編按：上人立願將佛法帶到西方，隻身來美，備嘗艱辛。在教導美國人佛法之時，上人並自編教材，親身教導中文，寓佛法於中文課中，使西方人於學習中文之時，學到了佛法的道理；於學習佛法之時，也學會了中文的應用。上人所編的中文教材，答問之間，智慧充滿，風趣幽默，讀了令人莞爾，增加學習興趣。特以偈為證：
孑然一身渡重洋 弘揚佛法不惜身
人地生疏口難開 為傳聖教授華語
佛法中文靈活用 自編教材方便多
羞煞教中門下人 只願居高不就下
本刊偶獲1971年部分教材，雖不全，亦可窺其一斑。本刊徵求收有全部教村的人士，希望不吝所愛，公諸同好。
第一課
我今天早晨四點鐘起床。洗面。口。坐禪。拜佛。誦經。持咒之後。去作工。晚間五點鐘放工。來佛教講堂。學習中文。及中國語言。並聽講佛經。不喫（吃）晚飯啦。問：你餓不餓？
第二課
答：我不覺得餓。
問：為甚麼你不覺得餓呢？
答：因為我聽佛法。明白人生真理。非常快樂。所以把飢餓。都忘記啦。
第三課
問：你四點鐘這樣早起床。我想你不夠睡眠吧。
答：不會的。因為一切。都是習慣性。只要振作精神。立定志向。就可打破。所有困難。
第四課
問：你洗面是用涼水。或是用熱水呢？
答：我不用涼水。也不用熱水。是以溫水洗臉的。漱口則用比較熱一點的水。來刷牙齒。
第五課
問：你們為何要拜佛？
答：因為我們信仰佛教。表示恭敬。感謝佛的慈悲。減輕自己的驕傲貢高我慢習氣。
第六課
又是最好一種運動。使人全身的。氣血流通。增加體力。強壯。健康。不生疾病。很少失眠。省了不少錢。去買安眠藥。
第七課
若能專一其心。誠敬的禮拜。如對佛面。自然不起。妄想心。攀緣心。狂亂心。相信永遠是年輕人。
待續 |
|
Editor's Note: The Venerable Master vowed to bring the Buddhadharma to the West, and he underwent every kind of hardship, coming to America alone. As he was teaching Buddhism to Americans, he also personally taught them Chinese.
He wrote his own Chinese lessons, integrating Buddhism into them so that Westerners would learn the principles of Buddhism as they studied Chinese, and would learn Chinese usage as they studied Buddhism. The Master's Chinese lessons, in the form of questions and answers, are humorous, interesting, and full of wisdom. Upon reading them, one cannot help but smile and want to learn more.
Coming across the ocean all by himself,
He spared nothing in propagating the Buddhadharma.
Although it was hard to speak with foreigners in a strange land,
He taught Chinese in order to transmit the Sagely Teaching.
Applying the Buddhadharma to Chinese in a dynamic fashion,
He used various expedients as he wrote his own lessons.
His disciples are put to shame,
For they only wish to be lofty and disdain the simple.
Although we have only a partial set of lessons from 1971, they provide a glimpse of the Master's lessons in general. We hope those who have the full set of lessons will generously share their treasure with everyone.
Lesson One:
This morning I got up at 4 o'clock, washed my face, rinsed my mouth, sat in meditation, bowed to the Buddha, recited Sutras and mantras, and then went to work. I got off work at 5 o'clock in the evening and came to the Buddhist Lecture Hall to study Chinese and listen to the Sutra lecture, skipping dinner.
Question: Are you hungry?
Lesson Two:
Answer: I don't feel hungry.
Question: Why don't you feel hungry?
Answer: Because I listen to the Buddhadharma and understand the true principles of life. It makes me extremely happy so that I forget about being hungry.
Lesson Three
Question: You get up so early—4 o'clock. You must not get enough sleep.
Answer: Not at all. Everything is a matter of habit. As long as you strike up your spirits and make a firm resolve, you can overcome all difficulties.
Lesson Four
Question: Do you use cool water or hot water to wash your face?
Answer: I use neither cool water nor hot water. I wash my face with warm water. I use water that's a little hotter to rinse my mouth after brushing my teeth.
Lesson Five:
Question: Why do you all bow to the Buddhas?
Answer: Because we believe in Buddhism, and we want to show our respect and gratitude for the Buddha's compassion. It also diminishes our habits of arrogance and conceit.
Lesson Six
It's also a great form of exercise. It improves your blood and energy circulation, increases your stamina, and makes you strong and healthy, so that you don't get sick and seldom have insomnia. You save a lot of money because you don't have to buy sleeping pills
Lesson Seven
If you can concentrate single-mindedly and bow reverently as if the Buddha were right in front of you, you will naturally not have false-thinking, thoughts of exploiting conditions, or wild and scattered thoughts. Then I believe you will be forever young.
To be continued |
