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萬佛聖城最美麗最有人緣的大白孔雀往生了！7月26日上午在法大圖書館附近，經人發現牠被咬噬後的殘體。行人道上隨風四散的長白羽毛，默默地向所有愛護牠的人們道別。
九○年初，聖城除了一群「花」孔雀外，也放生了幾隻稀有的白孔雀。不到三、四年光景，牠是唯一幸存的。佛殿四周、戒壇附近是牠的老地盤。牠習慣獨來獨往，偶而會見牠與一隻花孔雀一起拖著長尾巴，在延生堂前大搖大擺的行走，或蹲踞在內壇外陽台上，俯看人們列隊上齋堂。
近半個月，到君康素菜館的客人常問義工：「你們那隻白孔雀怎麼不見了?以前我經過大殿總會看見牠。牠很漂亮!」當客人聽到不幸的消息，也忍不住為牠難過起來。來到聖城的人，見到大白孔雀開屏，莫不以為最開心，最稀罕的事。當牠搖動、轉動美麗純白的孔雀大扇，行人無不佇足讚賞，遊客手中的相機更忙不迭地拍個不停，甚至於有人問：「牠這麼白，你們是用什麼方法染白的？」。
記得2000年夏末，我回到聖城，住了五個月。每當念咒心時(晚上九點後) ，繞念到延生堂側門的出口處，藉著皎潔的月光，清晰可見牠衝飛上佛殿對街的大空房屋頂，正對著我們的方向，看大家念咒心。下殿後，在經小學往喜捨院走時，因為牠與我們阿彌陀佛的唱和，方知左邊一棵高大紅木的頂處，正是牠棲息之所。
牠每天準時到祖師殿上班，忠實地守衛在玻璃門外，不分晴雨。有位老居士回憶，在不久前她看見大白孔雀帶領兩隻小孔雀在祖師殿玻璃門外翩翩起舞。「牠跳了好久，跳得很有節奏、有拍子的。一看就知道牠在禮敬上人，以舞蹈供養上人。聖城的小動物好有靈性呀！」
在聖城的往生堂，法總已為牠立了49天超度牌位。感謝十年多來，牠為聖城的貢獻。牠雖然是一隻白孔雀，但牠也是聖城的一份子，也默默地擁護道場。雖然我們為失去親善大使而感傷，但是想到牠終於了脫孔雀的業報身，離苦得樂，也不禁為牠慶幸。
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The exquisite white peacock, everyone’s favorite at the City of 10,000 Buddhas (CTTB), passed away. On July 26, someone discovered his pitiful remains close to the Dharma Realm Buddhist University Library and passed on the sorrowful news. His long white feathers were scattered on the sidewalk, silently bidding farewell to passersby.
In 1990, CTTB released a flock of colorful peacocks and a few rare white peacocks. However, this was the only white one that had survived. He staked out his territory around the Buddha Hall and the Ordination Hall. He traveled alone, but was occasionally seen with one particular colored peacock prancing in front of the Long Life Hall or perched atop the balcony overlooking the assembly as they made their way to the Dining Hall.
In the last few weeks, customers at Jyun Kang Vegetarian Restaurant have been asking, “What happened to the white peacock? Every time we passed the Buddha Hall, we used to see him there. He’s really beautiful.” When they heard about his unfortunate passing, they too mourned. Many guests who visit CTTB find the sight of peacocks spreading their splendid tail feathers one of the most happy and rare events, especially when the white peacock displays his tail feathers. People would stop in their tracks to admire him and tourists would continually take pictures. Someone even asked: “He’s pure white; how did you manage to dye him this way?”
I remember coming back to live at CTTB in 2000 for five months. During the evening mantra recitation after 9:00 p.m., I would observe him, by the light of the moon, fly up to the roof of the old boiler building facing the Buddha Hall. After the ceremony, we would see him nestled high up in a great redwood tree as we chanted Amitabha Buddha’s name on our way back to Joyous Giving House.
He was so dedicated to protecting the Patriarch Hall that he seemed to report to work at the same time every day, patrolling the door to the Hall, rain or shine. “He danced so long in front of the Patriarch Hall—and with rhythm too! I know he was bowing to the Master—using dance to make an offering to Him. The creatures at CTTB really have spirit!” comments one elderly lady as she remembers how the white peacock and two other peacocks twirled in front of the hall.
CTTB has put up a plaque for him in the Rebirth Hall for forty-nine days in gratitude to his contributions to the City. Although he was just a peacock, he was a part of CTTB and did his part in protecting the Bodhimandala. And although we grieve at his passing, we congratulate him for leaving his peacock body and thereby ending suffering and attaining happiness.
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