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上人来美后，早期的信众，大多数是西方人。这些人来自不同的民族，有着不同的文化背景。他们对传统的佛教原理、仪轨，一无所知。所以上人必须要加以引导，并再三解释每一种佛事活动及法会的程序、仪式等等，直至他的常随弟子们了解和吸收了这方面的知识。这是上人在放生法会上，指导他的弟子及信众，把装有鸟的箱子排成一个“佛”字。 |
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In the early years of the Master's teaching, the assembly was primarily composed of Westerners who, regardless of their race and cultural backgrounds, knew virtually nothing about the traditional principles and practices of orthodox Buddhism. Thus, it was necessary for the Master to guide and direct, to teach and explain each procedure, ritual, ceremony and so forth over and over until the growing group of disciples who always followed him assimilated the knowledge and understanding. Here the Master is shown helping disciples and friends of the Dharma to arrange the crates, which contain birds about to be set free, into the form of the Chinese character for
“Buddha” prior to the Liberating Life Ceremony.
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