中台朝圣殊胜行
文／美国佛宝寺研经班学员　法涤

　　若要将中台朝圣之旅的感想浓缩成只字片语，实在是纸短意长，因为这是一个令人谦卑又让人震撼之行，也是一次难忘难以磨灭的经历。 此行自第一天起就处处充满了惊喜，感恩住持见灯大和尚在海外茶会上提及，要尊重此生及多生的父母，要深信因果，护持中台道场，并且守护自己本具的清净心。

　　许多印象历历在目。例如：令人惊叹的庄严佛像；苍翠繁茂的乡村景色坐落于朴实无华的群山及高大的棕榈树之中；无数庄严的道场高耸于稠密的林间，随时提醒我们这个国度深深拥抱着“佛道”。无论是偶遇的蜥蜴、青蛙……都提醒着我们皆须以慈悲对待有情众生；在初访灵泉寺，开车经过令人屏息的山路时，也不禁让人体会到开山祖师惟觉安公老和尚当初建灵泉寺的艰辛。非凡的普台教育，会让我想再次回到童年，以享受他们的四国语言及音乐教育。

　　从台湾各种美味及丰盛的食物中，我尝到了百香果、竹笋、锉冰等等，这些都是无上的福报，因为那是众多无私的辛劳所成就，现在，在食用任何食物之前，我都不会忘记感恩来自大寮中诸多的奉献。

　　此行以来，师父们的慈悲与宽容皆为我们作了最佳的典范，法涤永志不忘。另外，也感恩中台所有师父们的热诚招待及照顾，也聆听了法音开示及悠扬梵呗，最大的高峰就是受持了三皈及五戒，荣幸自己有了法名——法涤，心中深深地感恩。

　　每日穿梭于中台各殿堂，赞叹它的庄严雄伟；参与中台世界博物馆的落成开幕典礼中，没有比这件事更令人雀喜的了；还有一些有趣的事，例如：参访其他的分院；与来自全球的师兄弟们建立了法缘，真希望能再见到他们。

　　我们只是大世界中的一微尘，每日醒来都觉得像一场梦。在如此紧凑的行程中要完成许多事情实在不容易，要自己用手洗衣服，要适应高湿度的天气，而从种种的小事当中也体会到这是一场谦卑的学习。在另一个的国度听着陌生的语言，对我而言也是一种挑战，但我已经准备学中文了。

　　以往我从不喝温开水，而现在也体会到其无好坏，能有水喝就是一种福报。

　　非常感恩师父们在这趟旅程中给予我们的慈悲与宽容，太多不胜枚举的事情，例如：带我去诊所就诊；当我在朝山活动中大汗淋漓时，替我背着背包，而此朝山亦是一项不可思议的经验。师父们总是为我们解疑，满足我们的所需及排除我们的忧虑，“感恩”二字已无法表达于万一。此刻如果我显得太随性或者有所疏漏，则深表歉意。我需要时间来细嚼此行所带给自己的非凡意义。

　　希望明年能再度回到中台，因为这是我此生中最值得记忆、最有意义的旅程。最后以一颗最诚挚的心，感恩此次同行所有佛宝寺的成员。

(Trying to encapsulate this pilgrimage is too difficult for a few words. It is so humbling and overwhelming to experience a journey like this. And it is something that no one can ever take away from us.

　　This whole journey since Day One has been amazing. I appreciated when Venerable Master Jian Deng gave the Dharma and spoke of honoring our parents and the many parents of our past. And when he spoke of causality, protecting Chung Tai and our pure mind.

　　So many memories made on this trip; amazing Buddhist sculptures; lush countryside with austere mountains and lofty palms; ornate Buddhist temples resting grandly surrounded by dense trees remind us that this country embraces The Way; seeing the occasional lizard or frog – all sentient beings deserving compassion; the visits we’ve made including driving up that breath-taking road to Ling Quan to learn the fascinating beginnings of the Grand Master Wei Chueh; The extraordinary educational system of Pu Tai almost made me want to be a kid again – enjoying their foreign language and music departments.

　　Especially delicious lunch items… so much food! So many wonderful foods and dishes that are new to me, passion fruit, bamboo, shaved ice, foods particular to Taiwan… all the meals were such incredible blessings, especially considering all the selflessness and hard work that goes into putting them together. I won’t look at my meals again without being thankful since going into these kitchens, so much dedication.

　　I will never forget the kindness and generosity that you have shown us, you serve as good examples for us all. I enjoyed the compassionate welcome of so many shifus, hearing the Dharma, chantings, and another pinnacle highlight was taking the 3 refuges and 5 precepts. It’s an honor to have a Dharma name and I really appreciate mine.

　　Walking the halls through Chung Tai Chan Monastery every day was great – adoring it’s magnificence; being inside-guests during the opening of CT World Museum, it doesn’t get any cooler than that! And even small stops were fun, such as our branch in the middle of Taiwan, sweet fun! Getting to know our Dharma brothers from all over the world and creating friendships. I hope to see them again.

　　We were part of something much bigger than ourselves and every day waking up was like being in a dream. Yeah, some things were not easy like such a busy schedule; hand washing my clothes, the high humidity and those small things really were lessons in humility. Also being in a country whose language I didn’t understand was a challenge and I’m looking forward to learning Mandarin now.

　　I wasn’t extremely fond of drinking warm water at first but came to the realization that it’s neither a good nor bad thing, it just is and it’s a blessing to have any water at all.

　　Thank you so much for your grace and kindness during this journey (examples of which there are too many to mention include taking me to the clinic and taking care of my bag when I was sweating a storm on the mountain pilgrimage and Wow! that was an awesome experience too!)

　　Always answering our questions, tending to our needs and concerns. I can’t thank you enough. Sorry if I rambled too much and sorry for anything I may have left out. It will take time to realize the grandness of what this journey fully means. I hope to come back next year. This was the most memorable, meaningful trip of my life. Also what a blessing to share with all members of our BJM group.)