My name is Fu Xi- min, which means" citizen of the West." I took refuge with the Triple Jewel in Taiwan fifteen years ago. My wife, Shramanerika (novice nun) Jin-Lian Shr, left the home life under the Venerable Master over two years ago; my daughter, Bhikshuni Heng-Tung Shr, left the home life after she graduated from college more than ten years ago. They both live at Long Beach Sagely Monastery now. I have stayed in the Sagely City for more than three years already, while my youngest son teaches Fine Art as a volunteer teacher in the Boys School.

I am a native of Jiang-Xi province of China. Since childhood, I have believed in Guanyin Bodhisattva. Due to my grandmother's faith in the Buddha, we worshipped the image of Guanyin Bodhisattva on our altar at home. There was a Recitation of Buddha's Name Society in our village. On the first and fifteenth of every month, we would take turns hosting vegetarian banquets. On that day, members of the Society would gather to recite sutras and bow to the Buddhas. Right up to the evening before I left for Taiwan with the army in 1949, my old grandma reminded me to recite the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva at all times and in all places. In particular, she told me to recite aloud when I encounter any difficulty or danger. The Bodhisattva will certainly come to the rescue upon hearing me.

Some ten years ago, my wife and daughter started giving me Buddhist books to read in order to introduce me to Buddhism. After that I became a part-time vegetarian. Seven years ago, in a dream I visited a temple and was told by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas that I ought to resolve to be a full-time vegetarian and not eat the flesh of living beings any more. Since then I have abstained from eating meat and I am a vegetarian.

 I was a military physician in Taiwan for thirteen years. I assisted women on the surrounding islands in childbirth. After retiring from the military, I started my own clinic and practiced medicine for twenty-six years. As a doctor I wanted to be like a parent to my patients. My clinic was open to patients all day long. I went out year round to visit patients at home even during storms, for I wanted to serve the villagers. Hence, my patients had great trust in me. In emergency cases, I would silently recite the holy name of Guanyin Bodhisattva while treating patients and my wife would also go to the Buddha Hall and pray for aid from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. In the end, the danger would always subside and I never had any major medical disputes.

Several years ago, I read the book Records of Responses from the Vajra Sutra, after which I began reciting the Vajra Sutra once or twice a day. From June 1988 onwards, I began writing out the Vajra Sutra with a Chinese brush. This was because more than forty years ago, I had suffered from a purulent tumor of the anus, and although I had recovered after the surgery, in 1988 the ailment recurred. Pus oozed out and bleeding took place; the pain was unbearable. After the diagnosis, the doctor confirmed that the main tube of the purulent tumor had divided into several branches, and said that I needed another surgery. The medical cost was extremely high in the United States, and my doctor advised me to return to Taiwan immediately for surgery. At that time, I had been in America for only half a month and felt it inconvenient to return to Taiwan so soon. I thought I might as well try to write out the Vajra Sutra first and see if I would get any response. I immediately set out to write with the small brush for one to two hours everyday. After a week, the symptoms had lessened tremendously. By the time I finished copying the sutra once, my ailment had ninety percent healed. What's more, a bone that had protruded from the back of my right foot vanished too.

Besides copying the Vajra Sutra, I also copied the Heart Sutra, the Shurangama Mantra, and the Great Compassion Mantra for distribution. I copied the Eighteen Great Vows of the Venerable Master and sent them to various affiliates of DRBA. I copied these sutras and mantras not out of greed for merit and virtue, but rather to eradicate my karmic obstacles accumulated from the past. I didn't start to study Buddhism until my oId age, and I have many obstructions. However, I use the three qualities of faith, determination and perseverance in my practice. I cultivate without concern for the harvest (result). I wish to arrive in the Land of Ultimate Bliss soon, see Amitabha Buddha, and become a true citizen of the West.