Trials at Fo Guang Shan

By Chen Yuting

Translation by Li Li

Trials at Fo Guang Shan

By Chen Yuting

Translation by Li Li

In 1967, Master Hsing Yun started to build Fo Guang Shan from nothing. Today,it is Taiwan’s largest monastery.How did Master Hsing Yun manage to develop it and cultivate so many capable monks?

A senior monk once told me that one way was to create opportunities for monks to undertake the study of Buddhism independently. Master Hsing Yun usually propagates Buddhist teachings with several disciples in different countries. Sometimes,they would find a place that had a special bond with Buddhism.For example, some lay Buddhists might offer to support missionary activities and provide a place for Master Hsing Yun and his disciples to build a Bodhimanda.Master Hsing Yun would then tell a disciple, “Alright, you stay here and take charge of building the temple. Your clothes and book s will be sent to you later.” That person would stay there alone.

How could one build a Bodhimanda by oneself? You had to try every means necessary. You could start by making friends in the local Chinese community.Who would care about you if you did not give, take care of others, or help other people? Why would they give donations to the construction of a temple? The key lies in tangible bene fi ts beingcreated for the commu

佛光山開始創建時一無所有，這些僧眾是如何被磨煉出來的呢？

一位資深的長老曾經告訴我，其中一個方法是創造機會，讓僧眾獨當一面，勇于承擔佛行事業。當星云大師到全球弘法的時候，會帶著一些出家已經有幾年的弟子。弘法時，他們往往會遇到有因緣的地方，比如有居士愿意護持，供養一個地方，讓僧人先住下來，再在那里辦道場。每當這時，星云大師就會對一名跟去的弟子說：“好，那你留下來吧，你來負責在這里把寺院建起來。你的衣服、書籍，都會寄過來給你。”就把他一個人留了下來。

一個人怎么建道場呢？那就得想盡辦法。比如，先從華人小區開始廣結善緣。你不付出、不照顧人、對人沒幫助，誰理你呀？人家為什么要出錢建寺院呢？寺院得要帶給當地好處才行。

除了所有的佛教規矩、經教、法事活動都得精通之外，佛光山的師兄弟們，不管男眾或女眾（佛門不論男女都稱師兄弟），個個都能做一手好菜。這是結善緣最重要的基本功，民以食為天，會做非常好吃的素菜，信眾就會聚過來。他們也會做針線、刺繡、折紙、串念珠等等，總之，只要你去精舍，他們都有一個精致的小東西送你。

每次去，吃得又好，又有精致溫馨的小禮物，你自然會常去，和他一起工作、做菜、辦活動、參與講經說法，逐漸人就聚集起來了。出錢的出錢，出力的出力，慢慢地寺院也就建起來了。

輝煌的寺院建起來了。突然，有一天，星云大師下一道命令說：“請你回國，我把你派到非洲另外一個地方去建寺。”你一兩天之內就必須坐飛機離開，行李事后再寄給你。有人說不近人情，但是，星云大師曾對我父親說：“這樣一個出家人，不會對任何一個道場產生執著。他死的時候，不會說，這個道場是我的。”從真正的修行角度看，這是有意義的。當然，如果當頭的人心術不正，管理不恰當，也可能變成一種利用人的心機或手段，那就不好了。

星云大師 Master Hsing Yun

Apart from proficiency in Buddhist rules, doctrines, and ritual activities, brothers from Fo Guang Shan (an appellation for male and female disciples)are all good at cooking delicious food. It’s an important skill for making new friends because food brings people together. Delicious vegetable dishes attract disciples.Brothers are also good at needle work, embroidery, origami, bead stringing, etc., with which they always have an exquisite gift prepared for every visitor to their vihara.

With such tasty food and warm gifts, members of the community would certainly call on the vihara frequently. They would want to work with the disciples, cook food with them,participate in activities, and learn Buddhist teachings. More and more people would come together and contribute to building the temple by donating or providing necessary help.

A glorious temple was built,and suddenly Master Hsing Yun would tell you, “Come back. I will send you to build a temple in another place in Africa.” You would have to leave by air within one or two days. The luggage would be sent to you. Some would say that that’s unreasonable, but Master Hsing Yun once told my father, “Only by doing this can the monk not become obsessed with any Bodhimanda. When he dies, he would not say that the Bodhimanda belongs to him.” This is of great meaning for Buddhist practices. Of course, if the person in charge does not serve with integrity or manages things inappropriately,a Bodhimanda might be used as a way to take advantage of people.

What is obsession? Here is an example. When I was younger, my father donated the mansion where I grew. For many years after the donation, I always went back to the mansion in my dreams. We all might become obsessed with something or someone: the house or the home in which we lived,the person we loved, or the school we attended. The obsession could be there before we realize it.Obsession is a refusal to let go, a stubborn clinging to something or someone which you’ve lost long ago. The method Master Hsing Yun applied to cultivate his disciples was really an ingenious one, as it pulled monks from their work before they could become attached.

Another example tells. When believers visit Fo Guang Shan,they are served four dishes along with soup or sometimes fi ve to six delicious dishes with beautiful arrangements. Some people might assume that monks enjoy the same nice food. Actually, all the delicious food is only prepared for the believers. Brothers on Fo Guang Shan dine in a separate canteen. Extremely simple food which is nutritious but almost tasteless suff i ces for them.

In addition, it is required in Fo Guang Shan that the gown worn outside should be clean and neat. No stain is allowed because you represent the Buddha Dharma when you wear a gown.In contrast, as it is unnecessary to waste money on underclothes,monks sometimes wear patched clothes beneath their gowns.

Most of the monks from Fo Guang Shan live by their teachings, which is worthy of respect. ?

(From Amitabha after Harvard,San Qin Publishing House)

什么叫執著呢？舉個例子來說，很多年以前，我從小長大的官邸，被我父親捐掉了。但是，捐了之后很多年中，我在夢境中還時常夢見回到那個大房子里。也就是說，我們對物質、物體，都會產生執著。住過的房子、住過的家、愛過的人、上過的學校，不知不覺就都產生了執著。執著就是一種放不下的感覺，覺得這還是你的。所以，星云大師用這種方法來鍛煉他的出家眾，是非常特別的。

又比如，當信徒上山時，每個人都是四菜一湯，甚至五六道美味素食，而且做得很漂亮，擺設得很精致。因此，有些人以為佛光山僧眾的餐飲都非常好。其實，這些食物是做給信徒吃的，我們出家的男眾、女眾，都有分開的食堂，我們自己吃得都極度簡單，只求營養夠就算了，味道的確不怎么樣。

還有，佛光山要求，外面的長衫永遠要干凈整齊，不能有一點污漬，因為這個時候你是代表佛法。而內部的衣褲，就不需要浪費錢。長衫脫了，大家里面都是很普通的，甚至是縫縫補補、破破爛爛的舊衣。

佛光山的僧眾，在這些方面，大多數人都能說到做到，很值得尊敬。?

佛光山的磨練

文/陳宇廷 譯/李莉

（摘自《念完哈佛念阿彌陀佛》三秦出版社）