文／菲律賓海天禪寺研經禪修班學員　法慈

　　在海天禪寺固定上禪修班，大大幫助我們提起正念並在生活中落實佛法。每年參加中台朝聖之旅，也讓我們更能在心上用功。然而，新冠肺炎疫情改變了一切。

　　二○二○年三月封城前，海天就因疫情暫停所有課程與活動。過去八年來，海天早已是我生活的一部分，也是心靈的依靠；我珍惜聽法的因緣，每週日去上禪修班，也歡喜當義工。突然不能去海天，讓我很難過。

　　工作地點因疫情改變，也增添了我更多的壓力和不安。而父親在疫情高峰時往生，讓我更是焦慮。這些事對我打擊很大，也因此停下修行的腳步。在這幾個月適應新生活中，師父持續以法語來安慰並支持我，讓我體會到一切人事物皆是無常，決定重新站起來、繼續修行。

　　重新開始，讓我的智慧及體悟都有所提升。我知道我必須要用佛法的智慧來面對疫情及挑戰──它們都是虛妄不實的，本質都是空性。於是我再次看到自己急切修行的心。為了平靜這念心，我每天三點起床，靜坐一小時、行香半小時，接著恭誦《心經》、《金剛經》，將功德回向一切眾生，特別是受疫情波及的人。最重要的是，要讓這念心清楚明白、如如不動。所以我也重新調整心念，才不會受外境影響，乃至不起貪、瞋、癡三毒，造下惡業。

　　我們真的很有福報，在馬尼拉能有慈悲、耐心的法師們不斷給與支持、鼓勵。感恩中台及海天禪寺教導的佛法及智慧，我會永遠記住這份恩德。我也發願繼續精進用功、修行持戒、行菩薩道，以精進的身心來報答三寶的法乳深恩及一切眾生的恩德。

　　（Going to a regular Buddhist class greatly helped us in mindfully applying the Dharma teachings in our day-to-day lives. The annual retreat to Chung Tai helps reinforce and further deepen our spiritual practice. But, the COVID-19 pandemic came and changed everything.

　　Prior to the lockdown in March 2020, we were already told that visits to the monastery had been temporarily suspended due to a local outbreak. I felt sad because for the last 8 years, Ocean Sky had been a part of my regular schedule and a way of life. I was also already enjoying volunteering in the monastery, looked forward to our Sunday classes, and cherished the Abbess's profound teachings. Then suddenly, the place of solace and refuge was no longer available as we were all caught in a lockdown.

　　There were also workplace changes which added stress and uncertainty. Adding to the anxiety, my father died at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Those events affected me greatly and put a halt in my practice. For months, while I adjusted to the new normal, I continued to receive on a regular and diligent basis words of comfort, messages of support, and sutra materials from Shifus. Realizing the impermanence of things, I decided to get back on my feet and resume my cultivation.

　　Reform gives rise to wisdom and enlightenment. I have to apply the wisdom of Buddhist teachings in coping with the pandemic and other challenging situations—that they are just delusive and temporary conditions and not the true reality. Hence, I saw the urgency again to silence my mind. I started by waking up at 3am and doing an hour of meditation, followed by 30 minutes of walking, and then reciting the Heart Sutra and the Diamond Sutra in order to dedicate merits to sentient beings, especially those affected by the pandemic. It is important that our mind is clear and unmoved. I am reprogramming my mind not to be affected by outside conditions and not to give rise to greed, anger and ignorance.

　　We in Manila are so blessed and fortunate to have a Sangha, a compassionate and patient Abbess and very supportive Shifus. I am forever grateful to Chung Tai and Ocean Sky for teaching us the Dharma and all the wisdom. I wish to repay the monastery by diligently continuing with my practices, upholding the precepts, and cultivating bodhisattvas’ acts of compassion. I will continue to cultivate both my mind and body to pay tribute to the Buddha and repay the kindness of Three Jewels as well as all sentient beings.）