We had originally enrolled for 生命自覺營 Awakening Life Retreat at Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) Taipei (Jinshan) and as it was my 1st time to stay on a temple to experience monastic life, I was rather excited about the trip. However, just days before our trip, on 3rd Feb 2009, it was saddening to hear the news of Master Sheng Yen passing away. The retreat became instead a rare occasion for us to participate in a simple yet grand Buddhist memorial rituals for a high monk of the century. It was really touching to see thousands of devotees from all over Taiwan and overseas visited DDM Taipei (Jinshan) to pay their final respect to the Master.
During the 11 days there, besides chanting at the main shrine, participating in the main events: the Encoffining, Cremation and Ashes burial ceremonies, one-day meditation retreat and a half day excursion, we also had memorial experience as volunteers at DDM.
Through doing the volunteering work together, including preparation of food, washing and drying of the cutlery and the gigantic pots, ladles, etc used to serve the mass, washing the kitchen floor, drying and folding (recycling) the disposable raincoats, washing and drying the oil lamp containers, sweeping the roads to the main shrine, preparing souvenirs for thousands of devotees, etc, the participants from Singapore and in fact Malaysia too had fortified our friendship and team spirit.
After seeing the process and helping to prepare the vegetables to be cooked into a meal, we better understood & treasure even more the meals being served to us during meal times. The appreciation of the famous phrase of "Each grain of rice is precious" (粒粒皆辛苦) was much enhanced just based on the work required to plan and prepare even a simple meal (for the thousands of devotees...), not to mention the stages before the vegetables are being delivered to the temple….
The meals, which were already delicious, became even more delicious....
During our short stay and volunteering work at their “Environmental protection” unit, we can observe that DDM has also done very well in their environmental protection and energy conservation. During normal times, we are also strongly discouraged to take lifts except for the elderly, those with weak health and those carrying bulky items. The buildings have long flights of stairs that every day travelling to & fro different sections of the buildings, is really good training for vertical marathon. Most of us felt that we had climbed whole year's worth of stairs in the days there (we are really very pampered & fortunate in Singapore & I now feel guilty if am sole traveller using the lift after the trip). Likewise is light conservation at the halls & their recycling effort on differentiating kitchen and normal waste, etc, are all good practices worth our learning.
The close encounter with the Venerables, working alongside with them, seeing how committed and serene the Venerables were in a different role, the warmth, care and concern displayed by everyone at DDM really touched us.
The trip's experience (very much to true monastic life rather than a much fantasy one which we were told our original retreat cancelled was supposed to be) is very memorable to all of us...
Thank you, Master, for all the teachings, for all the efforts to advocate Pureland spirit in Samsara, for all the efforts in helping us realise the Truth … Amituofo…
