沙彌果安（比丘尼恆音中譯）：
諸佛菩薩、師父上人、各位善知識！今天跟各位分享觀音菩薩怎麼治療我受傷的背跟脖子。幾個月前，我的背和腿非常痛。我們身體裡有一百二十七根骨頭，這些骨頭在我身體裡被扯了，骨頭碰到我的筋，從大腿到腳趾頭的那根筋非常痛。我就送給觀音菩薩一個請帖，因為依照《普門品》說，觀音菩薩保證一定會滿我們的祈求，如果我們依照經上所說的去做的話。
基本上我的脊椎骨脫臼了。我一個朋友也是這種情形受的傷，四個月不能走路；有的人拿工具用錯了力，脊椎骨受傷或脫臼，六個月不能正常行動。醫生跟我說最快也要一個月才能沒有痛苦，所以基本上我站著也痛，走路也痛，坐下也痛，每天很辛苦地走去齋堂用齋。要恢復健康是很慢的，只有針灸才可以恢復得快一點。以前我笑那些把針紮在人頭頂上的針灸醫生，可是現在我得去求他來紮我，每隔一天就紮十五到二十針，很痛苦的。可是我跟自己說這是應該的，是我的業障，我知道我是在還債。
到第十天時，我躺下來仍然還痛，整晚不能睡，我都怕不能走到齋堂去了。《陀羅尼經》上說，佛告阿難，觀世音菩薩的《大悲神咒》是真實不虛的，如果有人想請求菩薩加被，要點一種香，然後念《大悲咒》二十一遍，菩薩一定會來臨的。我很有信心地念了二十一遍《大悲咒》，也相信菩薩就在我面前。我又發願，因為我記得在困苦時發願是很好的。
我的願望是能夠參加早晚課，可是現在我這麼痛苦沒有辦法參加，我祈求觀音菩薩幫助我。過了五分鐘，我的身體抖了一下，好像有人很用力地拍我的背，當時我就躺了下來。可是奇怪，沒有人在房裡，這一定是個感應了！我即刻就可以站起來了，我的痛消失了百分之九十五，就是百分之九十五已經恢復了。
從此以後我就沒再感覺過痛，真沒想到有這麼快的感應，所以我一直繼續念觀音菩薩。百分之九十五的痛苦消失以後，我就慢慢恢復了。
是不是只有那一次我欠觀音菩薩？回想起來有好多次觀音菩薩幫助過我，只是我面對觀音菩薩的感應而不認識。
經過這一次，我才想到如果沒有觀音菩薩默默加被，我今天就不能在這裡跟大家講話了。阿彌陀佛！
盧果婷居士：
師父上人、各位善知識，我是盧果婷，從聖荷西來。今天觀音七圓滿，雖然很累，可是心裡充滿法喜。我一九九Ｏ年皈依上人，可是很慚愧，這是第一次打觀音七。去年我來過聖城一次，是參加《萬佛寶懺》，也是充滿法喜。隔了一年，這一次也是很好的因緣來打觀音七。每次來聖城之前心裡就緊張有障礙，總怕做不好。尤其「觀音七」我從沒打過，所以心裡有壓力。因此這次來時就準備了一些，我知道在聖城第一就是要準備餓飯，吃一餐，以前八關齋戒只守一天，這一次我想為什麼不守七天呢？本來很緊張，以為辦不到。開始時中午總覺得要多吃點，怕晚上肚餓。結果最後這幾天，越來越覺得連中午都怕吃多了。我覺得這個障礙已經克服了，無形中身體自己在調理。
待續 |
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Shramanera Guo'an (Chinese translation by Bhikshuni Heng Yin):
Venerable Master, Dharma Masters, Buddhist friends, Amitabha. My name is Guo'an. This evening I'm going to relate to you what I learned from the Dharani Sutra and how I applied it to solicit a response from Guanyin Bodhisattva to help me cure my back and leg injury. Just a few months ago I suffered excruciating pain in my back and legs. The body is comprised of 127 bones, and one of my bones went out of alignment. When it went out of alignment it touched the biggest nerve in the body which runs down the leg right to the toes. Nothing can be more painful than when your bones touch the nerve.
Basically what I did was send an invitation card to Guanyin Bodhisattva. According to the Sutra, Guanyin Bodhisattva guarantees that he will respond if we do as the Sutra says. I had a slipped disc and it touched the nerves. For those who don't know what is a slipped disc, I have a friend who had a slipped disc and couldn't walk for about four months. Some people who have a slipped disc will be out of action for six months if they merely pick up a gardening tool.
A doctor in this Wayplace told me that I would probably be suffering from pain for at least a month. Basically, when you stand you feel pain, when you walk you feel pain, and when you sit down to eat your meals you feel pain. I was limping and had to limp everyday to the dining hall for my meals. Recovery is actually a very slow process. The only way to speed up the recovery is to have acupuncture treatments. I used to laugh at people who inserted needles into people's heads until I had a slipped disc and then had to beg the acupuncturist: "I used to laugh at people like you but now I'm begging you to poke me."
I had to be treated with fifteen to twenty needles on alternate days, which was in itself a painful experience. So when the needle is being inserted, I told myself, "Hey, you deserve it. This is paying back debts. This is all karma."
So much for being too opinionated. You have to pay back debts for being sarcastic. The only position from which I could feel relief from pain was lying down. But by the tenth day, I also felt pain while lying down and was unable to sleep throughout the night. I thought I would not be able to walk to the dining hall anymore. But I always remember a passage in the Dharani Sutra which reads: "The Buddha told Ananda, 'The spiritual mantra of the Bodhisattva Who Observes the Sounds of the World is true, real, and actual. If you wish to invite the Bodhisattva, you should recite the mantra 21 times over kukura incense, and the Bodhisattva will come and visit.'"
So I recited the Great Compassion Mantra twenty-one times and, with faith that Guanyin Bodhisattva was before me, I pleaded him to please help stop the pain. I remembered to make some vows because in time of hardship, vows are good aiding causes to help overcome difficulties.
I had a rather amusing wish. I said, "Actually I wanted to go and attend the morning and evening recitation the following night. But now here I am and I feel more pain, so if Guanyin Bodhisattva can help me." Five minutes later, my whole body jerked as if someone tugged my leg, or as if someone gave a good friendly pat, or a forceful pat on the back as I was lying down on one side. I wondered to myself, "Hey, what's that? There isn't anyone else around and I'm the only one in the room." My whole body was in sudden shock. So I thought, "Hey, this could be a response."
I stood up and then walked without feeling any pain. I recovered 95%. Since then I have not limped anymore. I never imagined there could be such an instantaneous response. In this case, I must say, "I owe you one, Guanyin Bodhisattva."
About 95% of the pain was gone after only about ten minutes, compared to [the doctor's prediction of] at least a month. But did I owe Guanyin Bodhisattva just this one time? Thinking back, I have in fact owed Guanyin Bodhisattva numerous times. It's just that I didn't recognize it. Face to face with Guanyin Bodhisattva's response and not recognizing it. It took me this one time to reflect and realize that I probably would not be here speaking if not for the silent aid of Guanyin Bodhisattva, the one who observes the sounds of the world. Amitabha.
Upasika Guoting Lu:
Venerable Master and all good and wise advisors: I'm Guoting Lu from San Jose (California). Although I'm very tired today, I'm filled with Dharma bliss at the conclusion of the session. I took refuge with the Venerable Master in 1990, but I'm very ashamed to say that this is my first Guanyin Session. Last year I came for the Ten Thousand Buddhas Repentance and was filled with Dharma bliss. This year I have the opportunity to attend the Guanyin Session. However, it's been a year since I came here last. So everytime I come to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas I'm a bit anxious because I feel I have some obstructions that might cause me to do something wrong. I felt some pressure and I was a bit nervous, so I tried to prepare myself for going hungry since the tradition here is taking one meal a day.
In the past I've taken the eight precepts only for one day. This year, during the transmission of the eight precepts I thought, "Why not try it for seven days?" Originally I was worried that I wouldn't be able to make it. I would eat more at lunchtime so I wouldn't go hungry in the evening. But after several days, now at lunchtime I'm even afraid to eat too much. So I have overcome this obstacle and my body adjusted on its own.
To be continued |
