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我出生在北京，來美前從未接觸過佛教。一九八五年北京大學畢業後，來美國攻讀物理博士學位，畢業於普度大學。
一九八○年代中起，中國大陸社會風氣動盪多變，改變了我對利益人群的許多理念，我的思想也很難定型。生命目標的喪失，在我心中形成一股力量，促使我去開闢新天地。我開始閱讀課外書籍─攝影、歷史，宗教等等。一九九一年我在一本書中看到「禪」，感到很好奇。從此我開始留心佛教典籍，結識了不少善友，我心裡充滿了對法的喜悅，並於同年年底皈依了三寶。
一九九三年，我們佛學社有 位同學在跟上人通話時提到我。事後他告訴我說：「上人不要我學你，因為你是小乘根性。」這讓我很驚奇。年底，我終於拜見了上人。那次我問上人：「羅漢不也是可以了生死嗎？」「那是自了漢。」「菩薩生生世世度眾生不是很苦嗎？」「俺們雖不是菩薩，但願意生生世世學菩薩道。証道以後就不苦了，人就如同一張照片裡的形像。」
那時我看周圍的人都不守五戒，可也找不出改變的辦法。雖然我的菩提心還在，但在實踐上我對六度是完全麻木的。
我學佛幾年，深感在道場修行的重要性；外面的世界，難以維持正命。我開始認真地考慮來萬佛聖城道場修行。今年九月，我來到嚮往已久的萬佛聖城當義務老師。在這裡可共修，又可以自修，深入上人無盡的法藏。上人曾說：「發展佛教必須要從教育入手。」在心與學校這樣複雜的目標之間取中道，從這個法門中，我可以學到許多。我也真誠地祈盼更多的善友能投入，大家共同來莊嚴這法界的一角。 |
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I was born in Beijing, where I had never learned anything about Buddhism. After I graduated from Peking University in 1985, I came to the U.S. and earned a Ph.D. in physics from Purdue University.
Since the mid-80’s, there have been many changes in the general mood of the Chinese society, which significantly altered my views on the ideal of “benefiting the society.” As a result, I could hardly find any convincing patterns of thinking. My lack of a goal for living gradually formed a kind of pressure within, which forced me to search for a new life. I began to read a lot of books irrelevant to physics, on topics such as photography, history, and religion. In 1991, the word “Chan” in a book inspired my curiosity toward Buddhism. I began to read Buddhist books. I met many unforgettable good friends and my heart became filled with the joy of Dharma. In the same year, I took refuge in the Triple Jewel.
In 1993, a friend in our Buddhist society mentioned my name to the Venerable Master during their conversation. Later he told me, “The Venerable Master said that I shouldn’t follow your example, because you are of Small Vehicle capacity.” I was very surprised by this. At the end of the year, we had an opportunity to meet the Venerable Master. Two questions I asked were: “To end the cycle of birth and death, isn’t it enough to be an Arhat?” Answer: “In that case, one is only concerned for one’s own liberation.” “Bodhisattvas must devote themselves to saving living beings in life after life; isn‘t this suffering?” Answer: “Although we are not Bodhisattvas, we want to learn the Bodhisattva path in life after life. After one realizes the Way, one no longer experiences any suffering, just like an image in a picture.”
At that time, I realized that few people observed the five precepts, but I could not find any way to change the situation. Although my Bodhi resolve was still there, I became totally insensitive to the practice of the six perfections.
From several years’ experience, I realized the importance of practice in a Way-place and the difficulty of maintaining a proper livelihood in the outside world. I began to seriously consider coming to the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. In September 1997, I came to the Sagely City as a volunteer teacher in the Developing Virtue Boys School. Here I can cultivate with good friends and comprehensively study the boundless Dharma treasures left by the Venerable Master. The Master once said, “In my opinion, the propagation of Buddhism should begin from education.” This Dharma door, searching for a middle way between my mind and an object as complicated as school, offers me abundant opportunities to learn. I also sincerely hope that more good friends will devote themselves to this work so that together we may adorn this corner of the Dharma Realm. |
