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歲末年初，充滿蕭條肅殺之氣，確實是一個令人感傷的時節。尤其去年底，數位老法師和長者居士相繼往生，更令人感嘆人世無常。方果悟老居士，這位追隨上人二十餘年的老弟子，也於去年十二月十九日撒手西歸了。
一、豪貴學道並不難
方老居士，名方慧慧，出生於香港富裕之家，自小養尊處優，卻和靄可親，毫無一點驕矜之氣，這應歸功於在佛化家庭中沐浴薰修的結果。
她的父母親是虔誠的佛教徒，而且還是虛雲老和尚的皈依弟子。在她小時見過虛老多次，虛老也曾到過她家，可見她有很深厚的善根，才能親近兩位當代的大善知識。
二、有眼不識善知識
婚後方居士繼續生活在豪門大戶中，住的是越南西貢市裡富麗堂皇的宅邸，有七個工人侍候。胡果相居士說：「我跟她出門的時候，她的皮包總不記得拿，門也不記得關，因為以前她身後總有工人服侍著。」
方老居士曾經回憶說：「1974年底上人第一次到越南弘法，我負責招待。我自己住在一個大房間內，卻把上人安排在一個很小的客房裡。」這件事多年來讓她耿耿於懷，很慚愧當時沒有以恭敬心來供養上人。這個因緣使她得以皈依在上人座下，慢慢地瞭解到上人是一位大善知識。
三、烽火易幟誰先知
1975年一月初上人回美，17日隨即發電報給方居士。內容是：「如果居士將西貢事務料理好，希望早些偕同夫婿來美。容日再見。……金山寺。」
方居士聽從師父的指示是年三月十日來了美國，丈夫因惦念越南的生意，暫往香港。四月十七日丈夫覺得越南仍然沒有動靜，於是勸她回西貢。她請教上人，上人說：「過三個星期，妳再作決定吧！」兩個半星期後，西貢易幟。
事後她非常感謝師父的洞燭機先，讓她的家人安全離越，救了她全家人的性命。
四、隨侍左右護法勤
來美之後的方居士，日夕追隨上人左右，親聆法音，護法活躍積極。法總創立初期，她放下身段，不怕艱苦，經常在廟上住宿，協助比丘尼抄寫、編纂上人講的經疏淺釋。她精通中英文及越南文，早期翻譯佛經的時候，幫忙解釋佛教名相和中國辭語。她出力支持師父的決定，買下了萬佛聖城。
上人到任何地方去弘法，她總是隨侍在側。1980年代，上人弟子中幾乎沒有人不認識方果悟居士的。因為她總是穿梭在洛杉磯、西雅圖和加拿大各道場裡，熱心地招呼每個人。很多人初到道場，在沒有見到上人時，都是先看到方居士的。
洛杉磯金輪寺於1976年成立時，上人還沒有來道場。她與胡果相居士們就拿了一張桌子，用一塊胡居士票戲時用的紅色桌圍把它包起來，再供上一尊小佛像，方居士教大家上香，金輪寺的第一天就是這麼開始的。
方居士雖然年長，且患有嚴重的氣喘病。但是只要她能力所及，她永遠在那兒忙著幫著做事，一點也不懈怠。
五、因果可怕患氣喘
關於方居士的氣喘病，她自己說由於年輕時不懂因果，生產後，聽人說活鴿子可以補身，她就每天吃一隻活鴿子，種下了禍因。這個氣喘病就一直跟著她，到老的時候把她折磨得更為痛苦。
以前誌公禪師每天要吃兩隻鴿子。有一天誌公禪師說鴿子少了一只翅膀，沒有人敢承認，因為偷吃國師的食物是要殺頭的。誌公禪師不再吭聲，靜靜地把鴿子給吃了，不慌不忙走到台階前，從口裡吐出兩隻活生生的鴿子，其中一隻少了一只翅膀。
有人問上人說是不是可以吃肉？上人的回答是：「如果你有本事把死的吃進去，吐出活的來，那你也可以吃肉。」
六、老病纏身赴新洲
1988年冬，她不顧兒子反對，堅持來萬佛聖城參加法會。第一天就病得很厲害，臉已變青，嘴唇也黑了，還是勉強到大殿來作功課，那時她的情況非常地危險。胡居士馬上報告師父，把她送到醫院去急診。住院第一天，照顧她的人也沒有睡覺，一直在旁幫她擦汗，以為她熬不過了，結果第二天她還是到佛殿作晚課。
送醫當時，她的肝已經腫脹得很大，醫生都可以用手摸得到。一般肝脹大是不會縮回去的，而她的肝幾天後居然縮回去了。胡居士說這應該是上人默默中加持的奇蹟吧！
1989年，丈夫兒女勸她回東南亞，她的世緣未了，就離美到新加坡養病靜修，直到去年底往生。
七、菩提道上好法侶
很多初學佛的人，對一些規矩或儀軌一無所知，方居士總是很有耐心地來教導他們。她自己以身作則，做為大眾之榜樣，不論在佛殿、齋堂、廚房，無處不現身，胡居士自稱受其影響深遠。雖然在世俗的生活中，她常常忘記東西，可是她從來沒有忘記對眾生的幫助和接引。這位獻身佛教的長者，她永遠是每一位法友在菩提道上的好伴侶。
《金剛菩提海》為法界佛教總會所出版之月刊。一九五九年宣公上人於美國創辦法總，其目的在於弘揚正法。其主要工作之一，即在於翻譯大乘經典為世界各國語言。法總也舉辦各種教育及社會服務項目，為世界謀求和平安樂與道德。於其總部「萬佛聖城」亦成立了法界佛教大學、培德中學、育良小學。 |
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The end of the year is always filled with the somber spirit of death. At the end of last year, several elder Dharma Masters and laypeople passed away, causing us to lament the ephemeral nature of the world. Elder Upasika Guowu, the Ven. Master’s disciple for over twenty years, also passed away on December 19th of last year.
I. Wealth Did Not Hinder Her Pursuit of the Spiritual Path
Although Elder Upasika Alice Phuong came from a rich family in Hong Kong and grew up in pampered comfort, she was friendly and easygoing, never the least bit haughty. This is due to the influence of her Buddhist family.
Her father was a devout Buddhist who had taken refuge with the Venerable Elder Master Hsu Yun. As a child she frequently saw the Elder Master Yun, and the Elder Master even visited their home. It is apparent that she had abundant good roots, which enabled her to draw near two pre-eminent great masters of our time.
II. Not Recognizing the Good Advisor
After marriage, she continued to enjoy a wealthy lifestyle, living in a luxurious house in Saigon, Vietnam, with seven servants attending upon her. Upasika Helen (Guo Xiang) Woo says, “Whenever I went out with her, she never remembered to bring her purse or to close the door, because she was used to having servants follow her.”
Upasika Phuong once recalled, “At the end of 1974 the Venerable Master came to Vietnam to propagate Dharma for the first time. I was in charge of taking care of them. I myself lived in a large room, but I put the Master in a very small guest room.” She regretted this for many years afterwards, and felt remorse for not having showed more reverence toward the Master. These circumstances led her to take refuge with the Master. Gradually she came to understand what a tremendous teacher he was.
III. Who Could Have Foreseen the Change of Power During War?
In early January 1975, the Ven. Master returned to the United States. On the 17th he sent a telegram to Upasika Phuong saying, “If the Upasika has taken care of her business in Saigon, I hope she will come with her husband to America a little sooner. See you later. --Gold Mountain Monastery.”
Upasika Phuong followed the Master’s instructions and came to the United States on March 10. Her husband, who was concerned about their business in Vietnam, temporarily went to Hong Kong. On April 17, her husband felt that nothing was happening in Vietnam and urged her to go back to Saigon. When she consulted the Master, he said, “Wait three weeks and then decide.” Two and a half weeks later, Saigon’s government changed hands.
Looking back, she was extremely grateful for the Master’s foresight, which allowed her family to leave Vietnam safely; he had in effect saved her whole family.
IV. Staying Near the Master and Diligently Protecting the Dharma
After arriving in the United States, Upasika Phuong stayed constantly by the Master’s side, listening to and actively protecting the Dharma. When Dharma Realm Buddhist Association was first founded, she gave up her position and endured hardship, often living at the temple and helping the Bhikshunis to transcribe and edit the Master’s commentaries on the Sutras. Being fluent in Chinese, English, and Vietnamese, she helped with the translation of Buddhist terms and Chinese idioms in the early days of translating Buddhist texts. She also supported the Master’s decision to buy the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
No matter where the Ven. Master went to propagate the Dharma, she was always in attendance at his side. In the 1980’s, virtually every disciple of the Master knew Upasika Phuong. She was always bustling about at the temples in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Canada, extending warm hospitality to every person. When people first came to a temple, they usually met her before they met the Venerable Master.
Gold Wheel Temple in Los Angeles was founded in 1976, before the Master had been there. She and Upasika Woo covered a table with a red tablecloth from Upasika Woo’s amateur opera singing days and placed a small Buddha image on it. Upasika Phuong then asked everyone to offer incense, and that was how Gold Wheel Temple started.
Although Upasika Phuong was getting on in years and had severe asthma, as long as she had the strength she would always be there helping out; she was never the least bit lazy.
V. Her Asthma: A Frightening Case of Cause and Effect
Upasika Phuong herself explained the cause of her asthma. When she was younger, she didn’t understand cause and effect; after she had given birth, she heard that pigeons were very nourishing, so she ate one live pigeon every day. As a result, she suffered from asthma from then on, and it became even more miserable in her old age.
The Venerable Chan Master Zhi ate two pigeons every day. One day he commented that one of the pigeons was missing a wing. No one confessed, for the offense of stealing the National Master’s food merited execution. Chan Master Zhi said no more, and quietly finished off the pigeons. Then he calmly walked outside and spat out two live pigeons, one of which was missing a wing.
Someone asked the Venerable Master if it was permissible to eat meat. The Master replied, “If you can eat something dead and spit it out alive, then you may eat meat.”
VI. Going to Singapore in Her Old Age and Illness
In the winter of 1988, despite her son’s opposition, she resolutely came to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to attend a Dharma assembly. On the first day she became gravely ill. Her face had turned pale and her lips were black, yet she still forced herself to go to the Buddha Hall for ceremonies. Actually her situation was quite dangerous. Upasika Woo immediately told the Master and sent her to the hospital for emergency treatment. The first day in the hospital, the laywoman who took care of her didn’t get any sleep because she was constantly at the bedside wiping Upasika Phuong’s sweat, thinking she wouldn’t make it. But by the next day Upasika Phuong was back in the Buddha Hall attending evening recitation.
When she was sent to the hospital, her liver was so swollen that the doctor could feel it with his hand. Usually a swollen liver will not shrink back to normal size. However, after a few days her liver did just that. Upasika Woo says this miracle must have been due to the Master’s silent aid.
In 1989 her family urged her to return to Southeast Asia. Still bound by worldly ties, she left the United States and went to Singapore for a period of convalescence until her death at the end of last year.
VII. A Good Dharma-Companion on the Bodhi Path
Upasika Phuong always had the patience to teach newcomers to Buddhism about the rules and ceremonies. Through her own practice, she served as a model for the assembly in the Buddha Hall, the dining hall, the kitchen, and just about every other place. Upasika Woo admits to having been deeply influenced by her. Although she was often absentminded in worldly matters, she never forgot to help and guide living beings. This Elder Upasika, who devoted herself to Buddhism, will forever be a good companion for every Dharma friend on the path to Bodhi.
Vajra Bodhi Sea is published by the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association (DRBA). DRBA was founded by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua in the United States of America in 1959 with the goal of propagating the Orthodox Dharma. One of DRBA major tasks is the translation of the Mahayana Buddhist scriptures into the world's languages. DRBA has also established various educational and social service programs to promote peace, happiness, and a high standard of ethical conduct for the world. At its headquarters, the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, are housed Dharma Realm Buddhist University, Developing Virtue Secondary Schools, and Instilling Goodness Elementary Schools.
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