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我的萬佛城之旅真是太奇妙了，我從沒想過我會如此喜歡那兒！
我從幾年前就開始存到萬佛城參訪的機票錢。去年媽媽告訴我，她很想帶妹妹阿妮妲和我到萬佛城讀書，但是她付不起學費。當時我並不喜歡轉學到萬佛城，所以我聽了非常不高興。過了一段日子後，她說：「我們只去萬佛城參加地藏七。」我心想：只有十天，我應該能受得了吧！
八月二十一日我們從卡加利飛往三藩市。在飛機上我偷偷地對阿妮妲說：「我要怎麼樣才能度過這漫長的十天呢？」 從三藩市到萬佛城還需三小時車程。途中，我大部份的時間都在睡覺，直到快到聖城的十分鐘前才醒來。當我舉目四望，看到前方萬佛城歡迎訪客的標示牌時，我竟然有些興奮！
地藏七開始時，媽媽要我清晨三點半起床準備參加早課。我心想如此持續一星期，我不暈倒才怪呢；因為我在卡加利試過，結果連一天都撐不下去！在聖城每個人都很精進。早課是從清晨四點到五點，五點到六點是拜願，六點到七點則是早齋時間。前兩天我都去吃早餐。七點開始誦地藏經，我嘗試跪著誦經，雖然我不認為我能撐到最後，但是一心虔誠誦經的結果，我竟能全程跪著！誦完地藏經之後，是繞念、坐念和默念地藏菩薩聖號的時段。我不喜歡靜坐，所以就到祖師殿讀上人的傳記。
下午五點鐘是該吃晚餐的時刻了，我想我應試著一天只吃一餐，但又怕無法辦到。結果我那天竟然沒吃晚餐！既然不用藥石，我就去找事情做。我碰見一位以前住在卡加利的法師，我就開始跟著她一起做事：諸如掃樹葉、在廚房幫忙、摘菜、在書上蓋章、清理客房的大佛像等。沒多久，幾乎是她到那兒我就跟到那兒。每當休息的時段，我們就去找事做，我們大部份都在掃樹葉。每晚總是落葉不斷，所以掃樹葉變成我們每天例行的任務。我們一起出坡時，法師會講有關上人的故事，例如他如何在萬佛城發現水等。我認為這些事實在是太神奇了！
到了第四天，我開始喜歡那裡。我感覺非常平靜、祥和、喜悅，並且覺得沒有任何事可以困擾我。我開始想是否該要求媽媽讓我留在這兒上學。最後我下定決心問她，她毫不遲疑地回答：「當然可以！」 我聽了很高興。但不幸的是，爸爸並不同意，我感到非常失望。在誦《地藏經》時，我祈求地藏菩薩幫助我。稍後，我比較不難過，只是全神貫注參加法會。
地藏七於星期六結束，我感到身心舒暢，心想這實在是一個好地方！我竟然有辦法清晨三點半起床，每天只吃一餐，卻不覺得累或餓！我很高興遇到如此善良與慷慨的人們，每個人都很友善。
令人難過的是離別時刻已到，我真想留下來。千言萬語也無法形容萬佛城的清幽與美好。我真心推薦每個人都應盡早參訪萬佛城，我自己是迫不及待的想再回去呢！
編按：Nina 今年14歲，九年級學生。她出生於佛教家庭，從出生就吃素迄今。她每星期日都和祖母、母親、及妹妹一起參加華嚴寺的法會。她喜歡旅遊及和家人在一起。她學彈鋼琴已七年，她同時還學樂理及中文。Nina希望她許多的夢想，將來都能成真。
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My recent visit to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB) was absolutely amazing. I never thought I would like it so much.
A few years ago, I started to save money for a plane ticket to go to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. This past year, my mom told me that she really wanted to take Anita and me to go to school there, but she didn’t have enough money to pay the school fees. What did I think about that? Oh, I didn’t like it at all. I opposed the idea, and I got mad. Time passed, and she said, “We’ll just go there for the Earth Store Bodhisattva Recitation session.” So, I thought, okay, it’s only for 10 days, I can stand that. On August 21, 2003, I was ready to leave Calgary for San Francisco.
On the plane, I whispered to Anita, “How am I going to be able to stand it there for 10 days!” When we arrived in San Francisco, we drove approximately 3 hours to our destination, and I slept most of the way. I woke up about 10 minutes before we got there, and I looked around. In front of us, I saw a welcoming sign, “The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas”. I don’t know why, but I felt a bit excited! Anyway, when the Earth Store session started, I was told to get up at 3:30 a.m. for the morning recitation. I thought I would pass out, having to do this for a week, because when I tried doing it in Calgary, I couldn’t stand it even for one day. Morning recitation went from 4:00-5:00 a.m., followed by bowing, from 5:00-6:00 a.m. and then, breakfast for the laypeople from 6:00-7:00 a.m. Everyone there was diligent; getting up early in the morning and reciting.
The first couple of days, I ate breakfast and at 7:00 a.m., everyone recited the
Earth Store Sutra. I think we had the choice of sitting or kneeling to recite and I chose to kneel. Although I didn’t think I would make it kneeling through this period, I just kept thinking about reciting the sutra sincerely, and I succeeded. After finishing the
Earth Store Sutra, it was time for meditation and walking. I don’t like to meditate, so I sat in the Venerable Master’s room [Patriarchs Hall], reading his biography.
Dinner was scheduled for 5:00 p.m., and I thought maybe I should try and eat only one meal a day, and again I didn’t think I could do it, but I ended up not eating dinner that evening. Since I wasn’t eating, I went looking for something to do. I met a Dharma Master, who formerly lived in Calgary, and I started doing many chores with her: sweeping leaves, helping in the kitchen, picking vegetables, stamping books, and cleaning the big Buddha image in the guest building. Soon, I started to follow her almost everywhere she went. Every time there was a break, we would go and find work, usually sweeping the leaves. It then became our daily duty, as the leaves kept falling every night. She would tell me stories about our Venerable Master Hua (e.g. about how he found water at CTTB) which I found totally amazing!
About the fourth day, I started to love being there. I felt so calm, peaceful and happy, and felt that nothing could bother me. Then, I started to question myself, whether or not I should ask my mom if I could stay here to go to school. I decided to ask her. She answered me without hesitation and said, “Of course!” I was very happy to hear that. Unfortunately, my dad opposed the idea, and I was quite upset, so, when we were reciting the last part of
Earth Store Sutra, I asked Earth Store Bodhisattva to help me. Later, I felt a bit better and just concentrated on participating in the Earth Store session. When the session finished on Saturday, I felt great! I thought to myself: This is such a great place! I’m able to get up at 3:30 in the morning while eating only one meal per day! I was surprised that I wasn’t tired or hungry! I was very happy to meet people, who were so kind and generous; everyone was so friendly!
Sadly, it was time for us to go. I really wanted to stay. Words just can’t describe how wonderful and beautiful CTTB is and I truly recommend that everyone go there as quickly as they can. I just can’t wait to go back! Amitabha!
Editor’s Note: Nina is 14 years old and currently in grade nine. She was born and raised Buddhist and has been a vegetarian her whole life. She goes to Avatamsaka Monastery every Sunday with her mom, younger sister and grandma. She loves to travel and to spend time with her family. She also plays the piano (since 1996), takes music theory lessons and goes to Chinese school. Nina has many hopes and dreams that she wishes to accomplish in the future.
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