monastery, thus bringing the Triple Jewel to Calgary. To celebrate the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association (DRBA)'s Tenth Anniversary in Canada, Avatamsaka Monastery hosted a series of activities in August so as to help us commemorate the past and advance together on the path to Buddhahood.
There was a seven-day Jeweled Repentance of the Emperor of Liang beginning on August 1. A group of 21 nuns arrived before July 31 to make preparations for the Dharma session. This was the first time Avatamsaka Monastery held this Jeweled Repentance. Not only did the local cultivators feel excited, but also quite a few people made special trips from Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the East and West Coasts of the United States, as well as various Canadian cities.
Every day, the cantor led over a hundred people in bowing sincerely to the Buddhas. In the evenings, fellow cultivators happily talked about their experiences of bowing in repentance and discussed the profound principles in the repentance text. Everyone gained some insight, and the marvelous function of the Jeweled Repentance was revealed.
The special and rare nature of this Repentance attracted more than a hundred participants. On the weekend, more than two hundred people came to bow in repentance. While it was wonderful to see so many people cultivating together, there was a concern that different people's habits and personalities might result in clashes. The Abbot, Heng Tso Shi, thus reminded us before the repentance began, "Cultivation involves enduring some suffering." "In the Way-place, we are like a big family and we should take care of each other."
These reminders worked. Everyone not only could tolerate the simple and austere conditions of the monastery, but also actively helped out with all kinds of work. Dharma Masters as well as laypeople, no matter where they were from, all did their best to take care of the monastery, from the Buddha Hall to the kitchen, so the whole assembly went smoothly.
Probably the dragon deity deliberately wanted to give us a test, for the first few days of the Repentance were the hottest days of this summer. The outdoor temperature reached 36 C (99 F). Nonetheless, the heat could not daunt the cultivators' minds. Many of them continued to do their daily practices in addition to bowing in repentance. The hot, humid weather lasted for five or six days, but on August 8, there was a dramatic change. It became windy and cloudy with lightning and thunder. Finally the rain fell and washed away the heat, and the Repentance was completed in refreshingly cool weather.
The blessed rain dispersed the heat but did not interfere with the Ceremony of Liberating Life and the Lion Dance on August 9. The martial arts troupe arrived at Avatamsaka Monastery at noon on Saturday and vigorously beat the drums and gongs after the end-of-meal ceremony in the Buddha Hall. Many passersby stopped to watch the lion picking fruits and bowing to each Buddha and Bodhisattva in the monastery. Hundreds of birds that had been captured to serve as shooting targets were set free in the Ceremony of Liberating Life.
Over thirty monks and nuns from various temples of DRBA—the biggest local gathering of the Sangha in years—came to celebrate the tenth anniversary in Calgary. For more than ten days, there were daily Dharma talks by monks and nuns on cause and effect, the practice of repentance, simple stories expressing deep Buddhist principles, and general problems of spiritual cultivation. Most inspiring were stories regarding the history of Avatamsaka Monastery. The past seemed so remote and yet so vivid. How could we ever forget the Venerable Master Hua's compassionate teachings, which benefited people in boundless ways? With story after story, the Dharma Masters recounted the Ven. Master's wit and wisdom. Both the left-home people and the laypeople at Avatamsaka Monastery had been fortunate in receiving encouragement and instruction from good advisors in the past ten years, enabling them to study the Dharma together.
Drawn by the Proper Dharma, more and more people had come to the monastery, and eventually it had to move from northwest Calgary to its current location on 4th Avenue by the riverside. On August 10, more than 500 people attended the Tenth Anniversary Celebration. Four families sponsored the Meal Offering that day, which was also Great Strength Bodhisattva's birthday. The ceremony of requesting the Dharma was grand and solemn, and Dharma Master Heng Sure's words were sonorous and forceful.
During the luncheon, Dharma Masters spoke Dharma and Sunday school students performed songs and music. The dining hall was filled with the happy voices of young and old alike. The long-awaited ceremony for Taking Refuge and Precepts was held after lunch. About 30 people took refuge and 20 took precepts, strengthening their faith in the Buddha path.
The celebration ended on August 10, but our excitement had not faded. Everyone was busy packing for the pilgrimage on the next day. On the morning of August 11, more than a hundred people, both residents and visitors of Avatamsaka Monastery, got on two buses that headed for the Rocky Mountains. The buses drove through the beautiful scenery of Banff National Park and finally reached a piece of land that the Ven. Master had bought years ago, in Columbus Valley near the town of Golden. The Master's plan was to develop a large monastic community like the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas on this property of more a thousand hectares.
In the placid surroundings filled with cool, pine-scented air, birdsong, and the fragrance of flowers, we enjoyed a sumptuous lunch. Sitting on the grass under the shade of trees, we respectfully listened to the Dharma Masters talk about the joy of purity and contentment. Looking around, all we saw were green mountains. We could really appreciate the blessings of a pure land, free from the drive of desires and the bonds of worldly contention.
As he reminisced about the past, Dharma Master Heng Chang mentioned that the Ven. Master had seen Manjushri Bodhisattva's Way-place deep in Castle Mountain and had seen many cultivators living there. Too bad we ordinary people with heavy karma couldn't recognize a Buddha if we saw one. That one-day trip to Golden opened our minds and and enlarged our perspective on things. There are no limits. As long as our mind is pure, the land is pure. May we all work hard to clean up our mind in order to expand the pure land.
Attracted by the beauty of Castle Mountain and wishing to pay homage to Manjushri Bodhisattva, laypeople from Gold Wheel Monastery and the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas decided to visit Castle Mountain. Some of them even discovered a small hill that resembled the Ven. Master's bronze statue. It looked as if the Master was sitting on the hilltop in the distance. Their excitement at this discovery showed how much they missed the Master. Laypeople from the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas also climbed up to the two lakes on the peak and worshipped Manjushri Bodhisattva by the lakeside.
On the way back, Dharma Master Chang recounted the story of Castle Mountain as told by the Ven. Master. Although the Ven. Master had never been there, he knew there was a Dragon Lake in which resided a green dragon who had vowed to protect all sincere cultivators so they could achieve the Way at Castle Mountain. If the laypeople had known about this earlier, would they have wanted to find Dragon Lake and stay there?
Disciples from many other monasteries gathered at Avatamsaka Monastery to work together for the Celebration of DRBA's Tenth Anniversary in Calgary. During those two weeks, it was like a big family gathering. Everyone was filled with the joy of Dharma. |
