Zhenru Chan Temple is nestled on the southwestern slopes of Yunju Mountain in Jiangxi Province. Surrounded by peaks said to resemble unfolding lotus petals, the landscape is poetically described as “lotus peaks clustering around Huatai.” Huatai, the mountain’s central peak, anchors this natural harmony. Here, architecture, terrain, and spiritual intention merge seamlessly, creating a setting that feels both grounded and quietly transcendent.
Even before understanding its history, one senses that this is a place shaped not to dominate nature, but to listen to it.
The name Zhenru (真如) means “True Suchness”—a fundamental concept in Chan Buddhism that points to ultimate reality as it is, beyond words, labels, or conceptual thinking. It is not something to be grasped intellectually, but something to be directly experienced.
Founded during the Tang Dynasty (806–810), Zhenru Chan Temple is regarded as the cradle of the Caodong School of Chan Buddhism, which later spread to Japan as the Soto Zen tradition. Revered as one of China’s three great model Chan monasteries, the temple has long been a center for authentic practice. Though the present structures were rebuilt in the 1950s, they preserve the simplicity and elegance of traditional Chinese monastic architecture.
Chan in Action: Meditation and Farming as One Path
One of Zhenru Temple’s defining characteristics is its embodiment of the Chan principle that “agriculture and meditation are equally emphasized.” Monks here did not retreat from life; they engaged it fully.
Alongside meditation, monks cultivated tea fields and farmed the land. This was not merely practical—it was spiritual. Farming ensured self-sufficiency in the remote mountains, freeing the monastery from reliance on external donations. More importantly, working the soil was understood as a form of Chan practice: repetitive, mindful, intimate with the rhythms of nature.
In the Caodong tradition, there is no division between the sacred and the ordinary. Plowing a field is no less sacred than chanting a sutra. The monks alternated between sitting meditation and physical labor, living out the Chan maxim:
“A day without work is a day without food.”
This principle is traditionally attributed to the Tang-dynasty Chan master Baizhang Huaihai (720–814), a disciple of Mazu Daoyi and a key figure in establishing Chan monastic regulations. His teaching reminds us that awakening is not found apart from daily life, but revealed within it.
Master Xu Yun: Reviving the Living Dharma
Zhenru Chan Temple is also inseparably linked to Master Xu Yun (1840–1959), one of the most revered Chan masters of modern China, often described as a rare master who embodied and transmitted the lineages of five Chan schools in a single lifetime.
When Master Xu Yun arrived at Zhenru in the early 20th century, the temple lay largely in ruins. With unwavering resolve, he led an extensive restoration—rebuilding halls, pagodas, and monastic quarters with the support of disciples and lay donors. More than physical reconstruction, he revived strict monastic discipline and rigorous meditation practice, restoring the temple’s spiritual vitality.
Zhenru ultimately became the place where Master Xu Yun passed away, completing a life devoted to the Dharma.
Earlier in his life, Master Xu Yun experienced a profound awakening during intensive meditation at Gaomin Temple in Yangzhou at the age of fifty-six. In his autobiography, he described the experience with clarity and restraint:
“In the purity of my single-mindedness, I forgot my body entirely. After twenty days, my illness disappeared. From that moment on, my practice continued day and night without interruption… One evening after meditation, I opened my eyes and saw a brightness like broad daylight, in which everything inside and outside the monastery was clearly visible.”
Yet what makes his account especially powerful is what followed. Master Xu Yun did not cling to the experience. He recognized it as a mental state—not an ultimate attainment—and continued his investigation with humility and perseverance, asking relentlessly:
“Who is mindful of the Buddha?”
Later, he commemorated a moment of deep insight triggered by the simple sound of a teacup breaking in the Chan hall, capturing Chan’s direct and unadorned wisdom in a verse:
A cup fell to the ground, The sound rang clear and sharp. Space itself shattered— The restless mind came to rest.
This is primarily a video demonstration of the moving meditation practiced at Zhen Ru Chan Temple.
Zhenru Chan Temple is more than a historical site. It is a living reminder that Chan practice is not confined to silence or retreat, but woven into how we walk, work, and meet the ordinary moments of life.
Xiaoxitian, originally known as Qianfo’an (The Hermitage of a Thousand Buddhas), was founded in the second year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1629). It stands atop Phoenix Mountain, about one kilometer west of Xixian County in Linfen, Shanxi Province.
Built entirely in harmony with the mountain, the temple unfolds in layers, as if it had grown naturally from the slope itself. Stone steps lead visitors upward, passing through courtyards divided by arched cave-like gateways. The upper, middle, and front courtyards are connected yet distinct, creating a spatial rhythm that is winding, intimate, and quietly profound. As one walks through the complex, footsteps instinctively slow, and time itself seems to soften.
The architecture of Xiaoxitian is restrained rather than ostentatious, yet its mastery reveals itself everywhere. Painted beams are elegant and dignified, and many of the halls are ingeniously built as two-story structures, creating a rich sense of vertical space within the limited mountain terrain. The bell and drum towers stand in stillness, inviting the imagination to wander back to an age when morning bells and evening drums echoed through the valley.
Stepping into the Mahavira Hall is a moment of sudden awe. Nearly the entire interior is filled with suspended polychrome sculptures—more than 1,900 figures, layered from floor to ceiling. From towering Buddhas over three meters high to figures no larger than a thumb, the sculptures are densely arranged yet never chaotic, solemn yet vibrantly alive. In that instant, one understands why Xiaoxitian is revered as the “Museum of Chinese Hanging Sculpture Art.”
Unlike many Buddhist temples that draw attention primarily to their principal Buddhas, the Mahavira Hall at Xiaoxitian is celebrated for the immersive world it creates as a whole. At its core stand the Medicine Buddha, Amitabha, Shakyamuni, Vairocana, and Maitreya, but surrounding them unfolds an entire celestial realm: the Ten Great Disciples, six young novices, the Ten Wisdom Kings, the Six Desire Heavens, and countless heavenly musicians dancing through the air.
Most unforgettable are the celestial musicians suspended within the tiered “sky pavilions” above the altars. Their figures are light and graceful, sleeves flowing as if caught in an eternal breeze, frozen in a moment of unending heavenly music. Some play the pipa, others hold flutes, while some seem to dance midair. One pipa-playing figure, leaning slightly forward with fingers poised on the strings, radiates such focus and elegance that one can almost hear the melody drifting across centuries.
Looking up toward the roof, the tri-colored glazed chiwen ornaments—yellow, green, and blue—gleam softly in the light. Their refined brilliance reflects the unmistakable aesthetic of the Ming Dynasty. Here, architecture, sculpture, and color merge seamlessly, and one forgets that this is a mountain temple at all. It feels instead like stepping into a floating Buddha realm, suspended between earth and sky.
That these sculptures have survived nearly four hundred years in such vivid detail inspires deep reverence. They represent not only the pinnacle of craftsmanship, but also a profound devotion—to faith, to beauty, and to a harmonious vision of the cosmos.
Perhaps what truly moves the heart at Xiaoxitian is not only the astonishing number of its hanging sculptures or the rare Ming Yongle Northern Buddhist Canon once preserved here, but something more enduring: a spiritual presence that has remained vibrant across centuries. It quietly reminds us that beyond the noise of the modern world, there still exists a place of serenity and dignity—carefully upheld by time itself.
Most religions have moral and ethical rules and commandments. Buddhism has Precepts, but it’s important to understand that the Buddhist Precepts are not a list of rules to follow.
In some religions, moral laws are believed to have come from God, and breaking those laws is a sin or transgression against God. But Buddhism doesn’t have a God, and the Precepts are not commandments. However, that doesn’t exactly mean they’re optional, either.
The Pali word most often translated as “morality” is sila, but sila has many connotations that go beyond the English word “morality.” It can refer to inner virtue such as kindness and truthfulness as well as the activity of those virtues in the world. It can also refer to the discipline of acting in a moral way. However, sila is best understood as a kind of harmony.
Being in Harmony
The Theravadin teacher Bikkhu Bodhi wrote,
“The Buddhist texts explain that sila has the characteristic of harmonizing our actions of body and speech. Sila harmonizes our actions by bringing them into accord with our own true interests, with the well-being of others, and with universal laws. Actions contrary to sila lead to a state of self-division marked by guilt, anxiety, and remorse. But the observance of the principles of sila heals this division, bringing our inner faculties together into a balanced and centered state of unity.” (“Going for Refuge and Taking the Precepts “)
It is said that the Precepts describe the way an enlightened being naturally lives. At the same time, the discipline of upholding the Precepts is part of the path to enlightenment. As we begin to work with the Precepts we find ourselves “breaking” or defiling them over and over. We can think of this as something like falling off a bicycle, and we can either beat ourselves up about falling—which is disharmonious—or we can get back on the bicycle and start pedaling again.
The Zen teacher Chozen Bays said, “We just keep on working, we are patient with ourselves, and on and on it goes. Little by little our life comes more into alignment with the wisdom that gives rise to the precepts. As our minds get clearer and clearer, it’s not even a matter of breaking or maintaining the precepts; automatically they are maintained.”
The Five Precepts
Buddhists don’t have just one set of Precepts. Depending on which list you consult, you might hear there are three, five, ten, or sixteen Precepts. Monastic orders have longer lists.
The most basic list of Precepts is called in Pali the pañcasila, or “five precepts.” In Theravada Buddhism, these Five Precepts are the basic precepts for lay Buddhists.
A more literal translation from the Pali for each of these would be “I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from [killing, stealing, misusing sex, lying, abusing intoxicants].” It’s important to understand that in maintaining the Precepts one is training oneself to behave as a buddha would behave. It’s not just a matter of following or not following rules.
The Ten Grand Precepts
Mahayana Buddhists generally follow a list of Ten Precepts that are found in a Mahayana Sutra called the Brahmajala or Brahma Net Sutra (not to be confused with a Pali sutra of the same name):
Some Mahayana Buddhists also vow to uphold the Three Pure Precepts, which are associated with walking the path of a bodhisattva. These are:
To do no evil
To do good
To save all beings
The Pali words usually translated as “good” and “evil” are kusala and akusala. These words can also be translated “skillful” and “unskillful,” which takes us back to the idea of training. Very basically, “skillful” action takes oneself and others closer to enlightenment, and “unskillful” action leads away from enlightenment.
To “save all beings” is the bodhisattva’s vow to bring all beings to enlightenment.
The Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts
You will sometimes hear of the Bodhisatva Precepts or the Sixteen Bodhisattva Vows. Most of the time, this refers to the Ten Grand Precepts and Three Pure Precepts, plus the Three Refuges:
I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Dharma. I take refuge in the Sangha.
The Eightfold Path
To fully understand how the Precepts are part of the Buddhist path, begin with the Four Noble Truths. The Fourth Truth is that liberation is possible through the Eightfold Path. The Precepts are connected to the “ethical conduct” part of the Path—Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood.
Hidden in the quiet county of Yixian in northern China, Fengguo Temple has stood for over a thousand years as a living testament to ancient Chinese wisdom and spiritual devotion. Its magnificent Mahavira Hall, the largest single-story wooden structure of its time, houses seven colossal clay Buddhas that have miraculously survived the centuries. This temple is not only an architectural marvel but also a sacred symbol of harmony, resilience, and faith that continues to inspire all who visit.
A Thousand Years of Faith and Architecture
Beyond the Shanhai Pass, in the northern part of Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, stands the quiet county of Yixian, home to one of China’s most magnificent ancient temples — Fengguo Temple. This remarkable site, founded over a millennium ago, is not only a masterpiece of Liao Dynasty Buddhist architecture but also a living testament to the extraordinary ingenuity of ancient Chinese builders and the enduring power of faith.
In 2020, Fengguo Temple celebrated its thousandth anniversary. Through a thousand years of wind, snow, wars, and earthquakes, its grand Mahavira Hall still stands tall — a miracle in both architecture and spirituality.
The Majestic Great Hall
The heart of Fengguo Temple is its Mahavira Hall (Great Buddha Hall), one of the Eight Great Structures of the Liao Dynasty. Built in 1020 CE, it measures 49.5 meters wide, 26.6 meters deep, and 19.9 meters high, covering an area of 1,317 square meters. Standing on a 3.2-meter-high platform, the hall is the largest single-story wooden structure of ancient China — magnificent, solemn, and breathtaking.
Ingeniously designed, the hall uses a “reduced-column” method to maximize interior space while maintaining perfect stability. Ancient builders applied advanced techniques known as “side-foot” and “rising beam”, ensuring the building’s balance and graceful proportions. The massive bracket sets under the eaves are bold yet refined, exuding strength and elegance.
Thanks to its precise structural mechanics, the Great Hall has remained perfectly upright for a thousand years, without any sign of warping or tilting — an unparalleled achievement in the history of wooden architecture.
The Seven Buddhas: Eternal Clay Sculptures
Inside the Great Hall, seven colossal clay Buddha statues, each about nine meters tall, sit side by side upon a brick platform. From east to west, they are: Kashyapa Buddha, Krakucchanda Buddha, Sikhin Buddha, Vipashyin Buddha, Visvabhu Buddha, Kanakamuni Buddha, and Shakyamuni Buddha.
These are the “Seven Buddhas of the Past” mentioned in Buddhist scriptures, symbolizing the eternal cycle of enlightenment in our world. Each Buddha exudes solemn dignity, with serene expressions and graceful postures, reflecting the Liao Dynasty’s continuation of Tang-style Buddhist artistry. Two bodhisattvas stand beside each Buddha, adding vitality and compassion to this sacred tableau.
This magnificent ensemble is the oldest and largest group of colored clay Buddha statues in the world. Despite being made of fragile clay, they have miraculously survived for over a thousand years, their colors still soft and luminous. This endurance is nothing short of a miracle — a union of artistic mastery and the blessings of faith.
The Legend of the Buddha Catching a Shell
During the Liaoshen Campaign in the late 1940s, Yixian became a battlefield. Amid the chaos, a shell pierced through the roof of the Great Hall and fell directly into the right hand of the Shakyamuni Buddha statue. Miraculously, the shell did not explode.
Locals still tell this story as “The Buddha Caught the Shell with His Hand.” Whether fact or legend, it adds an aura of mystery and divine protection to the temple’s long history — as if the Buddhas themselves were silently safeguarding their sacred home.
The Flying Devas of Liao
The beams and rafters inside the Great Hall are adorned with over 4,000 square meters of original Liao Dynasty murals. Among them, the heavenly maidens — the Flying Devas — are the most enchanting. With radiant faces and flowing ribbons, they drift gracefully through clouds, offering flowers and fruits to the Seven Buddhas below.
Their movement contrasts beautifully with the Buddhas’ stillness, creating a breathtaking scene of divine harmony and devotion. The surrounding walls also preserve Yuan and Ming dynasty murals depicting ten Buddhas, eight Bodhisattvas, and the Eleven-Faced Avalokiteshvara, adding even more layers of spiritual and artistic richness to this timeless sanctuary.
A Thousand Years of Wonder
Standing before this majestic hall — a wooden structure that has endured a millennium — and gazing upon the clay Buddhas whose serene faces have survived a thousand winters, one cannot help but wonder:
How can a wooden palace withstand ten centuries of storms and wars? How can clay sculptures remain whole and radiant after a thousand years?
Is it the wisdom of the ancients? The strength of art? Or the blessing of the Dharma itself?
Perhaps the answer lies within every beam, every brushstroke, and every tranquil smile of the Buddhas.
May the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas bless all beings with peace, compassion, and happiness. Namo Amitabha.
In the heart of Central Java’s fertile Kedu Valley, embraced by volcanic peaks and emerald landscapes, rises a monument unlike any other—Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built more than 1,200 years ago, this colossal stone mountain is not just an architectural wonder, but a spiritual journey carved in stone.
A Monument Born of Devotion
Borobudur was constructed in the 8th and 9th centuries under the Sailendra Dynasty. Without a drop of mortar, two million volcanic stone blocks were precisely interlocked like a massive puzzle, forming a structure that has endured centuries of nature’s tests. From above, its shape is breathtaking—a giant mandala, the sacred geometric symbol of the Buddhist cosmos.
The temple rises in three tiers, each representing one of the realms of Buddhist cosmology:
Kamadhatu – The Realm of Desire: The base, adorned with reliefs that portray the karmic law and the cycle of birth and death.
Rupadhatu – The Realm of Form: Five square terraces lined with intricate reliefs and 504 serene Buddha statues.
Arupadhatu – The Realm of Formlessness: Three circular platforms crowned with 72 bell-shaped stupas, each sheltering a meditating Buddha. At the summit stands the great central stupa, symbolizing ultimate enlightenment.
A Living Story in Stone
Walking through Borobudur is like entering a vast storybook. The temple’s bas-reliefs, stretching across 2,500 square meters, are the most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world. They illustrate tales from the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, Jataka stories, and profound teachings, guiding pilgrims step by step upward—from worldly desires to spiritual liberation.
Buried, Forgotten, and Found Again
Despite its grandeur, Borobudur fell silent between the 10th and 14th centuries, likely due to political shifts and the spread of Islam in Java. Nature reclaimed it—volcanic ash and thick jungle hid the monument from the world’s eyes. For centuries, it slumbered, until 1814, when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the British governor of Java, was informed of a “buried hill.” Excavations revealed not a hill, but a hidden treasure of human devotion.
From Restoration to Reverence
In the 20th century, Borobudur was painstakingly restored with UNESCO’s support, safeguarding its stones against further decay. In 1991, it was declared a World Heritage Site, recognized as both a cultural and spiritual masterpiece.
Today, Borobudur is not just a monument of the past—it is alive with faith. Each year, thousands of Buddhists from across Indonesia and beyond gather here for Vesak Day, celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha under the full moon. Lanterns rise into the night sky, echoing the timeless aspiration for wisdom and compassion.
Borobudur is more than stone, stupas, and statues. It is a meditation frozen in time, a pilgrimage for both the feet and the heart. For travelers, standing atop Borobudur at sunrise—watching the mist lift from the valley as the first rays of light kiss the central stupa—is an experience beyond words.
This temple is not just Indonesia’s pride; it is humanity’s shared treasure, reminding us of the enduring power of faith, art, and the human spirit.
Travel Guide: Planning Your Visit
If Borobudur is on your travel list, here are some helpful tips:
📍 Location
Situated in Magelang, Central Java, about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Yogyakarta.
Easily accessible by car, bus, or organized tour from Yogyakarta (1–1.5 hours).
🕰 Best Time to Visit
Sunrise tours are especially popular. Watching the first light illuminate the misty valley and stupas is unforgettable.
The dry season (April–October) offers clearer skies and comfortable weather.
🎟 Tickets
General admission is separate for local and international visitors.
Sunrise access often requires booking through official operators.
Combination tickets are available if you also wish to visit Prambanan Temple, another UNESCO site nearby.
👟 What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes (you’ll be climbing many steps).
A hat, sunscreen, and water—the tropical sun can be intense.
A respectful outfit: shoulders and knees covered, as Borobudur is a sacred site.
🛕 Nearby Attractions
Prambanan Temple – A magnificent Hindu temple complex about an hour away.
Mendut Temple – A smaller Buddhist temple with a giant Buddha statue, often part of the Vesak procession.
Yogyakarta City – Known for its royal palace, batik art, and vibrant street food scene.
A joyous day for our cultural heritage! It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India’s close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture. #VikasBhiVirasatBhi Source: https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1950483627323670760
The following article was published by the BBC News, Soutik Biswas, July 31, 2025:
Auction house Sotheby’s has returned a set of sacred jewels believed to be linked to the Buddha’s remains in India, after facing mounting pressure from the Indian government and global Buddhist leaders.
The Piprahwa Gems – described by archaeologists as one of the most astonishing finds of the modern era – were due to be auctioned in Hong Kong in May. But the sale was called off following diplomatic intervention and threats of legal action from Delhi.
The Mumbai-based conglomerate Godrej Industries Group has acquired the jewels, Sotheby’s said.
Sotheby’s said it was “delighted” to facilitate the return, following two months of negotiations involving the owner, the new buyer and the Indian government. The relics will now go on permanent public display in India, the auction house said.
William Claxton Peppé, an English estate manager, excavated the stupa and found the jewels. courtesy of the Peppé family.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the return on Wednesday, calling it a “proud and joyous moment” and a victory for the country’s cultural heritage. The relics, he said on X, were coming home after 127 years.
Godrej Industries Group, the buyer of the jewels, serves over 1.1 billion consumers worldwide across sectors including consumer goods, real estate, agriculture, finance, and chemicals, according to its website. Many of its products are household names in India.
“We are deeply honoured to contribute to this historic moment. The Piprahwa gems are not just artifacts – they are timeless symbols of peace, compassion, and the shared heritage of humanity,” Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Vice Chairperson of Godrej Industries Group, was quoted as saying in a government press statement.
Unearthed in 1898 by English estate manager William Claxton Peppé from a stupa in Piprahwa in northern India, near the Buddha’s birthplace, the cache included nearly 1,800 pearls, rubies, sapphires and gold sheets – buried alongside bone fragments identified by an inscribed urn as belonging to the Buddha himself.
The jewels were unearthed from this stupa in Piprahwa, northern India in 1898, Icon Films.
Peppé eventually handed most of the gems, relics and reliquaries to the colonial Indian government: the bone relics went to the Buddhist King of Siam (Rama V). Five relic urns, a stone chest and most other relics were sent to the Indian Museum in Kolkata – then the Imperial Museum of Calcutta.
Four containers made of steatite (a type of stone) and one made of rock crystal were found inside a sandstone box at the Piprahwa stupa, courtesy of Peppe family.
For over a century, the rest of the dazzling jewels remained largely hidden in a British private collection.
A set of 300 gems held by the Peppé family was publicly displayed at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in February and May. Over the past six years, the gems have appeared in major exhibitions, including The Met in 2023. The family has also launched a website to share their research.
Historians consider the relics the shared heritage of the Buddha’s Sakya clan and Buddhists worldwide. The bone fragments have since been distributed to countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, where they remain objects of veneration.
The jewels are considered among the most extraordinary archaeological finds of all time, courtesy of Sotheby’s.
The planned sale of the Buddha relics by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong had sparked widespread ethical concerns, with scholars and Buddhist leaders questioning whether sacred objects – especially those linked to human remains – should be treated as commodities.
Critics challenged the seller’s authority to auction the relics, while defenders said a transparent sale was the fairest way to transfer custody. For many Buddhists, the jewels are inseparable from the sacred remains and meant to be venerated, not sold.
“Are the relics of the Buddha a commodity that can be treated like a work of art to be sold on the market?” Naman Ahuja, a Delhi-based art historian, had told the BBC in May. “And since they aren’t, how is the seller ethically authorised to auction them?
“Since the seller is termed the ‘custodian’, I would like to ask – custodian on whose behalf? Does custodianship permit them now to sell these relics?”
Chris Peppé, great-grandson of William, had told the BBC in May that the family looked into donating the relics, but all options presented problems and an auction seemed the “fairest and most transparent way to transfer these relics to Buddhists”.
He said that in all the monasteries he had visited “no Buddhists regard these as corporeal relics”.
“A few Buddhist academics at Western universities have recently offered a convoluted, fact-defying logic whereby they may be regarded as such. It’s an academic construct that is not shared by Buddhists in general who are familiar with the details of the find,” he said.
On 7 May, Sotheby’s postponed the auction of the jewels following media reports and concerns raised by the Indian government, citing the need for further discussions. A week later, it confirmed ongoing talks with India to find a mutually agreeable resolution.
This week, confirming the return of the jewels, Sotheby’s said it was “grateful to the Peppé family for having safeguarded the gems and for having worked with us – and with the Government of India – in good faith to achieve this historic outcome”.
Recently, a Western friend asked me why I believe that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the true Buddha. He told me that when he searched online, he found many negative comments, and even saw that some Rinpoches claimed they did not recognize the Buddha at all. Sadly, certain people with evil intentions have slandered H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, falsely accusing Him of conferring the title upon Himself, thereby misleading Buddhist practitioners and causing great harm.
I feel deeply saddened that so much true and authentic information about the Buddha has been buried under falsehoods and misunderstandings. To help clarify, I would like to share selected passages from the publicly available book H.H.Dorje Chang Buddha III (A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma). In it, many Bodhisattvas, Dharma Kings, Rinpoches, Dharma Teachers, as well as renowned monasteries, issued official certificates and congratulatory letters confirming the identity of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
The above photo of sixty such dharma kings, rinpoches, and temples, many of whom are shown below. Photos of some of these dharma kings and rinpoches actually signing or stamping their letters are also included. Although this is only a small portion of those who have recognized H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha, the following list does represent the highest present-day dharma kings and regent dharma kings from various temples or famous rinpoches in current times. It is they who recognized or corroborated, or sent congratulations to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
For more information and more detailed biographies on many of these great holy beings as well as their letters of certification and congratulation see A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma.That book also explains how many of these holy beings had their identities.
H.H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche (1927- ), a famous great dharma king of the Nyingma sect who is the sole holder of the complete Longchen Nying-thik, said the following in his letter congratulating the publication of A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma: “I found the book wonderful and amazing and totally inspiring. . . [It is a] truly miraculous and extraordinary expression of truth expressed and unexpressed beyond words in Buddha Dharma.”
An incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava, H. H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche IV, Thupten Thrinle Palzang, is the holiest great dharma king within the Nyingma lineage. His Holiness is the greatest living Dzogchen or Great Perfection master and the main lineage holder of the Longchen Nyingthik lineage, the highest dharma in Tibet for perfecting the rainbow body. The first Dodrupchen, Jigme Thrinle Oser (1745-1821), was the greatest disciple of Jigme Lingpa (1730-1798). The Third Dodrupchen Jikmé Tenpé Nyima (1865-1926), was both a great scholar and a remarkable yogi.
The Dharma King’s main seat is at Chorten Gonpa Monastery, which His Holiness founded in the outskirts of Gangtok, Sikkim. His Holiness is also the spiritual director of the very small isolated Sera Gonpa (Nubri Monastery) in Kylmo Lung (Peaceful Valley), Nepal. It is unique in that the 50 monks and 50 nuns that study there have identical programs. H. H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche IV is represented in the USA by the Mahasiddha Nyingmapa Center, Kunzang Choling Temple, in Hawley, MA.
H.H. Dharma King Penor Rinpoche
H.H. Dharma King Penor (1932-2009), a supreme dharma king of the Nyingma sect, wrote the following in a letter to rinpoches: “H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu. . . has been recognized by numerous greatly virtuous and eminent monastics. . . A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma. . .will provide the karmic conditions for living beings to . . . attain the ultimate state of Buddhahood.”
An incarnation of Vajrapani Bodhisattva, the eleventh lineage holder of the Nyingma Palyul tradition, Kyabje Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche, was born in December 1932 in the Kham region of eastern Tibet and left this world in March 2009. After H. H. Dilgo Khyentse departed in 1991, H. H. Penor Rinpoche became the Supreme Head of the Nyingma Sect. In 2001 he resigned from that position to devote more time to his extensive global network of monasteries and dharma centers, recommending that H. H. Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche assume that position. His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche IV, is the current head of the Palyul subsect.
His Holiness’s Main seat was at Palyul Monastery in Tibet, one of the six main Nyingma monasteries. His Main seat outside of Tibet was at Namdroling (Thegchog Namdrol Shedrub Dargyeling) Monastery, Bylakuppe in Karnataka State, South India, close to the sacred Drekar Pungwa Stupa where Buddha first taught the Kalachakra Tantra. In 1978 the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies was added along with a nunnery and college for women. His Holiness had a number of branch temples in the US and a retreat center in McDonough, New York. During the 2008 Dharma Propagation Tour, Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche and other tour members were able to have an audience with His Holiness and hear His Holiness Penor Rinpoche praise H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. The rinpoche said that it was good that such a holy being would incarnate in these dharma-ending days.
H.H. Jamyang Lungdok Gylatsen Rinpoche
H.H. Dharma King Omniscience Jamyang Lungdok Gyaltsen (Lama Achuk 1927-2011),who is the incarnation of Venerable Longsal Nyingpo, stated in his recognition certificate, “. . . H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee . . . is the incarnation of Vimalakirti. . . is Dorje Chang Buddha III. . . .”
H. H. Jamyang Lungdok Gyaltsen or Lama Achuk (Also referred to as Khenpo Achuck Brioche or Achiu Kamabu or Lama A-chos) is an incarnation of the great terton Rigdzin Longsal Nyingpo (1625-1682) of Kathok Monastery. He was the head of the Nyingma Sect in China and the foremost person of great holiness and virtue in all Tibet.
He was born in 1927 in Eastern Tibet and spent 43 years in retreat with his master, Tulku Arik Rinpoche. On July 23, 2011 he entered into paranirvana. His Holiness lived at Yarchen
Vajra body of Lama Achuk
Uddiyana Meditation Monastery, an encampment (gar) of thousands of monks, nuns, and lay practitioners, that he established in an isolated valley near Ganzi (Kandze) in Baiyu (White Jade) County, in Sichuan Province, China. This was the largest concentration of rinpoches and lamas in the entire world. The cremation ceremony of Lama Achuk commenced on August 29, 2011. The body of Lama Achuk shrunk from a height of almost six feet (1.8 meters) to about 1 inch tall, a sign of very high realization. From time of Lama Achuk’s paranirvana to the cremation, many auspicious signs appeared, five colored rainbows were often sighted in the sky and five colored pure lights often appeared in the area surrounding Lama Achuk’s body. More than 100,000 sangha members and lay devotees attended the puja and paid respect to the sacred body of Lama Achuk.
One of his disciples, Khenpo A-chos, achieved the rainbow body earlier in 1998. Father Tiso, a Catholic priest who went to Tibet to investigate the rainbow body phenomena at the suggestion of the Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast, found evidence that H. H. Lama Achuk himself had already achieved the rainbow body as well.
H.H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje
On behalf of the Jonang sect, H.H. Dharma King
H.H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje stamps his seal onto his congratulatory letter to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III that he had already signed.
Jigme Dorje (1944- ), who is the Supreme Dharma King of the Jonang sect, respectfully congratulated H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu with the following words: “Such superlative accomplishments are truly unprecedented in the past few thousand years, outshining the accomplishments of all
Kalachakra Mandala created by Jonang monks at Jamdha Monastery, Golok Region, Amdo, Tibet
others, both ancient and modern. His Holiness is a shining paragon among Buddhas.”
The supreme dharma king of the Jonang sect, H. H. Jigme Dorje is an incarnation of the Shambhala King, Suchandra, who was the first to receive the Kalachakra tantra from Shakyamuni Buddha. His Holiness continues to hold the highest teachings of the Kalachakra dharma. H. H. Jigme Dorge was born in 1944 and is head of the Zangwa (Tsangwa) Dazang Monastery in Eastern Tibet.
H.H. Dharma King Mindrolling Trichen
The chief secretary for H.H. Dharma King Mindrolling Trichen (1031-2008) of the Nyingma sect, Ven. D. G. Khochhen Rinpoche, sent a congratulatory letter on behalf of Dharma King Mindrollling Trichin and the Mindrolling Sangha in which he wrote, “. . . H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Dorje Chang brings good fortune and wisdom to all living beings.”
Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal, Mindrolling (Mindling) Trichen Rinpoche XI (1931-2008), was the supreme head of the Nyingma sect. Although the original seat of Mindrolling, one of the six major Nyingma monasteries founded in 1876 by Rigzin Terdak Lingpa on the south side of the Tsangpo River, is near Lhasa, Tibet, a new Mindrolling Monastery has been established at Dehra Dun, in Uttranchal State, India. The Nagyur Nyingma College, Mindrolling’s Institute of Advanced Buddhist Studies. (Five Vidyas University) is also located there. His Holiness’s daughter, H.E. Khandro Rinpoche has a retreat center in the USA and continues the Jetsunma lineage of female masters there and at Samten Tse, her nunnery in India.
H.H. Dharma King Trulshik
The famous H.H. Dharma King Trulshik Rinpoche (1924-2011), who is a master of H.H. the Dalai Lama and the root master of several Tibetan Buddhist dharma kings and lineage holders, wrote the following words respectfully congratulating Buddha Vajradhara Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu: . . . “A Treasury of True Buddha- Dharma. . .will become the cause whereby each sentient being who has descended into the abyss of the six realms of reincarnation leaves suffering and attains happiness.”
H. H. Nyingma Dharma King Zhadeu Trulshik (Trulshig) Chenpo Ngawang Chokyi Lodro Rinpoche (1924-2011), who resided in the Everest region of Nepal, was an incarnation of Maitreya Bodhisattva and a lineage holder from the first Dodrupchen, Jigme Thrinle Oser. His Holiness was considered the closest and most accomplished disciple of H. H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and like Khyentse Rinpoche a leading proponent of the Rime or non-sectarian movement in Tibet. He was entrusted with the responsibility of finding and recognizing the incarnation of Khyentse Rinpoche after he passed on in 1991 as well as Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche after he left this world in 1996. Dharma King Trulshik founded a remote monastery and retreat center in Nepal at Tubten Choling. He was the fifth Supreme Leader of the Nyingma Sect until his death in 2011.
H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche
The highest dharma king of the Northern Treasure lineage of the Nyingma sect, H.H. Dharma King Taklung Tsetrul (1926-2015), wrote the following words of congratulations: “His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu possesses the true dharma of the Buddhas . . .
H. H. Taklung Kyabgon Tsetrul Thupaten Gyaltsen Rinpoche is the Dharma King of the Drak Dorje (Vajra or Indestructible Rock) Monastery, one of the six main Nyingma Monasteries, founded in 1610 by Rigdzin Ngakgi (Aji) Wangpo (1580-1639). This monastery specialized in the changter or jangter tradition of Rigdzin Godem (1337-1408). Rigdzin Godem was the master of the “northern terma (treasures)” tradition of the Nyingma school. Rigdzin Godem literally means “the vidyadhara with the vulture feather.” He received this name because three vulture feathers grew from his head when he was twelve years old, and five more when he was twenty-four. A reincarnation of Dorje Dudjom of Nanam, one of the nine close Tibetan disciples of Guru Padmasambhava, he is also counted among the five king-like tertons and one of the three nirmanakayas of Guru Padmasambhava. In 2011 he became the Supreme Leader of the Nyingma Sect.
H.H. Dharma King Jigdal Dagchen Sakya
H.H. Dharma King Jigdal Dagchen Sakya (1929- ), the second highest leader of the Sakya order, offered the following congratulations: “Many masters praise H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu and his book about his Dharma activities. The book’s name is A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma.”
H. H. Jigdal Dagchen Sakya Rinpoche is the head of the Phuntshok Phodrang branch of the Khon dynasty, the main lineage of the Sakya tradition. The leadership of the Sakya sect has rotated between the Phuntshok Phodrang branch and the Dolma Phodrang branch, currently headed by H. H. Sakya Trizin. H. H. Jigdal Dagchen Sakya founded and serves as the main teacher of Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in Seattle, WA. He has given teachings and empowerments in other parts of the United States and Canada as well as various European and Asian countries.
H.H. Dharma King Sakya Trizin
H.H. Great Vehicle Dharma King Sakya Trizin (1945- ), who is the supreme leader of the Sakya order and the nirmanakaya of Manjushri Bodhisattva, wrote the following recognition concerning the descent into this world of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III: “. . . H.H. Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu . . . is . . .Buddha Vajradhara Dorje Chang Buddha III.”
A true nirmanakaya of Manjushri Bodhisattva, The 41st Patriarch of the Khon lineage of the Sakya tradition was born September 7, 1945 in Tsedong near Shigatse, Tibet. While maintaining temples and dharma centers all over the world, His Holiness lives in Rajpur in Northern India with his wife and two sons.
The main seat of H. H. Sakya Trizin, the Sakya Centre at Tsechen Tenpai Gatsal Monastery, and the Sakya College are located north of New Delhi in Rajpur, Dehradun, India. Another major Sakya monastery exists at Sa Magon in Puruwalla, Himachal Pradesh, a state in northwest India, along with the Sakya Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies.
The seat of H. H. Sakya Trizin in the United States is located at Tsechen Kunchab Ling, the Temple of All-Encompassing Great Compassion, in Walden, New York. His older sister, H.E. Sakya Jetsun Chimey Luding (1938-), lives in North America.
H.E. Chogye Trichen Rinpoche
H.E. Dharma King Chogye Trichen, Ngawang Khyenrab Thupten Lekshe Gyatso (1920-2007), who was Dharma King of the Tsharpa branch of Sakya sect and the root master of H.H. the Dalai Lama, offered the following respectful congratulations: “H.H. Buddha Vajradhara (Dorje Chang) Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu: A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma. . . is the guidepost leading to true Buddha- dharma and the gateway of the dharma leading to benefiting and providing happiness to sentient beings.” H.E. Dharma King Chogye Trichen and Ven. Shabdrung Rinpoche are seen here reading the manuscript copy of A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma, which has now been published as H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
H. E. Chogye Trichen RInpoche, Ngawang Khyenrab Thupten Lekshe Gyatso, was the dharma king and head of the Tsharpa (Tsar) sub-sect of the Sakya Sect and thought to be an incarnation of Mahasiddha Virupa. He was enthroned as the 26th patriarch of Phenpo Nalendra Monastery in North Lhasa, Central Tibet, that was founded in 1425 by the great Sakya master Rongton Sheja Kunrig (1367-1459). The “Whispered-Lineage of Tshar” founded by Tsharchen Losel Gyatso (1502-1566) considered this to be the seat of their lineage. H. E. Chogye Trichen rebuilt the Nalendra Monastery in Nepal, which became the seat of the Tsharpa sub-sect. His Eminence established the Tashi Rabten Ling Monastery in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, as well as the Jamchen Lhakhang Monastery and retreat center in Boudha, Katmandu where he resided until his death in 2007. He also established centers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand. His Eminence taught in the West and started dharma centers in America as well.
H.E. Sharmapa
The Red Jewel Crown Dharma King H.E. Shamarpa Rinpoche (1952-2014) is the nirmanakaya of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva and is the chief of the four regents of the Kagyu sect. He offered his respectful congratulations with the following words: “H.H. Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu . . . the third incarnation of Vajradhara . . . all his accomplishments . . . will benefit sentient beings. . .”
H. E. Mipham Chokyi Lodro of the Kagyu Sect, an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, is the present Shamarpa and the second nirmanakaya of the Karmapa. The second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi (1204 – 1283), predicted that “future Karmapas shall manifest in two nirmanakaya forms.” The Karmapa would continue to incarnate at different times as two beings and one would recognize and teach the other. One would be known as the Black Jewel Crown Karmapa and the other as the Ruby-red Jewel Crown Shamarpa. The Shamarpa, in the absence of the Karmapa, is the lead regent with responsibility over both administrative and Buddha-dharma matters. His Eminence was born in 1952 in Derge, Tibet. The main seat of the Karma Kagyu lineage has been at Tsurphu Monastery in central Tibet where it was established in 1159 by the First Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa (1110-1193). After leaving Tibet, the 16th Karmapa established the main seat of the Karmapa outside of Tibet at Rumtek Monastery.
His Holiness, the 14th Shamar Rinpoche or Shamarpa has established many dharma centers in the West.
H.E. Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche
H.E. Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche (1954- )is the incarnation of Patriarch Gampopa. He is the only regent for the Karmapa Great Jewel Dharma King who has the title of “National Master.” He respectfully praised the incomparable Master, H.H. Yangwo Wan Ko, as Vimalakirti and stated: “. . . .I sincerely wish that . . . the multitudinous living beings who have the karmic affinity to read A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma. . . will attain the supreme fruits of perfect enlightenment, omniscience, and Buddhahood!”
The Vajra Regent and caretaker for the Karmapas, H. E. Goshir, is the current incarnation of the founder of the Kagyu Sect, Master Gampopa (1079-1153). He lives in Sikkim where he oversees Rumtek, the main monastery of the Karma Kagyu as well as his own monastery Ralang, also in Sikkim. He was born in Nyimo, near Lhasa, in 1954. In 1959, the 16th Gwalya Karmapa, Rangung Rigpe Dorje, carried the dharma king on his back as he left Tibet. The Orange Jewel Crown Dharma King along with The Ruby-red Jewel Crown Dharma King Shamarpa, Situpa Rinpoche, and Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche are considered the four princes or regents for the Black Crown Karmapa. There are currently two incarnations considered to be the 17th Black Crown Karmapa, Urgyen Trinley Dorje (1985– ), who is recognized by H. E. Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche and H. E. Tai Situ Rinpoche, and Trinley Thaye Dorje (1983– ), who is recognized by H. E. Shamarpa Rinpoche. The North American seat of the Karma Kagyu, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, is located in Woodstock, NY.
Tangtong Gyalpo Bodhisattva
The name Tangtong Gyalpo Bodhisattva has gone down in Buddhist history. In the past, this Bodhisattva was the leader of the four main sects of esoteric Buddhism in India, Bhutan, Sikkim, Mongolia, and eastern Tibet. The people of Tibet call this Bodhisattva the father of medicine, the father of bridges, the father of Tibetan opera, and the father of ferryboats. During a dharma assembly held at Hua Zang Si in San Francisco of the United States in which Buddha-dharma realization was manifested, H.E. the sixteenth Tangtong Gyalpo Bodhisattva saw the realization and virtue of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu. He was astounded and immediately prostrated before His Holiness, formally acknowledging His Holiness as his Master. In his congratulatory letter to His Holiness, he stated the following: “. . . H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu is . . . the Master of the Five Buddhas, and has for the first time in the history of Buddhism in the human realm truly manifested complete proficiency in exoteric and esoteric Buddhism and perfect mastery of the Five Vidyas. This is a goal of Buddhism that all other Buddhists have not been able to achieve. This goal has finally been achieved by H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu.”
H.E. the sixteenth Tangtong Gyalpo Bodhisattva (Thangtrul Rinpoche) took birth in Bhutan. His physical appearance resembles that of Guru Padmasambhava. Even when he sleeps, his eyes remain open. He saw H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu during a Dharma Assembly that took place in 2005 at Hua Zang Si in San Francisco, U.S.A. In a supernatural state of samadhi, he instantly saw that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha, the highest ancient Buddha in the dharma realm, had already come to this world again. He at once formally acknowledged H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu as his master. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III asked him, “Did you follow and learn dharma under Guru Padmasambhava? Why have you come here?” H.E. Tangtong Gyalpo answered that he had received teachings directly from Guru Padmasambhava and from H.H. Sakya Trizin. He also said that he had come to request the highest dharma in order to save living beings. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III immediately snapped His fingers, and a dharma bowl manifested awesome power. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III then accepted H.E. Tangtong Gyalpo as one of his disciples who is on the level of a great venerable one and performed an initiation for him. H.E. Tangtong Gyalpo took that dharma bowl back to his home country.
He later learned that the book A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma about the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata was about to be published. He thereupon organized many rinpoches to practice the Kuan Yin Dharma one billion times as an offering to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III.
H.E. Xiazhu Quiyang Rinpoche
H.E. Xiazhu Qiuyang Rinpoche, who is the incarnation of Venerable Naropa, respectfully congratulated the highest and holiest Wish Fulfilling Jewel Dharma King Wan Ko as follows: “. . .the book A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma. . . is the highest authentic dharma that is of benefit to living beings.”
H.E. Dharma King Xiazhu Qiuyang has just stamped his fingerprint onto the congratulatory letter he wrote to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
H. E. Xiazhu Qiuyang Rinpoche of the Geluk Sect is a current incarnation of the great Mahasiddha Naropa (1016-1100), the venerable leader of 100,000 dakinis. Naropa, a former abbot at the famous Nalanda University in north-east India, was Master Marpa’s guru and the disciple of Tilopa. Master Tilopa received the dharma directly from Dorje Chang Buddha as did Naropa’s sister, Lady Niguma. H. E. Xiazhu Qiuyang was born in 1945, and has become greatly accomplished in Dakini Dharma, having received guidance and empowerment from Vajrayogini herself.
H.E. Renzeng Nima Rinpoche
H.E. Dharma King Renzeng Nima is holding the congratulatory letter he wrote to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
H.E. Mighty Lion Dharma King Renzeng Nima previously vowed to stay in a mountain valley engaged in solitary meditation for the rest of his life. He possesses supernatural powers, inspires awe throughout Tibet, and is the reincarnation of King Gesar. He wrote the following words of recognition: “. . . H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee . . . is the true incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha.”
H.E. Dharma King Renzeng Nima of the Nyingma Sect is a great terton and the current nirmanakaya of King Tuiba Gawa Gesar, the hero of Tibet’s great epic saga.
H.E. Ngagwang Pedma Namgyal Palzangpo
His Eminence Ngagwang Pedma Namgyal Palzangpo stamps his seal onto his congratulatory letter to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III that he had already signed.
H.E. Dharma King Ngagwang Pedma Namgyal Palzangpo, who is a dharma king of the Jonang sect, respectfully congratulated H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu with the following words: “The body and lifespan of the Buddha Vajradhara of the dharma realm never comes to an end. His Holiness manifests Mahayana states and has the most wondrous powers of great compassion.”
The Jonang Dharma King, H. E. Ngagwang Pedma Namgyal Palzangpo (Penam Rinpoche), was born in 1925 near Amnhymachen, the holy Mountain of the protector Machen Pomra, in Amdo, Tibet. He has been recognized as an incarnation of Duqin Langwa, an incarnation of a close disciple of Guru Padmasambhava, Gelong Namuke Niangbo. His Eminence taught the Kalachakra Dharma in the United States and established Dorje Ling Dharma Centers in New York City and Atlanta, Georgia.
H.E. Mindrolling Khenchen Rinpoche
H.E. Mindrolling Khenchen Rinpoche of the Mindrolling Monastery wrote the following congratulations: “His Holiness Buddha Vajradhara III Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu[’s] . . . A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma. . . will restore dharma that had faded and will cause the growth of dharma that has not yet faded.”
The ninth Mindrolling Khenchen Rinpoche, Venerable Jigmey Namgyal, was born in 1970. His lineage began with the great translation master Lochen Dharmashri (1654-1717), the younger brother of Rigzin Terdak Lingpa, the founder of the original Mindrolling Monastery, located south of Lhasa in the Drachi Valley of central Tibet.
Since 1992, His Holiness has been the president of Nagyur Nyingma College, Mindrolling’s Institute of Advanced Buddhist Studies. (Five Vidyas University) at Dehra Dun, in Uttranchal State, India. The college was founded in conjunction with the new Mindrolling Monastery also located at that location.
H.E. Khandro Rinpoche
H.E. Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche of the Mindrolling lineage within the Nyingma sect is the incarnation of Yeshe Tsogyal. She sent a congratulatory letter expressing her deep gratitude toward H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Dorje Chang Buddha for the book A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma.
As an incarnation of Yeshe Tsogyal, the advanced disciple of Guru Padmasambhava, Her Eminence is part of the Jetsunma lineage of female masters at Mindrolling Monastery, which was founded in 1676 by Rigzin Terdak Lingpa. Her father, H. H. Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal, the XI Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche, was the head of the Nyingma sect.
Khandro Rinpoche has a North American retreat center in the Northern Shenandoah Valley adjoining the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia as well as Samten Tse, a nunnery in India.
H.E. Dzogchen Ganor Rinpoche
The famous H.E. Dzogchen Ganor Rinpoche offered the following congratulations: “. . . A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma is the wish-fulfilling true dharma that the Buddha expounded.”
H. E. Ganor Rinpoche (1942- ) is the 14th reincarnation of Terton Ratag Pelsang (Karma Lekshe Drayang). He was born near the town of Palpung in the Derge District in eastern Tibet. Because of his level of realization and practices, he was able to perform many supernatural feats like leaving his footprint in rocks and tying swords into knots as if they were rope. He was also able to communicate with non-humans like nagas and devas. He was a great terton who revealed many hidden treasures.
H.E. Urgyen Xirao
H.E. Urgyen Xirao Woxiu, who is a great terton revered by all four types of monastic and lay Buddhists in the land of the Han- Chinese and the land of the Tibetans, wrote in his recognition certificate the following: “. . . Buddha Vajradhara assisted Sakyamuni Buddha in teaching the five hundred monks and other holy ones. . . . H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee, Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, is the incarnation of Buddha Vajradhara.”
Ven. Ugyen Xirao Woxiu of the Nyingma Sect is an incarnation of Ugyen Pema Lingpa (1450-1521), the fourth and most controversial of the Five Terton Kings. Guru Padmasambhava prophesied that Pema Lingpa would recover 108 sacred texts as termas, but due to inauspicious circumstances he only recovered 32. He was known for his spectacular and daring methods in recovering these texts. Once he dived into a lake in Bhutan holding a lighted butter lamp. He told onlookers that the lamp would go out if he were a false spirit. After he disappeared in the dark pool and all thought that he had drowned, he returned to the surface with his butter lamp still brightly burning and with a new terma. He is considered the greatest spiritual master of Bhutan and the immediate incarnation of Master Longchenpa (1308-1364).
H.E. Dorje Rinzin Rinpoche
H.E. Dorje Rinzin Rinpoche, master of the seventh Dzogchen Dharma King in China, stamps his fingerprint onto the congratulatory letter he wrote to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
H.E. Dorje Rinzin Rinpoche is the incarnation of Rigzin Terdak Lingpa Unchanging Vajra, who was the founder the Mindrolling monastery. H.E. Dorje Rinzin Rinpoche, a holy being of great enlightenment, is now the master of many great rinpoches. He said the following in his congratulatory letter: “. . . the accomplishments contained in A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma. . . are those of Dorje Chang Buddha Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, the Master of the Five Buddhas.”An incarnation of Rigzin Terdak Lingpa Unchanging Vajra Being (1646-1714) who was the great terton and founder of the Mindrolling monastery and lineage, H. E. Dharma King Dorje Rinzin Rinpoche of the Nyingma Sect was a model for eminent monastics to follow and emulate.
H.E. Dharma King Rabjam
H.E. Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, the dharma king of the Shechen monasteries of the Nyingma sect, offered the following words of congratulations: “. . . H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Holy One, has taken action that spreads and makes grander the true Buddha- dharma. How wonderful!”H. E. Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche VII (1966- ) is the grandson of H. H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. The second Rabjam Rinpoche founded Shechen Monastery, one of the six main Nyingma Monasteries in Tibet, in 1695 in Kham. H. E. Shechen Rinpoche VII is the abbot and dharma king of Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery in Nepal, one of the largest and most beautiful monasteries outside of Tibet. It is located near the Great Stupa of Boudhanath, a suburb of Kathmandu and is noted for its ceremonies and sacred dances.
H.E. Renqing Rongbo Barongbo Rinpoche
H.E. Renqing Rongbo Barongbo Rinpoche, an eastern Tibetan Dharma King of the Nyingma sect, respectfully praised H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu with the following words: “The Master is the magnificent sambhogakaya Buddha who has descended into the human world again. . . . His Holiness’s accomplishments are unprecedented in this world and reflect the pinnacle of wisdom. May H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha boundlessly save living beings. . .”
H.E. Dharma King Renqing Rongbo Barongbo Rinpoche (1969- ) of the Nyingma Sect is a current incarnation of Venerable Ananda.
H.E. Green Jewel Crown Karmapa Dharma King Jiezhong
The Green Jewel Crown Karmapa, H.E. Great Jewel Dharma King Jiezhong, prostrated to H.H. Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, the Buddha Vajradhara, and wrote the following words: “A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma about the Buddha Vajradhara is a concrete expression of the highest Buddha-dharma wisdom and abilities.”
The sixth Karmapa Green Jewel Crown Dharma King was born in 1967 in Tibet amidst wonderful auspicious signs. The 16th Karmapa, H. H. Great Jewel Dharma King Rangjiong Rigpe Dorje in India, recognized him as a previous incarnation of the Green Jewel Crown Dharma King Jiezhong Rinpoche.
H.E. Jigme Losel Wangpo
H.E. Jigme Losel Wangpo, the seventh Dzogchen Dharma King who resides in India, wrote the following words of congratulations: “. . . A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma brings benefit to all sentient beings. . . .”
There are two incarnations recognized as the seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche of the Nyingma Sect: H. E. Jigme Losel Wangpo, born in 1964 in Gangtok, Sikkim, and H. E. Tenzin Longdock Nyima, born in Qinghai Province in the Bare Region of lower Amdo in 1974.
The original Dzogchen Monastery in Tibet, one of the six main Nyingma monasteries, was established in 1684 by Pema Rigdzin. More than 60,000 people have attained the rainbow body and become Buddhas in that lifetime while practicing at that monastery. H. E. Dharma King Tenzin Longdock Nyima Dzogchen Rinpoche VII is the current throne holder of Dzogchen Monastery in Tibet.
The official seat of H. E. Dharma King Jigme Losel Wangpo Dzogchen Rinpoche VII is at the new Dzogchen Monastery in Dhondenling, South India.
H.E. Tenzing Longdock Nyima
H.E. Tenzin Longdock (Lungdok) Nyima, the seventh Dzogchen Dharma King who resides in China, respectfully congratulated the ancient Buddha who saves all sentient beings in the three spheres, H.H. Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, as follows: “. . . A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma. . . is like the. . . Wish-Fulfilling Jewel in that it outshines all ancient or modern, Chinese or non-Chinese books. . . . The book also opens up and develops the spiritual wisdom of people.”
Ven. Junmai Baima Dorje Rinpoche
Ven. Junmai Baima Dorje Rinpoche of the Shechen Temple is a nirmanakaya of Vajravarahi. He wrote a letter expressing his respect for the Three Bodies and Four Wisdoms of H.H. Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, the Dharma King of the Three Spheres. In that letter, he stated, “H.H. Great Dharma King is the first holy being who used true realization to display fully in the dharma realm the teachings of the Buddha! H.H. Great Dharma King is the true Buddha Vajradhara, the teacher of both humans and celestial beings!”
Ven. Junmai Baima Dorje Rinpoche VI of the Shechen Monastery in Tibet is a nirmanakaya of Vajravarahi. The first Junmai Baima Dorje was a famous terton and the second achieved the rainbow body. As a small child, the rinpoche could transform a thick knife into a knot. That knife is currently at Hua Zang Si in San Francisco as one of the many holy objects that they hold for public display and veneration.
Ven. Angwang Khyentse Rinpoche
Venerable Angwang Khyentse Rinpoche was the closest disciple of H.H. Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro. He is the head of the Gensa Temple of the Sakya sect and has been in retreat for a long period of time. He possesses supernatural powers and is praised throughout the snowy plateaus of Tibet for his cultivation. In his congratulatory letter, he stated, “Greatest leader of Buddhism, H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu: . . . .Only the wisdom of the ancient Buddha, Dorje Chang Buddha, could produce such a textbook [as A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma] . . . !”
Ven. Angwang Khyentse (Qinzhe) Rinpoche is the Head of the Sakya Gensa Temple in Tibet. He has been in retreat for many years. He is a successor to the dharma lineage of the second Jamyang Khyentse, Dzongsar Chokyi Lodro, the former abbot of the Dzongsar Monastery in Tibet and later the guru of the royal family of Sikkim. Dzongsar Khyentse was one of the incarnations of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892), the great nonsectarian(rime) master and terton of the nineteenth century.
Ven. Yundeng Jiangcuo Rinpoche
The eighty-year-old Ven. Yundeng Jiangcuo Rinpoche, who is the incarnation of Patriarch Milarepa, respectfully offered the following congratulations on the publication of A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma about Buddha Vajradhara: “This book manifests great Buddha-dharma based wisdom and contains accomplishments that no other person in history has achieved. Only H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu has attained such accomplishments.”
Ven. Abbot Kalsang Gyaltsen
Ven. Kalsang Gyaltsen, who represents H.H. the Dalai Lama and is fully authorized to exercise control over the Geluk sect in Nepal, stated in his congratulatory letter the following: “I am sure the works of Venerable Vajradhara Master Wan Ko will inspire all the sentient beings to a better understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of the Buddhist philosophy.”
Ven. Zangxia Rinpoche
The famous Zangxia Rinpoche prostrated to the ancient Buddha and greatest leader of Buddhism, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, and stated, “. . . led us to find Dorje Chang Buddha, our supreme ancient Buddha, and thereby enabled all living beings to have the ultimate refuge in this Dharma-Ending Age!”
Ven. Bamba Tuben Geleg Gyatso Rinpoche
The famous Respected Bamda Tubten Geleg Gyatso Rinpoche stated: “. . . [I] beseech the magnificent and holy Dorje Chang Buddha III to bless all sentient beings in the six realms of reincarnation so that they may realize enlightenment soon, hear of and read A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma, . . . and attain the perfect, supreme, and complete enlightenment of a Buddha.”
Ven. Baima Rongzhu Rinpoche
Ven. Baima Rongzhu Rinpoche is widely respected in India and is revered by the people who live along the banks of the Jinsha River. Having prostrated to H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, he wrote, “Having read A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma, I learned that the ancient Buddha, Dorje Chang Buddha, has descended to the human world again. This is truly our greatest blessing!”
Respected Eba Rinpoche
Respected Eba Rinpoche Danba Wangxu, the fifth dharma king of his temple, used the following words to express on behalf of other rinpoches deep gratitude to the most venerable H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu: “The supreme Dorje Chang Buddha has brought to us A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma!”
Respected Khenpo Chucheng Qupei
Respected Khenpo Chucheng Qupei, whose status as khenpo was conferred upon him by H.H. Dharma King Sakya Trizin, respectfully praised H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, as follows: “His Holiness is the supreme holder of the 84,000 Buddha-dharmas, the one who is in charge of all dharma methods of Buddhism. His Holiness was the first sambhogakaya Buddha in the dharmadhatu.”
Respected Wangzhi Tudeng Jigmei Rinpoche
Respected Wangzhi Tudeng Jigmei Rinpoche, the famous abbot of the Tsangtsang Temple, expressed his gratitude to the most venerable ancient Buddha, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, as follows: “The most honorable ancient Buddha has perfectly and flawlessly brought to this world the Buddha-dharma of Tibet’s four main sects as well as the exoteric Buddha-dharma.”
Respected Bishop Seicho Asahi
Respected Bishop Seicho Asahi is the supreme leader of the headquarters of the Koyasan Shingon-shu North American Mission. He praised H.H. Dharma King Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, the Buddha Vajradhara, with the following words: “. . . Your Holiness’s great accomplishments on Buddhism . . . have never been seen before in the world. Your Holiness is truly the primordial Buddha who incarnated to this world to save living beings and to transmit the authentic Buddha-dharma of Tathagata.”
Bishop Seicho Asahi is the supreme leader of the of the Koyasan Shingon-shu North American Mission which has its headquarters in Los Angeles, CA. He was born in Hiroshima, Japan and came to California as a Buddhist minister in 1981. He has been active in community work, the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, interfaith activity, and developing a prison sangha at maximum security Folsom Prison near Sacramento, where he served as Buddhist chaplain prior to becoming Bishop.
The main headquarters of this sect of Esoteric Buddhism, Kongobu-ji (Vajra Peak Temple), is located at Koyasan (Mount Koya) in Wakayama perfecture, Japan. It has been designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The temple was constructed in 1593 and rebuilt in 1863.
Gele Sanbu Rinpoche
Gele Sanbu Rinpoche prostrated to the supreme H.H. Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu and stated, “H.H. Great Dharma King thoroughly understands the true causes and effects concerning all things in the universe. His Holiness is the first great holy being in the history of Buddhism to truly manifest in the human realm complete proficiency in exoteric and esoteric Buddhism and perfect mastery of the Five Vidyas!”
Luozhu Jiangcuo Rinpoche
Luozhu Jiangcuo Rinpoche prostrated to H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu and wrote, “I was fortunate to have respectfully read A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma about the greatest leader of Buddhism, H.H. Yangwo Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu. . . . we see that a true Buddha has again descended into this world!”
Lama Renzhen Rinpoche
Lama Renzhen Rinpoche of the Five Vidyas Buddhist Institute prostrated to H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu and praised the accomplishments of the Vajra Dharma King of Great Holiness with the following words: “We have respectfully read A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma about H.H. Buddha Vajradhara Great Dharma King and were truly astounded! . . . H.H. Great Dharma King represents the Buddha-dharma!”
Shanxi is often called the cradle of Chinese civilization, a province with one of the richest collections of cultural and historical relics. Guangsheng Temple is part of that story. First built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE), it is one of the earliest Buddhist temples in China. Over the centuries, it has endured wars, fires, and devastating earthquakes, yet it still stands, its beauty renewed through reconstructions in the Yuan (1271–1368) and Ming (1368–1644) dynasties.
The temple complex is composed of three main parts:
The Upper Monastery — home to its most famous landmark, the glazed pagoda.
The Lower Monastery — housing grand halls and statues.
The Water God Temple — known for its remarkable Yuan Dynasty murals.
Rising in the upper monastery is the Flying Rainbow Pagoda (Feihongta), an octagonal, 13-story glazed brick tower reaching 47.31 meters high. Built in 1527 during the Ming Dynasty, it’s an explosion of color in the sunlight. The walls and roofs are covered in multi-colored glazed tiles — deep emerald, golden yellow, sapphire blue, and rich purples — that glisten like jewels, casting rainbow-like reflections on sunny days.
Every tier of the pagoda is adorned with intricate glazed reliefs — Buddhas in serene meditation, fierce guardian kings, bodhisattvas in flowing robes, mythical beasts, and dragons coiled in eternal motion. Inside, the foundation hall houses a five-meter-tall bronze statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, radiating quiet majesty.
This pagoda is not only beautiful — it’s a survivor. It withstood the catastrophic 1556 Shaanxi earthquake and the 1695 Pingyang earthquake, both exceeding magnitude 8.0. Its resilience is as awe-inspiring as its artistry. In 2018, it was recognized by the London-based World Record Certification as the tallest multicolored glazed pagoda in the world.
Murals of the Yuan Dynasty — Life Painted in Color
The temple’s murals are a vivid window into the Yuan Dynasty. In the Water God Temple, nearly 200 square meters of wall space is alive with color: scenes of divine processions, farmers at work, musicians playing, and children at play. One remarkable panel shows “Cuíwán” (捶丸) — a sport similar to golf — offering a glimpse into pastimes of the Yuan era.
The mural on the gable wall of the Great Hall of Sakyamuni Buddha in the lower monastery is equally stunning, painted with an expressive style that blends religious devotion with snapshots of daily life. Researchers prize these works for their artistry and for the wealth of cultural detail they reveal — clothing, architecture, social customs — all preserved in pigment for more than 700 years.
The Zhaocheng Buddhist Canon — A Literary Treasure
In 1930, during restoration work, the temple revealed another extraordinary surprise—a cache of ancient relics now preserved in the Shanxi Museum. These included Buddhist scriptures, statues, and ritual objects, some dating back hundreds of years earlier. Printed during the Yuan Dynasty, this monumental project took 24 years and the collaboration of countless monks and artisans to engrave the wooden printing blocks. The texts preserve Buddhist thought, philosophy, and art from centuries ago, making them one of China’s most precious Buddhist literary relics.
The discovery deepened Guangsheng Temple’s reputation as one of the great guardians of China’s Buddhist heritage.
Today, whether you approach as a pilgrim, an art lover, or simply a traveler drawn by curiosity, the moment you first see the rainbow-like shimmer of the Glazed Pagoda through the mountain mist is unforgettable. It is not merely a structure—it is a bridge between centuries, a beacon of faith, and a reminder that beauty, once created with devotion, can endure against time itself.
Located in the northwest of Mount Tai, Lingyan Temple was founded during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and boasts a history of over 1,600 years. It is regarded as one of the most important sacred sites of Chinese Buddhist culture. Since the Tang Dynasty, Lingyan Temple has enjoyed great renown, and together with Qixia Temple in Nanjing, Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai in Zhejiang, and Yuquan Temple in Dangyang, Hubei, it has been hailed as one of the “Four Great Temples of China.” The eminent monk Tang Xuanzang once resided here to translate Buddhist scriptures. From Emperor Gaozong of Tang onward, many emperors stopped to worship at this temple on their way to perform imperial rites at Mount Tai, a testament to its revered historical status.
Although I personally prefer the majestic beauty of untouched natural landscapes, I was deeply moved by the profound cultural and religious artistry of Lingyan Temple. Within the temple grounds, ancient trees such as Chinese wingnut, cypress, and banyan rise skyward, creating a tranquil and sacred atmosphere. As an integral part of the World Natural and Cultural Heritage site of Mount Tai, Lingyan Temple is especially renowned for its colored clay sculptures of Arhats, which hold a prominent place in the history of Chinese sculpture.
Stepping into the solemn Thousand Buddha Hall, one is struck by the breathtaking sight of the Arhat statues—40 lifelike clay figures arranged in a semicircle along the inner walls. Among them, 29 represent disciples of Shakyamuni and Indian masters such as Bodhidharma and Kumarajiva. The remaining 11 depict eminent Chinese monks, including Huiyuan, Huike, Huichong, and various abbots of Lingyan Temple. According to inscriptions and scholarly research, the original set consisted of 32 statues, first created in the third year of the Zhiping reign of Emperor Yingzong of the Song Dynasty (1066). Additional painting and sculpting were done in the first year of the Zhiyuan reign (1328) during the Yuan Dynasty. The Thousand Buddha Hall was renovated in the 15th year of the Wanli reign (1587) in the Ming Dynasty, at which time the number of Arhats was increased to 40. The final touch-up was completed in the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign (1874) of the Qing Dynasty.
Each statue stands about 1.6 meters tall and is seated on a waist-high brick pedestal roughly 80 centimeters in height, with the top of each statue rising 105 to 110 centimeters above the seat. The overall sculptural style is remarkably realistic, emphasizing the individuality and inner spirit of each figure: square faces, prominent noses, distinct facial features, and dynamic, textured robe patterns. The ancient artisans broke away from conventional, stylized Buddhist iconography and instead grounded their work in real life, endowing each Arhat with unique expressions and postures—some sit in meditation, others clasp their hands or hold staffs; some appear ragged and emaciated, while others exude noble dignity and elegance. Each figure is infused with spirit and personality, appearing almost alive, as if they might speak or move at any moment.
What’s even more astonishing is the meticulous attention to detail in both facial expressions and bodily movement, as well as the relationship between the robes and the human form. The flowing lines of the garments, the way the folds respond to motion, and the tactile quality of the fabric all reflect a masterful understanding of form and rhythm. One medical expert even remarked that, “Through the Arhats’ robes, one can perceive the ancients’ precise grasp of human anatomy.”
The Arhat sculptures at Lingyan Temple are not only masterpieces of religious art but also represent the pinnacle of ancient Chinese realistic sculpture. The renowned scholar Liang Qichao once visited the site and inscribed a stone tablet calling them “The finest sculptures in the land.” Famed art master Liu Haisu also praised them, writing: “The Arhats of Lingyan—first under heaven—vivid and lifelike, with flesh and spirit.”
Lingyan Temple is more than a place of worship—it is a living chronicle of Buddhist heritage carved from clay and shaped by the hands of genius. Whether you are a devout practitioner, a history enthusiast, or an art lover, a visit to Lingyan Temple will surely leave you moved by its rich cultural legacy and breathtaking artistic beauty.
My name is Li Xueping, and this is a story about love, faith, and the incredible blessings that come from practicing true Buddhism. It is a story that centers around my mother, Yang Yanshu, a gentle and kind-hearted woman who is now over ninety years old. Despite her age, she continues to inspire us with her warmth, frugality, and deep devotion to her family.
My mother has been a Buddhist for many years. Though she is illiterate, she memorized and recites the Heart Sutra daily with great sincerity. In our home, we’ve always honored Namo Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, and her faith has been a quiet but powerful force in our lives.
In October 2003, my sister and I accompanied our mother to listen to the Dharma discourses of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III for fourteen consecutive days. During that time, my mother experienced a profound transformation—both physically and mentally. She was radiant with Dharma joy and gained deep faith in the supreme teachings. From then on, she diligently listened to discourses, practiced Buddhism daily, and her health remained remarkably stable. It was clear to us: the blessings of true Dharma had uplifted her life.
In June 2017, our lives were shaken when my mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer at a reputable hospital. She was in her eighties at the time, and the news was devastating. We decided against surgery and opted for conservative treatment with traditional Chinese medicine to minimize her suffering.
My siblings and I turned entirely to Buddhist practice. We recited The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation, performed lamp offerings, and conducted life-releasing ceremonies. My mother, too, chanted Buddha’s names with devotion and repented for past wrongdoings. She often reflected with remorse: “I regret killing so many chickens in the past just for food. I committed great wrongs by taking lives.”
We knew from the Buddha’s teachings that killing brings severe karmic consequences, and while our efforts could not undo the past, we hoped to ease her suffering through sincere repentance and practice.
Wanting to seek deeper help, I applied for a U.S. visa and, in September 2017, traveled to the United States to personally report my mother’s situation to the great Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III. The Buddha responded with immense compassion: “I will perform a Dharma practice to bless her.”
I will never forget that moment. The Buddha, who treats all beings with equal kindness regardless of wealth or status, blessed my mother. Monastic disciples also provided her with precious Black Treasure Pills. Miraculously, her pain vanished, her complexion became rosy, and she regained peace and strength. The power of true Dharma had once again revealed itself.
An Unexpected Crisis and a Miraculous Return
In June 2018, while I was visiting my daughter in Belgium, I received an urgent call—my mother was critically ill. We feared I might not see her again. I flew back as quickly as possible, praying for blessings throughout the journey. When I arrived home, I was astonished—my mother had survived.
My sister later told me that just before losing consciousness, my mother cried out:
“Namo Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, save me!”
Soon after, the ambulance arrived and took her to the hospital. After seven days of treatment, she was miraculously revived.
Shortly after, I faced a difficult decision. I had already planned to attend the Dharma Assembly Honoring the Holy Birthday of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III in the United States. With my mother still recovering, and family responsibilities weighing on me, I hesitated. My husband even called me “unfilial” for wanting to leave.
But deep in my heart, I knew: this was the most important aspiration of my life. I prayed silently, asking for the Buddha’s blessings to keep my mother safe during my absence.
I attended the Great Life-Releasing Dharma Assembly at the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Culture and Art Museum on June 21, 2018, and the next day, the rare and magnificent Holy Heavenly Lake Dharma Assembly. Surrounded by thousands of disciples from around the world, we chanted the holy name of the Buddha in unison. It was a moment of unimaginable spiritual joy.
On June 25, I had the honor of meeting Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III once again. I tearfully reported my mother’s condition, and the Buddha, in His great compassion, smiled and said, “Haha, good!” That moment filled me with peace and hope.
When I returned home, I found my mother in excellent condition. Despite her diagnosis, she had never experienced unbearable pain, never lost her spirit, and continued her daily Buddhist recitations as usual. During Chinese New Year, even our relatives remarked in amazement: “She doesn’t look like someone with cancer at all!”
Her strength, peace, and recovery were nothing short of miraculous. We owe everything to the compassionate blessings of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions, and the authentic Tathagata Dharma.
Through this journey, I have come to understand the impermanence of life, the inescapability of karma, and the painful cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. No one can escape their karmic debts. But through true Buddhist practice—guided by the teachings of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III—we can walk a path toward healing, liberation, and lasting peace.
May all beings awaken to the true Dharma, cherish the opportunity to learn from a living Buddha, and attain the freedom of body and mind through genuine practice.
Respected Khenpo Chucheng Qupei, whose status as khenpo was conferred upon him by H.H. Dharma King Sakya Trizin, respectfully praised H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, as follows: “His Holiness is the supreme holder of the 84,000 Buddha-dharmas, the one who is in charge of all dharma methods of Buddhism. His Holiness was the first sambhogakaya Buddha in the dharmadhatu.”
Peace LiLy 
