我是恒懿，我們從馬來西亞、臺灣回來後，很多人問我為什麼不上臺講講關於馬來西亞、臺灣之行，今晚我就略略講講我的感想。
其實在那的時間很短，所以沒有很多可說，但感觸倒是很多。當我們在馬來西亞、星加坡時，那邊居士問的幾乎都是同樣的問題。他們說，「有很多法師告訴我們，只要念佛就好了，不需要做其他功課，譬如說《楞嚴咒》等等都不用念。」有些人說，「其他的法師告訴我們，念佛不需要持五戒，只要皈依就好了。」有些甚至說，「不一定要吃素只要念佛就可以了。」很多人都問類似的問題。我們常常提倡吃素，慈心不殺等等，所以他們非常疑惑，不知該怎麼辦。
我們剛到臺灣機場時，有海關關員看到我，就說，「給妳一張報紙，妳有沒有聽過甘露？在臺灣非常轟動。」「什麼甘露？」「妳看看就知道了，非常好。」他又拿了一本書說，「妳一定要看這本書，這本書非常非常的好 。」
什麼是甘露？那張報紙上講一個大概什麼法王吧，在臺灣做大法會，迎請甘露水。他那寫的是天上真正的甘露，在臺灣非常轟動，電視也報導了。
那本書我略翻了一下，就說有個密宗的法師也強調甘露。所謂甘露，一般說大悲咒水是甘露，他說真正的甘露是從天上來的，也報導說是如何如何的來；說是天上有一道光接到他缽裡，缽裡就無中生有生出很多甘露。臺灣很多顯教法師、高僧大德也都參加了這個法會，親嚐了這個甘露。
這讓我想起在加拿大（金佛寺）時，也曾經看到一個報導，像是廣告，一個Poster（海報），說彌勒菩薩或是彌勒佛--我不記得了--已經降生在這個世界上了，還登了照片出來，看起來像西方人的樣子，說他所到之處都放光。照片上他四周圍有光圈，他也幫助人，他手所指的地方都有光，照片上也有好多好多人追隨在他身邊。
還有，也是在加拿大，有位居士帶過兒女來聖城念書。她說她到加拿大是因為上人在她夢裡告訴她，要她移民加拿大，所以她就帶著女兒先到加拿大看看，就到了我們道場。那時正有法會，印象中是華嚴法會，她也參加了。每天法會完她就說，「我今天看到臺上佛菩薩放光」；第二天又說在往生堂看到虛雲老和尚；後天又看到西方三聖：天天她都看到很多東西，很多佛菩薩。
那時那邊的居士都是老居士，好興奮好高興，每天講的都是，「哇！有沒有看到什麼，看到什麼……？」整天想要看到什麼。甚至於法會結束了，還跟著她。因為她住在北溫哥華，到溫哥華要坐輪渡，她每天就說在輪渡上上人就在她坐的那地方告訴她的，所以很多人都跟著她去坐輪渡，想看看上人顯現的地方。沒多久她回臺灣了，就再也沒有她的消息了。
我為什麼講這個？因為我們對於自己不瞭解，不可思議的事情，都很嚮往很好奇，希望能瞭解能參與。所以說末法時代邪師說法，就常常利用這種讓人迷惑的現象，讓人不知不覺就走入邪道。我不是批評那些現象好不好，也不是判斷真假。為什麼呢？因為這種現象跟修行毫無關係，與道業毫無關係。如果我們老實專一修行，那些現象並不重要。很多人走錯路，就是因為當初的好奇心，覺得，「哎！雖然像是外道，可是講得也很有道理呀！」這樣想的時候，往往就走入了歧途而不自知。
我為什麼提這個？因為最近我們有人在看一本書，大家一定知道是一本外道的書，但是因為書上提到那些死囚因為皈依了某位法師，在一年或短短時間內精進修行，槍決後還燒出很多舍利。有人覺得這本書很好，甚至拿來影印。這個講起來好像是小題大作，但是你影印來給別人看，如果看的那人不瞭解，以為這是正的，是對的，這等於是一種邪法蔓延，所以我們不要掉以輕心。
再講一件事作為結束。洛杉磯有位居士姓宋，住過洛杉磯的人一定認得，夫妻倆非常護持道場。他們皈依上人後不久，聽說有大寶法王到洛杉磯給人灌頂，他倆就開車去讓這位法王灌頂，可是車子開到一半就爆胎了，因此沒去成。後來上人來時他跟上人講起，上人告訴他說，「你啊，有金剛鑽在你手上，你不拿，到外面去揀破銅爛鐵做什麼？」
本來還有些要講，但時間到了，下回吧！阿彌陀佛！ |
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I am Heng Yi. After our return from Malaysia and Taiwan, many people have asked me why I do not go up to the podium to speak about this trip to Malaysia and Taiwan. So tonight I will briefly express my thoughts.
Actually, the time over there was very brief. There is not too much to speak about, but there are quite a few impressions and observations. When we were in Malaysia and Singapore, the Upasakas and Upasikas there practically all raised the same issues. They said, "Many Dharma Masters told us that we only need to recite the name of the Buddha, we don't need to follow any other practices. For example, there is no need to chant the 'Shurangama Mantra.'" Some people said, "Other Dharma Masters told us that there is no need to uphold the Five Precepts if we recite the name of the Buddha; it is sufficient to take refuge with Buddhism." Some even said, "It's not necessary to be vegetarian, as long as one recites the name of the Buddha." Many people brought up these similar points. Since we are always promoting vegetarianism and urging people to be compassionate and not take life, they are very perplexed and at a loss.
When we first arrived at the airport in Taiwan, there was a customs agent who saw me and said, "Here is a newspaper for you. Have you ever heard about the 'sweet dew'? It is a major fad in Taiwan." "What sweet dew?" I asked. "You'll know after you read about it. It is a very good thing." He then gave me a book, "You must read this book; it is very, very good."
So what is this "sweet dew"? That newspaper reported about some "Dharma King" who had a major Dharma assembly in Taiwan to pray for sweet dew. The reporter wrote that this is the true sweet dew, and it is overwhelmingly popular in Taiwan. Even television stations had done segments about it.
I quickly glanced through the book, which was about a certain Dharma Master of the Esoteric School who emphasizes the existence of sweet dew. Most people refer to water over which the Great Compassion Mantra is chanted as sweet dew, but this Dharma Master states that true sweet dew comes from heaven. He went on to explain in detail how sweet dew came about: how a beam of heavenly light had shined upon his bowl, causing lots of sweet dew to appear in the bowl. Many Dharma Masters from the Esoteric School, as well as renowned monks and respected Buddhists, also attended his Dharma assembly and tasted this sweet dew.
This reminds me of a report, or more like an advertisement, that I saw when I was in Canada (at Gold Buddha Monastery). It was a poster that said Maitreya Bodhisattva, or perhaps it was Maitreya Buddha—I cannot remember now—had already been born into this world. It even showed a photograph; he looked like a Westerner. The report said that he emitted an unusual light wherever he went, and the picture showed halos all around him. He also helped others. Unusual light would appear wherever he pointed his finger. He was shown in the photo surrounded by a large following.
Also in Canada, there was an Upasika who once brought her children to the Sagely City to study. She said that the reason she went to Canada was that the Venerable Master told her in a dream to immigrate to Canada. Therefore, she traveled to Canada with her daughter to take a look first, and that's how she arrived at our Way-place. At that time, there happened to be a Dharma assembly going on. It was the Avatamsaka Dharma Assembly, in which she participated. Every day, after the Dharma Assembly concluded, she would say, "Today, I saw the Buddhas and Bodhisattavas on the stage emitting radiance." The next day she would say that she saw Elder Master Hsu Yun at the Hall of Rebirth, and the day after that she would say that she saw the Three Sages of the West. Everyday she would see lots of visions and lots of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
At that time, the Upasikas there were elderly cultivators, and they were all excited and overjoyed. Each day, their response would be "Wow! Did you see something today? What did you see?" All day long, they wanted to see something themselves. Even after the Dharma Assembly ended, they still followed her around. Since she lived in northern Vancouver, she had to take the ferry to get to Vancouver proper. Everyday on the ferry, she would say that the Venerable Master was sitting right next to her and speaking to her. Thus, many people went along with her to take the ferry, for they wanted to see where the Venerable Master made his emergence. Not long after, she returned to Taiwan, and now there is no more news from her.
Why do I talk about this? We humans are curious and drawn towards things that we find incomprehensible or inconceivable, and we wish that we can comprehend and take part. Therefore, during this era of the end of Dharma, when false prophets speak the Dharma, they often use these mystifying phenomena that lead people astray without their knowing. I am not here to criticize whether the phenomena are good or bad, nor am I here to make judgment on truth versus falsehood. It is simply that these phenomena are totally irrevelant to cultivation and totally unrelated to the ways of karma. If we simply focus upon cultivation, then these phenomena are unimportant. Many people are led astray because of their initial curiosity: "Ah! Even though this is an externalist teaching, it sounds quite reasonable!" When one thinks in this manner, one is likely to go astray without knowing it.
I bring this up because recently some people among us have been reading a book that all of us know to be from an externalist teaching. The book talks about some death row inmates who took refuge with a certain Dharma Master and within the span of a year or some short period of time they diligently cultivated. In the end, after they were executed and then cremated, there remained lots of sharira. Some felt that this was a very good book and even made photocopies of it. To discuss this matter may seem to be making a big deal out of something trivial. However, when you make photocopies for someone else to read, if that person does not clearly understand but believes the contents to be proper and true, then this is the same as promoting improper Dharma. Therefore, we must never drop our guard and be careless.
Let me speak about another matter in closing. In Los Angeles, there is an Upasaka, and those who have lived in Los Angeles must all know him. His last name is Soong. He and his wife both are very supportive of the Way-places. Not long after they took refuge with the Venerable Master, they heard that there was some Great Treasure Dharma King who was in Los Angeles performing abhishekam (anointing the crown), so they drove over to see the Dharma King for this ritual. However, halfway there they got a flat tire and did not make it. Later, when the Venerable Master paid them a visit, the Upasaka mentioned it to the Venerable Master. The Venerable Master told him, "You! You have a diamond in your hand and you refuse to take it. Instead, you go out to pick up garbage. What for?"
Originally, I had other things to speak about, but time is up. Perhaps next time. Amitabha! |
