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 我想藉今日的機會，講一些我媽媽及我個人認識師父上人的因緣。
我母親是貴法師的姨媽，她們早在中環時，就已認識師父了。那時師父在「通善壇」開講地藏菩薩本願經，她們只要聽到師父講經就去聽。原本貴法師的母親不是很相信，有一次她悄悄的進去，看到法座上的上人放大光明，有如太陽的金光，她嚇到了；從那以後，她就相信師父，每次都去聽師父講經。後來劉果娟居士引荐我母親、姨媽，皈依了師父；上人給貴法師母親的法名叫果祥。師父說我母親這一輩子要吃苦，沒有享福的日子，除非我母親出家；但我母親喜歡和她的姐妹在一起，所以師父給我母親取的法名叫果趁。
我媽媽在我小時候就經常告訴我有關上人的事蹟，其中我最深刻是當她第一次拜見師父上人之後，她在回家下山途中，突然感覺自己浮沉在一個茫茫的大海中，當時她很驚慌。等她站穩腳步，定一定神，海也不見了，她自己還在下山。事後她向上人提起此事，上人說：「苦海茫茫，回頭是岸。」可惜當時年輕的她，不能領悟上人話中的深意。
譚果己居士可以說是我母親大半生的知己。譚居士也是非常信師父的。有一天，她教我母親上山拜見師父上人，當時我母親沒有錢，所以就拒絕了；譚居士當時就表示願意借我母親錢，封果儀給師父，等以後有錢再還。上山後，我母親便把果儀供養師父，師父說：「來這裡不用果儀，你拿回去。」但我母親仍然把果儀放在檯上。後來師父就告訴劉果娟：「你回去告訴那個姓袁的女士，下次再不要封果儀給我；因為她沒有錢，她封果儀的錢是借來的。」這件事只有我母親和譚居士知道而已，想不到師父都會知道。
過了一段時間，我出世，自幼體弱，有一次我病重，我母親便揹我上西樂園；途中又遇上大雨，我們母女全身淋得濕透。當上人見到我們，就叫我母親放下我，並對我母親說：「我早知道你有今日，但你又不回頭，又不覺醒！」當時師父便替我念咒、摩頂加持，以後我身體亦漸漸強壯起來。
在我小時候，我就懂得對著師父的照片求師父幫忙；每次考試到了，我也跟師父說：「我明天要考試了！」我母親生病，我也求師父幫她。高中畢業，我去應徵第一份工作，我也去跟師父說；這份銀行工作做到今天，已28年了。
師父在1962年離開香港去美國，我母親問師父為什麼要離開？師父說香港的弟子不乖，很少到廟裡來，所以他要離開。師父去美國的時候，我跟師父講，我每個月都會給他寫一封信，講一些生活的事，師父有時也會請法師回信給我，師父簽字；師父信上說知道我很用功每天拜佛，叫我繼續不要斷。師父在1962年去美國那時，我大約八歲；我和師父通信是在1975到1979年之間，也是我剛進銀行工作的時候。
西樂園大約在1970年送回給政府，現在都已蓋了大樓。在西樂園的時候，師父收了果良師、果利師兩位出家弟子。果利師是種菜的，我記得她都會將我母親帶上山的蔬菜分二份，一份種菜，一份煮食。小時都是我母親揹我上山的，路途很遠，每次來回都要一天，先要坐電車到西灣河，再從西灣河走到西樂園。西樂園本來沒有水的，師父找到一個地方，就用拐杖敲一下，說：「這地方有水！」從那以後就有水了。我母親跟我說，有一位女居士她想要生小孩，她就求師父。師父給她一個喝洗腳水的考驗，她不敢，也就未能滿願。
貴法師的姐姐手上常長小肉粒，約有二、三十粒。她就問我母親要如何讓它消掉？我母親就跟她說：「你去求師父啦！」她沒有去求師父，只是起了這個念頭而已，手上這些東西就都消掉了。還有果己的兒子沒辦法站起來，她就請我母親陪她去。我母親告訴她：「你就請師父摸你的兒子；如果你說請師父『醫』你兒子，那師父就不會做的！」師父問果己：「你為什麼要我這麼做？」她說：「師父，您摸他就好了！」之後，她兒子就可以站起來了。
十年前，我母親因患糖尿病，腳上生了狼瘡而潰爛，打針、吃藥都無法醫治，醫生說要把三隻腳趾切除；我母親就請貴法師將這事情告訴師父。師父說：「她過去生切掉別人的腳，今生一定要還給人家。」開刀之後，我母親一直昏迷不醒，傷口亦不能癒合；醫生說需要再開第二次手術，將腳切除，母親才慢慢的復原了。據當時同房的病人說，我母親住院時，每晚都在拜佛和唸著師父的名字。
待續
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右為梅妙玲女士
Mei Myao Ling (right) |
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I’d like to share with you the causes and conditions that brought my mother and myself to know the Venerable Master.
My mother is Dharma Master Heng Gwei’s aunt. They came to know the Venerable Master early on while in Zhong Huan, Hong Kong. During that time, the Master stayed and lectured on the
Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva in Tong Shan Hall. Whenever they knew that the Master would be speaking the sutras, they always attended. Initially, Dharma Master Gwei’s mother did not have very strong faith in our Master. But one day, she silently entered the room and saw the Master on the Dharma seat, emitting golden light as bright as the sun. She was taken aback. From then on, she believed in the Master and attended almost every sutra lecture given by our Master. Later on, Liu Guo Juan encouraged my mother and my aunt to take refuge with the Venerable Master. The Master gave DM Gwei’s mother the Dharma name Guo Xiang. The Master said that, unless my mother left the home-life, she would have to undergo a lot of suffering in this life, without enjoying any blessings. However, my mother loved to be with her sisters; hence, the Master gave her the Dharma name of Guo Chen.
Ever since I was young, my mother frequently told me about her encounters with the Master. One in particular struck me deeply and is ingrained in my memory. The first time my mother went and bowed to the Master, while descending the mountain path on her way home, she suddenly felt herself floating amidst a vast sea. Terrified, she stood still and regained her senses. The sea disappeared and she was still on her way down the mountain. Afterwards, she told the Master about this incident. The Master said, “The sea of suffering is huge and vast; turning around, you reach the other shore.” Unfortunately, she was young then and did not fully grasp the meaning of the Master’s message.
Tan Guo Ji can be considered my mother’s close friend for most of her life. Upasika Tan also has strong faith in the Master. One time, when she asked my mother to go up the mountain to bow in respect to the Master, my mother declined because she didn’t have much money at the time. (She would always make an offering to our Master if she went to pay her respects). Upasika Tan offered to lend her some money. My mother agreed and promised to repay her later. After traveling up the mountain, she made her offering. The Ven. Master said, “You don’t have to make offerings to come here. You can take it back.” Nevertheless, my mom left her offering on the table. Thereafter Ven. Master told Guo Juan, “Go back and tell Ms. Yuan not to give me an offering next time. She does not have money. She borrowed the money to make this offering.” This matter was private - only between my mom and Ms. Tan. It was amazing that the Master knew about it.
After a period of time, I was born. Since infancy, I was in poor health. I was once seriously sick. My mom carried me on her back to the temple, Western Bliss Gardens. On the way, it rained heavily. My mom and I were both soaked to the bones. When the Ven. Master saw us, he told my mom to put me down, saying, “I knew all along you would go through this, but you did not want to turn around; you have not woken up yet.” He recited some mantras for me and rubbed my crown to bestow a blessing. From then on, I gradually grew stronger.
Since I was young, I would seek the Ven. Master’s help by praying in front of his picture. If I had an exam the next day, I would tell the Master. When my mom was sick, I also sought his help. When I applied for my first job after graduating from high school, I also went to tell the Master. Up til now, I have held this bank job for 28 years.
In 1962, the Master left Hong Kong and came to America. My mom asked him why he left Hong Kong. The Master said it was because his disciples in Hong Kong were not obedient and seldom came to the temple. When the Master left for America, I told him I would write him a letter every month about my life. Sometimes, the Master would ask the Dharma Masters to write a letter back to me, and he would sign it. In his letters, the Master said he knew I was diligent in bowing to the Buddhas everyday, and told me to continue without stopping. When the Master left for America in 1962, I was about eight years old. From 1975 thru 1979 I kept corresponding with the Master, during which period I started my bank job.
Western Bliss Gardens Monastery was given back to the government in 1970. Big buildings have been built on the site where it was previously located. During this time in Western Bliss Gardens, the Master had two monastic disciples – Guo Liang Shi and Guo Li Shi. Guo Li Shr took care of planting vegetables. I remember that she divided the vegetables my mom brought up into two groups: one for planting, one for cooking. When I was young, my mom would always carry me on her back going up the mountain to Western Bliss Gardens. It was a long journey, and the round trip took a whole day. First, we took the cable car to Xiwan River, then walked all the way up to Western Bliss Gardens. Originally, the place did not have water, but when the Master arrived, he found a spot and struck it with his cane saying, “This place has water.” From then on, water was plentiful. My mom told me that there was a laywoman who wanted to have a child and beseeched the Master for help. The Master tested her and she failed, hence her wish was not fulfilled.
Dharma Master Gwei’s elder sister usually had 20-30 little eruptions on her skin. She asked my mom how to get rid of them. My mother told her, “Go ask for the Master’s help.” She didn’t go but merely had that thought in her heart, and the eruptions disappeared. Another episode revolved around Guo Ji’s son, who could not stand on his feet. Guo Ji asked my mother to accompany her to see the Master. My mother told her, “Ask the Master to rub your son’s head. If you ask the Master to cure your son, the Master will not do it.” The Master asked Guo Ji, “Why do you want me to do that?” She replied, “Oh, Shr Fu! Please rub his head and he will be well.” Afterwards, his son was able to stand up and walk.
Ten years ago, my mother had diabetes, and her feet had sores which no doctor could cure by injection or any medicine. The doctor said that three of her toes needed to be amputated. My mother asked Dharma Master Gwei to inform the Master of her predicament. The Master said, “In her past life, she cut off other people’s feet. In this life, she has to pay back.” After the surgery, my mother remained unconscious for some time. Her wounds were not healing. The doctors said that she needed to have the operation to remove the three toes for the second time. She did. Later on she recovered slowly. According to patients who stayed in the same ward with my mom, during her stay in the hospital, she still bowed to the Buddha and recited Shr Fu’s name every night.
To be continued
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