I grew up as a Catholic. I was 12 years old when I first heard about Buddhism. It was not until my son Ivan graduated from high school and expressed interest in Philosophy as his course in college, that I took studying Buddhism seriously. I started to read about the life of Shakyamuni Buddha. My interest progressed from that point, so my son and I searched for a Buddhist monastery and found Ocean Sky Chan Monastery in San Juan. We joined the beginners’ meditation class in September of 2011. After completing the intermediate meditation class this past January, we became more involved in Ocean Sky’s activities. I was even made coordinator of our class.

My son and I felt a big change in ourselves after finishing both the Beginners’ and Intermediate classes. We gained a greater understanding about the Buddha’s teachings and being compassionate to all sentient beings. We are now more aware and mindful of our thoughts, words, and actions. We are also more able to detect which is ethical, honorable and righteous and discard which is corrupt, immoral, and unfair. The biggest change in our lives is when we understood what true nature is, and how to liberate ourselves from all misapprehensions and delusions by way of the Four Noble Truths. It is really an irrefutable fact that our deluded mind is the main obstacle to our enlightenment. The indispensable Dharma teachings of our Great Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha will put us on the right path towards freeing our minds from suffering and erroneous views.

My advice for new students is to be diligent and study, learn, and apply the teachings of Buddha in their everyday life. Practice meditation daily and focus on the present moment so that you can be awake, mindful and aware of your thoughts, words, and deeds every moment.

In this way, the mind will be pure, and you will do good deeds and have right thoughts, and will eliminate bad karma. I also want to remind them that one of our main duties is to enlighten all sentient beings who deserve all our everlasting compassion, love and affection.

We all possess a mind of a Buddha. Sooner or later we will all reach Buddhahood through diligent practice. We just need to get rid of all the pollution that clouds our mind from reaching perfect enlightenment. But how do we do it? By looking inwards and meditating deeply. And from daily meditation, we can finally control our mind to be still and focused, which is Zen.

我很慶幸能到海天禪寺來，除了有美味的素食料理之外，最重要的是法會禪修班中，師父開示的公案及故事，使我在生活中更學會謹慎，會怕種不好的因，得不好的果，更怕會墮落。

以前聽佛法開示，通常都是講講因果報應，做人的道理。但在海天上禪修班，卻能聽到佛法更深的真理。雖然有時師父講得太深，我笨笨的聽不懂，但相信多聽幾次總有聽懂的一天。

去年十月份去中台禪寺受在家菩薩戒，師父賜我法名「傳恩」，使我有說不出的法喜，令我時時提醒自己要知恩感恩報恩，提醒自己要精進，還有很多地方須要學習。感恩能在海天禪寺學佛，還有師父及師兄們的照顧。我會儘量的檢討反省，往好的方向改進，才不會枉費師父的苦口婆心。

人生有四大難得：中國難生，人身難得，大道難逢，明師難遇。而今這些難得，皆已現在眼前，若不好好把握，豈不可惜？所以我很珍惜在海天的緣份。也很感恩中台給了我們一位很有智慧的住持法師，教導我們，領導我們走向正確的成佛之路。這也是海天禪寺所有師兄們共同的心聲。

I came to Ocean Sky Chan Monastery on September 9, 2007, to fill in for a helper who took a two week vacation in her hometown. When the helper found out she was pregnant, Gina Quidlat presented me to Ms. Evelyn Chan and Abbess Jianyong as her regular replacement.

From the time I started working in the monastery, Master Jianyong also asked me to attend meditation classes in between my chores. In fact, during a Completion Ceremony, many people were surprised that I was able to complete at all.

I learned about Samsara, the causes of suffering, why life happens as it does. Once, I let Master Jianyong read a medical test result that showed a cyst in my ovary. The Abbess advised me to drink auspicious water before going to the doctor the next time. I prayed for positive results. At the clinic, the doctor examined me and told me that it was not a cyst; my ovary was alright and there was nothing to worry about. I shared this great news with the Shifu Jianyong and we were both overjoyed.

I find some time for meditation. I have visited Chung Tai Monastery twice. I was very happy to have joined the August celebration with the Tour of the Bodhi Mind. I also enjoyed the scenic places. There, in Taiwan, I could not recall even a single problem. I have been helping in the kitchen and have never gotten tired.

I would want newcomers to attend classes, to learn and maximize whatever the Shifus share. They have concern for every sentient being and look after every detail. They are good guides towards attainment of perfection.

Towards the end of the bitter, cold January in Taiwan, I had my first taste of the Seven-Day Chan Meditation Retreat. I immediately observed how systematic the procedures were while the activities were all carried out in a peaceful and orderly manner.

The level of experience was a notch higher as I did a lot of bowing and listened to the penetrating and hair-raising chanting and beating of drums. I can also attribute my experience to my being one with the whole Sangha. I witnessed and appreciated the entry and exit formation of about 1,000 pious looking people, all wearing black robes.

The formal lunch was done with contemplative demeanor as we were taught finer ways of eating from start to finish. Each time you bring food to your mouth, you think deeply of your blessings, the value of the food, the efforts put into its preparation, thus, not one bit should be wasted.

Every sitting meditation for me meant I had to tolerate back and leg pains. I noticed that whenever I began to relax, one of my feet would ache or when I would eventually just give up, the bell would be struck in less than a minute or so, signaling the end of the session.

The Dharma Masters reminded us that our minds must remain still and empty, devoid of delusions and other thoughts. The Grand Master warned us to disregard the various phenomena that may occur during meditation as well as to keep in mind that Zen is about getting rid of the three poisons above all else.

On the other hand, while some practitioners openly complain about the pain, the Abbot emphasized that the purpose of the seven-day meditation sessions was to basically train the Buddha Mind which comes in many names but refers to only one and the same concept—the Buddha Nature. And the lotus position can be developed through practice and can keep the body upright and stable. He explained that Nirvana or enlightenment does not happen suddenly like a strike of lighting, but may manifest through constant cultivation.

In conclusion, I have a renewed appreciation for disciplined and structured inner introspection and self awareness method and I will recommend the Chan-7 Retreat to all serious Zen practitioners for it will solidify your practice.

I read somewhere that there is an old man in each of us; that we tend to lose sight of our instincts but in each of us is an unforgotten wisdom stored up within. I wrote this bit in one of my reflections. Like a metaphor on how I see our true nature—obscured but always present.

My encounter with Buddhism began with a thought about wanting to become a Buddhist. How that thought crossed my mind I do not know but sometimes it’s the little twists in life that create the most impact.

I once asked a Master whether Buddhism was a religion or a philosophy. She said that to her, it is simply her way of life. I look back at the years past and realized she had driven her point succinctly. In principle, we learn from the Masters, then try to put into practice what we have learned; in reality though, it is easier said than done. I think what is important is that we persevere in our practice, because Buddhism, like the Dharma doors, presents itself to us in different ways with unlimited possibilities but the opportunity may not always be there. Like the Shifus always say: “cherish every moment!” Amitofo.

七日的禪修，令人心安，心定！
這是我第三次打七，第一次時什麼都不懂，只知匆忙地趕著每一個完全陌生的行程：地鐘響了進禪堂，穿卸海青上架房，過堂用齋。心都是急急忙忙；就連聽開示時，也不懂和尚的腔調和所說的名相。但經歷這些次的禪七，比較了解禪七的行程內容，現在已經進步很多，心比較安定，身也比較能放鬆。
這次禪七，第一支香就很能進入狀況，以前想不透的事情，在晚上入睡前竟歷歷在目，豁然開朗；連吃飯都能一口接一口地享受每一道菜的滋味，不像以前緊張兮兮地狼吞虎嚥。但在當中也覺察到自己不像第一次打七般的用心、遵守規定。因為熟了，就容易大意，這是自己反省慚愧檢討的地方。
我想鼓勵大家都去打禪七，自己試試看，就知道禪修的好處，歡迎各位有問題可以來問我！