序二
二、序二
在漫長的人生旅途中總是「承恩容易報恩難」，父母養育恩，師友教導恩，已是終生難盡，而我們却更份外地沾蒙天恩，得着性理眞傳先天大道不僅自己靈性得救、脫離塵苦，甚至九玄七祖均受其恩，能以離苦得樂，每念及此，總禁不住熱淚盈眶感念不已，而這一切都是 前人 劉公慈悲賜予的，現在他老功圓果滿，回歸理域後學等追憶他老人家一生捨己救人大慈大悲的行誼，歷歷在目彷如昨日學等忝列門牆，自恨不能盡孝於生前，又未能善述其志於死後，愧悔之餘，己値他老人家六八忌辰後學等除在佛前，重發心愿，效法他老人家慈心宏愿，救人濟世之外並將他老人家慈悲詩文蒐集成册，使後學等得以朝夕讀誦，身體力行，以期，體志行，繼志述事。如此對他老人家數十年含辛茹苦慈悲教化之恩，或可報其萬一耳。
最後後學等僅就記憶所收，敬述一些他老人家的慈悲行誼略盡後學等追思之忱。
前人劉公諱全祥字德化河北省寧河縣人民前三年六月廿九日出生，民國六十一年九月廿九日果滿回天，公早歲從商信譽卓著，平日事親以孝，持家有方，後蒙接引得求聖道，自是拳拳服膺，精一執中，於卅六年發慈心宏愿爲救寶島善信，捨棄了財產事業，犧牲了家庭溫暖，別離子，冒著危險乘風破浪萬里開荒，爲救衆人性命廿餘年來，受遍種種考魔，和一切艱難困苦。令後學等言之落淚。卅八年大陸淪陷，因而與內地道親失去聯繫，生活來源告罄，他老人家毅然決然以販賣豆干維持辦道開支我們從他老人家的一首詩裏可以看出當年爲衆生吃了多大的苦。「晨起提籃街巷穿，沿門叫賣五香乾、喉嚨喝破無人理，徒感筋疲腿足酸」每天都要把豆乾賣完才肯回家，所以多半都超過中午，既使有時餓極也捨不得買個饅頭充飢，他老人家自奉的寒薄恐非常人所能臆度，每天所吃的是稀米飯，無油菜，穿的是自製衣衫，住的更是簡陋不堪。先後經過四次遷移由建國路而四維街、公園路到開元路，直到五十八年才由後學們發心建造一所較好的佛堂，住的問題才告解決。
至於考魔方面誠如 前人所云「艱苦備嘗，考魔集身數十載鞠躬盡瘁」，爲了替後學等擔罪救衆生出苦，推功攬過，並不惜背黑鍋苦心苦志，勞而不怨，有一首他老人家寫的反省自責詩「根鈍寃愆重，智昏罪業深，考魔原自惹，豈敢怨天人，徒負冲天愿，空懷救世心，所行多欠當，實有愧師恩」後學等讀了無不失聲慟哭！
另外他老人家在佛規禮節上所立的規範更是後學等終生的圭臬。記得他老面謁老前人總是垂手侍立戰戰兢兢。有一次老前人賜函次月初往南，他老人家自初一開始每天上午步行到車站迎接，連續不斷風雨無阻地一連接等了半個多月，壬子年他老人家頸部痼疾嚴重到不能動彈時，老先生前來探病他老仍堅持伏在床上向老前人頂禮，在場的後學等無不落淚，於此可見其恒誠精神之一斑矣。
他老人家經常告誡後學等「修道首要言行一致，誠恒不變，一心了愿行功，卽是報答 天恩師德」，又說「不能修己之人格，焉能渡世之衆生，不能小同焉能大同」「修眞道只是爲 老Φ救渡原人上岸，別無其他沽名釣譽之心」，『所謂「懺悔」」修煉」本爲進修「明德而後新民」勿驕勿貪。第一要改毛病、脾氣，須知有緣有份不可自暴自棄，還要切記修養度量火候」，他老人家奉詔返天後蒙
皇Φ勅封爲「大德眞君」可謂實至名歸，後學等飲水思源唯有謹遵慈諭同心協力完成他老人家未完之心愿，方可告慰在天之靈。
台南後學等叩述
Preface Two
In the long journey of life, it is often said that “Receiving grace is easy, repaying it is hard.” The grace of our parents’ upbringing and the grace of our teachers’ and friends’ guidance are already debts that cannot be fully repaid in a lifetime. Yet, we have, in addition, been especially blessed to receive Heavenly Grace: to obtain the true transmission of the nature and principle of the Precelestial Great Dao. Not only has our own spirit been saved and freed from the sufferings of the dust (world), but even our nine generations of ancestors and seven generations of descendants have partaken of this grace—able to leave suffering and attain joy. Each time I think of this, I cannot help but be moved to tears, filled with deep gratitude. And all of this was given to us through the compassion of Elder Liu.
Now that he has completed his merit and returned to the realm of principle, we disciples recall his lifelong conduct of selflessness and great compassion in saving others—it is vivid before our eyes as if it happened yesterday. We humbly count ourselves as having been among his students, and deeply regret that we could not fulfill our filial duty toward him while he was alive, nor fully set forth his aspirations after his passing. In our shame and remorse, now on the sixty-eighth anniversary of his passing, we have, before the Buddha, renewed our vows—to emulate his compassionate heart and grand vows, to save people and benefit the world—and have also collected his compassionate poems and writings into a volume, so that we may recite them daily and put them into practice, striving to embody his aspirations and carry them forward. In this way, perhaps we may repay even a ten-thousandth part of the grace of his decades of painstaking, compassionate teaching.
Finally, we disciples have, from memory, recorded a few of the compassionate deeds of Elder Liu, as a small token of our remembrance.
Elder Liu’s personal name was Quanxiang, courtesy name Dehua. He was from Ninghe County, Hebei Province, and was born on June 29, 1914. He completed his merit and returned to Heaven on September 29, 1972. In his youth, he engaged in business, enjoying an excellent reputation for trustworthiness. In daily life, he was filial to his parents and managed his household well. Later, he was introduced to and obtained the Holy Dao, from which point he wholeheartedly upheld and practiced it with single-minded dedication.
In 1947, moved by compassion and a great vow to save the virtuous believers of the treasured island of Taiwan, he gave up his wealth and career, sacrificed the warmth of family life, parted from his children, braved danger, and crossed the seas to open new ground. For over twenty years, to save the lives and souls of many, he endured all kinds of trials and hardships. Speaking of this still brings tears to our eyes.
In 1949, after the mainland fell, contact with fellow Dao members there was lost and his livelihood cut off. Elder Liu resolutely supported the expenses of spreading the Dao by selling dried tofu. From one of his poems, we can see how much hardship he bore for the sake of living beings:
“Basket in hand, I tread the streets at dawn,
calling at doors to sell five-spice tofu.
My voice hoarse from shouting with no one to heed,
I feel only muscle fatigue and aching legs.”
He would not return home until all the tofu was sold, which was often after midday. Even when extremely hungry, he was unwilling to spend on a steamed bun to stave off hunger. His personal frugality was likely beyond ordinary imagination—he ate only thin rice porridge without oil or vegetables, wore homemade clothes, and lived in extremely simple conditions.
After four relocations—from Jianguo Road to Siwei Street, then to Gongyuan Road, and finally to Kaiyuan Road—it was only in 1969, when disciples built a better temple, that his housing problem was resolved.
As for trials and tribulations, as Elder Liu himself once said: “I have endured every hardship, and trials have beset me for decades; I have bowed and exhausted myself in service.” To bear sins for the disciples and rescue all beings from suffering, he shifted merit to others and took blame upon himself, willingly “carrying the black pot” with painstaking effort and without complaint. In another poem of self-reflection and remorse, he wrote:
“My roots are dull, my karmic debts heavy,
my wisdom dim, my offenses deep.
Trials I have brought upon myself—
how dare I blame Heaven or Man?
I have failed my soaring vow,
holding only an empty wish to save the world.
Much of my conduct is unworthy,
truly ashamed before the grace of my Master.”
We disciples could not read this without weeping aloud.
In matters of temple regulations and etiquette, the standards Elder Liu set have been lifelong models for us. I remember when he visited the Grand Elder, he would always stand respectfully with hands lowered, in utmost reverence. Once, after receiving a letter from the Grand Elder instructing him to go south at the beginning of the next month, he began on the first day to walk to the station every morning to greet him, continuing without interruption, rain or shine, for over half a month.
In the year of Renzi, when he suffered a severe neck ailment and could not move, the Grand Elder came to visit him. Even so, Elder Liu insisted on prostrating from his bed. All present disciples were moved to tears. This shows a glimpse of his constant sincerity.
He often admonished us: “In cultivating the Dao, the foremost thing is that words and deeds are consistent, sincerity is constant, and one’s whole heart fulfills vows and does meritorious deeds—this is how to repay Heavenly Grace and the Virtue of the Masters.” He also said: “If one cannot cultivate one’s own character, how can one save the people of the world? If there is no small harmony, how can there be great harmony? Cultivating the true Dao is only for Lao Mu’s salvation of the Original Beings, bringing them ashore; there is no other intent to seek fame or gain.”
“As for ‘repentance’ and ‘refinement,’ these are for advancing in ‘manifesting virtue, then renewing the people.’ Do not be arrogant, do not be greedy. First, correct your faults and temper. Know that having affinities and destiny is precious—do not give up on yourself. Always remember to cultivate patience, tolerance, and proper timing.”
After Elder Liu was summoned back to Heaven, he was, by imperial decree of the August Heavenly Mother, conferred the title “Great Virtue True Lord”—truly a well-deserved honor. We disciples, remembering the source as we drink the water, can only strictly follow his compassionate teachings, united in heart and effort, to fulfill his unfinished vow, thereby bringing comfort to his spirit in Heaven.
Respectfully recorded by disciples in Tainan