当我还是小女孩时，父母对我们保护有加，所以在成长过程中，我并没有很多朋友。但令我非常讶异的是，每逢我过生日，家中就会出现一些不认识的小朋友。他们都是母亲在邻近贫穷地区随意看到的小孩。原来，在我还不懂布施时，母亲已经在教我和弟弟、妹妹布施的意义了。母亲邀请这些小孩一起来过生日，也让他们分享我们家拥有的一点点小福报。

　　在一九九○年代早期，菲律宾皮纳土波（Pinatubo）火山爆发时，父亲忙着救那些灾情惨重的百姓。他亲自到现场把那些差点丧命在火山泥浆中的人救出来。但同时，我也差点失去父亲。而另一头，我的母亲和我们全家也忙着打包物资分给灾民。虽然家中经济有限，但我记得我们用尽了所有的办法去帮助灾民。

　　二○○七年，我们开始在海天禅寺上禅修班。上课教的许多观念至今仍影响着我们全家，其中一个就是布施。以前只知道，我们是在布施的环境中长大，但并不懂得它的含义。了解布施的意义后，将家人的庆生方式，改成全家去探望、布施一些特定的慈善机构，至今还是如此。

　　于是父亲开始带领他当时的部下，举办了多次的义诊。母亲则选择帮助一些学生，因为她的生日刚好在六月的开学期间。我们开始去协助一些乡下的当地小孩，例如：达拉克（Tarlac）、赞巴勒斯（Zambales)、欧罗拉（Aurora），还有像帕亚达斯（Payatas）这种非常贫穷的地区等等，这些多半在远遥偏僻的乡下。

　　那些小孩虽然可以去公立学校读书，但他们没有钱买文具、书包、鞋子，以及一些上学的基本用品。结果，他们的父母多半要求他们辍学，一起扛起家计。由于这些小孩在缺乏教育及知识的环境中长大，所以他们就成为那些反政府叛军想要吸收的最理想成员。在我们慈善范围的名单中，这些分别来自达拉克（Tarlac）、帕玛刚（Pamangga）、帕亚达斯（Payatas）等地区的小朋友，从一开始的二百位，扩大到现在约八百位。我们看到这些小孩多么渴望上学，然而却没这样的环境和机会。

　　我们家人有一个观念，不论家里的经济多有限，我们要持续布施更多。只要花一点点时间和精力就可以大力改善这些小孩的未来。我们很感恩所有曾探望过的小朋友和那些常去的慈善机构；像老人院及一些家暴乱伦的收容所等等。定期去探望他们，其实是他们给我们机会付出。一开始只有我们家，到现在有很多朋友也加入我们布施的行列。他们刚开始也只是付出时间帮我们分发物资，但是现在他们有些人已经开始学我们的做法，即便他们只是付出一点点小小的力量。甚至因为父亲的带领，他的同僚也有机会参与我们。他们很多人都深受感动；原来小小的布施，如仅仅只是跟这些人讲讲话、听听他们倾诉，就能带给这些人无限的欢乐。

　　有时候我们分工合作，我负责准备食物，妹妹唱歌娱乐他们，同时也和他们互动交流。但是每次去老人院看那些老人，我们都会非常伤心。因为只要有一些老人往生，名单上就再也看不到他们的名字。其实，这也是我们学习不执着的一个好方法。有时候我会为此哭得很伤心，但慢慢学习愈来愈坚强。

　　我十三岁的女儿凯莎（Keisha），定期会把一些不用的东西收集起来，等到圣诞节时，再把东西送给我们平常去探望的慈善机构。有一次，女儿要我把一件旧洋装送给一位叫「珍贵」（Precious）的女孩。珍贵生下来就有身体上的缺陷及精神上的疾病，生下来就被妈妈遗弃。我们等了很多个月之后，才有机会去看这些弃养的孤儿。我带了那件女儿的旧洋装要送给珍贵。到了那里，我非常兴奋地到处看那些小孩，却发现珍贵不见了。我问看护们，我想她应该只是被移到另一个房间。看护们告诉我，珍贵在几个月前就往生了。听到这个消息，我心都碎了。但我必须提醒自己，这就是佛法说的无常。

　　我很珍惜海天禅寺法师所教的佛法。最重要的是，我们全家都想要练习「知行合一，说到做到」。我们珍惜这些佛法，就要把它拿来实践。经过一段时间的薰修，我学到更多佛法，知道布施要不断地实践，才能达到圆满的境界。虽然离「开悟」还很遥远，但亲自去实践才能更清楚佛法的意义。而且才能让我们在成佛的路上有很多小小的领悟。实践帮助我们踏实修行，以及全心全意地像亲人一样帮助这些不幸的众生。

　　佛法是无止境的学习。非常感恩佛陀、感恩老和尚、感恩法师们、感恩我的父母，还有所有的师兄们，您们都是我的大善知识。谢谢您们帮我铺一条大道，让我走向真正的快乐和平静。我非常有福报，能有这些机会学习，能有这么多志同道合的人在身边，大家同样追求无我和放下世间的一切执着。虽然在生命中还有很多的挑战和不圆满，但我会尽全力依教奉行，让生命过得更有意义。

A Special Way to Celebrate Birthdays

By Michella Cacdac

　　As a little girl, I grew up not having many friends because my parents were very protective of us. To my surprise, every time it was my birthday, there would be kids whom I didn't know coming to our house. They were just random poor kids whom Mom would see around the neighborhood. At that time, I was unfamiliar with the message, but Mom was already introducing the value of charity to me and my younger siblings. She invited the children over for us to spend our birthdays with and to share our little blessings.

　　During the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the early 1990's, Dad was busy saving lives of civilians who were greatly affected by the calamity. He personally rescued people who were endangered by lahar （like lava）. We almost lost our Dad during those rescue operations. On the other hand, Mom and the rest of the family were busy packing and distributing relief goods for the victims. We couldn't afford so much then, but I remembered being able to help as many people as we can with whatever means we had.

　　It was in 2007 when we began attending meditation classes in Ocean Sky. One of the teachings that continue to inspire our family is that of charity. We knew what charity was like growing up as we had many occasions to be exposed to it, but we didn't really understand its true essence. After studying it thoroughly in the temple, we now celebrate our birthdays with our chosen charities, which we regularly visit as a family.

　　Dad started doing several medical and dental missions together with men and women under his command. Mom's focus is more on students, since her birthday falls in June during opening of classes. We reached out to indigenous children of Tarlac, Zambales, Aurora provinces, and in depressed areas like Payatas, etc. Most of these places were in far-flung provinces.

　　These children had public schools and teachers, but they didn't have school supplies, bags, slippers and other basic things which were needed in school. As a result, most of them were persuaded by their parents to quit school, and just help in working for sustenance. They are actually perfect candidates for recruitment to rebel groups when they grow up due to lack of education and understanding. From 200 kids in our list, they have now increased to almost 800 from different areas of Tarlac, Pamangga and Payatas. We saw how much the children were eager to learn, yet they didn't have the means.

　　Our family always felt that no matter how limited our resources were, we still wanted to share more. It only requires time and little effort to reach out to these children, paving the way for great changes in their lives. We are thankful to these children and the other charities we visit, such as Home for the Aged, and minors who are rape victims by incest, etc. Visiting them constantly gives us opportunities to help. Starting with just our family, we now have more friends joining us in our mission; people who just dedicate their time to help us distribute the goods. Now, some of them are also replicating what we have done in their own little ways. Even people who worked under Dad's command had opportunities to join us in these events. Many of them were overwhelmed with the joy that they brought to the less fortunate, just by simply talking and listening to them.

　　There were times I would prepare their meals, then my sister would sing for them, and we would interact with them. For the elderly, we were sad that each time we visited, some names would be stricken from the list since they had already passed away. This truly is a good way of learning non-attachment. I still cry sometimes but as time passed, I've learned to be stronger.

　　My daughter, 13 years old Keisha, regularly sets aside things that she does not use anymore. When Christmas time comes, she gives them away to different charity institutions that we visit. One time, she gave me an old dress to give to a girl named Precious. Precious was born with mental and physical abnormalities and was abandoned by her mother. After long months of waiting, finally it was time for us to visit these abandoned children. I brought the dress that Keisha wanted to give to Precious. I was so excited to see the kids and as I was going around, I noticed that Precious was missing. Thinking that she was just transferred to another room, I asked the caregivers. They told me that she died just a couple of months before I arrived. My heart was really crushed, but I had to remind myself about Buddha's teaching of impermanence.

　　I value all the things taught by Ocean Sky. Most importantly, as a family, we try to “walk the talk.” We give value to the teachings by practicing what we learned. As time passes and more lessons learned, I know that charity needs constant practice to attain “mastery” level. We are still far from becoming “enlightened,” but these experiences give the Buddhist teachings more meaning, and let us experience small enlightenments along the way. It also helps us to be grounded and to stay dedicated in reaching out to our brothers and sisters in need.

　　The learning doesn't stop. I'm truly grateful to Buddha, to our Grandmaster, Shifus, my parents, and to all Dharma brothers for being my great teachers. Thank you for paving the path that gives me true joy and peace. I consider myself blessed for having these opportunities to learn, to be surrounded by people who share the same goals in being selfless and unattached to mundane standards. I am trying my best to live it right by following the Buddhist teachings despite the challenges and imperfections of my daily life.