纪念慧僧法师 In Memory of Dharma Master Huiseng

带病宣教，提携后进，不遗余力。

He continued to expound the teachings even in the midst of illness and

spared no effort to guide and bring up the younger generation.

慧僧法师，籍贯中国东北辽宁，幼习教观于观宗寺，暨福建鼓山涌泉寺，曾亲近云公老人。后回东北，住持奉天慈恩寺。日本侵略东北，伪号满洲帝国。

Dharma Master Huiseng was a native of LiaoningProvince in Manchuria, China. At a young age, he studied the teachings and contemplations at Guanzong Monastery. He went to Yongquan (Bubbling Spring) Monastery at Gushan (DrumMountain) in FujianProvince, where he drew near to the Elder Master Yun. Later, he returned to Manchuria and became the abbot of Ci'en (Compassionate Kindness) Monastery in Fengtian (old name for Liaoning) Province. Dur-ing the Japanese occupation, under the Manchukuo pup-pet govern-ment, Dharma Master Huiseng expended great effort in turning the Dharma wheel and protecting Buddhism.

彼则大转*轮，维护佛教，余于一九四七年，自苏州灵岩山寺回东北，寄寓云水堂，作挂单众，初瞻风范，高踞丈席，请见无由，故未一语。后于广东南华寺，复邂逅相遇，始淡然叙交。旋彼赴香港，余则往云门大觉寺。

In 1947, on my way from Lingyanshan Monastery in Suzhou back to Manchuria, I stayed overnight at Yunshui (Clouds and Water) Temple. That was the first time I observed this Dharma Master's exemplary manner. He stayed in the Abbot's quarters, and since I had no chance to make his acquaintance, I didn't get to exchange a single word with him. Later, we unexpectedly met at Nanhua Monastery in Canton, and had a casual, friendly chat. Afterwards, he departed for Hong Kong and I went to Dajue (Great Enlightenment) Monastery in YunmenCounty.

一九四八年重遇于香江东普陀寺。后彼赴南洋、星马各地弘法，德化所被，闻风而发菩提心者甚众。此方缘熟，飞渡重洋，为法忘劳，不惜身命，带病宣教，提携后进，不遗余力。

In 1948, we met again at Dongputuo (East Potola) Monastery in Hong Kong. Then he went to Southeast Asia to propagate the Dharma in Singapore, Malaysia, and elsewhere. Multitudes were influenced by his virtue, and many brought forth the Bodhi resolve after hearing about his cultivation. When conditions ripened here in the U.S., he came across the ocean to devote all his strength to the Dharma. He continued to expound the teachings even in the midst of illness and spared no effort to guide and bring up the younger generation.

一九八○年，受万佛圣城四众恭请讲解《梵网经菩萨戒》，于法界佛教大学之道源堂，中西人士听者踊跃，法筵之盛，尤为希有。

该经讲义，已译为中英对照本，冀流通万世，以续法灯于尽未来际也。兹闻法师，示寂于星加坡，爰书数言，用资追悼。即以偈颂曰：

In 1980, at the invitation of the fourfold assembly at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Master Huiseng delivered a lecture series in Diannan Hall, DharmaRealmBuddhistUniversity, on the Bodhisattva Precepts as expounded in the Brahma Net Sutra. The assembly of both Easterners and Westerners listened with great joy as they partook of a rare and sumptuous Dharma feast. His explanation of that Sutra has been published in Chinese/English bilingual format, and it will be circulated for generations to come, passing down the lamp of Dharma until the end of time. Recently, I heard that Dharma Master Huiseng manifested the stillness in Singapore, so I composed these words in his memory.

A verse says:

宇宙正气育法材，

The proper energy of the universe nourished a virtuoso within the Dharma,

有情无情皆恭敬；

Who was respected by both sentient and insentient beings.

应机逗教扫尘埃，

Teaching people according to their potential, he swept away the dust.

是道非道尽包该。

His teachings embraced both what was and was not the Tao.

生长东北奉天省，

Born and raised in FengtianProvince of northeast China,

大哉忍辱常精进；

He was generous, patient, and unfailing in his vigor.

弘化西南遍地台，

He taught throughout Southwest Asia and propagated the Dharma everywhere.

不退转兮归去来。

Never retreating from his vows, he is gone but will return.