本寺簡介 Introduction

開山長老－　上 聖 下 印 老和尚 Founding Father - Venerable Master Shen-Yin
(公元一九三零 - 一九九六年)

In Memorial
The Venerable Sheng Yin
1930-1996CE

老和尚在家的姓氏為 陳林 ，單名 明，台中市東勢鎮人，先祖籍貫隸屬中國廣東省，後遷移至台灣，歷代均為佛化家庭，自幼即受薰染，故深慕佛法，心志清淨無沾滯。

The Venerable Sheng Yin’s lay family name was Chen Lin and his lay name was Ming. While he was born in the town of Dong Shi in Taichung, his ancestors originated from the Guangdong Province in China, and had migrated to Taiwan. 

he family had been devout Buddhists for many generations and the young Venerable Sheng Yin had been influenced by Buddhism and admired the teachings of the Buddha, and lived a very pure and disciplined life.

十七歲時即歸依智性上人，披剃出家。二十歲時，親近侍奉慈航、印順、演培等當代有真材實學的大師並高度仰敬前輩大師太虛的思想。二十七歲時，即開講大座，荷擔如來家業，大佈法雨，大施建設，一切如理如法，如是四十年不覺間過去一切施設建樹，量之多難望項背；影響之深遠難可測思；所有事業都詳細地備載於他的傳記或相關文集內現謹提要二三事，以供有緣目睹者分享及受用。

At the age of 17, he was tonsured and ordained under the guidance of the Venerable Zhi Xing. At the age of 20, he personally served under some of the great masters of the present era such as Ci Hang, Yin Shun, and Yan Pei. He was also a great admirer of the thoughts of the Grand Master Tai Xu.

At age 27, he began to lecture on Buddhism, carrying on the work of Lord Buddha, widely preaching the Dharma, establishing temples and schools, in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha.

Time flew and forty years went past. His achievements are too numerous and beyond comparison. His teaching has such a profound influence that it is difficult to fathom. All his achievements have been recorded in his biography or other related works. A few of these will be listed below for the reader to appreciate.

普遍廣佈法雨盡一切所能:親赴監獄弘法、到醫院慰問並開示傷殘療病者、到大專院校開示並排遺院生的一切困惑、親往窮鄉僻野開示並滋潤貧法之弊；進而空中佈教，包括電台及電視，又創辦兩份月刋；更遠赴星、馬、泰、日、韓、美、紐等地，廣灑法雨，蔭覆當地眾生；並有遺著四十餘部。向上為使如來家業承繼有人及使一切眾生能殖善因，不惜生命，全力以付:傳戒宏戒，不棄捨任何一個求戒者；開設佛學院，培養教育真實的出色僧寶；四十餘年，以身作則，眼中絕對沒有生死之憂，而只有怕不能圓滿成就一切眾生，只要還剩一口氣，那一口氣的時間亦絕不讓它平白空過。福利社會、重整民心道德:創辦商工職業學校、托兒所、幼稚園、貧民診所、冬令救濟、發放清寒獎學金、提倡孝親敬老......等等活動。

The Venerable Sheng Yin preached the Dharma widely, with all his energy.
The Venerable Sheng Yin brought the Buddha’s teachings into the prisons. He visited hospitals and gave Buddhist instructions to patients. He also gave lectures at Universities and other tertiary institutions and provided counselling services to the students. He personally visited remote villages to preach the Dharma. He also gave sermons on radio and television, and founded two monthly publications. He travelled and preached the Dharma widely, to many countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Korea, USA and New Zealand. He also left behind over forty volumes of work.

To ensure the continuity of the Buddha’s teachings, and to plant the good seeds in all sentient beings, the Venerable Sheng Yin deployed every resource within his power, without holding back anything including his own health. He passed on and expounded on the precepts, never turning away anyone who seeks the precepts. He founded Buddhist colleges, training and grooming outstanding Sangha, i.e. monks and nuns, who constitute the third of the Three Gems of Buddhism. For forty years, he led by example, and was not concerned with his own life or death. His intention was the perfection of salvation of all sentient beings, even if he was on his last breath, he would not let this last breath pass in vain.

Charitable work for the community and raising the society’s morals.
The Venerable Sheng Yin founded commercial and trade schools, nurseries, kindergartens, and medical clinics for the poor. He also initiated many activities such as providing relief to the poor during the winter months, awarding of scholarships to needy students, and the promotion of filial piety towards one’s elders and respect for the aged.

現再提要二三事，俾有緣者體會體會老和尚的洪大心量:

There are a few more examples to show the great compassionate heart of the Venerable Sheng Yin:

• When the Venerable Sheng Yin first started his work, because of financial difficulties, he would personally perform religious services for people. In return, he would not accept alms in the form of cash, but requested the donation of rice and other food for the students of the Buddhist colleges.
• The Venerable Sheng Yin repeatedly gave earnest instructions to his disciples that they should not set up temples in close proximity to existing temples so as not to adversely affect others.
• The Venerable Sheng Yin’s words were always truthful and sincere. He did not discriminate between the different sects of Buddhism.

綜觀老和尚一生行持及事業，若非大心菩薩，倒駕慈航，怎能於短短的一生，能創樹如斯具大魄力的事業

In reviewing The Venerable Sheng Yin’s lifelong achievements and way of life, if he were not a Bodhisattva with a great compassionate heart, it would not be possible for him to achieve what he did in such a short lifetime.

我們可以從他的遺偈中推敲一下老和尚的本地如何：
我已是六十七歲的人了
了斷塵緣或繼續塵緣對我來說本來就無所謂取捨；
實在來說亦無所謂來或去
只為眾生不明白這個道理沉淪六道，輪轉不息；
我為了要使眾生明白這個真實的道理，故權示來去以解眾生之愚。

From his writings, we can deliberate on what he was really like:

“I am already sixty-seven years old.”

“Whether I have terminated the cycle of this life or am continuing with the cycle, to me, there is really no more so-called desire or giving up.”

“A sentient being is vexed by so-called coming or going (birth or death); but to an enlightened person, there is no so-called coming or going”

“Only the sentient beings do not understand this theory, sinking and degenerating in the unceasing cycle of re-birth within the six realms of existence. To let all sentient beings understand this only truthful theory, so I illustrate coming (life) and going (death) so as to explain to the sentient beings of their ignorance.”

一位具有高尚節操及尊貴品格的一代大師已離我們而去了，但他的偉大基業還依然存在；一切能發大心的後賢呀！若有緣目睹大師一生的洪願建設，不知是否能繼大師的步伐而挑擔大業呢？

A Great Master with such moral integrity and noble character has departed from us. But he left his great works and achievements as a legacy for us. All you virtuous people who are willing to answer the calling, when you read about the Great Master’s great vows and see his achievements, would you follow the Great Master’s footsteps and take on the challenge of continuing with his great work?

碑文
西元 2001 年佛曆2545年元月 吉日
紐西蘭慈明寺住持 釋常順 泣立碑文
三昧耶戒弟子即醒居士 撰

Inscription
An auspicious day in January in the year 2545 in the Buddhist Calendar (2001CE)
Respectfully erected by Shi Chang Shuen, Abbess of New Zealand Tsi Ming Temple
Compiled by Samaya Precept Disciple Scott Wong