Month: November 2021

Chinese Paintings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

linda changLeave a comment


Chinese Paintings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

There have been numerous talented artists throughout the history of Chinese painting. They have produced countless magnificent paintings that have contributed to the excellent Chinese culture. But most of the great artists throughout the ages have tended to specialize in one particular skill, style, or subject matter. Those who excelled at landscape painting were rarely proficient in flower and bird painting. Those who were proficient in flower and bird painting were rarely adept at figure painting; and so on and so forth. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, however, is proficient in all subject matters—whether landscape, flowers and birds, animals, fish, insects, or figures. With respect to artistic techniques, he has excelled at meticulous painting, freehand brushwork, splash-ink style, and many others. In all of these areas, His Holiness has demonstrated real traditional skills and originality.

Chinese Paintings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III
Chinese Paintings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

These characteristics of His Holiness’s paintings have long ago been confirmed by art experts and collectors. In 2000, paintings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III entitled “Majesty” and “Venerable Da Li Won” sold at an international auction for US$2,125,327 and US$2,207,912, respectively. At that time, those sales set new records for the highest priced painting of any living oriental artist in the world as well as the highest priced Chinese paintings ever sold at an auction. Various media reported on those two sales and praised H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III as a consummate artist who is unprecedented in the history of Chinese painting.

In 2007, a painting by His Holiness of lotus flowers entitled “Two Flowers; One Lotus Capsule; One Dharma Nature” sold for U.S.$300,000 per square foot. That painting contains His Holiness’s signature in the form of the two Chinese characters “Wan Ko”, His Holiness’s fingerprint, and His Holiness’s calligraphy and paintings seal. A plum blossom painting by His Holiness sold for U.S.$210,000 per square foot. That painting contains His Holiness’s signature in the form of the two Chinese characters “Wan Ko” and His Holiness’s fingerprint. There is another painting by His Holiness entitled “Pasture in Spring (A Sheppard Boy Herding Cattle).” On that painting His Holiness inscribed in Chinese characters “Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu.” That painting also contains His Holiness’s fingerprint and dharma king seal. It truly is a rare and precious work of art. Although an offer was made to purchase that painting for U.S.$540,000 per square foot, that offer was lower than the selling price set by the International Buddhism Sangha Association of U.S.$900,000 per square foot. Thus, the sale was not consummated.

In the Spring of 2015, the Ink Lotus by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was auctioned in New York for $16.5 Million. That set the highest auction price in history per square footage, considering that the painting is only 10 feet in area.

In his art, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has indeed assimilated the essence of traditional Chinese painting. Not only has His Holiness learned from the painting traditions of Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasty scholars, His Holiness has also easily mastered the grand and vigorous style of pre-Song Dynasty painting. Yet, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has not merely emulated the techniques of any one painter or any one school. His Holiness has learned from ancient artistry and has also learned from nature. Combining the two, His Holiness has created a novel and unique style of his own. From a careful examination of paintings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, it is not difficult to see the legacy of tradition and the spirit of originality.

Chinese Paintings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

Link:https://dharmafromhhdorjechangbuddhaiii.org/2021/10/31/chinese-paintings-by-h-h-dorje-chang-buddha-iii/

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The City of Covina Holds Its Tree Lighting Ceremony for the 31st Year, With an Enhanced Festival

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The lights of the Covina Christmas tree were lit up amongst the music of the Covina concert band and the cheers of the crowd. (Photo by David McCarty)

The City of Covina’s Tree Lighting Festival was held on November 5th, with the participation of the Covina Christmas Parade Committee, and the H.H.  Dorje Chang Buddha III, Cultural and Art Museum, and other businesses and individuals in the city. The City proudly partnered with people and organizations in the community, to bring local families together and get into the spirit of the upcoming holidays.

The lights of the Covina Christmas tree were lit up amongst the music of the Covina concert band and the cheers of the crowd. (Photo by David McCarty)

While the tree lighting has been done for years, this year was different and expanded, with more of a storyline to the festivities, and an added sense of joy and purpose. After COVID-19’s disruption of so many festivals and get-togethers last year, this year’s tree lighting and festival atmosphere were designed to bring back the sense of joy and wonder that makes the holiday season a special one for so many people. It’s a great time of year to move on from a tough time in life with a renewed spirit of happiness and peace.

The representative of 22nd Senate District Susan Rubio’s office presented the certificate to the City of Covina. (Photo by David McCarty)

When asked about the history of the event and the differences compared with past tree lighting events, Covina’s Mayor Jorge A. Marquez said, “The City of Covina has had a Christmas Parade that’s run for 70 years. We also have a tradition of lighting up the Christmas tree every year, to add extra holiday cheer. The difference now, compared to the past, is we have added a storyline within the event, to keep kids entertained, and added activities for kids and their families to enjoy.”

With the lingering issues caused by the pandemic, and the stress and strain that has put on many families, it’s important for everyone to have some fun and fellowship as the holidays approach this year. The City of Covina was focused on that during the festival, and the City is dedicated to making the holiday season a better one for the community, as much as possible. Taking time away from worries, for families to celebrate and enjoy the magic of the holiday season, is a great way to do that.

Brian Tyan, the President of the H.H.  Dorje Chang Buddha III,Cultural and Art Museum, shares that opinion. The museum chose to partner with the City of Covina for this event by collaborating with the Covina Parks and Recreation Department and the Covina Christmas Parade Committee, in order to bring the joy of the holiday to the community more fully.

The event was held at Heritage Plaza, and included the Covina Farmer’s Market, where visitors could get great food and shop for holiday gifts. There was also live holiday music from the Covina Concert Band, and plenty of free activities for everyone to enjoy. Giveaways, letters to Santa, and children’s crafts were just some of the offerings the City worked to make possible. While adults understand the seriousness of the pandemic, and the toll it took last year, the children were often the ones who missed out.

The Christmas light decorations of the H.H.  Dorje Chang Buddha III,Cultural and Art Museum building attracted a large number of local residents. (Photo by David McCarty)

When asked about what he feels the event means to the community, the Mayor replied, “To me, this Christmas I believe allows us to come together as a community, to kick off the winter holiday and enjoy each other’s fellowship. Especially this year, with COVID-19, we are hoping to get back to normal, to celebrating not just Christmas but each other, as a strong, tight-knit community.” While the City of Covina already has a Christmas parade, the Tree Lighting Festival added even more joy and completeness to the festivities.

This year was the 31st tree lighting ceremony for Covina, and the event has been a favorite of the community all during that time. According to Tyan, the H.H.  Dorje Chang Buddha III,Cultural and Art Museum recognizes that last year was rough on people, with losses including jobs and loved ones. The hope is that, through the Tree Lighting Festival, more people in the community can feel joy in their hearts and experience a reprieve from the pandemic.

To help encourage that, a professional holiday lighting company was hired, and that company decorated the entire museum building and the parking lot. There were snow machines on the event date, so people could enjoy the experience of snowfall. Parents and children were able to take photos with the snow falling, and there were light-up elements to add to the happiness and peacefulness of the occasion, as just one aspect of the overall festival, and the joyous atmosphere it produced for residents of Covina.

The museum sponsored the hot cocoa and coffee booth, where anyone could get free cocoa or coffee during the event to keep warm and cozy on a chilly night, and increase the feeling of holiday cheer. There were glow sticks and gifts for visitors who came to the booth, and the fun and excitement of the trackless train, allowing kids at the event to have a free train ride as part of the festival and  as a way to move on from COVID-19 and have more adventures.

Link: https://peacelilysite.com/2021/11/11/the-city-of-covina-holds-its-tree-lighting-ceremony-for-the-31st-year-with-an-enhanced-festival/

#DorjeChangBuddhaIII #HHDorjeChangBuddhaIII

My thoughts about Buddhism precepts: Not Killing

linda chang2 Comments

My thoughts about Buddhism precepts: Not Killing

I often heard this proverb when I was a child: ”Sweeping the floor may injure the lives of ants, and cherish the moth gauze lamp”. The proverb describes how the Buddhist monk and nun cherish the lives of tiny animals. In my little heart I very admired the kindness of the Buddhist monk and nun. However, my parents didn’t have any religion beliefs, and I was often ordered to kill the small insects or mice in the house. One time my Dad killed a rooster. I saw the rooster struggling desperately when it’s was head cut off, and still running around headless with blood. I filled with sorrow. I asked my Dad why humans can kill other animals and eat them. My dad told me that humans are the spirit of all beings. I didn’t understand what that meant, and my Dad’s answer did comfort my little naive heart.

When I went to graduate school in the US, I had the chance to read some books about buddhism. I felt it was very interesting and rather convincing. Then I started to read more Buddhist sutra. I learned that there are five precepts, the most fundamental rules that Buddhists should follow. The first one is: not killing. I had a personal experience that deepened my understanding of this precept.

About year 2000, we lived in a single-family house in North Carolina. In the big back yard I planted some vegetables, so I could have some organic food. However, growing vegetables was not as easy as I thought. After several months when the plant started blooming and bearing fruit, the trouble started. There appeared many big, fat, greenish caterpillars crawling in the garden, which ate the leaves and fruits. My husband got really angry with those little insects, and would smash them on the ground. I talked about those insects with my friends to try and find some non-harmful way to get rid of them. My friends suggested me to get a bottle of spray in the organic farm supply store; it is non-toxic and all-natural to humans and plants. It works as a glue to block the insects skin, so that they can’t breath and suffocated to death. When I heard that, I felt my whole body’s skin tighten up suffocatingly. No, I can’t use this spray, I can’t let those little creature to die like this to save my plants. I would not kill them no matter what. The very next day, an unexpected miracle happened. The very next morning my husband told me, it was very strange that all the caterpillars were gone, and there were no dead insects in the garden either. I could’t explain the reason, but I believed it was not a coincidence. I thought that maybe those caterpillar felt my kindness and then left.

Two years later I got a job in California, and we moved to the west coast. That was a truly blessing. I could go to a place to listen the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Dharma discourse. That changed my life completely. It gave me a different point of view of the universe and life.

From the Dharma transmitted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III I gained more insights about the Buddhist precepts of “Not Killing”. I deeply understand that all living beings in the six realms of reincarnation within the three spheres of the universe have been since beginning-less time; my fathers and mothers in the revolving cycle of reincarnation. I should deeply bear in mind that all of my parents (i.e. all living beings) that now exist in the cycle of reincarnation have since beginning-less time given birth to me, reared me, loved me, and became tired and ill for me. Their kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. I should bear in mind their kindness. I will then regard the sufferings of my parents (i.e. all living beings) as my own suffering.

I truly wish all living beings can live harmoniously and peacefully together, and wish all living beings whom are my family to have a happy and prosperous life with good health and an abundance of good fortune. I shall constantly beseech all of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to empower all of my parents (i.e. all living beings) so that they may extricate themselves from all forms of suffering, encounter and practice the Buddha-dharma, and liberate themselves from the sufferings of cyclic existence.

Amitabha Buddha!

Written by Peace Lily

Title: My thoughts about Buddhism precepts: Not Killing

Link: https://peacelilysite.com/2021/11/11/my-thoughts-about-buddhism-precepts-not-killing/

#DorjeChangBuddhaIII #HHDorjeChangBuddhaIII