父母的背影

我的父親出自高雄的農村。
大學畢業後，為了養家做過很多工作。

後來最主要的工作從事養殖漁業相關產業

我有幾個患者的家長是在湖內、茄萣養魚的，經常有話題可以聊。

雖然我沒有父業可以繼承，但父親努力工作的身影，對我影響是很深遠的。他很強悍，可是幾乎沒有打過我（在那個年代的父親，這是少見的）。

他的缺點當然很多（還好他不會看到這篇ＸＤＤ）
但對我的正面影響是巨大的。

我也期許我也可以做孩子的榜樣。至少他長大後想到父親，是個正面的形象。

我想，我們為人父母者。最重要的就是給孩子好的「背影」吧

（為什麼我會想起朱自清的背影呢？）

這張照片，是三十多年前跟爸爸去澎湖義診的時候照的。

最近一位負責哈佛大學醫學院入學面試委員十多年的的教授告訴我，哈佛大學醫學院Harvard Medical School 每年收到全球大約八千分申請書，初步篩到八百人之後，進行面試，最後錄取一百五十人入學就讀。這位教授負責面試這關，要把八百人篩到最後一輪一百五十人。我很驚訝的聽到這位教授和她的委員會的成員們，認為面試的目的，是要找出那些人來唸這裡會快樂、適合當醫師並且可以熱愛他們的工作，我想，也許成績、論文數目、過去在校表現多優秀，在這八百人當中已經差異不大了。

跟台灣的學生一樣，很多哈佛申請人會在申請書中寫上一些到偏鄉、開發中國家的服務經驗。只是美國還沒有聽到厲害到像台灣，還有專門的公司(營利的，且不只一家)，可以提供志工旅遊服務，讓學生家長付錢，利用暑假送小孩到開發中國家服務，增加履歷。哈佛大學的教授說他們看的是consistency，意思是說，要看看這些人是否真的始終如一、持續地在做些工作。教授說，如果一個學生真的很關心弱勢，他不會忽然到了要申請學校才開始。哈佛大學委員們曾經用consistency這個條件，抓出一份作假的申請書：某個學生寫道他去牙買加的soup kitchen (免費供餐給街友的服務)服務了十二天，細心的教授去查了之後，發現這個人是跟家人去牙買加度假十二天，其中花了兩天去soup kitchen當志工，拍照留念。為什麼口試委員可以抓出來這個作假? 因為從這個學生前面的紀錄，看不出來他會有興趣和熱情去做的事情。

每當放榜季節，就會有許多網路文章報導某同學考上或申請上醫學系，有時候這些報導會講這些學生立志習醫的是因為小時候家中有人經歷疾病之苦。這跟我父親立志習醫的故事很像，他在1945年左右，因為美軍轟炸台北，我的祖父帶祖母、七個小孩舉家到大屯山腳躲避空襲數月，我的祖父染上感染症(不知道是瘧疾、或是腦炎)過世，兩歲就喪父的父親，從小立志要當醫師救人。第一年考上中山牙醫，讀了一年後，利用生物實驗課翹出來重考，實驗課的助教跟同學說他考不上的，後來重考上了北醫牙醫，當了第四屆學生，據說當時台幣十萬元捐給學校，可以從牙醫系轉藥學系，再加碼可以轉醫學系。家裡沒錢，所以父親沒有轉系圓醫師夢，就這樣繼續唸完牙醫系，之後到彰化基督教醫院做住院醫師，然後在台北開業。

開業以後，父親沒有改變初衷，他跟馬偕醫院從1980年代開始利用每年暑假期間到澎湖的離島義診，連續去了十年後，馬偕因為換了院長停辦，他用個人的力量自己去，前前後後總共持續了三十年。不跟大醫院去後，義診需要自備器具，他去高雄拆船公司購買輪船上拆卸下來的壓縮機，自己裝上木板和輪子。有幾個小時候依稀記得的畫面是，父親帶著一家人到離島義診，我負責拖著父親自製的壓縮機，在前往將軍島的小船上，一面暈船嘔吐。

很多參與過義診服務的醫師會質疑義診的成效，因為看一次、給一次藥就可以治療好的疾病真的很少。但牙醫的義診不一樣，例如拔牙是一次就好。我爸爸還做了一件很特別的事情，他幫比較辛苦的病人免費裝假牙。他曾經幫服刑人、身心障礙的病人免費裝假牙，他需要在現場打模後，飛回來台北找技工做好假牙，之後再飛去澎湖一次，親自幫他們裝上，這種免費服務做了很多年之後，因為擔心這樣做會影響當地牙醫師的生意，才停止。

照出這張三十多年前的照片，是因為最近爸爸帶著孫子們去澎湖旅遊，重溫過去三十年爺爺走過的足跡。(我們家還在美國所以這次沒跟上，但下次是一定要的)。我認為那是孫子輩們非常好的教育。這讓我想到我在南非的牧師有一次講道問的：你給你的孩子們什麼畫面? (甚麼樣的身影?) 南非許多人在家中有酒窖，酗酒的問題也嚴重，牧師在台上演出醉酒的爸爸，問：這就是你想要給孩子們的畫面嗎? 其實牧師在講的是impartation (有點難翻譯的字)，老師傳遞知識給學生叫做impart知識，前提是老師要先有知識，那麼父母親impart character (品格)呢? 做父母的要先問自己有什麼可以好的生命性情可以impart。

離開臨床太久，我已經沒有辦法給自己的小孩診治病人的畫面和身影，也許小孩長大後記得爸爸的身影是滑手機、對著筆電打報告、讀paper，或是偶而去演講。 但是我還是需要勉勵自己，把從我爸的身影那得到的impartation(希望有):
第一、 始終如一、持續 (consistency)
第二、 關心比自己更辛苦的人 (莫忘世上苦人多)
第三、 當個傻子 (有時候)
這幾件事情傳遞給下一代。

(遲來的)父親節快樂，謝謝爸爸。I am so proud of you, daddy.

《米桶發財法》(English version below)
STRIKING RICH WITH THE RICE BIN

年少時，吾突然意思到，吾的身段似乎「過於苗條」了，是時候讓它「蓬勃發展」。一來，能保護身邊的人，二來，在整體上，較爲健康，較爲好看些。於是，吾在食量上加倍，向同班同學借來一對九公斤重的啞鈴，勤做仰臥起坐、伏地挺身，以及使用其他運動器材。這些是吾室內強身健體的部份。至於室外的部份，較常較多的當屬游泳了。當年吾最喜用蛙式與蝶式，且每一次來回，喜「上岸」做仰臥起坐，及伏地挺身。吾不敢說吾的身材有多好多好，可確實有男女稱讚過，也起碼沒有多餘的贅肉。

除了室內室外的強身健體以外，吾還有一種獨特增強體魄的方法，那就是扛米。是的，妳你們沒聽錯，吾也沒搞錯。家父是位智慧型的嚴父，對他真的是又敬又怕。有一天吾鼓起勇氣，向他說吾想去幫家裡買米，他卻微笑的應允。這也是吾降生娑婆世間，首次體驗十公斤重，左右手各扛五公斤米的滋味。再加上那段路段來回，彷彿心中有首非常著名的詩在吟著，那即是：

鋤禾日當午，
汗滴禾下土。
誰知盤中餐，
粒粒皆辛苦。（一笑）

這種滋味實在是有夠勁！回到家時，家父依然微笑以對。雖然這初次買米的覺受，既新鮮又「夠勁」，吾並沒有退縮的心念，吾認爲這是很好的回報機會，也確實達於強健體魄。

吾，玳瑚師父，忠心祝願大家智慧增長，能辨別真偽，破除邪說歪道，無有恐怖，無顛倒妄想，快樂自在，究竟離苦。好些著重於外表的人，爲了擁有曼妙的身段，得以達於人衣合一的境界，（一笑）破釜沉舟式「棄米投美」，尤其是女有情眾。事實是她們不懂米，對於人體的益處。米是含著天上的甘露，地中的靈氣而生，是人類生存能量重要的來源。它可用來解毒、除煞、化煞、開光、治病、美容、護膚等等。很多女性瘦身減肥後，成功後身體卻有恙，原因雖有幾個，但不離因沒食米飯。潮州多出美女是事實，潮州美女的特徵在鳳眼膚白。爲什麼？因爲潮州人多以粥，及清蒸食物爲飲食習慣。米所含之豐富礦物質，乃人體所需重要礦物質。

米的種類有多種，一般我們較常看見的有，珍珠米、印度米、泰國香米、糙米、糯米，等等。這些米種皆有它們各自所屬之五行。若妳你確實清楚，妳你本身所需之喜用神，妳你可以選購旺妳你的米種，天天食之天天旺。這招本是發財的第一步，如此簡單如此實惠，可憐愚夫愚婦迷信不通，花巨額亂搞瞎搞的，搞了精疲力盡，始終搞慘自己及家人。如今吾，玳瑚師父，憐憫眾生而傳授此法，願得者利己亦利她他，多積陰德才好。買對了米，就將米用木質米桶裝起，再貼上一個滿字於米桶外。這是發財第二招。若妳你想將米桶置於櫥櫃的外上方，就請妳你將米桶隔離窗口，較聚氣處爲好。這是發財第三招。米桶發財法，人人能做，家家戶戶能做。豐衣足食的日子，已不遠啦！

............................

When I was still a youth, one day, I suddenly realized that I was perhaps too thin and it was time to beef up my physique. Firstly, I would be able to protect the people around me, and also look better and healthier on the whole. Thus, I increased my food intake, borrowed a pair of 9kg dumbbells from my classmate, diligently did push-ups and sit-ups, as well as used other exercising equipment. These were my indoor exercises. As for my outdoor activities, I mostly and frequently did swimming. My favorite strokes in the pool then were breast-stroke and the butterfly stroke. After every lap, I liked to get onto dry land and do sit-ups and push-ups. I dare not say how great my body was, however I did received praises from other men and women. At the very least, I did not have excess fat hanging off me.

Besides those indoor and outdoor body-building activities, I also had a special training method: carry rice sacks. Yes, you heard it correct. My father was an intelligent but strict disciplinarian, and I was often afraid yet in awe of him. One day, I summoned my courage and told him that I would like to help buy rice for the household. He agreed with a slight smile. Ever since my birth into this Samsara world, this was my first time experiencing the weight of lifting 10kg rice, with my left and right hands carrying 5kg respectively. Coupled with the journey to and fro, a famous Chinese poem seemed to sing from my heart:

Neath the midday sun he hoes his crops
His sweat moistens the soil between the stalks
Of food on the table who recalls
Each grain is produced through bitter toil

This experience was indeed something! As I got home, my dad still greeted me with a slight smile. Although my first experience of buying rice was refreshing and tough, I did not have any thought of backing off. I considered it as a good opportunity to repay my parents, and to strengthen my physique at the same time.

Master Dai Hu sincerely wish that everyone would gain wisdom and discern the true from the false, destroy evil speech and dishonest practices, not have fear and deranged delusions, have bliss and freedom and finally leave the realm of sufferings. There are many people who place a huge self-importance on their physical appearance. To have a graceful figure so as to reach the level of being one with their clothing, (laughs), they would burn their boats and forsake eating rice, all in the name of beauty. This is especially common among the ladies. The fact is that these ladies do not understand the benefits of eating rice for the human body.

The rice grain is birthed from the dew of Heaven and the spiritual qi of earth. It is an important source of survival energy for humans. It can serve as an antidote to poison, for removal and transformation of vile energies, consecration, curing of illnesses, beauty care, skincare, etc. After losing weight successfully, many ladies get stricken with ailments. Although there are several reasons to this, it is not far from not consuming rice. The city of Chao Zhou is famed for producing beauties, renowned for their distinctive elegant and almond-shaped eyes and porcelain skins. Why is that so? Because rice porridge and steamed food are staple foods of the people in Chao Zhou. The rice minerals prevalent in rice are vital minerals that the human body needs.

There are numerous types of rice, with the commonly seen grains like the pearl rice, Indian basmati rice, the Thai jasmine rice, brown rice, glutinous rice, etc. These various grains each have their own elemental types. If you are very clear about your favourable elements in your Bazi, you can purchase the suitable grain type, to gain prosperity everyday through your daily consumption. This is the first technique to striking great wealth. It is simple yet brings practical benefits. I pity the misbelieving men and women, who spent huge money only to act ignorantly, get drained of energy, and at the end, brought nothing but trouble to themselves and their families.

Today, I, Master Dai Hu, impart this method out of compassion for the sentient beings, and hope that those who benefits pay it forward to accumulate more hidden merits. After purchasing the right type of grains, store it in a wooden rice bin, and paste a paper, with the Chinese character "滿" written on it, onto the bin exterior. This is the second technique to more riches.

If you wish to place the rice bin on top of a cabinet, please place it away from the window, even better if it is at a spot that can accumulate Qi. This is the third step to greater wealth. This method of striking riches with your rice bin is applicable for everyone and every household. Get ready to welcome the days of great harvest and rice clothing!

************************

【開放預購】PRE-ORDER OPEN
《向善向上 2》Towards Kindness, Towards Betterment 2

30則真人真事的度眾故事 30 real-life deliverance stories of Master Dai Hu
全彩色的漫畫 Comics in full colour illustration
中英文翻譯 In both English & Mandarin
約200頁 About 200 pages

此書將於2018年11月底抵達新加坡，目前開放預購，預計11月30日之前以Smartpac寄出 （本地郵寄），屆時也會在台灣金石堂書局同步上架。價格大眾化，包涵全球運送，無需再付郵資。
歡迎大家踴躍支持，人手一冊，也可將此書贈送給鄉親父老、親朋好友，帶領他們向善向上，迎接更美好的未來！

https://booklaunch.io/masterdaihu/towardskindness2
.

This book will reach the shores of Singapore in end-November 2018. Right now, the pre-order is open and the books are estimated to be mailed out through Smartpac, by 30 November. At the same time, it will be on the shelves of Taiwan KingStone bookshop.

The economical price includes global delivery (Smartpac mailing for Singapore addressees, registered mail for overseas mailing).

https://booklaunch.io/masterdaihu/towardskindness2

« 寫給馬戲團的朋友»
Writing To My Friends In The Circus (English version below)

馬戲團的朋友，實在是多到無法數。她他們當中有專士、碩士、大學生、醫生、護士、教師，和來自地產界、銀行界、飲食、服務業、科技業......等等。她他們當中當然也有可愛的、可惡的，以及......，哎呀！總而言之，就是一種米養百種人囉！不好意思，不好意思，近日接見了一對「搶錢夫妻」，都是高學歷者，不懂為什麼，講話常有囉字參雜其中，是女的不是男的。吾馬上就恢復純正的華語，真的不信也不行，近朱者赤，近墨者黑啊！

馬戲團的朋友們時不時都有想要向吾，討教如何改善自身命運的方法，如玄學及佛法。基於如此有福氣的想法，玳瑚師父當然是歡迎，且當仁不讓的。祇不過，吾希望所有欲學玄學及佛法者，務必要認真思考妳你們的出發心，不可暗室欺心地想或以為，神不知鬼不覺啊！學佛學玄學，同樣都是利己利她他，冥陽兩利的，絕不可為了自己的私慾，而跑去皈依，然後騙師父說，是她他人硬拉妳你去皈依的。再說，師父老早就知道，妳你在馬戲團裡的角色，事先已清清楚楚，向妳你解說這方面的因果與戒律，妳你還是要往刀山火海去，吾就祇好唸佛，願妳你速醒，速懺悔，以免為時已晚。

「搶錢夫妻」中的妻子，皈依近三十年，竟然對佛教基本戒律及禮儀，毫不遵守且任意妄為，叫吾這玳瑚師父唯懮無喜，世人要明白，菩薩畏因，眾生畏果啊！今天吾，玳瑚師父，傳妳你們口訣:

世事本無愁，
不平本來有;
無心不起貪，
一切又何愁。

馬戲團的朋友們，一直都認為，觀眾皆喜看「高難度的表演」，那是因為她他們祇是「觀眾」，而吾並不是。吾是真心給於妳你們的朋友，妳你們常「表演的高難度」，唯吾一直身體力行地，賦於妳你們協助與加持。

--------------------------

I have countless friends in the Circus. Among them are specialists, post graduates, graduates, doctors, nurses, teachers, as well as professionals from the real estate, banking, food and beverages, fashion, technology industries, etc. Some of them are adorable, some of them are not so pleasant, while some of them are.... aiya! In a nutshell, as the Chinese saying goes, the same type of rice feeds a hundred types of people. It takes all sorts to make a world lor! My apologies, I recently met a "money-grabbing" couple who are highly educated people but I am not sure why the lady kept sprouting "lor" in her sentences. Let me revert back to the proper language usage. No wonder the Chinese saying goes, "One who mixes with vermilion will be stained red, one who gets near ink will be stained black."

My friends in the Circus would seek my advice, from time to time, on ways to improve their lot, thorough the Dharma and Chinese Metaphysics. Of course, I welcome people blessed with such thinking, and no way will I shirk away from my obligations. However, I urge all of you who wish to learn more about the Chinese Metaphysics and the Dharma, to give serious consideration about your intention to do so. Do not deceive yourself and assume that the Gods and the ghosts will not know your motives. To learn the Dharma and Chinese Metaphysics is to bring benefits to others and yourself, to benefit both the living and dead. It is definitely not for your own selfish gain. You must not run to take refuge in the Three Jewels for your personal egocentric agenda, and then lie to me that you were dragged along to do so by other people. Master Dai Hu already knows your role in the Circus and has clearly explained to you the cause and effect involved, and the precepts. If you still choose to throw yourself into the sea of fire, and up the mountain of daggers, I can only recite the Buddha's name and pray that you will wake up from your folly and repent sincerely before it becomes too late.

Despite taking refuge in the Three Jewels for almost 30 years, the money-grabbing wife is very presumptuous and does not abide by the basic precepts and rites of Buddhism. This got me worried, with no tinge of happiness at all. I hope everybody understands this: the Bodhisattvas are wary of the seed of karma, while sentient beings fear the karmic fruits!

Today, let Master Dai Hu impart you the secret:

There is originally no sorrow in the affairs of this world
For inequality is the norm,
No greed can arise without attachment,
Why would there be sorrow.

All along, the friends in the Circus think that the audience loves to see stunts of a high difficulty level. That is because they are only watching passively. I am not. I am the friend who sincerely give you my true heart. Whilst you are performing your stunts of "high difficulty", I am the one who practices what I preach, endowing you with help and blessings.

www.masterdaihu.com/writing-to-my-friends-in-the-circus/