(Part One continued: Awakened by True Stories of A Holy Monk )
I was truly astounded by the sacred events surrounding Dharma King Dorje Losang, which are recorded in the book True Stories of a Holy Monk. It struck me that though he was such an eminent person, he never uses this as a reason for being proud, nor does he spread the news of such sacred events to others. He always considers himself to be a humble practitioner. He does not seek fame or gain. He had cut off his ties to the world. He lived in seclusion cultivating himself and it was therefore difficult to pay him a visit. However, Dharma King Dorje Losang did give us Buddhists an utmost guidance. He told an eminent monk who had conveyed his desire to follow him, that “…. if you truly want to cultivate yourself, you should study the books written by Great Dharma King Yangwo Yisinubu1 and Ah Wang Nuo Bu Pa Mu. If you do so, it will not be difficult for you to end the cycle of birth and death!”. He also said, “This Buddha Master (Great Dharma King Yangwo Yisinubu1) and Buddha Mother Master (Ah Wang Nuo Bu Pa Mu) are truly the ones who I revere most of all. In today’s world, no other Dharma King can be comoared with them. Of course, this is based upon what I have seen, heard, realized and understood”.
Ah Wang Nuo Bu Pa Mu is truly a Vajravarahi returned to the human realm from the Tusita Heaven.
Many years ago, Vajravarahi prophesied the Holy Monk’s Birth: When Elder Dharma King Dorje Losang was born, he had a full mouth of snow-white teeth. What was even more amazing is that he had a pinch of black hair in between his eyebrows which had grown more than a foot long. This hair was entangled with his umbilical cord in the form of a Vajra knot. The mother was at a loss what to do about this. The baby, however, stretched out his tiny, quivering hands, grasped the umbilical cord and pulled it. The baby pulled out from his body the umbilical cord along with the black hair in between his eyebrows.
Following the sound of the tingling of jades, Vajravarahi, standing in red light, said, “That which grew in between your eyebrows was Vajra hair. My child, how could you pull it out? Ay! This is also a case of the law of cause and effect never erring. Do not mind about this. You will have to wait until you are ninety years old when it will then again grow. From now on there will be a big, black mole in between your eyebrows. At the time you are ninety, your Master, a supreme Dharma King, will empower you. I will also empower your beard and your state of realization. At that time, you will attain immeasurable spiritual achievement and will save countless living beings.” After speaking, Vajravarahi floated away in the red light.
Elder Dharma King Dorje Losang was ninety years old on the birthday of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, which was February 29, 1997 of the lunar calendar. Dorje Losang’s supreme Master, Great Dharma King Yangwo Yisinubu1, was performing an Atiyoga Seven Day Accomplishment and Initiation Dharma Assembly. That day he told Dorje Losang, “The big black mole in between your eyebrows will immediately open up. Vajra hair will sprout out anew. Furthermore, it will grow three to five inches a year.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the scar on the crown of Dorje Losang’s head suddenly emitted a white light which shined continuously for about one minute until it then weakened and penetrated into the crown of his head. At that moment, the black mole in between his eyebrows suddenly opened up with a very loud sound. One could then see the Vajra hair slowly growing to about one centimeter. The Vajra hair emitted a golden dazzling light which brightened up the entire room.
Later, Great Dharma King Master Yangwo Yisinubu1 performed an empowerment for Dorje Losang in which the Buddha of Long Life is invited to bestow nectar. (It was recorded live on videotape.)
The empowerment from nectar is truly amazing. From the night the Elder Dharma King tasted this nectar, his meditative power enabled him to thoroughly enter into the supreme samadhi. He then removed his bed and kept only his rush cushion.
Later in the same year, Ah Wang Nuo Bu Pa Mu bestow the dharma water to Elder Dharma King Dorje Losang. This water empowered the beard of Dorje Losang and his state of realization. His beard can grew two to three inches per year, and would grow as long as his entire body. This verifies the Seven Branch Decision Dharma regarding the rebirth of Vajravarahi as laid out in Know the True Doctrines.
I was so grateful that the Holy Monk Dharma King Dorje Losang shared with our disciples those Dorje Losangamazing Buddhist Dharma phenomena. How I wish I could be a disciple of the Great Dharma Kings. What I could do, though, was take Elder Holy Monk’s utmost advice, and read the books written by the Great Dharma Kings. In the last page of the book, I found the contact information of a Bodhi Monastery in San Jose, who enthusiastically agreed to help me mail six Dharma books written by Ah WangNuoBuPaMu.
Note 1: Great Dharma King Yangwo Yisinubu in year 2008 had been recognized by the world’s leaders, regent dharma kings, and great rinpoches of Buddhism through official documents as the third incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, who is the primordial Sambhogakaya Buddha of the universe.
About twenty years ago, I worked at the research triangle park area in North Carolina. I got married and had children. We bought a brand-new single family house in a newly built community. The community was built in a large forest. It had well-equipped facilities, a lake, a swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, children’s playground, etc. On top of that, it was less than a ten minute drive to the company where I worked. It seemed to be a perfect place to live for a long time. However, when I wandered along the forest trails in the community, I often felt somewhat empty and unsettled in my heart. This place was not where I wanted to settle down, but I didn’t know the reason why.
At that time, I had read some books about Buddhism and set up an altar at home. There were many statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. I thought I would enshrine as many as possible. At the time though, I still stayed at the level of superstition and didn’t really understand what Buddhism was and how to learn Buddhism. I was very fond of the Zen patriarch’s narratives about emptiness. The transcendent realm and the beautiful poems made me intoxicated, but the actual practice is too difficult. From the books I read, the patriarchs lived in a cave and meditated for decades. That was impossible for me, so I felt that I had no hope of enlightenment in this life. I also listened to a lot of recordings of a Chinese master who preached the Pure Land Sect, and read books written by him. I thought the Pure Land Sect is very good and simple. I just focus on chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha, and when my physical body dies, the Buddha and Bodhisattva will come and lead me to the Paradise of Bliss – I was really looking forward to that scene.
One day I got a free book about a holy monk <<The True Story of a Holy Monk>>. The Dharma introduced in the book was totally different from I had known. For example, the “nectar” from Buddha Kingdom — I never heard of that before. I was full of envy for the various real holy relics recorded in the book. This is something I had never seen before. What I had heard was that Buddhist does not talk about miraculous and supernatural powers… At that time, I was very confused. How can the Buddha save me without supernatural powers? Reading this book made me understand that although Buddhism does not focus on magical powers, the phenomena of magical powers are the byproducts in Buddha Dharma practice process. Practitioners cannot attach to supernatural powers, as that is not the gaol of Buddhist cultivation.
The book introduced, “After the blessing of the longevity nectar from the Buddha Kingdom, Vajra vellus hair grew from the eyebrows of the old Pharaoh Dorje Luosang, and grew one foot long later. If buddhists are predestined to take a bite, the blessings and wisdom will be immeasurable. “ It was such an extraordinary fact, and I was very longing for it in my heart.
A passage from Dorje Luosang Pharaoh on the rebirth of the Buddha Pure Land in the book totally awakened me. It read, ”…… do you know what it will be like when you die? …..How many people are suffering in dying, struggling and groaning. If the world is unpleasant, it is called death. Of course, his mind will be Chaos. I have seen many people who have lost their minds at the end of their lives, ….. after reciting Buddha’s name throughout their lives, when they finally die, they “Oh! Help!” or struggling. You told him, “Recite the Buddha’s name! Bring up righteous thoughts!” But what you then heard was his groaning and tragic screams, and the voice of being overwhelmed. In fact, he has long been confused. This chaos is not something you can remove just by mentioning righteous thoughts. It takes time to settle down! It takes immense concentration, which comes from our daily practice and commandments. If you lose your daily practice, there will be no concentration. Seven kinds of disciples, listen! If you can just recite Amitabha Buddha without any confusion, the Buddha wouldn’t say eighty-four thousand methods, and the Buddha will not tell you the Six paramitas and Ten Thousand Actions! The Buddha will not torture sentient beings. He taught us, we need to practice the six paramitas and ten thousand actions and go through the three great asamkhyeyas of eons before you can achieve it…” .
I think this statement is so very true because we usually feel very uncomfortable when we are sick. I remembered how the heart-piercing pain during childbirth made me unable to think about any other things. I finally realized that I have many wrong opinions and preconceived notions about Buddhism cultivation. I pondered to myself, how do I recite the Buddha’s name with undivided attention? When I did my chanting practice in my altar without any outside disturbances, I couldn’t recite Amitabha Buddha single-mindedly for 10 times straight, for all kinds of thoughts kept coming up. I didn’t know how to control my mind and center on the Buddha’s name. For me, the most I can was attempt my practice a half hour daily. How could I be able to recite Amitabha Buddha without chaos? Those monks recite the Buddha’s name every day, but very few can go to the Pure Land when they die. In the book old Pharaoh Dorje Luosang gave me a light there is a better way to achieve the goal of re-birth into the pure land. I decided to follow that light to find the true Buddha Dharma, so I can reach the liberation in this life time.
In order to let my children understand some Buddhist principles, I bought them a book of Buddhist stories. While I read it with them together, one of the stories touched me. The story told about a poor girl who lived in poverty and hardship at the time period when Shakyamuni Buddha lived. After she got married and gave birth to a boy, her husband and family finally began to treat her well. She loved her son like a rare treasure. Her son was the joy and sunshine in her life. However, the good times did not last long, for a disease took the child’s life, which made her unhappy and unable to accept this cruel fact. She held her dead son and begged everyone she met to save her child. One person told her that perhaps only the Buddha in this world could help her, and took her to the Buddha’s residence place. The Buddha told her that he could help her, but on the condition that she must find a mustard seed in the city where she lived. The mustard seed should only come from a family where no one has ever died. She went from house to house for an entire day and did not find the mustard seeds that the Buddha said. In the end, she realized that death is a reality that everyone has to face. She buried her son and returned to the Buddha’s Sangha to begin her cultivation practice.
This story fills my heart with sympathy. I am eager to learn about death because of my father’s own death. In my third year of coming to the United States, I just graduated and found a job. My father left the world suddenly because of a car accident. When I heard this sad news, I couldn’t believe that my father just left forever? I will never see my dad again? I did’t even have a chance to see him for the last time? What was his final advice to his daughter who he was always been concerned about? My father served in the military for about twenty-five years, and was very strong and healthy. I believe my Dad would never expect he would leave this world so quick and sudden, without saying anything to his dear family member and closest friends.
My father’s passing away was like a warning bell, prompting me to think about death. I started to read books on philosophy, religion, and scientific researches on near-death experiences. One day I saw the book “Tibetan Book of Life and Death” in a bookstore. I bought that book because of the mystery of Tibetan Buddhism culture. This book made me deeply shocked and changed the horrible and terrifying concept of death. The book described the magnificent phenomena of some holy monks leaving this world, and the process was fascinating rather than scary. Those holy monks had cultivated to the realm of freedom of life and death. I was very longing for the superbly bright realm when they passed away. It made me long to learn the Dharma that one can escape from reincarnation and achieve freedom of life and death.
Yeas later, we moved to Los Angeles, California, where I was truly blessed to find a place that I can hear pre-recorded Dharma discourse spoken by the contemporary living Buddha H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. The Buddha’s sayings are simple and clear, and the profound Buddhist principles are expressed in an easy-to-understand way; there are no advanced academic terms, no deliberately crafted ornate rhetoric. Various metaphors and stories are often used in the Dharma discourses to make people feel lively and not boring. To my surprise whenever I felt sleepy (caused by karma) or not concentrated when listening to the Dharma, there would be fascinating stories in the Dharma discourse told in the infectious voice of the Buddha, that made me suddenly refreshed. This has happened many times. I really admire how the Buddha knows the mentality of sentient beings so accurately. This is the manifestation of the Buddha’s wisdom.
Through these years of listening to the Dharma discourses, I feel that my mind is becoming more and more peaceful. I no longer worry about many things. I hope that more people will have the opportunity to listen to the Buddha’s teachings and live a healthy and happy life. I believe that in this life, if I consistently practice Buddha Dharma according to the Buddha’s teachings, I will go to the western paradise. After I have achieved liberation, I will find my father in the six reincarnations realm and lead him to the pure land of light and bliss.
Every disciple who has received initiation has the potential to quickly obtain supernormal dharma powers through practice. One has the potential to easily assume an infinite variety of forms and obtain good worldly fortune. However, if you violate the precept of lying to your master, even a minor lie, you will not be able to obtain any supernormal powers or good fortune unless you immediately repent and resolve never to violate this rule again. It can be proper to desire such powers, depending upon your motivation. It is not proper to desire such powers primarily for your own use, to appear impressive or show off, subdue people, reap fame and gain, cheat people out of money, hoodwink people into sexual misconduct, or further your worldly selfish and evil intentions. It is not blameworthy to desire miraculous powers to enlighten yourself and others.
The five great supernormal powers or superknowledges (abhijna) are 1) rddhi-saksatkriya: the ability to be anywhere or do anything at will including flying through the air and performing other miracles; 2) divyasrotra: the ability to hear sounds anywhere including those that normally cannot be heard, such as the sounds of ants walking or sounds emanating from a far away place, even in another realm of existence. This is also known as clairaudiance or “the divine ear;” 3) paracittajnana: the ability to know the thoughts or read the minds of other beings; 4) purvanivasanu-smrtijnana: the ability to recollect previous existences or past-lives of oneself and others; and 5) divyacakus: instantaneous view of anything anywhere including the ability to see things that occur outside one’s presence, such as things happening at a far away place, even in another realm of existence. This is also known as clairvoyance or “the divine eye.” The sixth supernormal power (asavakkhaya) is unique to Buddhism and enhances the powers of the other five. Non-Buddhist can achieve the first five powers, but without the wisdom that comes from complete enlightenment they are not as great as those available to a buddha. For example, a Hindu is still bound by the world of Brahma, a Buddhist is not. A Buddha’s powers are limitless. The sixth power is knowing that your defilements are extinguished and that you have attained liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. You have become enlightened. This is also sometimes referred to as anasrava–the cessation of outflows or asravas. These powers are also known as the six superknowledges (abhijna) or supernatural cognitions.
At the Ultimate Bathing the Buddha Dharma Assembly, there was a tub used to bathe the Buddha. When filled with water, that tub weighed more than 4,200 pounds. About a dozen people together tried to lift that tub a few times but did not succeed in moving the tub in the slightest. However, two people of great virtue and high states of realization were able to lift it by themselves. There was also a person of holy virtue who lifted it alone.
Venerable Akou Lamo Rinpoche of Tibet and Venerable Ciren Jiacuo (Gyatso) together lift the two ton lotus tub. What ordinary person in this world could lift such a tub? Only those who learned the true Buddha-dharma can lift it.
The Dharma Protectors guard the use of these powers very closely. They will block the chakras of those unworthy to obtain these powers. Likewise, they will untie the knots in the chakras of those cultivators who are worthy of such powers, causing the supernormal dharma powers of the buddhas and bodhisattvas to suddenly turn into light and enter the chakras. At that time, the mandala in each practitioner’s body will respond and will accept the powers. When your three karmas of body, speech, and mind unite into one body and correspond with the teachings, supernormal dharma powers will come into being. When your state of realization and state of virtue have reached the level where it is appropriate to obtain supernormal dharma powers, then as soon as you practice according to the dharma, supernormal dharma powers will appear. You cannot attain supernormal powers without proper moral discipline, concentration and wisdom. You must first be able to master the Dharma.
In life there are always some unforeseen things that happen and disrupt our arrangements. We planned to go back to my country to see my mom, after my younger son finished high school. The new coronavirus that suddenly swept the world prevented us from traveling. I had not seen my mom for almost 7 years. However, thanks to new digital technologies, we can use video call to chat and see each other. That bring us much closer, the vast distance between us not feeling that far apart. The best part is that she can talk to her grandchildren. Whenever she talks to my sons, she opens her eyes wide and has the happiest smile on her face. She seems to get energy and joy from the youngsters. My mom always says to them, “ Oh my, you guys grew up so big now, more handsome, when you will come to visit me, I miss you guys……”. All the grandma’s style talk.
That reminds me my grandmother, who used to talk to me exactly like that. My grandmother was my childhood best friend in the family. She lived with us since I was in elementary school until I went to high school. Grandma and I lived in the same one room, slept in the same one bed, and I had so many secret talks with her. She taught me how to sew, how to cook, how to clean the house, and told me the best bedtime stories…. She is a very strong and gentle lady. My grandma lived a very hard life. My grandfather, her husband, died when she was only 28 years old. She never married again, and raised up their two kids by herself.
That hard life hurt her health. She got chronic bronchitis. When the weather got cold especially in winter, she coughed severely. Sometimes at night she couldn’t lay down to sleep. She had to roll up and with her face on the pillow to prevent the choking cough. When I saw this I felt so painful and helpless. How I wished my grandma could live happily, healthily and never die. Grandma told me: when you get old you will understand, everyone will get old and sick and die. When I heard this, my heart generated great fear; someday I will be as old as grandma and as sick as grandma and die? I will follow the same life path as my grandma?
I want to know why we come to this world, just to suffer, get old, and die. Is that true what Buddhism says, that life is a cycle of death and birth? Sometimes I went to the temple to burn incense and bow to the Buddha Statues, just wanting to be blessed and protected. At that time I didn’t know what was Buddhism about, didn’t know what cultivation was or what the goal of cultivation was. To me Buddhism was more like myth, and the Buddha and Bodhisattva are wizards, with magical powers. The only thing I knew was the name of Amitaba Buddha and Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, so I just prayed to them, wishing they will somehow grant me a long and healthy life.
It is very fortunate that I then encountered the correct Buddha Dharma about fifteen years ago. I understand everything is following the law of the cause and effects. We live in the web of reincarnation of life and death woven by our own karma. One can get out of the birth and death cycle through practicing the true Buddha Dharma. The goal of believing in and learning Buddhism is for attaining liberation, accomplishment and becoming a holy one. How lucky I am to be able to listen to the Dharma discourses imparted by the living Buddha H.H. Dojre Chang III. I feel so grateful that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha came to this world again, bringing us the original supreme Buddha Dharma with great compassion.
Now my mom is a grandma, and I can feel the trace of aging of myself. H.H Dorje Chang Buddha III told us the very truth about life in “What is Cultivation”: “My body is impermanent, is changing every nanosecond, and is moving toward decline, old age, and death. I compare why my face has aged over a ten-year period, over a forty-year period, or over a seventy-year period. The degree of agedness of my skin has changed. I will soon enter old age, sickness, and death and continue revolving in the cycle of reincarnation, where I will experience suffering. I also contemplate that joyfully innocent, newborn, fresh, and lively look I had when I was a small child. I contemplate how I no longer have that childlike appearance. My face and skin have aged. My energy has declined. I often fall ill. That quality of youth is gone. The power of impermanence will end my life. My relatives and old friends will all die one after another. Like a dream, it will soon be all over. …….”
How I wished that I could learn about Buddhism earlier; maybe then I could help my dearest grandma to rebirth in the happiest Pure Land.
I hope that I can slow down the steps of impermanence, so I can have time to share the benefits and merits I got from practicing the correct Dharma with my mom. Even though my mom believes in Buddhism, her belief is superstitious and she dose’t truly understand the goal of cultivation. She just wants the Buddha to bless her and her family living healthy and peacefully. I often tell her, you need to vow to re-birth in the Amitaba western paradise; in that world you can have everything that you want to, you will live happiest life and never die; don’t worry about other stuff and don’t be attached to material things you have in this world. I hope I can soon visit her, and listen to the dharma discourse by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III together.
All the Buddha and Bodhisattva in the ten directions, please beseech my mom to encounter the true Dharma, and lead her to the Western Paradise when she is at the end of her life. Please beseech my grandma and me as well so we can all live in the western pure land altogether and forever.
Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo GuanShiYin Bodhisattva!
In this Thanksgiving time, I recall this year in my life, who I should thank, and what I should thank. Every day when I practice my Buddhism homework, I always recite this phrase：”May the merit of my practice, Adorn Buddhas’ Pure Lands, Requite the fourfold kindness from above, And relieve the suffering of the three life-paths below ……”
There are four kinds of grace to be repaid in Buddhism: the first is the grace of the the Buddha, the second is the grace of the country, the third is the grace of parents, and the fourth is the grace of sentient beings.
The first one is Buddha’s Grace:
In fact, Buddha is the ultimate truth of the universe. The Buddha does not need us to repay the grace, but we practice with the goal of “repaying grace”.
The second type is “national grace”: today we can live and work here in peace and contentment. This is the blessing of the country. If the country is unstable, how can we live in peace? We hope that the government will have wise officials to lead, the people will be healthy, and the society will be stable everywhere. Pray for the prosperity of the country that we live in, be a good citizen, follow the laws. This is our way of repaying the country.
The third type is “parents’ grace”: Parents give us life and raise us up, and therefore we need to repay our parents.
The fourth type is “blessings of all beings” Who are all beings? It may be our parents, children, relatives or friends, or strangers. In this world, each of us cannot survive in isolation. There is no moment in our life that can be separated from the help and dedication of others, so we must be grateful to all people.
In addition to humans, there are animals, plants, and microorganisms. Without them, the world would no longer be perfect, and it would be impossible for us humans to exist independently. We should also be grateful for them.
Today when I recited this phrase, I pondered to myself: do I really understand the meaning of this phrase? This year, have I done anything to requite the fourfold kindness, and did I do it by heart or just by mouth?
At that moment a scene flashed in my mind. My husband’s angry face and flaming words: ”why you can’t do anything good and right, always make stupid mistake, such an idiot……” I kept quite in the beginning, but after a few minutes I shouted back at him : “Do it by yourself then, no one wants to work with you…“
A couple of weeks ago, we had an argument. When I recalled this scene, I felt unease. I have listened to H.H Dorje Chang Buddha III‘s prerecorded Dharma discourse for many years. In the discourse, Buddha always emphasizes the most important thing for our Buddhist disciple is self cultivation. We must practice Great Compassion and Forbearance, cut off self attachment, and make sure our three karmas can only benefit others….. Did I truly follow the Buddha’s teaching in my daily life? I felt very ashamed that I did not follow Buddha’s teaching. Thus I did not repay the grace of the Buddha.
I respectfully read the Dharma expounded by H.H Dorje Chang Buddha III “ What is Cultivation”. In the book, Buddha teaches: “it is more important that you must use as objects of introspection fellow disciples with whom you are familiar, people with whom you get along, people who are not good to you, negative karmic conditions, any conditions or people that make you unhappy, or people you find hard to get along with, to whom who do not speak, or who do not speak to you. You must use them as objects of your practice…”
I suddenly understood that my husband is a mirror to reflect the thoughts and attitudes deep in my mind. He constantly helps me to check if I have actually cultivated myself according to the dharma in a real way based on my three karmas of physical action, speech, and thoughts. I should deeply thank him, for without his irritation how could I find that there was so much ignorance, hatred, selfishness, secularity… in my deep heart.
At this Thanksgiving time I am grateful that I have the opportunity of living in the United States, the best country in the world to learn the great Buddha Dharma from H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. I am grateful that my parents gave me life at this Buddha living era. Also I am grateful that I have a close coach – my husband who helps me to “Let go of all feeling of mistreatment and dissatisfaction. Do not be attached to some small matters. Do not let the mind turn after external states….”
Thanks for all I have in my life, including my two wonderful sons; I can only repay all of these by cultivating myself earnestly.
With a sincere and humble heart,
Peace Lily
Please note: This is only my personal experience and understanding of Buddha Dharma, it may not be completely correct.
The Holy Realization of the Holiest Tathagata – How Nectar Bestowed by Buddha Was Obtained
Only through cultivation can we achieve liberation from the sufferings of impermanence; from the sufferings of the cycle of reincarnation, which entails repeated birth, aging, illness and death; and from the sufferings of the three lower realms. To obtain liberation from all of these sufferings, I incisively saw the emptiness of the four great elements of this world and became a nun. The goal of my becoming a nun is to live in full accordance with the Buddha’s teachings, strictly keep the precepts, and cultivate myself after the Buddha. I dare not slack off or break the precepts in the slightest, for I am deeply aware that if I broke the precepts, I would have become a nun for nothing and wasted my time! Realizing impermanence and the relentless pace of change, I was able to establish firmly my determination to end the cycle of birth and death. At the temple, I constantly cultivated myself according to the dharma.
However, the beneficial effects of my practice were very few. Only after extraordinary conditions of merit accumulated from many previous lives reached fruition was I able to go to China; formally acknowledge H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata as my Master; and learn esoteric Buddhist teachings by following His Holiness. Little did I know that the Buddha Master would demand that I first comprehend thoroughly exoteric Buddhism and pass a test on the exoteric teachings before His Holiness would transmit the preliminary practices, main practices, and completion practices of esoteric Buddhism. With utmost devoutness and respect, I cultivated myself under the teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Living with a group of nuns all year round, I diligently carried on my practice.
Five years passed. I gained some direct understanding of my original nature and made clear progress in deepening my insight. However, I seldom manifested true dharma powers. When I saw that many high-level fellow disciples who were around me were able to manifest true dharma powers, I was both upset and nervous and felt tremendous pressure. I asked myself, “Can I liberate myself from the cycle of reincarnation just through empty theories? Why is it that my fellow-disciples of the Buddha Master can manifest the Buddha-dharma and I cannot?”
Many times I beseeched Buddha Master H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu to practice the nectar dharma. Each time my Buddha Master compassionately responded with the following teaching: “I have learned how to practice the nectar dharma, but I truly am not sure that I can cause nectar to descend. I have practiced that dharma a few times with no success. This certainly is not a dharma that can be successfully practiced without exception. That is because whoever requests Buddha to bestow nectar must first be granted a dharma certificate with a nectar-merit. That is created when more than ten thousand great rinpoches from Tibet together practice the Fire Offering Dharma and transfer the merit of that practice onto a piece of paper on which seed syllables are written. Although more than ten thousand rinpoches and lamas practice the Fire Offering Dharma, the most important thing is that certain true Bodhisattvas must be among them. If among them there is not a Bodhisattva who represents charity, a Bodhisattva who represents wisdom, a Bodhisattva who represents great compassion, a Bodhisattva who represents patience under adverse circumstances, and a Bodhisattva who represents supernatural powers, then the nectar dharma certificate will be of no effect. All five holy aspects must be represented. Otherwise, I cannot successfully practice the nectar dharma.”
There was one time when a Tibetan dharma king arrived and brought with him a nectar dharma certificate. I took that opportunity to beseech my Buddha Master to practice the nectar dharma. As before, my Buddha Master said, “All I can do is try. Do not be disappointed if I do not succeed. I truly cannot be sure of success. You should go and give the practice of that dharma a try. If you succeed, then you succeed. If you do not succeed, then you do not succeed.”
I was very familiar with the rituals of this practice. I began the practice in accordance with the dharma and prayed to Buddha to bestow nectar. However, I was left with an empty bowl at the end of the ceremony. Buddha did not bestow nectar in response to my prayer. This time I was not disappointed because I knew this was a tremendous dharma. My Buddha Master sincerely explained to me that even He does not have absolute confidence that His practice of that dharma will succeed. It was only natural that I could not successfully practice such dharma. My Buddha Master gave me a special discourse on that subject.
Another year passed and I practiced this dharma once again, only to receive the same result—nothing. This time I felt very sad and ashamed. In the past, elder monk Wu Ming, the chairman of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, washed the dharma bowl under the watch of the Buddha Master. The Buddha Master then successfully invoked the bestowal of nectar for that group of eminent monks. But why was I not up to the task? I begged my Buddha Master for a discourse to explain why it was that I could not bring real benefit to living beings.
The Buddha Master benevolently expounded: “Successful practice of the dharma to invoke Buddha to bestow nectar requires the aggregation of many causes and conditions. The dharma-conditions are not complete if even one of the conditions is missing. That time when I successfully invoked the bestowal of nectar was a fortunate happenstance among my other unfortunate attempts that did not succeed. Moreover, with respect to the necessary conditions, elder monk Wu Ming and elder monk Yi Zhao have great merit and high realization. They have the karmic affinity to receive the benefits of a true Five Holy Aspects Dharma Certificate.” The Buddha Master also added, “When practicing the nectar dharma, one must at least have a true Five Holy Aspects Dharma Certificate. Even with the foundation and external karmic condition of having such a dharma certificate, the person’s practice must still be in accord with the dharma.”
I reported to the Buddha Master that there were no mistakes in all of the rituals that I practiced. However, the Buddha Master said, “You did not understand what I meant by practicing in accord with the dharma. I was referring not to the rituals of the nectar dharma but to “What Is Cultivation?” You must gain a deep understanding of the cultivation that I taught you all. Your practices must be in accord with those of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.” At that moment, I felt very ashamed of myself and repented from my heart. (The precious dharma of cultivation transmitted by the Buddha Master is contained in this book, A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma.)
From that time on, I told myself every moment to take firm hold of my three karmic forces—behavior, speech, and mind. As a result, I deeply understood how truly difficult it is to cultivate oneself and that cultivation is a most subtle matter! If one cultivates oneself with a mixture of hidden doubts and misunderstanding, if one does not thoroughly cultivate oneself, or if one’s bodhicitta is inadequate, then it is not real cultivation. In this way, I practiced earnestly. One day I came to a sudden realization. I decided to drop the word “I” and correct all my errors as soon as they occurred.
After practicing for another three months, the karmic conditions came together. A Fire Offering Dharma Certificate from more than ten thousand eminent monastics, dharma kings, and rinpoches was obtained. The Buddha Master began to select the one person who would wash the dharma bowl that would receive the nectar. More than twenty experienced practitioners from Taiwan and the United States were there to choose from, including rinpoches and great dharma teachers. Geshe Xing, Xima Rinpoche, and I were from the United States. In the end, unexpectedly, a humble nun such as myself was chosen to carry out the practice of the dharma.
After cleansing and consecrating the mandala, we first respectfully invited the Buddha Master to ascend to the throne. At that time, I suddenly experienced a great sensation and powerful blessing. I knew that the Buddha Master would invoke Buddha to bestow nectar that day. Still, I was somewhat worried since the Buddha Master told me before He began practicing the dharma that He truly could not be sure that He would successfully invoke Buddha to bestow nectar. His Holiness said that if He could not successfully invoke nectar it would be because the karmic conditions were inadequate. His Holiness hoped that I would understand. Still, the Buddha Master stated that no matter what happened, I must earnestly learn Buddhism and benefit living beings. After I heard those words from the Buddha Master, I felt quite humbled.
At that dharma assembly, I washed the bowl in accordance with the dharma rituals. The sound of everyone chanting mantras filled the entire mandala, resulting in an extremely auspicious atmosphere. After the dharma certificate that embodied the fire-offering merit of more than ten thousand monastics was burned, an exceedingly wondrous air filled the sky and the mandala. Dharma teachers saw Buddha and Kuan Yin Bodhisattva moving in the sky. This time, Buddha bestowed nectar, and it quaked and moved in the purple-gold bronze dharma bowl. All of the monastics and laypersons saw this scene and became very excited. They vowed to work hard at their cultivation and benefit multitudinous living beings. News reporters from both the Chinese and English media reported on that magnificent and holy Buddha-dharma event.
Looking back on this today, I think that the vows of those people who were at that dharma assembly were moving, but did they really understand what cultivation is? Actually, many people do not understand what cultivation is. The answer is that they did not understand what cultivation is! Just like myself in the beginning, although I became an abbess, my cultivation was flawed. I, too, was unable to fully cultivate myself. We should all earnestly study this book about the Buddha Master, A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma. We should also earnestly correspond our three karmas with the teachings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and carry out in our daily lives the dharma of cultivation that the Buddha Master has transmitted to us. Only then can we attain accomplishment!
I will now make the following vow of truth about the nectar bestowed by Buddha. At the time, I washed the purple-gold bronze dharma bowl in front of all of the monastics and laypersons. I did not pull any tricks or put anything in the dharma bowl. Everyone saw the nectar descend into it. When Buddha bestowed thread after thread of nectar through the lid of the dharma bowl into the dharma bowl, some people saw golden light, while others saw red light. Seeing different things was the result of each person’s particular karmic conditions. If I am lying, pulled any trick, or put anything in the dharma bowl to delude living beings, may I experience evil karmic retribution, descend to one of the three lower realms, and undergo endless suffering for such wrongdoing.
To people of the world, it may seem vulgar for a nun to be making vows, but may this vulgar statement turn into my true and pure heart. The successful bestowal of nectar by Buddha has compelled me to ponder deeply and thoroughly and to realize the importance of cultivation! Had I not engaged in such cultivation, I would have contaminated the dharma bowl with my evil karma when I washed it. Had superlative karmic conditions not existed, how could nectar have descended to bless everyone? The great dharma “What Is Cultivation?” that my Buddha Master transmits in this book, A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma, is the real priceless treasure! This is the blessing for living beings for millions of eons to come!
Buddhist nun with a heart of humility,
Long Hui Shih
Many people saw Aksobhya Buddha and the Long Life Buddha appear on the clouds in the sky and bestow this Buddha-land nectar. This is how the Buddha-land nectar originally looked when it descended, as nobody touched it. When this Buddha-land nectar was descending, the seven types of Buddhist disciples surrounded the bowl and respectfully chanted mantras. They personally saw the Buddha-land nectar emit flashes of light as it descended into the totally empty purple gold-copper bowl. The Buddha-land nectar descended into the bowl from a height of tens of thousands of feet, yet not one bit of it fell outside of the bowl. Moreover, the Buddha-land nectar clearly quaked in the bowl. Those Buddhist disciples who were there ate the Buddha-land nectar. Nothing on earth can compare with its delicious taste. Various strange illnesses were cured on the spot ,including middle and late-stage cancer, which immediately vanished.
After graduate school, I moved to Wilmington, Delaware. I lived in a very nice neighborhood, with many towering trees, a beautiful pond and grassy land. Wild animals often jumped in your view: squirrels, raccoons, birds, sometimes even deer. I loved to walk around, especially after rain, with the fresh air and tranquil blue sky making me feel so calm and peaceful. However, I found there were some little inconvenient spots where earth worms would drown in the small rainwater puddle. I knew earth worms couldn’t breath in water, that they would die in the puddle. I always tried to find a twig to pick up the worms gently and then put them in the grass. I didn’t have any other thought when I did this, I just didn’t want to see them die. I did not realize this little good deed would save me later.
One day I went to visit one of my friends, and he showed me a picture he got from a temple. It was a painting of The Three Holy Beings in West Paradise, and I was deeply attracted by image of Amitabha Buddha and Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva. I felt a great compassion flow from the paper into me. I bowed to the holy beings involuntarily. My friend gave me the picture and a small booklet about buddhism. I framed the picture very elegantly and set up a small sacred altar in my home. Maybe because of my Karmic condition, I started to chant the name of Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva in front of the holy image whenever I had the time. I also read the small booklet. It told me a brief history of Buddhism, and the law of Karma — cause and effect exists everywhere and every time. What kind of actions you did, will bring you what kind of effects. Seems to me like what goes around will comes around. At that time, I didn’t disagree with it but also didn’t truly believe in it.
One year later, I had my first baby. After the delivery I was very weak, because of the excessive blooding. Taking care of a newborn was a lot of work, and sometimes I didn’t even have strength to cook a meal for myself. My husband was traveling a lot, and when he was not at home, I felt very scary at night for no reason. One night I was so exhausted. When I fell asleep I saw a very fierce man whose whole body was black except for two big white eyes, and he held an iron ring and tried to attack me. I was so frightened, I wanted to run, but I couldn’t move. At that very moment I saw Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva like the purest white angel stand on my head, and then that evil black demon disappeared immediately. While I was still half awake and half dreaming, I felt the floor lamp in my room lighten up, and on the ground I saw many earth worms. Suddenly I heard a voice telling me that because I saved those earth worms before, so I have been saved this time.
I completely woke up, and came to the altar. I deeply homaged to the greatly loving and compassionate Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva! I was so grateful for being saved by the holy Bodhisattva! I prayed to the Bodhisattva sincerely, to please protect me and my baby.
My prayer did get answered, for very soon my mother got a visa after being rejected twice. She could now come to the US to help me go through the most difficult time in my life.
Now I truly believe in the Buddhism teaching. I practice cultivation diligently every day. And I hope I can attain liberation in my life and have the opportunity to help people be free from suffering, frightening, and sorrow.
I deeply wish all living beings have a happy and prosperous life with good health and an abundance of good fortune!
I often heard this proverb when I was a child: ”Sweeping the floor may injure the lives of ants, and cherish the moth gauze lamp”. The proverb describes how the Buddhist monk and nun cherish the lives of tiny animals. In my little heart I very admired the kindness of the Buddhist monk and nun. However, my parents didn’t have any religion beliefs, and I was often ordered to kill the small insects or mice in the house. One time my Dad killed a rooster. I saw the rooster struggling desperately when it’s was head cut off, and still running around headless with blood. I filled with sorrow. I asked my Dad why humans can kill other animals and eat them. My dad told me that humans are the spirit of all beings. I didn’t understand what that meant, and my Dad’s answer did comfort my little naive heart.
When I went to graduate school in the US, I had the chance to read some books about buddhism. I felt it was very interesting and rather convincing. Then I started to read more Buddhist sutra. I learned that there are five precepts, the most fundamental rules that Buddhists should follow. The first one is: not killing. I had a personal experience that deepened my understanding of this precept.
About year 2000, we lived in a single-family house in North Carolina. In the big back yard I planted some vegetables, so I could have some organic food. However, growing vegetables was not as easy as I thought. After several months when the plant started blooming and bearing fruit, the trouble started. There appeared many big, fat, greenish caterpillars crawling in the garden, which ate the leaves and fruits. My husband got really angry with those little insects, and would smash them on the ground. I talked about those insects with my friends to try and find some non-harmful way to get rid of them. My friends suggested me to get a bottle of spray in the organic farm supply store; it is non-toxic and all-natural to humans and plants. It works as a glue to block the insects skin, so that they can’t breath and suffocated to death. When I heard that, I felt my whole body’s skin tighten up suffocatingly. No, I can’t use this spray, I can’t let those little creature to die like this to save my plants. I would not kill them no matter what. The very next day, an unexpected miracle happened. The very next morning my husband told me, it was very strange that all the caterpillars were gone, and there were no dead insects in the garden either. I could’t explain the reason, but I believed it was not a coincidence. I thought that maybe those caterpillar felt my kindness and then left.
Two years later I got a job in California, and we moved to the west coast. That was a truly blessing. I could go to a place to listen the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Dharma discourse. That changed my life completely. It gave me a different point of view of the universe and life.
From the Dharma transmitted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III I gained more insights about the Buddhist precepts of “Not Killing”. I deeply understand that all living beings in the six realms of reincarnation within the three spheres of the universe have been since beginning-less time; my fathers and mothers in the revolving cycle of reincarnation. I should deeply bear in mind that all of my parents (i.e. all living beings) that now exist in the cycle of reincarnation have since beginning-less time given birth to me, reared me, loved me, and became tired and ill for me. Their kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. I should bear in mind their kindness. I will then regard the sufferings of my parents (i.e. all living beings) as my own suffering.
I truly wish all living beings can live harmoniously and peacefully together, and wish all living beings whom are my family to have a happy and prosperous life with good health and an abundance of good fortune. I shall constantly beseech all of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to empower all of my parents (i.e. all living beings) so that they may extricate themselves from all forms of suffering, encounter and practice the Buddha-dharma, and liberate themselves from the sufferings of cyclic existence.
Peace LiLy 