9月14日星期五至9月16日星期天，萬佛城第一次參與了二OO一年曼都仙諾郡（一年一度）的展賽會及蘋果展活動，在會場設了一個攤位，並參加花車遊行賽。
花車遊行於周日中午開始，平城車隊的最前方足一輛大型卡車，載著大型看板，上書「法界佛教總會」，並有法總的標誌。接著是兩位男眾舉著一幅紅色旛旗，上面寫著「萬佛聖城、法界法教大學、育良小學、培德中學」。
接著由四位男同學分別舉著四面牌子--「大慈」、「大悲」、「大喜」、「大捨」，後面跟著的學生、家長及老師們，則都舉著一面黃色的法總小旗子。隊伍最後，是一輛白色的貨車（象徵大白象），拖著一輛18呎高，綴滿了花朵及葉蔓的拖車；粉紅色的傘蓋下，車身四週由折疊的黃色布縵圍繞著。花車的主題是佛陀（學生扮演）在林中靜坐，僧眾環繞（八位比丘尼、兩位沙彌尼代表），天女（學生扮演）以蓮花獻供，還有林中的小動物在一旁（由學生扮成鹿、兔子等等）。傘蓋下方的海報寫著：「慈悲喜捨，廣度眾生」。
原來學生們計劃表演舞龍、舞獅、民族舞蹈，然而不幸於一週前爆發了紐約世貿大樓的慘劇，遊行隊伍的主題臨時決定轉換為莊嚴肅穆的「唵嘛呢叭彌吽」六字大明咒彌的誦念，祈求為一切眾生帶來和平及幸福。
沒想到街旁觀賞的人，見到了聖城的花車，都報以歡呼鼓掌，並揮手表示歡迎。有的人甚至雙手合十，歡喜地跟隨我們一起誦咒。會後更有人前來致意，感謝聖城這樣的安排。四點鐘左右宣佈名次，聖城的花車隊伍贏得了中學組第一名「最佳表演獎」獎盃。
聖城所設的攤位，由城內「君康真素齋」的義工們提供現煮的素食點心，並有學生及住眾所製作的手工藝品。現場並展出譯經院的出版品，「國際哲學倫理學院」的建築計劃，以及育良小學、培德中學、法界佛教大學的資訊。整整三天，君康真素齋的工作人員及義工們從早忙到晚，留守攤位，接待訪客。他們所做的春捲、餃子、各式小菜，都廣受歡迎，供不應求，必須有人不斷開車往返聖城及賽會現場來補充材料。
上人語錄
※世界是人心所造成的，人心好殺，就是一個戰爭的世界。人心要是好生，就變或一個和平世界。 |
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The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas participated in the 2001 Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show for the first time, setting up a booth and entering a float in the Fair Parade. The Fair was from Friday, September 14 to Sunday, September 16.
The Parade began at noon on Sunday. The CTTB procession was led by a truck carrying a huge sign with the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association (DRBA) name and logo. That was followed by two men holding a large red banner emblazoned with "City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Dharma Realm Buddhist University, and Instilling Goodness Elementary and Developing Virtue Secondary Schools".
Next came four boys holding signs that said "Great Kindness," “Great Compassion,” “Great Joy,” and “Great Giving.” They were followed by students, parents, and teachers carrying small, yellow DRBA flags. Finally, a large white pick-up (reminiscent of a great white elephant) towed an 18-foot trailer lavishly decorated with foliage and flowers. Beneath the pink canopy with pleated yellow cloth on the borders, the scene was that of the Buddha (played by a student) seated in meditation in the forest, surrounded by Sangha members (8 Bhikshunis and 2 Shramanerikas), heavenly maidens (students) making offerings of lotuses, and forest creatures (students dressed as deer, rabbits, etc.). A message running along the sides of the canopy said, “Kindness, compassion, joy, and giving sustain Earth and its living beings.”
Originally, the plan had been for students to perform the lion and dragon dances, as well as traditional Chinese folk dance. However, after the tragedy in New York the week before, the procession was converted into a more solemn one with everyone reciting “Om Mani Padme Hum” for the entire duration of the parade, to bring peace and blessings to all.
Unexpectedly, most of the people on the streets watching the parade responded to CTTB’s float with welcoming cheers, clapping, and waving. Many even put their palms together and recited joyfully along with us. Later people came up and expressed their appreciation for CTTB’s presence in the parade. At around 4:00, the awards were announced, and CTTB’s procession received the “Best of Show” trophy in its category as a “Juniors Marching Unit.”
The CTTB booth featured Chinese vegetarian food cooked on site by the staff of CTTB’s Jyun Kang Vegetarian Restaurant, vegetarian pastries, handicrafts made by the students and residents of CTTB, a display of Buddhist Text Translation Society publications, an exhibit about the proposed International Institute of Philosophy and Ethics (to be built at CTTB), information about Instilling Goodness Elementary School, Developing Virtue Secondary School, and Dharma Realm Buddhist University. A crew of Jyun Kang workers and other volunteers staffed the booth from early morning till late at night for three days. The spring rolls, dumplings, and other entrees were so popular that people had to keep driving back to CTTB to bring more supplies and food.
Venerable Master’s Dharma Words
The world is a product of the mind. If people’s minds are fond of killing, there will be wars in the world. If people’s minds cherish life, the world will be peaceful. |
