【羅蘭第一分會 Pan Xiao Hsia 報導】西來寺在2023年7月舉辦英文青少年短期出家修道會，撰寫新聞稿的義工記者潘青霞表示，因篇幅有限，他煞費苦心保留佛光山住持心保和尚與小沙彌的問答精華，有很多遺珠之憾，故他接受訪問，進行「記者幕後揭密」！
潘青霞強調，24位小沙彌平均年齡才10.8歲，難免在座位上扭來扭去、東張西望、托腮搔頭，天真的特質帶給他很多歡樂，他得猛掐自己的大腿才不會笑出聲，但小沙彌發問時精進勇猛，令他刮目相看。
佛光山住持心保和尚與小沙彌進行「佛教問答」，小沙彌提問如下：
為什麼藥師佛是藍色的？身為佛教徒的意義？為什麼菩薩名為菩薩？佛教的起源？要認識佛陀的一切，需要多少時間？為什麼和尚戴念珠？為什麼有過午不食戒？釋迦牟尼佛的名字如何來的？佛陀能夠住世多久？佛陀用了多久的時間成佛？佛陀成佛的方法？釋迦牟尼佛是第一個成佛的菩薩嗎？佛陀可以說所有的語言嗎？
這場問答最令潘青霞喜歡的是，心保和尚在答題時也反問小沙彌，問題並值得成人思索：
您想成佛嗎？如果您是悉達多太子，您要繼承王位，還是踏上修行之路？您看過生老病死嗎？您了解何謂生老病死嗎？您對生老病死做得了主嗎？菩薩是覺悟的有情眾生，故名菩薩，菩薩覺悟了無常之理，您在這三年疫情期間有所覺悟嗎？您有看到無常嗎？108顆念珠代表六根接觸六塵，兩者互乘後，再乘以過去現在未來三世而得到108種煩惱，您的六根與六塵接觸中，因喜好與執著產生了多少煩惱呢?您是否看到人類在未來或是現在已經面對的煩惱?例如氣候暖化會造成糧食危機，還有後續的難題，您有想過自己能盡什麼力呢?
「洩密人」潘青霞把食指放在唇邊「噓」了一聲，眨眼說道，「雖然是揭密，但我也想保留些神祕感，聞思修裡的『思』很重要，不是嗎？哈哈！」所以他不會說出完整答案，留下懸念，請讀者思索，也歡迎閱讀新聞稿，問答精華在其中(註一中文；註二英文)。
註一：北美短期出家 青少年植出世善因
https://www.merit-times.com/NewsPage.aspx?unid=851237
註二：Hsi Lai Temple Held Youth Short-term Monastic Retreat
https://www.merit-times.com/NewsPage.aspx?unid=851321
English version:credited to Andrew N.
Title: Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Exposé! Q&A between Most Venerable and Novice Monks
FGS Hsi Lai Temple held a Youth Short-Term Monastic Retreat in English in July 2023, which has been covered in a previous article (Note 1). At the time, reporter Pan Qingxia was unable to include more of the dialogue between Fo Guang Shan Monastery Chief Abbot Most Venerable Hsin Bau and the novice monks. To give more background on the conversation, she decided to provide a reporter’s behind-the-scenes account of the exchange.
Pan Qingxia highlighted that the 24 novice monks, averaging just 10.8 years old, were full of innocence and youthful curiosity. Fidgeting in their seats, observing the world around them, and playfully scratching their head, their childish impulses brought immense joy, occasionally prompting Pan to pinch her own thigh to stop herself from laughing aloud. However, when it came to asking questions of Most Venerable Hsin Bau, the novices displayed their courage and intellectual rigor.
The dialogue between Most Venerable Hsin Bau and the novices encompassed a series of inquiries:
“Why is Medicine Buddha depicted in blue? What significance does it hold for Buddhists? What is the origin of the term ‘Bodhisattva’? From where does Buddhism trace its roots? How long does one need to truly comprehend the entirety of Buddha’s teachings? Why do monks wear prayer beads? What’s the reasoning behind abstaining from meals after noon? How did Siddhartha Gautama acquire his name? What is the potential lifespan of a Buddha? How much time did it take for Buddha to attain enlightenment? What path did Buddha follow to reach enlightenment? Was Siddhartha Gautama the first Bodhisattva to achieve Buddhahood? Can a Buddha communicate in all languages?”
For Pan, the most intriguing aspect of the exchange was the way Most Venerable Hsin Bau engaged with the novices. He posed his own questions back to them, questions that even adults would find thought-provoking:
“Do you aspire to achieve Buddhahood? If you were Prince Siddhartha, would you inherit the throne or embark on the path of spiritual practice? Have you witnessed the cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death? Do you comprehend the concept of these aspects of life? Can you master your understanding of them? A Bodhisattva is an awakened sentient being, hence the term ‘Bodhisattva.’ They understand the impermanence of all things. Have you, during the pandemic of the past three years, gained such insights? Have you observed impermanence? The 108 prayer beads represent the six sense organs encountering the six sense objects. When combined, they lead to 108 types of afflictions, multiplied by the past, present, and future of three lifetimes. In your interactions with the senses and sense objects, how many afflictions have arisen due to attachments and preferences? Have you seen the afflictions humanity faces now or will face in the future? For instance, climate change triggering food crises and the subsequent challenges. Have you considered how you could contribute?”
Putting her finger up to her lips in a playful gesture, “informant” Pan grinned and remarked, “Though this is an exposé, I wish to retain an air of mystery. The contemplative ‘thought’ in spiritual practice is vital, isn’t it? Haha!” She has opted to not unveil all the answers, leaving readers with a sense of wonder and inviting them to ponder. For those who are curious, the gist of the dialogue is available in English in Note 1.
Note 1:Hsi Lai Temple Held Youth Short-term Monastic Retreat
https://www.merit-times.com/NewsPage.aspx?unid=851321
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