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”.
There are some people whose presence feels like sunlight—warm, gentle, and full of hope. Louise Hay was one of them. An internationally renowned spiritual teacher, best-selling author, and pioneer of the self-help movement, she inspired millions of people around the world to believe in their own healing power. Her landmark book You Can Heal Your Life has sold over 50 million copies in 35 countries, translated into 29 languages, and for many, it sits by the bedside as a trusted guide through life’s storms.
To the world, Louise Hay seemed perfect—healthy, elegant, wise, always radiating grace. Her teachings lifted countless people out of despair, helped them restore their health, and gave them courage to live again. Media across the globe lovingly called her “the closest person to a saint.”
But what made Louise extraordinary was not that her life was flawless—it was that she transformed the deepest wounds into the greatest gifts. Behind her radiant presence was a childhood filled with suffering, abuse, and neglect. It was from that very pain that she forged the wisdom that changed the lives of millions.
1. Falling Amid Misfortune
When Louise was just 18 months old, her parents divorced, abruptly ending her once-happy family life.
At that time, women had little social standing. After the divorce, her mother could only work as a maid to survive, while Louise was sent to live in foster care.
At age five, her mother remarried in the hope of giving Louise a complete home. But this marked the beginning of her nightmare.
Louise was raped by a neighbor, abused and assaulted by her stepfather, and subjected to violence and sexual exploitation. These experiences left her with deep wounds and a lack of self-worth. In her teenage years, as long as a man showed her the slightest kindness, she would give herself to him. By the age of sixteen, she had already given birth to a daughter.
Her childhood was filled with tragedy, and her youth with self-destruction. Those early wounds shaped her into someone who did not know how to love herself.
Yet later in life, Louise chose not to remain trapped in resentment or regret. She said, “No little boy is born a predator, and no little girl is born a victim. These are learned behaviors shaped by childhood experiences.”
2. Awakening and Transformation
In her forties, Louise was diagnosed with cancer. That moment became her wake-up call. She realized how little she had cared for her own body, and she resolved to change.
Instead of following the conventional treatment suggested by her doctors, she turned to what she called “holistic healing.” Within six months, her cancer had disappeared.
Holistic healing, as Louise practiced it, meant changing destructive thought patterns and adopting healthier eating habits. She stopped mourning her unhappy past and stopped blaming her parents. Instead, she came to understand their own painful childhoods.
During her recovery, she ate mostly sprouts and simple natural foods, avoiding processed products entirely. She also trained her mind daily—using positive affirmations, choosing not to let negative emotions dominate her, and seeing every situation through a more uplifting perspective.
Her life changed completely. She documented her experiences and insights in books, which went on to inspire millions and transform countless lives.
3. You Can Choose Your Own Destiny
There are many in this world who have been hurt or are still suffering. Their stories move us deeply.
But as an old Chinese saying goes, “Those who seem pitiable often have traits that make them vulnerable.” In truth, much of life’s suffering continues because, consciously or unconsciously, we allow it. And the root often lies in our formative years.
Take, for example, teenage pregnancies. While news headlines may highlight shocking cases, the majority stem not from coercion but from lack of self-respect or proper knowledge. Similarly, many women trapped in abusive relationships remain because they lack self-worth and the courage to leave.
We cannot rewrite our childhoods, but we can shape our adult lives. As Louise Hay wrote in You Can Heal Your Life: Mindfulness Edition:
“Every negative message you received as a child can be transformed into a positive affirmation.”
If you had an unhappy past, stop feeding yourself negative words. Begin telling yourself: I am worthy of love. I am needed. I have many strengths. I can live the life I choose.
And if doubt still lingers, look at Louise Hay’s journey. Few have endured the kind of suffering she did—yet she lived a life admired and envied by many. If she could, why not you?
In the infinity of life where I am, all is perfect, whole, and complete.
Life Is Really Very Simple. What We Give Out, We Get Back. What we think about ourselves becomes the truth for us. I believe that everyone, myself included, is responsible for everything in our lives, the best and the worst. Every thought we think is creating our future. Each one of us creates our experiences by our thoughts and our feelings. The thoughts we think and the words we speak create our experiences.”
Her books may be called “chicken soup for the soul,” but isn’t that exactly what we need sometimes? A warm voice reminding us that we are enough, that healing is possible, and that life can be beautiful again.
You Can Heal Your Life walks us through every stage of existence—childhood pain, love’s struggles, career challenges, health worries, aging, and even the fear of death. Louise’s message is simple but powerful: change your beliefs, and you will change your life.
This “chicken soup” has comforted millions, given them strength, and helped them step into new beginnings.
💖 A Gentle Reminder
If you feel lost, unworthy, or stuck in a cycle of pain—Louise’s story is a light in the darkness. Her life teaches us that healing begins not from the outside, but from within.
No obstacle is too great. No past is too broken. Deep within each of us lies an infinite potential waiting to bloom. When we dare to change our thoughts and love ourselves, life unfolds in colors we never imagined.
Believe it: just like Louise Hay, you too can heal your life—and create a future filled with peace, love, and joy.
Sometimes beauty finds us when we least expect it—appearing like a sudden blossom of color in an ordinary moment, stopping us in our tracks and opening our hearts to wonder.
I happened to come across two traditional Chinese paintings online, both dominated by bright pink, and was utterly astonished. I couldn’t help but study them carefully. In Chinese painting, it is rare to see large areas of pink used as the main color, since it often risks appearing vulgar. Yet in the works of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, there is not the slightest trace of vulgarity. On the contrary, they radiate grandeur and magnificence, and the artist’s confident mastery of color bursts forth boldly from the canvas.
The above piece in particular was painted with a heart as pure and untainted as that of a child. Within the seemingly naïve brushstrokes lies immense skill and mastery. The style is free and natural, bold and unrestrained yet still gentle. Its simple composition is infused with deep emotion and imagination, brimming with the vitality of childlike wonder that uplifts the viewer’s spirit.
A few pink houses stand in the scene, behind which several pink fruit trees sway delicately. Ink outlines give the houses their structure, while the softly hanging trees add a tender rhythm to the picture. The artist’s unique technique and extraordinary control of color are truly breathtaking. The inscription on the work further enhances its spiritual resonance:
“Brilliant colors, vivid yet dignified; consummate skill that reveals the heart of a child.”
Indeed, this is a rare and outstanding masterpiece of Chinese painting.
This masterpiece is a freehand splash-ink landscape, where the brush moves with effortless freedom. Layer upon layer of crimson cliffs rise as though born from the artist’s own heart—lines powerful, vigorous, and full of life. Ink strokes carve the very bones of mountains and rocks, each one natural, unrestrained, yet perfectly balanced. Broad washes of pink suffuse the scene, creating an ethereal, dreamlike realm that lingers between presence and absence, as if belonging to an immortal world. To gaze upon this painting is to step into another dimension—where the heart gradually settles into stillness and begins to sense the hidden rhythms of the cosmos.
This painting was not created to showcase skill or to dazzle the eye, but as a natural outpouring of inspiration and emotion. Both ink and color arise directly from the pure stirrings of the artist’s heart.
Here, the true essence of Chinese painting—shen yun (spiritual resonance)—is revealed in its fullest clarity. The inscription makes the artist’s intent unmistakable: “With effortless spontaneity, illusion transforms into nature; in the fleeting and ethereal, the hand finds its way.” The purpose is not simply to depict form, but to open a gateway into a spiritual realm that transcends the material.
Shen yun is at once vivid and elusive—an ineffable charm, a subtle spiritual force that cannot be captured in words. It flows from the painter’s inner cultivation and profound state of mind. When spirit and technique merge seamlessly, the work attains a power far beyond outward appearance.
It is only when the viewer is touched by this shen yun that the formal elements of the painting—the structure of its composition, the interplay of colors, the rhythm of the brush, the unity of poetry and image, the harmony of form and spirit—truly come alive. These elements are essential, of course, but they are not the destination. They are the pathway to something deeper, pointing always toward a higher, transcendent experience.
These two paintings are rare gems of Chinese art, that surprise, inspire, and open a doorway to beauty both profound and pure.
When the 2017 Nobel Prize in Medicine was announced, many were surprised—it focused on something that touches all of us: our biological clock.
Three scientists—Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young—received the award for discovering how our bodies keep time at the molecular level. In simple terms, they revealed how our “internal clock” works, and why disrupting it can be so damaging to our health.
This clock silently manages almost everything in the body—when we feel sleepy or alert, our body temperature, hormone levels, and even how our cells repair themselves. But when we stay up too late, this delicate system is thrown off balance, and the consequences can be serious.
Their research found that:
Staying up late disrupts the body clock, paving the way for illness.
Lack of sleep can cause the brain to “eat itself”—astrocytes, specialized brain cells, begin devouring synapses.
If circadian-regulating genes fail, the risk of tumors increases.
The clear takeaway from this Nobel Prize-winning research? A familiar piece of advice: Don’t stay up late!
Yes, it’s something our parents, teachers, and elders have reminded us about countless times. But now, there’s a Nobel Prize—and 9 million Swedish kronor —to back it up.
Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science
Interestingly, the idea of the “body clock” isn’t new. Thousands of years ago, Traditional Chinese Medicine described how energy, or Qi, flows through the body in cycles. The 24-hour day was divided into twelve two-hour intervals, with each period linked to a specific organ system.
For example:
Between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., the liver is at peak function, cleansing the blood and preparing the body for renewal.
From 3 a.m. onward, energy shifts to organs that support digestion and daily activity, such as the lungs, large intestine, and stomach.
By mid-afternoon, energy begins to flow inward again to support organs that restore and maintain the system, such as the kidneys and pericardium.
Understanding this Body-Energy Clock can help us better manage our sleep, meals, and mood. Modern science now echoes this ancient wisdom: align with your natural rhythms, and you’ll thrive.
The Role of Melatonin
Science also tells us about melatonin, often called the “sleep hormone.” Melatonin is vital for regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Levels begin to rise soon after darkness falls, peak between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., and then gradually decline.
This explains why going to bed too late often leads to trouble falling asleep, and why sleep after 4 a.m. tends to be light and restless. For the best rest, it’s ideal to sleep between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., when melatonin levels are highest and most restorative.
The Benefits of Sleeping Early and Rising Early
Research consistently shows that early sleepers and early risers enjoy powerful health benefits:
Better mental health: Early risers of all ages report more positive emotions and greater self-rated health.
Reduced risk of depression: A U.S. study found that going to bed just one hour earlier lowers depression risk by 23%.
Weight management: Staying up late disrupts hormones, leading to weight gain. Going to bed on time, combined with early rising and regular exercise, helps maintain a healthy weight.
Stronger immunity: Adequate sleep enhances immune function, reducing the risk of infections and chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke.
Sharper thinking: Early sleepers and early risers score 30% higher on word-association tests compared to night owls.
The message from both Nobel Prize-winning research and ancient health wisdom is clear: respect your biological clock.
Going to bed early and waking up early is not just about feeling more refreshed—it protects the brain, strengthens the body, improves mood, and may even add years to your life. So tonight, give yourself the gift of sleep—it’s worth more than 5 million!
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!”
In 2019, my world collapsed. I was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma—one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers—at a middle-to-late stage. After a consultation with several medical experts, I was told that even if I underwent surgery, I would only have three or four months left to live. To survive six or seven months would be nothing short of a miracle.
Following the doctors’ advice, I went through surgery. Afterward, however, I made the conscious decision to forgo all other cancer treatments. I knew I had medical insurance that could cover much of the cost, but I questioned whether aggressive treatments would truly give me dignity and quality of life in my final days. Chemotherapy, radiation, and similar methods often do more harm than good, damaging the organs and leaving patients to die not from the cancer itself, but from the effects of over-treatment.
I also thought about something else: if my time was truly so short, I wanted to preserve my remaining healthy organs so that they could be donated to those in need.
When I returned home from the hospital, my health declined rapidly. Every day I lay in bed in pain, but I did not allow myself to sink into despair. Instead, I chose gratitude. I was grateful that when I opened my eyes, I could see the rising sun outside my window. Grateful for each breath of fresh air. Grateful simply for being alive in that moment.
Still, I asked myself: Was my life really destined to end in just a few short months? The answer within me was a resounding No. I wanted to create a miracle.
What gave me this strength was my son. My sudden illness had devastated him, and I could feel how my suffering dragged him into deep sadness. At that moment, I told myself I must rise up—for him, so that he would still have a mother, and also for other patients enduring the same pain, to show them that hope is possible. If doctors had already declared that I had no chance, why not prove with my own body how powerful the human spirit can be? Why not find a way to live with dignity, with quality, and with the least burden?
And then, something incredible happened.
In April 2020, my husband prepared a feast for me with all kinds of fish and meat. Strangely, the moment I looked at it, I felt an overwhelming discomfort in my heart. That very day, I decided to give up meat completely. From then on, I have been a vegetarian, and I know this will remain with me for the rest of my life.
Less than a month later, it was time for my medical review. To my surprise, all my test results had improved dramatically. Even though that same month I experienced the heartbreaking loss of my father, my condition did not worsen. At first, my family opposed my vegetarian choice, but as they watched my health improve, they slowly came to accept it. This only strengthened my resolve. Three months later, the test results were even better. Along with vegetarianism, I began exercising moderately each day and keeping a positive mindset. After six months, all my medical indicators had returned to normal.
Today, apart from being a little weaker in stamina compared to before, I am doing very well. When patients or their families reach out to me online and ask how I got better, I tell them honestly: “A positive mindset + positive energy + vegetarian diet + moderate exercise.”
But vegetarianism gave me more than just a second chance at life. It opened the door for me to encounter the true Dharma.
One day at a banquet, my vegetarianism led me to meet a Dharma sister who had followed H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III for many years. She introduced me to Buddhism, giving me the precious opportunity to listen to the Dharma discourses of the Buddha. Through studying the Dharma, I came to understand the law of cause and effect and the deeper meaning of being vegetarian. I realized that it is not merely about food, but about repenting for the harm I once caused to living beings, cultivating compassion for all sentient life, and seeking self-redemption through transforming karma.
I am no longer just a “pure vegetarian” who avoids even milk and eggs. I have become a practitioner who genuinely cherishes and protects all beings. My heart has grown softer, kinder, and more compassionate.
Gratitude fills me every day—gratitude to vegetarianism, which pulled me back from the edge of death; gratitude to the Dharma, which allowed me to encounter the true teachings of the Tathagata; gratitude for the miracles that have appeared throughout my life whenever I was in despair. That is why my online name is “After Darkness, Light.”
Looking back, many people used to say, “How could such a good person like you get this disease?” I once thought I was a good person too. But was I really? Before learning the Dharma, I would kill mosquitoes, flies, and ants without hesitation. I once had an abortion. Only after learning the true Dharma did I realize how heavy those karmic debts were. And what about my past lives? How much more karma have I carried forward?
Now, I understand: the suffering I faced in this life is not unfair—it is the natural result of my past actions. But how fortunate I am, despite all of this, to have encountered the true Dharma and to have a holy teacher guiding me. This is an incredible blessing, one I owe entirely to the compassion of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions.
The reason I am writing this article is because, in a Buddhist study group of more than 400 people, I saw so many “requests for dedication” every day and so much suffering. I felt most of them don’t have the correct view and concepts of Buddhism. That made me want to share my experience, in hopes it may help others. In those lists of dedication requests, I saw too much misfortune and pain—patients with terminal illnesses, those crying out in agony, those with depression and anxiety, those struck by sudden misfortunes, and so on. It made me deeply sad: sentient beings suffer so much! People in this life fall ill or face hardships of all kinds, but these are all karmic consequences ripened from the many unwholesome deeds done over countless lifetimes or in this very life. Each of us must have deep faith in cause and effect. We must understand that sickness and adversity are manifestations of our own karma, and also warnings—opportunities for us to repent and correct our wrongs.
“There is no one else to rely on but ourselves.” What magic cure exists in this world? The only true cure is repentance and cultivation! For patients who request dedication, whether they themselves, their families, or their friends, if they wish for a miracle or at least some relief, then apart from avoiding over-treatment, the only way is for the patient themselves to give rise to deep repentance and truly reform. Therefore, we must learn Buddhism, follow the teachings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas: commit no evil, practice all that is good, strictly uphold the precepts, and follow the teachings in our practice.
All that I have written here is based on my own personal experience and feelings. As for the Dharma itself, the standard must always be the teachings personally expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
At one time Buddha was living in Jetavanārāma. At that time the king of Kosala had a Brahmin who could tell whether a sword was lucky by smelling it. When smiths would bring their swords, if they had given bribes, he said, “It is good.” To those who did not give bribes, he said to them, “It is bad.” All in the course of time knew the deceptive nature of this man. Knowing his nature, one smith made a sword and making it very sharp, put it in a sheath filled with hot chili powder. He brought it to the king. The king summoned the Brahmin and requested him to tell them the goodness or badness of the sword.
The Brahmin, in accord with the order of the king, took the sword out from the sheath and placing it near his nose tried to smell it. Immediately, before he could say anything, the chili powder smelled by him caused him to sneeze. He could not remove the sword from his nose quickly enough, so when he sneezed, the sword cut off the tip of his nose. This story spread everywhere and eventually it reached even the monks in the preaching hall.
One day in the preaching hall of Jetavanārāma the assembled monks were speaking about this. When the Buddha visited there, the monks paid respect to the Buddha.
The Buddha asked, “Oh monks, what were you discussing before I came here?” Then the monks related the story of the Brahmin who smelled swords for the king of Kosala. Buddha said, “Not only today this man faced this mishap, but also in the past he faced the same fate.” The monks requested the Buddha to disclose the past story. The Buddha spoke then the past story:
At one time, a king called Brahmadatta ruled in Benares. He had a fortune-telling Brahmin who by smelling swords could tell their goodness or badness. He took bribes from the sword smiths. He condemned the work of those smiths who had not given bribes because they had not given him bribes.
Once a certain trickster smith made a good sword and made it well sharpened. He applied hot chili powder to it and took it to the king. The king summoned the Brahmin to examine the sword. As it was covered with hot chili powder, when he smelled it, he sneezed before he was able to remove the sword from his nose. The tip of his nose was cut off, and he was ashamed because of this. The king became very sad because of this and requested his craftsmen to make a fake tip for the Brahmin’s nose with wax. And the Brahmin again asked to work for the king.
At this time the king had a nephew at his palace, and also his daughter. The two of them since they were very young, had grown up together. When they got older, they fell in love with each other. The king did not know this secret love. The king and his ministers one day discussed the marriage of the princess. The king said, “I will give my daughter to a prince of another kingdom. If I do so, I will gain two new supporters, the prince and his father, to defend my kingdom.” Since then, the princess was not allowed to see the nephew with whom she had grown up so as to try to prevent them from falling in love. This strengthened their love for one another. And the nephew wanted to marry the princess as they both were now grown up.
The nephew therefore made a stratagem to marry the princess. He met the servant woman of the princess and gave her a bribe of a thousand gold coins. He requested her to keep the princess away for one day from the palace so that he could get to her. The woman said, “Do not worry. I will do it. I will take responsibility for that.”
Thinking of a stratagem, she went to the king and said, “Your lordship, your daughter is under the influence of an evil spirit. She is becoming unlucky and emaciated. Therefore, we will have to remove the evil spirit from her body.” The king asked, “What can we do for that?” The woman said, “In such-and-such a place there is a certain cemetery. There you need to make a stage. Keep a corpse on top of it, and cover it placing a bed over the dead body. We will place the princess on the bed and bathe her. Then the evil spirit will leave her.”
Hearing this, the king ordered her to do all these things and gave her all she had requested. She then undertook the task. She also tied some dried chili powder in a cloth, and she hid it near the bed so the nephew would be able to take it. She requested the nephew to go there and lie under the bed as the dead body. She explained to the nephew how to carry this off. The woman said to the caretakers, “When I come to the cemetery and wash the princess, the dead body will sneeze two or three times, come out from under the bed, and seize and devour the first one whom he sees. Therefore, be warned. Run away.” This was also mentioned to the nephew and princess, and the nephew was told, “When the caretakers run away, take the princess out of the cemetery, and after taking a bath with her, go wherever you like.”
On the day they set to have the service, the nephew went early and lay down under the bed she had prepared. The woman mentioned again to all the caretakers in the cemetery, “When the dead body sneezes, you will have to be ready for the death of the first one he seizes.” When, as she said, the nephew started to sneeze, all the caretakers laying their weapons down beside them, ran away from the cemetery screaming loudly. The retinue and other dignitaries who had come to witness this also all ran away.
When the nephew came out from under the bed, he took the princess, took a good bath, and went to his house with her. Hearing this news, the king became happy and he gave his daughter to the nephew.
Finalizing this story the Buddha said, “At that time the fortune-telling Brahmin who was skilled in sniffing swords was this fortune-telling Brahmin of today. The nephew prince of the king of Benares was I who am the Buddha.”
The moral: “What causes a loss for one person, may cause a gain for someone else.”
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.
Owls have always fascinated me with their air of enigma. Creatures of the night, they rest in the shadows by day and emerge only after dusk, rarely granting humans more than a fleeting glimpse. Across cultures, they have inspired legends both wondrous and foreboding. In ancient Greece, the wise and fearless goddess Athena chose the owl as her emblem, making it an enduring symbol of wisdom. So revered was this bird that Greek coins bore Athena’s face on one side and the owl on the other. Yet, in other parts of the world, the owl has been shrouded in darker associations, seen as a harbinger of misfortune or an omen of ill will.
In Chinese culture, the owl’s symbolism is particularly layered—holding both shadows and light. In ancient times, owls were often viewed as inauspicious creatures, linked to misfortune, death, and the old saying, “When the night owl enters a home, it never comes without cause.” And yet, in certain cultural contexts, they also stand for wisdom, keen insight, and even mysterious, almost magical power.
A Chinese ink painting by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III
When most people picture an owl, they think of its round, unblinking eyes and penetrating gaze—features that can feel cold, even intimidating. But my perception shifted entirely when I encountered the Chinese ink painting Childlike Delight by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
This is no ordinary artwork. With the freehand grace of traditional Chinese brushwork infused with a touch of dreamlike realism, it bridges the poetic subtlety of Eastern art and the fresh, luminous clarity of Western modernism.
With just a few effortless strokes, the artist creates a whimsical, pure, and gently humorous world—a dreamscape that seems to invite the viewer into the peaceful slumber of childhood. The small owl, covered with delicate ink spots of varying sizes and shades, appears almost as if glimpsed through a soft morning mist. Look closely, and you might see the tender image of a sleepy child, finger to lips, caught in that sweet moment before surrendering to dreams.
This is not a literal portrayal of nature, but rather nature reflected through the artist’s own heart—capturing not merely the physical form of a creature, but its spirit, vitality, and essence.
Here, the owl is reborn—not as the ominous figure of superstition, but as a symbol of innocence, purity, and quiet wisdom. The artist’s compassionate and unblemished inner world radiates through the painting, gently cleansing the heart of the viewer until it feels as fresh and clear as morning dew.
Childlike Delight reminds us that we can close the sharp, competitive eyes of rivalry and open instead the eyes of kindness, innocence, and warmth—gifts that have the power to heal, to inspire, and to light the world.
“Imagine a child’s brain as a garden. Every word you speak is like a drop of water nurturing growth.”
One cold winter morning in 1995 at a Chicago hospital, Dr. Dana Suskind, a cochlear implant surgeon, held the small hand of a boy who had just undergone surgery. Technically, the boy could now hear. Yet weeks passed, and he still didn’t speak a word. Dr. Suskind wondered—what was missing? She discovered that while technology could restore hearing, it could not replace something even more vital: the daily language environment a child grows up in. Without rich and loving conversation, the boy’s world remained silent in a deeper sense.
This experience led Dr. Suskind to research the profound role parents play in shaping their children’s language and cognitive development. She founded the Thirty Million Words (TMW) initiative, inspired by a groundbreaking 1995 study by child development researchers Betty Hart and Todd Risley. Hart and Risley discovered a striking reality: by the age of three, children from higher-income families had heard about thirty million more words than children from lower-income families.
From birth to age three, a child’s brain forms 1 million neural connections every second. Every conversation is brain-building—especially when it’s warm, eye-to-eye, and responsive.
Quantity matters—more words create more neural connections.
Quality matters more—it’s not just talking to a child, but engaging with them in responsive conversations.
Children who heard more words also experienced more encouraging interactions, richer vocabulary, and emotionally supportive tones from their parents. Meanwhile, children who heard fewer words were often exposed to more negative or directive language (“Stop that!” “Don’t do this!”) and fewer warm, conversational exchanges. By the time these children entered school, the gap had already set the stage for differences in learning, confidence, and future opportunities.
Dr. Suskind’s TMW initiative encourages parents to intentionally fill their children’s early years with abundant, meaningful, and loving conversation. She emphasizes the Three T’s:
Tune In – Notice what your child is focused on and talk about it.
Talk More – Use a rich variety of words to describe, explain, and explore the world together.
Take Turns – Engage in back-and-forth conversation, even before your child can speak words.
For example:
Instead of saying, “Don’t touch that!” try: “That’s sharp, sweetie. Let’s find something safer to play with.”
Instead of a quick “Good job,” you might say: “I love how you stacked those blocks so high! You worked so carefully.”
During a walk, point to things you see—“Look at that big red leaf!”—and let your child respond, even with just a gesture or sound.
But there’s another crucial element—how you speak. A gentle tone, warm facial expressions, and genuine interest create an emotional space where a child feels safe and valued. Neuroscience shows that when a child feels emotionally secure, their brain is more receptive to learning and language development.
Dr. Suskind’s work reminds us that parents are a child’s first and most influential teachers—not because of expensive toys or formal lessons, but because of the warmth, curiosity, and attention they share through conversation.
You don’t need a degree or a script. Your voice, attention, and curiosity are enough. Whether in the supermarket, on a walk, or during bedtime, every exchange plants seeds for your child’s future thinking, confidence, and empathy.
The goal isn’t to force constant chatter but to weave language naturally into your shared life—reading together before bed, singing songs in the car, talking about the day while cooking dinner. Over time, these small, daily moments accumulate into millions of words, building both vocabulary and a deep sense of connection.
The Thirty Million Words message is clear: Every word you speak to your child is a gift that shapes their mind and heart.
Because one day, those little ears won’t just remember the words you spoke—they’ll carry the mindset, resilience, and love you planted with them.