上學只是我生活的一部份，放學後我更參與各種不同的活動，像打籃球、上殿、打坐、慢跑、打電動玩具，以及整理內務的工作。在所有的活動中，我最喜愛的一項就是舞獅。在佛教寺院的社區裡住了九年，身為學生的我，有機會學習到所有舞獅的技巧。在我們社區裡，舞獅是中華文化的一項重要象徵，在許多場合都會演出。這是一種運動，也是一種藝術，可以把我所練的功夫表現出來。舞獅，也使我保持良好的體能和沉著的態度。最重要的是，它令我對自己，及我的文化背景感到光榮，幫助我把自己最好的一面展現出來。這其中所獲得的友誼及經驗，使我的高中生活更為充實。
在中國文化中舞獅象徵了力量、興旺、長壽、吉祥。中國傳統的觀念，認為獅子是人的保護者。每當我舞獅時，我也深信自己就是個保護者，是人的信心與希望的保護者。
正如其它的運動或藝術，舞獅也需要時間來學習。獅子分為兩部份——頭部和尾部，分由兩個人操作。操作頭部的人必須讓獅子眨眼睛、動嘴巴，就像活獅子一般，還要時時注意周遭的情況。操作尾部的人必須準確配合頭部，腳步要一致，尾部也必須保持活動的狀態。這兩部份的操作都很困難，頭尾必須互相搭配合作，才能讓獅子看起來活靈活現。我負責頭部的操作有兩年了，覺得很好玩，很具挑戰性。舞獅使我變得更專注，同時也增長了我的領導能力，因為舞獅頭的人要帶領舞獅尾的人。獅頭就像大腦，獅尾聽命於它。我所接受的訓練也教導我和同伴合作，有良好的溝通；與人「合作」和「溝通」是生活上很重要的技巧，尤其對我未來的幫助是很大的。舞獅時的許多特技部份，要由我來創造設計，然後和尾部的同伴共同演出。以上這些特質，對我未來無論是找工作，或者是服務鄰居都會有所幫助。
我經過了兩年的密集訓練，才成為現在的舞獅者，每年我在數百位觀眾面前表演兩次。雖然我不是職業舞獅者，但仍然從表演中獲得很大的滿足及成就感。對我，舞獅不僅僅只是一種運動或喜好的活動而已，它也表達了我身為華裔美人的身份，一個依循佛法而生活的人的身份。這些事，除了經由我個人的外表言行，也希望藉由舞獅能將它們表現出來。 |
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There is no doubt that school is only a fraction of my life. The various activities that I do outside of school are basketball, Buddhist liturgy and meditation, jogging, playing video games, and household chores. Of all the activities in my world, Lion Dancing is one of my most cherished. I have had the opportunity to fully master the Lion Dance as a student living for nine years in a Buddhist monastic community. In the community, the Lion Dance is a significant symbol of Chinese culture and is performed on many occasions. As an art and sport, it proves my skills for which I train. The Lion Dance also keeps me physically fit and mentally prepared; most of all, it makes me proud of my culture and who I am. It has represented the best of who I can be, in addition to filling my high school life with experience and friendship.
The Lion Dance in Chinese culture symbolizes strength, prosperity, longevity, and auspiciousness. In Chinese tradition, lions are viewed as protectors of the people. As I perform the Lion Dance, I believe that I'm a protector too, a protector of people's faith and hope.
The Lion Dance, like most sports and arts, takes time to learn. The lion consists of two parts, the head and the tail. It is operated by two people, one at each end. The head must blink its eyes and move the mouth like a real lion would. The head also needs constantly to be aware of what is happening around him. The tail's foot placement must match the head and flow in exact movements. The tail also has to stay in constant motion. Both jobs are equally difficult because to make the lion realistic, the head and the tail must cooperate and work together. I have been playing the head of the lion for two years, and I find it fun and challenging. The Lion Dance has made me more focused and has also developed my leadership because the head of the lion leads the tail. The head is the brain and the tail follows and listens to the head. The basic training I undergo also teaches me to cooperate and communicate well with my teammates. Both cooperation and communication are important skills to have in life, especially in the future. As the head and the tail of the lion work together, the stunts that the lion performs come from my creativity. All these qualities will help me in the future, whether I'm applying for a job or helping out in the neighborhood.
I have been through two years of intense training to become the lion dancer I am today. I have performed twice a year in front of an audience of several hundred people. Although I am not a professional, I have derived an immense amount of satisfaction and fulfillment during my performances. The Lion Dance is not just a sport or activity that I do as a hobby; it is an expression of my heritage as an American of Chinese extraction, who tries to uphold Buddhist principles in his daily life. These are the things that, in addition to my own outlook, I want to express in my dance.
Instilling Goodness/Developing Virtue Schools Newsletter for March (excerpt)
Parent Volunteers Needed!
Next year we would like to increase enrollment, especially in preschool and elementary school. We will be handing out school brochures at a booth and our students will be performing at the annual Family Expo on April 28-29. We invite you to come and bring your friends or give information to those cannot attend.
Our Appreciation to Volunteers
Ms. Edna Cabral recently retired from a nursing career. Her four grandchildren attend Instilling Goodness Elementary School. Currently she is teaching two high school ESL girls and tutoring a student in reading in the After School Program in the elementary school four days a week. Students benefit from her gentle and encouraging attitude.
Mr. Jingxue Bai and Ms. Mingxia Bai of northeastern China and Mrs. Wanyee Hew Gan of Malaysia taught the Girls School and Primary School students to make vegetarian dumplings (jiaozi) for Chinese New Year. They demonstrated their expertise in making the filling, kneading dough, rolling wrappers, and wrapping the dumplings. After an evening and a morning of hard work, we had 1,800+ dumplings—enough for the whole assembly to share! |
