文/蓮生活佛 盧勝彥
釋迦牟尼佛的晚年,據說呈現老態,非常憔悴,佛陀照樣生病,色身衰敗,行動蹣跚。
佛陀的因緣中,雖大覺悟,也患:
偏頭痛。
背痛骨剌。
佛陀的涅槃,是因為受鐵匠供養,吃了不潔食物,腸胃炎發作,到了雙羅樹下,也就涅槃了。
昔日,我到天竺印度,遊八大聖地,到了佛涅槃處,見諸大弟子圍繞四周,其雕像憂容滿面。
我的上師,十六世大寶法王「噶瑪巴」,得胃癌,得年五十多歲,在美國芝加哥涅槃。
我的皈依師「道安法師」,只在浴室一滑,得年五十多歲,便涅槃去了。
曾有弟子問我:
「師尊!你求長壽否?」
我答:
「我不求長壽。」
「為什麼?」
「俗語一句,生死有命,富貴在天。生死是自然之事,如夢幻夢醒,生死一如,請勿憂傷過度。」
我曾有一位老弟子,「林玉柳」女士,在台中〈玉皇宮〉就認識的,我去了美國,也曾有書信往來,她的妹妹就是林玉嬪,供養〈西雅圖雷藏寺〉的佛幡,她們都是最早的老弟子了。
我隱於「葉子湖」,知林玉柳將涅槃圓寂。
心中不捨。她和家母同輩分。
特別化「長生水」持去給她飲用。
她不飲,反而生氣。她說:
「若有無量百千萬億眾生,受諸苦惱,聞是觀世音菩薩,一心稱名,觀世音菩薩,即時觀其音聲,皆得解脫。」
林玉柳說:「一心稱名南無觀世音菩薩吧!」
聖域有聖賢。眾寶極清淨。
華果證無生。一切皆具足。
林玉柳說:「留我在世間,何益?」我最後只有送給她一朵蓮花。
Do Not Be Overly Depressed
Written by Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Cheng Yew Chung
Edited by Jason Yu
Proofread by Lufang Hsiung
Shakyamuni Buddha, in his later years, was said to appear debilitated, and was physically thin and worn out. The Buddha had his share of illnesses, and his body showed signs of deterioration, and he would stagger and stumble when he walked.
Despite the Buddha's enlightenment, he also suffered from migraines, backaches and osteophytes [bone spurs resulting from arthritis].
The reason that the Buddha entered nirvana was due to the offering of unclean food given by a blacksmith. After he ate it the Buddha had a stomach inflammation, and when he reached the twin Sala trees, he entered nirvana.
Once I went on a trip to India, and visited the eight great holy places (Atthamahathanani) in Buddhism. When I arrived at Kushinagar, the place where the Buddha entered nirvana, I saw the statue of the reclining Buddha, surrounded by the statues of his main disciples, who had worried looks on their faces.
My guru, the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa had stomach cancer and passed away at the age of fifty seven near the city of Chicago, USA.
Another teacher whom I had taken refuge in was the Venerable Dao-an, who died in his fifties after slipping in the shower.
Once, a disciple asked me, “Grand Master, do you pray for long life?”
“I don't,” I said.
“Why not?”
“There is a saying, 'Life and Death are fated. Wealth and honor are heaven's will.' Life and death are a natural thing. Just as waking up from a illusory dream, life and death is just the same. Please do not be overly depressed.”
I once had an old disciple, Lin Yuliu. We had known each since the days at the Jade Emperor Temple in Taichung. When I left for the US, we continued our correspondence through letters. Her younger sister is Lin Yupin, who once made an offering of a buddha flag hung in Seattle's Leizang Temple. They were among the earliest disciples.
In my retreat at Leaf Lake, I was aware Lin Yuliu would soon pass away.
I was reluctant to see her go. She was as old as my mother.
I made a spiritual trip to deliver Long Life Water created just for her. Yet she refused to drink it and instead became angry and said, “Suppose there are immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten of thousands, millions of living beings who are undergoing various trials and suffering. If they hear of this Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds [note: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva] and single-mindedly call her name, then at once she will perceive the sound of their voices and they will all gain deliverance from their trials.”
Lin Yuliu said, “Let us single-mindedly recite Namo Guanyin Bodhisattva!”
Saints are found in holy realms
Where all jewels are extremely pure
The fruition of attaining non-birth
All is complete and fulfilled
Lin Yiliu said, “What is the point of letting me live longer?”
I had no choice but to present her a lotus upon her passing.