第43期::日常省思
緬甸行歸來致謝友人
編輯部
難忘八日緬甸行
廣作善法喜難量
因緣何來如此妙
賽莫賽奧兩兄弟
緣 起
二月廿三日至三月一日的緬甸善法之行,承蒙賽奧夫婦的協助安排圓滿達成,茲將此次法行之緣起與內容做一簡單報告,並將回到國內後致謝賽奧先生所發的一封英文感謝信函,及賽奧先生之回函分享大眾。
此行重點主要是放生、供僧、齋僧以及濟貧。選擇緬甸乃源於此佛教國家,雖然修學的是小乘佛法,但是不論道風、寺院的規矩,乃至釋迦牟尼佛所留下的遺制如托缽等等,在緬甸都還可以看得到,故所有的法行很容易在此進行完成。
再則想進一步評估緬甸是否有舉辦寒暑期啟蒙班的因緣,看能不能依著緬甸的民風民情來增上台灣的學子。
第三也願此等善行回向國內政局穩定、國泰民安、風調雨順。
第四就是藉此法行從事國民外交。雖然我們並不是官方機構,也不是外交人員,但是如果我們團體表現得好,則有助於彼國人民對我們國家的肯定。相信這個世界是美麗的世界,可以推行「近者悅,遠者來」的王道文化,所以希望此行能從事很好的國民外交。也願意因著莊嚴緬甸這個地方,認同那裡的文化,肯定宗教對這個國家的貢獻,以及肯定他們美好淳厚的風俗,回過來也讓別人肯定我們,彼此互相隨喜學習。
第五就是此次出國期間正逢佛教的神變節,乃釋迦牟尼佛破邪顯正,以種種的神變及教法降服外道(九十六種外道的邪師說六十二種的邪見,擾亂當時瑜伽行的修法),故這段時間來做善法,功德可千倍億倍的增長。
第六則緣於去年緬甸歸來,收到賽奧先生(賽莫之弟)的來信,表達願承繼其兄之遺志,將繼續協助所友善法的因緣。故試著與其聯絡,竟因其熱誠使吾人能速速成行。
故因緣和合,倉促成軍,以致於無法廣邀蓮友們的參與,在此致歉,並將所有法行布達於後,以期徵信、同沾法益。
實則《圓覺經》言:「修學空花梵行,晏座水月道場,降伏鏡裏魔軍,大作夢中佛事。」所有的善法因緣,皆須觀想是人生最寶貴的一次機會,應以著非常珍重的心態來看待每一次善法的造作,雖然這些善法或為吾人曾經串習過、親身做過,但是有心要求解脫、成佛者,就必須具備眾多資量,故即使已經做過了,或者是做過的次數非常多,在佛看來都著實不足啊!正因為有情的數目是無量無邊的,要利益眾生的法行亦是無量無邊,故所行的善法次數也要無量無邊,而有情遍滿虛空、時間三世延續,所以利益有情的善法也必須無盡的做下去,方能成就無量無邊的德能、莊嚴最殊勝的佛果,所以為善最樂!
此行承蒙賽奧夫婦鼎力相助,讓種種善法得以圓滿,雖與賽奧先生素昧平生,但他與賽莫先生散發著相同的熱誠,一個人獨立擔負起我們全團的大小事務,他最常說的就是「What can I do for fou ?」與「It’s my pleasure!」。由信件的往返、事情的安排與八天生活的相處裏,我們被其服務的熱誠、工作的效率和不疲不厭的精神所感動。在過程中賽奧先生也慢慢地了解我們對於放生、齋僧以及濟貧的種種需求,積極地幫助我們找到幾家物資貧乏卻道氣十足的孤兒院道場、僧伽團體等。並在特殊的情況下找到各類奇珍異獸,諸如蛇、孔雀、熊、貓頭鷹、鹿及牛、羊、雞等,滿足大家放生的心願。分享時賽奧先生道及心路歷程:在沒有頭緒下開始為我們尋找生物、一次次與商家周旋、又害怕生物在未談妥價錢時被宰殺、不知從何找起的大大小小孤兒院、先行至浦甘打點行程……,煞費苦心,只為了滿足我們口頭上的要求,倘若沒有賽奧夫妻的鼎力幫助,此行是無法圓滿完成的。
事前與賽奧先生的溝通、書信往來、以及八日全程的翻譯,承蒙楊老師細心、幽默、風趣又流利的英文,使我們和賽奧先生之間的距離更為拉近,而隨堂的英文課更讓人留下深刻的印象。
為了和這個國家以及廣闊的世界接軌,嗅到這是界不同於我們的脈動,為了無盡的善法,不斷湧現的善心,以及無盡的感謝,就讓我們從第一堂的英文感恩課程開始吧!
Tuesday, March 09, 2004 8:37 PM
Dear Mr. Sett Aung,
A week has now past since we returned from Myanmar, but the memory during our stay is still hovering in our minds.
The trip was so wonderful, and for many times more, because of your companionship, had made the experience extraordinary. We owe you our heartiest thanks. As a person of good character, you are not only a worthy friend but also an example to follow. Whatever you did, would have always affect us, very sensibly, one way or another. You stayed up late and got up early. You’ve always fulfilled our requests, majors or minors, and given way to our constantly changing schedules. You are such a décrotté, always energetic and nice to everyone. “My pleasure” has become a motto among the young ones and is rippling around them with multiplying effect. We hope good influences as such will perpetuate.
When we were in Myanmar, you had a lot of trivial things to deal with, but you never showed impatience. You are humorous but never flippant. You are learnt, but not egoistic. You are well off, but material benefits are not your focus. You own a silver tongue, but never oppress anyone. Virtues, like gold, your patience, capacity to accommodate, and proficiency in languages are all worthy qualities for us to learn.
Thank you for everything. Now the short trip has transformed into our lasting memory to be cherished. We are looking forward to seeing you again soon and also hope we can have the honour to see you in
Heartfelt thanks again!
Best regards
The Wu-ching-ting Confucian & Buddhist Society, Republic of China
三月九日謝函
親愛的Sett Aung先生:
自緬甸返國已逾一星期,勾留期間的事事物物歷歷如在眼前,久久不能忘懷。
由於您的隨伴,這趟美好的行程更顯意義非凡,不能言表。我們是由衷的感激。您端正的品性,不單只是益友更是我們學習的對象。您為人處事,常在不經意間即能利益大家。您晚睡早起,事無大小皆答應,就算我們時常更改行程,您還是事事包涵。您彬彬君子的風範,待人和善卻又是精力充沛,您常回饋我們的感謝以無限量的「這是我樂意做的!」此言現已是年輕一輩同行學子的座右銘了,真是正量倍增,迴響不絕,這種良好的影響有望延續下去了。
當我們在緬甸的時候,麻煩您的瑣事實在太多了,但您從來都不會不耐煩。您幽默而不輕浮,有學問而不會自持,家境優渥卻對物慾不關注,善言而不誇言。美德有如黃金,您的耐性,容人之量及多國語言的能力,是大家追隨學習的重要質地。
謝謝您為我們所做的一切,短暫的旅程已化為長久的記憶。真希望能再敘,若有緣敘於臺灣,更是求之不得。請代問候貴府各人安好,善行利益增長回向令尊令堂,並祺令尊早日康復!
由衷致謝!
中華民國無盡燈儒佛學會
Tuesday, March 16, 2004 4:42 PM
Dear Mr. Tarng,
Very glad to hear from you again. Sorry for my late reply for I have been traveling as usual. I will be coming back to Myanmar in the first week of May. I plan to stay in Myanmar longer instead of traveling from one country to another all the time depending on where the projects are. It means that I am planning to settle down in Myanmar as long as my parents are in Myanmar as I have the sole responsibility to take care of them. This time, for sure, I'll be back to Myanmar in the first week of May and will stay as long as I can. So if you have a plan to visit Myanmar, please feel free to get any kind of assistance from me since it is always my pleasure to assist you and your noble activities. I also have to express my heart-felt thanks to you and your group for the opportunity you have given me to also learn a lot from you. What I have learnt and the extent I have learnt from you and your group is something which cannot be measured with any kind of mathematical measurements but is to be measured with my heart. Thank you for everything.
Kind regards, Winston
三月十六日回函
親愛的唐先生:
很高興您來函。由於公務往返各國旅途,耽擱了回信的時機,很對不起。五月的第一個星期,我會返回緬甸。我計劃能多留在國內,不再長途跋涉,東奔西走於各國間,以便照料待在國內(緬甸)的雙親,這是我的責任了。這次,我很確定五月的第一個星期會回到緬甸,而且會待上很長一陣子。如果您有到緬甸的計劃,請不要客氣,提出我能幫忙些什麼,我是非常樂意效勞並為您們的善舉出力。我還要感謝您及您的團體讓我服務,獲益良多,這種利益既深且廣,無法以我所學來量化,只能用我的心來感受。感謝一切!
請珍重
溫士敦