王親怡居士講於2023年7月28日星期五晚 萬佛聖城大殿
諸佛菩薩、宣公上人、各位法師、各位佛友，阿彌陀佛！
今晚輪到親怡上台結法緣，如果有說的不如法的地方，還請大家慈悲指正。
首先非常感恩佛菩薩和上人加被，感恩法師和義工們的辛苦和努力，在過去這三年疫情期間，克服了方方面面遇到的各種困難和挑戰，讓聖城得以在今年五月底重新開放，守得雲開見月明，真的非常不容易。
這兩個多月來，每次隨大眾一起參加法會功課，拜佛繞佛，面對著親切熟悉的萬佛殿、千手千眼觀世音菩薩像和上人像，置身於大殿特有的光明清淨、恭謹莊嚴的氣場中，也更加體會到此時此刻、能夠身在此地，是多麼的幸福和珍貴難得。
上人說過，正法時代就好比一個大叢林、大廟，大家在一起修行，用功辦道。上人還說過，要“拆小廟，造大廟”，大眾在一起互相警惕，也互相勉勵，才能用功。所以大眾聚會在一起共修的那種嚴整的氛圍和凝聚力、攝受力相比自修是完全不一樣的。而且大殿有著很獨特的能量，能够滋養我們的身心。
三年的疫情改變了這個世界很多，也改變了很多人和事。但是無論周遭的環境怎樣變換，上人為萬佛聖城付出的心血、願力和寄予的期望是不會改變的。所以一想到上人和聖城，心裡就很踏實，很慶幸在這個變幻莫測的時代，還有佛法和上人留下來的道場和法寶，這裡是我們的根，也是黑夜裡的一盞明燈，讓我們能夠依止，也指引我們前行去完成上人的心願。
這些年我在聖城的學校教書做事，最深的感受就是，“活到老，學到老”。每一年來的學生都是和上一屆完全不同的新一代人，需要我們去學著了解適應。同時每一年在教學方法、學校事務以及待人接物各方面也有很多新的東西要學。所以在當老師的同時，我自己也是一個學生，學習新的知識，學習怎樣調理身心，怎樣去平衡工作和自己充電做功課的時間。境界來臨時的大考小考，一個接著一個，就像上人偈頌裡說的，“一切是考驗，看爾怎麼辦，覿面若不識，須再從頭練。 ”越教到後來，我就越感覺自己是一個新手。
外面的世界是我們自己內心的投射，學生們也一樣，就像我的一面鏡子。上課的時候看到有的同學不專心聽課，東張西望，寫作業的時候也是邊寫邊玩，讓我在提醒她們的同時，也想到我自己念佛念經的時候不也和她們一樣，念著念著就開始打妄想，需要一遍又一遍地把心拉回來。還有在和學生相處時，我需要觀察她們，看她們有哪些長處，也有哪些地方是需要幫助改進的。時間久了，有一天我忽然意識到， 我這樣會不會養成一個淨看別人的習慣，就像上人說的，總是替別人洗衣服，卻不管自己的衣服仍然很髒？學生們沒有做到的事情，我自己是不是就真正做到了呢？所以歸根結底，還是要學楞嚴經裡觀世音菩薩的返聞聞自性的法門，迴光返照，反求諸己。
時事和科技的變化對小孩子的影響很大。現在的青少年跟以前相比，更加關注自我，也更追求方便和自由。 與此同時，科技和網絡在教育中的應用也越來越普遍。從上世紀八十年代開始就陸續出現了很多網絡課程，以便不同國家地區、和不同時間的學生，足不出戶就可以在家遠程上課。這同時也引發了一些討論——未來的教育形式是否會有根本的變化，傳統意義上的學校是否還有存在的必要？因為所有的課程幾乎都可以通過網絡和人工智能來教授，甚至可以建立三維的網絡虛擬學校，虛擬教室，和虛擬老師。學生們不需要和真人打交道，就可以隨時隨地學到各種知識和技能。那個時候我也在想，會不會這就是以後的趨勢，學校和老師可能最終都會被取而代之了？
接下來就到了2020 年的三月，新冠疫情開始在全世界流行，很多州都執行了居家令，學校也紛紛關閉了。為了不中斷學生們的學業，很多學校都轉為在網路上教學，於是Zoom，Google Meet，Canvas、虛擬實驗室等等一系列的網絡視訊工具和教育平台也開始在全世界流行，為老師和學生們提供了極大的便利。
我們學校也不例外，師生們每天按照既定的課程表在Zoom上報到，視訊上課，使用網路白板寫板書。晚上學生會把家庭作業拍成照片email給我，我在電腦的照片上改完之後再發回給學生。我記得那個時候，大家幾乎每天都要坐在電腦屏幕前7-8個小時。
這樣持續了幾個月後，新的情況出現了。同學們在課上的反應開始變遲緩，交流互動也減少了，學過的內容好像不經過大腦，很快就忘。我自己也發現，即使對著電腦屏幕上十幾個同學的直播鏡頭，感覺還是和在教室面對面上課不一樣，隔著屏幕總覺得好像少了點什麼。
那一段時期看新聞報導上說，在各州各地的學校，有相當多的學生在網課期間的情緒、性格發生了變化，還出現抑鬱、煩躁、自閉等各種狀況，乃至於很多家長和學生們實在受不了網課，強烈要求回到校園裡面對面地上課。我和幾位外州的朋友聊天時，她們也提到了家裡上網課的小孩子有同樣的情況，對孩子們的心理狀況都非常擔心。
2021年秋季，聖城的學校重新開放了，大家終於又回到了校園。到現在兩年過去了，我們見證了同學們是怎樣從網課留下的後遺症中艱難地前進，用整整兩年的時間，一點一滴地恢復建立學習能力、與人溝通相處的能力、以及對自己、對他人的認識和信心。
所以科技的發展就像一把雙刃劍，有利也有弊。現在聖城恢復了大殿的法會功課，同時也繼續在網路直播，以便無法親身來聖城的信眾也能夠有機會參加法會，聞法聽經。不過網路法會也是一個方便法，和在大殿的親身體驗比較，感覺還是很不一樣。
自從去年ChatGPT推出後，在社會上引起了很大爭議。人們在驚歎於人工智能強大的知識儲備和對話交流功能之餘，也擔心它將來會不會和人類搶工作，導致大批的人失業。
有一天學生們跟我在課上也聊起了這個問題，擔心將來大學畢業以後找不到工作了。我跟她們說，我曾經也是這樣想的，但經歷了疫情網課的那一段日子之後，我的想法改變了。ChatGPT的確是一個非常好的學習和工作的幫手。可是無論再先進的科技，再逼真的虛擬課堂，也只是一個輔助工具，它無法取代人和人之間真實的聯繫。知識和形相可以通過機器複製傳遞，但是生命與生命之間的交流，那種看不見卻感受得到的生命力和能量的相互影響是機器無法複製的。它來自於我們的自性，也是現代科技缺失的最關鍵的部分。
上人曾經說過，科技是向外馳求，而我們內在本有的自性才是真正無所不能的。所以就像疫情期間很多人對網課的感受一樣，我想即使在未來人工智能得到普遍推廣，取代了一部分人類的工作，這個世界上也總會有一些人意識到科技缺失的部分，意識到生命之間互動交流的重要性，從而特意保留由真人從事的工作。也總會有一些人因此而尋求靈性的發展和內在自我的真相。也許到那個時候，他們就會發現，佛法和萬佛聖城正是他們在尋找的歸宿。阿彌陀佛！
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All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Venerable Master, Dharma Masters, and Dharma Friends, Amitabha!
Tonight is Qinyi’s turn to share the Dharma talk, and if I say anything incorrectly, please kindly correct me.
First of all, I am deeply grateful for the blessings from Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Venerable Master, and the hard work and efforts from all Dharma Masters and volunteers, for overcoming all kinds of difficulties and challenges during the past 3 years of the Covid pandemic, so that CTTB was finally able to reopen at the end of May this year. This was truly not an easy journey.
Over the past two months, every time I joined the Dharma assembly back in the Buddha Hall, seeing the Ten Thousand Buddhas, Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva and Venerable Master statues, and immersed in this uniquely bright, pure, magnificent and adorned atmosphere, I realized even more how fortunate and precious it is to be able to be here right at this moment.
Venerable Master said that the Genuine Right Dharma Age is just like a big monastery community, where everyone cultivates all together. Venerable Master also emphasized that he would like to “tear down small temples and build large temples,” because when people stay together, they can remind and encourage each other in their cultivation. Only through such collective effort can true progress be achieved. Therefore, the atmosphere and power of unity from group cultivation are quite different from self-practice. Also, the Buddha Hall has special energy that can nourish our body and mind.
The three years of the Covid pandemic have brought many changes in the world, impacting many people and routines. However, regardless of the changing circumstances, the Venerable Master’s dedication, vows, and expectations for the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas remain unchanged. So whenever I think of Venerable Master and CTTB, my heart feels rooted and grateful. I feel fortunate that there are still Buddha Dharma and the monastery place left by Venerable Master in this uncertain world. This is where our roots are, and also a guiding light in the dark night, allowing us to rely on it, and guiding us forward to pursue towards Venerable Master’s expectations.
During these years of teaching and working in our school, my deepest feeling is that “learning is a lifelong process.” Each year’s students are a completely new generation from the previous year, and we need to learn to adapt and understand them. At the same time, each year brings new things to learn in teaching methods, school work, and communicating with each other. As a teacher, I am also a student, continuously learning new knowledge, learning how to tune the body and mind, and how to balance the time between work and Dharma practice lessons to recharge myself. Big tests or small quizzes arise one after another, just as mentioned in the verse from Venerable Master, “Everything is a test, see how you handle it. If you don’t recognize it, you must practice again from the beginning.” The more I teach, the more I feel like a beginner.
The outside world is a reflection of our inner mind, and students are no different; they are like mirrors to me. During class, when I see some students not paying attention, looking around distractedly, or playing while doing their homework, it reminds me of myself when I recite Buddha’s name or read sutras. Just like them, my mind may start wandering with random thoughts, and I need to continuously bring my mind back. When interacting with students, I need to observe their strengths and areas where they need improvement. After some time, I suddenly realized, am I developing a habit of only looking at others’ faults, just as the Venerable Master said, “always washing others’ clothes but ignoring my own dirty clothes”? Have I truly accomplished what I ask my students to do? Therefore, ultimately, I need to learn from the method of observing self-nature taught by Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva in the Shurangama Sutra, to reflect within, turn the light inward, and seek the truth within myself.
The changes in current world and technology have a significant impact on children. Today’s teenagers are more self-focused, and pursue more convenience and freedom compared to the past. At the same time, the application of technology and the internet in education is becoming increasingly widespread. Since 1980s, online courses started to emerge, allowing students from different countries and time zones to attend remote classes conveniently from their homes. This has sparked discussions about whether there will be fundamental changes in the future of education, and if traditional schools will still be necessary. With almost all courses being teachable through the internet and artificial intelligence (AI), there is even the possibility of establishing 3D virtual schools, virtual classrooms, and virtual teachers online. Students could learn various knowledge and skills anytime and anywhere, without interacting with real people. Back then, I was also wondering if this could be the trend of the future, and whether schools and teachers might eventually be replaced.
Then came March 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread worldwide. Many states implemented stay-at-home orders, and schools were also closed. In order to ensure that students’ education was not interrupted, many schools shifted to online teaching. As a result, a series of web-based video conferencing tools and educational platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, Canvas, virtual laboratories and more became popular worldwide, providing great convenience for teachers and students.
Our school was no exception. Teachers and students would log in to Zoom according to the daily class schedule, attend video classes, and use the online whiteboard to write. In the evenings, students would take photos of their homework and email them to me, and I would correct them on the computer before sending them back to the students. I remember that during that time, almost everyone had to sit in front of the computer screen for 7-8 hours almost every day.
After several months of online learning, new issues began to arise. Students’ responses during class started to slow down, and there was a decrease in communication and interaction. Meanwhile, it seemed like the learned content didn’t go through their brain, and was quickly forgotten. I also noticed that even though I was looking at the live cameras of a dozen students on the computer screen, it still felt different from teaching face-to-face in the real classroom. It seemed like something was missing when we were separated by the computer screen.
During that period, news reports mentioned that many students in nationwide schools experienced changes in emotions and personalities during online classes. Various conditions such as depression, irritability, and withdrawal from communications appeared. Many parents and students couldn’t bear online classes anymore, and strongly demanded a return to campus for in-person learning. I also chatted with some friends from other states, and they mentioned that their children attending online classes had similar situations. They were deeply concerned about their children’s mental health.
In the fall of 2021, our school reopened, and everyone finally returned to campus. Now, two years have passed, and we have witnessed how our students struggled to move forward from the aftermath of online classes. Over the entire two years, they have painstakingly rebuilt their learning abilities, communication skills, self-confidence, as well as a deeper understanding of themselves and others.
Therefore, the development of technology is like a double-edged sword, with both advantages and disadvantages. Now in CTTB, the Buddha hall’s Dharma sessions have been resumed, and the online broadcasting still continues, allowing people who cannot personally come to have the opportunity to join the Dharma events. However, online Dharma assemblies are just an expedient way, and compared to the in-person experience in the Buddha hall, the feelings are still quite different.
Since the launch of ChatGPT last year, it has sparked a lot of controversies. While people were amazed at the powerful knowledge base and conversational abilities of artificial intelligence, but they also worried about its potential to compete with humans for jobs, leading to massive unemployment.
One day, my students also brought up this issue during class, and they were concerned that they couldn’t find jobs after college. I told them that I once had similar thoughts, but my mind changed after experiencing the period of online classes during the COVID pandemic. ChatGPT is indeed a great tool for learning and work. However, no matter how advanced the technology becomes, or how “real” virtual classrooms look like, they are still just supplementary tools and aids. They cannot replace the genuine connection between human beings. Knowledge and appearances can be copied and transmitted through machines, but the interaction of life force and energy that are invisible but can be felt by us, is something that machines cannot duplicate. It comes from our own inherent nature, and is the most crucial part that modern technology lacks.
Venerable Master has said that technology is seeking outward, and our inherent nature within has the true limitless and boundless power. Therefore, just like many people’s experiences with online classes during the pandemic, I believe that even if artificial intelligence becomes widely used in the future and replaces some human jobs, there will always be groups of people who recognize the limitations of technology and the importance of interactions between real lives. They will particularly choose to save jobs that require human involvement. Furthermore, some people may even seek spiritual development, to find their inner true-self. Maybe at that time, they will find out that Buddhism and the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas are the destination that they have been seeking along. Amitabha!