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大多數虔誠的佛教徒都應該對《妙法蓮華經》的〈普門品〉很熟悉，這一品經詳述了觀世音菩薩不可思議的神通之力。這位菩薩觀照世界的音聲，並回應所有眾生的祈求和呼救，把他們從苦難中解救出來。
我家族裡有數代以及熟悉的朋友都和觀音菩薩有緣份。在無數的場合裡，這些人都因他們對這位菩薩的供養和信仰而被守護著，從而遠離危險。我很高興有這個機會分享以下我的家人和朋友們所經歷過不可思議的經驗，並證實了觀音的慈悲，同時這也是表達我對所有菩薩為我無私的守護的感恩。
母親的感應
 媽媽八歲時，不小心跌進了一個很深的溝裡，水溝很快地就被暴風雨的雨水給灌滿了。回應她求救聲的，是出現了一位穿著閃光純素白袍的人，把她從瀕臨淹死的危險中救出。媽媽雖然年幼，卻牢牢記著那位仁慈並拯救她性命的人。幾年後，媽媽和她的阿姨在一個風暴天裡被捲入了一場船難。水進了船並快速地往上升，似乎那艘船和乘客都無希望存活了。我媽媽聽到她的阿姨跪著大聲地祈求觀世音菩薩的保佑。突然間，一座海島憑空冒出來，暴風雨也消退，船上的每個人都獲救了！
哥哥的感應
當我哥哥才幾分鐘大時，觀音菩薩就救了他的生命。媽媽生產哥哥(他的第一個小孩)的時間拖延了好一段時間，才被送到了醫院。我哥哥終於被接生出來，但已經瘀青，也沒有任何存活的跡象。媽媽當然非常的傷心，但她記得她外婆遇到問題時，總是會向觀音菩薩祈求；因此她自己也開始祈求。她向菩薩祈求說：如果她的孩子活下來，希望他能成為一個可以幫有生產問題之婦女解除痛苦和哀傷的人。許願剛畢，我哥哥奇蹟式地大叫一聲，活了過來。哥哥小時候很容易照顧，因為他非常的溫和；他從不和別人打架，或欺負比他小的弟妹。我只比他小一歲半，我們小時，他總是保護著我；這也是為什麼我最了解他，我們一直是好朋友。
生哥哥後，媽媽接著又生了五個小孩，這可使她忙碌非常，她也就忘了和菩薩所許的願。哥哥在學校的表現很好，也拿到了一所醫學院的獎學金；之後，年紀很輕，他就當了醫生。在他能選的所有醫學專業中，他選了婦產科為主修。他是個非常好的醫生，既慈祥，又大方，不在乎病人的環境和經濟狀況；他會高興地義診所有無法付錢的人。很多病人即使看過醫術很高的專家後還是無法懷孕，他們找到哥哥協助；他也就能幫助他們懷孕和接生他們夢想中的小孩。他們終於能生出聰明、貌美又有健全性格的小孩，他們的願望都實現了。雖然我哥哥從來不提起任何有關他成功地完成顧客們請求的事，我從他的病人們口中聽到許多感激；因為他們得到了永遠夢想不到的、或從死神手中挽回的孩子，他們的人生也因而改變了。事實上，哥哥常被稱為「醫學界三寶之一」。
兒子的感應
我最小的兒子快要五歲時，他得了一個罕見的腎臟疾病。一年半下來，每個禮拜他慣例去看醫生兩次；但西醫和中醫的綜合治療，都對他的疾病沒有幫助。幸運地，一位好心的佛教徒介紹我們〈大悲咒〉，我和我兒子便開始念誦。我們也在萬佛聖城和宣公上人相遇，全家都皈依了他。
這兩件事情發生之後，我們全家，尤其是我的兒子，變成了虔誠的佛教徒，並時常念誦〈大悲咒〉。雖然兒子才五歲，他非常的相信觀音菩薩，也請求菩薩幫他脫離痛苦；他每天念幾百次〈大悲咒〉，念完後，就喝大悲水。想不到的是，觀音菩薩回應了他的請求，他在幾天內就完全恢復了。
我兒子是在六歲時被醫好的，那年，他自己決定要報菩薩的慈恩，並成了一個素食者；很多人都很耽心他的新飲食方式會影響他的成長。但我丈夫和我向他的醫生們請教時，他們說我們的兒子會有比較健康的身體，也會有比較長的壽命；因為素食的飲食，對我們的身體是最好的。到現在已經快二十年了，他不論在身體上、心理上或精神上，都非常健康；對於「素食者都不健康，都有貧血症」的廣泛錯誤觀念，他是一個活的見證。
妹妹的感應
在美國中西部的天氣變化很大，尤其是在我妹妹所住的伊利諾州。一個冬天早上，我妹妹正開著車要去上班；那時一場暴風雪才侵襲那個地區幾天，所以高速公路上還有冰塊。突然，她前面的那輛車失去了控制，並開始旋轉；而她身旁的車正呼嘯而過，她完全沒有時間來反應，一場可怕的車禍好像就在眼前了。令她驚訝的是，她發現她和車子被升到了空中，就像一個大型起重機或磁鐵把他們舉起，然後安全地放在另外一條沒有任何尾隨車輛的駕駛道。下一分鐘，她聽到後方的車子碰撞在一起；結果是一場連環車禍，只有我妹妹奇蹟似地逃過了這災難。
我妹妹告訴我，她每次進入車子之前，都會向觀音菩薩祈求，有一個平安的旅程；因為她的祈求，那天菩薩護祐了她，並使她到現在還活得好好的。
其他人的感應
很多我家族以外，卻對我非常重要的人，都有類似的感應經驗。
緬甸一個寺廟的住持告訴他的信徒，二次大戰時，一群暴徒衝進了寺廟裡，威脅要搶他、殺他；一把機關槍對準了他的頭部，但是，他們三發都不響──舊子彈卸下，裝新彈，如是三次，那把槍還是不發射。此時，那群暴徒發現是觀音菩薩的神力保護著這位住持；最後驚訝之餘，他們鞠了躬，在未傷任何人的情況下離開了。那位住持和尚說：整個考驗中，他都在心念菩薩的名號。
我有幾位好友也蒙觀音菩薩的仁慈庇護；明確地說，許多告訴我當大火燒毀附近其他的房屋和商業大樓，而他們人和財物都毫髮無傷。火燄接近我朋友們的地區時，都突然轉向；其中一人，還在大火中看到了一個好像身穿白色長袍發光的人，使火轉了向。
結語
家人、朋友和我自己都覺得很幸運，能在娑婆世界裡聽到菩薩的名號；我們非常的感恩菩薩光照我們，以防止我們掉入危險，並把我們從痛苦中拯救出來，也引導我們極樂世界的正確道路。人須要有絕對的信仰和誠心，才能實現他的願望；人也必需要持續地學習佛法，才能回報佛菩薩的隆恩深澤。家人、朋友和我對於菩薩總會有堅強的信仰，繼續好好修行，菩薩並將永遠留在我們的心中。南無觀世音菩薩！
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Most devoted Buddhists are probably familiar with the Universal Door Chapter of the
Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, which illustrates the miraculous powers of Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva contemplates the sounds of the world, responding to all living beings’ prayers and cries for help, relieving and rescuing them from sufferings.
Many generations in my family as well as several close friends have affinities with Guanyin Bodhisattva. On countless occasions, these individuals have been blessed and saved from danger because of their dedication and belief in the Bodhisattva. I am grateful that I am given this opportunity to share with you the following miraculous experiences that my family and friends have had, as a means of proliferating the compassion of Guanyin, and also to show my sincere appreciation for all that the Bodhisattva has done for us.
My Mother’s Blessed Experiences with the Bodhisattva
When my mother was eight years old, she accidentally fell into a deep ditch that was rapidly rising with storm water. In answer to her cries for help, an individual clad in shimmering white robes appeared and saved her from drowning. Although she was very young then, she remembered very well that kind person who saved her life. A few years later, my mother and her aunt were involved in a shipwreck on a stormy day. As the water aboard the ship quickly rose, it seemed the ship and its passengers had little hope for survival. My mother saw her aunt on her knees praying loudly for Guanyin Bodhisattva to help. Suddenly an island appeared out of nowhere and the storm subsided. Everyone on the ship was saved.
My Brother’s Blessed Experiences with the Bodhisattva
Guanyin Bodhisattva also saved my older brother’s life when he was only minutes old. My mother arrived at the hospital after being in labor with my brother (her first child) for an extended period of time. When my brother was finally delivered, he was blue and showed no sign of life. Naturally my mother was very sad, but she remembered that her grandmother always prayed to Guanyin Bodhisattva in times of trouble, and hence she began to pray. She made her wish known to the Bodhisattva that, if her baby should survive, he would become someone who relieves the pain and sorrow of women who have complications relating to bearing children. After she prayed, my brother miraculously let out a big cry and came back to life. As a child, my brother was very easy to care for, as he was very gentle, never fought with others and never took advantage of his younger siblings. I know him best, for I am only one and a half years younger than he is, and he always protected me when we were younger. We have always been the best of friends.
After giving birth to my brother, my mother subsequently bore five children, who kept her very busy. She had forgotten about her wish to the Bodhisattva. My brother excelled in school and managed to get a scholarship to attend medical school. He later became a medical doctor at a young age. Of all of the various medical specialties that he could have chosen, my brother chose to base his career on obstetrics and gynecology. He is a great doctor, both compassionate and generous with all of his patients, regardless of their social and financial status. He has given gladly free medical treatment to those who cannot afford to pay him. Many patients, who for many years could not conceive after having consulted with top medical professionals, have come to my brother for assistance, and he has been able to aid them in conceiving and delivering the children of their dreams.
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The author and her
sisters and brothers 作者與兄弟姊妹 |
Their wishes were fulfilled as they were finally able to give birth to intelligent, good-looking children with wholesome characters. Although my brother has never mentioned anything regarding his success with clients’ requests, I have heard from his patients themselves how grateful they are, how their lives have been transformed by giving birth to children they never thought they could have, or bringing back life to their dying children. In fact, he is often referred to as “one of the three treasures among the medical community.”
My Son’s Blessed Experiences with the Bodhisattva
My youngest son contracted a very rare kidney disease before he turned five years old. For one and a half years he routinely visited doctors twice a week. However, a combination of both Eastern and Western medical treatments proved unsuccessful. Fortunately, a very kind fellow Buddhist introduced us to the Great Compassion Mantra, which my son and I began to recite. Also, we met with the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and my whole family took refuge with him.
After these two events my whole family, and in particular my son, became more devout Buddhists and more dedicated to reciting the Great Compassion Mantra. Although my son was only five years old, he had strong faith in Guanyin Bodhisattva and begged the Bodhisattva to relieve him of his pain. He recited the Mantra several hundred times daily and drank blessed water after praying. Inconceivably, Guanyin Bodhisattva answered his prayers and he was completely healed within a matter of days.
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作者闔家The author and her family |
At the age of six when my son was healed, he decided on his own to show his appreciation for the Bodhisattva’s compassion by leading a vegetarian lifestyle. Numerous individuals were concerned that his new diet might interfere with his growth. My husband and I consulted with his doctors and were told that our son would have better health and a longer lifespan because a vegetarian diet is by far the best for our bodies. For almost two decades he has maintained a clean bill of health; he is fit physically, mentally and spiritually. He is living proof that the widely held belief that all vegetarians are anemic and in poor health is a total misconception.
My Sister’s Blessed Experiences with the Bodhisattva
The weather in the Midwest is very extreme, especially in the State of Illinois where my sister lives. One winter morning about a month ago my sister was driving to work on an icy freeway after a blizzard had battered the region for several days. Without warning the car in front of her lost control and started to spin. The cars around her were whizzing by, and there was no time for my sister to react; a terrible accident seemed imminent. To her shock she felt herself and the car being levitated, as if lifted by a giant crane or magnet, then safely lowered to another lane with no traffic following her. In the next instant she heard the sounds of cars behind her crashing into one another. The result was a chain accident; miraculously my sister was the only one who escaped.
My sister informed me that before she gets into a vehicle, it is her practice to pray to Guanyin Bodhisattva for a safe journey. It is because of this practice that the Bodhisattva protected her that day and that she is alive and well today.
Others’ Blessed Experiences with the Bodhisattva
Many individuals outside my family, and very important in my life, have had similar experiences with the Bodhisattva.
The Abbot of a temple in Burma once told his congregants that during the Second World War, a group of insurgents charged into the temple and threatened to rob and kill him. They aimed a machine gun at his head but the gun would not fire, even after being unloaded and reloaded three times. The insurgents realized it was the power of Guanyin Bodhisattva that protected the Abbot and in awe, they bowed and left without harming anyone. The Abbot said that he was reciting the Bodhisattva’s name during the entire ordeal.
Certain good friends of mine were also blessed by Guanyin Bodhisattva’s compassion. Specifically, I’ve been told of instances when my friends and their possessions have been spared from fires. While huge conflagrations destroyed nearby homes and businesses, the flames changed direction when approaching my friends’ property. One of them saw someone clothed in luminescent white robes at the scene of the fire, a being who seemed to be diverting the fire.
Conclusion
My family, friends and I consider ourselves fortunate that we have been able to hear the Bodhisattva’s name in the Saha world. We are extremely grateful that the Bodhisattva has shone a light upon us, thereby preventing us from falling into danger, rescuing us from our sufferings and guiding us on the right path towards Land of Ultimate Bliss. In order to have one’s wishes fulfilled, one must have complete faith and sincerity. One must continuously study the Buddhadharma to repay the generosity of the Bodhisattva and the Buddhas. My family, friends and I will undoubtedly continue to have strong faith and maintain good cultivation, and we will always keep the Bodhisattva in our minds and in our hearts.
Na Mo Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa.
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