A Letter of Appreciation from Vietnam
來自越南的感謝信
—越南信眾組團赴台皈依受戒
文：阮莊慶（Trang Khanh Nguyen）
越南文英譯：阮氏芳蘭(Phuong Lan Thị Nguyen，法名：親芳)
To Dharma Masters,
My name is Trang Khanh Nguyen, and my Dharma name is Than Trang (Chin Zhuang). This letter is being written as the year 2024 comes to an end and the year 2025 begins.
尊敬的法師，
我的名字是阮莊慶，法名是親莊。這封信寫於2024年底，至2025年初之際。
I first learned about the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas through Dharma Brother Toan Tran (a member of the Viet DRBA Translation Group) in 2009. I was in my last year of college at the time. While my friends had already secured jobs during their internships, I had not. Dharma Brother Toan advised me to join a Dharma translation group after I became disheartened. I consented to take part despite my poor English, and we started translating Dharma excerpts from the book called Timely Teachings, published by BTTS. I concentrated on Dharma translating to distract myself from the stress of unemployment. After I had been translating Dharma for about three weeks, a friend of mine recommended that I apply to a bank. I was shocked when I received an interview invitation. With a “no expectations” mindset, I ended up getting hired at a bank, offering one of the best salaries at the time. However, I had to put Dharma translating on hold as my workload increased.
通過師兄陳全（法總越南文翻譯小組的一員），我於2009年首度得知萬佛聖城。當時我正在上大學的最後一年。當我的朋友們在實習期間已經找到工作時，我還沒有找到。師兄陳全建議我加入佛法翻譯小組，當時我因為沒有找到工作而感到沮喪。儘管我的英語不好，但我同意參加，並且我們開始從佛經翻譯委員會出版的《適時教誨》一書中，翻譯簡短的法語摘錄。我專注於佛法翻譯，以減輕失業的壓力。大約三個星期後，我的一個朋友建議我申請去銀行工作。我震驚地收到面試邀請，抱著「無所期待」的心態，我最終被一家銀行錄用，該銀行提供的薪水是當時最好的薪水之一。然而，由於工作量增加，我不得不暫停佛法翻譯。
It wasn’t until 2023 that I had to stay at home due to medical issues. During that time, unsure of what to do, I emailed the Viet DRBA Translation Group and asked if I might join them in translating again. We later organized a translation group in Vietnam with seven people. We were lucky to meet Reverend Heng Sure via Zoom, and he provided some Dharma translation advice. On September 22, 2023, I humbly wrote an email to request permission from the Reverend for our group of four to take refuge online. He replied that taking refuge is a very important step, and therefore, receiving the precepts requires doing it in person. However, for young individuals like us, getting a U.S. visa is quite challenging.
直到2023年，由於醫療問題，我不得不待在家中。在那段時間裡，不知道該做什麼，我給法總越南文翻譯小組發了一封電子郵件，詢問是否可以再次參加翻譯工作。我們後來在越南組建了一個七人翻譯小組。我們有幸以視訊方式與恒實法師見面，他提供了一些佛法翻譯的建議。2023年9月22日，我謙卑地寫信請求法師允許我們四人在線皈依。實法師回覆說，皈依是一個非常重要的步驟，因此受戒需要親自參加。然而，對於像我們這樣的年輕人來說，獲得美國簽證是相當困難的。
Over a year later, by November 2024, we learned that Reverend Sure would be traveling to Taiwan to conduct a Transmission of Precepts for the Deceased Ceremony and a Three Refuge Ceremony. I started looking into how to apply for a visa to Taiwan, but my application was denied because I was unemployed. I thought to myself, “Let it be,” but something inside of me continued to push me forward. I kept searching online till I came upon a helpful travel agency. However, when the agency agreed, there weren’t enough people to form a group of at least ten persons to qualify for discount packages. I felt under pressure to wait because the deadline for visa acceptance was drawing near. For the second time, I turned to the mantra of “No expectations. Just let it be; everything is okay.” Once I let go completely, the required number of people came together that very day.
一年多後，到2024年11月，我們得知實法師將前往台灣主持幽冥戒法會和三皈依法會。我開始查詢如何申請台灣簽證，但由於我失業，申請被拒絕。我心想：「隨它去吧！」但內心深處一直推動著我。我繼續在網上搜索，直到找到一個願意提供幫助的旅行社。然而，當旅行社同意時，組成至少10人的團體以獲得折扣套餐的人數不足。我感到等待的壓力，因為簽證接受的截止日期十分逼近。再一次，我轉向了「無所期待，一切順其自然」的咒語。當我完全放下時，所需的人數在那一天就湊齊了。
Our Vietnamese delegation, consisting of twelve members from various provinces, gathered at Tan Son Nhat Airport, Vietnam, to depart at noon on December 7, 2024, arriving in Taiwan at 7:00 p.m. and staying at a hotel. On December 8, 2024, we gathered at the Dharma Realm Buddhist Books Distribution Association in Taipei to participate in the Deceased Transmission Ceremony.
我們的越南代表團，包括來自不同省份的12名成員，於2024年12月7日中午在越南的新山一機場集合，晚上7點抵達台灣，入住旅館。 2024年12月8日，我們在台北法界佛教印經會參加了幽冥戒法會。
During the Transmission of Precepts for the Deceased Ceremony conducted by Reverend Heng Sure, I was holding a memorial plaque for my aunt, who passed away in August 2024. Before that, when my aunt was gravely ill in a hospital in the United States of America, I set up a plaque for her at Gold Buddha Monastery in Canada, where the chanting of the Earth Store Sutra took place. After my aunt passed away, I continued by setting up a memorial plaque for her during the Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma Assembly at Gold Buddha Monastery, Canada, in September 2024.
在恒實法師主持的幽冥戒法會中，我為2024年8月去世的姑姑捧牌位。在此之前，我姑姑在美國的醫院病重，我在加拿大的金佛寺為她設立了一個牌位，當時金佛寺有「地藏法會」。在我姑姑去世後，我在2024年9月上旬於金佛寺為她設立了往生牌位，當時正值「梁皇寶懺」法會。
While participating in the Transmission of Precepts for the Deceased Ceremony, I tried my best to stay focused and visualize my aunt. As everyone chanted the name of Amitabha Buddha, I closed my eyes and had a vision of my aunt in a calming golden light. Following the light, I saw Amitabha Buddha glowing brightly, accompanied by the Holy Assembly. Then, my aunt turned and began to follow Amitabha Buddha. I’m not sure if it was my imagination or something else, but the golden radiance was incredibly bright, calm, and comforting. Additionally, I sensed a pure light in the ritual itself.
參加幽冥戒法會時，我盡力保持專注，並觀想我的姑姑。當大家念誦「阿彌陀佛」聖號時，我閉上眼睛，看到一片平靜的金光中的姑姑。順著光，我看到明亮的阿彌陀佛，與諸聖眾。然後，我姑姑轉身開始跟隨阿彌陀佛。我不確定這是不是我的想像，但金光非常明亮、平靜、撫慰人心。此外，我在儀式本身中感受到一道清淨的光。
On December 9, 2024, after having lunch in Taipei, we moved to Hualien to check into our hotel and then proceeded to the Shou Feng bus station as instructed by Dharma Master Heng Yun. Four taxis were scheduled to transport us to the Amitabha Monastery around 6 p.m. Dharma Master Heng Yun showed the gathering a video presentation of Venerable Master Hsuan Hua’s life and teachings.
2024年12月9日，在台北吃過午飯後，我們前往花蓮辦理旅館入住手續，然後根據恒雲法師的指示前往壽豐車站。安排了四輛計程車將我們送到彌陀聖寺，約在晚上6點。恒雲法師為我們播放了一部關於宣化上人生平和教誨的影片。
The travel from Taipei to Hualien took five hours and was delayed due to traffic caused by aftershocks from an earthquake earlier in the month. The local travel partner in Taiwan had previously inquired about vegetarian restaurants and travel times to best accommodate our group. They also contacted the temple for guidance. Due to time constraints, they couldn’t arrange it in time and sought the monastery’s permission to provide the evening meals for our group, offering to donate in return as they couldn’t find a suitable vegetarian restaurant. Although the temple does not typically serve meals in the evening, Dharma Master Yun was very compassionate and kindly agreed to prepare very delicious meals for our group.
從台北到花蓮的行程花了五個小時，並因之前的地震餘震造成的交通延誤而延遲。台灣的當地旅行合作夥伴，雖曾查詢過素食餐廳和旅行時間，以便最好地安排我們的團體行程；他們還聯繫了寺廟尋求指導，但由於時間緊迫，他們無法及時安排合適的素食餐廳。只得尋求寺廟的許可，為我們團體提供晚餐，還提出捐款作為回報。雖然寺廟通常不提供晚餐，但恒雲法師非常慈悲，同意為我們的團體準備非常美味的晚餐。
On the morning of December 10, 2024, we gathered again in the main Buddha hall of Amitabha Monastery for the 24-hour Eight Vegetarian Precepts Ceremony. The afternoon was spent participating in the Three Refuges and Five Precepts Ceremony, which ended at 4 p.m. with a group photo with the Dharma Masters. I was very happy and grateful to have fulfilled my wish to take refuge with DRBA, as well as to have received the Eight Vegetarian Precepts from Dharma Masters at the monastery for the first time. A couple of months before, I had practiced taking the Eight Vegetarian Precepts on my own at home.
2024年12月10日上午，我們再次聚集在彌陀聖寺的佛殿，參加了為期24小時的八關齋戒儀式。下午參加了三皈五戒儀式，於下午4點結束，並與法師們合影留念。我非常高興，也很感激在彌陀聖寺首次受持八關齋戒，並達成了皈依法界佛教總會的願望。幾個月前，我曾在家裡自行練習八關齋戒。
On the morning of December 11, 2024, our delegation headed to Daoyuan Airport, Taiwan, to return to Vietnam.
2024年12月11日上午，我們代表團前往台灣桃園機場，返回越南。
I am deeply grateful to Dharma Master Heng Yun for her compassion in granting an additional twelve spots for our group to participate in the Transmission of Precepts for the Deceased Ceremony. She was someone I had never met before this trip. But approximately two months before, I took up the book Innocent Little Ghosts and read it from beginning to end without even knowing the author’s name. I only discovered later that the author was Dharma Master Heng Yun. I was struck by her calm manner and great compassion when I finally had the opportunity to meet her in person one evening at the monastery.
我深深感謝恒雲法師的慈悲，給我們團體額外的12個亡者受戒名額。此行之前，我從未見過她。但大約兩個月前，我拿起一本書《無辜的小鬼》從頭到尾讀了一遍，甚至不知道作者的名字。後來才知道作者是恒雲法師。在寺廟的一個晚上，當我有機會見到她時，我被她平靜的舉止和大慈大悲所打動。
Once again, I want to express my gratitude to Venerable Master Hsuan Hua for guiding us with the right Dharma. I am also grateful to Reverend Heng Sure. Dharma Master Heng Yun, and other Dharma Masters in the United States and Taiwan who had put in a lot of effort in organizing these wonderful Dharma events. Furthermore, I am grateful to the Viet DRBA Translation Group for providing us with information about these special Dharma events in Taiwan; to Dharma friends Karen and Tam, who had traveled half the world from the United States to Taiwan to assist us with the translation; and also to Dharma friends in Taiwan who welcomed us and assisted us with warm hospitality. Namo Amitabha Buddha.
再一次，我要感恩宣公上人以正法接引我們。我還要感謝恒實法師、恒雲法師以及在美國和台灣的其他法師們，他們為成就這些莊嚴的法會付出了很多努力。此外，我也感謝法總越南文翻譯小組提供關於這些特別法會的信息。感謝從美國前往台灣的法友黃果瑞和黃果心，她們協助我們翻譯，也很感激台灣法友們的熱情款待和協助。南無阿彌陀佛！