Once upon a time, there was a Quail King who reigned over a flock of a thousand quails.
There was also a very clever quail hunter. He knew how to make a quail call. Because this sounded just like a real quail crying for help, it never failed to attract other quails. Then the hunter covered them with a net, stuffed them in baskets, and sold them to make a living.
Because he always put the safety of his flock first, Quail King was highly respected by all. While on the lookout for danger, one day he came across the hunter and saw what he did. He thought, “This quail hunter has a good plan for destroying our relatives. I must make a better plan to save us.”
Then he called together his whole nation of a thousand quails. He also invited other quails to attend the meeting. He said, “Greetings to our quail nation and welcome to our visitors. We are faced with great danger. Many of our relatives are being trapped and sold by a clever hunter. Then they are being killed and eaten. I have come up with a plan to save us all. When the hunter covers us with his net, every single one of us must raise his neck at the same time. Then, all together, we should fly away with the net and drop it on a thorn bush. That will keep him busy, and we will be able to escape with our lives.” All agreed to follow this smart strategy.
The next day the hunter lured the quails with his quail call as usual. But when he threw his net over them, they all raised up their necks at once, flew away with the net, and dropped it on a thorn bush. He could catch no quails at all! In addition, it took him the rest of the day to loosen his net from the thorns – so he had no time left to try again!
The same thing happened on the following day. So he spent a second day unhooking his net from sharp thorns. He arrived home only to be greeted by his wife’s sharp tongue! She complained, “You used to bring home quail to eat, and money from selling quails. Now you return empty-handed. What do you do all day? You must have another wife somewhere, who is feasting on quail meat at this very moment!”
The hunter replied, “Don’t think such a thing, my darling. These days the quails have become very unified. They act as one, and raise up their necks and carry my net to a thorn bush. But thanks to you, my one and only wife, I know just what to do! Just as you argue with me, one day they too will argue, as relatives usually do. While they are occupied in conflict and bickering, I will trap them and bring them back to you. Then you will be pleased with me again. Until then, I must be patient.”
The hunter had to put up with his wife’s complaints for several more days. Then one morning after being lured by the quail call, it just so happened that one quail accidentally stepped on the head of another. He immediately got angry and squawked at her. She removed her foot from his head and said, “Please don’t be angry with me. Please excuse my mistake.” But he would not listen. Soon both of them were squawking and squawking, and the conflict got worse and worse!
Hearing this bickering getting louder and louder, Quail King said, “There is no advantage in conflict. Continuing it will lead to danger!” But they just wouldn’t listen.
Then Quail King thought, “I’m afraid this silly conflict will keep them from cooperating to raise the net.” So he commanded that all should escape. His own flock flew away at once.
And it was just in time too! Suddenly the quail hunter threw his net over the remaining quails. The two arguing quails said to each other, “I won’t hold the net for you.” Hearing this, even some of the other quails said, “Why should I hold the net for anyone else?”
So the conflict spread like wildfire. The hunter grabbed all the quails, stuffed them in his baskets, and took them home to his wife. Of course she was overjoyed, and they invited all their friends over for a big quail feast.
The moral is: There is safety in unity, and danger in conflict.
There was a caterpillar in the flowers, it laid lazily in the grass and did not like to move. An old cricket advised him: “Children should be up for activities. Isn’t there a saying that life is movement!” The caterpillar glanced at the cricket and replied, “I don’t need to move, all I need is to stay safe and stable, soon I will become a beautiful butterfly. A dragonfly flew over and said to the caterpillar, “Ah, I have never seen such an ugly butterfly like you. Do not get lazy, get up and exercise, it is good for you.” The caterpillar did not move, it even closed its eyes. It said, “No matter how much you look down on my body, the fact of my becoming a butterfly will never be changed. So why do I need to move, isn’t it fine that I just quietly wait to become a butterfly?” After having said so, the caterpillar laid motionlessly in the grass and comfortably basked in the sun. Soon the caterpillar was wrapped in a cocoon, inside which its body did not want to move, and it slept all day long. One day, it awoke and found itself a butterfly. It happily wanted to break free of the cocoon, but the cocoon shell did not even budge under its impact. It followed with several more impacts and felt pain over its whole body. So it did not feel like breaking the cocoon and closed its eyes to sleep.
At this time a thump sounded from outside, the old cricket calling from without, “Child, put effort into getting out of the cocoon, otherwise you will die inside.” The caterpillar shrugged and didn’t take it seriously; it thought that the old cricket was really nosy. Inside, the cocoon is safe and comfortable, why do I need to exert my effort to get out of it, will the outside world be safer and more comfortable than inside? Therefore, no matter how hard the old cricket knocked, it did not respond and continued to sleep comfortably.
However, not long after, it discovered that breathing was getting difficult. Its body size was becoming bigger yet the cocoon was shrinking. It became scared and put strength into struggling. But it had no strength left and air decreased inside the cocoon. It had no strength for even a few movements, and its breathing became more difficult. At death’s door, the caterpillar finally realized that although one’s destiny is foreordained, it is through one’s self-effort that it can be fulfilled.
From Grammar school to Middle school, my sister and I went to a Buddhism institute in Hong Kong. We had karmic affinity to Buddhism. Although at that time we were not familiar with or understood Buddhism, nor did we devote much time to study Buddhism. However, our heart gave rise to joyous feeling every Monday when we entered the main Buddha Hall to chant sutras.
Our karma brought us to Hua Zang Si and we have been studying Buddha dharma under the guidance of La Jian 2nd Long Hui Rinpoche. Hua Zang Si abides by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and Sakyamuni Buddhas’ teaching without the slightest deviation. The Ones of Holy Virtuous Ones and our Master are our constant role models; they lead by example. Their conduct is guided by Buddhist precepts and teaching. Their conduct has taught us and encouraged us a great deal.
We have witnessed a myriad of holy phenomena. The most inspiring and most gratifying event was that at Hua Zang Si we found ourselves in the presence of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, and had the opportunity to respectfully listen to Him expounding Buddha dharma and also received the Holy Water Sprinkle Initiation Empowerment from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III personally. All these experiences further our faith in our studying Buddha dharma and firming our resolve to cultivate ourselves to benefit living beings.
Since then we have being coming to Hua Zang Si on a frequent basis to respectfully listen to the Dharma Discourse expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, participate in every Dharma Assembly held at Hua Zang Si, take part in release lives dharma assemblies with jubilant heart and with the most sincere and pure heart we continue to participate in the weekly Meditation and Group Cultivation sessions at Hua Zang Si.
The Mediataion Session of Hua Zang Si is chaired by Gesang Yiqie Qupei Rinpoche. I have received tremendous benefits from attending the Meditation Sessions. It has allowed me to penetrate the truth of Buddha dharma, helped me to understand the philosophy of proper decorum to interact with others, taught me how to maintain a calm mental state by letting go of egotistic clinging. It also elucidated me regarding the corresponding benefit resulted from abiding precepts when we do our Buddha dharma practice. I have less and less scattered and idle thoughts. I am full of joy and I smile all the time. It has had a very positive impact on my daily routine and daily life. And I also discover those who are around me having also being influenced by my state of mind have also become positive and happy.
I remember during the mediation session on September 22, 2013, while paying attention to Gesang Yiqie Qupei Rinpoche’s dharma talk, I suddenly saw a ray of golden light appeared on the Rinpoche’s Certificate of Holy Virtue, right above her photo.
At that moment I did not believe my eyes, I turned around to investigate whether it was generated by the sun. I realized it was impossible for the Sun’s ray to reach that angle. I was stunned. Next moment it disappeared. Later on, however, the ray of light re-appeared. This time, two rays of golden light appeared and what resembled green leaf also accompanied the light. The scene is beautiful beyond words, and extremely auspicious. At that time I was so surprised and excited. I believe this verifies that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were conferring the Buddha dharma propagated by Hua Zang Si is the authentic Tathagata Buddha dharma.
This phenomenon absolutely took place. The appearance of Buddha light signifies the propagation of correct Buddha dharma. Amitabha!
A group of scientific researchers conducted an interesting psychological experiment called “The Scar Experiment.” They announced to participating volunteers that the purpose of the study was to observe how people responded to a stranger with a marred physical appearance, particularly a facial scar.
Using Hollywood makeup techniques, the scientists drew bloody and gruesome scars on each volunteer’s left cheek, and displayed the new “scar” to each participant using a small handheld mirror. After glancing at their marred image, the mirror was taken away. The researchers’ final step was to inform each volunteer that some finishing powder needed to be placed on his/her scar to prevent it from smearing. In reality, the researchers used a tissue to wipe off the scar. But the volunteers still believed they had the awful scars on their faces. Each individual was sent out into the waiting rooms of different medical offices with instructions to notice how strangers responded to their appearance.
At the appointed time, the ten volunteers returned to the scientific researchers and all shared the same report. In their encounters, they noticed that strangers were ruder to them, less kind and stared at their scars. In reality, their faces were no different compared to usual. They came to such a conclusion because their wrong self-conception influenced their judgement.
This is truly a thought-provoking experiment. Depending on how a person sees himself in his own mind, he will experience the same reaction from the outside world. At the same time, this experiment also testifies to a Western saying, “Others see you according to how you see yourself.” Is it not so?
Enlightenment: The world of one’s inner mind determines the vision one has. Only you can decide how others look at you.”
Once upon a time, a very long time ago, the four-footed animals made the lion their king. There was a gigantic fish that roamed the oceans, and the fish made him their king. The birds were attracted to beauty, so they chose the Golden Swan as their king.
King Golden Swan had a beautiful golden daughter. While she was still young, he granted her one wish. She wished that, when she was old enough, she could pick her own husband.
When his daughter was old enough, King Golden Swan called all the birds living in the vast Himalayan Mountains of central Asia to a gathering. The purpose was to find a worthy husband for his golden daughter. Birds came from far away, even from high Tibet. There were geese, swans, eagles, sparrows, humming birds, cuckoos, owls and many other kinds of birds.
The gathering was held on a high rock slab, in the beautiful green land of Nepal. King Golden Swan told his lovely daughter to select whichever husband she wished.
She looked over the many birds. Her eye was attracted by a shining emerald-green long-necked peacock, with gorgeous flowing tail feathers. She told her father, “This bird, the peacock, will be my husband.”
Hearing that he was the lucky one, all the other birds crowded around the peacock to congratulate him. They said, “Even among so many beautiful birds, the golden swan princess has chosen you. We congratulate you on your good fortune.”
The peacock became so puffed up with pride, that he began to show off his colorful feathers in a fantastic strutting dance. He fanned out his spectacular tail feathers and danced in a circle to show off his beautiful tail. Being so conceited, he pointed his head at the sky and forgot all modesty, so that he also, showed his most private parts for all to see!
The other birds, especially the young ones, giggled. But King Golden Swan was not amused. He was embarrassed to see his daughter’s choice behave in this way. He thought, “This peacock has no inner shame to give him proper modesty. Nor does he have the outer fear to prevent indecent behavior. So why should my daughter be shamed by such a mindless mate?”
Standing in the midst of the great assembly of birds, the king said, “Sir peacock, your voice is sweet, your feathers are beautiful, your neck shines like an emerald, and your tail is like a splendid fan. But you have danced here like one who has no proper shame or fear. I will not permit my innocent daughter to marry such an ignorant fool!”
Then King Golden Swan married his golden daughter to a royal nephew. The silly strutting peacock flew away, having lost a beautiful wife.
The moral is: If you let pride go to your head, you’ll wind up acting like a fool.
When I was a child, my parents always tell me “ Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man happy, healthy, and wise. In western countries, there are old sayings much like this one, such as ” Early birds get worms”. Sleeping early and getting up early is a very good habit. However I found out it is very difficult to pass down this good habit to my children. They have a million reasons to stay up late, academic and recreational. So I decided to find some scientific evidence to convince them.
The information I found surprised me. I realized that I myself should sleep and wake up even earlier.
Circadian rhythms and internal biological clock
Three scientists won the 2017 Nobel Prize for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms that control circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are driven by an internal biological clock that anticipates day/night cycles to optimize the physiology and behavior of organisms.
“Chronobiology has an impact on many aspects of our physiology. For example, circadian clocks help to regulate sleep patterns, feeding behavior, hormone release, blood pressure and body temperature. Molecular clocks also play critical roles locally in many tissues. Ablation of clock genes in animal models results in arrhythmic production of hormones, such as corticosterone and insulin (Son et al., 2008). Clock genes also exert a profound influence on metabolism through the control of gluconeogenesis, insulin sensitivity and systemic oscillation of blood glucose (Panda, 2016). Sleep is vital for normal brain function and circadian dysfunction has been linked to sleep disorders, as well as depression, bipolar disorder, cognitive function, memory formation and some neurological diseases (Gerstner and Yin, 2010).”
The circadian clock has an impact on many aspects of our physiology. This clock helps to regulate sleep patterns, feeding behavior, hormone release, blood pressure and body temperature. A large proportion of our genes are regulated by the clock. From https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2017/advanced-information/
Body-Energy Clock in Chinese Medicine
Observations that organisms adapt their physiology and behavior to the time of the day in a circadian fashion have been documented for a long time. Thousands years ago in Chinese Medicine, the body clock was already known. The 24 hour day was divided into 12 two-hour intervals of the Qi (vital force) moving through the organ system. The Body-Energy Clock is built upon the concept of the cyclical ebb and flow of energy throughout the body. During a 24-hour period(see the following diagram), Qi moves in two-hour intervals through the organ systems. During sleep, Qi draws inward to restore the body. This phase is completed between 1 and 3 a.m., when the liver cleanses the blood and performs a myriad of functions that set the stage for Qi moving outward again.
In the 12-hour period following the peak functioning of the liver—from 3 a.m. onward—energy cycles to the organs associated with daily activity, digestion and elimination: the lungs, large intestine, stomach/pancreas, heart, small intestine. By mid-afternoon, energy again moves inward to support internal organs associated with restoring and maintaining the system. The purpose is to move fluids and heat, as well as to filter and cleanse—by the pericardium, triple burner (coordinates water functions and temperature), bladder/kidneys and the liver. Understanding The Body-Energy Clock, could help you to better manage your Sleep, Meals, & Mood.
5 am to 7 am is the time of the Large Intestine, making it a perfect time to have a bowel movement and remove toxins from the day before. So that is the perfect time to get up. Waking up at this time, getting out of bed and moving around, will help your large intestine excrete the waste. Personally, I have discovered that I am prone to constipation if I get up later than this time.
7-9am is the time of the Stomach, so it is important to eat the biggest meal of the day here to optimize digestion and absorption. Warm meals that are high in nutrition are best in the morning. Therefore, if you get up early, you will have enough time to make and enjoy a hearty breakfast. If you get up late, and skip breakfast or just grab some easy treats, then you don’t get enough nutrition for your whole body. According to the body clock the stomach has it’s strongest time in the morning, it secretes a lot of digestive juices in the morning. A lot of people like to eat a big meal at dinner, which can cause the stomach to be overburdened and make the it unable to rest adequately during sleep.
From the Body-Energy Clock we can see the Gall Bladder is most active from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Gall Bladder excretes bile and digest the good fats, it is working hard to repair damaged cells and build new ones. And this process is better processed when you are sleep.
1 a.m. to 3 a.m. is the most active time for the Liver. During this time, toxins are released from the body and fresh new blood is made. The liver is the main detoxifying organ in the body. Our body needs to be in the deep sleep stage, in order to give the liver its full energy capacity so it can do its proper job.
Melatonin Level
Melatonin is often referred to as the sleep hormone. Melatonin level plays an important role in our sleep-wake cycle. It is well-established that melatonin produced by the body plays a fundamental role in getting quality sleep. Scientist has discovered, our body start to increase melatonin secretion soon after the onset of darkness, peaks in the middle of the night, between 2 and 4 a.m., and gradually falls during the second half of the night. Thus most people have the experience that if they stay up too late, they have trouble falling asleep. After 4 a.m. Melatonin level start to decrease, so after 4 a.m. our sleep goes into a light, shallow and dreamy state. Falling asleep during 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., we can get better quality rest from sleeping.
There are many benefits for Going to bed early and getting up early. Here are some examples:
Early risers, whether young or old, have more positive emotions and a better sense of self-health.
Depression is a common mental illness that affects 264 million people worldwide, according to the latest data released on the World Health Organization’s website. A new study in the United States shows that for people who are accustomed to going to bed late, if they can go to bed an hour earlier, they can reduce the risk of depression by 23%.
Staying up late is also an important factor in gain weight, because staying up late can lead to endocrine disorders. If you rest on time, get up early and exercise properly, not only will you prevent excessive weight gain, but you will also be able to maintain a slim body. So, consider to be a early sleeper and early riser, if you wish to control your weight.
Multiple studies have shown that sleep deprivation is associated with increased risk of morbidity. Going to bed early and getting up early can enhance immunity and help fight colds and other viruses. It can also greatly reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke.
Study confirms that early sleepers and early risers score 30% higher on anagram tests than those who stay up late.
Here is a interesting video of a navy seal who likes to go to bed early and get up early. I hope you enjoy it, and be happy and healthy.
The United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters Announcement 20170105
A great holy virtuous one wrote the following edifying discourse. It is very precise and wonderful, and right to the point. The arguments are not common, proving Him as a Shangzun of Gold Button Level 3! This Headquarters now publishes the original text in the following.
I will say a few sentences today. Originally all the dharma affairs pertaining to the passing of the Senior Monk Yinhai were supposed to be handled with me in total charge and a few dharma brothers including Mozhi and Tongstan assisting me, but dharma brother Wangzha asked me to let him handle them. As such, dharma brother Wangzha wound up being in full responsibility for arranging the dharma affairs including the one hundred holy dharma assemblies.
A lot of people are making their separate praises about the passing of the holy monk Yinhai but what they say are only mundane arguments about the greatness of the sacred incident and do not mention the fundamentals. Even the World Buddhism Association Headquarters only talked about what transpired in the process of the holy state. Some even uttered absurdly: “How come I had never heard about this venerable holy one? There isn’t such a person, is there?” Well, there are a lot of highly capable persons that you have never heard about where H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is. For example, you don’t even know who I am! Do you know the names of every high-level person in the British royal family? How many are out there who have royal blood? How could you be qualified to know it if you don’t even have the composition of the royal blood!
Photo on the left was taken 11 hours after the Holy Monk entered nirvana, on the right was taken after 24 days
Some even denigrated the world’s top-level Holy Monk Yinhai (Shengzun) by calling him a great learned one, a high monk, a great virtuous one, one with great achievements, or dharma master. Some say: “…his body laid open for a month after his passing, without being frozen. It was open for the public to get close to and view and people could chant and prostrate to it. Not only it didn’t give out any fetid odor; it instead emitted light and sweet smell. The body became very hard, proving him to be a high monk of a generation…” That is enough of praise to a high monk of the usual but is not the right thing to say about Senior Monk Yinhai. The holy manifestation by Senior Monk Yinhai is unprecedented in history. Why did they must use the words for regular high monks!
There are even those who are so stupid to say: “If Senior Monk Yinhai is a holy monk, why did he need to rely on people practicing dharma and chanting?” I tell you very clearly. Those people who were chanting could not compare to a single hair of Senior Monk Yinhai’s. Their chanting Buddha’s name and the sutras are to accomplish their provisions on the path by using the blessings on site given by the senior monk. How could it possibly be that the senior monk would need the people of five dirtiness and stinky skins like you! On the days commemorating Shakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, or Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva for accomplishing enlightenment or obtaining nirvana, the ordinary people need to attend a grand dharma assembly where they can chant Buddha’s name, chant sutras, chant mantras, make offerings, return merits or pray. Would Buddha or Bodhisattva need those ordinary people to chant for them? Those common people get immense merits returned to them to enrich their provisions by practicing Dharma and returning merits to Buddha and Bodhisattvas on those holy days. In the Dharma Ritual of the Supreme GreatMaternal Buddha (Samu Baiching, 灑母白請), there is one sentence which must be said in the returning-the-merit part at the end: “I would like to return the merit of practicing this dharma to the Supreme Great Maternal Buddha.” Would the holiest Supreme Maternal Buddha with the wonderful enlightenment need the ordinary people to return their merit? So, for the same token, the senior monk is a supreme class holy monk in several thousand years. That is why those people chanting Buddha’s name and mantras could obtain the Initiation of Dharma Affinity by the Yidem (本尊法緣灌頂), which they couldn’t encounter in a hundred lifetimes of learning Buddhism, in such short holy dharma assemblies. That is the merit blessed and given to people by the hugely holy senior monk! Without the blessing by the senior monk on-site, you would not be qualified to receive the Initiation of Dharma Affinity by the Yidem, even if you were to hold several thousand dharma assemblies of the same kind. There are morning and evening chanting sessions at major temples, and there are a lot of people who have been to several thousand sessions of chanting or practicing. Why can they not get an initiation so high as this?
Those of you who practice Dharma, chant sutras, mantras, and Buddha names have less than one ten-thousandth of the merit compared to the senior monk. But because they practiced Dharma and made offerings on the holy day of the senior monk’s passing, they have received merits returned to them by the senior monk. What they received is tens of thousand times more than what they could get by chanting sutras and mantras, praising Buddha, or practicing Dharma in daily life. Only as such can you obtain the Initiation of Dharma Affinity by the Yidem, which you couldn’t encounter in hundreds of lifetimes.
Many said it correctly that the holy incidents by Senior Monk Yinhai cannot be completely described. But people do not know that Senior Monk Yinhai has only done one thing. That is, He told Buddhist disciples that, although Buddhism and Buddha Dharma have come to the very chaotic Dharma-ending Era and correct Buddha Dharmas have been lost, they still exist in the world as they always have. They were in the hands of the senior monk. But where did the senior monk’s Buddha Dharmas come from?
We offer the following three points for you to ponder deeply why Senior Monk Yinhai has only done one thing:
Senior Monk Yinhai proved to be a top-notch holy monk in the history of Buddhism;
Senior Monk Yinhai told us the pith of learning from Buddha and cultivating our deeds; and
Senior Monk Yinhai pointed out the source of the Dharmas for attaining his accomplishment.
Let’s talk about the first point. Over ten years ago, after the senior monk was persecuted to death but revived five days later by manifesting a holy miracle, the first sentence he said was: “You cannot have a slight bit of hurting behavior towards those who hurt me.” The senior monk only had the mind and deeds of great compassion and the Bodhi mind without any bit of hatred. When He passed away, He created a great miraculous transformation in his body, the first in the Buddhist history, ten days after his passing, changing from what used to be a bony, skinny and old face completely into one that was full, plump and majestic. Even the fingernails kept growing. The professional staff at the mortuary serving Senior Monk Yinhai witnessed it in person and testified to this unprecedented holy incident by the senior monk. With just this accomplishment, the senior monk is an unprecedented top-class number-one holy monk in the world.
Pitifully, his body had to be interred on the 32nd day, per the U.S. laws, with offerings made to.
Next, let’s talk about the second point. The verses which the senior monk gave Wangzha Shangzun says:
The holy and the sage have always been lonely since ancient times. Only the recluses could be known to the later generations. Do all good deeds, don’t do anything bad. Have great compassion, never become evil, never cheat I don’t belong to a sect. All my merits and good deeds converge into true Buddha Dharma. If you want to reach the apex of true Buddha Dharma Then take refuge in the Buddha’s School with me.
(The Buddha’s School is the religion of Buddhas in the ten directions and the true Buddhism transmitted by Shakyamuni Buddha. It is not the Buddhism that was altered by the different denominations in the later generations. The Buddha’s School directly comes from Buddha and is without any worldly lineage or divisional system.)
The senior monk tells us that cultivating deeds and learning from Buddha requires us to bury our fame and fortune, to abstain from doing bad deeds, and to do all good deeds. The best Buddha Dharma for cultivating deeds is the Supreme andUnsurpassed Mahamudra of Liberation. He led Wangzha Shangzun to pay homage to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III as the master and to learn Buddha Dharma from His Holiness. The meaning of that is very profound.
Now the third point. The senior monk is the great achiever of the combined practices of the Supreme andUnsurpassed Mahamudra of Liberation and the Great Compassionate and Wonderful Sea of the Red Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva Dharma (大悲勝海紅觀音). The holy incidents before and after his passing proved to have broken the existing records of passing in the Buddhist history entirely. All the unprecedented, unthinkable, and world-shocking holy incidents by the senior monk came from the universal Dharma of Buddhas in the ten directions, which He had learned from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. He realized these achievements by receiving the State Practice Initiation and the supreme Buddha Bestowing Holy Amrit Initiation from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. He told Wangzha Shangzun: “If you want to reach the apex of true Buddha Dharma, then take refuge in the Buddha’s School with me.” That indicated that the source of his Dharma came from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
A lot of the disciples of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III are famous high monks or Great Virtuous Ones, who have attained significant achievements. Some passed in rainbow light; some obtained freedom from death and rebirth; some left shariras after cremation; some people’s flesh never decayed; and some went to look around in the World of Ultimate Bliss first, returned to this word before raising in passing. Except for Shakyamuni Buddha, there was not another past holy one in Buddhist history who had established so many precedences. Cases in point include: High Monk Tonghui, Great Master Qingding, Senior Monk Puguan, Senior Monk Guozhang, Senior Monk Wuming, Senior Monk Yizhao, Dharma King Daxila, the Laymen Wang Lingze, Cheng E-Fen, Hou Yushan, Tangxie Lehui, and Linliu Huixiu. Still, their achievements can not compare with the unparalleled worldly accomplishments by the Senior Monk Yinhai.
The Senior Monk Yinhai has proven that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the very source of the real, true Buddha Dharma in today’s world. There is not a second person who can stand close to His Holiness! The Buddhist Endeavors that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has accomplished tell of a practical doer who openly and singly destroyed evil arguments and established correct Buddhism doctrines and one who benefited all living beings altruistically. That is why we say that the Senior Monk Yinhai proved the highest and supreme Buddha State of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III by manifesting his great achievements obtained from his practice and realization. We can know from it that the Senior Monk has made accomplishments no others can compare to in the Buddhist history by destroying evil masters and cheaters and establishing true Buddha Dharma. That is because he demonstrated the supremacy of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III with His tremendous achievements through learning the Buddha Dharma from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. That is the one thing the Senior Monk has done!
A humbled practitioner of self-cultivation
The United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters March 1, 2017
Dorje Chang Buddha is Buddha Vajradhara (金剛總持, pronounced jin gang zong chi in Chinese, which literally means “Supreme Ruler of the Vajra Beings”) and is also called in Chinese 持金剛 (pronounced chi jin gang, which literally means “Ruler of the Vajra Beings”). Dorje Chang Buddha is not 金剛持 (pronounced jin gang chi in Chinese, which means “Practitioner of the Vajra” as explained below). In English, people often use the word vajradhara to refer to a 金剛持 (jin gang chi), or Practitioner of the Vajra. Actually a 金剛持 (vajradhara) is a master or guru. BuddhaVajradhara is a Buddha. Moreover, Buddha Vajradhara is the primordial sambhogakaya Buddha whose sambhogakaya manifested out of the dharmakaya of Adharma Buddha (Adi Buddha, or Samantabhadra Tathagata). All of the Buddha-dharma of Buddha Vajradhara originated from the tathata (true suchness) of Samantabhadra Tathagata. With respect to the dharmakaya of Samantabhadra Tathagata, there is no past and no future. Without form yet not empty, He neither comes nor goes. There are no Buddhas above Him to become. There are no living beings below Him to be saved. Such is His absolute truth. Thus, the dharma-body state of Samantabhadra Tathagata is without signs or characteristics, without speech, and without form. As such, there is no subject or being who could expound the dharma. Without such a subject or being, the multitudinous living beings could not be saved.
Because of such karmic conditions, the formless dharmakaya Buddha generated the first sambhogakaya Buddha with form. This sambhogakaya Buddha with form transformed into Vajrasattva and other nirmanakayas. In order to make a distinction between those three, the dharmakaya Buddha was named Adharma Buddha; the sambhogakaya Buddha was named Dorje Chang Buddha; the nirmanakaya was named Vajrasattva. Actually, all three are Samantabhadra Tathagata, all three are Adharma Buddha, and three are Dorje Chang Buddha. In truth, there are not two Buddhas. These distinctions are due to a dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya. Based on this dharma, Samantabhadra Tathagata did not directly incarnate. Even the ancient Buddha Dipankara and Vajrasattva were the nirmanakayas of Dorje Chang Buddha.
Dorje Chang Buddha is also called Buddha Vajradhara or Ruler of the Vajra Beings (持金剛 chi jin gang). In the entire universe, Dorje Chang Buddha is the first Buddha with form and is the highest Buddha. That is, the highest leader of Buddhism in the entire universe came into being in the form of Dorje Chang Buddha. It was Dorje Chang Buddha who began transmitting dharma and saving living beings in the dharmadhatu. As a result, Buddhism was born and the Buddha-dharma began spreading.
However, many sects and lineages list Samantabhadra Tathagata as the first Buddha who began all the lineages in the dharmadhatu. This way of thinking is actually correct as well. That is because although Samantabhadra Tathagata is a dharmakaya without form and has no way of speaking, the origin lies with this dharmakaya from which the sambhogakaya Dorje Chang Buddha manifested. This sambhogakaya Buddha was the first one to spread the Buddha-dharma in the dharmadhatu. That sambhogakaya Buddha also transformed into Vajrasattva and other nirmanakayas whospread the dharma in the triloka (three spheres). Because of the birth of Dorje Chang Buddha, living beings were thus able to become holy beings in accordance with His dharma teachings.
We often see in dharma books a blue image of Adharma Buddha. Actually, this image is a symbol. Such a symbolic form is necessary since the tathata emptiness of Adharma Buddha is invisible and cannot be depicted in a thangka. There is no way to draw the shape of emptiness. The dharmakaya has no features that can be pictorially depicted. In fact, the concept of dharmakaya is the absolute truth of the universe (dharmadhatu) that is not born and does not perish. The sambhogakaya Buddha (Buddha Vajradhara) manifested out of this concept of not being born and not perishing.
Dorje Chang Buddha is the ancient, primordial sambhogakaya Buddha. He has the unsurpassed virtuous appearance that all of the Buddhas in the ten directions have. He was the first in the dharmadhatu and triloka (three spheres) to express the dharma. Therefore, Buddha Vajradhara, or Dorje Chang Buddha, is actually the greatest leader of Buddhism in the entire dharmadhatu. He is the original ancestor of Buddhism.
However, many Buddhists misinterpret Dorje Chang Buddha, or Buddha Vajradhara, as being a 金剛持 (jin gang chi), or Practitioner of the Vajra (i.e. vajradhara). This is a mistake in a matter of principle that carries with it a karmic offence. Buddha Vajradhara has the meaning of one who is in charge of and has supervision over all of the vajra beings. Thus, He is the 持金剛 (chi jin gang) or Ruler of the Vajra Beings, the one who has dominion over the vajra beings. On the other hand, a 金剛持 (jin gang chi), or Practitioner of the Vajra (i.e. vajradhara), is one who learns the dharma and teaches others. Such a person enlightens himself and others. The term 金剛持 (jin gang chi), or Practitioner of the Vajra, connotes Vajra Master. There is a world of difference between a 金剛持 (jin gang chi) or Practitioner of the Vajra on the one hand and a 持金剛 (chi jin gang) or Ruler of the Vajra Beings on the other hand.
Buddha Vajradhara (also called Ruler of the Vajra Beings) has passed down dharma to all of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who received such dharma. All of the Buddha-dharma of both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism was originally transmitted by this Ruler of the Vajra Beings. The 84,000 dharma methods that Sakyamuni Buddha taught were transmitted to Sakyamuni Buddha by the ancient Buddha Dipankara, who was a nirmanakaya of Dorje Chang Buddha. Tibetan esoteric Buddhism, which contains all of the dharma of the Nyingma, Sakya, Jonang, Kagyu, and Geluk sects, including the Kalachakra Vajra Dharma transmitted by Sakyamuni Buddha; Japanese esoteric Buddhism; and esoteric Buddhism taught by Sakyamuni Buddha contained in the Tripitaka all come from the lineage of which Dorje Chang Buddha is the original ancestor or from the lineage of His nirmanakaya, Vajrasattva. 金剛總持 Buddha Vajradhara or Ruler of the Vajra Beings is the supreme leader of Buddhism in the dharmadhatu. He is not a Vajra Master who is a 金剛持 (jin gang chi), or Practitioner of the Vajra (i.e. vajradhara).
When disciples find a qualified master, they should visualize their Vajra Master as being a Buddha. This is done out of respect for the dharma and respect for one’s lineage. However, no matter what type of master he may be, if his identity or status has not been recognized as a Buddha by rinpoches of great holiness in accordance with the dharma, then he is not a Buddha. Still, the disciple must visualize Him as a Buddha. Even the holy and venerable Vimalakirti, who as the second Buddha Vajradhara, was affirmed as a Tathagata (Buddha) through an announcement of Sakyamuni Buddha.
The incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha is different from the nirmanakayas of any other Buddha. Such an incarnation is a primordial manifestation of the existence of Buddha-dharma. In each world of living beings, there can be at any one time only one incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, who manifests or expresses the existence of the true dharma. There will not be a second incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha in the same age or era. Only after the first incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha leaves the world can the second incarnation be born based on karmic conditions relating to the good fortune of living beings. For example, the holy and venerable Vimalakirti, who was the second Dorje Chang Buddha, took birth in this earthly realm in the past. The third Dorje Chang Buddha,H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, took birth in this earthly realm more than two thousand years after Vimalakirti left it and only when karmic conditions relating to the good fortune of living beings had matured.
Nobody can get away with falsely claiming to be the incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha. In order to protect the dignity of the Buddha-dharma in the dharmadhatu and prevent demons from falsely claiming to be Buddha Vajradhara or the Ruler of the Vajra Beings, Buddha Vajradhara must be born with His own dharma and realization so that He may manifest or express the dharma. No other Buddha is able to manifest realization equal to the realization of Dorje Chang Buddha. That is because in order to protect the true dharma, the Buddhas do not manifest realization powers at the sameholy level as the realization of Dorje Chang Buddha. Conversely, all demons lack the power to manifest such realization and therefore cannot manifest such realization.
When Sakyamuni Buddha lived in this world, Dorje Chang Buddha took birth as the holy and venerable Vimalakirti, who helped Sakyamuni Buddha teach the 500 monks and 8,000 Bodhisattvas. The holy and venerable Vimalakirti, who was the second incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, had the highest wisdom and the greatest ability to manifest supernatural powers as an expression of dharma. No other holy being could match Him.
H.H. Mahavairocana Tathagata formally pronounced that the third incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, must meet five conditions: He must successfully invoke the Buddhas to bestow nectar. He must be able to perform the Golden Vase Selection of Karmic Affinity and predict the results of that ceremony beforehand. He must be able to eliminate the karmic obstructions of disciples. He must be able to take mist, place it inside a hollowed out sculpted boulder, and have the mist stay there. He must be able to carve wondrous multicolored sculptures.
The formal pronouncement stated that no other holy being could repeat those five types of accomplishments. It also stated that if any other person of great holiness repeat those five types of accomplishments, then Mahavairocana Tathagata’s recognition that H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu is Dorje Chang Buddha is false, and the pronouncement has deceived the public in order to build up a false reputation.
The facts have proven that in this world there is no being of great holiness and virtue or even an expert who is able to match the accomplishments of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu. Furthermore, great dharma kings on the level of a Buddha or Bodhisattvahave unanimously recognized the identity of H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu through recognition certificates. This thoroughly proves that no one can get away with falsely claiming the identity or status of Dorje Chang Buddha.
In order to prevent demons from wreaking havoc by falsely claiming to be the incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, the required number of many holy beings must recognize the incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha. Furthermore, many additional holy beings must bear witness to the veracity of the recognition and respectfully offer congratulations. The many holy beings who recognize the incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha must be Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, or great dharma kings. Those who bear witness to the veracity of the recognition and respectfully offer congratulations must beextremely holy and virtuous Bodhisattvas. All of those who recognize, bear witness, and respectfully offer congratulations must be famous leaders within Buddhism and great rinpoches. If the identity of the person was not recognized by those on such a holy level, if congratulations were not respectfully offered to him by those on such a holy level, and if he does not have legitimate recognition certificates, then his claims that he is a holy being are false.
People say, “So-and-so rinpoche is universally recognized as the incarnation of Buddha Vajradhara.” This way of speaking is based on heretical and erroneous understanding. It is not in accord with the rules of true Buddhism. Where is the realization of this rinpoche that an incarnation of Buddha Vajradhara would have? Does this rinpoche have complete proficiency in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism? Does he have full mastery of the Five Vidyas? Which five dharma kings have recognized his identity as being Buddha Vajradhara and which ten dharma kings or rinpoches have certified that recognition? Can he show others a recognition certificate showing he is the third Buddha Vajradhara? Which several famous people of holy virtue respectfully offered congratulations to him for being recognized? No matter how high a certain monastic may be, if he does not have true realization and the required written recognitions andcongratulations stating he is the third incarnation of Buddha Vajradhara, then all claims by others that he is Buddha Vajradhara are flattery, exaggeration, and rumors.
Hence, one must understand that Buddha Vajradhara (金剛總持, jin gang zong chi) is 持金剛 (chi jin gang, which is a Buddha). On the other hand, a 金剛持 (jin gang chi) is a lama (master). Anyone who misinterprets a 金剛持(jin gang chi) as being a 持金剛 (chi jin gang) or Buddha Vajradhara is undoubtedly placing the status of a mere vajra master over that of Amitabha Buddha and other Buddhas. Such conduct is a terrible offense because according to the sutras and esoteric scriptures Buddha Vajradhara is Dorje Chang Buddha (持金剛 chi jin gang), the Master of the Five Buddhas and other Buddhas.
There was a man who had walked in the desert for two days. En route, he encountered a sand strom. After the fierce winds and blowing sands had passed, he was unable to recognize the right direction. Just as he could sustain no longer, he suddenly found a small abandoned house. He dragged his body with fatigue and entered the house.
This was a house without ventilation and piled-up with rotten wood. In desperation, he walked to the corner of the house, and to his surprise, found a water pump. He tried excitedly to pump water, but no matter how hard he tried, not a single drop came out.
Collapsing to the ground, he saw a small corked water bottle next to the water pump. On the bottle was a yellowish paper which read:” You must pour ou the water into the water pump in order to pump water! Don’t forget, please fill the bottle with water again before you leave!”
He pulled out the cork and indeed discovered that the bottle was filled with water! His mind started to struggle… Out of selfishness, as long as I drink all the water in the bottle, I will not die and can walk out of this house alive! If I follow what is written on the paper and pur the only water available into the water pump, in case no water comes up, the I will die of thirst here. Should I take the risk or not?
Finally, he decided to pour the whole bottle of water into the water pump which looked shabby and unusable. He drew water with a shaking hand …. water truly gushed out!
After he had satisfied his thirst, he filled the bottle with water and recorked it. Then, he added his own words at the bottom of the paper: “Believe me, it truly works.” Enlightenment: Learn to give before taking.
Two traveling angels came to a rich family and asked to stay for the night. This family was not friendly towards them, they refused to let the angels rest in a comfortable guest room. Instead, the family gave them a comer in the cold basement. When the angels were setting the bed, the older angel saw a hole in the wall, so he patched it up. The younger angel asked for the reason, the older angel said, “Some things are not how they look.” On the second night, the two angels arrived at a poor farmer’s house, and asked to stay for the night. The farmer couple welcomed them with great warmth. They offered all of their very little food to the two guests, and also let the angels sleep in their bed. The following morning, the two angels saw that the farmer and his wife were crying. Their milk cow, the only source of income, had died last night.
The younger angel was very angry, he questioned the older angel for a good explanation. The first family had everything, and the older angel even helped them patch up a hole in the wall. The second family was very kind even when they were so poor, yet their cow had died. “Sometimes things are not as they look, said the older angel, “when we were staying in the basement of the rich family, I looked through the hole in the wall and found that there was a pile of gold behind the wall. Because the owner was already blinded by greed, he was not willing to share, so l patched up the wall.” “Last night, the angel of Death came for the farmer’s wife, I let the milk cow take her place. So sometimes things are not as they look.”
When Alexander the Great was young, he was extremely powerful and influential. He made conquests everywhere, including most of the three major continents in Europe, Asia, and Africa, which were once belonged to ancient Greece.
Alexander the Great had countless treasures, lands, and subordinates (people); however, this mighty conqueror died at a very young age of 33, and he was nationally mourned. Before his death, Alexander the Great requested to carve out two holes at the sides of his coffin. When he lay inside the coffin, he wanted both of his hands dangling out from his coffin. He told people next to him that he would like to warn the world of the lessons he had learned: Although he owned countless treasures and attained the highest status, he could not take anything with him.
At his deathbed, he called his generals and told them that he had three wishes that they must carry out. He said, “My first desire is that’, said Alexander, “my physicians alone must transport my coffin back to the city. Secondly, when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard is to be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury. My third and last wish is that both my hands are to be kept dangling out of my coffin.” The people who had gathered there wondered at the king’s strange wishes. But no one dared to bring the question to their lips, so they were silent with the orders. At this very confusing moment, Alexander explained the reason for having these three last wishes, “First, I want my physicians to carry my coffin to show people that no doctor can really cure anybody from sickness. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So people must not take life for granted. The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell people that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time and life to chase after wealth. Wealth cannot buy back time and life. And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people know that I came empty-handed into this world and I go out of this world empty-handed as well.
The World King of Monks, Venerable Elder Wu Ming, lived for 102 years. Thirty years ago he vowed to pass away sitting in a jar, and leaving relics for people to venerate.
Venerable Elder Wu Ming, a witness of the Buddha’s Nectar Assembly, has personally experienced when H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III invoked the Buddhas to bestow nectar from the sky into a bowl. He passed away on July 19, 2011 on the day of Avalokitesvara’s Enlightenment.
Venerable Elder Wu Ming observed the precepts strictly and cultivated himself in a practical and thorough manner. His fundamental practice was the Kuan Yin Dharma, which he has penetrated deeply. He edified countless people.
He has been praised as “the incarnation of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva in Taiwan”, and is known as “the World King of Monks” in Buddhism.
At a Buddha Bestowing Nectar Empowerment Initiation conducted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, Elder Wu Ming manifested his two-face and two-arm nirmanakaya form. It revealed that he was a holy monk who was the incarnation of a bodhisattva.
Elder Wu Ming has been working non-stop for half a century to propagate the dharma to benefit living beings. He traveled and lectured around the world to propagate the Dharma and made a positive contribution to Buddhism.
Elder Wu Ming received a great Nectar Dharma Empowerment from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III for his lifelong practice. In the end he obtained great accomplishment! Living beings greatly admire him.
【Video】What happened to the World King of Monks who passed away sitting on a jar?
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