加拿大溫哥華金佛聖寺 提供 葛親孝 英譯 VBS 652
By Gold Buddha Monastery Monastery in Vancouver, Canada English translated by Miguel Gracia-Zhang
孔夫子說：「三十而立，四十而不惑。」2024年九月一日金佛聖寺歡慶四十周年，在這個重要的日子裏，同時擧行文殊閣——靜修中心的動土典禮。
Confucius once said, “At thirty, I stood firm; at forty, I had no doubts.” On September 1, 2024, Gold Buddha Monastery celebrated its 40th anniversary. On this important day, the groundbreaking ceremony for Manjushri Pavilion, a meditation center, was also held.
金佛聖寺非常榮幸邀請九位比丘，二十三位比丘尼，以及數百位善男子，善女人共同來見證這場盛筵。
主法的實法師在前一天跟大眾分享了他與金佛寺的因緣，他說：當年，他和當時的恒朝法師剛剛完成從洛杉磯到萬佛城三步一拜，祈求世界和平之旅的當口。上人問：你們願意到加拿大建立法總的第二個分支道場嗎？
Gold Buddha Monastery had the honor of inviting nine bhikshus, twenty-three bhikshunis, and hundreds of laymen and laywomen to witness this grand event. The presiding Dharma Master, Reverend Heng Sure, shared his connection with Gold Buddha Monastery the day before. He recalled how he and Dharma Master Heng Chau had just completed their “three-steps-one-bow” pilgrimage from Los Angeles to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, praying for world peace, when Venerable Master asked, “Are you willing to go to Canada to establish the second branch of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association?”
兩位法師於是銜師父之命來到溫哥華創建金佛聖寺，並開啓放生和講經說法的傳統。
實法師說：當時的金佛寺位在中國城，僅僅隔一條小小的巷子便是個漁販，每當天未亮，漁船進港，成籮成籮的魚便運到金佛寺隔壁販售，刺鼻的魚腥味充斥，後來他們想出了買魚放生的法子，俗話說：當你有夢，全世界都會來成全你。有位佛教徒的警察獲悉寺院放生的事，主動說他有鑰匙，可以開海港的門，讓海裏的魚蝦回歸大海。
The two Dharma Masters, following their teacher’s instructions, arrived in Vancouver to found Gold Buddha Monastery, initiating the traditions of Liberating Life and giving Dharma talks.
Reverend Sure recounted that the monastery was located in Chinatown, just across a small alley from a fish market. Every morning before dawn, baskets of fish would arrive at the market next door, filling the air with a pungent fishy smell. Later, they came up with the idea of buying fish to release them; as the saying goes: “When you have a dream, the whole world will help you fulfill it.” A Buddhist police officer learned of the monastery’s life-release practice and offered his assistance, saying he had the keys to the harbor gate, allowing the fish and shrimp to be returned to the ocean.
四十年過去了，放生護生的傳統依舊傳唱不絕，所有溫哥華的人都知道的：要放生，就到金佛聖寺！
另外，兩位法師在啓程前，上人特別囑咐：每天講經說法兩次，並且規定他們：只准用英文說法。為甚麽呢？原來當時的溫哥華有兩座道場，一個用中文，一個用粵語傳法。上人說，你們藍眼睛在佛教已經很稀有難得了，不可以和他們搶信徒。這是上人的智慧和慈悲。時至今日，講經說法依然是金佛聖寺的傳統，溫哥華的佛友盛傳：要聽經，找金佛聖寺！
Forty years later, the tradition of Liberating Life continues to thrive, and everyone in Vancouver knows: if you want to Liberate Life, you go to Gold Buddha Monastery!
Before setting out on their journey to Vancouver, the Venerable Master specifically instructed them to give two Dharma talks a day and mandated that they could only use English for the teachings. Why? At the time, Vancouver had two other temples—one that taught in Mandarin and another in Cantonese. The Venerable Master, recognizing the rarity of “blue-eyed” practitioners in Buddhism, said they could not compete for the same followers. This showed the wisdom and compassion of the Venerable Master. To this day, giving Dharma talks remains a tradition at Gold Buddha Monastery, and Vancouver Buddhists often say, “If you want to hear the Dharma, you go to Gold Buddha Monastery!”
當天早上八點半，大眾稱念觀音菩薩聖號，魚貫到對面停車場，擧行灑浄，動土儀式，祈求土地山神慈悲護佑文殊閣：開工順利，動土平安，並在建築完成後能大轉法輪，幫助眾生早成佛道。
緊接著有來自萬佛聖城培德中學的舞龍、舞獅表演，在場和鄰居們的目睛緊緊地隨著他們的舞動，時而驚呼，時而喝彩；第二個出場的太鼓表演，聲動天地的演出也贏得如雷的掌聲。
At 8:30 a.m. on the day of the ceremony, the assembly chanted the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva. It proceeded to the parking lot across the street for the Purifying the Boundaries and groundbreaking ceremonies. They prayed for the Earth Deities and Mountain Spirits to compassionately protect Manjushri Pavilion and ensure smooth construction so that, once completed, the center would turn the Dharma wheel and help all beings swiftly attain Buddhahood.
The ceremonies were followed by a dragon and lion dance performance by students from Instilling Goodness School at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, captivating the audience and neighbors alike with their movements, drawing gasps of awe and applause. Next came a taiko drumming performance that earned thunderous applause.
說起文殊閣，早在2016年四眾弟子便齊心擘畫草創，歷經數年的努力，終於有了細緻藍圖：這是一座五層樓高的建築，中心共有三層單人住宿，提供四十一位素食的學員全日制的課程，以利系統化的佛學修學，並沉浸於個人的修行。此外，也提供選修課程，接引所有有心深研佛教義理的人。
Regarding the Manjushri Pavilion, the fourfold disciples assembly had already begun planning in 2016. After years of effort, a detailed blueprint finally emerged: a five-story building with three floors of single-occupancy rooms, providing a full-time curriculum for forty-one students to facilitate systematic Buddhist study and individual practice. Additionally, elective courses will be offered to welcome anyone wishing to delve deeper into Buddhist teachings.
頂樓設有寬敞的禪堂，面向群山；三四樓內附開放式的庭院，陽光會從天窗上灑落下來，為個人學習以及團體討論提供良好的空間。
第一樓層入口處設置宣公上人紀念堂，讓訪客得以緬懷上人的教化，同時往來的行人透過落地窗得以獲得上人的加持。足見文殊閣靜修中心，旨在體現宣公上人的願景，致力於在西方弘揚佛法。
The top floor will feature a spacious Chan Hall facing the mountains; the third and fourth floors will have open courtyards where sunlight will stream through skylights, creating an ideal space for personal study and group discussions.
On the first floor, the entrance will house a memorial hall for Venerable Master Hua, allowing visitors to reflect on his teachings. At the same time, passersby receive his blessings through the large glass windows. Manjushri Pavilion Meditation Center truly embodies the vision of Venerable Master Hua, who is dedicated to spreading the Dharma in the West.
十一點，鐘鼓齊鳴，響亮之聲上徹六欲諸天，下達鐡幕重圍，頓時所有人放下手邊的工作，老老少少虔誠合掌，在一聲聲引磬帶領下，請師隊伍莊嚴肅穆的揭開上堂齋的序幕。比丘一持錫杖，一拿如意，一執拂塵，一捧應量缽，實法師錫杖三振，上堂說法：
At 11:00 a.m., bells and drums resonated, reaching the six heavens of the desire realm above and penetrating the iron ring mountains below. Young and older people promptly put down their tasks and folded their hands reverently. Led by the sound of the hand-bell, the assembly solemnly began the High Meal Offering ceremony. Four Bhikshus each holding a staff, a ruyi (as-you-wish) scepter, a whisk, and an alms bowl followed Reverend Heng Sure, who struck the staff three times, beginning the Dharma talk:
智慧不分東西，苦難無處不在。
誰能指引我們通往解脫之道？
Wisdom knows no East or West; suffering exists everywhere.
Who can guide us on the path to liberation?
與會信眾聆聽此由上人傳授給弟子，今天又由弟子再傳給有緣眾生的珍貴法語，點亮心燈的薪火代代相傳，心中除了法喜，還是法喜。
下午傳三皈五戒，共有三十九位善男子，善女人發清凈心成為真正的佛弟子，為續佛慧命擔當一份責任，相信上人必定樂見金佛聖寺能再承載如來家業四十年，再一個四十年，無盡無盡的四十年。
The assembly of faithful listeners heard these precious words of Dharma, passed down by the Venerable Master to his disciples, and today passed on by his disciples to all sentient beings with karmic affinity. The flame of wisdom continues to be passed on from generation to generation, filling their hearts with Dharma joy.
In the afternoon, thirty-nine laymen and laywomen received the Three Refuges and Five Precepts, purifying their hearts and officially becoming true disciples of the Buddha, shouldering the responsibility to continue the Buddha’s wisdom life. It is certain that Venerable Master Hua would be pleased to see Gold Buddha Monastery continuing the Tathagata’s work for another forty years and for countless more forty-year periods to come. ♦