I was first invited by one of our family friends, Lolita Lutanco, to join a meditation class in Ocean Sky Chan Monastery in 2004. I was then 20 years old, and wanted very much to study Chinese culture and practices, like kung fu, qigong, wushu and the like. Knowing that there would be monks in the temple, I was very excited to take a glimpse. Upon checking it out, the volunteers of Ocean Sky informed me that they were only offering meditation classes, which was perfectly fine with me since I really wanted to be involved in activities related to Chinese culture.

When I started my first meditation class, I found out that the monks were also teaching Buddhism as part of the curriculum. I was a college student back then, and had a lot of spare time; so I was able to quickly complete the beginners’ class followed by the intermediate class, then the advance class, and finally the sutra classes. I have also decided to repeat the classes once I was done with the levels. I really don’t know what kept me going to study in all those classes repeatedly. All I can say is I am really happy that I have completed them all.

In the process, I learned a lot of Buddhist teachings like the Four Noble Truths, Eight Fold Path, Twelve-fold Causal Chain, Six Paramitas, the Heart Sutra, the Sutra of the Eight Realizations of Great Beings, and the Surangama Sutra. I also understood the true meaning behind the putting up and burning of yellow and red tablets as part of our offerings. There are also many teachings that can help improve the way we think and act in our daily lives, which greatly enhance our personality in order to achieve our goals in life.

One of the basic teachings I can share is the law of causality. The logical equation goes like this: Cause + Condition = Effect. This means that for an effect to occur, it needs both causes and conditions to be present to get what you want. For example, I wanted to study Chinese culture, but there were no schools that taught meditation. So how could I learn then? I had the cause in mind to study, but no condition or no school for me to enroll in. In the end, it took a long time before I was able to study meditation and Buddhism.

I am really thankful for what Ocean Sky has taught me through the years. As a sign of gratitude, I make it to a point to help out in the monastery. Currently, I volunteer as an acolyte and work to make sure things go well during ceremonies. I am also responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the Chan Hall. By helping out in the monastery, I realized that there is actually plenty of work to be done in order to complete a single ceremony. A lot of preparations are needed like putting up the liturgy stands, preparing the censers and the tablet stands, arranging the tablets, arranging the meditation mats and many more things.

In helping out at the monastery, I realized I am applying what I’ve learned from the meditation classes. When working with fellow volunteers, I soon notice other people’s shortcomings. With this, I can cultivate by accepting their faults, and have longer patience. I not only learned tolerance but soon, I became a team player, and worked well together to accomplish everyone’s goal, which is to help the monastery and let more people learn about Buddhism.

Lastly, let me share with you my favorite quotation regarding how one should regard his past, present and future: “If you want to know your past, look at who you are now. If you want to know your future, look at what you are doing now.”

很早以前就聽法師講過菩薩戒的內容。但因怕破戒犯下惡業，所以遲遲不敢去受菩薩戒。直到2008年，因為想成就一位師兄受菩薩戒，兩人遂相約一起在中台禪寺乞受在家菩薩戒。

對傳言而言，能受菩薩戒是很有福報，很隆重的一件事情。誠如經典所言: 「眾生受佛戒，即入諸佛位，位同大覺已，真是諸佛子。」受菩薩戒就在修行道上，種下成佛的正因，生生世世，直至成佛。在菩提道上，謹記三聚淨戒的提醒，時時斷惡修善，廣度眾生，將來就能依仗持戒的清淨功德，永得解脫，契入佛位。

傳言還只是一個初發心的毛道菩薩，還是有許多不圓滿的地方。未受戒前，心中無警惕，常起惡念、作惡事，自己還不自知。現在因為有受戒的提醒，犯了當下即懺悔。漸漸地心越來越清淨，善緣日漸具足，讓我在菩提道上能勇往直前。

我來海天禪寺已經很多年了。初入禪寺住持法師鼓勵我來上禪修班。剛開始只是好奇來上課，並沒有任何希望或期待。

那時的我也遇到了一些苦苦、壞苦的事。我實在不敢相信，更不能接受當時發生的事。在失望和怨恨中，我生了一場大病。

初接觸佛法，我並沒有立刻真正的去思考了解佛法的道理。直到禪修很長一段時間後，才開始對佛法有一點點的概念。在見樞法師指導開示下，進步的比較快。聽聞後會去思考，然後盡量去落實。我慢慢地學會放下並接受事實。逐漸地回復我以前的人生觀，慢慢地開朗與樂觀起來。更進一步對本具的心性也有了一點點了解。

不管是順境或逆境現前，我不會像以前那麼高興或悲傷。我會往自己的內心看，若起了惡念，就盡量把它改成善念。當我看到有人在造惡業，我就會起慈悲心，並提醒我自己不但不要犯同樣的錯，還要提昇我自己。若有逆境出現，讓我起了以牙還牙的念頭，我就會問我自己:「別人下地獄，我是不是也要跟著下地獄?」想到火燒功德林。我就會盡量修習忍辱，少發脾氣。就這樣我心平靜多了。瞋恨也減輕了。人也比較有定力。身體也比以前好多了。我在這十年來所失去的都是短暫的，但慢慢回復的卻是原本的平靜心與歡喜心。

我的法名是傳滿。我這ㄧ生已經擁有滿滿的，只是還不知道。我現在終於契悟到我擁有滿滿的不僅是有形無形、有相無相、有生有滅的虛幻，還擁有這無形無相、無有邊畔、不生不滅的佛性。

在見叮法師的勸發下，終於在2011年10月受了菩薩戒。

本來對菩薩戒就高而望怯。一個步入高齡的人，習氣總比別人多之又多，哪有什麼菩薩的風範。在師父開示之後，知道先前的觀念是錯的。既然做為佛弟子，就該跟隨佛陀的腳步走，學習佛陀的慈悲願力。更重要的是，受了菩薩戒才能有更細微的念頭來觀照自己內心的貪瞋癡。故想了又想，要知行合一。只知道理而不去做，就等於是零。就這樣下定了決心報名參加。

沒想到大家一起報名，傳見卻是唯一被退回的。見叮法師馬上通知弟子，要弟子每天發願。弟子也納悶困惑是否弟子的心念不夠堅決，還存有疑惑。就趕緊每天到佛前發願。終於到受菩薩戒前一個月才被錄取。師父說還是要繼續發願下去，不可間斷。至今還是每天發願，並願護法護教心永不退轉。

看到受戒的中外弟子那麼多，那麼熱誠地要追隨佛陀的腳步至涅槃，真是太感動了。更讓弟子不能忘記的是在「燃香供佛」時，看到有些佛弟子是那麼膽怯、那麼害怕，他們終究還是打破了「我執」把手臂伸出讓師兄們在手臂上燃香。不管是只燃一 點、兩點或三點，那時就感受到佛陀的大悲願行「割臂餵鷹」。弟子們區區的這一點痛算的了什麼!

受了菩薩戒，就是大眾的模範，身、口、意時時都要觀照到。雖然習氣一時不能完全改過來，但現在時時都要觀照到自己的言行舉動，一時片刻做不好時，也知道要去懺悔反省檢討，知道要更用心去破除我執、要謙虛、柔軟。更重要就是茹素。還要把中台四箴行落實在日常生活中。不僅如此還要發願心，期許「上求佛道、下化眾生」的大願心、行菩薩道，最終才能成佛道。

但在遇到大逆境時還是不能完全放下。明知道要放下才能在利他中完成自利。這點還要加倍努力學習。

其他平時遇到的鎖碎事，都不再是什麼大不了的事了。只要用寬容心、包容心、將心比心的心情去面對，就會坦然輕鬆。但慈悲心還是不夠，這點還要多多練習。

後來住持見樞法師上課時時提起，就因為還有貪瞋癡、執著、習氣…才要受菩薩戒。若樣樣都具備齊全了，那不就是佛了嗎?!故更清楚瞭解受菩薩戒才是佛弟子真正應走的路!

現在對三寶更懂得知恩、感恩、報恩! 大家一起努力更上一層樓!

More than two years into meditation, I have tremendous appreciation for its fruits—in terms of health, sharpness, stillness of mind, and balanced emotions. There were moments when my patience was put to the test, but thankfully I had awareness, so I came out level headed.

From the time I learned and took meditation by heart, I converted all my activities as meditation exercises that sometimes I was amazed how I managed to do more than I expected. My smiles have always been genuine. Through the years I have been like this, regardless of my life’s circumstances. I could always feel that a pure kind of divine joy is being poured into my Being that brings a more serene smile on my lips.

I hope, pray and look forward to experiencing Samadhi, all the days of my life.

Ocean Sky, through the kind invitation of the former Abbess Jianding, also gave me the opportunity to nurture the minds of little children. I am so touched, deeply humbled and so grateful for the opportunity and trust bestowed upon me and my son. I take this task by heart and very seriously, knowing that we are molding the personality and establishing the mindset of a future generation.

Thus, I meticulously prepare the games and lessons assigned to me because I want to give the children the maximum benefit they could get from the Bodhi Star classes. It does not matter if they understood it today or not, what I know is that the Bodhi seeds are planted in their minds and someday, somehow, when the conditions are ripe, these will blossom and bear fruits.

I strongly believe and uphold the values being taught in Ocean Sky, which are founded on the 10 Virtues of the Bodhi Stars—Respect, Compassion, Harmony, Sincerity, Faith, Diligence, Meditation, Wisdom, Thankfulness and Bodhi. If all can honestly and truthfully cultivate these virtues, regardless of age, this world will indeed be a better place to live in.

From the bottom of my heart, I earnestly thank Grand Master Wei Chueh for planting the Bodhi seed in the Philippines, the Abbess and all the Masters of Ocean Sky for the genuine love, devotion, compassion and guidance to enlighten and awaken the laity to take on the Bodhi Path, and most importantly for believing strongly in the Buddha Nature in each one of us. AMITOFO!

As a practicing Buddhist, it is not easy to apply the Five Precepts in our daily lives; how much more to take its formal vow!

Upon learning from the Dharma Masters that taking the Lay Bodhisattva Precepts is a great opportunity to amend past mistakes, I was convinced. On their part, they assured me of their support, to encourage me and sustain my vow. So, off to Chung Tai we went to take it.

During the ceremony, as a profound symbol of our vows, three cone-shaped incenses were burnt on our upper forearm; it symbolizes how the body was the censer, and the Precepts, the fragrant offering of incense.

In preparation, we were immersed in real-life examples of the practice of Lay Bodhisattva Precepts; we experienced the monastic life, practiced compassion and tolerance, discarded all our possessions and released all our attachments. The discipline included a certain way of thinking and acting. Having nothing, I realized that I only have myself to offer Buddha.

The mere thought of being burnt scared me, but I found strength in knowing that I was making a supreme offering of myself. Surprisingly, there was no pain and I was overflowing with joy and became teary-eyed.

Coming home, I was a changed person. I knew the challenges that await me outside the monastery wall, but compassion and tolerance are the keys. Becoming vegetarian while other members of the household were not, also posed a test of will power and perseverance. Thus, I cook my own food or run to Ocean Sky.

That was a year ago, and now I am in a happier state than ever before, knowing that my vows kept me from harming other sentient beings. Taking the Lay Bodhisattva Precepts entails great responsibilities, but I intend to uphold them forever. Receiving it was a privilege; I knew in my mind that I was making the ultimate offering to the Buddha and to all sentient beings.