I have lived in Glen Iris for 27 years and have been attending the Bao Lin Monastery for 2 1/2 years. Attending weekly Dharma talks and meditation has been extremely useful in my life and has made me more tolerant towards others and less reactive to the adverse situations that present themselves in the usual course of living.

　　The most beneficial aspect of my involvement with the monastery has been the meditation regime. If done regularly it allows you to perceive your thoughts as they arise and see the motivation behind your actions. I have found the half day and full day meditations are great as the cumulative effect is quite rewarding.

　　It takes courage and discipline to study Buddhism as the principles do not always match one's current frame of thinking; but I think that is one of helpful parts of the learning something new ― you don't benefit if you don't challenge your thoughts and change. Having said that it is also a relief to find a lot of things that took up my thought processes in the past have less importance and less effect on me.

　　I think my family has also benefited from my involvement because I am calmer and appreciate what is it front of me. for example rather than thinking, thinking, thinking of the future and what I will be doing, or not doing in five, ten years I get a lot more ̏now˝ time pleasure. This can be shared with my partner and child in a way that is tangible.

　　Finally let me say that I have a deep respect for the Abbess and shifus for their discipline and selfless service they provide in Glen Iris. It is always a pleasure to see one of the shifus.

　　（我住在Glen Iris已經二十七年了，親近寶林禪寺也有兩年半的時間。每週上禪修班對我的生活十分有用處，對他人我變得更寬容，日常生活中遭逢逆境時，也不再那麼衝動。

　　學佛，讓我受益最多的是禪修。倘若經常靜坐，它能讓你一起心動念就覺察到，並認清行為背後的動機。我發現半日禪和一日禪修真的很棒，因為其累積的效益是很可觀的。

　　佛法和世間的思維模式不盡相同，所以學佛是需要勇氣與紀律的，我想這也是有助於學習新事物的要素之一。也就是說，如果不挑戰並改變自己原有的想法，就無法從中獲益。話說回來，學佛後有一種如釋重負的感覺，因為過去腦袋裡裝的許多念頭已不再那麼重要、那麼影響我。

　　還有，學佛後我的家人也得益，因為我比以前更平靜、更珍惜眼前的一切。舉例而言，與其念頭一直縈繞在未來五年後、十年後要做什麼、不做什麼，我獲得了更多活在當下的喜悅。這種真切的喜悅可以和我的同修及孩子分享。

　　最後想說的是，對住持法師及常住法師的修持與以及他們在Glen Iris的無私奉獻，弟子有著深深的敬意。只要看到法師，心裡總是感到歡喜。）