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1987年我從萬佛聖城回來時，在金山寺巧遇上人，一群人正圍著他問問題、請開示。機會輪到我，我請教上人：除了例行日課外，弟子該念什麼經？上人毫不遲疑地說：「誦《華嚴經》第四十卷──〈普賢行願品〉」。由於我對他堅固的信心，打從那天起，我就開始學誦這卷經文，並修行至今。
1994年與上人通電話，得知上人預定與中國來的客人要一同訪問新加坡；我很興奮想著：他蒞臨時，要準備什麼適當的禮物？我瞭解上人不須要任何物質上的東西，馬上我有了主意：我要背誦這卷經文給他聽，以表道心，也是我對他睿智指示的獻禮。可是後來，因上人健康狀況不佳而取消了行程。
九年前，因為玉佛寺住持慶生的因緣，我決定前往上海；赴會後，並可兼程朝拜供養峨嵋山普賢菩薩，在他的聖地誦經。興奮於這個主意，我開始買香枝、香末和花以作準備。
朋友和我啟程往第一站北京，我得了感冒，聲音沙啞；便決定當友人和嚮導馮教授去長城時，留在旅館休息。離開北京後，下一站我們轉往峨嵋山，約下午四時抵達。馮教授本來打算立即帶我們去萬年寺，因為我的信念供養菩薩該在清晨，所以告訴他次日再去。馮教授於是帶領我們去金頂看日落前的佛光，我們趕去，希望能在太陽落幕前到達山頂的廟上；當我見到寺廟正面牆壁上巨大的刻字「南無大行普賢菩薩」，敬畏歡喜之情交加。
馮教授領著友人參觀時，我留在佛殿拜佛；突然想到我可以誦經，反正這是我的日課。因為正值冬日，廟上根本沒有其他遊客，就我一個人在佛殿裡；我大聲背誦，有如在自家一般。我驚訝地聽到自己的聲音不但不沙啞，反而變得清晰、響亮，還帶點回音呢！感覺這必是菩薩感應，我便繼續誠心地念。誦經完畢並迴向後，我頂禮菩薩，正低頭下拜時，再次震驚地發現：自己手掌上有橘色的光！此刻真是萬分歡喜，前所未有；熙怡微笑，不期然地自內而發。我在這法喜充滿的心境中良久，直到忽然聽見馮教授的呼聲，問我是否要走了；未回答他前，我得掩口收笑平靜自己。
菩薩給我這些感應，我對這卷經典的信心無疑大增，我永遠感念上人的教化和引導。為順從他的指導並報答他的恩澤，我會永遠努力做個好弟子，修行普賢菩薩的十大願王。
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In 1987 on my way back from the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, I met up with our Venerable Master at Gold Mountain Monastery. There was a crowd gathered around him asking questions and seeking his advice. When it came to my turn, I asked the Venerable Master which Sutra I should hold and recite, besides my daily practice. Without hesitation he replied, “Chapter 40 of the
Flower Adornment Sutra – The Conduct and Vows of the Universal Worthy Bodhisattva”. As I have unwavering faith in the Master, I started to learn and chant the Sutra from that day on. I have held that practice since then.
In 1994, the Venerable Master was supposed to visit Singapore with some guests from China. After speaking to him on the phone, I was really excited and was wondering what I could present to him when he came, knowing that there were no material things that he would need. Then a thought came to me. I would learn the Sutra by heart and would recite it to him as a sign of devotion and as a tribute to his wise advice. However, as it turned out, Master was eventually unable to make the trip because of ill health.
Some nine years ago I was invited to Shanghai for the birthday celebration of the Abbot of Jade Buddha Temple. I decided to accept the invitation and to take the opportunity to go to Emei Mountain to pay my respect and to make an offering to Universal Worthy Bodhisattva, by reciting the sutra in the sanctified grounds. I was really excited by such an idea and began to prepare for it by buying incense wood, incense powder, and flowers for the occasion.
My friend and I left for Beijing, which was our first stop. However, I caught a bad cold, which left my voice hoarse, so I decided to rest in the hotel while my friend went with Professor Feng, the tour guide, to the Great Wall. After our Beijing stop, we left for Mountain Emei and arrived around four o’clock in the afternoon. Professor Feng wanted to bring us to Wan Nian Temple straightaway, but I told him I preferred to go the next morning, as I believe in making offerings to the Bodhisattva early in the morning. Professor Feng then decided to take us to the Peak to see the Buddha Light before the sunset. We rushed there, hoping to reach the temple at the Peak before the sun began to set. I was both awed and overwhelmed with happiness when I saw huge carved letters of the name of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva adorning the front wall of the temple.
Professor Feng took my friend for a tour of the temple while I remained in the Buddha hall to bow to the Buddhas. Suddenly, it occurred to me that I could do my recitation of the Sutra as it was part of my daily recitation after all. Being winter, there were no other tourists at all and I was alone in the Buddha hall. I started to recite the Sutra out loud, as if I was in my own home. I was stunned to hear that my voice was no longer hoarse, but instead was clear and loud with a distinct echo. I felt that it had to be a response from the Bodhisattva and so I continued reciting with a sincere heart.
When I finished reciting the Sutra and the dedication verse, I bowed to the Bodhisattva. I was shocked again to see an orange glow on my palms, as I bent my head towards the floor in the process of prostration. By this stage, I was feeling such an incredible sense of bliss and happiness, a feeling that I have never experienced before. I began to smile spontaneously, and it was a smile of an inner joy. I remained in this state of Dharma bliss for quite a while. Suddenly, I heard Professor Feng call my name, asking if I was ready to go. Before I could turn to answer him, I had to literally cover my mouth to hide my smile and to recompose myself.
With these responses from the Bodhisattva, my faith in this Sutra was reinforced beyond any doubt. I am eternally grateful to our Venerable Master for his teachings and guidance. In order to live up to his guidance and to repay his kindness, I will always strive to be a worthy disciple by cultivating and practicing the ten great vows of the Universal Worthy Bodhisattva.
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