Faith Grows Amid Storm
There will be a miracle when you believe
September 20-21, 2014
Last month, I came into an amazing experience in my life, which strengthened my faith in Master Hong Sheng. Jenny, one of the followers of our Master, invited Master Hong Sheng and other followers to experience the fun of a guava farm in Zhanghua County, in the middle west of Taiwan.
Two days before going to Zhanghua, my mother told me that there would be a typhoon, Fung Hong, coming to Taiwan. The possibility of hitting Taiwan was 100% on that weekend. According to the weather forecast, the typhoon was expected to go straight from southern Taiwan to northern Taiwan.
Weather forecast, the predicted route of the typhoon, Fung Hong, on September 19, 2014
My mother asked me if the trip was going to be cancelled. I just simply told her “It’s ok, don’t worry.” I firmly believe that wherever Master Hong Sheng is, the place will be blessed. I also felt excited and was expecting a “miracle” to happen during the trip, because it would be a good evidence of learning Buddhism from Master Hong Sheng.
Our Master has been teaching people how to create our own happiness by following Buddhist philosophy and Chinese ancient education and wisdom. There’s a well-known saying, “Action speaks louder than words” which he is also a practitioner. Whatever he teaches, he sets a good example with his own conduct. Around him, I always feel in a harmonic atmosphere. I gain wisdom and become more open-minded after following his teachings. “Everyone” is happy when Master Hong Sheng is around, human being, animals, plants, and beings which we cannot see.
The day before going to Zhanghua, some of the classmates and I left for Kaohsiung, for not only some personal matters but also being easier to start the journey together on the next day, as Master Hong Sheng and some others live in Kaohsiung. On the way to Kaohsiung, I looked up to the sky. It was cloudy in the northern part of Taiwan, but I could still see the sun shining through the clouds, like the spotlight spotting from the ground toward the sky. I believe that it was a good sign of my faith in Master Hong Sheng, Buddhism and the coming fruitful trip.
When I woke up the next morning, it was still raining outside, though. It didn’t influence my peaceful mood. After eating breakfast, we started the journey. Only a few cars on the highway as there was a land storm warning. The typhoon was going to hit Zhanghua, west of Taiwan. On that day, however, it was windy but the rain was not heavy. Therefore, we didn’t need to worry about the traffic too much.
As I was listening to the rhythm of falling rain, there was a line came to my mind: faith grows amid the storm! Our Master didn’t ask Jenny to cancel the trip. No one had the thought of canceling this trip including the host in Zhanghua. Others don’t understand our Master’s teaching, thinking we are crazy or worrying about our safety. It seemed that we were putting our Master and ourselves into danger, but for us, this trip was another evidence of the Master’s teachings we have learned: If we do a right thing for this world, the whole world would return the blessing to us.
Later on, as we arrived in Zhanghua and met the host and her family, the weather became better; the rain was lighter and without strong wind. The host invited us to her house and served us the guava and fresh juice, which was cultivated by them. While we were eating, the Master started to talk. Ever since I learned recording skills, I have followed the Master and recorded his teachings many times. However, this time, I didn’t set up the recorder until I saw another classmate take out his pen recorder. I felt ashamed that I was selfish eating sweet fruit and had forgotten to keep a serviced heart for people. Once I am aware of the selfish mind, I told myself I should be fully ready and consider others anytime any place just like our Master. Wherever Master Hong Sheng goes, there’s always a teaching for people and he blesses the place.
After eating fruit and a big lunch, the rain stopped. We sat at the outside of the house and listened to the Master’s teaching. A cool breeze blew, everyone felt comfortable. How wonderful the weather was! The host told us: “Yesterday was hot and sticky. But today, the air is fresh and cool.” She also said that she has strong faith in Master Hong Sheng and she believes that the next day, the weather will be good as soon as Master is arrived. I think this is the main reason why this trip wasn’t cancelled.
The typhoon changed the route from west to east, not even to Kaohsiung!
After the Master’s teaching, we went to visit several places like tourists. Thanks to the typhoon, attractions were not crowded. People stayed at home and the highway was clear as well.
Typhoon day. Before sun went down. The sky was purple and with sunshine. It looked like a blessing of happy ending.
The trip was meaningful for me. Faith is the subject during this journey. A few days ago, I watched The Prince of Egypt and heard the theme soundtrack, “When You Believe” sung by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Today I read the lyrics again and I was touched by them, it says, There can be miracles when you believe, the hope is frail but it is hard to kill... This trip is as the lyrics say, there can be miracles when you believe…
I would like to thank Jenny, the host and her family. I would also like to thank my classmates of YJY for the comfortable and happy trip, my parents allowing me to go on this trip even though they knew the weather could be bad. Especially, I want to thank my Master, Master Hong Sheng. Without him, I cannot change my fate and thought. I should stop doubting and practice the Master’s teaching with an unbreakable faith.
Written by Yun Ting (Lili)
風雨生信心
彰化社頭田園趣
2014年9月19-20日
感謝端容師姐的邀請，這次有幸與 師父上人以及師兄師姐們同遊彰化社頭。出發前兩天，媽媽跟我說颱風鐵定會直撲台灣而來，擔心我彰化之旅會不會有問題。我當時沒有很認真思考媽媽的問題，就直接出門上班了。只覺得我應當活在當下，而且還有兩天可以觀察。
這已經不是第一次跟 師父上人一起旅行了，我心中很篤定天氣一定不會有問題。
出發前一天，仍然只聽到颱風必定會侵襲台灣的消息，看來颱風路線也跟我的信心一樣堅定。颱風路徑是由南貫穿到北，一路肆虐台灣，21日的時候，颱風預計正好會跟我們在彰化碰面。
2014年9月19日颱風路徑預測圖（感謝端容師姐提供）
看著氣象預報，心裡依舊信心十足地想著，就藉由這次的旅程來見證颱風轉向或是變小的奇蹟。可是爸爸媽媽一定會擔心，我只好把端容師姐的行程計劃拿出來，讓爸爸媽媽了解這次的行程。其實我既感恩又佩服爸爸媽媽的信任，竟然沒有阻止我出門。
由於臺北同參有事情必須前一天先到高雄，我也一同出發。南下途中，北部的天空雖然雲還蠻多的，不過一路上都仍可看到燦爛的陽光。沒想到颱風來襲之前還看得到如此光芒，當下感覺是個好預兆，讓我信心大增。經過台中時下雨了！雨聲卻無法改變我的信心，仍然相信星期天的旅程一定風調雨順。反而覺得雨聲分外悅耳呢！
2014年9月21日
早上睡到自然醒來，外面依舊下著大雨，這當中，沒有人覺得需要取消行程。吃完早餐之後，我們上路了。從高雄到彰化，因為颱風天的關係，高速公路上車子不多，一路通暢無比。路途中雖然有風有雨，心中突然冒出「風雨生信心」這五個字。真的覺得 師父上人實在不簡單。原來，真正的教育是用「命」來教學的。然而，關於與 師父上人出遊，不用擔心天氣這件事情，這趟旅程中，經由 法申老師與 師父上人提點後，末學調整了這種天不怕地不怕的態度，因為氣候之所以能夠稱心如意，絕對是因為 師父上人的德修，末學只是沾了 師父上人的福。應該要盡心盡力學修，也讓自己周圍的人有這種福可以享用！
抵達這次目的地，邱姐和王姐還有邱姐的家人熱情款待。大家吃到好甜美的水果還有新鮮的果汁。當我還在專注美食之際，師父上人已經開始說法了，而我還沒有反應過來，吃著水果，心裡想著應該還不用錄音吧？然後就看到師兄們已經拿出錄音器材，我這才慚愧的趕緊把器材拿出來。沒想到自己這麼不重法。這次算是提醒了自己，出來玩還是要保持著替人服務的心。
用完有如年菜的豐盛午餐之後，大家齊聚在邱姐家門口的庭院聽 師父上人開示。這時候完全沒有颱風的跡象。涼爽的氣溫、舒服的微風吹拂著，田中的稻穗好像也很享受，輕輕地搖曳著。還有幾隻小鳥也在電線上聽法。根據主人的描述，前一天的氣候悶熱，空氣黏黏的，而今天應該是風大雨大的颱風天，但是卻因為 師父上人的到來，彰化人才能享受到今天舒爽合宜的好天氣。
飯後聽法處
聽完法之後，我們去了幾個景點。在一家園藝店，看到氣象報告，原來颱風往東走了。就如同 師父上人稍早的預告。
颱風轉向，往東走了（感謝端容師姐提供）
因為颱風的關係，許多人都待在家裡不敢出門，所以路上或是景點人都很少，正因為如此，我們反而擁有一個輕鬆愜意的旅程。
這次的旅程，對我而言，徹底地學到「信」！相信所學的正法，相信 師父上人這位明師。自知疑心很重的自己，藉著每次與 師父上人相處的機會，每次都破除一點自己的疑心，然後才知道疑心存在的可怕以及疑心也會阻礙學修進步。重新開始相信所學，相信 師父上人的法，還有更重要的是相信自己一定可以辦到，才能真正去落實所學的聖賢道理或是佛法。
感謝 師父上人的教化！感謝爸爸媽媽的支持！感謝端容師姐的籌劃！感謝師兄們的駕駛！感謝師姐們的陪伴！祝福大家法喜充滿！
末學 韻婷 敬筆
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