是神還是鬼？
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回到加拿大溫哥華，有一位許久不見的西人學員，一見面就很俏皮地問我：
「master（師父），您看我現在像神還是像鬼？」
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我一聽，愣了。從頭到腳認真的給她看了一遍！！
沒等我開口，她說：「上一年，您幫我解了一張籤！」
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她給我講起她的故事：
「因為學習禪修。那一段時間，我總是感到有一股新的方向、新的使命不斷在召喚我，可是我不確定。於是就去禪堂抽籤。想知道自己未來的方向。
當時您看到籤文跟我說：『這是上上籤，如果去實踐，就能夠實現願望。』
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但是，因我父親脾氣暴躁，我小時候總是挨揍。長大後，我的先生也是脾氣不好的人，時常也會出手揍我。我不想抱怨他們，但是我真的擔心，我這個除了挨揍還是挨揍的人，還能夠做什麼有意義的事情呢？
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當時您說：『一切擔心都是多餘，那些事情不能障碍你。你的未來很好，可以幫助很多人。修的越好，可能會碰到越多障礙，但是你都能夠跨越過去。因為你的內心非常善良，多幫人，才是你的使命！』
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我聽了，很高興，但是不確信，因為家庭帶給我的陰影太重了。
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後來，您在一次課堂上說：『很多學員，雖然看起來很不起眼，有的還常常被家人、被同事嫌棄、甚至侮辱，像鬼一樣地生活在家庭與社會的陰影之中。但是，當他們學習了禪，聽明白我講的課，走出去幫人，他們就會像神，不是臉像神哦，而是散發出像神一樣的光芒去幫助大家！」
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我當時覺得，您這就是要講給我聽的呀。
「要像神一樣幫人，還是像鬼一樣陰暗地生活？」那天之後，我下定決心要選擇新的使命、新的生活！
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現在，一年過去了！您看，現在的我是像人，還是像鬼呢？」
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我這才明白過來。 確實，她一別以往如喪家犬，畏畏縮縮的模樣。現在的她整個從內心裡散發著光彩。
她甩一甩頭髮，爽朗地笑著說：「我現在覺得自己很有自信，我的先生也被我的改變所影響。他是科學家，開始用學術的眼光研究禪修。也不再揍我了。」
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我幽默地說：「也要感恩妳的先生啊，他揍妳，也是某種程度上，把妳從小家庭裡給揍出来了，讓妳能夠更堅決地去為社會、為大眾服務。這正是佛陀講到的『逆增上緣』啊！」
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她聽了很開心。又拿出當年的籤文，說：「您看，我還一直珍藏著這張籤詩。就是為了時時提醒自己，既然要活，就要活得像神，不要像鬼！」
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當她遞給我那張籤詩的時候，我在她背後，看到一片彩虹。
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我說：「那彩虹就是妳！」
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她幸福地說：「是的！曾經，我多麼希望有一個山洞，可以讓我躲進去，離家遠遠的，不要再被家庭所煩擾。但是現在，我找到了自己的方向與使命。我不僅不再逃避生命，我還要走遍全世界去帮人。我要所有的人認識菩提禪修，學習您的方法！」
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我看著她說：「勇敢去做吧！這個世界是妳的！」
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God or Ghost?
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When I was back in Vancouver, one of our western practitioners, whom I had not met for a while, asked me playfully: “Master, do you think I look like a god or a ghost?”
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While I was shocked by her question, I took a quick glance at her from head to toe. And before I can reply, she added:” Last year, you helped me to explain the divine lot that I picked.”
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And then she continued telling me her story:
“While learning Bodhi Meditation, I felt a new life mission was calling me fervently, pointing me in a new direction. As I was unsure, I thought I should take a divine lot and ask about my future life direction.
I remembered that you told me: “This is a good divine lot. If you follow and realize it, you’ll achieve your dreams and ambitions”.
However, as my father was bad-tempered, I was always beaten by him when young. When I grew up, my husband is also impatient and bad-tempered and he often beat me. While I did not want to complain about them, I doubted my self worth and questioned about what meaningful things I can do in my life.
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And I remembered that you said: “All worries are futile. Nothing can stop you. You have a good future and you can help many people. As you improve in your practice, you may meet more challenges. But you can overcome all these challenges as you are a kind-hearted person. Helping people is your mission.”
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I was so happy when I heard what you said. But I was not completely convinced, as the family burden on me was too heavy.
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It wasn’t until you spoke at one of the sessions that : “Many members may seem inconspicuous and some are even discouraged and often ridiculed by family members and colleagues; they live like a ghost in the shadows at home or in the society. However, once they start practicing Meditation and understood my talks, they step up to help people. They are just like a god, not that they look like god, but they radiate the warmth and brilliance to help others.”
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When I heard what you said, I felt as if you were talking straight to my heart.
“Be like god and help people, or be like a ghost and live in the shadows?” From that day onwards, I decided to start a new life with a new mission.
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Now, Master, one year have passed, do you think I am a human or a ghost?”
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After hearing her story, I suddenly understood what she was saying. Indeed, in the past, she was like a mournful dog, fearfully timid. But now, she radiates and shines from within. Flipping her hair aside, she said: “I am very confident now. So confident that my husband has been influenced by my change. As he is a scientist, he started to appreciate Meditation with his knowledge and stopped beating me.”
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I responded with some humor: “You may want to thank your husband. To a certain extent, his beating you may have brought you out of the small family to a larger society for you to serve the masses. This is what in Buddhism we say : Grow Stronger with Resistance!”
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She was delighted to hear what I said, and took out the divine lot that she kept and said: “Master, I’ve been safe-keeping this divine lot to constantly remind me that if I wish to be alive, I must be like a god and not a ghost!”
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When she passed me the divine lot, I saw a rainbow at her back and I said: “ That rainbow is you!”
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She happily added:” Yes! I once wanted to have a cave, one that I could hide inside and be far away from my family, and not to be disturbed by them. Now that I have found my direction and mission, I no longer run away from my life, and want to help people all over the world. I wish all the people in the world know and practice Bodhi Meditation and learn from you.”
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So, I concluded: “The world is yours, be courageous and go for it.”
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