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我在澳門出生，在委內瑞拉長大。應該是從1998年開始學佛，這年我帶我的兒子從委內瑞拉到美國來念書。同時，我也準備留在美國一段時間考駕照和找工作。有一天，經過我家附近一間佛堂，好奇地進去看看，就從此開始真正的接觸佛法，學習怎樣拜佛、上香和聆聽佛陀的教義。在這過程之中，我才感覺到人生真苦，我們每天面對都是無常的事情，如果不把握時間修行，怎麼才可以離苦得樂呢？後來我就決定取消預定到美國的計劃，一心學佛修行。
這樣一直到2000年，一位佛友介紹我看一份禪七的廣告，我忍不住好奇心就打聽哪裏可以打禪七？有一位居士告訴我：「可以到萬佛城參加呀！」當時我也不做多想，立刻安排時間來萬佛城。那一次真是菩薩的保佑，讓我同時可以參加兩個法會。對觀音七和禪七，我根本就未經驗過。在觀音法會中，尤其是在繞佛的時候，安祥的氣氛令我太感動了，每天眼淚都不知不覺的流下來，有一位佛友說：「不用掛心，很多人都有這樣的感應。」至於禪七，開始的時候，我還擔心自己是否能圓滿這個法會。還好，從頭到尾未缺一支香，在我心目中只有一個「痛」字，以及上人的開示：「不經一番寒徹骨，怎得梅花撲鼻香？」這樣沒有別的辦法，只得自己繼續努力吧！
我每天都是充滿了歡喜的心聽上人開示，在這兩個星期內，我學習了很多，同時也請很多佛書回家，在回家的路上一直感到法喜充滿，希望再有機會來參加法會。
回家後，自己每天做早晚課，常看上人的書。一直到2002年時，我又有一點不安了—— 我這安靜學習的好日子快結束了。因為兩個孩子都不小了，可以照顧自己，我應該回委內瑞拉了。我想，糟糕了！我回家後要繼續做事、上班，這樣對我學佛必有障礙。還好當時有一位佛友安慰我說：「如果妳真心在佛道上學習，佛菩薩一定會幫助妳的。」事情真的很不可思議，在我回去之前，有一個機緣又來到萬佛聖城參加 2003年的「萬佛寶懺」法會。法會中，在一位法師指導下，我很誠懇地對每一尊佛念一句懺悔文，法會結束後，我心情輕鬆很多了，等我回到家時，我的伙伴已經給我準備一間很精緻的辦公室，又講一大堆未來的計劃，但是我很清楚自己學佛的心，「世間的享樂我已捨棄了，這樣上班賺錢有有甚麼意思呢？」所以決定對這位伙伴坦白我的心願，起先他根本就聽不進去，慢慢地他才接受了。這位伙伴看見我學佛的意念這麼強，他也想要來萬佛城看看是怎麼的一回事。所以，我很相信只要我們學佛的心堅固，雖然會經歷很多障礙，我們都可以克服的。
這一次我能回到萬佛城，很感謝宣公上人再給我機會來這裏修行。同時，也很感謝我家同修的支持，讓我安心留在聖城學習真正的佛法。所謂「無上甚深微妙法，百千萬劫難遭遇。」能把握當下最好了。
阿彌陀佛！
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I was born in Macau and grew up in Venezuela. The first time I met Buddhism was in 1998. That year, my son and I came to the United States. He went to school while I prepared to get a Pharmacist’s License in order to find a job. I planned to stay in the United States for a period of time.
One day, I saw a Buddhist temple near my house, and out of curiosity I went in to take a look, since I had began to learn the Buddhadharma. In the beginning, I learned how to bow to the Buddhas and offer incense, and I heard some of the Buddha’s basic teachings. During this learning process, I realized people’s suffering, and I also realized how impermanent our daily activities are; if we don’t take the chance in the present moment to cultivate, how can we leave suffering and attain bliss? After that, I decided to change my original plan, and dedicated my time to learning Buddhism.
In the year 2000, I saw an announcement for a Chan Session from a Dharma friend. I felt so excited after reading it that I began to investigate the possibility of registering for a Chan Session. At that time, a friend told me: “You can attend a Chan Session at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB).” Without thinking twice, I arranged my schedule to come to the CTTB. I think I was helped by a Bodhisattva to come here and attend two Buddhist events. I had never experienced a Guanyin Session or a Chan Session before. During the Guanyin Session, especially during the walking recitation, the quiet atmosphere moved me, and unconsciously my tears came out everyday. A Dharma friend told me, “Don’t worry about it; lots of people have the same response.” When the Chan Session began, I doubted if I could attend the whole session; at the end, I was so glad that I didn’t intentionally miss any practice period. However, the only word that remained in my mind was “Pain”. As the Venerable Master Hua’s taught:
If the plum tree didn’t endure the winter’s freeze, / How could her blossom smell so sweet? Remembering these words, I thought there was no better way than to continue working on the sitting meditation.
During these sessions, I listened to the Venerable Master’s teaching with joy every evening. I learned a lot during those two weeks. After the sessions, I took home a lot of books from CTTB. On my way home, I was filled with joy and happiness and hoped to come back again to attend future Buddhist events.
At home, I began to do my homework: the morning and the evening recitations, and read some of the Venerable Master’s teachings.
In the year 2002, I was a little bit worried because I felt that those peaceful learning days were coming to an end. My children were grown up and they could take care of themselves; so, I had to go back to Venezuela and resume working in an office as before. These conditions would hinder my learning. Then a Dharma friend consoled me and said, “If you are sincere in learning the Buddha Way, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will help you.”
Something amazing happened! Before I went home, I had a chance to come back to the CTTB to attend the 2003 Repentance Ceremony Before Ten Thousand Buddhas. During the Repentance Ceremony, following a Dharma Master’s advice, I recited a repentance verse after each Buddha’s name. Once I completed all the sessions, I felt more peaceful in my mind. When I got home, my business partner had already reserved a beautiful office for me, and at the same time, he told me about our future project; but I was set in my resolve to study Buddhism. I said to myself: “I have already renounced worldly happiness; for what would I need to work and make money?” Then, I decided to tell him the truth, and let him know what I really wanted. At the beginning, he didn’t listen to a word I said, but later on, little by little he understood what I meant. He noticed my strong determination to learn Buddhism, and he also wanted to come to the CTTB to experience the learning atmosphere for himself. Therefore, I believe deeply that as long as our resolve to study Buddhism is strong, we can overcome any obstacle that comes up in our lives.”
Now, I have come back to the CTTB. I am grateful to the Venerable Master Hua for giving me the chance to cultivate in this place. Also I want to thank my husband for his support and for agreeing for me to stay at CTTB to learn the real Buddhadharma.As the verse says, “The unsurpassed, profound and wonderful Dharma, / Is difficult to encounter in hundreds of millions of eons.” So, it is best to study the Dharma while you have the opportunity. Amitabha!
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