救命！
.
.
昨晚網友給我寫信，她說：「師父，前天您救了我的命！」
我說：「我不記得我有叫救護車啊？」
她說：「不是，師父，我沒有生病受傷需要急診。」
我說：「我也不記得有強盜出入或是跳樓的事……」
她說：「不是啦，前些天，我沒有跳樓，可是卻想跳海……」
她開始告訴我，短短幾天卻影響她一生的故事……
.
她說：
那一期班我是學員之一，那時正是我人生的最低谷。
我因為大學沒考上，看著朋友歡喜的上大學。而我連找工作都被拒絕，失業在家。父母不合，母親離開了天天鬼混的父親，也把我留在了沒有溫暖的屋子。我的個性因此變得抑鬱，每天不想出門，常常哭到半夜，覺得自己沒必要活下去了。
.
阿姨勸我一起去國外上課散散心，我答應了。其實我不想散心，只想在一個沒人認識我的海邊了結一生。我從來沒有接觸過禪修，也無心學習，只盤算著哪天走到海邊，再不回來。
.
但是課堂上，師父您經常講些笑話，我忍不住聽到了。您講大媽們的嘮叨，鄰里的摩擦，都像我身邊的事情。您講到一個活得很慘的師姐，她說只要能夠學好，讓她死她都幹。您說：「幹嘛讓妳死啊？我都想把死人給救活了，不會讓妳死的，妳先湊合活著吧！」這句話有點觸動我，覺得也許您會讓我活下去。
.
您講到一個留學女孩的故事，沒有朋友、遠離父母、語言不通沒法交流，她最後上吊走了…在上飛機前，我聽著一直哭，我不就是這樣嗎？我也沒有「生」的希望。我的人生之路也是斷掉的，沒有朋友、沒有父母的愛、沒有工作，我什麼都沒有…
.
可是您重重地說：「每個留學的孩子和移民不都是這樣嗎？挺過來了，就是勝利者。對不對？」「天下沒有絕人之路，是自己心中絕了，自然一切都沒有了。」「真正輸了的人，是心失敗了。」您的一句句話好像雷響一樣，擊的我幾乎跳起來。
.
「因為失業而痛苦的人都是愚癡的人。失業了，好啊！一定是有更好的職業在等著我。」失業還可以有更好的工作？！我可以不放棄，我還可以成功！「你只有一種『生』的想法，就是死都不要想，失敗和你沒有任何緣分。」
.
我的眼淚止住了，聽到您開始加持六字大明咒，咒語比我腦中的雷聲更響，我感受到心裡注入了力量，那一刻，我感受我不再是一個孤獨的人，我有能量，有信心！
.
後來我還真的去了釜山的海邊，很美。
我對著大海喊：「我不會懦弱，老子生下來就是強者，就是勝利者！」那一期班，您可能沒有注意到我，但是您真的救了我的命！我現在已經上完大學，很開朗，有一份很好的工作，還在繼續禪修。
.
聽了她的故事，你有什麼想法呢？佛法是起死回生的良藥，對每一個真心的人，對每一個想成功的人，都能起到救贖的力量。
.
.
.
#人生低谷、#走出低谷的方法、#燃起希望、#天無絕人之路
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.
Save me!
A netizen (N) reached out to me last night, exclaiming, “Master (M), you saved my life!
Puzzled, I responded, “… but I don’t remember calling for an ambulance?”
N: “No, Master, I was not sick, injured or in need of emergency medical attention”.
M: “I don’t recall if there were robbery or suicide cases…”
N: “No, a few days ago, I did not jump off from a building but had wanted to jump into the sea…”
The conversation progressed into her recent experiences and how it had changed her life significantly.
She was a participant in one of my meditation classes and was at the lowest point of her life. She didn’t make it to the university, and was unsuccessful with her job search. Jobless, she became depressed. Her parents did not get along and her mother left her philandering father. There was no warmth in the family and she stayed at home most of the time, often crying till midnight and even lost her will to live.
Her aunt persuaded her to go abroad to attend classes and relax, and she readily agreed. In reality, her purpose was not to relax. She had never tried meditative practice and was not keen. She just wanted to find a beach where no one knew her and then end her life, never to return.
She narrated:
During the class, Master was humorous and the meaningful narrations on the daily hustle and bustle of life left strong impressions on her. There was the story of a sister who was steadfast about learning (Zen meditation from Master), even at the expense of her life. At this point, Master gently reminded us that you cannot bear to leave us to die because your aim is to save and revive all, so we must live, and live well! This moved me, and gave me hope.
You’d narrated about the girl who was pursuing studies abroad, without the comfort of friends, far from her family and encountering language barriers. She eventually chose to hang herself just before she boarded the plane for home. This story overwhelmed me and I could not hold back my tears. Isn’t this so similar to my predicament? I had no motivation to live. My life path had crumbled – no friends, no family love, no job; nothing to look forward to…
Yet Master sternly reiterated, “Isn’t this a familiar situation faced by every foreign student and immigrant? Once we overcome the initial hurdles, we are winners! No obstacle is ever too challenging unless we lose confidence in ourselves. Those who lose were defeated in their minds without having really persevered.” Every word that Master uttered struck me like deafening thunder, almost making me jump in a reflex action.
“Going into depression just because one is jobless marks a weak and ignorant character. One should look on the positive side and be assured that a better new job awaits us. One must never give up but persevere until success. ‘Failure’ and ‘Death’ should not exist in our thoughts – only ‘Live’, and ‘Live well!’, Master enlightened us.
I held back my tears at that moment, and upon hearing the six-syllable heart mantra, it literally overwhelmed my mind. At that instance, I felt an uplifting dose of energy infused into my mind and body. From that moment onwards, I no longer feel lonely. I have bountiful energy and confidence!
Subsequently, I did visit the beach at Busan. It was heavenly. Calling out to the waters, I reaffirmed, “I will not be weak; I am born into strength – a winner!” Master, you might not have noticed, but you saved my life! I’ve since completed my college education, am cheerful, have a good job and am continuing with my meditation practice.
What are your thoughts after hearing her story?
Buddhadharma is revivifying, especially to every sincere practitioner and to those who want to be successful.
#LowestPointOfLife, #RiseAboveTheChallenges, #FosteringHope, #ThereIsAlwaysAWayOutrnrn救命！
.
.
昨晚網友給我寫信，她說：「師父，前天您救了我的命！」
我說：「我不記得我有叫救護車啊？」
她說：「不是，師父，我沒有生病受傷需要急診。」
我說：「我也不記得有強盜出入或是跳樓的事……」
她說：「不是啦，前些天，我沒有跳樓，可是卻想跳海……」
她開始告訴我，短短幾天卻影響她一生的故事……
.
她說：
那一期班我是學員之一，那時正是我人生的最低谷。
我因為大學沒考上，看著朋友歡喜的上大學。而我連找工作都被拒絕，失業在家。父母不合，母親離開了天天鬼混的父親，也把我留在了沒有溫暖的屋子。我的個性因此變得抑鬱，每天不想出門，常常哭到半夜，覺得自己沒必要活下去了。
.
阿姨勸我一起去國外上課散散心，我答應了。其實我不想散心，只想在一個沒人認識我的海邊了結一生。我從來沒有接觸過禪修，也無心學習，只盤算著哪天走到海邊，再不回來。
.
但是課堂上，師父您經常講些笑話，我忍不住聽到了。您講大媽們的嘮叨，鄰里的摩擦，都像我身邊的事情。您講到一個活得很慘的師姐，她說只要能夠學好，讓她死她都幹。您說：「幹嘛讓妳死啊？我都想把死人給救活了，不會讓妳死的，妳先湊合活著吧！」這句話有點觸動我，覺得也許您會讓我活下去。
.
您講到一個留學女孩的故事，沒有朋友、遠離父母、語言不通沒法交流，她最後上吊走了…在上飛機前，我聽著一直哭，我不就是這樣嗎？我也沒有「生」的希望。我的人生之路也是斷掉的，沒有朋友、沒有父母的愛、沒有工作，我什麼都沒有…
.
可是您重重地說：「每個留學的孩子和移民不都是這樣嗎？挺過來了，就是勝利者。對不對？」「天下沒有絕人之路，是自己心中絕了，自然一切都沒有了。」「真正輸了的人，是心失敗了。」您的一句句話好像雷響一樣，擊的我幾乎跳起來。
.
「因為失業而痛苦的人都是愚癡的人。失業了，好啊！一定是有更好的職業在等著我。」失業還可以有更好的工作？！我可以不放棄，我還可以成功！「你只有一種『生』的想法，就是死都不要想，失敗和你沒有任何緣分。」
.
我的眼淚止住了，聽到您開始加持六字大明咒，咒語比我腦中的雷聲更響，我感受到心裡注入了力量，那一刻，我感受我不再是一個孤獨的人，我有能量，有信心！
.
後來我還真的去了釜山的海邊，很美。
我對著大海喊：「我不會懦弱，老子生下來就是強者，就是勝利者！」那一期班，您可能沒有注意到我，但是您真的救了我的命！我現在已經上完大學，很開朗，有一份很好的工作，還在繼續禪修。
.
聽了她的故事，你有什麼想法呢？佛法是起死回生的良藥，對每一個真心的人，對每一個想成功的人，都能起到救贖的力量。
.
.
.
#人生低谷、#走出低谷的方法、#燃起希望、#天無絕人之路
.
.
Save me!
A netizen (N) reached out to me last night, exclaiming, “Master (M), you saved my life!
Puzzled, I responded, “… but I don’t remember calling for an ambulance?”
N: “No, Master, I was not sick, injured or in need of emergency medical attention”.
M: “I don’t recall if there were robbery or suicide cases…”
N: “No, a few days ago, I did not jump off from a building but had wanted to jump into the sea…”
The conversation progressed into her recent experiences and how it had changed her life significantly.
She was a participant in one of my meditation classes and was at the lowest point of her life. She didn’t make it to the university, and was unsuccessful with her job search. Jobless, she became depressed. Her parents did not get along and her mother left her philandering father. There was no warmth in the family and she stayed at home most of the time, often crying till midnight and even lost her will to live.
Her aunt persuaded her to go abroad to attend classes and relax, and she readily agreed. In reality, her purpose was not to relax. She had never tried meditative practice and was not keen. She just wanted to find a beach where no one knew her and then end her life, never to return.
She narrated:
During the class, Master was humorous and the meaningful narrations on the daily hustle and bustle of life left strong impressions on her. There was the story of a sister who was steadfast about learning (Zen meditation from Master), even at the expense of her life. At this point, Master gently reminded us that you cannot bear to leave us to die because your aim is to save and revive all, so we must live, and live well! This moved me, and gave me hope.
You’d narrated about the girl who was pursuing studies abroad, without the comfort of friends, far from her family and encountering language barriers. She eventually chose to hang herself just before she boarded the plane for home. This story overwhelmed me and I could not hold back my tears. Isn’t this so similar to my predicament? I had no motivation to live. My life path had crumbled – no friends, no family love, no job; nothing to look forward to…
Yet Master sternly reiterated, “Isn’t this a familiar situation faced by every foreign student and immigrant? Once we overcome the initial hurdles, we are winners! No obstacle is ever too challenging unless we lose confidence in ourselves. Those who lose were defeated in their minds without having really persevered.” Every word that Master uttered struck me like deafening thunder, almost making me jump in a reflex action.
“Going into depression just because one is jobless marks a weak and ignorant character. One should look on the positive side and be assured that a better new job awaits us. One must never give up but persevere until success. ‘Failure’ and ‘Death’ should not exist in our thoughts – only ‘Live’, and ‘Live well!’, Master enlightened us.
I held back my tears at that moment, and upon hearing the six-syllable heart mantra, it literally overwhelmed my mind. At that instance, I felt an uplifting dose of energy infused into my mind and body. From that moment onwards, I no longer feel lonely. I have bountiful energy and confidence!
Subsequently, I did visit the beach at Busan. It was heavenly. Calling out to the waters, I reaffirmed, “I will not be weak; I am born into strength – a winner!” Master, you might not have noticed, but you saved my life! I’ve since completed my college education, am cheerful, have a good job and am continuing with my meditation practice.
What are your thoughts after hearing her story?
Buddhadharma is revivifying, especially to every sincere practitioner and to those who want to be successful.
#LowestPointOfLife, #RiseAboveTheChallenges, #FosteringHope, #ThereIsAlwaysAWayOut