佛心寺於二○一九年二月十日舉辦新春觀音祈福法會暨聯誼活動,近三百五十位信眾與會,祈願秉持觀音菩薩的大悲精神,開啓新的一年,讓慈悲種子在心地生根萌芽。
法會在和諧莊嚴的誦經聲中揭開序幕。大眾聚精會神,從《普門品》經文中領受菩薩尋聲救苦,三十二應的度眾悲願。會中,住持法師闡釋觀音菩薩於因地中修行耳根圓通,及果上成就的殊勝功德:大悲心無礙,故能感通眾生心念;大悲心無瞋惱,故能除眾生怖畏;大悲心無執著,故能化身無量。持誦聖號的目的是顯發本具的慈悲,「心念不空過」是究竟的離苦之道。
法會後舉辦的聯誼活動,首先迎來「祥獅獻瑞」,獻上新春祝福──智珠圓照。大眾一邊享用香積菩薩們精心烹調的美味素齋,一邊欣賞精彩表演:「梵音天鼓」警策人心;「鋼琴四手聯彈」樂音悠揚。其中特別的是,中文禪修班學員帶來二段「千手觀音」舞蹈,「莊嚴版」彰顯和合精神,「日常版」則幽默呈現義工菩薩手拿各種工具,在各角落默默發心的身影。英文禪修班和兒童班學員共同演出話劇「三隻學佛的小豬」,以教理、福德、禪定的法門降伏大野狼,並勸化吃素,令人會心莞爾。表演中並穿插緊張刺激的抽獎活動,兒童班學員更彈奏樂曲助興。聯誼會在財神爺和善財童子贈送福袋中,劃上歡喜的句點。
從春天出發,在法雨的澆灌下,心地的大悲種子定能茁壯成長。
法會心得
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大眾虔誦觀世音菩薩普門品
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與會大眾聆聽主法法師開示
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佛前至誠供燈,迎接光明的一年。
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祥獅獻瑞為聯誼活動揭開序幕
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中文研經班學員以千手觀音舞蹈供養大眾
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日常版的千手觀音發人深省──生活中,菩薩無處不在!
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應景又饒富趣味的英文話劇──三隻學佛的小豬
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機動組義工前置布場,落實對事以真。
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表演舞獅的學員在大門前歡喜合影
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護法會會長/傳慈
千手觀音舞蹈從籌備到演出只有短短時間。開始時大家都沒有信心,但我們發願把觀音菩薩的慈悲、菩薩行具象化,以舞蹈的方式供養大眾。從看影片揣摩、討論動作、訂衣服道具……去除心中負面、不可能的想法,直下承當,並用心認真地去做,結果令人驚訝又感動。舉手投足間的默契、和諧,是對事以真的體現。
執行祕書/傳一
在討論舞蹈衣服的時候,思惟:佛菩薩是穿什麼衣服呢?《法華經》云:「如來衣者,柔和忍辱心是。」柔和是我自己對別人的態度,忍辱是別人給我境界時的態度。此後會以柔和忍辱反省自己。大家來自不同的背景、有不同的看法和意見,如果能以慈悲、平等、恭敬去對待別人,去除貪瞋癡,本具清淨覺性自然現前。
香積組祕書/傳祥
很有福報,能在過年的時候煮齋飯和大眾結善緣。法會前,大家都很緊張,怕準備不夠。但是大家都很用心,一直嘗試不同菜色,儘量滿足大眾的口味,還有鄰近的餐廳也發心供齋。最後看到大家吃的很開心,覺得法喜充滿,希望大家明年會再來。
活動司儀/法雋
面對觀衆一向羞澀的自己,在接到司儀的執事時,只想藉此機會超越心理障礙。開始練習後,才發現司儀並不簡單,不但要寫稿,還要和另一位不懂中文的英文司儀搭檔、隨機應變、和觀眾互動。過程中,原來不是我幫了師父的忙,而是自己學習到怎麼擔任司儀,並和大眾結緣,把佛法實踐在生活中。
花藝組組長/法永
兩年前接下花藝組執事,心裡戰戰兢兢,因爲根本不認識花,也不會插花。秉持「對事以真」,開始跑圖書館,認識花材和特性;逛花店不買花,只問花名和價錢;上網看花藝教學等。只要有願力,任何困難都能迎刃而解。在發心中,不只學會新手藝,也學習如何與人共處,並在做的當下提醒自己,安住清淨真誠的心。
庶務組幹事/Robert Lorenz
I committed to participating in my first Lion Dance. We had arranged to practice over the next several weeks. Having limited vision, feeling the weight of the head upon my shoulders, no real skills in performing, imagining doing this in front of the entire Monastery; all of these thoughts ran through my mind.
But as with my meditation practice, over the next few weeks I began to gain some confidence of being a Lion. The reward of practice itself was truly an opportunity to understand my practice further. I sincerely feel this was an experience I will use throughout my life.
(我參加了人生中第一次的舞獅表演。過程中,由於對舞獅不甚了解、感覺到獅頭在肩上的沉重、缺乏表演技巧、乃至想到要站在台前演出……種種念頭不斷浮現。但就像剛開始靜坐一樣,幾週的練習讓我逐漸有了信心。最大收穫是更了解自己的修行。我衷心覺得這是讓我一生受用的經驗。)
英文中級禪修班學員/傳祥 Lori White
My older boys participated in the ceremony acting as acolytes and performed as a lion in the Lion Dance. This is something completely out of my children’s comfort zone and I was proud of them for just committing to doing something like that. I also helped with the recycling and trash disposal along with several other people. After lunch, I was surprised by how little trash there was. Almost 350 people has eaten and all of the waste fit into two large trash bins. It is a perfect example of how being mindful of things we use can prevent a lot of waste and excess use of our resources. I could not have predicted how helping with trash could have impacted me so much.
(兩個兒子在法會中擔任心燈、在聯誼中表演舞獅,這遠遠超出了他們的舒適圈,我為他們願意承擔而感到驕傲。午齋後我幫忙資源回收,垃圾數量之少令我驚訝,將近三百五十人用齋,垃圾居然只有兩個大垃圾桶的量。這是很好的例子,說明當我們對事物用心,可以避免很多的浪費和過度使用資源。怎麼也沒想到,幫忙回收垃圾可以對我有這麼大的影響。)
文宣組幹事/傳真 Robert Scafe
It was my first time to be one of the benefactors who does prostrations in the center aisle. At one point my thighs began to cramp during the prostrations, and I felt that I might need to sit down. But then I reflected on the Shifus who had been standing and chanting the whole time without missing a note. Rather than magnifying pain into suffering, I resolved to be mindful of my technique, and to cultivate the sort of discipline that enables the Shifus to maintain their focus.
(這是我第一次擔任功德主代表,在中央走道禮拜。禮拜中,大腿開始抽筋,覺得應該要趕快坐下。但是看到法師們全程站著唱誦,沒有掉板位,我立刻反省,不是把疼痛放大成苦,而是提起正念,練習像師父們一樣把心專注。)
照客組幹事/傳勵 Lisa Boyd
The reception desk duties were a smooth operation. It was facilitated well, and everyone had a distinct responsibility. I felt more mindful and able to predict what we needed to make the operation run smoothly. Growing mindfulness!
(我們順利地完成了照客組的任務。事情安排妥當,分工明確。我也更有覺性,知道怎麼讓事情做得更好。正念增長!)
環保組幹事/法和 Georgia Warren
This year was my first time experiencing Buddha Mind Monastery’s Chinese New Year celebration. I was honored to be a part of the volunteer team, with all of us acting as the symbolic “thousand eyes and a thousand hands” of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. It was a beautiful day filled with color, and through the efforts of the volunteers, the true spirit of Guan Yin radiated through the grounds.
(今年是我第一次在佛心寺參加農曆新春法會,很榮幸成為義工團隊的一份子,和大家一起實踐觀音菩薩千手千眼的精神。法會當天莊嚴熱鬧,義工的發心,散發觀音菩薩的精神與光芒。)
環保組組長/傳容
千手觀音舞蹈是傳容很大的挑戰!作為領舞者更是心神慌張!記得即將步上舞台前,心裡忐忑不安,心經的經句在腦海浮現,總算稍為定下心來。希望能展示最好的形象、精神,表達出菩薩的至真、至善、至美。