(the indoor conversation)

Q: 如同一般寺廟，初一，十五都有法會嗎?

A: Here, on the first, fifteenth and nineteenth of the lunar month, we have the universal gate sutra. The temple is actually觀音temple。 初一，十五，十九，三天是普門品的供修。

   Because it was very old, the damage is on the roof. So they refurnished the roof, other things they are pretty remained. And if you notice the window, it was furnished back to Chinese Dynasty-Tang.

Q: Is it檜木?

A: I am not sure about the material. But I think it is quite good, and the style was copied by the Japanese. I think the first monk here was Japanese. And later after he passed away. We have a Mongolian monk and the third was a Tibetan. To retain the whole temple is not easy. I would say it was a unique temple. Everything inside, the shape is kept by original way. Even the cement on the ground is remained. It was built in 1905, and called 鐵真寺。That is our last abbot at this temple. (指著寺內右手邊所掛的畫像). He was from China.

Q: Whom it belongs to right now?

A: Because he didn’t have any disciples. He has nobody to pass down.他沒有繼承人So this temple is donated to佛光山出家的慧尼法師.(大部分時間在國外弘法). Now 楊媽媽(大菩薩) is unofficially, kind of an abbess here. Even though she is not a nun, She has been served in the temple for more than thirty years.

Q: 現在普濟寺的土地和寺廟，正式上是屬於誰所有?

A: It belongs to the government.

Q: 因此他們僅有使用權嗎?

A: Yes.

Q: 它屬於古蹟嗎?

A: Yes, it is the second.

Q: 聽說隔壁的民宅已被寺裡買下?

A: Yes, but it was bought by 慧尼法師.

Q: 請問師父跟本寺緣分有多久了?

A: 我們是從新竹獅頭山的寺廟過來的，因為那邊寺廟的住持是位女仲，我們與她是通依法脈，所以她要我們到這而來修行。

Q: 寺院中有任何供修課程嗎?

A: Yes, 每週三下午兩點有老師前來”講經授法”，每週四下午三點有”八十八佛”供修，另外初六有”水懺”，一年一度的是”梁皇寶懺”，還有七月份的是”地藏法門”。You are all welcome to our activities.

在仁祐師父對寺內建築既歷史的解說及回答後，大家跟隨仁祐師父到寺門外。

(the outdoor conversation)

At first, 仁祐師父 showed the turtle shell. It is the base of the temple.

Q: What is it for?

A: The main frame on the both sides is “Turtle Shell”. It looks firm. The shapes of the windows are bells. 代表佛門的敲鐘打鼓，另外兩邊還有”如意”。And look at the door, when you lock the door, you have to slide a piece of the door to connect with the other side of the door.

(We went back to the indoor temple. 仁祐師父showed the front door to us)

Q: When do you ring the bell?

A: Every morning, we do., 作早晚課時會隨著“暮鼓晨鐘”的方法。

Q: When do you close the door?

A: It is closed by 5:00pm every day.

Q: What is the chair over there?

A: It is called “Abbot’s Chair”. It is only for Abbey. All the positions of the furniture are put as same as before. 

Q: Can we call them “Masters”?

A: Yes, Master 像是個”大師級”。Well, if you still have any questions, I welcome all kinds of questions.我儘量把我知道的解答給你們。

Q: 就資料中提到寺廟的建立與鐵路有關係，那麼目前是否仍有關聯?

A: No, as I know. 當時是鐵道員工們發心建造，所以第一位住持是來自日本，而這位畫像心如師父是第五任住持了。

Q: How long had 心如師父 been here?

A: About fifties. 它是在這裡最長時間的住持。楊媽媽 was one of his members. 住持走後，楊媽媽很發心地将寺廟照顧得很好。

Q: 為何鐵道員工要建一座寺廟?

A: 因為要修學佛法，並且讓他們的精神和心靈上有所寄託。

Q: 大部分到寺裡的人是要跟菩薩求什麼?

A: From all and works of the life. Some people want to know its history. Some are interested in its features.有些則是針對宗教上的認識；透過我們的解釋，讓他們得以了解佛教就如同我們生活的法則。

Q: Some people say “Buddhism is not a religion, it is an education”, is it right?

A: Yes, it is so true. It is not superstition. 佛教透徹地談論的是人與宇宙，以及人與人之間的關係。結善緣，說好話，做好事，佈施金錢或時間，即功德無量。勿食用肉品， it is all poison. 多吃五穀雜糧，蔬菜即水果，多喝水，多運動，還有思想、念頭要單純、善良。Anyway, 每個人都有佛心，Buddha is our teacher and we all are his disciples. 一旦了解各種宗教教義後，就會更踏實了。

Q: 整個宇宙即為一家嘍?

A: Yes, actually it is acceptable. It is one universe. We all are in the same one. Well, 寺廟不大，一目了然，若還有其他問題我很樂意解答。

Q: 外面的觀音是後來才加蓋的嗎?

A: No, 與原本的temple一起完成的。它叫做送子觀音。對於結婚很久而遲遲未有小孩的夫妻，if you vow and make wishes to 送子觀音，會靈驗。我聽楊媽媽說:有一對夫妻，結婚多年，但很遺憾一直都沒有小孩，所以他們就用很虔誠的心向送子觀音求，同時做一些佈施，吃齋念佛，沒有多久真的就懷了個健康寶寶，接著他們就回到寺裡還願。

Q: 有送財的嗎?

A: No, no, no.送財必須從自己先送，有施才有得，佛陀說因果，想要富有，就需要先佈施，The  

   cause is the effect. 並非把所有的錢都捐出去，而是隨自己能力，倘若周圍朋友在做財佈施

   時，你一樣有”隨喜功德”。

Q: 湯守觀音，是那一尊?

A: 位在右側的那座石像，與寺廟一樣的歷史。

Q: 為何會被放置一側?

A: 因為為了要配合台灣的信徒；在日本時代，當時作為溫泉守護神；但非台灣人一貫所熟悉的千

   手千眼觀音，因此爾後在一旁放有化身的千手觀音。

Q: 可否照相?

A: I’m sorry. 照相是不允許的。

Q: 可否上前觀賞?

A: I am so sorry. 也不可以。正中間供奉的是千手千眼觀音，其實所有菩薩都由觀世音化身，它

  化身的意義，就好像你對事情太執著，對它的了解就陷入在眼前所見所聞而已，Do not limit it. 

   Don’t stop there. You have to go beyond that. You will limit yourself in a point. Buddha said: 

   You can not attach. “不能執著”，才能將視野擴大並且power釋放出來。

Q: May I ask a question?

A: Sure.

Q: Where did you learn English?

A: Well, let me introduce myself. I was born in Vietnam. I left Vietnam in 1981. I was 12 years

   old. I stayed in America for 24 years. Now I am an American citizen. I came back to Taiwan  

   to be a monk. I worked in IBM for more than 3 years. 到美國後，大概花了兩年將英文學好，

   與他們受一樣的英文教育。在家中則與父母以客語和廣東話，我的語言很多，在美國時也學了

   西班牙語。因為陸續接觸佛法，而後台灣寶島有深厚的緣份，到此出家，也拿到了permitted

   resident 且擁有健保。

Q: One more question, Was it about Vietnam War when you and your family leave for America?

A: Yes, it was ended when I left. My whole family 以擔保方式到美國，而非難民身份。Some of

   them are in the west coast, and some are in the east. coast. I have not any family here. 台灣

  人非常友善，希望你們有空能參與寺院的活動，有宗教上或任何其他問題，都可以再上寺廟

  來。

(全員感謝仁祐師父的解說及指導)