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譚新強：無人機襲擊：以殺害大量旁人掩飾的暗殺行動

近期最大新聞是美國總統特朗普親自下令，在伊拉克巴格達機場附近，以MQ-9 Reaper drone（無人駕駛飛機），發射多枚Hellfire飛彈，擊斃統領伊朗革命衛隊聖城旅的指揮官蘇萊曼尼將軍。據報，同行的其他9位隨從和伊拉克軍方人士，亦一齊被殺。

這次行動把中東局勢推向緊張，甚至戰爭邊緣。美方殺蘇萊曼尼的藉口是自衛，阻止他繼續計劃攻擊美國軍事、國民和資產，有助減低伊朗威脅。這個說法有點牽強，情報似乎未有顯示蘇萊曼尼正在進行軍事計劃，所以攻擊發生後，美國的第一個新聞發布，連''planning imminent attack''（計劃短期內的襲擊）的字眼都沒有，但後來就加上了。

空襲反助團結伊朗政府人民

相信殺蘇萊曼尼的真正原因是為了報仇，早前在伊拉克，有美國認為是伊朗支持的武裝部隊，對美國人士和財產發動攻擊，死了一名合約工作人員。更重要的是特朗普見到大群伊拉克「示威者」（暴徒？），一度包圍美國大使館，令他想起2012年在利比亞Benghazi發生的攻破美國大使館和殺害大使事件。在2016年選舉中，特朗普經常以此事來攻擊2012年時任國務卿希拉里。所以他以此超比例的危險反應來企圖表揚自己的強硬立場和比希拉里強的領導能力，當然亦希望此行動對他連任選情有幫助。但似乎暫時對他的國民支持率未有明顯反應，西方盟國就更加表露驚訝，盡量勸雙方克制，把局勢降溫，反而對團結伊朗政府和人民的反美情緒，就有巨大幫助。

到現時為止，伊朗的反應尚算克制。第一步行動是宣布將不遵守2015年，伊朗與美、英、法、俄、中，加德國和歐盟訂下的核協議的鈾元素提煉上限，當然在特朗普上台後，他病態式的痛恨奧巴馬所有成就，所以一早已單方面退出此國際公認為公平且有效的伊朗核協議。非常可惜，可算是特朗普的最大外交錯誤！特朗普自以為是上帝，或最少是上帝級的''deal maker''（交易者）。不幸事實是恰恰相反，即使跟北韓的去核化談判（看完伊朗，打死都不會），都未能得到任何成果，小丑式的宣布與金正恩「墮入愛河」，反而犧牲了美國總統寶座的威嚴。

專家估伊朗或再襲美官員

軍事上，伊朗也必須作出一些反應。在蘇萊曼尼的葬禮後不久，即進行針對兩美軍基地的飛彈襲擊，但後來又宣布不想打仗。奇蹟地竟然毫無人命傷亡（伊朗稱有80人傷亡，但不太可信），所以雖然本周初全球市場略有調整，但當特朗普在周三發言，認為伊朗願意''stand down''（停止攻勢）時，美股即時大幅反彈，但到尾市時段，又當傳來再有兩枚飛彈落在美軍駐紮的''Green zone''（綠色安全地帶）內時（亦沒有死傷），美股又再稍為回落。不打仗當然是好消息，但有專家指出，伊朗仍有可能在日後，在全球各地，對個別美國官員進行襲擊。

今年的頭兩星期，全球股市有點震盪，但仍然不弱。尤其我去年底提過的半導體和中國新零售板塊，表現都非常凌厲。邏輯晶片股如AMD和Nvidia都頗強，但近日愈來愈多記憶體周期見底迹象，所以三星已破歷史新高，Hynix、美光（Micron）和Western Digital等，亦已開始升穿過去一年通道。台積電可能是全球最重要的一家公司，近兩周在台灣選舉前整固一輪，但這兩天又再蠢蠢欲動，看來在短期內很可能再展升浪，順勢帶動台灣加權指數衝破在1990年創下的歷史高位。近日有傳聞美國企圖限制荷蘭ASML的EUV器材出口到中國，但對股價的影響極微。

記憶體行業現周期見底迹象

大家應留意即將在香港上市的曠視，股票炒不炒不是最重要，最重要的是看這家在美國黑名單的公司，如何找方法脫離美國技術出口限制的魔爪，能否找到Nvidia GPU晶片的替代品。

我已提過一次，有位內地策略師曾跟我說過，今年中美第二階段貿易談判的重點，將關乎兩家企業：中國的華為，和美國的波音，兩家都對其國家有極大戰略意義，我覺得有點道理。交換條件將大概是，如美國不稍為放鬆對華為和其他黑名單上公司，中國將繼續堅持罷買波音客機。禍不單行，在伊朗還擊後不久，在伊朗又有一架737-800型號客機失事墜毀，意外原因仍未知，有可能是人為，亦可能是引擎或波音機身問題。巴菲特藝高人膽大，傳聞已開始撈底。

為何美國堅持殺蘇萊曼尼，是一次自衛性的''targeted killing''（目標殺人），而不願承認是一次''assassination''（暗殺）行動呢？這是個法律問題。在《國際人權法》和《武裝衝突法》（Law of Armed Conflicts）來說，主動在戰場以外地區進行政治暗殺屬違法，尤其這次行動中，亦有伊拉克軍方人員死亡，所以美國行為肯定是違法的。再者，特朗普曾恐嚇如伊朗採取報復，將襲擊52個伊朗目標，包括一些文化遺產，這做法更肯定是違反國際法的。但美國是超級強國，一向目中無人，對國際法根本視若無睹。美國唯一要稍為尊重的，只有美國自己的法律。

美堅持否認暗殺 是法律問題

在1960年代，美國極喜愛在全球各地進行暗殺行動。最有名的是曾最少8次嘗試以狙擊手和下毒等方法，企圖暗殺古巴領袖卡斯特羅（Fidel Castro），但他像貓般有九條命，竟然每次都逃過厄運。但這不良的暗殺風氣，後來也蔓延到美國。在數年間，美國總統甘迺迪（JFK）、他的弟弟Robert，和黑人領袖馬丁路德金（Martin Luther King）等，都相繼被暗殺，美國政府就開始反思以暗殺作為外交政策的合法性，以及道德問題。到了1976年，福特總統終於頒下Executive Order 12333: ''No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination.''（不許任何受顧於或代表美國政府的人，參與或計劃參與任何暗殺行動）。這指令亦被之後多任總統延續。

但到了2001年的911恐襲後，美國當然極想報仇，想盡辦法消滅拉登和其他極端伊斯蘭恐怖分子。但他們並非正規軍，經常躲在阿富汗、也門和索馬里等中東和非洲的民間地區，不方便動用軍隊，其實暗殺可能更有效。但暗殺又違反總統指令，如何是好呢？剛好drone技術在那時候發展起來，正可利用來繞過暗殺的法律障礙。

恐怖分子崛起 暗殺更有效對付

如果用狙擊手或下毒等方法，很難逃避被定性為暗殺，但如果用drone，就較容易定性為軍事行動上的「目標殺人」。而且drone襲擊尚有另外兩個好處，成功命中率極高，比用殺傷力小很多的槍械有效得多，失手機會很低。除此，行動可在數千里外，經無線電和衛星導航執行，根本不需任何美軍冒生命風險，雖冷血，但不是更完美嗎？

似乎紀錄上美國第一次drone襲擊，是在2004年小布殊命令下發生的，目標是巴基斯坦內的一些恐怖分子。在小布殊任內，估計他批准了50多次類似行動。到了奧巴馬年代，雖然他獲頒諾貝爾和平獎，但他仍愛上了drone attack，在他8年任內，估計批准了高達500多次行動，官方死亡人數近4000，美國承認其中最少300多人是無辜的平民！官方定義是在目標附近，任何超過18歲的男子，都算是軍人，除非有特別證據推翻。即是說，美國官方承認300多個無辜平民死者，都是婦孺！非官方的傷亡估計數字當然更高，超過1萬，平民死亡人數可高達三成。

無人機命中率高 失手機會較低

計算下來，即是奧巴馬平均約每5天就批準一次行動，每次死亡人數約8個。另一看法是如每次行動的主目標只為一人，那麼奧巴馬就多殺了3000多人，以此作為掩飾暗殺行動的藉口！如對drone襲擊有興趣，建議觀看2015年的一部電影《Eye in the Sky》，頗寫實地描述某次行動，參於者的內心掙扎，和最後如何醜陋地找方法繞過面對的道德問題。

到了特朗普年代，更變本加厲，據報在上任後頭45天，已下了36個drone襲擊命令！後來所有drone襲擊變得更秘密，特朗普更下令豁免情報機關的行動，毋須作出每年行動死傷報告，但軍方則仍需要。其實軍方和CIA經常進行所謂''double tapping''的聯合行動，所以現在更難得到詳細資料。但從非官方資料估計，特朗普的drone行動頻率，可能比奧巴馬高出50%，或甚至3倍以上！根據估計，去年在阿富汗，因包括drone襲擊的美軍行動而死亡的平民數目，比塔利班所殺害的更多。

我是一個熱愛和平的人，更當然反對暗殺行動。但把暗殺假裝為drone襲擊就更邪惡，傷及更多無辜。我寧願他們回到如占士邦片中的年代，派出間諜和殺手，用槍用刀來暗殺，傷及無辜的人數少很多，道義上亦較公平，殺手也須冒上一定風險。但電影歸電影，現實中的科技不停進步，包括殺人的科技。既然有了更有效的drone技術，永遠回不了頭，最多只會說將加入更多AI技術，令到襲擊變得更精準。

想一想，暗殺科技的演變，亦是我過去兩周分析過的舊石器時代情緒（人類仍不停打仗）、中世紀制度（法律）與神級科技（drone）結合的「好例子」。

（中環資產持有AMD、Nvidia、三星、Hynix、美光、Western Digital、台積電及ASML的財務權益）

中環資產投資行政總裁

[譚新強 中環新譚]

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【玳瑚師父客人見證】 《不過八月十五的預言》
The Prophecy: Not Beyond Mid-Autumn (English version below)

文 / 李季謙 女士 Written by Ms. Lee Ji Qian

撥電給玳瑚師父的那一天下午，我乘坐的德士，正駕駛在中央快速公路上。那是2006年中秋節的前兩個星期，記憶猶新。眼看我外婆的病情每況愈下，我迫切地想知道外婆還能活多久。那時的我從事空服員的工作，我擔心萬一外婆過世，我在國外無法第一時間趕回來看她最後一面，怎麽辦?

在車上，我不斷祈求玳瑚師父告訴我外婆的壽命還有多久。他不肯，他說做師父的其中一個避忌就是不算壽命，因爲很多人嘴巴說無所謂，知道答案後，心裡卻會七上八下，家人甚至會責怪師父嚇人。那時，外婆已皈依在蓮生活佛門下，我告訴師父家裡只有我和外婆是皈依的佛教徒，我很希望外婆過世時，我能夠為她做臨終關懷八小時，引導她往投極樂。

在電話的另一端，師父沉默許久，一句話也不說。我想慘了，如果師父不肯告訴我，我該如何是好？如何向公司請假？

「不過八月十五。」

什麽，師父，你說什麽？中秋節八月十五？師父，我都還沒告訴你外婆的生辰，你只知道她的名字和生肖，就能斷定嗎？

師父重覆說了一遍，並溫馨地告訴我到時遇到任何問題時，儘管撥電給他。就這樣，我們的通話結束了。

農曆八月十四的早上，在中央醫院復診時，醫生說外婆的血壓忽然降低，需要入院輸血。我便為外婆辦理入院手續，和照料外婆的女傭一直陪伴在外婆左右。幾個星期來，飛行穿梭與五大洲之間，熬夜時差，加上多次帶外婆來往醫院，每一次都花好幾個鐘頭在醫院等待，身心已疲憊不堪。我看著在病床上的外婆，輸血後她氣色開始好轉，醫生說一切穩定。外婆知道我很累，屢勸我回家休息。但師父的預言一直懸挂在我心中，本想留下來陪外婆一晚，但那天的入院來的突然，我沒準備任何衣物。那時的我住在兀蘭，離新加坡中央醫院很遠。我先生在一旁也勸我回家好好休息，才有更好的精神繼續和外婆說佛法及一同唸佛。

我猶豫著。師父為我做的預言從來沒有錯過。但外婆氣色之佳，是近幾個月從未曾有的。我這幾個月，也一直都有修法回向給外婆，可能奇跡出現了吧！

于是，農曆八月十五的淩晨一點二十分左右，我回家了。

早上十點二十分，女傭打了通電話給我。她不大會說英文，只是很情急地說外婆想見我，要我快點來醫院。我天真地以爲是外婆睡醒後，想見我。

早上十點四十五分，表姐打電話給我，哭著說外婆已過世了。那時的我，腦海裡立刻浮現師父所說的「不過八月十五。」 連半天都過不了。我的心一直往下沉。爲什麽我問了師父卻又不淨信他的話？爲什麽我沒有把師父的預言告訴我的家人？爲什麽我就不能在醫院熬多一天？生死皆天定，我怎麽不自量力地以爲自己那點修法回響就能改寫外婆的生死呢？原來人說死前的迴光返照是這麽一回事！天啊！我竟然那麽不孝，讓外婆過世時，身邊只有一個女傭，一個親人都沒有！

在醫院撥打電話給師父時，他很快就接聽了。第一句話一說完，我已泣不成聲了。師父說他一早起床，就不斷地有我外婆和我的影子，他知道事情不出他預料中，因此一直在等待我的電話。師父不但沒有怪我不夠相信他，還提醒我要為外婆做的佛事，也開導我說八月十五是月圓圓滿之日，外婆在這日離去也象徵她的一生已圓滿，她十多年的病業終于還清了，從病苦中解脫了，我應該為她高興。師父知道我性格衝動，再三叮嚀我在外婆停柩期間，勿和家人起衝突。

這也是我第二件遺憾的事。我那時學佛尚淺，包容、平等對待和處事圓融的道理，我無法實踐。我不但在外婆的遺體前爲了她的生後事，向家人耍狠，在喪禮上，因爲不苟同他們的做法，脾氣更是一「發」不可收拾。說什麽佛教徒，真是貽笑大方！我怎麽就沒有好好學師父那般的度量呢？

外婆過世後的那七天裡，家人陸續都夢到她回來和他們敍舊。唯獨我沒有。我很納悶。外婆臨終前，唯一想見的人是我，爲何卻沒托夢給我？她不是有話跟我說嗎？（其實是我多想在外婆面前跟她說萬萬個對不起。）想著，想著，我想到師父常教我在睡前的結界法，保護自己在睡夢中不被鬼魅魍魎干擾盜氣，出國在外也能平安。我睡前也必定會結界，這法非常實用也有真實的法力！

那晚，在紐約的酒店裡，我冒了一個險，沒行結界法。當晚，我就夢到自己在兒時住家附近（也是外婆的舊家）的停車場。我不知不覺走到一輛米色的「馬賽地」旁邊，低頭一看，咦，是外婆，穿著那熟悉的衣裳，坐在駕駛座位上。我叫她，以廣東話問：「婆婆，妳會駕車啊？」（外婆生前沒有駕駛執照）　她轉頭，跟我說：「幫公公皈依吧！」 我答：「皈依啊？好啊！」

我就猛然醒來了，趕緊看時間，是清晨五點多。師父曾說在早上五點至七點之間做的夢是真實的。我梳洗後，即刻撥長途電話給在新加坡的師父。外公已過世十多年，在夢裡，外婆要我為外公皈依時，我已知道他尚未投胎，生前沒聽聞過佛法，更別説往生極樂了。而當外婆提到皈依時，我心裡的直覺說她指的是皈依我們的根本上師，蓮生活佛，絕非他人。最神的是，夢裡外婆的車和家人在喪禮中焚化給她的，是一模一樣的！

師父在電話中花了一個鐘頭的時間，耐心地教導我。他說我得先回到外婆生前的居所，向那裡的祖先牌位請示外公是否真的想皈依蓮生活佛。除了攜帶外公生前愛吃的食物，我也得先上香供養家門外供奉的天公、土地神和門神，祈求祂們允許我外公的魂魄入屋。

回囯後的隔天，我和兩位表姪女一起到外婆家，一一跟著師父的指示照做。我們三人上了香，跪在祖先牌位前，呼叫外公時，不可思議的事情發生了！刹那間，我們三人同時感覺到有股強烈的陰氣從我們背後的大門進來，再看到一個黑影從我們身旁快速地飃過，到祖先牌位的供桌上，頓時，我們全身都起了雞皮疙瘩。卜杯請示外公是否要皈依蓮生活佛時，連續得了三個聖杯！我的夢是真實的！師父教的真管用！

當下，我既讚嘆又感恩玳瑚師父，是他引我皈依蓮生活佛。在他之前，我根本沒聼過蓮生活佛的盛名。因爲我的皈依，我好幾個家人也皈依。師父常說死人的眼睛是雪亮的。外公生前非常疼愛我，沒想到，我和外婆的皈依也會讓他想向佛了！我是多麽的雀躍啊！我讚嘆師父那麽好眼光，有福份，一生只皈依一個上師，而且是一位已開悟成佛的上師，怪不得師父的本領那麽了得。我更感恩他不辭辛勞地廣揚佛法，讓我們這些門外漢能學到人生最大的一件事到底是什麽。

我是一個差勁的弟子，脾氣又不好，兩次被師父「停學」，每一次長達半年，更曾被沒收所有的筆記和課本。但在「停學」期間，師父仍慈悲教導我如何處理外婆的生後事。可能你覺得他是修行人，是玄學師父，不給他錢，他仍然應該幫你消災解厄，給他錢，他更要幫你逢凶化吉。我的看法卻是，自己的問題本來就應該自己解決。沒有人是「應該」幫你的，師父也不是一個你能用錢買的人，更不可以因爲師父沒有幫你這一次或看法不一，便因「愛」成「恨」，來個「秦始王燒書」 般地把過去師父幫過自己的恩都忘得一乾二淨，再來個翻臉不認「師」。這般無情無義的人我看的實在太多了。

這兩天趕緊將這篇個人見證寫完，並翻譯，已此供養玳瑚師父為他的「生日」禮物。農曆八月十五是玳瑚師父皈依真佛之日。他常說這一天才是他真正的生日，皈依學佛前的日子懵懂無意，虛度光陰，貴為佛子後，自己才真正「活」起來，成爲有智慧有貢獻的能人。兒子的事業這麽有意義，我想師父的父母一定會以他為榮。

如果你也像我一樣，曾經請示過師父，卻在信與不信之間進退兩難，希望我這篇文章能給你一點啓發，更盼你不會有我這般的遺憾。

祝大家中秋節快樂。

我在此也誠心地祝玳瑚師父「生日」快樂。謝謝您在無止境的萬難中，仍堅持帶給我們光明。我祈禱，願您的一生有如今晚的月輪一樣地美麗、圓滿、吉祥，願您早日修成正果，速登彼岸。阿彌陀佛。

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

It was one afternoon in the year 2006, 2 weeks from the Mid-Autumn Festival. I was travelling along the Central Expressway in a cab when I made a call to Master Dai Hu. The memory was still fresh. My grandmother's health was deteriorating by the day, and I desperately wanted to know how much longer she could hold on. I was working as a flight attendant at that time, and the fear was that I might be overseas and not able to see her the final time when she breathed her last.

During the taxi ride, I pleaded incessantly for Master Dai Hu to answer my burning question. He refused. He said that as a Master, it was a taboo to predict one's life span because the answer would drive many towards anxiety and hysteria, even when they seemed nonchalant initially. At that time, my grandmother had already taken refuge under Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, and I told Master Dai Hu that since my grandmother and myself were the only Buddhists who had taken refuge in the family, I really hoped to provide some form of hospice care, and perform the proper rites during the crucial 8-hour time window after her passing to guide her towards rebirth into the Pure Land.

There was total silence on the other end of the line for a long time. Master Dai Hu did not utter a single sound. I was doomed, I thought to myself, if Master refused to tell me, what should I do? How could I apply for leave of absence from my employer?

"It would not be beyond the fifteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month". Finally the silence was broken.

What, Master, what did you just? You meant the Mid-Autumn Festival? But I had not even tell you the birth date and time of my grandmother. You only knew her name and Chinese Zodiac Sign, how could you be so sure?

Master Dai Hu repeated his prediction again, and told me warmly that I could call him anytime if I encountered any problem. With that, our conversation ended.

This was the fourteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month. The doctor told me that Grandma's blood count suffered a drastic drop, and had to be admitted to hospital for a blood transfusion. After I had done the paper works for the admittance, I stayed with her, together with her maid. I was totally physically and mentally exhausted. Flying around the world had taken its toll on me, with the late nights and jet lags, not to mention the many hospital trips I made with Grandmother over the past few weeks and every hospital visit spanned over a few hours. I looked at Grandma who was lying on her hospital bed. She looked much better after the blood transfusion and the doctor said all was well. Grandma knew I was washed out and kept asking me to go home and rest. Master Dai Hu's prediction was constantly on my mind. I had wanted to stay for one more night to accompany Grandma but the hospital admission that day was unexpected and I did not prepare any overnight bag. I was staying at Woodlands at that time and it was far from SGH. My husband who was by my side advised me to go home to rest too as he felt that I needed to be in a better condition to continue sharing the Dharma and reciting the Buddha's name with Grandma.

I hesitated. Master's predictions for me always rang true. But my Grandma looked quite good, something which I have not seen in months. Furthermore, I have been doing spiritual practices and dedicating the merits to her. Perhaps a miracle had happened!

At about 120am on the fifteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month, I went home.

My phone rang at 1020am. It was the maid. She was not really conversant in English but told me anxiously that Grandma wanted to see me, and asked if I was on the way. I naively shrugged it off, thinking it might just be Grandma wanting to see me after her sleep.

Another phone call came in at 1045am, the sobbing and muffled voice of my cousin on the other end, telling me that Grandma had passed away. At that very moment, the words of Master "Not beyond the fifteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month" reverberated through me. My heart sank to the rock bottom. Why did I ask Master for his prediction when I was not prepared to have complete faith in him? Why had I not told this prediction to my family members? Why could I not just stay in hospital with Grandma for that one more night? Life and death are both predestined. How could I think so highly of myself and believe that meagre merits from my spiritual practice was sufficient to rewrite her fate? Now I realized the truth in the saying that a person before his or her imminent death would look as if he or she is well. Goodness gracious! I was so unfilial to had left Grandma alone, on her death bed with no family member but only the maid beside her!

I phoned Master Dai Hu at the hospital and he answered very quickly. Once the first words were spoken, I had already broken down in sobs. Master said that he woke up early that morning with a premonition. He kept "seeing" images of my Grandma and myself, and knew in an instant that his prediction had prevailed and had been waiting for my call. Not only did Master not reprimand me for not having enough faith in him, he even reminded me on the list of things to do for Grandma's funeral. He counseled me, saying that for Grandma to bade this world farewell on the fifteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month, it signified that she had lived a full and complete life, and that her karmic debt of suffering from illnesses the past 10 over years had finally been repaid. He said I should be glad that Grandma had been released from her pains and sufferings. Master was well aware of my rash temperament, and reminded me many times not to squabble with the family members during the funeral wake.

This has to be the other regrettable thing in this episode. My understanding of the Dharma was shallow then, and I did not practice the ways of endurance, equality, and did not consider the feelings of others in handling things. Not only did I pressurize my family members over the arrangements of Grandma's funeral, my bad temper flared uncontrollably during the funeral as I was not in agreement with the rest of the family members. All this talk about being a Buddhist turned me into a laughing stock! Why could I not learn from Master, who was and still is always so magnanimous and gracious?

During the seven-day period after Grandma's passing, many family members dreamed of her continually. I was the only one not to have seen her in my dreams. This was very puzzling for me. At the time of her passing, Grandma was calling out for me. Why did she not appear in my dreams? Did she not have anything to say to me? (Truthfully, I wanted very much to say a million sorry to her in person). As I was pondering over this matter, I remembered a demarcation method taught to me by Master, to protect myself against spirits stealing my life essence and disrupting my sleep, and to stay safe while I was overseas. This demarcation was something I always did before going to bed, and it really proved itself as a useful and powerful Dharma practice.

That night, in my hotel room in New York, I took a risk and forgo the demarcation procedure before I slept. That very night, I dreamed of Grandma! I was at the car park, near my childhood residence (also near Grandma's previous residence). I was walking along a pavement and ended up beside a cream-coloured Mercedes Benz. I looked down, and there she was! My Grandma was wearing her usual clothing and seated in the driver's seat. I called out to her and asked in Cantonese, "Grandma, you know how to drive?" Grandma did not have a driving license when she was alive. She turned to speak to me, "Help your Grandfather to take refuge!" I answered, "Take refuge? Ok!"

I jolted out from sleep, and hurriedly looked at the clock. It was five plus in the morning. Master once said that dreams occurring between 5am - 7am were real. I washed up, and called Master who was in Singapore immediately. My Grandfather has been dead for more than 10 years. In my dream, when Grandma wanted me to take refuge for Grandfather, I knew then that Grandfather had yet to go through reincarnation. He did not hear the Dharma during his lifetime, so he could not have been reborn into the Pure Land. When Grandma spoke of taking refuge, my intuition told me that she was referring to our Root Guru, Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, whom we took refuge in, and no one else. The next amazing thing was that the car in which Grandma was seated in the dream looked exactly the same as the one the family members burnt as an offering to her during the funeral!

Master spent an hour on the phone with me, patiently guiding me. He said I needed to return to my Grandma's house and seek answers from the ancestors at the ancestral tablet if my Grandfather really wanted to take refuge in Living Buddha Lian-Sheng. Other than preparing my Grandfather's favorite snacks, I had to offer incense and other offerings to the Jade Emperor, the Earth Deity as well as the Door Guardians, who were enshrined outside my Grandma's home, and request for smooth entry of my Grandfather's spirit into the house.

A few days upon my return to Singapore, I went to my Grandma's house, together with my two nieces. I followed Master's instruction to the tee. The three of us offered incense, knelt down in front of the ancestral tablet and called for my Grandfather. Something extraordinary happened next! In the flash of an eye, the 3 of us felt a strong Yin energy coming in from the main door, and witnessed a black shadowy figure slid past us in speed, and onto the ancestral tablet. Momentarily, our hair stood on end and all of us felt goosebumps on our skins. When I threw the divination blocks and asked if it was Grandfather's wish to take refuge in Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, the answer was positive with three consecutive yes! My dream was real after all! The method which Master taught really worked well!

Instantly, I was in awe, and at the same time, extremely grateful to Master Dai Hu. He was the one who guided me to take refuge in Living Buddha Lian-Sheng. Before that, I never hear of Him. Because of my taking refuge, a few of my family members followed suit. Master often said that the dead had the brightest eyes. Grandfather doted on me very much when he was alive, and never did I expect Grandfather to follow my Grandma and I in taking refuge and seek the Dharma. I was totally elated! I praised Master for his foresight, and his great fortune of taking refuge in a one and only one Guru Master, one who had attained perfect Enlightenment. It is no wonder that Master Dai Hu has such great skills too. I am also grateful for his relentless pursuits to propagate the Dharma, enabling layman like us to learn, understand and prepare for the biggest event of our life.

I am a lousy disciple with bad temperament. Twice, I was booted out by Master and not allowed to learn from him for as long as 6 months. My notes and books were confiscated. However, even when I did not see Master during those periods, he showed compassion and guided me through the ordeal of my Grandma's passing. Perhaps you might think that it is his duty as a spiritual practitioner and Chinese metaphysicist to show compassion and help others in need even if no money is paid to him, and if money is paid, all the more he should help the clients out of their troubles.

My take on this: We must take responsibility for our own problems. No one owe us any form of help or assistance. And Master Dai Hu is definitely not someone you can buy with money. If he does not render his help to you or both of you have a different opinion on certain issues, you cannot go from having admiration to bearing resentment towards him over that. I have seen too many ungrateful people who erase all the memories of the good that Master had once done for them, pretty much like how Emperor Qin burnt the books, with no trace left and turned their backs on Master, like they had never known him.

Over the last two days, I rushed to complete this testimonial as a present to Master Dai Hu on his "birthday". It was this auspicious day, the fifteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month, that Master Dai Hu took refuge in True Buddha and became a Buddhist. He often said that this day felt more like his real birthday. Before learning the Dharma and taking refuge, he led a life of meaningless existence, squandering away youth and time. Only when he became a Buddhist did he truly come to life, begin to live in wisdom and gain great ability, while making useful and meaningful contributions to the society. With such a noble career, I guess his parents must be very proud of having a son like him.

If you are to be in my shoes one day, having asked Master for advice but still teetering on the border and unsure if you should believe him, I hope my story will inspire you and not let you suffer the same regrets as I did.

Wishing everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

And I genuinely wish Master Dai Hu a "Happy Birthday". Thank you for bringing the Light to us, despite the endless obstacles you constantly battle. I pray that your life will be as beautiful, complete and auspicious as the full moon tonight. May you soon attain the fruit of perfect and complete Enlightenment. Amituofo.

www.masterdaihu.com/the-prophecy-not-beyond-mid-autumn/

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各節重點：
00:49 人類對 AI 最深層的恐懼
02:01 AI 即將害我們失去工作？
03:22 當 AI 開始管理人類
04:52 AI 可以撫慰人心？甚至還可以當老師？
05:59 對 AI 感興趣的人有福了？
07:19 我們的觀點
08:20 提問TIME
08:33 掰比～別忘了訂閱

【 製作團隊 】
｜企劃：鯉鼬
｜腳本：鯉鼬
｜剪輯後製：絲繡
｜剪輯助理：絲繡 ＆ 范范
｜演出：志祺

——

【 本集參考資料 】
→ 維基百科：魔鬼終結者：https://reurl.cc/lrOK6
→ 了解人工智慧的第一本書：機器人和人工智慧能否取代人類？：https://reurl.cc/QAoQ2
→ 維基百科：2001太空漫遊：https://reurl.cc/QAoQq
→ 維基百科：機械公敵：https://reurl.cc/5WNAM
→ 維基百科：全面進化：https://reurl.cc/Elv9v
→ Kurzweil Accelerates Immortality Pledge From 2045 to 2029：https://reurl.cc/kYW6d
→ 工商社論》面對AI時代，個人、企業與國家都應轉型：https://reurl.cc/qAqEE
→ 機器取代人力！5年內7千萬人恐丟飯碗 世界經濟論壇：機器人創造雙倍就業機會！：https://reurl.cc/vOxYL
→ The Future of Jobs Report 2018：https://reurl.cc/AmlVY
→ 人工智慧對勞動就業的影響：https://reurl.cc/M5oav
→ These Are The Jobs That Will Be Safe From The Imminent Invasion Of Robots：https://reurl.cc/1AWdW
→ The Future Of Jobs: The Onrushing Wave：https://reurl.cc/eloej
→ 亞馬遜用AI判定：該開除哪位員工？：https://reurl.cc/zRkxQ
→ 動作慢就掰掰！Amazon建AI監視員工 效率未達標直接被開除：https://reurl.cc/vOxVj
→ 從同事變身績效主管》AI打考績的人性考驗：https://reurl.cc/XMboe
→ 不只陪伴病人、幫推手術車 AI機器人還能開解護理師！：https://reurl.cc/qAqyn
→ 抒發負面情緒！北榮首創關懷平台「N天使」護理師用手機也可紓壓：https://reurl.cc/rGVpO
→ 導入AI智慧 北榮首創護理關懷平台N天使：https://www.vghtpe.gov.tw/Index.action
→ AI機器人狂潮席捲全球 人工智慧時代正式來臨 T觀點 20170226 (1/4)：https://reurl.cc/Lrov4
→ 台灣「AI 原生世代」來了，政府攜手 Google、微軟推動高中職生 AI 扎根活動：https://reurl.cc/M5m1L
→ AI人才向下扎根 經濟部推動「高中職生AI扎根系列活動」 偕同台灣微軟與Google培育全臺千名高中職學生：https://reurl.cc/qAbzy
→ 臉書專頁：高中職生 AI 扎根系列活動：https://2030.tw/2kkflQ7
→ 和機器人共學 南市2年要設50間創新智慧學習教室：https://reurl.cc/Lrx1L
→ 自由時報照片：https://reurl.cc/QAlpM
→ 中小學首部AI教材 教案下月公布：https://reurl.cc/jZ47p
→ 南科AI_ROBOT自造基地．營造創新自造生態系：https://reurl.cc/O3a1y
→ 影／台灣第一　南科實中獲頒夏威夷學生大使殊榮：https://reurl.cc/O3aqX
→ 南科 AI_ROBOT 自造基地：https://reurl.cc/YN56n
→ Top 9 ethical issues in artificial intelligence：https://reurl.cc/4eDm2
→ 歐盟公布初步 AI 道德準則，執委會副主席：只有獲得信賴，社會才能充分受益於技術：https://reurl.cc/m5bqM


＼每週７天，每天７點，每次７分鐘，和我們一起了解更多有趣的生活議題吧！／
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