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我畢業於臺北工專，學建築，宗教信仰於我一向是不相關的。一次偶讀上人的《地藏菩薩本願經淺釋》，很訝異文字如此流暢，一股清流從心田滑過，這是初次聞到上人的法名。從此讀起佛書來就很順暢，但仍未真正接觸佛法。
1998年業障現相，手腳痠痛，動作不靈敏；手不能舉高寫字，走路兩腳困難，中西醫束手，拖了近兩年，苦不堪言。一日偶見〈大悲咒〉小本子，記載著大悲水可以醫治各種疑難雜症。心想，這怎麼可能呢？但病痛纏身，只得一試，卻又不會念〈大悲咒〉。請了一卷錄音帶，赫然發現是宣公上人弟子恭誦的。欣喜之餘，一口飲下就著錄音帶念的大悲水；一喝下，病痛即除，真是不可思議！若非親身體驗，我是永遠不會相信的，於是下決心要皈依上人。
1990年終於如願在臺北中正紀念堂，同數萬人一起皈依上人。皈依後仍渾渾沌沌過日子，在佛門外瞎混，沒想到親近上人的道場。直到上人圓寂了，才開始用功：第一年，每日持誦《金剛經》七部，整一年未中斷，之後又持誦《楞嚴經》廿多部。1998年法總訪問團回臺，我才參加臺北法界印經會共修。
五年來，經上人辛苦點化我一步步上階。今年來聖城後才真正體悟到上人「寬闊慈悲的胸襟」、「宏觀的宗教信仰」，也見到了佛教的偉大，恍如窮子回到慈父的懷抱裡一般。
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I graduated from the Taipei College of Technology, where I majored in architecture. Religion was totally irrelevant to me. As an avid reader, I occasionally read Buddhist books, but never related to the principles. When I read the Venerable Master's
Commentary on the Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva, I was surprised to find it so easy to read. The words seemed to flow through my heart. Then I saw that the book was authored by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, whose name was unfamiliar to me. From then on, I could read Buddhist literature with ease, but had not yet truly encountered Buddhism. In 1998 a karmic illness left my hands and feet aching and barely able to move. I could not lift my hand to write and had trouble walking. Neither Chinese nor Western doctors could treat my condition, and I suffered two years of utter misery. One day I read in a Great Compassion Mantra booklet that any ailment could be cured by water blessed by the mantra. I was skeptical, but being gravely ill, I decided to give it a try. I didn't know how to recite the mantra, so I acquired a taped version, which to my delight was recited by a disciple of the Venerable Master Hua. I drank the water after reciting the Great Compassion Mantra over it along with the tape, and incredibly enough, I was healed! If I had not experienced it myself, I wouldn't have believed it. I resolved to take refuge with the Venerable Master. In 1990, I finally took refuge with the Master at the Chiang Kaishek Memorial Hall, along with tens of thousands of people. After taking refuge, I continued to live blindly and aimlessly. It didn't occur to me to go to the Master's Way-places. I began to practice only after the Master entered Nirvana. The first year, I recited the
Vajra Sutra seven times every day without fail. Later, I also recited the
Shurangama Sutra over twenty times. After a delegation of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association visited Taiwan in 1998, I began attending Dharma assemblies at the Dharma Realm Buddhist Books Distribution Society in Taipei. In the past five years, the Master has not given up on me, but has guided me step by step along the path. This year I have realized my vow of visiting the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. This visit has allowed me to understand the Master's magnanimous heart, his ecumenical view of religion, and his compassionate response to prayers. I have also seen the greatness of Buddhism, and I feel like the prodigal child who has returned to her kind father's embrace.
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