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重建不易經考驗
馬來西亞政府為回教國家，雖說宗教自由，但佛寺重修是很敏感的。申請重建方案從93年開始設計圖樣，政府曾駁回數次，六年多來未取得建築許可。99年，決定將設計師的圖樣取回，交居士投送後，沒想到二三週內便順利取得執照，可說是四眾弟子無不為此「真誠所至，金石為開」的奇蹟歡欣無比。
「觀音堂」位於吉隆坡最繁榮的金三角，廟前是市內最繁忙的交通要道，附近有各國大使館、各類五星級的摩天大樓，雙峰塔（臺北101之前，亞洲最高建築）、世界貿易中心與20棟豪華公寓競相矗立，豔光四射。百年餘的登彼岸在此繁榮中，雖為史蹟，實在老舊，經年累月焚燒燈油香燭，垢膩可見。政府在有利市容觀瞻之考量下，但以造型依舊、尺寸不變為條件，可說是在驚險考驗中獲准的。
不分彼此靠合作
「法界觀音聖寺」依照北體寺院設計，造型如紫禁城，大雄寶殿、祖師、延生、往生等殿之外，增加的部份是四天王殿、走廊、樓上二個涼亭和廁所。建築面積為一萬平方英尺。
從無到有的設計、監工等大小事宜都由章法師和泰法師二人合作；章法師具有擔任美國加州長堤聖寺興建佛殿的經驗。鐵工和燒焊則有祥法師負責。
由於位居要津，政府規定，上午十點至下午四點間，大型貨車不得進出，為避免施工受阻，廟上決定搭蓬提供外勞住宿，並規定工地內不可吃肉抽煙。法師們非常善待工人，供應豐富可口的素食、水果，關懷他們的生活，並安慰思鄉之情。工人深感道場的慈悲照顧，有經驗的工頭，在施工時發現某處土木工程設計不夠安全，主動提醒應加強樑柱堅固；屋頂飛簷層次很多，施工不易，工人都盡力達到最佳效果，當然更不會偷工減料。
莊嚴輝煌無倫比
大雄寶殿70呎寬、100呎長，斗青色的佛龕42呎長，上供釋迦牟尼佛、藥師佛和阿彌陀佛，各10餘呎高，青銅鑄製，重約一噸，三大佛和千手千眼觀音菩薩都莊嚴無比，令人歎為觀止，如今已被譽為馬來西亞最大佛像。還有設置在延生、往生堂等的藥師佛、地藏菩薩像都是福建蒲田所製。所有佛像和十八羅漢像，經工人一一精心貼上金箔，有如千日放光明，並使寺院顯得更加莊嚴輝煌！為此重建工程，章法師曾往返中國十餘次。
本著法總「貨比三家」的行事準則，再加上章法師「物美價廉」的品質要求，步調有時難免快不來。章法師表示：「不同於普通住屋，不鍾意的時候可以換過，壞了可再蓋，寺廟乃傳法修道的所在，是千秋大業。十方來的錢，能做到的，我就做。這不是我的錢，不控制錢，不控制品質，我過不了關。」
同心同德齊成就
誠心的居士大力護法，有一人供養山門和四座圓拱門，有一人支付所有工資，很多善信每天到廟上由裡到外─廚房、大殿、山門都靠著大家一點一滴的努力而成就，有人帶來自己的工人幫忙，下班後或犧牲假日旅遊機會而趕來工作的，不一而足。四眾弟子同心同德，工程進行全靠自力完成，只有施工佈告，沒有舉辦義賣活動或「千人筵」（馬來西亞設大型宴席，參加者需認捐一定款項）。法界觀音聖寺誠如法師所說乃「眾志成城」「萬緣成就」的。
推廣素食培善根
為鼓勵吃素，減少殺業，可容納約500人的齋堂，週一至週五每日由上午七時至下午一時對外營業，提供物美價廉，健康可口的素齋。在此商業中心廣受歡迎，營運成績良好。法界觀音聖寺在竣工後，接引更多食客來學佛；為能針對上班族更加提供法益，午齋後有〈大悲懺〉、誦《華嚴經》；下班後，很多人來廟裡祈福，慢慢也成為了義工。
由2000年到2005年，歷經五年完工，這座現代化、莊嚴無比、金碧輝煌的登彼岸以嶄新的面貌出現了，我等虔誠祝願法界觀音聖寺大轉法輪，廣度有情！
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Renovation Process Fraught with Challenges
Malaysia is an Islamic country. Even though there is freedom of religion, renovating a Buddhist Monastery is a very sensitive issue. The application for a permit and the blueprint were submitted back in 1993, but the government rejected it numerous times, so six years passed and the permit was still not forthcoming. In 1999, the Dharma Master discovered that because the architect was convinced that the government would never approve the permit for a Buddhist development, so the application was not even submitted. After the Dharma Master took back the blueprint and asked a layperson to resubmit it, surprisingly it was approved within two to three weeks. The fourfold assembly was truly amazed and delighted by this miracle, the result of their utmost sincerity.
Kun Yam Thong [the original name] is located in the busiest district at the golden triangle in Kuala Lumpur. The busiest traffic route in the city passes right in front of the monastery, which is surrounded by the consulates of various countries, all kinds of five-star high rise buildings, the Kuala Lumpur Culture Center (the tallest building in Asia before Taipei 101 was built), the World Trade Center and about twenty other luxurious apartments. DBA, over 100 years old, while truly a historical landmark in this prosperous commercial area, was in a very dilapidated state and filled with grease and dust after many years of incense and candle offerings. The government approved the application for renovation (since the monastery would then fit in better with the cityscape) but required that the monastery keep the same overall appearance and size. The permit was obtained only after many challenges.
Working Together without Discrimination
Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery (DRGYSM) has followed the northern style of temple architecture. It resembles the Forbidden City in China, with a Great Heroes Hall, a Patriarch Hall, a Long Life Hall, a Rebirth Hall, a Four Great Heavenly Kings Hall, a corridor, two pavilions upstairs, and restrooms. The total area is 10,000 square feet.
Dharma Masters Jang and Tai have worked together on the design, supervising every major or minor task. Dharma Master Jang had previous experience from building the Buddha Hall at Long Beach Monastery in the U.S. Dharma Master Xiang oversaw the ironwork and welding.
Because the monastery is located in a busy area, the government prohibits construction trucks from entering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. To avoid any delay, the monastery decided to provide room and board to the construction workers on the condition that they refrain from eating meat and smoking on site. The Dharma Masters treated these workers very well, providing them with healthy and delicious vegetarian meals and fruits, showing concern for their living conditions, and comforting them when they miss home. These workers were deeply touched by their kindness. The experienced foreman even took the initiative to suggest adding a beam for safety when he saw the need. It was difficult to build a roof of so many layers. Nevertheless, the workers still tried their best to achieve the best result. They certainly worked hard and did not slack off in the least.
Adorned beyond Compare
The Great Jeweled Hall is 70 feet wide and 100 feet long. The gray Buddha altar is 42 feet long and supports three statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, Medicine Master Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. Each bronze statue is over10 feet tall and weighs one ton. The images of the three Buddhas and the Guanyin Bodhisattva of a thousand hands and eyes are extremely adorned. They are beyond compare. Now, these images are reputed to be the largest in Malaysia. Also, the Medicine Master Buddha in Long Life Hall and the Earth Store Bodhisattva in the Rebirth Hall were all made in Putian, Fujian Province in China. All the statues and the eighteen Arhat statues are gilded by hand with gold leaf. They resemble the light released from a thousand suns. This adds to the splendor of the monastery. For the sake of this project, DM Jang traveled to China more than ten times.
Based on the practice of “getting the best price from three bids” in Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, Dharma Master Jang sought to obtain the best quality at the lowest cost, and thus it was difficult to proceed quickly. DM Jang remarked, “This is not like any ordinary housing, which can be changed at anytime or rebuilt when it deteriorates! The monastery is the place for transmitting the Dharma and cultivating the Way. It must last for thousands of years. The money comes from many donors, and I will do my best to use it well. This is not my money; I cannot forgive myself if I do not control the expenses or the quality of this project.”
Accomplished through Joint Effort and Joint Virtue
The Dharma protecting laity sincerely supported this project. One person made a donation to build the front gate and four arches. Another person paid for all the labor. Many disciples came to the monastery daily and contributed their effort in the kitchen, the Buddha Hall, and at the front gate. Some people brought their servants to help out. Some rushed in to help after work, using their weekends or vacation time. The fourfold assembly pooled their efforts and their virtue. The renovation project was completed by the monastery itself. There was only a construction announcement, but no fundraising activities nor a “Thousand People Banquet” (Malaysia has a custom of holding fundraising banquets where participants are required to donate a certain amount). Just as the Dharma Master said, Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery was built based on group efforts and a myriad of conditions.
Developing Good Roots by Promoting Vegetarian Meals
To encourage vegetarianism and reduce killing karma, the dining hall with a capacity of 500 is open to the public Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Its low priced, healthy and delicious vegetarian meals have become popular and profitable in the financial district. After the renovation of Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery was completed, it introduced more customers to Buddhism. To give working people more opportunities to benefit from the Dharma, the Great Compassion Repentance and Avatamsaka Sutra Recitation are scheduled after lunch. After work, many people come to the temple and pray, and gradually also become volunteers.
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恆章法師2006-3-9致詞
首先歡迎法界佛教總會訪問團各位善知識，到「法界觀音聖寺」來參加這次殊勝的法會。「法不孤起，仗境方生」，前身是「觀音堂」，因為上人於1978年來馬來西亞大轉法輪時種下金剛種子，後來上人多次駕臨繼續與眾生結法緣。[編按：上人42天在馬來西亞各地弘法，六千多人皈依三寶，在馬來西亞創下空前弘法紀錄。]
因「觀音堂」善信景仰上人救度眾生的大願，非常願意交給上人管理，以便上人能繼續在馬國大轉法輪，本人也因此有與大家在一起學習佛法的因緣。
法界觀音聖寺在2000年開始動工興建，是「眾志成城」「萬緣成就」的。我們希望在諸佛菩薩與上人的帶領下，我們將舉辦更多法會來續佛慧命；也歡迎大家光臨本寺125年落成開光大典，多多來法界觀音聖寺一起學佛法。
恆泰法師2006-3-9致詞
今天如此莊嚴的法界觀音聖寺是靠上人威德所感召，也是所有善信誠心的居士而成就的。我們時常記得上人教誨的恩德，上人在西方建立正法的基礎，是我們真正的皈依處，我們要飲水思源，不但支持這裡，也能支持總部，令佛教正法發揚光大。
 此地原是觀音菩薩的道場，大家所看到大觀音像前的小尊菩薩像是原本供奉的，後來想再造一尊大型的，原訂尺寸只是稍大些，等法師去工廠驗收時，才發現竟然比我們要求的大，比原來的像更大更莊嚴，由此可知觀音菩薩的大威神力，非我們所能預測！
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The project was completed after about five years, from 2000 to 2005. Kun Yam Thong has a new visage which is modern and elegant. May the Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery turn the Dharma Wheel and cross over living beings on a vast scale!
A Talk by Dharma Master Heng Jang
First, I would like to welcome all the good advisors from Dharma Realm Buddhist Association to this auspicious Dharma assembly at DRGYSM. “The Dharma does not arise by itself, but only through conditions.” DRBYSM was formerly known as Kun Yam Thong. The Venerable Master Hua came to Malaysia in 1978 and turned the Great Dharma Wheel and planted the vajra seed. After that, the Venerable Master returned many times to create Dharma connections with living beings here. [Editor’s Note: The Venerable Master propagated the Dharma for forty-two days in Malaysia, during which more than 6,000 people took refuge with the Triple Jewel, breaking the record in the history in Malaysia.]
The disciples at the Kun Yam Thong truly respected the Venerable Master’s great vow to rescue living beings. They wished to offer the Venerable Master a place so he could continue to speak Dharma in Malaysia. This is why I have the chance to study Buddhadharma with you all. The construction of DRGYSM started in 2000; it was completed through group effort and many supporting factors. We hope that with the guidance of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and the Venerable Master, we can plan more Dharma assemblies in the future to continue the wisdom life of the Buddha. We welcome all of you to participate in the 125th year Opening Light Ceremony. Please always come and study the Buddhadharma at the Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery.”
A Talk by Dharma Master Heng Tai
Today we have this adorned DRGYSM truly because of the Venerable Master’s virtue as well as the sincerity of the laity. We shall always remember the kindness of the Venerable Master’s teaching. The Venerable Master has established the foundation of the Proper Dharma in the West. That is our true place of refuge. We always need to remember that origin. We don’t just render our support here, but also support the headquarters so that the Proper Dharma can flourish everywhere.
Originally, this is the monastery of Guanyin Bodhisattva. The small statue in front of the big Guanyin statue was originally worshiped here. Later on, we wanted to make a bigger one, a little bigger than the original size. When the Dharma Master went to the factory to sign for the statue, he discovered that it was bigger than what we had requested. This new statue is much bigger and far more adorned. Because of this, we should believe the great spiritual power of Guanyin Bodhisattva which surpasses our expectations!
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