當日下午2點半僧衆及義工抵達美國法雲寺( Fa Yun Monastery) 男衆部。法云寺住持如觀法師帶領住眾法師在大殿歡迎了禪舍僧衆一行。禮佛之後,大衆前往玅鏡長老紀念室頂禮長老的牌位。開印阿闍黎在如觀主持的引領下向長老牌位上香。緊鄰紀念室的是長老生前所用之書房。書房陳設佈局等依然維持舊貌,特別引人注意的是,書房藏書種類豐富,令好樂法寶的人「流連忘返」。參觀完書房后, 大衆一同來到茶房茶叙。 如觀住持和開印阿闍黎雖是初次見面,然而兩人都是出生於馬來西亞,則更添了一份親切感。二位長老各自分享了辦學弘道之點滴以及在美生活之趣事;更不忘勉勵在場的後學,今生在聖道上繼續努力,生生世世在三寶中奉獻、學習。
翌日下午一點禪舍僧衆拜訪美國法雲寺禪學院南院( Institute for Buddhist Studies Fa Yun Monastery -South Campus)。住持智悅法師親切地接待了僧衆一行。智悅法師先帶領大家向學院往届院長:玅鏡長老以及道海律師頂禮以及上香。接著,相識三十多年的「老朋友」開印阿闍黎和性空長老歡喜相見。 此次,性空長老應美國居士及團體的邀請, 前來指導一系列禪修課程。得知此事,禪舍僧衆也是特意前來頂禮長老。最後,長老和阿闍黎與禪學院住眾以及居士親切法談。席間,兩位善知識回答了在場大衆所提出的問題。 開印阿闍黎也分享了些許在緬甸的參學經歷以及深入經藏、止觀的心得體會。衆聞之,法喜充滿。
We added edging to the front yard garden today, to keep the soil and mulch back. Lacking a proper digging shovel, we used a thick drill to break down the hard soil. A hand trowel was then used to remove the soil and finish the trench. Finally, used bricks from a send-hand market were laid out onto the trench neatly. A simply and practical edging was achieved.
Some window frames in the monastery has weathered through years of rain and snow, with localized peeling paint and some minor damage. The residents in the monastery, together with a volunteer, started to maintain these frames on Sunday, our regular Chore Day. After some work of sanding, staining and painting, the frame look as good as new, at the same time shimmering with some vintage charm.Our mind, like this house, undergo downfalls inevitably in the storms of life. However, if we can address it before problem grow big, with constant maintenance, it will shine with the charm of the Dhamma.