從一張名片說起The Story Beginning from a Namecard

這一輩子，吾沒想過要出名。對佛法和玄學的熱忱，讓我廢寢忘食地去鑽研。但吾所鑽研的，被很多人慣例地歸為迷信。本想跑到深山隱居，就這樣過一輩子。如果不是一位老師姐說：“玳瑚啊！你不要再躲了。眾生需要你！”，又想到皈依時，根本上師說要奉法持戒 ，吾就無知地成為一位自了漢。

于是吾走出來了。

第一張名片，是一位弟子在2002年時的供養。她說有名片，比較容易介紹吾給別人。吾本不要，但她的一句話觸動了吾的心：“師父，你幫我這麽多，可以讓我為你做一點事嗎？”

“好啦！印幾張就好。”

“師父，沒有幾張的。一次就得印三盒！”

2007年，有感自己的名片需要改革了。好些年輕客人的華文不好，不大讀得懂吾的名片。偶爾，也會有非華人的客人。于是，一位年輕女客人義務為吾操刀，依據吾的要求，加上中英文字體，做出新的設計。

弟子問：“師父，為什麼您名片的蓮花有莖？佛教裡繪畫的蓮花，不都沒有莖嗎？”

吾答：“這蓮花有莖代表有紮實的底，如師父有很深厚功夫一樣，一步一腳印應證出來的，絕不是個馬馬虎虎的師父。二，師父這蓮花的莖是要植入眾生的心裡，希望師父的教誨能讓他們得到清涼，帶領他們離苦得樂。”

第一次將新的名片給一位舊客人時，他說：“喔！師父開始商業化了。”

吾笑笑不語。人和人之間，往往就是因爲先入爲主而產生了誤會。

2008年，弟子問: “ 師父，不如我幫您設個臉書專頁？現在很多人必讀的書就是臉書！很多師父也在網上傳達佛理和玄學。可以將您的教義傳的更遠更廣，利益更多人！”

吾當時一口拒絕。吾自認文筆平平、相貌平平，在網絡上不會有作爲。憶起當年舊客人的話，更有所顧慮。怎知弟子不到黃河心不死，每隔一段日子就嘗試説服吾，什麽大道理都講盡。天啊！原來有那麽長氣的弟子！吾的耳根……

2012年四月，臉書專頁成立了。2013年九月二十八日，發了第一篇文章《電梯受困記》。

今天這篇是第六十六篇文章了。一年來，結交了不少朋友，有舊雨也有新知，有素昧平生的，也有已失去聯絡的卻奇妙地在網上搜尋到吾的臉書專頁。有新馬的朋友，也有港臺、菲律賓和澳洲的朋友。（網絡世界不可思議。）有的讀華文，有的只讀英文，有的雙語兼讀。每位按“贊”的，每有新的粉絲，弟子都會給吾看。

許多時候，吾會對著那手機螢幕輕聲地說“謝謝你”。 謝謝你妳的喜歡。謝謝你妳的轉發。謝謝你妳的推薦。

弟子問：“師父，你現在寫文章是爲了什麽而寫？”

“履行吾的願，弘揚佛法和玄學。”

“那有多少個‘贊’會影響你嗎？”

“沒有去想，無爲而為。寫了就是了。”

一人也好，多人也罷，只要能帶一份清涼給你妳，吾就會繼續地挥筆洒墨！

In this lifetime, fame has not been something which I pursue. The passion I have for Buddhism & Chinese see me delving deep into research, often foregoing my meals and sleep for it. However, there are a lot of people who habitually dismissed my passion as superstition. I thought of leading a reclusive life for the rest of my life. Had it not for a fellow Dharma sister who told me “Dai Hu! Please don’t hide anymore. The sentient beings need you!”, as well as my Root Guru’s words to uphold the precepts and the Dharma, I would have ignorantly become a recluse.

Because of their words, I decided to step out.

My first proper name card was a gift from a disciple in the year 2002. She said it would be easier to recommend me to others if I had a name card. I refused initially, but something she said touched me. “Master, You have helped me tremendously. Will you please let me do something for you?”

“Alright! Just print a few pieces will do”

“Master, I cannot print a few pieces. It has to be 3 boxes!”

In 2007, I saw the need to redesign my name card. A lot of my younger clientele do not have a competent grasp of Mandarin and cannot understand the information on my name card. Thus, a young lady client of mine offered her assistance and designed my new name card, according to my requirements, and with English & Chinese information.

A disciple asked, “Master, why does the lotus drawing in your name card have a stem? Is it not that the lotus, usually depicted in Buddhism illustrations, has no stem?”

I answered, “A lotus with a stem signifies a solid grounding, just as I diligently honed my skills over the years. I am definitely not a master that is shoddy with his work. Secondly, the stem of the lotus is to penetrate the heart of all sentient beings. I hope that my teachings will provide a breeze of purity and clarity to them, and guide them out of sufferings and to eternal bliss.”

The very first time I gave my new name card to an old client, he said “Oh, Master is getting more commercialized!”

I just smiled and kept mum. Often between people, we fall into the trap of preconceptions that eventually create misunderstandings.

In 2008, my disciple proposed, “Master, why don’t I help you create a Facebook page? Nowadays, the book that everyone read is Facebook! There are many masters propagating the Dharma and Chinese metaphysics online. You can use the Internet to spread your teachings further and wider to benefit more people!”

I refused her proposal flat down. At that time, I deemed my own writing skills as average at best and coupled with my ordinary looks, I did not think I would achieve anything online. The words of my old client added to my misgivings. Surprisingly, this disciple of mine refused to take no for an answer, and would preach to me about having an online presence every other day, with all the reasons that she could think of. My goodness! How did I end up having such a long-winded disciple? My poor ears…

In April 2012, my Facebook Page was set up. On 28th September 2013, my first article, titled “Being Trapped in the Elevator“, was posted.

This Facebook post marks the 66th article, since inception, which I have shared with my readers. Over the past year, I have made many “friends” on Facebook, both old and new. There are some whom I have never met, and there were others who found my Facebook page online after losing touch for a long time. There are Facebook friends from Singapore, Malaysia, as well as from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines and Australia. (The Internet is incredible.) Some read the articles in Mandarin, some only consumed the English ones and there are those who read both versions.

Every time there is a new “Like” or a new fan to my page, my disciple would show me the notifications with her mobile phone.

Many a time, I will gently say “Thank you” whilst looking at the screen. Thank you all for the likes. Thank you all for the shares. Thank you all for the recommendations.

My disciple asked, “Master, nowadays, what keeps you writing?”

My answer to her, “I am carrying out my promise, to propagate the Dharma and Chinese metaphysics.”

“Does the number of ‘likes’ affect you?”

“It does not cross my mind. I do what I should do, do it well and let things run its own course.”

Be it only a single reader, or many, as long as my writings can give you inner peace and relief from your troubles, I will continue to wield my pen!