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外交官出身的朱建和居士，臺灣臺南人，從小就是個沒嘴葫蘆，長大後更是謹言慎行；二十歲時便有人以為他四十歲了，所以朱居士老成持重的程度是驚人的。家中信仰佛教，從小就歡喜吃素；大學時，常上附近的指南宮去燒香禮拜聖賢，也曾尋求過善知識。看書得知上人要拆小廟，蓋大廟，心中深有感觸。
國立政治大學外交系東亞研究所畢業後，開始了多采多姿的外交官生涯。外放美國華府時，心中還念念不忘修行。1989年上人赴馬利蘭州訪問，法會上聽上人說學佛的人要「錢少少；房子小小；人好好」，與他人講的都不同，深受感動。會後即皈依上人座下，並受五戒，法名果翔；又趨前問上人可否到萬佛城來服務。上人答「你可以來」。
1991年5月年攜家帶小搬來聖城；8月調入總辦公室工作。朱居士為人沉著，做事穩健，但不苟言笑不攀緣的作風，很讓一些不習慣聖城道風的人口出怨言。話傳到上人耳中，上人斥責：「他是修行人，你們都不懂。那些人我們不歡迎！」從此怨言平息了。
朱居士平時上殿過堂，勤力隨眾修行；待客誠懇，熱心介紹聖城功課給訪客。當年上人在聖城授課時，曾由朱居士駕車接送，或隨侍步行；上人每有指示，常由總辦公室傳達，因此時有受教機會。我們希望朱居士不吝所得，哪天能寫下來與佛友分享法益，則讀者幸甚！
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Upasaka John Chu, a diplomat by profession, came from Tainan, Taiwan. Even as a young boy, he was laconic by nature. As an adult, he is even more cautious and prudent. When he was twenty, people already mistook him for forty. His seriousness is astonishing. As a young boy in a Buddhist family, he enjoyed vegetarian food. In college, he frequented the local Zhinan Temple to light incense and pay homage to the sages. He also sought spiritual teachers, and was deeply moved when he read that the Venerable Master advocated tearing down small temples and building large ones.
Graduating from the East Asian Studies Institute of the Foreign Affairs Department of National Cheng-chi University, he embarked upon the adventurous life of a diplomat. When transferred to Washington, D. C., he did not forget about cultivation. In 1989, when the Venerable Master visited Maryland and spoke Dharma, Upasaka Chu was deeply touched by the Master's word—so different from other teachers—that cultivators should have little money, live in small houses, and be good people. After the lecture, he received the Refuges, the Five Precepts, and the Dharma name Guo Xiang from the Master.
When he asked the Master if he could go to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas as a volunteer, the Master replied, "You may come." In May 1991, he brought his family to the City. In August, he was assigned to work in the Administration Office. Upasaka Chu is a calm individual who works steadily and carefully. However, his sober demeanor sometimes drew complaints from those unaccustomed to the City's style. When these complaints reached the Master's ears, the Master scolded, "He is a cultivator. They do not understand. Such people are not welcome." After that, the complaints ceased.
In addition to attending the daily ceremonies with the rest of the assembly, Upasaka Chu greets visitors at the office with warm hospitality and is always eager to introduce them to the City's activities. In former years when the Master taught classes at the City, Upasaka Chu often drove him around or accompanied him on foot. Since the Master's instructions were often announced through the Administration Office, Upasaka Chu had frequent opportunities to receive teachings. It is our hope that Upasaka Chu will not be stingy, but will one day write down and share his experiences with us, so we can all benefit from them.
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