我行遲遲 (English version included)
【羅蘭第一分會 潘青霞 撰文】2023年11月4日讓我終生難忘，因為那應該是我這一生持念「阿彌陀佛」佛號最多的一天。
「阿彌陀佛！救命啊！我遲到了！仁和安康義診地點到底在哪裡？」我握著方向盤的手心發汗，在南加州大學亞凱迪亞醫院（USC Arcadia Hospital）外圍來回繞了好幾圈，就是看不到義診的入口，除了心急如焚，也慶幸自己事先來參加這佛光義工講習，熟悉義診位置，不然身為新聞稿（註一）寫者的我如果在11月5日的義診活動大遲到，真是糗大了！
最後，我毅然決然將車停在急診的停車場，衝進醫院，請警衛帶路，才終於到了義診現場。
這一天除了持念「阿彌陀佛」佛號數量之多讓我終生難忘，佛光義工也讓我感動。
我見到近110位佛光義工忙裡忙外，真是可敬可佩，我也終於見到亞市分會督導黃雅芬 ，我由衷地跟她說〈三十分鐘的因緣〉一文真讓人感動（註二），我忘記黃督導回我什麼了，只記得她微笑著、耐心跟我說亞市分會義診的悠久歷史。
黃督導在〈三十分鐘的因緣〉一文寫到，與星雲大師僅一次30分鐘的面對面談話，就讓她心甘情願跟隨大師，做一個有情有義、永不退票的佛光人。
蒙市第二分會的督導劉榕也活力充沛的滿場跑，這21年義診她都沒缺席！她分享親炙星雲大師的點滴，強調星雲大師慈祥、可親、沒架子。
我身為佛光會分會長小菜鳥，與她們的發心是天差地別，2023年「我行遲遲」如龜爬，整年牢騷滿腹，也許這跟我並不是心甘情願承擔這職務有關係？
佛光山開山祖師星雲大師在2023年2月5日圓寂，我從未見過他。
我向法師A與B發問，「是不是見過星雲大師的人，會比較容易發心？」
法師A說：「沒見過佛陀色身沒關係，見到佛陀法身更重要。」
法師B則說：「每一個人發心的程度不一樣，沒有辦法比較。 我們都是做中學，不要去跟別人比較。」
我想能與星雲大師見面，是個人的因緣，也確實是修道路上的一個助緣，但發心與否，在這點糾結沒有實質的意義。
亞市分會會長黃玉琦並沒有與星雲大師見面的機會，但無損他的發心，忙碌的他，不厭其煩的回答我的問題，並有求必應的一遍遍的配合錄影，最後他的片段沒有被採用，他也相當豪爽地說：「沒問題！」
謹以此文表達我對近110位佛光義工的敬意，我的分會長任期剩下2024年一年，我行遲遲終將抵，我很好奇還會遇到什麼人事物，我會發心嗎？抵達的終點又有什麼風景等著我呢？
註一
洛杉磯佛光會、南加大醫院 義診21年 https://www.merit-times.com/NewsPage.aspx?unid=866017
註二
三十分鐘的因緣 https://www.merit-times.com/NewsPage.aspx?unid=861893
2023 USC BLIA Health Fair
http://tinyurl.com/4kw78njr
I Was Running Late
November 4, 2023, is a day that will be etched in my memory for a lifetime, as it should be the day I chanted the Buddhist mantra “Amitabha” the most in my entire life.
“Amitabha! Help! I’m running late! Where exactly is the ‘Free Health Screening Fair’ located?” Sweating in the palms of my hands gripping the steering wheel, I circled around the USC Arcadia Hospital, unable to find the entrance to the fair. Despite the urgency, I was grateful for participating in the BLIA (The Buddha’s Light International Association) volunteer training beforehand, familiarizing myself with the fair’s location. Otherwise, as a news writer, being significantly late for it on November 5 would have been quite embarrassing!
In the end, I decisively parked my car in the emergency parking lot, rushed into the hospital, asked the security guard for directions, and finally reached the site.
On this day, besides the sheer number of times I chanted “Amitabha,” the dedication of BLIA volunteers also left a lasting impression on me.
Observing nearly 110 BLIA volunteers bustling around, I was truly impressed. I also finally met elder advisor Yafen Huang from Arcadia Subchapter. I sincerely told her that the article “Thirty Minutes of Affinity” deeply moved me. I forget what she replied to me, but I remember her smiling and patiently telling me about the long history of the free health fair at Arcadia Subchapter.
In “Thirty Minutes of Affinity,” elder advisor Yafen Huang wrote about having a face-to-face conversation with Venerable Master Hsing Yun for only 30 minutes, an encounter that willingly led her to follow Venerable Master Hsing Yun and become a devoted BLIA practitioner, always with compassion and commitment.
Elder advisor Rong Liu from Monterey Park 2 Subchapter was also energetically running around; she has not missed a single fair in the past 21 years! She shared personal anecdotes of being in the presence of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, emphasizing Venerable Master’s kindness, approachability, and lack of airs.
As a novice subchapter president of BLIA, my dedication differs significantly from theirs. In 2023, “I was running late,” crawling like a tortoise throughout the year, filled with complaints. Perhaps this is related to my unwillingness to undertake this responsibility?
Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan, passed away on February 5, 2023. I have never had the opportunity to meet him.
I asked Venerable A and B, “Is it easier for someone who has met Venerable Master Hsing Yun to have a devoted heart?”
Venerable A said, “Not having seen the physical form of the Buddha is fine; seeing the Buddha’s Dharma body is more important.”
Venable B added, “The degree to which each person devotes themselves varies, and it’s not something that can be compared. We are all learning as we do, so don’t compare yourself to others.”
I have realized, meeting Venerable Master Hsing Yun is a personal affinity, a supportive condition on the path of cultivation. However, the decision to devote oneself or not is not substantially meaningful in this entanglement.
President Yuqi Huang of Arcadia Subchapter did not have the chance to meet Venerable Master Hsing Yun, but it didn’t diminish his dedication. Despite his busy agenda, he patiently answered questions and cooperated with video recordings repeatedly with me. When his segment wasn’t used, he graciously said, “No problem!”
I would like to humbly extend my respect and gratitude to nearly 110 BLIA volunteers through this article. My term as subchapter president has one more year left until 2024. As I continue to progress slowly, I wonder who and what I will encounter. Will I be able to devote myself? What awaits me at the end point?
