一九九八年三月八日星期五，萬佛聖城才剛送走前一個週末來參訪的柏克萊加州大學的一批學生，隨後又迎來另一組遠客－－漢堡加州大學的學生，總共五十六人，有些學生已是聖城的舊客了。這似乎已經成為聖城的一種傳統－－每年定期接待漢堡大學的學生兩次。如果說這已是慣例的話，為什麼我們每次都要提一提呢？因為每次都有一些新的經驗。同時它也代表佛法在美洲大陸的傳播，及西方人對佛法慢慢的接受，許多都是從這些在探索生命意義的莘莘學子身上開始的。他們如同一片沃野，那麼播種的人是誰呢？所有為佛教的弘揚及這些學生在聖城的學習而犧牲奉獻的人－－負責接待學生的一整套節目的法師，熱心護持的聖城在家居士，聖城外面的師父上人的老弟子，以及幫前幫後的聖城學校的學生們。許多二線人士更是默默無聞，他人或許只有在享受豐盛的食物的時候才會想到他們。有居士為了做學生早餐的烙餅而燈火通明，漏夜趕工。他們的和煦之容、熱忱奉獻，已先給這些學生們說無聲之法了。
在星期五晚的招待會上，學生們述明來意：或是擴展眼界，開拓心胸；或是觀摩修行典範，瞭解聖城的生活方式；或是進行宗教之間的友誼對話，體驗一下東方文化......。
一如以往，學生們跟著一套緊湊的行程，重點放在隨眾實修與討論上。討論會有四場－－兩場正式，兩場非正式。星期六晚於「道源堂」的討論會高潮迭起，從某種角度說，似為送行的告別會，聖城四眾共聚一堂參加這場討論會。給人印象最深刻莫過於列席討論會的主持成員都為來自於其他教派的人士。應邀而來的來賓中有：南傳佛教 Abhayagiri 寺的住持和尚帕沙諾和尚、耶穌會牧師與馬克大學教授雷蒙‧格隆斯基教父、浸信會牧師與曼都仙諾大學教授湯姆‧麥克米蘭博士。最吉祥的是整場討論中宗教之間的坦誠與相互尊重。討論的主題是：「寺院生活對靈修之助益」。
主持成員輪流跟大眾分享了他們精神生活道路上的一些軼事。討論會雖然很正式，但氣氛愉悅和善。
當問到一位森林系的學生－－焦休瓦，他來聖城對什麼印象最深，他說是：「這裡出家人的風範，他們對於其信仰的奉獻精神。我從來沒有看到如此謙讓的人們。我對上帝的信仰探索也應如此。我覺得像是在一塊陌生的土地上，但週圍卻都是朋友。因為他們的坦誠，我可以隨便問問題。」 |
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On Friday , March 7, 1998, shortly after CTTB saw off a group of U.C.Berkeley students who had participated in a special practice and study session the previous weekend, it welcomed yet another larger group of students from Humboldt State University (HSU), 56 in all, including some old faces. It has become a tradition for CTTB to host weekend visits by HSU students twice a year. Since it is so routine, why do we bother to mention it every time? Because each time there is a new experience, and also because these events symbolize the spread of Buddhism in the United States, the gradual acceptance of Buddhism by Westerners; it all starts with these educated young minds, searching for the meaning of life. They are like fertile fields. Who are the sowers of the seeds? Every one who renders his/her service to support the propagation of the Buddhist teachings and the students’ experience at CTTB. That is, the Dharma Masters who design and run the entire program, the supporting laity of CTTB, the long-time disciples of Shr Fu who live outside CTTB, and the students in CTTB who also assist in many ways. Many humble faces remain unnoticed as they work quietly “behind the scenes”. Their work may be fully appreciated when the food is fully savored. For example, among them was a layman who stayed up the whole night to prepare a special sesame bread. Their humble faces, warm hearts, and dedicated spirit speak the silent Dharma for these HSU students.
During the orientation on Friday, the students themselves took turns summing up their reasons for coming: “to expand my vision and open my mind; to gain some genuine understanding of cultivation and the way of life in CTTB; to experience some spiritual life; to open up some interfaith dialogue; or to experience Oriental culture...”
As usual the visiting students followed the tight schedule of the program, focused mainly on practice and discussion. There were four discussions held—two panel discussions and two informal group discussions. The height of the program was Saturday night with a panel discussion in the Daoyuan Hall. In a certain sense, it was more like a “farewell” party for the guest students, because all the four assemblies met together in the Daoyuan Hall to attend the discussion. The most striking feature of the panel was that guests from quite different faiths and traditions were invited. Among the guest speakers sitting in the same hall with the CTTB residents were the co-Abbot of Abhayagiri Theravada Buddhist Monastery, Venerable Pasanno; Jesuit priest and professor from Marquette University, Father Raymond Gawronski; and, Baptist pastor and professor from Mendocino College, Dr. Tom MacMillan. The openness and mutual respect in the interfaith dialogue and discussion was most auspicious. The topic was “The Benefits of Monastic Life to One’s Spirituality.”
The panelists took turns to speak, each one introducing anecdotes from his own journey on the spiritual path. Despite the formal setting, the atmosphere was quite friendly and delightful.
When asked what impressed him the most, Joshua, a Forestry major, commmented that it was “the example of the monks and nuns —their dedication to their belief system. I have never seen such humble giving people. My faith should cause me to seek God in the same way. I feel like I am in a foreign land and yet surrounded by friends—they had such openness that I did not feel any qualms to ask anything.”
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