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記得有弟子曾問上人：「我們既不化緣，又不攀緣，道場如何能維持住？」
上人答曰：「你們只要嚴持戒律，自然有人來護持。」這個道場在上人涅槃十週年的紀念法會上，我們確實看到了這句話的靈驗！
當初，上人不去容易傳法的中國大陸、香港，也不去信眾眾多的台灣，卻選擇在這遠離人群，又是完全不同文化的美西小鎮來建立道場，這在當時實在不是一般人所能理解的。可是今天在上人涅槃十年之後，看到有那麼多人(將近二千人)有不同國籍、不同文化背景的信眾，不畏路途遙遠，不怕舟車勞頓，虔誠的來到萬佛聖城朝山、瞻仰上人的舍利子；我身臨其境，終於體會出上人當初的苦心和遠見，就是要在美國立定腳根，才能普渡眾生，把佛陀的精神教化在美國打下根基。而所以選擇人口稀少的達摩小鎮，是為了讓出家弟子們遠離紅塵，避開世俗的干擾，在一個幽靜清涼的環境中，攝心學佛，嚴持戒律；並創辦小學、中學、大學，教育出一批批純潔優良的學生。
上人的志願已見到成果，但是也感受到做為上人的弟子，肩上有一份繼往開來、荷擔上人家業的責任。我們也體會到上人當初塑造佛像的心情，那並不是為裝飾佛殿而已；而是循他老人家願力而行：來到萬佛城，人人都能成聖成佛。
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A disciple once asked the Venerable Master: “If we follow the creeds ‘Freezing to death we do not scheme; starving to death we do not beg, dying of poverty we ask for nothing!’ — then how could we maintain the monastery?” The Venerable Master replied, “As long as you strictly uphold the precepts, people will naturally come to support the monastery.” During the memorial ceremony of the 10th anniversary of the Master’s Nirvana, we saw that these words have come true!
In the beginning, the Venerable Master didn’t go to mainland China or stay in Hong Kong where he could have easily spread the Dharma. Nor did he go to Taiwan where there were numerous Buddhists; however, he chose to be far away from the crowds and settled down in a small town in the western part of the United States where the culture was totally different. It is a decision that ordinary people would not really understand. Today, ten years after his passing, despite the long distance and the fatigue of traveling, about two thousand pilgrims of different nationalities and from different cultures came to the City — to do the three steps one bow and to pay their respect to the Sharira of the Master… Seeing all this, I gained an insight into the profound intent and great foresight of the Venerable Master when he established the City here. In order to establish a foundation for Buddhism in the United States, he wanted to plant deep roots to have a solid grounding so that living beings can be liberated on a vast scale. The reason why he chose Talmage — a small town with a few inhabitants, was to allow his monastic disciples to be far away from the distractions of the world, so as to concentrate on studying the Dharma and uphold the precepts in a serene environment. He also established the elementary, secondary schools and a university where students are educated in a pure environment and graduate with excellence.
I can see the Venerable Master’s vision is being realized. Also, I feel as a disciple of the Venerable Master, I also must shoulder the responsibilities to carry on the legacy of the Master. I realize the motive of the Venerable Master to mold the Buddha images: not just to decorate the Buddha Hall, but also to fulfill his great vow —-Whoever comes to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas should and will become a Buddha.
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