文／菲律宾海天禅寺研经禅修班学员　法性

　　我在内心渴望平静时遇到了海天禅寺。薰修一段时间后，住持法师的开示让我放下许多烦恼。例如我搭车时的不耐烦，为了参加晚上七点半的初级班，我必须在下午三点半前出发；晚上九点半下课后，常常十一点半到家，如果塞车严重甚至十二点半才能到家。我告诉自己，一路上保持觉性也是一种修行。如此思惟，不耐烦的心自然就放下了。

　　静坐是我早晚的定课。静坐让我更有觉性，在说话、做事前，能观照自心、检视念头。我的个性和价值观也大有转变，不但戒掉每日三包的烟瘾，也更有耐心、懂得尊重一切众生，而且开始茹素。我体会到心念不正会让人偏离正道，如果失去觉性，就容易造下恶业、迷失人生方向。

　　菲律宾因疫情爆发而封城的最初两周，我心中充满对生活的忧虑。静坐时，心中突然浮现“放下”及“无常”，让我化解忧虑，并把心思放在其他事情上，例如：如何度过难关，或即便微不足道的事也要尽力帮助他人。现在佛法已深植在我心中，成为日常生活的指南。

　　我的法名“法性”，佛法为我开启一条深入自性的大道：即是能觉察觉知自己念头及言行的真心。“法性”目前就像一株小苗，觉悟真心的路还有一段漫长旅程。但“法性”有了戒律指引，总有一天会开花结果。如果这辈子无法达成，来世必能圆满。感恩海天禅寺分享佛法、改变我的生命，并让我成为护法会的一分子。我一定不会辜负大众对我的信任与期望，继续精进修行、护法护教。

　　（I found Ocean Sky Chan Monastery when my mind needed serenity and peace. After learning a lot from Abbess's Dharma talks, many things unexpectedly changed within me, such as my impatience while taking the public transport. For example, during the Beginners' Class, I had to leave home by 3:30pm since classes started at 7:30pm. Classes ended at 9:30pm and I would not reach home until 11:30pm or even 12:30am when traffic was heavy. I did not care how hard the trip was because I kept my awareness the whole way. Besides, I always told myself that this is part of my practice. Through this mindset and method, I eventually got rid of my impatience.

　　Meditation became my daily activity in the morning and before bedtime. It helps me guard my mind or examine whether my thoughts are in accordance with Buddhist teachings before doing or saying it. In my opinion, it has greatly contributed to changing my personality and views on matters around me. I quit smoking from 3 packs a day, became more patient, and developed respect towards all sentient beings. But most of all, I became vegetarian. I also observed how delusive thoughts mislead people and how people can lose their way or do evil deeds if they are not observant enough.

　　During the first two weeks of COVID-19 spread in the Philippines, my mind became muddled and full of worry about many things in life. While meditating, two teachings came to my mind: LET GO and IMPERMANENCE. I used these to lessen my worries and just focused on other things, such as ways to survive and how to help others as much as I can, even with the small things. I have deeply ingrained the Buddhist teachings in my mind to serve as my guide in daily life.

　　My Dharma name, Fa Xing (法性 Dharma Nature), the Dharma opened the path for me to understand myself more; that it is my True Mind that is aware of my thoughts and actions. Fa Xing is much like a sprout who has a long way to go to discover his true nature. But Fa Xing will eventually bloom, thanks to the guidance of the Precepts. Even if this might not be accomplished in this life, perhaps it will in the lives to come. I am grateful to Ocean Sky for sharing Buddhism which changed my life and making me a part of the Dharma Support Association. I promise that I will not let them down and will take care of the trust they have given me by continuing to diligently practice and protect the Dharma.）