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比丘尼恆聲（續上期）：
《普門品》上也說：「設入大火，火不能燒。」《楞嚴經觀世音菩薩耳根圓通章》也提到：「性火真空，性空真火。」這意思是什麼呢？重點在於一心稱念觀世音菩薩聖號。這個心念很重要，譬如說，鄰居失火了，如果稱念觀世音菩薩聖號，你有誠心，你的房子也是不會被燒的。
在1923年，日本發生大地震，地中冒出大火，死了約三十多萬人。東京一座棉被工廠，有塊空地可容納兩萬多人避難，可是四面火頭，滿天通紅，因為空氣中的氧氣都被燒光了，所以很多人就被悶死；另外一座大銀行，有一面避火牆，在那邊避難的人也被蒸死了：幾乎整個淺草區都被消滅。
當中有一座公園，公園裡有一個水池，那水都燒光了；裡頭有一座觀音堂，牆壁是木造的，當然很容易起火，但是在旁邊避難的三萬多人，因為誠心念觀世音菩薩聖號，幾乎都沒受到損傷。
十幾年前，臺灣臺中的圓通精舍因為擴建，工程進行時遇到梅雨季節，兩個月內幾乎天天下雨。有一天擋土牆就倒塌下來，當家師就告訴我們，要趕快念大悲咒。當時就緊急決定三個人輪班念大悲咒二十四小時；念了一個禮拜，雨很奇妙就不下了，大殿前面也就沒有繼續坍方。
當工程完成，要鋪地面的時候，這個地面一直冒泥漿，也就是所謂的土壤液化；地面鋪設工程不能繼續下去，工程師就建議挖口井，或挖個水池把這水份給平衡了。挖了四丈多，還不見水。當家師覺得很奇怪，水都冒出地面了，怎麼會沒水呢？這個時候她想到上人告訴過她：「妳知道嗎？我有很多的龍徒弟，妳需要的時候，誠念觀世音菩薩聖號，然後請龍王菩薩來幫忙。」所以她就去求觀世音菩薩，那晚就夢到一條白龍；第二天早上那工人幾乎快放棄了，說沒有水，而且又花這麼多錢。當家師說請幫忙繼續挖吧！挖下去，果然水就噴出來了。
就因為這個因緣，所以這一次大地震，部份的地面沒有凸起來。那時候因為土壤液化，地磚整個衝上來，地底的能量要散發出去，所以就冒著岩漿，像火山爆發一樣。當時公家機關鑑定結果，就因為有這口井和水池的關係，把水份給平衡了。
所以我們知道上人的眼光是很遠、很遠的，他預測將來，不只是目前這一點點。
地震前一天，有一位居士送來兩瓶大悲咒水，說是從九華山請來給信眾飲用，所以就把它裝到大悲咒水桶子裡面。當地震發生的時候，找不到手電筒，很自然的大家一直稱念觀世音菩薩聖號出去。出去後，自動照明燈就亮了；本來廟上是沒有這個照明設備的，但在地震前一個月，政府規定寺廟是公共場所，得裝照明設備，我們才裝的。
在這之前有位居士也供養了二十箱保特瓶水，當時整個東勢地區都買不到保特瓶水。前幾天良法師所說的那個老太婆，每天拿一百塊臺幣去買東西，第二天早上那個錢就變成冥紙了，她也就是買保特瓶水。
因為地下水管移位了八公尺，兩個多月沒電，幾乎也沒水，每天要去河邊挑水，挑回來也要省吃儉用。這大悲咒水和這二十箱保特瓶水就派上用場了。
《普門品》上說：「無量苦逼身。」什麼苦呢？當地震發生的時候，地面裂開，很多人跟著傢俱一起活埋。有一家族十七人死亡，只留下一個孩子。另外在一個救難的軍營裡面，每天要煮六千多人吃的大鍋湯，有一個小女孩不小心，就掉到大鍋湯裡面去了。你看就這樣！當然也有獲救的情形。譬如有一位學佛的女眾，住在一棟十二層高的大樓；這個大樓傾斜了三十幾度，七樓以下都陷到地下去。當俄羅斯救難隊去的時候，整個人都找不到。這位女眾很幸運，住在四樓，在傾斜的地面下剛好有一個冷氣口，她就從那個口爬出來，所以她也發心吃素了。
另外一個女孩子，騎摩托車要回去拿衣服的時候，因為地震的關係，土質疏鬆，連人帶車掉下山谷去；可是她就被一棵樹給擋住了，過了一天一夜。當救難隊發現的時候，她才出聲獲救。
當時每一座橋幾乎都斷了，有一輛車子行到橋中間，就掉到橋下去了，還好溪裡面沒有水。另外一位信眾，她住的是土造的房子；地震發生時她被房子給壓扁了，流血很多，她一直稱念觀世音菩薩聖號，求有人趕快來救她。這時她女婿想到兩位老人家的房子一定塌下來，人一定會受傷的，就趕緊跑到他丈母娘住的房間位置，因為沒有工具就用手挖，當挖到時，文母娘幾乎已經休克，指著他的岳父所在之處，可是挖出來的時候已經死了。
另外一位信眾持大悲咒。地震發生時，他們全家七口全被房子給壓著，整條街都倒塌了。這位男眾先叫出聲音，聽到每一個人的回音，表示大家都還平安，但是人不能夠翻身。這個時候他就趕快念觀世音菩薩聖號，他的兒子也跟著念，就在十幾分鐘的時間，很奇妙地他自然可以翻身了。當他爬出來的時候，整個是黑暗的，趕快喊叫，把家人安全救出來。當時很多房子都移位了，譬如說有的房子是在雲林縣的，就移了五公里到了嘉義縣，當他眼睛張開時，他找不到家在哪了！
這次的地震，臺灣的軍隊發動了幾十萬人來救災，大家都很發心。他們看到那屍體都不成屍體了；有的燒焦，有的壓扁，有的甚至脹成青黑色的。但軍令如山，長官一聲令下，他們不得不抬。很多人受了驚嚇，有人甚至自殺。我們去災區幫忙時，國軍問我們有什麼方法可以收驚？那時每個單位都有收驚的工作。我的同參反應很快，說「我們用大悲咒來收驚啊！」可是他們不會念大悲咒，我們就念咒心，最後把大悲咒水送給他們；還有佩帶型的大悲咒和楞嚴咒都派上用場了，他們很感謝。
〈普門品〉也說：「設入大水，稱其名號，即得淺處。」在幾年前，我的師兄生了一場大病，送到醫院急救。急救時她覺得非常不舒服，就像要往生了一樣。這時醫生來了，要她喝半瓶藥水，她幾乎不能下口。另一位同參就說，妳就把它喝了，喝了才會好，妳光叫也沒有用。她就把它喝了。
這時候觀世音菩薩和上人來了，說你們兩個今晚不能睡覺，要念觀世音菩薩和大悲咒。她不能口念，只能心念；念時，怨親債主充滿了病房內外。這時上人告訴她，妳為什麼要喝那藥水？那是要你的命啊！可是已經喝了怎麼辦？吐不出來。這個時候她發現她整個肚子一直脹起來，覺得像是身陷海裡，那藥水就變成一片大海。她想到上人說要稱念觀世音菩薩聖號，就一直用心念。很奇妙的，當她醒來時，告訴我們她是被觀世音菩薩救到沙灘上的。
由以上種種，我們可以知道稱念觀世音菩薩聖號和大悲咒的神通妙用，這重點在什麼？在「一心稱念」。
去年有位女眾來聖城參加萬佛寶懺，回去後她很認真學佛。在地震前一個月，她在日記上寫著，以後發生什麼不幸的話，她的牌位和骨灰要放在圓通精舍，這是她的心願。結果她在地震中被壓死了，她的姐姐就打電話來告訴我們這件事情；我們看了她的日記，讓她如願以償。所以修行要趁早，把握當下就是最真實的。
待續
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Bhikshuni Heng Sheng (continued from last issue):
The Universal Door Chapter also says, "If you're caught in a great fire, you cannot be burnt." The
Shurangama Sutra also mentions that "The fire of the nature is true emptiness; the emptiness of the nature is true fire." What does that mean? It stresses the singleness of mind as you recite Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's name. Thought is very important. For example, when the neighbor's house is on fire, you may sincerely recite the name of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva so that your house will not catch fire.
In 1923, Japan had a major earthquake, and a huge fire erupted from within the earth. Approximately 300,000 people died. A Tokyo comforter factory had an empty lot large enough for 20,000 people to take refuge. However, flames were everywhere, coloring the sky crimson. Since the fire depleted much of the oxygen, many people died from suffocation. Another large bank had a wall for sheltering fire victims, yet people who stayed there were all steamed to death.
One area of Tokyo was completely destroyed. In its center was a park with a pond. Of course, all the water was desiccated. In the mid- dle was a Guanyin Hall constructed of wood, which is easily flammable. However, the 30,000 some people who sought refuge there were mostly unharmed because they recited Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's name sincerely.
More than ten years ago, Yuantong Hermitage in Taichung, Taiwan, underwent reconstruction due to expansion. As the construction was going on, the rainy season arrived. It rained nearly every day for two months. One day, a wall that held back the mud was about to collapse, so the manager told us, "Quick, recite the Great Compassion Mantra." During that emergency, the three of us decided to take turns reciting the Great Compassion Mantra twenty-four hours a day. After reciting for a week, the rain miraculously stopped. The front part of the large hall also stopped eroding. When we were about to lay the ground- work, watery mud oozed out of the earth. That is soil-liquefaction. The project for resurfacing the ground had to discontinue. The engineer then suggested that we dig a well or a fountain to stabilize the amount of moisture. After digging for more than forty feet, we discovered no water. The manager thought it was strange, "How come there was water on the surface, but not water underneath?"
At that time, she remembered that the Venerable Master had told her, "You know, I have lots of dragons for disciples. When you need help, just recite Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's name sincerely and ask for the aid of the Dragon King Bodhisattva." So she went to pray to Guanshiyin Bodhisattva. That night, she dreamt of a white dragon. The next morning, the workers were ready to give up, claiming that there was no water. Lots of money had been spent on the project already. The manager asked them to please continue digging. The excavation continued, and water finally spewed out.
Due to those conditions, there were no protrusions in the earth's surface at all in the recent big earthquake. During the time when we were renovating, since the soil had liquefied, the bricks in the ground welled forth. Like a volcano, a lava-like stream flowed from the ground because the earth needed to release its energy. Inspection results from government agencies revealed that the well and the fountain stabilized the amount of water.
Hence, we know that the Venerable Master's vision is very, very far-reaching. His predictions for the future go far beyond what we can see before us.
The day before the earthquake, a layperson brought two bottles of great compassion water to us. He said that it was requested from Nine Flowers Mountain and for the faith-goers here to drink. We put them in the jugs containing water blessed by the Great Compassion Mantra. When the earthquake struck, we couldn't find a flashlight. Nonetheless, we very naturally began to recite Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's name as we exited, and continued to do so nonstop. After we were outside, the automatic lighting system came on. There was no lighting system at the temple originally, but a month before the earthquake, the government had designated the temple as a public facility and required that it install a lighting system.
Prior to this, a layperson had also offered twenty boxes of bottled water. At the time, you couldn't find any bottled water to buy in the entire area of Dongshi. A few days ago Dharma Master Liang mentioned an old woman who would buy things with 100 Taiwan dollars and whose money would turn into paper for the dead; well, she was buying bottled water.
Since the underground pipes had moved about eight meters in position during the earthquake, there was no electricity for about two months and practically no water. We had to go and gather water from the river and lug it back afterwards. We had to be economical with it, too. Hence, the Great Compassion Mantra water and the twenty boxes of bottled water came in handy.
The "Universal Door Chapter" speaks of "endless misery oppressing beings." What misery is this? When the earthquake occurred, the earth cracked open and many people were buried alive along with their furniture. A family of seventeen had all died, except for one child. Another family had a little girl fall into the large stew-pot used to cook for 6,000 people in the rescue camp. Just like that!
Of course, there were times when people were rescued, too. For example, a woman who was studying Buddhism lived in a twelve- story high-rise. The building had tilted about 30 degrees and everything below the seventh floor had sunken into the ground. When a Russian rescue mission arrived, she couldn't be found. That woman was very lucky. She lived on the fourth floor. Where the floor had collapsed and tilted, there was an opening where the air conditioner had been. She climbed out of that crack. As a result, she also resolved to be a vegetarian.
Another girl was riding her motorcycle on her way back home for some clothes. Since the earthquake loosened the soil, she and the motorbike fell into a ravine. Fortunately, she was caught by a tree. There she stayed for a day and a night until a rescue team discovered and saved her.
At that time, every bridge was in disrepair. A car that drove to the middle of the bridge fell over the bridge. It was fortunate that there was no water in the brook. Another believer lived in a house built out of clay. When the earthquake happened, the house collapsed on top of her, causing her to bleed quite a bit. She continued to recite Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's name and prayed that rescue would come quickly. At the same time, her son-in-law thought about this elderly couple: how their house must have collapsed and they must have been hurt. He went to his in-laws quickly. Since he had no tools, he dug with his hands. When he reached the elders, his mother-in-law was in shock, but still tried to point out where his father-in-law was. Unfortunately, by the time he unearthed his father-in-law, the elderly man was dead.
Another believer recited the Great Compassion Mantra. During the earthquake, the house came down, crushing their entire family of seven. Everything on that street had collapsed. When that man called out for his family members, they answered that they were safe, though they could not turn over. At that time, he and his son began to recite Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's name. Oddly enough, in about ten minutes, he was able to turn over on his own. At the time, many houses had shifted from their original locations. For example, a house that was at Yunlin County had moved five kilometers to Jayi County. When the owner opened his eyes, he couldn't find his home!
Hundreds of thousands of the Taiwanese army went on rescue missions following the earthquake. Everyone volunteered out of the goodness of their hearts. They saw corpses that were so mutilated that they no longer resembled human bodies; for example, some were burnt, some were flattened, and some had swollen to become black and blue. A command in the military is the law. Since the higher-ranking officers had ordered so, the soldiers had to move these carcasses. Some rescuers were so horrified that they later committed suicide. We went to help in the disaster area. The national army asked us what method we had to alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder. Every unit had to do this. My fellow cultivator quickly responded, "We alleviate post-traumatic stress with the Great Compassion Mantra!" They didn't know how to recite the Great Compassion Mantra, so we recited the Heart of the Shurangama Mantra. In the end, we gave the water of Great Compassion Mantra to them and also put the wearable Great Compassion Mantra and Shurangama Mantra to good use. They were very grateful.
The "Universal Door Chapter" also says, "If you recite the name of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva during a great flood, you will immediately arrive at the shore." A few years ago, my Dharma brother had become seriously ill and was sent to the hospital for emergency care. She felt really uncomfortable, as if she was on the brink of death. At that time,the physician arrived to have her drink half a bottle of medicine. Shecould hardly swallow it. Another fellow cultivator said, "You have to drink it so you'll get better. Just complaining will not do." So she drank it.
At this time, Guanshiyin Bodhisattva and the Venerable Master arrived, saying, "You two cannot sleep tonight. You must recite Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's name and the Great Compassion Mantra." If you can't recite it out loud, recite it silently. During the recitation, her enemies and creditors filled the room. The Venerable Master also asked her, "Why did you drink that medicine? That was to take your life!" Since she had already drunken it, what was she to do? She couldn't regurgitate it. She then found that her entire stomach swelled up as if was drowning in the sea. That medicine turned into a great ocean. She then remembered that the Venerable Master had said to recite Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's name. So she recited sincerely. Miraculously, when she woke up, she told us that Guanshiyin Bodhisattva had brought her to shore.
From the above, we know that there are supernatural powers and mystical uses to reciting Guanshiyin Bodhisattva and the Great Compassion Mantra. What's the point of emphasis here? It's to recite sin- gle-mindedly.
Last year, a woman came to the Sagely City to participate in the Ten Thousand Buddhas' Jeweled Repentance. She began to study Buddhism earnestly upon her return to Taiwan. A month before the earthquake, she wrote in her diary that if any misfortune occurs in the future, she wants her plaque and remains at the Yuantong Hermitage. That was her wish. In the end, she was crushed to death during the earthquake. Her elder sister called to tell us this. We read her diary and fulfilled her wish. Hence, we must cultivate as soon as possible; hold on to the present moment, for it is the most real.
To be continued
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