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諸佛菩薩，上人，法師，以及各位善知識。
我的名字是Thuc-Hue Ta，另一個名字是謝淑華，我來自荷蘭，這是我在培德女中的第一個學期。
自從我生下來，我一直住在離這裡很遠又很小的國家--很多人對我如何找到聖城這個特別的地方感到很好奇，所以這是我第一次跟大家分享我的故事。
我的母親是越南人，父親是中國人，他們都是佛教徒，我媽媽是一位真正的修行人，至於我爸，他對佛教並不真正了解也很少念經。我媽媽是盡她所能的教她的孩子佛法，並且每年都帶我們到世界各地去參訪廟宇。
每年的夏天，我們家人都會到德國最大的廟跟比丘、比丘尼及來自世界各國的修行人一起修行，學習佛法。在1998年的時候，這間廟的方丈介紹了上人的一本書，聽了介紹之後，我母親對聖城印象深刻，而且想盡快到聖城來看看，雖然我們在1998年就知道聖城的存在，可是我們一直到去年的觀音七，才有機會來到聖城。
我的家人來這裡之後，都覺得這是一個很好又很和平的地方，尤其是我媽，她要知道有聖城，她一定會把她的小孩送來這裡讀書。可是我並不這麼想，我不想放棄我在荷蘭的生活。在觀音七的最後一天，我們向方丈道謝，方丈說來到聖城的人都很有善根，我媽媽跟方丈說。她要是早一點發現這個地方就好了，因為孩子現在在荷蘭生活慣了，不想搬來這裡讀書。方丈轉向我說，雖然你只有16歲，對荷蘭的生活又這麼習慣，可是如果你真的想來這裡唸書是可以的，可能的。
我們回到家後，我爸對佛教產生了無比的興趣，以前他只要一讀到有關佛教的書，他就會睡著，可是他讀上人的書，他會一直想把它讀完，因為上人說的法很合邏輯。以後煮晚餐時，他就不煮肉了，他開始跟家人一起吃素。
自從我參加了觀音七及禪三後，我對佛教深感興趣，我對孝道及敬老的教學很佩服。在我參訪聖城後，我開始思考我的生活，尤其是我對父母的態度，當我刁難父母時，有種罪惡感。心想父母要努力工作、受苦，還有犧牲很多事，為了給他的小孩過好的生活，我覺得自己非常的自私，尤其是當我思考怎麼才可以報父母恩的時候。
因為我常常上網找聖城最新的消息，譬如打七或有特別法會的日子，在暑假的時候，我看到觀音七又即將來臨，雖然我知道我父母的預算很有限，他們又沒有工作，我還是跟他們說我想再來聖城，我父母聽到我要再來聖城時，非常的高興。所以上個暑假的觀音七，我參加法會中所有的活動，從早上3:30到晚上10:00，我自己都覺得很驚訝我怎麼會有這麼多的精力，可以集中在整個觀音七做這些事，上次來的時候，我與法師們以及學校的老師們談了三、四個小時關於聖城的教育及孝道。
在我從聖城回到家的第一個晚上，我不停的哭，我知道我能報父母恩的最好方法就是到聖城來讀書，這不只對我的父母有益，在這裡讀書也可以教導我不愚痴，而且這裡畢業的的學生都有不錯的人格。
我把握了做培德女中的學生的機會，因為我相信這是我了解自己以及塑造一個善良人格的最好方法，學校都有完整的學科及課程，我們學習正確的言行，不自私的態度，以及在生活中學習自我獨立的能力，跟我在荷蘭的生活比起來，在聖城的學習以及生活環境，讓我比較能夠專心在我的課業上，因為在這裡我們看到的是和平和寧靜，我們自然而然就得到這些和平和寧靜。我很想念我在荷蘭的親人，但這並不會減少我在這裡學習的信心，我知道我在這裡是一件正確的事情，在這裡的教育足夠可以讓學生們遠離學習生涯上的各種障礙，在這個學校，學生有機會可以為他們的將來打好基礎。
我來這裡已經三個月了，但卻覺得好像已經住了很久一樣，我很快的就習慣了這裡的生活方式，在這裡，我遇到了一些特別好心的人，我每天學到很多，尤其是在培德方面。
我想謝謝我的父母、家人、佛菩薩、上人、各位法師、老師們以及同學，給我這個機會表達我的心聲。
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To all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Venerable Master, Dharma Masters, and good advisors:
My name is Thuc-Hue Ta, or Xie Shu Hua [in Chinese]. I came from the Netherlands and this is my first semester at Developing Virtue Girls School (DVGS). I want to share my story about my past visits to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB) and my experience as a DVGS student now.
Since I was born and have lived my whole life in the Netherlands, which is a small country far away from here, a lot of people wonder how I found out about this special place. This is my opportunity to share that story with everybody.
My mom is Vietnamese and my dad is Chinese and they are both Buddhists. My mom is a true cultivator, my dad is a cultivator in his own special way; he doesn’t know that much about Buddhism and seldom recites Sutras. However, my mom taught her children as much as possible about Buddhism, and even took us around the world to visit temples.
Every summer my family goes to the biggest temple in Germany to practice Buddhism with monks, nuns and cultivators from all over the world. In the summer of 1998, the abbot of that temple introduced us to one of the Venerable Master’s books. My mom was so impressed after reading that book that she wanted to visit CTTB as soon as possible. Even though we had known about CTTB since 1998, we never had the chance to come here until last October for the Guanyin and Chan sessions.
All of my family members who came here thought this was a very good and peaceful environment —especially my mom, who wished she had known about this place earlier so she could have brought her children over here to study. I, on the other hand, also thought that this was a really peaceful place, but at that time I didn’t want to leave the life I was living there to study here. On the last day of our first visit we thanked the abbot, and he said that everyone who comes here has good roots. My mom told him that she wished she had discovered this place earlier for her children, because she felt that since they are used to their life in the Netherlands, they are not willing to move to a monastery now. Then the abbot turned to me and said that I could still attend the Girls’ School even though I was 16 at the time and used to my daily life in the Netherlands. He said, “If you truly want to attend the school, then it’s possible.”
After we got home, my dad showed more interest in Buddhism. Before this he would fall asleep whenever he read Buddhist books, but when he read the Venerable Master’s books, he wanted to finish them because they made so much sense. He doesn’t cook meat for dinner that often anymore. Instead, he eats vegetarian meals with the rest of the family.
After my first visit and after attending the Guanyin and Chan Sessions, I felt even more drawn to Buddhism. I read many Buddhist books about CTTB. I admired the teaching of filiality and honoring elders. All my experiences after my visit to CTTB made me think about my life and attitude —especially my attitude toward my parents. I felt guilty for giving my parents a hard time in the past. I felt sorry for not understanding the difficulty of being a parent. Just think how much parents have to work, suffer and sacrifice for their children’s well-being. I felt extremely selfish and I had a hard time dealing with that, especially after learning of a way in which I could repay my parents’ kindness.
Because I was keeping myself up to date through the internet about the sessions and celebrations here, I saw that there was another Guanyin Session in the summer. Even though I knew my parents’ budget was limited since they’re both unemployed, I wanted to come to CTTB again. My parents were really happy when I told them I wanted to come back. So last summer I attended the Guanyin Session again and this time I participated in all the ceremonies from 3:30 in the morning to 10:00 at night. It surprised me that I actually had the energy to do that for the entire session. During that visit I spoke to a lot of Dharma Masters and teachers from CTTB and DVGS about the education here. I also talked to a Vietnamese monk for 3 to 4 hours about filiality and the teachings at CTTB.
The first night I got home from CTTB, I couldn’t sleep. Tears were running down my face and I couldn’t stop crying. I knew the best way to repay my parents’ kindness and to bless my family was to attend this Buddhist school. It’s not only beneficial for my parents, as I truly believe that my life experience here at CTTB can also protect me from stupidity. I also believe that everyone who graduates from here has developed a decent character.
I took the opportunity to become a DVGS student because I believe this is the best way to discover myself and develop a wholesome personality. Students attending this school carry a full courseload of academic subjects, and also learn right conduct, unselfish attitudes and the spirit of self-reliance. These are qualities every person will need in life. Compared to the student life I was familiar with in the Netherlands, this life makes it much easier for me to focus on my courses and study because of the social and academic environment at the school. Peace is what you see and peace is what you get. While I truly miss my family and home in the Netherlands, it has not really diminished my experience here on the other side of the world. I know I’m doing the right thing by being here. The educational program here is sufficient to keep students away from all other obstructions that could affect their life as a student. At this school students get the chance to create a perfect foundation for their future.
Now I’ve been here for almost 3 months, but it feels like I’ve been here for a really long time. I got used to the way of living here very quickly. I’ve met the most amazing and sweetest people. Every day I learn more —especially when it comes to developing virtue. My heart goes out to my parents who sacrificed so much for me. I don’t think people can start soon enough to repay their parents’ kindness. I want to thank my parents, my family, all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, the Venerable Master, all the Dharma Masters, teachers and students for giving me such a great opportunity to be here. Amitofo!
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