郭果貞口述 編輯部整理 / 英譯 VBS No.567
Told by Diane Ko Edited & English Translated by the Editorial Staf
你要求一件事，有一個成，必有一敗。
If you’re praying for something and it goes successfully, there’s a part that won’t.
師父上人是一個非常慈祥的師父，也是一個好玩的師父，可是他也很怪。在1989年的時候，師父來金佛寺，那時候我會帶很多有名的人跟一些奇特的人，他們有問題去拜見師父。
The Venerable Master is a very benevolent teacher. He is also very playful yet also odd. In 1989 when the Master came to Gold Buddha Monastery (GBM), I brought many famous people and some peculiar people to visit. They had questions they wanted to ask the Master.
師父不常來溫哥華，金佛寺是一座設備很普通的寺廟，因為都是修苦行啊，裡面都是破破爛爛的，沒有什麼裝修。來的人都是比較沒有錢的，很平常的人。可是每次只要宣公上人來金佛寺前幾天，這個風聲一放，溫哥華很多有頭有臉的，統統都排成隊全部都來了，一來就給上大紅包，五體投地頂禮，然後都是拜見師父。反正師父都一個臭臉，看到他們都沒有笑容。
The Master didn’t visit Vancouver often and GBM was just a regular temple. Because ascetic practices were and still are observed, the interior of the temple was shabby, not much renovation done and there were no amenities. People who visit don’t have much money and are just ordinary people. As soon as the word got out that the Venerable would be visiting, everyone including respected and famous people in Vancouver signed up a few days before his arrival. Once they arrived, they gave large amounts of red pocket money, made a full prostration in admiration and then paid respects to the Master. In any case, the Master scowls; he didn’t smile at these people.
可是平常在中國城不會說英文的那些連國語都不會說的阿婆啊，師父看了這些人很開心、眉開眼笑，還給加持。那些老太太也給紅包，紅包也許只是五塊錢，可是師父對人家很親切，很關心。還有很多老太太是坐巴士來，還有的行走不方便，他都對她們很好。有的開著大汽車的，或者外表都穿著很亮麗耀眼的人，他對他們反而沒有好臉色。
However, when the Master saw elderly ladies from Chinatown who didn’t speak English nor Mandarin Chinese, he’s very happy and beamed with joy and blessed them. The elderly ladies also gave red pocket money even though it might be just $5, the Master was close to and deared with them and cared about them. Also, many elderly ladies took the bus to GBM or some had difficulty walking. The Master treated them all very well. The Master wasn’t impressed with those driving big cars or wearing gorgeous and dazzling clothes.
當時有位在溫哥華蠻有名氣的居士，家裡供奉很多佛教文物，大法師都住他家。這個人也來了，師父看了他好生氣哦，都不理他。我就跟師父講：「那個人很好啊，人家是很標準的佛教家庭，您為什麼對人家這麼不給好臉色？」師父就跟我說：「妳知人知面不知心，只看到表面。他是背後什麼來歷妳不知道，那都是妖精來的。妳被妖魔鬼怪吃掉，連骨頭都沒吐出來，妳怎麼死，妳都不知道的！」師父就棒喝我！
Back then there was a pretty famous layperson, he had enshrined many Buddhist artifacts at home and even some grand monastics staying in his house. This person also came and when the Master saw him, it looked like the Master was very angry and ignored him. I told the Master, “He is a good person from a typical Buddhist family, why are you so mean to them, giving them a bad attitude?” The Master told me, “You know people’s faces well but don’t know their mind, only looking at them from the outside. You don’t know their history, they’re from evil spirits. You’ve been eaten as a whole by demons and ghosts, you don’t even know how you’re going to die!” The Master woke me up with his words.
還有個太太很信奉佛法，每次上人師父來溫哥華，她就給很多供養，也很虔誠，可是上人師父都不願意見她，見了她都不擺好臉色，不然就是怒罵。我在心裡常常納悶：人家大護法來了，又是這種很好的人，為什麼您都這樣對人家？我就問上人：「師父，某某人是好人，為什麼您都不給人家好臉色看？都這樣愛理不理的？」師父就斥責我：「妳小孩子不懂事，妳看不到她背後真實的一面。」他就斥責我，說我愚癡。然後他就跟我講：「以後妳要小心，不要都不識真假，好人壞人，也不知什麼輕重好壞。不要仗著自己有這麼一點氣，就天不怕，到處這樣亂七八糟的交朋友，就一天到晚想盡辦法要把氣泄了，要找麻煩。」那個時候他就說我。
There was an old lady who firmly believed in Buddhism. Every time the Master came to Vancouver, she made great offerings and was really sincere. The Master refused to see her and when he did, he didn’t look impressed, otherwise he looked like he would scold someone in rage. I was always puzzled: she was a great dharma protector and a good person, why would the Master behave like this? So I asked him once, “Master, so and so is a good person, why are you giving her an attitude? Is this how you acknowledge others?” The Master reprimanded me by saying, “My child, you don’t understand. You can’t see what their true intention is.” He scolded me and said I was dumb. Then he said, “You should be careful, you should recognize true from false, good people from bad, right from wrong. You shouldn’t rely on your not-so-much energy, being reckless to make friends of all kinds and thinking of ways to use up your energy. This will get you into trouble.” That’s what the Master said of me at that time.
上人師父從來不逢迎拍馬，他是非常有個性的僧人。他說：凍死、餓死，都不求人，不攀緣。他從來不會為五斗米折腰，他從不改變。就是沒人來寺廟，再破、再爛，他也絕不阿諛奉承，絕不說一句不願說的話；他只會說實話，可是實話通常都是最難聽的。
The Master never flatters people when meeting them. He is a monk of character. He said, “Freezing to death or starving to death, we do not beg and scheme.” He will never bend his back for 5 bushes of rice, he would never change. If no one comes to the temple, no matter how tattered and torn it is, he wouldn’t say any sycophantic words. He also didn’t say anything he didn’t want to say. He would only speak true words which are sometimes hard to take.
有一件事我很受教，也令我對師父感到非常的崇敬。師父就講到：「作惡就是秘密。」師父說，有的人表面上是善人，穿戴什麼樣樣都好，家也富貴，什麼都好；但是有人在過程中作惡，不守戒律，不然就是心念不正，可是他都會隱藏，因為這是秘密。師父說其實世界上是沒有秘密的，所有的秘密總有一天會真相大白的。所以你不管隱藏的多好，你的內心掩飾得多好，所謂的秘密，你藏的東西，師父說有一天你全都會露白，所以沒有一樣不白的，都會出來。
I have really benefitted from the Master’s advice on an incident in which I really venerated him. The Master said, “Doing evil is keeping a secret.” He said there are some people who on the outside look like kind people, the clothing they put on is nice, their family is wealthy; everything about them is good. But then there are some people who in the course of events do evil and don’t observe the precepts. Not only is their mind not proper, but they also hide because it’s a secret. The Master said, actually there’s no secret in the world. Eventually the secrets will all get exposed and the truth comes out, there’s no secret. So it doesn’t matter how well you hide it, how well you can fake your inner being, this so-called forever secret, whatever’s hidden, there will be a day when it comes to light.
當時師父就這樣講，我印象很深刻，也很受用。就是說雖然我做錯事，我也很勇敢坦然認錯；而且你做了什麼事你就必須坦白，你不能有自我的面子或是把它隱藏。因為世界上沒有一件事，大的、小的，連最小的都沒有一樣是能藏的，它終有一天會真相大白。師父說是沒有秘密的，全部都會知道的。可能在師父的眼裡，師父全部都知道。
When the Master said that, it made a strong impression on me, that’s why I benefitted. It is to say that even though I make mistakes, I should bravely and calmly acknowledge my mistakes. Also, whatever you’ve done, you should be honest about it, you shouldn’t put up a egotistic front or hide it. It’s because there isn’t one thing – no matter how big or small, even the tiniest thing, can be hidden. There will always be a day when the truth comes out. The Master said there aren’t secrets, they will be known. Perhaps on the Master’s mind, he knows everything.
上人師父什麼都知道，甚至連講經都不用看本子就能說。在1988年我到萬佛城住了7天──我很喜歡萬佛城，非常非常喜歡那裡，天天都很開心–每天師父都開講《六祖壇經》，我聽了很開心。師父講經不用看經書，他就閉著眼睛，然後盤腿一坐：打開第幾頁、第幾行，第幾行是講什麼什麼。天天我都去聽講，我就不相信師父沒有看本子，把師父講桌上的前前後後都觀察得很清楚，他連筆記都沒有。我就想：哇！師父很厲害！所有的經書都是倒背如流，在肚子裡面的，沒有看書的。這些經法，上人師父他是已經全通的。
The Master knows everything, even when lecturing on the sutras, he doesn’t need to look at the sutra books. In 1988, I stayed a week at CTTB – I really like it there. I was really happy and extremely liked being there. I was happy everyday. The Master spoke the Sixth Patriarch Sutra everyday and I was overjoyed when hearing it. The Master lectured without looking at the sutras, he closed his eyes and sat in a full-lotus posture. He told us which page, which row in the text and explained it. Every day I would go listen to his lecture and I couldn’t believe he didn’t need to look at the sutra. So I would look closely at desk and he didn’t even have notes with him. I thought, wow, the Master is incredible! He’s memorized the sutras by heart that he can recite it backwards and he doesn’t need to look at the sutras. He’s an expert in this sutra dharma.
師父什麼都能說。我當時（1989年）還帶了溫哥華當地很出名的算命師，也是東北人，帶他來見師父，講到易經八卦。師父就問他：「你是幹嘛的？」他說：「這邊中國人裡頭，我是最出名的，我是卜卦算八字的。」師父說：「哦，那你懂《易經》？」他說：「對！我專門研究《易經》。」師父說：「你有沒有給你自己算算命呀？」他說：「有有有，我就一直對這有興趣，所以才算命，專門研究易經八卦。」師父說：「好！那你講講《易經》什麼道理，你講給我聽啊。」當時那個人就很高興地講了一些。
The Master is able to speak about any topics. In 1989 I brought a well-known fortune-teller in Vancouver, who was also from northeastern China to see the Master. They talked about the Book of Changes (I-Ching) and the eight divinatory trigrams. The Master asked him, “What do you do?” He replied, “Over here I’m the most famous one Chinese person, I do fortune-telling with birthdates. The Master asked, “Oh, do you understand the Book of Changes?” He said, “Yes! I specialize in the Book of Changes.” The Master asked, “Have you ever looked at your own fortune?” He replied, “Oh yes, I have. I’m really interested in this so that’s why I became a fortune teller and do research on the Book of Changes and the eight divinatory trigrams.” The Master then asked him to explain the principles in the Book of Changes. He was so delighted to explain a bit for the Master.
師父就笑了一笑，然後師父開始講易經八卦，我們都嚇住了。《易經》這本書，師父從後面可以往前面背，中間還可以抽幾段。師父當時就考了這個算命大師，竟然他的《易經》造詣其實不行，還背不住，而且很多段落都不知道。
The Master smiled then he started to explain the Book of Changes and the eight divinatory trigrams. We were both shocked. The Master was able to explain this book backwards and even spoke on passages from the middle. The Master then gave the fortune teller a test. Ended up that he wasn’t capable; he didn’t memorize it and there were lots of sections which he wasn’t familiar with.
師父說第幾段是什麼，這個算命的一問都三不知。師父從中間也背，從後面也背，從前面幾句抽出來都會，把這個算命大師嚇了一大跳。後來這位算命大師就跟我講：「《易經》這本書很難讀的，非常非常的深奧，妳的師父竟然可以從頭到尾這麼倒背如流、精通義理。」他對師父佩服得五體投地。
The Master asked him what one section was about and the fortune-teller had no idea. The Master recited from memory from the middle, from the end and even chose a few lines from the beginning. This shocked the fortune-teller. Later on, the fortune-teller told me the Book of Changes is a hard read and that it’s very profound and difficult to understand. He said the Master was proficient in the teachings as he could recite it from memory from the beginning to end. He was in great admiration of the Master.
師父當時也點化他，師父說：「你要知道算命雖然是算命，中國文化的義理很高深，可是所有的事情一定沒有圓滿的。你要求一件事，有一個成，將必敗壞一樣事。因為這個一缺一滿是平衡的，所以人絕不能太貪。你要是貪求這個富貴雙全，什麼家庭富有呀，又妻子和樂呀，你全部都貪的話，你也要付出代價。你在追求金錢名利的過程當中，你要付出代價，有一成必有一敗。」
The Master enlightened him and said, “You need to know that fortune-telling is just fortune-telling. Doctrines in Chinese culture are profound, but not everything is perfect. If you’re praying for something and it goes successfully, there’s a part that won’t. It’s because there’s always a balance, so we shouldn’t be greedy. If you’re greedy for both wealth and honor, think of it – what kind of family is rich and the wife and children are peaceful and happy? If you want to be greedy for everything, there’s a price to pay for it. When you’re chasing money and fame, there’s a trade-off. Something will go well, something won’t.”
所以師父當時就提醒了這算命大師，說：「你一定要注意這個問題，你切記不可貪！記得有一成必有一缺，世界上沒有十全十美。」當時他就說知道了。可惜這個人並沒有謹記師父當時的教誨，所以他後來就不太好。
At that time the Master reminded the fortune-teller, “This is something you need to pay attention to, you need to remember at all costs not to be greedy. Remember for something that succeeds, there’ll be a deficiency in something else, nothing in the world is perfect.” At that time the fortune-teller said he understood. Unfortunately he didn’t keep in mind the Master’s teaching so later on, he didn’t do so well.
對每一個眾生來講，師父是平等的。他就是這樣，至少你種一個善根，你曾經修行過；不管這個過程好或壞，或是發生了什麼事，在修行的長遠路上來講，都是一件好事。
The Master treats all living beings equally. That is how he is, at least when you planted a good root or you’ve cultivated in the past. It doesn’t matter if the journey was good or not or what happened. Staying on the long road of cultivation is a good thing.
一般人的世俗觀念，好比我接觸過的人，他們都會說：我們不作惡啊，我們生活也很安定啊，我們不做壞事啊，我們平常還做些善事，這樣就夠了。可是在師父的眼裡這是不夠的。因為要轉變自己的惡業，師父說除了我們這個守五戒：不殺、不盜、不淫、不妄語、不飲酒之外，師父說我們還要培養我們的精氣神，我們要修煉。師父說要修道，我們才會有足夠的能量跟力量；力量強大的時候，你不但可以抵抗這些壞的、不好的，你還能有真正的力量走出去行善幫助人家，不然的話就是自身都難保，只能自求多福。師父以前就是這樣講的。
Most people’s worldly views, like those I’ve met, are, “We don’t do anything bad. My life is stable, we don’t do bad things. Sometimes we even do good deeds and that’s enough.” However, in the Master’s eyes it’s not enough. In order to change our bad karma around, the Master says we should uphold the five precepts: no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, and no intoxicants. We should also nurture our essence, energy and spirits, we have to practice austerity. The Master said if we cultivate, then we will have enough energy and power. When our power is strong, not only can you be resistant to bad things, you can have enough true and proper power to benevolently help others. If not, you cannot even protect yourself, you’ll have to find ways to help yourself gain blessings. That’s what the Master said.
當然我也看到師父棒子打人、罵人，我都見過，可是我對這個沒有意見。因為我知道他真實內心的一面，他是很慈祥的、很慈悲的，沒有身段。我想可能是因為特殊的因緣，就像師父跟我說：有的人自己做了錯事，還不知錯，不單掩蓋，他更兇。
I saw the Master hit people with a stick, scold people but I haven’t had an opinion on this. It’s because I know the true inner side of the Master – he’s very kind, compassionate and unassuming. I think it’s due to a very special affinity, like how the Master said to me, when some people do something wrong, they don’t acknowledge that it is wrong and not only do they hide the truth, but they also become more terrible.
師父很注重品性道德觀念，很注重人倫五常、孝順父母、教養小孩子。師父講經都跟人家不一樣，他是從內心裡面最基本的，就是你一定要符合道德觀念，你心一定要是正的、善良，是直的。
The Master emphasized moral character, virtue and proper views. He also emphasized the five human relationships in Confucianism, filial respect to one’s parents and educating children. When the Master lectured on the sutras, he differentiated himself from others; he’s coming from a fundamental mind. You have to accord with virtuous views, your mind has to be proper, wholesome, honest and straightforward.
上人很注重小孩子的教育和《弟子規》，他也注重那些老人，師父都給他們機會。
The Master strongly emphasized education and the book Standards for Students. He also paid attention to elders and gave them chances.
師父早期建廟的時候多半在中國城，師父那時候說：每個城市的中國城，都有當地的華人跟一些老太太；還有在中國城一定有巴士站，老太太有時候行動不方便，她一下了巴士站，不用走得很辛苦，就能進寺院禮佛拜懺。所以他不是要把它蓋得多麼華麗，或是要多麼遠的地方，或是什麽好山好水；師父是要方便這些老人家禮佛拜佛。
In the early days when the Master established temples, half of them were in Chinatown. He said, “In every city’s Chinatown, there are local Chinese people and elderly ladies. In Chinatown there are bus stops for sure. Elderly ladies sometimes have difficulty in walking, so once they get off the bus, they don’t have to go far to get to the temple to bow to the Buddha or bow repentances.” That’s why the temples aren’t that splendid, or are in a far location, or have a nice view. The Master made it convenient for the elderly to come bow to the Buddha.
早期的金佛寺都是很清苦的，一颳風這個屋頂都吹掉了，一漏水，地下室積水就到腰這麼深。早期的法師都很辛苦，我記得恒持法師、恒明法師，都還要親自爬上屋頂，穿著雨衣，去急救補屋頂。那個時候進水，地下室地毯都爛了臭了，我們都要用水桶一桶一桶把水倒掉，然後我們要想辦法把地毯搬走。早期的金佛寺經費也不夠，也沒有錢，外面又在批評了。
The early days of GBM were quite poor and simple. When there were wind storms, the roof would get blown off. When there was a leak, the basement would get flooded waist-high. The dharma masters had tough jobs. I remember DM Heng Chih and DM Heng Ming putting on rain jackets and climbing up to the roof to do emergency repairs. The basement’s carpet was moldy and smelly from the flooding. We had to take out buckets of water and find a way to remove the carpet. Back then GBM didn’t have funds or much money and was criticized by others.
上人師父如果是純粹是找布施供養的話，那他說幾句好聽的話，隨便解個災、解個難，他可以得很多的錢。可是他沒有，我看他都是脾氣很直，他也不說好聽的，當場就講，不然就把人家給趕走，得罪一些有錢人。當時溫哥華有很多有錢的華僑來，家裡有鬧鬼的有什麽的，都是有所求而來，師父連理都沒理人家一眼。
If the Master only relied on donations and offerings, he would get lots of money from saying a few kind words, helping eradicate disasters and removing difficulties. However, the Master didn’t do that. He was blunt, didn’t say word of praise. He said things in a straightforward manner in front of people or else he just asked people to leave, offending some rich people. At that time there were a lot of wealthy Chinese in Vancouver, they had ghosts in their home and wanted help but the Master didn’t pay any attention to them.
可是我自己感覺到，師父的做人很正，他不會講妳要聽的話，他是很直很直的。可是因為你只要有違反道德，或是行為不正的，他一定不會留情面的。
I feel that the Master is an upright person. He doesn’t say favorable words that you want to hear, he’s very straightforward and blunt. If you violate morals or have improper actions, he won’t hold back from teaching you.
他當然不會挖你傷疤或是傷害人，師父不會這樣的，可是師父不喜歡人偽裝。如果說你錯了，譬如你是殺人放火的，你進了寺廟，你說我是土匪頭子或是怎樣，師父還會教化你。如果說你進來是穿得光鮮華麗堂皇的，可是你私底下曾經做了違反道德的事，然後都偽裝起來，行為不正，師父絕不會理你的。這是我們師父跟別人很不一樣的地方。
The Master didn’t pick at you or hurt people, he wasn’t like that. He didn’t like people pretending. For example if you killed someone and committed arson, then you went to the temple and confessed that you were a bandit, the Master would teach and transform you. If you came in wearing fancy clothes but you did things that were not virtuous and then pretended nothing happened, the Master would ignore you. This is something that makes our Master different from others.
我很感恩有這一個偉大的師父，師父保證，我們弟子墮落了，他會等我們變好了成佛了，他才成正覺。身為宣公上人的弟子，我們是很幸福的，因為有上人的加持，和他所發的很大願力，所以在最危難最危難的時候，師父總會機緣巧合來救你一把，也會幫助你導向正路。我很感恩我有這麼一位慈悲的師父。
I’m very thankful for this great master. The Master has guaranteed that if his disciples were to fall into lower realms, he would wait for us to change for the good and become Buddhas before he himself attains enlightenment. As a disciple of Master Hsuan Hua, we are very lucky because we have someone to bless us and with his great vows, at critical moments of great danger and difficulty, he would come save us and help us get back on track. I’m truly grateful I have such a compassionate Master.♣