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萬佛寶懺是聖城三大法會之一，長達二十一天之久。然而每年前來拜懺者，絡繹不絕。台灣、馬來西亞、新加坡的居士們遠渡重洋，就是要親自體驗這殊勝的法筵；美國、加拿大各分支道場的居士們，也把握了千載難逢的好機會，不畏舟車勞累和拜懺的辛苦，暫時放下一切，為的就是要藉著禮拜萬佛的因緣，來懺悔宿世業障。師父上人說：「虛老以前修拜萬佛懺這個法門；我以前也是從這條路上走過來的。」可見萬佛寶懺在修行上是多麼重要。五月二十一日法會圓滿，與會者紛紛上臺現身說法，談自己拜懺的心得。為使不克前來參加者，亦能同享法益，本刊將其整理成文，陸續刊出，以期來年共聚一堂，同禮萬佛。
比丘果眞師：
佛教法門無量，尤其是懺很多，有水懺、大悲懺、梁皇寶懺等。其中萬佛寶懺是懺中之王，內容非常豐富，發的願都是菩薩的願。要善根深厚，願力堅強的人，才能夠來這裡完成這個萬佛寶懺。相信大家今天一定身心輕安，業障消除，福慧增長，脫胎換骨，改變氣質了；諸佛菩薩已經都給我們授記。在這裡大家一定有很多心得，如人飲水，冷暖自知，希望踴躍上來報告。
這麼長期的法會圓滿了，是道場成就我們，要感恩上人的開山，還有大眾的成就，是四眾弟子每一位都盡了一分心力。尤其是維那師、悅眾師（打法器）；還有香積組煮豐富美味的午齋供養大家，這都是成就這次法會的因緣。很多我們法界總會各分會的蓮友都是遠地來的，也要感謝你們的護持，讓大家心無罣礙地在這裡修行。現在請大家報告心得。
比丘尼恆耐師：
今年是我第十四年在萬佛城拜萬佛寶懺。記得1985年我第一次參加萬佛寶懺的時候，從頭到尾唱的都是一個調，就是「啊」字開始那個調，那是很舊的調。那知一開始唱「啊」的時候，我的眼淚就禁不住一直掉。我看前後左右的人都掉得好厲害，也不知道為什麼。問他們為什麼我掉眼淚你們也掉；他們說也不知道為什麼，就是聽到唱聲就很感動，眼淚就一直掉，大家都有這種感覺。
後來上人出來開示時說，眼淚一直掉就是因為你們無始劫以來的冤親債主，以前找不到路，現在找到路了。他們很感動，所以你們就有這種感覺，眼淚就一直掉。因為我們起心動念無不是在造罪業，走路也會踩死螞蟻；所以我們走路的時候，最好都是看地下，不要踩死小動物或是螞蟻。不要一邊走一邊笑，一邊亂講話。
在那時候我每次都跟上人講：「上人，謝謝。」上人說在萬佛城不用說謝謝，要說阿彌陀佛。但是我的習氣很重，每次都忘記了，還是照常講謝謝。希望大家都能夠遵行。因為我們都要往生西方極樂世界去，所以我們隨時要念佛，這對我們修行上很有幫助。有空多拜懺、多禮佛、多念佛。
因為我十四年以來，只有一次從頭到尾一枝香都沒有漏過，所以今年我就發願要再拜全程。可是到第二個禮拜的時候，很慚愧！因為我在十幾年以前中過風，上人很慈悲，叫一位針灸醫師治療，救了我，所以我才能夠這麼平安，看起來都沒有一點怪樣子，很感謝上人。那時上人吩咐我說不能吃冰的東西，不能碰冰水。這次我不小心，那天看到冰淇淋就很高興，還吃了很多。結果一吃，回去就睡一個禮拜起不來。
到第三天夢見一大堆人來抓我，問我說：「你會不會念大悲咒啊？」我說：「我每天都在念，當然會念。」他說：「念來聽聽看啊！」我說好，就開始念；念完了他說：「喔！從頭到尾一個字都沒有錯。好，Pass！」意思就是通過。我就醒來了，所以很感謝上人他教我念大悲咒。記得那時我學了很久；有一天我就很莫名其妙，為什麼我不會大悲咒呢？接著，從頭再看一次就記起來了。所以大家背大悲咒的時候，要一句背好了，然後再繼續下一句，這樣子就可以背起來。背經、背咒對我們的法身慧命都是很有幫助，所以我們要好好珍惜在萬佛城這段時間，感謝上人為我們所做的一切安排。
差一點忘了，我要提醒大家，有什麼感應的話不要去想它。為什麼呢？因為我以前無論修哪一個法門都很有感應。有一天上人就跟我講，他說：「妄想多，感應多。」所以沒有感應的人也不要去祈求感應，這是頭上安頭，有沒有我們都不要去管它。《楞嚴經》就是我們修行最好的經，上人也希望他的弟子能夠趕快背好；我也是要趕快把《楞嚴經》背起來。
待續
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The Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance is one of the three major Dharma sessions at the Sagely City. This assembly lasts for twenty-one days, yet every year crowds continue to arrive in droves. Laypeople from Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore travel from afar to personally experience this most supreme Dharma banquet. Laypeople from the United States and Canadian branch monasteries also seize this precious opportunity to bow to ten thousand Buddhas. Some participants travel tirelessly and endure hardships, temporarily dropping everything to bow to the Buddhas and repent of all karmic obstacles accumulated from past lives. The Venerable Master Hsuan Hua had said, "Elder Master Hsu Yun had cultivated this Dharma door of bowing the Ten Thousand Buddhas Repentance in the past; I also came by way of this path." From this statement, we see the enormous importance of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Repentance in our cultivation. Having concluded this year's Dharma session on May 21, participants eagerly spoke about their experiences. To benefit those who could not attend, I have organized the Dharma talks for publication. I hope some day we will gather in one hall to bow to the ten thousand Buddhas.
Bhikshuni Guo Zhen:
Buddhism contains an endless number of Dharma doors, especially repentance ceremonies such as the Water Repentance, the Great Compassion Repentance, the Jeweled Repentance of the Emperor of Liang, and so forth. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance is the king of all repentances, containing an enormously rich content. Only those who have made firm Bodhisattva vows and have deep and solid good roots are able to participate in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance. Today, I'm sure everybody feels a sense of light ease within your body and mind, having eradicated your karmic obstructions and increased your blessings and wisdom. You have undergone a metamorphosis, transforming your entire being. All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have already given us predictions of Buddhahood. I'm sure everyone has plenty of insights. Each person knows for oneself the temperature of the water he drinks. I hope everyone will readily share.
We are able to complete such a lengthy Dharma assembly because of the existing Way-place. We are grateful for the Venerable Master's pioneering efforts, the great assembly's accomplishments, and all the disciples in the four assemblies who have contributed their best. The success of this Dharma assembly is also due to the cantors and those
who play the Dharma instruments, and the kitchen staffs plentiful and delicious lunch offerings. We also appreciate the Dharma friends from various faraway branches of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association; their support allows us to cultivate without worries. Now if everyone will please report.
Bhikshuni Heng Nai:
This is my fourteenth time bowing the Ten Thousand Jeweled Repentance at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. I remember when I joined the Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance in 1985 for the first time, we sang one tune throughout the entire session, which went like this: "Ah..." (She demonstrated the note.) That was an antiquated tune; however, to my utter surprise as soon as we start singing, "Ah...," my tears rolled down nonstop. I saw that everyone around me was also crying like mad and didn't know the reason. I asked my neighbors why they were crying—they couldn't give me an answer. They were just very touched by the sound and continued to shed tears; everyone felt the same way.
Later the Venerable Master told us, "You cried because your enemies, relatives and creditors since endless eons ago have now discovered a path and are deeply moved. You can't stop crying because of such feelings." Every thought and movement of our minds creates offense karma. For example, you may step on ants as you take a walk. I believe it's better to watch the ground while we walk; that way we will not stomp on tiny creatures such as ants. Don't laugh and babble nonsense as you walk.
Back then, I always said "thank you" to the Venerable Master. The Venerable Master said that there's no need to say thank you at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas; we can just say, "Amitabha." My habits are hard to break, however. I constantly forget and keep saying thank you. I hope everyone will follow this guideline because we all want to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Thus, we should always be mindful of the Buddha—this is immensely helpful to our cultivation. When there's time, bow in repentance more, bow to the Buddhas more, and recite the Buddha's name more.
In the fourteen years of participating in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance, I've only been able to attend one Dharma session in full without missing a single bowing period. This year, therefore, I vowed to bow the session in its entirety again. I'm ashamed to say though, during the second week, I ran into some complications. More than ten years ago I had a stroke and the Venerable Master was most compassionate; the Master had an acupuncturist diagnose and save me. I am very grateful to the Venerable Master for being alive and not disfigured today. At that time, the Master had ordered me to refrain from chilled foods or water. Unfortunately I didn't heed the Master's advice during the second week of the repentance ceremony. At one meal, I was overjoyed to see ice cream and ate quite a bit of it. After I went to bed that night, I couldn't get up for a week.
On the third day of being bedridden, I dreamt that a group of people grabbed and asked me, "Do you know how to recite the Great Compassion Mantra?" I said, "Sure, I recite it every day. Of course I know how." One person said, "Let's hear you recite it then!" I agreed and began reciting the mantra. After I was done, he said, "Oh, not a wrong word from beginning to end. Good. You pass!" Then I woke up. Again, I am grateful to the Venerable Master for teaching me to recite the Great Compassion Mantra. It took me a long time to learn this mantra. One day, as I was scratching my head and wondering why I was unable to memorize the Great Compassion Mantra, I read the mantra over and memorized it immediately. Hence, when you're trying to memorize the Great Compassion Mantra, you should memorize one line before proceeding to the next line; that way you will be able to memorize the mantra. Memorizing sutras and mantras aid our Dharma bodies and wisdom bodies; thus we should value our time at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and appreciate everything that the Venerable Master has done for us.
I almost forgot one other point. I wanted to remind everybody to not think about any special response from this repentance if you had any. Why? Regardless of the Dharma door I cultivate I always experience an efficacious response. One day the Venerable Master said to me, "The more false thoughts you have, the more efficacious responses you experience." Those who didn't gain any response need not pray for them; otherwise you place a head on top of a head. We should pay no attention to whether we receive responses or not. The Shurangama Sutra is the best sutra for our cultivation. The Venerable Master had wished that his disciples would quickly memorize this Sutra—I hope to memorize the Shurangama Sutra soon.
To be continued
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