沙彌親懇講於2018年6月24日星期日晚 萬佛城大殿

諸佛菩薩、宣公上人、各位法師及各位善知識：大家晚安！阿彌陀佛！今晚輪到沙彌親懇來結法緣。如果講得不如法的話，請各位善知識們慈悲指正。今年是宣公上人百年的聖（冥）誕，和很多資深法師及年長在家居士們也在過去二、三個月中，分享和宣公上人的因緣，和接受上人的教導；唯獨個人福德淺薄，一九八七年上人人在之時，雖然個人在一零一高速公路由三藩市到瑜伽市達摩鎮北邊的威利茨鎮（Willits）來回往返了不知道多少次，可是，都沒機會到萬佛聖城來親近宣公上人，非常可惜！

All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Venerable Master, All Dharma Masters, and all good knowing wise friends; good evening, Amitabha! This evening, it’s Qin Ken’s turn to tie Dharma affinities with everyone. If there’s anything I say that is not in accord with the Dharma, please be compassionate and correct me. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Venerable Master’s birth. In the last few months, many senior monastics and lay disciples have shared stories of affinities with the Venerable Master, and of his guidance and inspiration. Unfortunately, my blessings were insufficient, and it’s a real pity that even though I would frequently travel from San Francisco and Willis City, I never had the chance to enter the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to meet the Venerable Master. Quite a pity!

我們知道昨天農曆五月初十，是宣公上人涅槃二十三周年紀念法會，雖然個人未能直接從宣公上人受教，但是那是從2001年起，個人開始接觸金聖寺、金山寺、福祿壽聖寺、萬佛聖城；從那些道場的十多位法總比丘、比丘尼們口中轉述宣公上人的教導，個人聆聽教誨，也是受益匪淺。所以今晚個人就談談個人與萬佛城以及法總各分支道場法師們的因緣，他們的言行身教與鼓勵，以及之後所激發的菩提心乃至個人出家的經過；藉此與大家分享。

Yesterday, the tenth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar, was the 23rd anniversary of the Venerable Master’s Nirvana. Although I could not learn from the Venerable Master directly, since 2001 I have been connected to Gold Sage Monastery, Gold Mountain Monastery, The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and Blessings, Prosperity, and Longevity Monastery. I’ve benefited greatly through the teachings of many bhikshus and bhikshunis. Tonight I will share some of the affinities I’ve had with various branch monasteries and left-home people, and teachings and inspiration, which eventually led me to bring forth the Bodhi Mind and leave the home life.

2000年，同修與個人在聖荷西找房子買，一直找不到合適的。後來，佛菩薩保祐，我們發現在金聖寺附近的一棟房子有賣的傾向，我們立刻報上我們的價。成交後，我們在2001年搬進這棟房子。我同修得以天天去金聖寺拜大悲懺。我們家也可以去參加法會，聽經，並做義工。還有，我兒子可以去學習中文，培養他的善根。我們都法喜充滿。

In the year 2000, my wife and I were looking for a house in San Jose, but we couldn’t find a suitable one. Later through the blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, we found a pre-sale house near Gold Sage Monastery. Due to the house’s proximity to Gold Sage, we immediately put an offer on the house and moved in in 2001. My wife was able to go to the Great Compassion Repentance every day, and the entire family could attend Dharma Assemblies, listen to the Buddha Dharma, work as a volunteer, and thus cultivate blessings and merit. In addition, my son could study Chinese and cultivate roots of goodness. We were really filled with Dharma joy.

從2001年起，我和同修得知有金聖寺；之後我同修天天去金聖山寺拜大悲懺，我們全家在也在星期日都會去參加法會共修，並在道場做義工，培養福德。兒子也在道場學習中文，繼續增長善根，真是法喜充滿！我雖然在當時也參訪許多越南寺廟，不過因緣不具足，在那些寺廟共修好像沒什麼感覺。但是，在金山寺參加大悲懺或者其他法會，我們卻每次覺得很熟悉，有種回家的感覺。在周日聽男眾法師的講法，都願意接受法師無私卻又談笑風生的開示，願意依教來發菩提心，來行菩薩道。

From the year 2001 when we got to know about Gold Sage Monastery, my wife went to Gold Mountain Monastery to bow the Great Compassion Repentance, and on every Sunday we would to go to attend the Dharma assemblies, listen to Dharma lectures, and volunteer our service so as to accumulate some blessings. At that time I also visited many other Vietnamese temples, but I didn’t have as many affinities with said monasteries, and didn’t feel the same joy as a response. At Gold Sage Monastery, however, at DRBA Branches, whenever I attended the Great Compassion Repentance, or any other ceremony or Dharma lecture, I always felt that the chanting and praying was very familiar. It almost felt like returning home. On Sundays, when I listened to the monks and nuns selflessly speaking the Dharma — very often with a touch of inspiration and humor, I was greatly motivated to act in accordance to the Venerable Master’s and othe Dharma Masters’ teachings; to bring forth the Bodhi resolve and follow the Bodhisattva Path. I had the opportunity to take the Three Refuges, the Five Precepts, and the Lay Bodhisattva precepts.

在金聖山寺（尼眾）法師的鼓勵下，我們全家在2005年受三皈依，個人及同修也分別在200年受五戒。2007年，個人與同修在聖城受在家菩薩戒，這也是萬佛城第一次傳授在家菩薩戒。這成了我們學佛路上的重要因緣，我們也真正成為佛門弟子。

Encouraged by the nuns in Gold Sage Monastery, my son and I took the Three Refuges in 2005. My entire family then took the Five Precepts in 2006; my wife and I both took the Bodhisattva Precepts in 2007. (This was the first transmission of Bodhisattva Precepts at CTTB ever since the Venerable Master entered Nirvana). This established some very important conditions in our cultivation of the Buddhadharma, and we could truly become disciples of the Buddha.

從此之後，在金聖寺，我每周六早上六點到七點行三步一拜，從山腳下，到路口，再拜到祖師殿，每次大約一小多時；然後從早上七點到八點，我就在金聖寺就做義工，分工打掃金山寺裡裡外外，精進護持道場；讓八點法會的信眾，能夠起歡喜心到金聖山寺共修 — 這樣修行的感覺非常殊勝。法會結束後，因離家近不著急趕回家，我們就繼續在道場留下來，協助法師及常住收拾善後。這樣的行持個人堅持了兩年。

Every Sunday from 6am-7am, at Gold Sage Monastery, I’d bow from the Mountain Gate to the Patriarch Hall at Gold Sage, I did this for two years without interruption. Dharma Master Tsai would help unlock the gate and open the door to the Patriarch’s Hall. From 7am-8am we’d volunteer to clean Gold Sage Monastery, inside and outside. In this way the visitors who’d arrive at 8am for the ceremony would feel welcome, and feel happy to come to Gold Sage Monastery to cultivate together and benefit from the Dharma. The entire experience felt extremely special and excellent. I upheld such practices for two years. Also, because we lived so near, we were able to stay and help the Dharma Masters and laypeople to clean after the ceremonies. After the Dharma sessions, due to the close proximity, we were not in hurry to rush home, but stayed longer to help the monastics put things in order and clean up the place. Yesterday, the tenth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar, was the 23rd anniversary of the Venerable Master’s Nirvana. Although I could not learn form the Venerable Master directly, since 2001 I have been connected to Gold Sage monastery, Gold Mountain Monastery, The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and Blessings, Prosperity, and Longevity Monastery. I’ve benefited greatly through the teachings of many Bhikshus and Bhikshunis. Tonight I will share some of the affinities I’ve had with various branch monasteries and left-home people, and teachings and inspiration, which eventually led me to bring forth the Bodhi Mind and leave the home life.

同時在2007年，兒子九歲，為了他能接受更好的教育，培養善良品德，同修申請到聖城當義工及常住，並照顧兒子。從2009 到 2010 年，個人放棄外面房租的收入，也到聖城常住和並在聖城的工程建設部門當義工。另外在法上，個人感覺受益較深的是，經常要載如來寺的男眾法師從聖城來金聖寺講了《楞嚴經》；這讓我有了親近法師，並且時時得以請益，聆聽他們的教導，個人感覺非常受用。也因此對法師們的修行非常敬仰，所以2009年陪同法師們一個月到歐洲三個國家，近距離的跟他們學習。

At the same time in 2007, when my son was nine years old, in order from him to have a good education and develop a good character, I applied for him to attend Instilling Goodness Elementary School for him. My wife also applied to CTTB to be a volunteer and take care of my son. But I stayed in San Jose to work up until 2010 when I gave up on making money on the outside and came to live in CTTB as a Building and Grounds volunteer. This was the turning point in my life.

I’ve obtained great benefit from having the privilege of listening to monks from CTTB lecture on the Shurangama Sutra at Gold Sage. As I would drive the Dharma Masters back and forth, I also was able to listen to individualized teachings, which were very useful. I really admired their cultivation. In 2009, I had the special opportunity to accompany some Dharma Masters for a month to go to visit three countries in Europe and learn from them at close quarters.

接下來，我想講講個人在來萬佛城後需要處理在聖荷西房地產的感應故事。2001 年，我們在金聖寺附近買了一棟房子。八年後，因緣成熟，2009 ﹣ 2010年間，我們決定申請到萬佛聖城常住。不過我們時不時的還要回去聖荷西去照顧維修一下那棟房子，或者租給房客來收取房租。它的不方便在於我們住的地方離租出去的房子甚遠。因此我跟同修商量，先賣房子，個人再到聖城。決定之後，問題（障礙）就來了，什麼障礙？

Now I’d like to explain the extraordinary manner in which I sold my home in San Jose. In 2001, we bought a house near the monastery. Later when causes and conditions matured, in 2010 we decided to move to CTTB permanently, However, if we still had our house in San Jose, we’d have to maintain it, or rent it to tenants and repair it frequently. This was inconvenient as the house was too far away. So I discussed this with my wife and decided to sell the house. When we made this decision, we were met with obstacles.

發生什麼了？2010時，美國經濟還在低谷【編按：2008 美國次貸危機席捲全國，到2010仍然餘波未息】那時候房市非常低迷；已經糟到房子要賣而買者可以任意殺價的地步；一棟房子可以在房市擺上很久都無人問津。

當時一心要全家搬去萬佛聖城當義工，要住道場護持道場，當時我也沒有想太多，就誠心祈求佛菩薩加持和上人保佑。結果很不可思議，沒多久有兩位買主表示有意願；我們選擇了來自紐約的買主，因為他出的價錢高。但是後來買主的太太因為外界的因素決定放棄這樁買賣，這下子我們的售房希望如泡沫破滅。但是，此時上人一定在幕後介入，當第二個買主聽說第一家賣家放棄，他決定抬高他的標價，高到跟第一家的出價一樣。所以很快房子就在兩週內，以高於市場估價的價錢售出。那時候的房地產商都認為當時人人都在搶著賣出房子，我們的房子一定會很難賣。但是相反的，我們的售房進行得非常順利。個人真的非常感恩諸佛菩薩以及宣公上人。

What happened exactly? In 2010 when we wanted to sell the house, the economy was in a slump, the housing supply exceeded the demand. In the housing market, buyers had many choices, and could pick and choose their prices. The worst would be that a house would be on the market for a long time without anyone interested in buying. But because I only wanted my entire family to go to CTTB to support the monastery, I didn’t think too much about this and simply prayed to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for their blessings/protection. The results were incredible. When I put the house up for sale, there were soon two buyers interested. We first chose the buyer from New York because he’d bid a higher prices, however later the buyer’s wife decided to give up on the purchase due to external factors and our hopes fell flat. Somehow, behind the scenes, the Venerable master had made the best arrangement for us. When the second buyer learned that the first one didn’t purchase, they decided to increase their bid to match the first bid, and the house was sold in just two weeks for a higher price than the estimated price given the market conditions.