「法不孤起，仗境方生。
道不虛行，遇緣則應。」
此次的短期女居士訓練班是馬來西亞（吉隆坡市）般若觀音聖寺（原名紫雲洞）比丘尼恆定師等人的一項構想。在幾經商討，並與美國法界佛教總會（法總）請准後，隨即邀請法總法師們來馬主持。
這第一屆女居士訓練班從二零零一年九月四至十七日。來自馬來西亞吉打州、霹靂州、吉蘭丹州、吉隆坡，及鄰近的新加坡，共三十四位女居士參加了此項殊勝的課程。其間，亦有不少居士隨喜參與其盛。
課程開始第一天，由登彼岸觀音聖寺比丘恆章師、恆祥師為學員們傳授八關齋戒；比丘尼恆泰師、恆融師帶領五位訓練班學員，依傳統儀規請師，儀式簡單隆重。
訓練班每日課程表如下：
3:00 am 打板／起身
4:00 am-5:00 am 早課
5:00 am-5:30 am 拜願
5:30 am-6:30 am 自修（值勤學員準備早餐）
6:30 am-6:45 am 早餐
7:00 am-7:45 am 誦《大方廣佛華嚴經》
8:00 am-9:00 am 潙山大圓禪師警策文
（比丘尼恆貴師講解）
9:30 am-10:00 am 誦楞嚴咒（三遍）
10:30 am-11:00 am 上供
11:00 am-11:45 am 午齋
11:45 am-12:30 pm 出坡
12:30 pm-1:45 pm 拜大悲懺
2:00 pm-3:00 pm 佛法開示（比丘尼恆是師主持）
3:15 pm-4:15 pm 淨土法門（比丘尼恆揚師講解）
4:15 pm-6:30 pm 自修／出坡
6:30 pm-7:30 pm 晚課
7:30 pm-9:00 pm 《佛說梵網經》（比丘尼恆貴師講解）
9:00 pm-9:30 pm 咒心
10:30 pm 安板／熄燈
學員們對精心設計的課程，經過兩星期的研習後，佛學知識增進不少。多數學員都覺得課程內容豐富，生動活潑，受益不少。課程中恆貴師講解《梵網經》及《潙山大圓禪師警策文》；恆是師以《上人開示錄第一冊》為講課內容；恆揚師則力薦淨土法門：每位法師都詳盡有系統地將各門課題，從基本的無常、生死到極為重要的持戒，作了深入淺出的講解。
課程雖短，卻將戒定慧的基本概念傳達透徹。教授師們不顧濕熱的氣候，及時差引起的不適，於整個課程中表現了慈悲無我的菩薩精神，令人欽佩。
學員們在學習佛法之餘，也學習如何處理佛寺日常事宜，如準備早午餐，清洗廁所，擦拭大殿，準備上供物品等。
學員們分成六組，每組一位組長。教授師們以六度般若蜜命名每一小組：布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、般若、禪定；富啟發性的組名，提醒學員們時刻警惕自己學佛行菩薩道。在訓練課程中，學員們也分擔了各項工作，以觀察如何進行工作，如何與他人溝通合作。種種的工作及任務，對學員們是一項重大的考驗，令他們體悟了與他人合作時，所可能產生的各種衝突；加上須在規定的時間內，完成所指派的工作，對學員們也是一項莫大的挑戰。
每個學員都須學習如何聽從僧眾及組長的指示，令有些個性剛強的學員覺得難以忍受，在整個課程中顯得有些不自在。過慣有幫佣的舒適生活的學員，雖然覺得有點難以適應，但也盡力完成了所指派的工作。
這為期兩週的緊密課程，使學員們消耗了不少體力，但精神上則充滿法喜。在這期間所接受的各種教導與訓練，深深觸及了學員們內心深處，讓他們感動不已，感恩之心油然而生。
上人若得知他的出家弟子們，都能跟隨著他的步伐，繼續弘揚正法，應該感到無限欣慰。上人曾說，「你們每一個人都要好好令佛教發揚光大，一舉一動，一言一行，都要為佛教著想……每一個人都要負起弘揚佛法的責任。你們能令佛教發揚光大，那我在什麼地方都安心了。」
因此，教授師們所表現的優良風範，所有的學員們，所有的佛教徒都應以之為榜樣，盡己所能，視弘揚佛法為己任，將之發揚光大到世界各角落。也惟有這樣，才能報答本師釋迦牟尼佛的浩瀚洪恩於萬一。
課程結束的當天，學員們再沐法雨。恆貴師邀請了般若觀音聖寺的法師們出席結業典禮，與大家分享她們當初如何發菩提心，披上袈裟出家。法師們的心聲深深激勵了學員；上人崇高的精神與品德，在她們身上展現了出來。她們堅持金山寺三大宗旨--凍死不攀緣，餓死不化緣，窮死不求緣，及萬佛聖城的六大條款--不爭、不貪、不求、不自私、不自利、不妄語，來作佛事。
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| ◎學員上課情形 Trainees in dass |
九月十七日早上九點，本屆女居士訓練班終於在簡單隆重的結業典禮中結束了，學員們也在欣喜中領取了結業證書。恆貴師力勸學員們以戒為師，速發金剛菩提心。「戒為無上菩提本，長養一切諸菩提」；只有嚴持戒律，才能生慧得定。其他法師們也規勸學員們嚴遵佛陀的教導。
「一切眾生雖有佛性，要因持戒然後見，因見佛性得成正覺。」
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The Dharma does not arise alone.
Relying on conditions, it is born.
The Way is not practiced in vain.
In meeting conditions, there is a response.
The First Laity Training Program for Women in Malaysia was conceived by Bhikshuni Heng Ding Shi of Prajna Guanyin Sagely Monastery, (formerly known as Tze Yun Tung Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). A request was made to the Sangha members of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association (DRBA) to conduct the program, and it commenced on September 4th, ending on September 17, 2001. A total of 34 women took part in this very special program at the Monastery, with participants from Alor Star, Kedah, and Penang in Malaysia, as well as six from Singapore. And there were lay women who participated on an ad hoc basis.
On the first day, Bhikshus Heng Jang and Heng Syang Shi from Deng Bi An Temple, Kuala Lumpur, transmitted the eight precepts. The ceremony began with a formal request for Dharma by Bhikshunis Heng Tai Shi, Heng Rong Shi and five trainees. It was simple, yet adorned.
The daily training schedule was as follows:
3:30 am Morning Wake-Up Call
4:00-5:00 am Morning Recitation
5:00-5:30 am Universal Bowing
5:30-6:30 am Self-study (Trainees in charge of breakfast work in the kitchen.)
6:30-6:45 am Breakfast
7:00-7:45 am Recitation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
8:00-9:00 am Sutra study (Instructor: Bhikshuni Heng Gwei Shi)
9:30-10:00 am Recitation of Shurangama Mantra (3 times)
10:30-11:00 am Meal Offering
11:00-11:45 am Lunch
11:45-12:30 pm Community Work
12:30-1:45 pm Great Compassion Repentance
2:00-3:00 pm Dharma Lecture by Bhikshuni Heng Shr Shi
3:15-4:15 pm Pure Land Dharma by Bhikshuni Heng Yang Shi
4:15-6:30 pm Self-study/Community Work
6:30-7:30 pm Evening Recitation
7:30-9:00 pm Brahma Net Sutra by Heng Gwei Shi
9:00-9:30 pm Recitation of Heart of Shurangama Mantra
10:30 pm Lights Off
Within two weeks, all the participants were given a tremendous boost in their understanding of the Buddhadharma, and they found the program enjoyable and enriching. Heng Gwei Shi lectured on the Brahma Net Sutra; Heng Shr Shi used the Venerable Master's Dharma Talks Volume I for her lecture, and Heng Yang Shi explained the Pure Land Dharma. They were well organized and detailed, covering such basic principles as impermanence, birth and death, and the importance of holding precepts, as well as samadhi and wisdom. Our instructors were selfless and compassionate throughout the course in spite of humid tropical weather, jet lag and illness.
Trainees were divided into groups of six, each with a leader, and each group was named after one of the Six Paramitas: 1) Giving, 2) Precepts, 3) Patience, 4) Vigor, 5) Prajna and 6) Samadhi. In this way, participants were constantly reminded to walk the Buddha path by doing the Bodhisattva's work. As part of the training, tasks were assigned to them to see how they could work, communicate and cooperate with one another. Trainees learned to handle daily chores such as preparing breakfast, cooking lunch, cleaning the toilets, mopping the Buddha Hall, and preparing the meal offering. It was a great challenge. They began to understand the afflictions that could be generated while working together and attempting to complete each task in a specified time. Participants received instructions from the Sangha as well as from the group leader. Some with strong characters found it difficult to endure and were miserable throughout. Others who had servants at home tried their best to carry out their assigned tasks, though at times they looked a bit uneasy
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◎教授師自右至左，恆貴師•恆是師•恆揚師
Teachers from right to left:Heng Gwei Shi,Heng Shr Shi,Heng Yang Shi |
This intensive two-week schedule took a toll on everyone physically, but mentally we were filled with Dharma jewels, and deeply touched and grateful for the teachings and discipline we received. The Venerable Master would be very happy indeed to see that his left home disciples are continuing the work of propagating the Proper Buddhadharma. He once said, "Everyone of you should work hard to make Buddhism flourish. In every move you make and every word you say, you should be thinking on behalf of Buddhism. Every person has to shoulder the responsibility of propagating the Buddhadharma. If you can cause Buddhism to prosper and flourish, then I'll be able to set my heart at ease no matter where I am." So, all the trainees as well as all Buddhist disciples should try to help in any way they can in their propagation of the Buddhadharma and cause Buddhism to prosper and flourish everywhere. Only in this way can we repay the deep kindness of our original teacher Shakyamuni Buddha.
On the last day of the program, we were showered with more Dharma rain. Heng Gwei Shi invited all the Sangha members to share how they had brought forth the Bodhi resolve to leave the home life. Every speech was an inspiration to the participants. The instructors demonstrated the lofty spirit of the late Venerable Master through adherence to the three great principles of the Gold Mountain Monastery credo:
Freezing to death, we do not scheme.
Starving to death, we do not beg.
Dying of poverty, we ask for nothing
and to the six guidelines of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas: no fighting, no greed, no seeking, no selfishness, no pursuing of personal advantage, and no lying to do the Buddha's work.
At the end of the program, trainees were awarded a certificate of participation, and Heng Gwei Shi exhorted them to take the precepts as their master and to quickly bring forth the Bodhi resolve. "Precepts are fundamentally unsurpassed Bodhi constantly nurturing all wholesome roots." Only by holding strictly to the precepts can we gain wisdom and samadhi (concentration). The trainees were also reminded to accord strictly with the Buddha's teachings in their cultivation.
"Although all living beings have the Buddha nature; it is only after being able to uphold the precepts that can one see the Buddha nature and attain complete enlightenment. " |
