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上個月我父親過世，我迴向這席話作為對他的追憶。他在1920年初出生，那個年代出生的人吃過經濟大蕭條的苦，嚴重的經濟衰退使得百分之三十的人失業，而且許多人饑饉。接著第二次世界大戰，這是這個國家有史以來領土被外人侵犯的唯一一次。日本人拼命作戰，許多人飽受戰爭之苦。我父親服役的船被日本kamikaze自殺式飛行員攻擊20次。
戰爭結束，美國人在和平中撫養家庭，帶來嬰兒潮，大量的嬰兒在戰後出生。我也是其中一個。父母都不要自己的孩子受他們曾經受過的苦。我的成長就像同年齡的孩子們一樣地有大量的食物、餅乾、糖果、蛋糕；溫暖的衣服，溫馨的學校與家庭，很多玩具和空閑時間可以運動與遊戲，或是看電視與閱讀。和我們受苦的父母相較，簡直活在人間樂園。
如果我們有人抱怨，比方說鄰居的後院有個游泳池，我們沒有，往往會被教訓說和我們的父母相比，我們得來的太容易。他們會說﹕「你不知道你得來的多容易！」
因為這種情形，現在我來談談虛老祖師，他有些事蹟﹕……。
當他56歲時，失足墮水，浮沉一晝夜。獲救後，諸孔流血，幾天後到高旻寺，因拒職事被打香板，病況加重。儘管經歷種種困難，他還精勤參加禪七，果然開悟，但是往後還得忍受更多考驗。
在虛老66歲時，乘船時因船上有病疫，被隔離，每日發米一小碗、二蘿蔔，而病劇漸不能進食。被移到一屋下毒待死準備剖腹，他坐地不能起，也睜眼不見人。等人抱起，滿地是血，他終於又活過一劫。
68歲時，在泰國入定九天；此次定後，兩腳痲痺，最後全身癱瘓，靠人餵食，身不能自主，迦葉尊者入夢指示醫方，病危廿天終癒。
77歲時，往新加坡被控革命黨遭扣留，反縛拳打，曬太陽，動即打，不與飲食，不准大小解，從早六時至晚八時。後為弟子釋救。
跟虛老多災多難的一生苦行相形之下，我們在萬佛聖城的生活實在很容易。在此樂園中，我們有機會去除欲望與牽戀。
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My father passed away last month. I am dedicating this talk to his memory.
He was born in the early 1920s. The people born in this time suffered from the great depression, a serious economic slump that left 30% of the population without jobs, and found many going hungry for lack of food. Then World War II came along. This was the only time in this country's history that its territory was invaded and attacked from outside. The Japanese fought very hard and many suffered from the war. My father was on a ship that survived 20 attacks by Japanese kamikaze suicide pilots.
When the war ended, Americans settled down in peace to raise families, and the baby boom, a large number of postwar children were born. I am part of this generation. The parents wanted to make sure that their children did not undergo the suffering that they had to endure. I grew up, like most of the people my age with plenty of food, cookies, candy, and cakes; warm clothing and warm schools and houses, and lots of toys and leisure time to play sports and games or to watch television and read. It was a kind of paradise compared to what our parents had endured.
When someone of my generation complained, perhaps that a neighbor had a backyard swimming pool, while we did not, we were treated to a lecture on how easy we had things compared to the experiences of our parents. They would say, “You do not know how easy you have it.”
In this spirit I am offering a talk on what an easy life we have compared to the patriarch Elder Master Hsu Yun.
Here are a few incidents from his life.
When he was 56, he fell into a river and was carried along by the current, for an entire day and night. When he was rescued, blood poured out of every orifice. He was revived and sent to Gaomin Monastery, where he was beaten for refusing an administrative post. Despite these difficulties, he fully participated in a twelve week chan session. He became enlightened during this session, but had to endure many more difficulties during the rest of his life.
When he was 66, he traveled on a boat on which an epidemic broke out. He was quarantined and became severely ill. He was given only a small bowl of rice and two uncooked carrots to eat each day. He became so ill that he could not eat. He was move to a house and given poison so that he could quickly be prepared for dissection. He lay on the ground and could not get up or see even with his eyes wide open . When he was helped to his feet, he saw that the ground under him was covered with blood. He managed to survive and was finally released.
When he was 68, he entered samadhi in Thailand for nine days. After this his legs became numb, then his whole body was paralyzed. He had to be fed by other. He entered a coma. Mahakasyapa appeared in a dream and told him how to cure himself. He was severely ill for 20 days, but finally recovered.
When he was 77, he traveled to Singapore. Here he was arrested and accused of being a left-winger. He was tied and beaten. Every day he was left out in the sun and beaten if he moved. He was not allowed food or drink or even to relieve himself. This went on from 6 am to 8 pm. Finally some disciples arranged for his freedom.
By comparison, we have a pretty easy life here at CTTB. In this paradise we have a chance to cut off desire and love.
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