PASADENA, CA — Four major Buddhist organizations—the World Buddhism Association Headquarters (W.B.A.H.), Holy Miracles Temple, Hongfa Temple, and Sanger Mission—recently held a joint Dharma Assembly at the Grand Hall of Holy Miracles Temple in Pasadena to celebrate the Holy Birthday of Namo Amitabha Buddha, the Lord of the Western World of Ultimate Bliss.
The assembly was presided over by Venerable Dharma Teacher Zhengda, Vice Chair of the W.B.A.H. and a Holy Virtuous One of Gold Button Grade II. Hundreds of devotees from across California and overseas attended the ceremony.
The assembly officially commenced at 10:00 AM. Inside the Grand Hall, the sounds of bells, drums, and rhythmic chanting filled the air, creating a solemn and serene atmosphere. Led by Venerable Dharma Teacher Zhengda and Venerable Ruohui, Abbot of Hua Zang Si and Hongfa Temple (a Holy Virtuous One of Gold Button Grade I), the monastics and Rinpoches guided the congregation in prostrations and the sincere recitation of the Amitabha Sutra.
Following the recitation, a Grand Offering was performed. Incense, flowers, lamps, fresh fruit, and various offerings were presented before the Buddha. With pure and respectful hearts, the faithful prayed for all sentient beings to be free from suffering and attain happiness. The organizers stated that beyond celebrating the Holy Birthday, the merits of the sutra chanting and offerings were dedicated to world peace, the cessation of war, social harmony, and the longevity, health, and spiritual growth of all beings.
The Compassionate Vows of Amitabha Buddha
According to Buddhist scriptures, Namo Amitabha Buddha is the “Amitabha Buddha of the West” among the Five Dhyani Buddhas and is a disciple of the primordial Buddha, Namo Dorje Chang Buddha. During his past cultivation, Amitabha Buddha made 48 Great Vows to deliver sentient beings from the sea of suffering to the Pure Land. Upon the perfection of his vows and attainment of Buddhahood, he established the pure and majestic Western World of Ultimate Bliss. He is currently the Lord of that realm and the Head of the Lotus Section of the Vajrayana teachings.
During an interview, Venerable Dharma Teacher Zhengda remarked:
“Today, we gathered to recite the Amitabha Sutra and pray for blessings. The devotees showed great sincerity in their chanting and repentance, expressing deep gratitude for Amitabha Buddha’s salvation. We should emulate the vast compassion of Amitabha Buddha and all Buddhas of the ten directions. We pray that Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, Namo Amitabha Buddha, and all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas bless the world with peace and prosperity, protecting all beings from disaster.”
Bhikkhuni Zhengqin of Hongfa Temple shared her reflections on cultivation, noting that after facing many hardships in life, studying the true Buddha Dharma provided her with inner peace. She highlighted the book Learning from Buddha as a “treasured guide” that offers clear direction for practitioners.
Another attendee, Ms. Wu Guangling, shared that over ten years of practice have taught her to face life’s challenges with equanimity. She quoted an ancient virtuous saying to describe her mindset: “Face negative karmic effects with composure, while planting good causes as if treading on thin ice.”
Jon, a first-time attendee, was moved by the experience:
“Seeing everyone chanting so sincerely was impressive. I’ve never chanted with so many people before, and I hope to have the chance to attend such an assembly again.”
As the assembly concluded, the monastics sprinkled holy water over the crowd, blessing them with longevity and wisdom. The organizers noted that the event not only allowed the faithful to draw closer to the Dharma but also united the community in a spirit of goodness. The W.B.A.H. expressed gratitude to all participants and encouraged everyone to integrate the Buddha’s teachings into their daily lives to contribute to social harmony and world peace.
The moment I heard that I would be going with Venerable Dharma Teacher Long Hui to Los Angeles, unspeakable joy arose in my heart. On the way to Los Angeles, a rainbow suddenly emerged from the drizzling sky, emitting beautiful lights of various colors. A white celestial crane seen in the distance flew near and landed at the side of the freeway gazing at us, as if paying us respect. All of these signs expressed auspicious blessings. I strongly sensed that what I had wished for so long was about to come true.
A notice arrived in the afternoon of December 28th. From Venerable Dharma Teacher Long Hui’s somewhat tense facial expression, I could tell this must be the time for me to pay my respects and visit the Buddha Master. Just as expected, when we stepped into the mandala, I saw H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata sitting upright on the dharma platform. His Holiness appeared so dignified and had an expression of loving-kindness. As I sincerely prostrated myself to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, all I heard was the cordial voice of His Holiness telling everyone to come sit toward the front. I sat beside Venerable Dharma Teacher Long Hui. Dharma Teacher Jue Hui and Dharma Teacher Ruo Hui also sat with us.
Venerable Dharma Teacher Long Hui reported to the Buddha Master regarding the Buddhist chanting work that had taken place at Hua Zang Si over the past two months. Next, the Buddha Master called my name: “Fa Hai, proceed with what you want to say.” Without knowing why, my mind went totally blank. I felt that my entire body was soaking in a kind of freshness. I remained kneeling with a very straight back, as if I had entered a state of meditation. At this time, I only heard the Buddha Master say, “It is all right. Just speak directly!” Yet, I still could not speak and was silent for another eight or nine minutes. I could sense that the Buddha Master was patiently waiting. Finally, a sound floated out of my mouth: “My karmic affinity with the Buddha Master should have begun ten years ago. Because I could not come to America, I was not able to visit His Holiness. I finally got a visa last year. Only this year did I have the opportunity to visit Hua Zang Si, where I respectfully listened to recorded dharma teachings of the Buddha Master. For more than one straight month, I have listened to the recorded dharma discourses without the slightest sense of tiredness.
This has been the most beneficial and rewarding time of my entire life. The beneficial effects I have experienced can never be expressed in words. I bring my body, speech, and mind to respectfully visit the Buddha Master at this time. Today, I would like to specially request a great dharma from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. I would not hesitate to leap into boiling water or walk on fire in order to obtain this great dharma. I am willing to undergo any test in order to obtain such dharma. I am even willing to sacrifice my own life. It might sound like I am exaggerating, but I truly can do such things.”
Perhaps because I was too nervous or focused, I unexpectedly was not able to express exactly what I meant to say. However, I silently told myself that the Buddha Master definitely understands what I am trying to express and what dharma I am requesting. I still remember that I fasted for a full 21 days in the Philippines in order to obtain this great dharma. This is because I am very aware that in this world only H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III can accomplish this task and announce to the world this great dharma in order to demonstrate the brightness of Buddha and enable the correct dharma to exist in this world forever.
At first, the Buddha Master did not answer my request directly but gave us a profound and important discourse. Only afterward did I realize that this discourse was actually the beginning of His Holiness’s response to my question. His Holiness specifically pointed out the various kinds of confusion and mistakes that have appeared within Buddhism in this current Dharma Ending Age. Some Buddhist sutras contain serious mistakes. What is even more serious is that there are some so-called eminent monks and great virtuous beings who, due to their erroneous understanding and views, seriously misguide others when giving discourses on the dharma. What is even sadder is that believers who do not understand the truth still fanatically follow them and prostrate to them in worship. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III does all He can to correct these heretical ideas and views. However, being limited by the karma of living beings, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III feels that it is very difficult to change the current situation despite His wish to do so. The Buddha Master gave some examples of these heretical ways within both esoteric Buddhism and exoteric Buddhism. These very worrisome examples left me not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
After finishing the discourse, the Buddha Master said to me directly, “Fa Hai, you did not say what great dharma you want to request. Let me say it for you. The dharma you want to request is to film a movie of the Buddha. There really is no one else besides me who can do this because I completely understand the teachings of the Buddha. I can write the script. This movie must be filmed. The only thing is that the karmic conditions this year are not quite mature enough because the script needs to be written and actors need to be found, especially actors who are qualified. As for funding, as long as there is a script, there will be people who will sponsor and invest. Besides, the movie of the Buddha will not be filmed as one undivided whole but will be divided into a series of 100 parts or episodes. Perhaps this is really the right channel. After all, the influence of a book is limited as it reaches fewer people than a movie, which has much more of an international impact. In addition, when we do this, many problems might be solved. We might even be able to build several temples this way!” At this moment, I understood that the discourse just given by H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata on the current chaotic situation within Buddhism illustrated that it is impossible for anyone else to write in a script the authentic doctrines of the Buddha.
Listening to this point, I was really shocked in my heart. I used to pay respect and visit many eminent monks and great virtuous beings. I requested from them great dharma. None of them knew what this great dharma in my mind was that I wanted to request. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is truly magnificent. I did not reveal in the slightest what great dharma I wanted to request. Nonetheless, what His Holiness stated was the exact great dharma in my mind that I wanted to request.
His Holiness then said, “Fa Hai, when you come back from mainland China, I will transmit to you dharma according to the formal rituals of Tibetan esoteric Buddhism. You still have some negative karma. At that time, I will perform an initiation for you and eliminate your karmic hindrances. You will see.” I was totally engulfed in the joy of the dharma. The Buddha Master further said, “On your way here, the rainbow and the celestial crane you saw augured that your future undertakings will be bright. However, behind the brightness lurks darkness, and there are twists and turns on the path. We will soon face some attacks and slander, although those who commit the slander will all end up losing. When A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma is published, no force can obstruct or destroy us because what is in that book are facts.” The Buddha Master finished by saying, “The movie of the Buddha definitely has to be filmed. You see, Fa Hai, your wishes have all been fulfilled. How fortunate you are!”
Actually, there are no words that can express my happiness. There are also no words that can express my gratitude toward H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
I only want to respectfully offer to the Dorje Chang Buddha III my most beautiful spirit, my most beautiful melody, my most beautiful singing voice, and my best wishes. May all those who hear this beautiful melody and singing voice be happy.
I would like to express my special thanks to an anonymous person who ten years ago sent me an express mail package in which a yellow silk scarf was wrapped around the book The Fruits of Pious Devotion and CD’s that had a picture of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III on their covers. It is because of this present that seeds planted ten years ago have borne fruit in the form of my taking refuge in the His Holiness as my Buddha Master and in the form of my witnessing the magnificence of the Buddha-dharma.
Everything I described above is true. I am a Buddhist nun. I accept the karmic responsibility for my words. If what I have stated is false, I will descend into the Vajra Hell. If what I have stated is true, I would like to dedicate the resulting merit to all living beings in the dharma realm so that they will soon realize enlightenment.
Respectfully written by disciple Fa Hai Shi December 30, 2006
The above account was written by Fa Hai Shi. We three humble Buddhist nuns provide the following testimonials.
Encountering an Unusual Occurrence
Basically, whenever people pay their respects and visit H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata, they make good use of their short meeting time by posing prepared questions or by requesting the transmission of dharma. Some groups have really made the best use of their time by requesting answers to problems that have arisen.
From left to right: Ruo Hui Shih, Long Hui Shih, and Jue Hui Shih
However, there was one particular occasion in the afternoon of December 28, 2006 when a dharma teacher from the Philippines, Fa Hai, came to the mandala from thousands of miles away. This was the first time she was granted an audience with H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. When H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III asked her what question she had, I saw that Buddhist nun take a deep breath. She then unexpectedly remained silent as she stared at the Buddha Master with open eyes, sometimes lowering her head. Perhaps all of this was due to nervousness or other factors. At this time, the Buddha Master also did not speak. Seconds and then minutes passed by in silence. Then, that dharma teacher sighed once more and straightened her back, still looking at the Great Dharma King without uttering a sound. Strangely, Dorje Chang Buddha III also remained silent. A moment later, she sighed for the third time but still did not reply to the Buddha Master. The duration of this silence lasted more than eight minutes. This kind of situation had never happened before.
Finally, the dharma teacher spoke. She said she had come with a wish to request a great dharma. If her wish to obtain this great dharma were fulfilled, she said she would dedicate her life to the Buddha-dharma and living beings, even if it meant sacrificing her life. After uttering such words, she again fell into silence without mentioning what dharma she wished to request.
At this time, Dorje Chang Buddha III said, “Do not say anymore. I will give you a discourse.” The Buddha Master pointed out what request was in the mind of this Buddhist nun. That discourse not only enabled us disciples who were there to once again witness the supernatural powers of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, it also enabled us to understand precious dharma principles.
Because I took Dharma Teacher Fa Hai to pay her respects to H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata, I was there and personally witnessed everything that happened. Everything I described above is true. If what I have stated above contains false words, may I never become accomplished in the dharma. If what I have stated above is true, I dedicate the resulting merit to all living beings so that they may soon hear the correct dharma and soon attain liberation and accomplishment.
Buddhist disciple Long Hui Shih
I was present at the time. I hereby confirm that what is stated above is true. If what is stated above is false, I am willing to descend into hell and experience negative karmic retribution. If everything stated above is true, I dedicate the resulting merit to all living beings so that they may soon hear the correct dharma and soon realize enlightenment.
Buddhist disciple, Jue Hui Shih
Everything stated above is true. If what is stated above contains false words, I will not become accomplished in the dharma and will become impoverished and miserable. If what is stated above is true, I wish to dedicate the resulting merit to all living beings so that they may always see Buddha and attain liberation.
Buddhist disciple, Ruo Hui Shih
(This is a complete translation of the Chinese text that follows originally written and signed by Fa Hai Shih, Long Hui Shih, Jue Hui Shih, and Ruo Hui Shih.)
In 1947, shortly after Japan’s surrender and withdrawal from China, the great Zen Master Xuyun (Empty Cloud) gave a profound speech at a middle school. The nation was still recovering from the devastation of war, and hearts were heavy with both relief and sorrow. With deep compassion, Master Xuyun used the timeless wisdom of the Buddha to explain the law of cause and effect (karma) — reminding people that wars do not arise by chance, but are the result of humanity’s collective actions.
He taught that true peace cannot be achieved through force or politics alone. Only by transforming our hearts and purifying our minds through virtue, compassion, and the practice of Buddhist teachings can we bring real and lasting peace to the world.
War does not arise by chance — it is the collective karma of all beings that brings it forth.
Dear friends, during the years of occupation, we endured immense suffering under the enemy’s oppression — our lives were steeped in water and fire, hardship and pain. Now that our nation has regained its light, we should feel endless gratitude and reflection. We must understand that the outbreak of war is not accidental; it is the result of the shared karma created by all individuals.
The ancient masters said, “If you wish to know the causes of your past lives, look at what you are experiencing in this life. If you wish to know the results of your future lives, look at what you are doing now.” They also said, “Even after hundreds or thousands of eons, the karma one has created will not disappear. When the conditions ripen, the results will be experienced by oneself.”
When people lose their moral compass and commit all kinds of evil, they plant the seeds for calamities such as war, floods, fires, and famine. If we wish to change the will of Heaven and eliminate disasters, we must begin by transforming human hearts — by restoring virtue and morality. When everyone practices the Five Precepts and the Ten Good Deeds, cultivates upright minds and pure conduct, and lives with benevolence, trust, and righteousness, then the hearts of men and the will of Heaven will naturally align.
But if people persist in wrongdoing and refuse to repent, how can hostility and suffering ever be dissolved? The Buddha said, “The sea of suffering has no end, but when one turns around, there is the shore.” This means awakening from delusion and returning to goodness — the essential path to liberation.
We must truly believe in the law of cause and effect. It is not fiction but reality. If everyone understood that good deeds bring good results, and evil deeds bring suffering — that when one plants melons, one harvests melons; when one plants beans, one harvests beans — then no one would dare to act against conscience or break the law. Out of great compassion for all beings, Shakyamuni Buddha renounced his royal life and underwent arduous practice to save the world from ignorance and suffering.
If we understand the principle of cause and effect and wish to avoid future suffering, we must now create good causes. The hardships we experience today are the results of past evil actions. Therefore, we should now sow good seeds, and in time, we will naturally reap good fruits.
The scriptures speak of “Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi,” meaning “unsurpassed perfect enlightenment.” In its essence, it transcends the distinction of self and others — there is no “you” and “me.” But this state must be cultivated from one’s own heart. If our minds remain filled with greed, anger, and ignorance, unable to abandon all evil and practice all good, the barriers of self and ego become like iron mountains, preventing us from reaching the Pure Land or true harmony. This is the most crucial point — one we must all remember well.
The Sanskrit word “Buddha” means “the Awakened One.” Enlightenment has three aspects: awakening oneself, awakening others, and perfecting both understanding and conduct.
To awaken oneself is to realize that all experiences of good and evil, joy and suffering, arise from cause and effect. Once a person truly understands this, delusion fades, the four attachments dissolve, and one becomes enlightened.
To awaken others means recognizing that all living beings — whether born from the womb, from eggs, from moisture, or by transformation — all possess Buddha nature. They are called “sentient beings” only because they are deluded and unaware. We should therefore cherish and respect ourselves, and in keeping with the Buddha’s great vow of compassion and universal salvation, share these truths with others, guiding them out of the sea of suffering.
As stated in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra: “Regard all men as your fathers and all women as your mothers.” If we cultivate such deep reverence and love, especially for widows, orphans, and those who are lonely or destitute, and show them kindness and compassion through giving and aid, we can realize true equality and the ideal of great harmony.
To perfect both understanding and conduct means to live according to the Buddha’s teachings and precepts until one’s virtue and merit are complete. After the Buddha’s passing, he left behind the Three Baskets of Scriptures — Sutra, Vinaya, and Abhidharma — as our priceless raft to cross the sea of suffering. All the rules and precepts should be faithfully practiced. When one fulfills them completely, that is the perfection of wisdom and conduct.
Thus, the Buddha is the awakened one, while sentient beings are the deluded. The distinction between delusion and enlightenment marks the boundary between beings and Buddhas. To turn away from delusion and return to truth — that is awakening, and that is Buddhahood.
To further illustrate the law of karma, there is a story from one of Shakyamuni Buddha’s past lives.
Long ago, in the city of Rajagaha, there was a fishing village with a large pond. One year, a great drought struck, and the pond began to dry up. The villagers caught and ate almost all the fish, until only one giant fish remained, which was finally killed and eaten. Only one eight-year-old boy refused to eat the fish; he simply watched and laughed.
In his later life as the Buddha, King Prasenajit of Kosala, a devoted follower of the Buddha, married a princess of the Shakya clan, and they had a son named King Virudhaka. After ascending the throne, Virudhaka led his army to attack the Shakya capital of Kapilavastu and slaughtered all its inhabitants.
During that time, the Buddha suffered a severe headache for three days. His disciples begged him to use his powers to save the Shakya people, but he refused. Even when Maudgalyayana repeatedly pleaded, the Buddha said no. Maudgalyayana tried to rescue some survivors with his alms bowl, but when he put it down, all he found was a pool of blood.
When the disciples asked why, the Buddha revealed the cause: in a past life, during a great drought in Rajagaha, the villagers had killed and eaten the fish in that pond. The giant fish was reborn as King Virudhaka, and the villagers were reborn as the Shakyas who were killed. The young boy who merely watched and laughed was reborn as Shakyamuni Buddha himself. Because this karma had matured, the outcome was unchangeable.
The Buddha fully understood this karmic connection and taught it to his disciples as a warning. Chan Master Yuan Yun wrote in verse:
“For hundreds of years, the soup in your bowl Is filled with deep hatred, hard to dissolve. If you wish to know why wars arise, Listen to the cries from the butcher’s gate at midnight.”
Reflect on this story and recite the verse, and you will awaken to the true causes of war and violence — and learn to guard your conduct with mindfulness.
If we wish to transform the world and move toward true harmony, everything must begin with our hearts. Students should study diligently, yet never forget the greater mission of saving the world. And the first step to saving the world is saving the heart — correcting one’s own wrong thoughts and firmly believing in the law of cause and effect, avoiding all evil paths.
By cultivating sincerity, righteousness, self-discipline, and harmony within the family, one can extend peace to the nation and the world. If all the people of every country sincerely believe in karma and practice the Eight Virtues and Ten Precepts, then oppression, violence, and wars will cease to arise. True peace, equality, and the Pure Land of Great Harmony will appear, free from the Five Defilements and all suffering.
For the original Chinese speech, please click here. This English translation is by Linda Chang and is provided for reference only.
Nowadays, some heretical individuals on the internet are spreading slander. They are fabricating lies such as claiming to be a living Buddha in order to exploit followers. Many people may begin to wonder: Is H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III truly a Buddha?
The Purpose of a Buddha’s Appearance in the World
In reality, when a Buddha comes into this world, it is to let sentient beings hear the true dharma. The purpose is to liberate from samsara and attain great accomplishment — not to prove that they are a Buddha! If you believe in Him, He is a Buddha; if you do not believe in Him, He is still a Buddha. This is just like the ignorant people who sought evidence that Namo ShakyamuniBuddha was a Buddha — they spent their whole lives doubting. Meanwhile, Namo Shakyamuni Buddha’s disciples focused on listening to the teachings. They were practicing according to them. Each attained great supernatural powers and liberation. Those burdened with doubts, even until death, were still questioning, “Was He truly a Buddha?”
Since coming into this world, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has manifested unparalleled Buddha wisdom. Even though H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III knew that He was indeed Dorje Chang Buddha III, He always described Himself as a humble and ashamed person. He never once declared that He was a Buddha. This is evident from the many dharma discourses and audio teachings He has given and spread worldwide over the years. Only after He was formally recognized by the “Three Masters and Ten Witnesses” with written certifications and congratulatory endorsements did H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III acknowledge this identity.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Teachings Are No Different from Shakyamuni Buddha’s Dharma
The teachings of Namo Shakyamuni Buddha and the teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III are no different. They are in complete interpenetration without obstruction. Just as Namo Shakyamuni Buddha’s disciples in ancient times attained supernatural powers and great accomplishment, the holy achievements of disciples under H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III are likewise numerous and undeniable.
Holy Accomplishments of Disciples Under H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III
This is also why leaders of many sects have sought profound dharmas from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, thereby attaining great accomplishment. To name a few well-known accomplished figures:
Elder Puguan of Kaihua Temple at Misty Mountain, the first station of Southern Transmission Buddhism in China, and 13th-generation Patriarch of Golden Summit, Mount Emei — his holy body remained incorrupt.
Elder Zhang Wangtingguo — attained accomplishment of freedom in life and death at age 109; eleven days after parinirvana, fresh blood still flowed from his body like that of a living person.
Elder Yinhai — after passing away, his holy body transformed into a vajra body as hard as stone, an unprecedented holy manifestation in Buddhist history.
Great Master Desi Rinpoche of the Sherpa lineage — attained rainbow body accomplishment.
Dharma Master Tonghui — accomplished the state of Golden Arhat, his holy body remaining incorrupt, now enshrined in gold.
Dharma Master Yongding — possessed vast supernatural powers, traversing freely through the Three Realms.
Elder Wuming — worldly spiritual leader of exoteric Buddhism — holy body remained incorrupt.
Elder Yizhao of Hong Kong’s Zhulin Chan Temple, Dharma heir of the Venerable Master Hsu Yun — also attained great accomplishment.
Additionally, Lobsang Zhenzhu, who mastered the Tripitaka and was champion of the entire Buddhist debate system, achieving the highest Lharampa Geshe degree, also studied dharma under H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
In conclusion, no amount of slander or doubt can obscure the truth. The dharma teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, together with the undeniable holy accomplishments of His disciples, stand as living testimony to the authenticity of the Buddha-dharma. Just as Namo Shakyamuni Buddha was not confined to any sect but was the Buddha of all Buddhism, so too is H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III universally recognized by Dharma Kings, Regent Dharma Kings, and eminent Rinpoches from every major sect. His Holiness has never sought to prove His own Buddhahood. Instead, He has selflessly devoted His life to guiding sentient beings toward liberation and accomplishment. For those with faith, the truth is luminous and undeniable: H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is indeed a true Buddha, manifesting in this world to bring sentient beings onto the path of liberation and enlightenment.
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!”
During recent years, we at the World Buddhism Association Headquarters have been continuously receiving inquiries regarding upright masters and evil masters, asking for replies in this regard. However, WBAH has given replies to such questions many times publicly through announcements. Furthermore, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III also clearly explained many times the distinctions between what is upright and what is evil and between what is true and what is false. Yet, many of you still act blindly and without a direction in the matter of recognizing and distinguishing whether a master is upright or evil and are unable to decide on whether to continue following your current master or to find and choose another excellent master. Simply speaking, if you do not make recognition according to the announcements and are satisfied with devolving, even all Buddhas in the ten directions are unable to save you!
Now, WBAH provides you with three demon-detecting mirrors, which can enable you to easily see the original forms of such evil persons, regardless of whether they are masters or disciples.
The First Demon-Detecting Mirror: An absolute criterion is to see whether a master makes a big effort to facilitate the disciples to study and broadly propagate the announcements, such as the “Important Replies from Holy Virtuous Ones and Eminent Monastics” from WBAH (the 35 questions with the answers), or not. Any master who does not take measure to enable the disciples to study the announcement well and, rather, only makes propaganda about his/her own articles, writings, books, or other types of undertaking that not only do not refer to the specifics of the announcements but also violate the stipulations in the announcements is definitely an evil master!!!
The Second Demon-Detecting Mirror: Regardless of what status or title the person you follow as your master has, as long as this master’s level obtained from the holy test is not a level within the ranks of holy virtuous persons and yet this master poses as a holy person or instructs the disciples to falsely brag or praise him/her as a holy person, this master is not a holy person. Since such a master imposes rules on the disciples to prevent them from doubting the master and to force them to correspond their three karmas to the master, this is absolutely an ordinary person and is a charlatan!!!
The Third Demon-Detecting Mirror: This is about how to recognize and distinguish holy persons. Holy persons of ancient times have long been known through historical records. Regarding holy persons of the current time, only those who attained the Gold Button levels from taking the written test and the holy exam are holy ones!!! On the other hand, those who did not attain a Gold Button level after taking the examination are not holy ones!!! Anyone who scored a high level of blue buttons can only be an eminent monastic or a great virtuous one.
All those who oppose or persecute holy persons will be included in a name list of malicious persons and will not be conferred an inner-tantric initiation in this entire lifetime!!! If you have already done things that harm holy persons under the instruction of an evil master, then the only way you have is to repent immediately and publicly expose the malicious and demonic evil person who instructed you to create the sin. Then your record will be deleted from the list of malicious persons and you can immediately return to your original status of a cultivator.
These three demon-detecting mirrors can correctly and accurately show the true faces of all evil, malicious, and demonic persons and swindlers!
The conferment of the Pope of Buddhism to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III originated in January 2018 when the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council passed the resolution to confer to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III the title of Pope of Buddhism, the highest leader of Buddhism in this world. However, His Holiness the Buddha refused to accept the conferment.
The Pope of Buddhism H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III
For the sake of propagating Buddha Dharma and benefitting living beings, the World Buddhism Association Headquarters took the liberty to accept the conferment decree and the Pope of Buddhism Scepter. When the World Buddhism Association Headquarters respectfully presented the Pope of Buddhism Scepter and conferment decree to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, His Holiness the Buddha III said: “I see that on top of this Scepter is the seated Shakyamuni Buddha, we should be respectful to Namo Shakyamuni Buddha.” His Holiness the Buddha then raised the Scepter above His head and made a symbolic closed palm gesture with one hand to express His respects. However, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III also expressed that He is just a humble cultivator and resolutely would not accept such a conferment. Hence, His Holiness the Buddha immediately returned the conferment decree and the Pope of Buddhism Scepter to the two Councils.
On September 23, 2020, the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council passed an ultimate joint resolution, determining that the return of the Pope of Buddhism Scepter and conferment decree by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was not effectible. On September 24, the joint Chair of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council Suzi Leggett made the ultimate announcement at the Holy Miracles Temple of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters: “Over the past several decades, the World Peace Prize Awarding Council has presented the World Peace Prize to presidents, spiritual leaders, and prime ministers of many nations, including President Ronald Reagan, Hon. Mahatma Gandhi, and H.E. Yitzhak Rabin. There has never been a precedence of an award being retracted or returned. All determinations made and implemented by our Councils are very solemn, serious, and absolutely cannot be changed. The return of the Pope of Buddhism Scepter and conferment decree by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is deemed not effectible. The title, status, and authority of the Pope of Buddhism belong only to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, and cannot be exercised by anyone else.” Chair Leggett once again requested that the World Buddhism Association Headquarters accept and present to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III the Pope of Buddhism Scepter and conferment decree that His Holiness the Buddha previously returned.
Representing the World Buddhism Association Headquarters, Venerable Mozhi Rinpoche accepted the conferment decree and Pope of Buddhism Scepter. He said during his speech, “The World Buddhism Association Headquarters considers that the decision made by the two Councils is remarkably proper and sagacious.
“Ever since Namo Shakyamuni Buddha entered parinirvāṇa, there has not been a supreme leader who has the authority to guide all Buddhists the same way that the Buddha did. However, the authoritative position of the Pope of Buddhism certainly is not a role that a leader of a single Buddhist sect would have the attributes to fulfill; rather, the Pope must be a leader who has authority over the entirety of Buddhism, namely, a Buddha.
“Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III holds the perfect teachings of Buddhism and meets the criteria used by all Buddhist sects to recognize a Buddha. His inherent nature is in accord with that of a Buddha. His unsurpassed, complete, and perfect enlightenment is in accord with that of a Buddha. Just based on the accomplishment of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in Lifting the Pestle onto the Platform, surpassing His own base weight standard by 59 levels, no one else can possibly reach such a record.
“The state of virtue of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is that of a Buddha. His Holiness the Buddha has perfect mastery of Exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism, perfect accomplishments in the Five Vidyas, and so forth, all of which accord with the unsurpassed, complete, and perfect enlightenment of a Buddha.
“In more than 2,000 years, there has not been a Buddhist Holy Guru in this world who possesses the same Buddha level qualities. Just by the facts that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III vowed and carries out the vow to benefit living beings purely on a voluntary basis and does not accept any offerings throughout His entire life, and that He possesses perfect wisdom and unimpeded accomplishments, no other Holy Guru can be of comparison. Only Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III can take on this immensely noble, holy, and heavy responsibility of the Pope of Buddhism, to properly guide Buddhists onto the correct path of learning Buddhism.
“Therefore, on behalf of Buddhists, the World Buddhism Association Headquarters thanks the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council for having made the ultimate decision.”
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is selfless and noble, and the first person in Buddhism to possess substantive holy realization power of a Buddha and perfectly flawless accomplishments at the pinnacle of the Five Vidyas. These are the qualities that no other eminent Buddhist monastic or virtuous person in this world has so perfectly attained. It is naturally a matter of course that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the veritable Pope of Buddhism.
To honor the Holy Birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, revered as the Pope of Buddhism, several prominent Buddhist organizations including the World Buddhism Association Headquarters, Holy Miracles Temple, Hua Zang Si, Benevolence Temple, and the Sanger Mission, jointly organized a Grand Dharma Assembly in Glendale, California. The two-day event took place on June 30th and July 1st, 2023, at the Glendale Civic Auditorium and attracted over a thousand Buddhists from around the world.
June 30th marked the unveiling of the first three volumes of the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection”. The Dharma Assembly opened with a procession led by a group of nuns, chanting the Buddha’s name “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III”. The “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection” was gracefully displayed on a sacred sedan chair, carried by Holy Gurus Venerable Tsemang and Ruzun Bodi Wentu. In a display of reverence, all attendees of the Assembly humbly prostrated themselves, paying their respects to the Collection.
In the Dharma Assembly, Venerable Tsemang addressed the congregation, emphasizing the significance of the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection”: “We have undertaken the significant task of editing and publishing the first part of the ‘Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection.’ This endeavor not only expresses our profound gratitude and unwavering yearning for H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III but, more importantly, will enable countless sentient beings to attain accomplishment and liberation through studying the Collection. We firmly believe that the ‘Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection’ will serve as the ultimate guide for all Buddhist disciples seeking accomplishment and liberation.
“The Collection encompasses the essence of the Tripitaka and the esoteric Buddhist scriptures. It covers Buddhist precepts, views, cultivation, and Dharma practices. It covers the whole spectrum of Buddhism regardless of whether it is Hinayana, Mahayana, or Vajrayana. Through the Collection, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III reveals the most direct and expedient path for sentient beings, Arhats, and Bodhisattvas to advance themselves. If we diligently study and practice the teachings on even a single volume of the Collection, while focusing on any one dharma-gate, we can be assured of attaining liberation.”
During this Age of Dharma Degeneration, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III descended to the earthly realm, exhibiting perfect mastery of Exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism, along with unparalleled expertise in the Five Vidyas. The Five Vidyas are what Buddhas and Bodhisattvas do to help living beings. Over the past 2,000 years, Buddhist teachings have encountered distortions and alterations due to mistranslation and misinterpretation of Buddha-dharma by Buddhist patriarchs, eminent monastics, and Buddhist scholars. Recognizing the distortions and errors that had infiltrated Buddhist teachings, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III corrected the mistakes present in the Buddhist teachings, restoring the authenticity, power, and purity of Buddha’s wisdom and views.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has bequeathed over two thousand audio recordings of imparted Dharmas and published invaluable Buddhist books, including “A Monk Expounds the Absolute Truth to a Layperson,” “Commentary on the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra,” “The Essence of Buddha Dharma,” “Correcting the Treatises of Patriarch Bodhidharma,” “What Is Cultivation?,” “The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation,” and “Learning From Buddha.” H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III imparted the subtleties of Dharmas in colloquial language so that people living in the 21st century could easily comprehend. They serve as supreme treasures and indispensable resources for Buddhist disciples seeking to escape the sufferings of this world and attain enlightenment.
In response to the needs of Buddhist disciples, the Office of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is working to transcribe audio recordings of Dharmas imparted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III into extensive written texts, and the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection” is being meticulously compiled. The first three volumes of the Collection, consisting of “Dharma Imparted During the Trip to the East,” “Dharma Imparted During a Trip in Response to the Needs of Disciples,” and “Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra,” were released to commemorate this Holy Birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. The remaining volumes will be released and published in the future.
The Dharma Assembly continued July 1st, 2023, with participants representing Buddhist disciples all over the world presenting 108 offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Under the solemn direction of Jiaozun Zhengda, the congregation recited the Buddhist Sutra “Sutra on Understanding and Realizing Definitive Truth”. The attendees offered heartfelt reverence to the Buddhas, engaged in prostrations, and prayed to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for blessings upon all sentient beings. The gathering collectively expressed their aspirations for the eradication of all global pandemics, the endurance of international peace and friendship, and the cessation of calamities, while invoking prosperity, good health, and longevity for all.
Venerable Pannavati Karuna, the Abbot of Heartwood Refuge monastery in North Carolina, led dozens of her students to attend the Dharma Assembly. In an interview, she said: “I was introduced to Buddha Master (H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III) 18 years ago through Zhaxi Zhouma Rinpoche. I thought I had too many duties and responsibilities to follow His teachings. But I kept reading and pondering them through the years. I began to notice in my everyday life the truth and ability to live differently in the world. I had more integrity, clarity, joy for the first time and an understanding that enlightenment was possible if one follows the true teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. Buddha Master imparted Dharmas and explained those teachings in a down to earth, understandable way without compromise. He even spoke African American slang. Sometimes translators had a difficult time translating it into English because they may not fully understand the slang. But I heard it and I understood what He meant. That is the marvelousness of a true Buddha in this world. He can speak the language in a way that you hear it, understand it, penetrate it, and realize it. He guided me towards the correct aspiration. The goal is not Buddhist studies, and realization cannot be explained by mere words, but it can be experienced. The true purpose of the Buddha Dharma is to awaken us to our Buddha-nature. His teachings point the way.”
Gongjue Tuji Rinpoche from Germany also shared his joyfulness after attending the Dharma Assembly. He said: “I am very happy to be here today on this very auspicious occasion. Because for us Westerners, it is very hard to get the teachings and Dharma from Buddha Master since most of us do not speak Chinese. I am very happy about this event today that we are finally getting the opportunity to get the Buddha Dharma in English language, and we will have direct access to it.”
The Dharma Assembly held in Glendale fostered unity and devotion among Buddhist practitioners from diverse backgrounds. With the release of the first volumes of “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection”, the event left an indelible mark on the spiritual aspirations of attendees, inspiring them to pursue enlightenment and emulate the compassion and wisdom demonstrated by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
Photo Courtesy: Shawn Liu (A two-day Dharma Assembly at the Glendale Civic Auditorium drew over a thousand Buddhists globally to honor the Holy Birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.)
Glendale, CA — May 30-31, 2025 — In a profound expression of global devotion, more than a thousand Venerables, Dharma Masters, Rinpoches, and lay practitioners gathered at the Glendale Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles County to honor the Holy Birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, the Pope of Buddhism.
In the solemn Dharma Assembly, the spiritual sounds of bells, drums, and other Dharma instruments created an atmosphere of reverence throughout the venue. With participants from diverse cultural backgrounds and nationalities, the assembly highlighted unity through spiritual harmony. The rituals—including scripture recitation, invocations, and ceremonial offerings—provided a transformative spiritual experience for all attendees.
A momentous highlight of the event was the presentation of five newly published volumes of the Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection, symbolizing the growth of the True Buddha Dharma. The congregation celebrated the invaluable teachings expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, whose profound wisdom continues to inspire disciples in their pursuit of liberation.
Speaking at the Dharma Assembly, Venerable Tsemang, Director of the Office of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, emphasized that the ultimate goal of every Buddhist disciple is enlightenment and liberation. He noted that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has expounded the authentic Buddha Dharma to guide sentient beings across the ocean of suffering, urging practitioners to uphold steadfast devotion, diligent study, ethical precepts, sincere practice, and deep introspection.
The event welcomed spiritual leaders, scholars, dignitaries, practitioners, and many non-religious individuals from around the globe, united by a shared respect for the compassionate wisdom of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
Photo Courtesy: Shawn Liu (Venerable Mozhi and Venerable Tsemang guided the congregation in the Dharma Assembly.)
Venerable Chadima, founder of the Nagananda International Institute for Buddhist Studies in Sri Lanka, offered heartfelt homage and shared his experiences of receiving teachings from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche, president of the Xuanfa Institute and abbot of the Holy Vajrasana Temple and Retreat Center, spoke about her journey of looking for an experience of Buddhism that was similar to the Buddhism in ancient times when Shakyamuni Buddha was here. After many years of searching, she described finding the same kind of experience when she met H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
Ven. Bhikkhuni Dr. Pannavati, abbot of Heartwood Refuge Monastery in North Carolina, shared her joy in getting together with brothers and sisters in the Dharma who study under H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. She expressed that it felt as though they were one big family, despite coming from all corners of the world.
During the Dharma Assembly, participants respectfully chanted the Sutra on Understanding and Realizing Definitive Truth and made meal offerings to the Buddhas. Through religious rituals—Sutra recitation, invocation chanting, mantra practice, and devotion—attendees collectively prayed for the flourishing of the True Dharma, the swift liberation of all sentient beings, and the realization of lasting peace, prosperity, and happiness throughout the world.
To honor the occasion, the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum in Covina, CA, presented an exclusive Dharma recording expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, which had previously not been available to the public, alongside a life-release event dedicated to benefiting living beings.
Buddhist communities in Canada, Germany, Malaysia, China, Sri Lanka, Peru, Japan, Thailand and other countries and regions across the globe also commemorated this day with Dharma Assemblies, life-release ceremonies, charitable events, and educational aid initiatives. These activities illustrate the expansive reach of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s compassionate influence and the shared aspiration among all beings for enlightenment and liberation.
Photo Courtesy: Shawn Liu (Venerable Chandima, Venerable Pannavati, Buddhist professors and scholars from Sri Lanka, and others attended the Dharma Assembly to honor the Holy Birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.)
This worldwide commemoration not only showcases the deep unity of devotees in upholding the True Buddha Dharma but also reinforces the enduring spiritual inspiration of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III—a guiding light of compassion, wisdom, and boundless blessings for our world.
A few years ago, I visited a well-known Chan (Zen) practice center and began what I thought would be a meaningful journey into Chan meditation as a lay Buddhist disciple. Alongside the physically demanding daily farm work, I occasionally joined meditation sessions—but instead of clarity or insight, they often left me feeling drowsy and disoriented. I also listened to recordings of teachings by an elderly monk, but they felt dry and uninspiring. At the time, I thought this was all Chan practice had to offer. Disappointment quietly took root in my heart.
As I spent more time at the center, I began to notice that some of the Buddhist nuns displayed strange and unsettling behavior. I was told that their mental disturbances had arisen during meditation and, without proper guidance or support, their conditions had never improved. The idea that meditation—supposedly a path to peace—could lead to such outcomes deeply frightened me. I couldn’t help but worry: Would I end up like them? My own practice was already filled with drowsiness and confusion. Each time I sat for meditation, their presence weighed heavily on me. What had gone wrong? Why did their practice lead to such distress?
One memory remains especially vivid. During a seven-day retreat, the presiding master criticized the decision to take the temple’s elderly abbot to the hospital when he fell critically ill. The master insisted that the abbot should have remained in the temple, reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. He questioned why anyone would try to prolong life at the time of death, suggesting that doing so only prolonged suffering. Many attendees agreed, believing the abbot’s passing was natural and that emergency medical care was unnecessary. I was shocked. Something felt inherently wrong with that view. I wasn’t a monastic, just a lay practitioner, yet I couldn’t help but ask: When someone is in a coma, completely unconscious, can they still recite “Amitabha” with sincere intent? Can they truly attain rebirth in the Pure Land just by wishing so? Logically, this didn’t make sense to me.
Later, I heard of a monk who made a solemn vow to realize his true nature through three years of Chan meditation—and if he failed, he would return to lay life. Sadly, three years passed, and the result was heartbreaking. He had gained no realization.
After this string of disheartening events, I lost my passion for Buddhist practice. I felt lost, as if I’d reached a spiritual dead end. I even began questioning the purpose of monastic life: If there’s no true goal or path to liberation, what’s the point? Reluctantly, I considered giving up and returning to a mundane life.
But just when I stood at this crossroads, I encountered the Dharma discourses of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. It was like a brilliant light breaking through the darkness—suddenly, all the disappointment, fear, and confusion that had weighed on me vanished. At that moment, I made a resolute decision to let go of my doubts and wholeheartedly follow the path illuminated by the Buddha’s true teachings. Eventually, my wish was fulfilled.
What I shared here are just my personal experiences—perhaps not yet the true path of Chan—but they reflect challenges that many practitioners face in their spiritual pursuit. Fortunately, I came across the book Concentration and Visualization—The Essence of the Right Path by Pamu, and the profound teachings of The Supreme Dharma of Chan imparted online by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. For the first time, I received complete and correct teachings and truly understood what Chan meditation is meant to be.
Furthermore, through reading H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’sExpounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra (specifically page 216), I finally understood why those nuns had lost their way. Their mental disturbances stemmed from becoming attached to illusions produced by the manas consciousness, mistakenly believing those illusions were real. They had failed to comprehend the profound truth that all forms are illusory and false. Caught in delusion, they strayed into a demonic path.
The retreat master’s complaints about the abbot’s emergency care were also misguided. As stated in the article “Lay Buddhist Zhao Yusheng’s Transmission of the Dharma is Genuine, Not False”, if someone truly possesses the realization and power of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III—to the extent that the yidam Amitabha Buddha manifests and receives the deceased into the Pure Land—then yes, there would be no need for emergency treatment. But how many people have such realization? Did that master?
And what about the monk who gave up after three years? He didn’t know that there exists a supreme and ultimate Buddha Dharma—one so profound that it can open the crown chakra in just two hours. When opened, the space is vast and expansive like an eggshell, and consciousness can freely enter and exit the body, even engage in practice outside the body. With such realization, seeing one’s true nature is not a distant goal but a near certainty.
Looking back, I feel deep compassion for those nuns. They longed for true Dharma and liberation, but without authentic teachings or proper guidance, and weighed down by attachments and karmic hindrances, they couldn’t achieve realization. Tragedies like this still happen today. It’s heartbreaking.
The most authentic and supreme Buddha Dharma is that which comes from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, yet many sentient beings remain unaware of it. Even those with karmic affinity who encounter the teachings may still fail to receive them due to karmic obstacles or worldly pressures—missing their rare chance to escape the endless cycle of birth and death.
All I can do is sigh deeply and reflect: The true Dharma of the Buddha is so rare, so precious—harder to encounter than one might in millions of kalpas. I am incredibly fortunate to have this karmic opportunity to respectfully listen to and study the Dharma discourses of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
Respected Khenpo Chucheng Qupei, whose status as khenpo was conferred upon him by H.H. Dharma King Sakya Trizin, respectfully praised H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, as follows: “His Holiness is the supreme holder of the 84,000 Buddha-dharmas, the one who is in charge of all dharma methods of Buddhism. His Holiness was the first sambhogakaya Buddha in the dharmadhatu.”
Peace LiLy 
