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萬佛城如來寺的恆召師，臺灣人，俗家姓葉，家中排長。一九八八年皈依上人後便時常閱讀上人的開示錄，知道生死輪迴的痛苦，唯有出家修行才能了卻。一九九三年元月八日與弟、妹、父親同於上人座下出家，一時傳為美談；一九九五年在聖城受具足戒。
出家時，將家中售屋所得及多年積蓄悉數捐公，自己則持銀錢戒，節儉耐勞，三衣一缽不離身，戒律嚴謹。除公家佛事外，自己的功課也從不間斷，早上兩點鐘即起身用功。
恆召師曾擔任萬佛城辦公室知客，盡心盡力。又不辭辛苦，常親身或帶人修理屋頂、用品等各項大小之工作，維護萬佛城。
恆召師雖然自幼體弱多病，皆以毅力忍之；又生性耿直堅強，不攀緣，對不守規矩的人，直言相勸，不作鄉愿；待人處事，兢兢業業，以身作則。
此次久病不醫，於二月七日遽而往生，年僅三十六歲。逝者已矣，存者哀痛，難以言喻。但人之有生，則必有死，且恆召師宿願往生淨土，蓮花化生，親近彌陀，得償宿願，則又何哀之有？
恆召師出家五年，用功辦道，二月十一日荼毘後，得翡翠、白、紅、黃、黑色之舍利數百顆，修行功不唐捐，則又何痛可言？
願我等輩，發大菩提心，積功累德，福慧具足，他日淨土相見，同證無生，廣度眾生，滿菩提願，畢竟成佛。 |
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Heng Jau Shr, a native of Taiwan, was the eldest son in the Yeh family. After he took refuge with the Venerable Master in 1988, he often read Venerable Master Hua’s Talks on Dharma. Soon it became clear to him that leaving the home-life to cultivate was the only way to end the suffering of birth and death. On January 8, 1993, he and his brother, sister, and father all left home under the Venerable Master—an event that people marveled at. In 1995 he received full ordination at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
Upon becoming a monk, he donated to the temple all his personal savings and the proceeds from the sale of his house. He held the precept of not keeping money, was frugal and hardworking, and was never apart from his three sashes and bowl. He sternly upheld the precepts. In addition to participating in the daily ceremonies of the monastic community, he maintained his personal practice without laxness, rising at two o’clock in the morning.
In the Administration Office, Heng Jau Shr devoted all his heart to his job as the Guest Prefect. He also energetically took on all kinds of maintenance chores, such as repairing roofs and appliances, working alone or with others.
Although he had suffered from poor health since youth, he endured it with patience. He was upright by nature, never seeking for personal advantages. He was never a hypocrite, and often frankly remonstrated with those who violated the rules of the temple. He always worked conscientiously and set a good example for others.
After a lengthy illness in which he refused to take medicine, he passed away on February 7, 1998, at the age of thirty-six. Our grief and mourning are beyond words. On the other hand, everyone who is born is destined to die. Heng Jau Shr’s vow was to be transformationally born from a lotus in the Pure Land so as to draw near Amitabha Buddha. Since his vow has now been fulfilled, what sorrow can there be?
Heng Jau Shr had cultivated diligently for five years after leaving the home-life. After his body was cremated on February 11, there were several hundred pieces of sharira (bone relics) ranging in color from jade green to white, red, yellow, and black. His cultivation was not in vain. What is there to grieve about?
Let us all bring forth a great resolve for Bodhi and accumulate merit and virtue, so that when our wisdom and blessings are perfected, we may meet him again in the Pure Land. There we may together realize patience with the nonproduction of dharmas, universally save living beings, fulfill our vows for Bodhi, and ultimately attain Buddhahood. |
