Tag: spirituality

Breaking Free from the Shackles of Aging, Illness, and Death: How True Buddha Dharma Brings the Miracle of Liberation

linda changLeave a comment
Four stages of life showing a baby in a lotus flower, a young adventurer, an elderly person in bed with visitors, and a cloaked figure walking towards a mystical portal

In this life, none of us can escape the torments of birth, aging, illness, and death. As the old saying goes, “Even the strongest man fears the toll of disease.” When our physical bodies face the pain of a terminal illness and our minds plunge into the fear of death, we often feel incredibly small and hopeless. However, the true, orthodox Tathagata Dharma possesses the magnificent power to enable sentient beings to completely sever the cycle of dark karma, achieve liberation in this very lifetime, and attain freedom over life and death.

This article is compiled from an actual radio interview with Ruzun Ruohui, the Abbot of Hua Zang Si in San Francisco. By sharing a profoundly moving example of a Buddhist disciple’s spiritual realization, Ruzun Ruohui reveals to the public how, under the guidance of our Buddha Master, one can transition from the agonizing pain of a terminal illness to passing away peacefully with palms pressed together—manifesting holy signs of liberation. This account serves as a bright highway to liberation for all sentient beings currently struggling in delusion and illness.

In the eyes of the mundane world, a severe illness—especially late-stage cancer—frequently brings excruciating physical and mental torment. However, Ruzun Ruohui explicitly points out that the fundamental purpose of our Buddhist practice is precisely to free ourselves from the suffering of birth, aging, illness, and death.

Yet, can one truly realize freedom over life and death and achieve holy fruits in this lifetime? Aside from using one’s own practice as a foundation, the most critical factor is that one must learn and practice “True Buddha Dharma.” Among the disciples of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, instances of liberation and accomplishment are too numerous to count. This is exactly because they each received the transmission of sublime, corresponding Tathagata Dharma from their Buddha Master. Even when someone is afflicted with a fatal illness and on the brink of death, they can reverse their negative karmic retributions and achieve liberation in a very short period of time.

Among these, the real-life holy feat of the great accomplished practitioner, Layperson Zhao Yusheng in 2017, serves as a shocking, firsthand testimony to the world.

Layperson Zhao Yusheng’s path to liberation was not without obstacles; he had previously experienced an unfortunate detour into delusion.

He had followed an evil teacher and joined a cult. In his confusion, he carried out its wicked rules, helping the evil teacher promote falsehoods, deceive people, and conceal fabrications. These misdeeds, which harmed the public and society to protect the evil teacher’s private interests, left him heavily laden with dark karma. Because the law of cause and effect never fails, the retribution of his dark karma manifested: he was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Tormented by the agonizing pain of his illness, he became lucidly aware that he had been utterly ruined by that evil teacher.

On June 27, 2017, suffering from terminal cancer, Layperson Zhao Yusheng mustered his last ounce of strength and flew to Los Angeles. There, he finally met the supreme H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Before the Buddha Master, he offered his most devout and deeply painful repentance.

Facing this lost soul who was covered in dark karma and racked with pain, the great Buddha Master manifested boundless compassion. The Buddha Master told him:

“Whether you repent or not is not what is important. What matters is that you practice well from now on, truly change from evil to good, and benefit society and all sentient beings.”

This teaching reflected ultimate benevolence and compassion, looking past a sentient being’s historical mistakes and focusing entirely on their current self-renewal. Layperson Zhao Yusheng immediately made a great vow, swearing that he would never associate with the cult again, even if it meant “dying right then and there.” His sole wish for this life was to ascend to the Buddha Lands. This unreserved, absolute sincerity moved heaven and earth.

The Yidam Personally Descends: A Holy, Inner-Tantric Initiation Beyond Imagination

Seeing Layperson Zhao Yusheng’s sincerity and that his causal conditions had matured, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III compassionately took him refuge and immediately transmitted a supreme Great Dharma to him, invoking the Yidam, Amitabha Buddha!

At the site of the initiation and Dharma transmission, a sacred miracle manifested: Layperson Zhao Yusheng saw with his own eyes Amitabha Buddha descending into the sky, displaying the incomparably magnificent Thirty-Two Major Marks. The Buddha’s entire body emitted boundless golden light as He slowly descended onto the mandala. Overwhelmed with emotion, Zhao prostrated to the Buddha Master, and Amitabha Buddha personally touched his head to bestow the Dharma. The Buddha also pointed toward the West, allowing him to see with his own eyes the radiant, golden gates of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. The light streaming from within those gates was ten million times brighter than the sun!

Amitabha Buddha personally told him that at the end of his life, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Guan Yin) would be sent to receive and guide him to be reborn into the Middle Grade of the Middle Class of the Western Pure Land.

At that moment, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said to him, “You have succeeded; your Yidam, Amitabha Buddha, has accepted you.” For over thirty years, Layperson Zhao Yusheng had chanted the Buddha’s name but never felt certain whether he could achieve rebirth. Now, he finally received a personal guarantee from the mouth of the Buddha.

Upon returning to San Francisco, he treated this transmission like an invaluable treasure, diligently practicing his daily cultivation. Originally, his fingernails had completely dried up and split due to late-stage cancer; however, after practicing the Dharma, they miraculously regrew into smooth, pink, healthy nails, and the cracking completely disappeared. This demonstrated that the blessings of the Buddha Dharma had permeated the very cells of his physical body.

A Sacred Moment of Simultaneous Resonance: Freedom Over Life and Death, Manifesting Auspicious Signs

On August 24, 2017, at approximately 2:15 PM, a moment arrived that all Buddhist disciples will remember for the rest of their lives.

At that exact time, in a mandala over 800 kilometers away, Rinpoches and Dharma Masters were requesting H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to expound the Dharma. In the middle of the discourse, the Buddha Master suddenly stopped without any prior sign and announced:

“Stop, I will not speak further. The grand causal condition has arrived; it has appeared. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva has escorted Zhao Yusheng away, and the people beside him have witnessed it too.”

Less than two minutes after the Buddha Master spoke these words, a Dharma Master’s phone at the scene rang. On the other end of the line was Mao Meimei, the Buddhist disciple responsible for caring for Layperson Zhao Yusheng. Trembling with immense excitement, she reported to the Buddha: Layperson Zhao Yusheng had achieved freedom over life and death, and Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva had personally descended to escort him away!

It turned out that just two minutes prior, Layperson Zhao Yusheng had peacefully instructed his caregivers and his daughter from his sickbed, saying that he was about to leave. Using his remaining strength, he declared in a resonant voice:

“I will now use my freedom over life and death to perform a Dharma demonstration, proving that the Buddha Dharma of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the most supreme and holy! That evil teacher is a demon, a monster! A false teacher, a massive fraud, and a sinner! The true, orthodox Tathagata Dharma resides right here with our great Buddha Master, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Alright, alright, I will say no more—Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva has come to receive me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a breathtaking holy feat occurred: Layperson Zhao Yusheng’s entire body emitted an extraordinary radiance. The people present clearly saw an immensely tall Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva standing directly above his head, radiating intense white light, surrounded by beautiful five-colored auspicious halos—a scene of ultimate magnificence!

Following this, Layperson Zhao Yusheng’s consciousness burst forth from the crown of his head, transforming into a radiant holy being dressed in white garments. Stepping onto auspicious clouds, his consciousness rushed toward Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, ascending into the sky and departing. This astonishing sight was even witnessed by a 92-year-old Malaysian neighbor living across the street! Everyone rushed out into the courtyard and saw the entire sky filled with a dazzling, brilliant light. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva led the way, guiding the holy being Zhao Yusheng as he ascended to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, gradually fading into the depths of the sky.

Layperson Zhao Yusheng transformed from a terminally ill patient—deceived by an evil teacher and burdened with dark karma—into a liberated practitioner who received the true Dharma from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Within a mere two months, he realized a miracle of liberation: breaking free from the shackles of illness, gaining freedom over life and death, being personally received by Guan Yin, and leaving a sign witnessed by the entire neighborhood. This is not a myth; it is a holy manifestation of Buddha Dharma presented right before our eyes.

He departed with absolute freedom and ease. Before his passing, he courageously demonstrated the Dharma through the reality of freedom over life and death, exposing the false teacher and denouncing the demon, thereby using his compassionate heart to awaken deluded sentient beings.

Upon receiving the news, the Dharma Masters, monastic community, and laypersons at Hua Zang Si were filled with joy and comfort. This holy feat manifests clearly to the world: the true, orthodox Tathagata Dharma resides right here with H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III! May all sentient beings who are still lost and struggling in the mundane world, on the brink of illness and death, encounter this causal condition. May they quickly stay away from false teachers and frauds, draw close to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to study the true orthodox Tathagata Dharma, and step onto the path of genuine liberation and happiness!

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/06/18/breaking-free-from-the-shackles-of-aging-illness-and-death-how-true-buddha-dharma-brings-the-miracle-of-liberation/

Moving Beyond Blame: How Looking Inward Transformed My Daily Life

linda changLeave a comment
Eight participants and an instructor reading and meditating on a video conference call

Recently, I joined an online Buddhist study group where we have been deeply immersing ourselves in learning the Sutra by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. This experience has changed my life dramatically. As I began dedicating more intentional time to reading and listening to the Sutra, I noticed a powerful shift in my daily habits. I finally found the strength to break away from the mindless habit of scrolling through screens, freeing up the space and energy to exercise regularly. By simply replacing digital distraction with spiritual study and physical movement, I already feel significantly happier and healthier.

As I continue this journey, I often find myself reflecting on how these profound teachings apply to the ordinary, messy moments of everyday life. It is easy to study a principle conceptually, but the true cultivation begins when we bring it off the page and into our interactions with the world.

One teaching from the Sutra that has particularly influenced me—and completely shifted my perspective—is the vital importance of examining myself before focusing on the shortcomings of others.

In daily life, our default reaction to friction is often outward-facing. When someone cuts us off in traffic, misunderstands our intentions, or speaks with an edge in their voice, the ego immediately jumps to defend itself. It points a finger at the other person’s impatience, rudeness, or flaws.

However, the teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III remind us that external circumstances are merely mirrors reflecting our own internal state. True cultivation requires us to break this habit of looking outward and instead turn our gaze fiercely and honestly inward.

Now, whenever I encounter misunderstandings, disagreements, or situations that test my patience, I pause. Before I speak, react, or allow resentment to build, I try to ask myself these four grounding questions:

  • Have I truly looked inward first? Am I seeing this situation clearly, or am I viewing it through the distorted lens of my own biases and expectations?
  • Is there something I need to improve in myself? Instead of demanding that the other person change, what flaw, impatience, or lack of skill in my own conduct needs addressing?
  • Am I responding with compassion and wisdom? Is my energy coming from a place of genuine care for the other person’s well-being, or is it coming from a desire to be “right”?
  • What attachment or habit might I be overlooking? What underlying ego-attachment—whether to my reputation, my comfort, or my pride—is causing me to feel triggered right now?

Although it is not always easy—and requires constant mindfulness—this practice has been quietly transformative. It acts as a circuit breaker for negative emotions. By shifting the focus from “what they did wrong” to “how I can grow,” I have found myself becoming genuinely more patient, more deeply understanding of others’ hidden struggles, and far less reactive to life’s daily irritations.

Cultivation is not about achieving perfection overnight; it is about making the consistent choice to choose wisdom over ego, one interaction at a time.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/06/12/moving-beyond-blame-how-looking-inward-transformed-my-daily-life/

Light Across the Ocean: A Miracle at the Bathing Buddha Festival and the True Dharma of Liberation

linda changLeave a comment

The eighth day of the Fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar is the holy birthday of Sakyamuni Buddha. Before the Buddha renounced and reached enlightenment, he was known as Prince Siddhartha. According to Buddhist sutras, right after the Prince was born, He said, with one hand pointing to the sky and the other pointing to the ground, “From heaven to earth, I alone am the world-honored one.” Nine dragons in the sky then poured streams of fragrant water from their mouths to bathe the prince’s body. Ever since, Buddhists hold the Bathing the Buddha Dharma Assembly to celebrate the holy birth of the Buddha.

Today, I want to share an extraordinary, documented event from 2004 that shook the Buddhist world. It is more than just a story of a miraculous, glowing statue—it is a powerful testament to the supreme realization of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, and the authentic, life-altering Dharma that grants sentient beings true mastery over life and death.

At the Hua Zang Si Temple in San Francisco, California, over a dozen rare and sacred Buddhist relics are enshrined. Among them is a bronze statue of the Prince (the young Shakyamuni Buddha) clad in a red robe, a sight that naturally commands reverence from all who visit.

The story takes us back to May 23, 2004. At the conclusion of that year’s Bathing Buddha Festival, in front of a crowd of eyewitnesses, this bronze statue suddenly began to radiate an incredibly brilliant, dazzling golden light! This sacred illumination did not fade quickly; it lasted for two and a half hours before slowly dissipating.

In over two thousand years of Buddhist history, countless Bathing Buddha ceremonies have been held, yet it is almost unheard of for a physical statue to manifest such prolonged, independent radiance. What was the cause behind this breathtaking miracle?

The answer lies across the Pacific Ocean, tied to the merits of an 81-year-old lay Buddhist named Madame Cheng-E Fen.

Madame Cheng-E Fen lived in Sichuan, China. She was a close relative of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III (known at the time as the Supreme Vaja Dharma King Master Yi Xi Nuo Bu) and devoutly practiced the Guan Yin (Avalokiteshvara) Dharma under His guidance.

In the spring of 2004, at age 81, Madame Cheng-E Fen began showing signs of physical failure due to advanced illness. However, her subsequent medical examinations at the Chengdu General Hospital left the medical community completely baffled.

Her X-ray films revealed a complete absence of lung imagery—just total, blank space. Doctors confirmed that her lungs had completely stopped functioning. She had no respiratory capability whatsoever; she could neither inhale nor exhale.

By all laws of medical science, a person without respiration is a deceased person.

Yet, despite having no breath, Madame Cheng-E Fen remained completely alive, clear-minded, and conversational for over a month! Witnesses even placed a light feather right in front of her nose and mouth; they watched it for over ten minutes, and it never stirred a fraction of an inch.

This phenomenon, entirely impossible by medical standards, was a direct manifestation of her deep spiritual realization—a profound transformation achieved through the true, authentic Dharma transmitted to her by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

Knowing her time was near, Madame Cheng-E Fen had calmly made her final arrangements, changed into her burial robes, and waited for the pure land’s welcoming. On two separate occasions in her hospital room, she pressed her palms together and told those around her, “Guan Yin Bodhisattva has arrived.” At those exact moments, everyone in the room noticed a sudden, exquisite fragrance, and the sound of heavenly music echoing from the void.

Yet, both times, she did not depart. She explained to the onlookers: Her holy teacher in the United States—H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III—had requested Guan Yin Bodhisattva to delay her departure.

Goddess in blue robe sitting on a lotus flower surrounded by lotus pond and traditional Asian pagodas at dusk

She marveled, saying, “I saw the blue robes of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. Oh, the Western Pure Land is so beautiful! So many pavilions, so many flowers.”

To be in perfect spiritual communion with the Bodhisattvas, and to successfully request a delay in a disciple’s passing to reschedule their ascension—this represents an inconceivable, supreme holy realization. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III requested this delay so that her ultimate transition could align perfectly with a major spiritual event in the West, using this undeniable reality to awaken faith in a skeptical world.

On May 22, 2004, at 11:00 PM California time (which was 2:00 PM on May 23 in China), H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III called Venerable Shi Long Hui, the Chairwoman of the International Buddhism Sangha Association, to His presence. He prophesied: Madame Cheng-E Fen will pass away today in China, and Guan Yin Bodhisattva will escort her to the Western Pure Land.

The Buddha Master instructed Long Hui to publicly announce this news at the Bathing Buddha Festival in Los Angeles the following day, and to dedicate the immense merits of the ceremony to the elderly lady. He added: “Tomorrow’s festival carries extraordinarily powerful merit. I can no longer ask Guan Yin Bodhisattva to delay her departure. After I finish practicing Dharma tonight, Guan Yin Bodhisattva will come to take her tomorrow.”

Sure enough, at 7:00 AM the next morning in Los Angeles, word arrived from Sichuan: Madame Cheng-E Fen had peacefully and mindfully ascended with Guan Yin Bodhisattva exactly twenty minutes prior.

At that exact moment during the American festival, as the assembly united their hearts to dedicate the merits of the Bathing Buddha ceremony to her—the Prince statue at the temple erupted into a brilliant golden glow that lasted for two and a half hours. This profound convergence across the Pacific Ocean was the ultimate, undeniable confirmation from the heavens that the True Dharma is real and absolute.

The Search for Authentic Liberation

Witnessing this miracle in Sichuan, an earnest practitioner expressed what so many spiritual seekers feel today:

“For years, I have been searching, visiting many famous teachers and high lamas, yet I never felt I was learning the path to true liberation. Deep down, I knew I was still bound by my flaws, and I feared what would happen when I faced death.

Seeing the holy realization of Madame Cheng-E Fen, I know the Buddhas have answered my prayers. We must do everything we can to find the Master who taught her. He is the true Holy One. Only He can help us solve the ultimate problem of life and death!”

Remarkably, Madame Cheng-E Fen’s husband had also been a disciple of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III years prior, and he too achieved absolute freedom over his passing, leaving the world while meditating in a seated posture. For both husband and wife to achieve such monumental liberation is a rare and beautiful chapter in Buddhist history.

Life is fleeting, and impermanence arrives without warning. The miraculous ascension of Madame Cheng-E Fen and the radiant light of the Bathing Buddha Festival serve as a beacon of hope in our modern age.

The realization held by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the authentic, primordial Dharma that allows everyday people to truly conquer death and attain liberation in this very lifetime. May all who read this find right mindfulness, connect with true spiritual paths, and reach the shore of ultimate freedom.

(This article is adapted from an interview with Venerable Abbess Ruo Hui. For the core teachings of Buddhism, please always refer to the original recorded discourses and published books of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.)

Link：https://peacelilysite.com/2026/05/22/light-across-the-ocean-a-miracle-at-the-bathing-buddha-festival-and-the-true-dharma-of-liberation/

A Plum Blossom Painting Filled with Inner Strength and Serenity

linda changLeave a comment

The first time I looked at this plum blossom painting by Dorje Chang Buddha III, I immediately felt a powerful and uplifting energy flowing from it. It was not simply a beautiful painting that pleased the eyes. Rather, it carried a quiet spiritual strength that deeply touched the heart.

My first thought was that only an artist with profound inner calmness, wisdom, and spiritual realization could create such a work.

In traditional Chinese culture, plum blossoms symbolize nobility, purity, perseverance, and courage. Blossoming in the cold of winter, they have long represented the ability to remain graceful and strong amid hardship. Yet this painting expresses those qualities in a particularly extraordinary way.

The entire composition feels free from anything worldly or artificial. There is no trace of stiffness, heaviness, or forced technique. Every brushstroke appears natural, effortless, and alive. The painting possesses a wondrous elegance that cannot be achieved merely through technical skill or years of practice alone. It feels more like the crystallization of wisdom, cultivation, and inner realization.

What especially fascinates me is the unique arrangement of the plum tree itself. The roots twist and coil together, naturally forming what resembles a large bonsai pot. The varying shades of ink create rich layers, flowing movement, and a dreamlike sense of surrealism throughout the painting. The entire scene feels both realistic and ethereal at the same time, blending natural beauty with poetic imagination.

The artist employs the distinctive Chinese painting technique of “flying white” and broken brushstrokes, allowing the branches to pulse with vitality and the force of life. The bold, heavy brushwork gives the sturdy roots the powerful presence of coiled dragons gathering strength before soaring into motion. The entire composition radiates an uplifting sense of righteous energy, while also revealing the artist’s vast, bold, and magnanimous inner world.

What is even more remarkable is that the brushwork appears so simple and effortless, yet every stroke is skillful and full of spirit. Nothing feels excessive, and nothing is unnecessary. It is precisely this simplicity that gives the painting its extraordinary sense of calmness, freedom, and spiritual strength.

After completing the painting, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III composed the following poem:

“Plum flowers of surpassing loveliness blossom in a pot, though never are they planted.
Wave the brush to plant the tree, and the roots of that old tree form their own shallow pot.”

The poem perfectly reflects the painting’s natural spontaneity and artistic wonder. The plum blossoms seem not artificially arranged, but born effortlessly from nature itself.

Perhaps this is what makes the painting so moving. Beyond its artistic beauty, it conveys a state of mind — calm yet powerful, simple yet profound, gentle yet filled with inner strength.

In today’s restless and hurried world, such artwork quietly reminds us of something precious: true beauty comes not only from technique, but from the purity, peace, and depth within the artist’s heart.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/05/14/a-plum-blossom-painting-filled-with-inner-strength-and-serenity/

Revealing the Truth — A Book That Inspires Deep Self-Reflection

linda changLeave a comment

Revealing the Truth is not merely a collection of Buddhist stories. The book chronicles the personal experiences of a Buddhist nun over twelve years, from 2001 to 2013, while cultivating at the holy home base of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

Through many real-life experiences, the book quietly reveals the compassion, wisdom, and holiness of Dorje Chang Buddha III, while also helping disciples reflect deeply on whether their own cultivation truly aligns with Buddhist teachings.

What makes this book especially valuable is its sincerity. The stories are not distant theories or abstract teachings, but vivid experiences from everyday life — moments of hardship, karmic tests, spiritual awakening, and personal reflection. As readers follow these experiences, they are naturally led to examine themselves:

Are my thoughts truly compassionate?
Are my words beneficial to others?
Are my actions aligned with the Dharma?
Am I sincerely cultivating, or merely following forms outwardly?

In today’s busy and distracted world, Revealing the Truth serves not only as an inspiring spiritual record, but also as a mirror for sincere cultivators seeking genuine inner transformation.

Among the many fascinating stories in the book, I would like to share one particularly miraculous and thrilling incident.

One day, several disciples accidentally ate a deadly poisonous wild herb after mistaking it for edible Chinese kale. Within minutes, those who had tasted the vegetables began suffering severe dizziness, numbness, blurred vision, and loss of bodily control. Some collapsed to the ground, their faces turning pale gray as though life itself were slipping away.

When H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III learned what had happened, he immediately recognized the herb as the highly poisonous “Yizhihao,” warning that even a tiny amount could be fatal. Seeing five disciples hovering between life and death, he urgently instructed everyone to induce vomiting. At beginning, none of them could do that. Then, with great solemnity, he snapped his fingers in blessing and loudly called upon the Dharma protectors to rescue the poisoned disciples and restore their consciousness.

What happened next astonished everyone present. Almost immediately, the poisoned disciples began vomiting repeatedly, expelling the toxins from their bodies. Though completely exhausted afterward, all five ultimately survived safely.

Stories like this are what make Revealing the Truth so unforgettable. Beyond the mystery and drama, readers can deeply feel the compassionate care extended toward disciples and the profound spiritual power revealed through ordinary life situations.

Perhaps this is why the book continues to leave such a deep impact on sincere readers — because beneath every story lies a reminder to cultivate more truthfully, more humbly, and more sincerely on the path of liberation.

If you are looking for a book that doesn’t just tell you about Buddhism, but shows you how it breathes in the real world, Revealing the Truth is your next essential read.

The paper copies of the book are available at Buddhist temples or can be purchased online at Amazon.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/05/12/revealing-the-truth-a-book-that-inspires-deep-self-reflection/

When Noise Becomes Blindness

linda changLeave a comment
Wizard at desk surrounded by books, scrolls, potions, and magical screens displaying symbols and star constellations

The most dangerous thing is not that we are surrounded by falsehood, but that we slowly lose our desire to seek what is true.

In 1906, Hannah Arendt was born into a world that would soon reveal both the brilliance and the fragility of human society. She later witnessed how a highly educated and cultured nation could slowly lose its clarity, drifting into confusion and darkness.

In her important work, The Origins of Totalitarianism, she reflected on a troubling question:
How do people lose their ability to see what is right in front of them?

Her answer was not simple, but one part stands out quietly and powerfully—when truth becomes unstable, people begin to lose their ability to think clearly.

Today, we may not live in the same world she did, but in some ways, her observations feel closer than ever.

Every day, information rushes toward us from all directions. News, opinions, arguments, videos, headlines—especially on platforms like Facebook, X, and TikTok. Everything moves quickly. Everything competes for attention.

At first, we try to follow.
We read. We watch. We react.

But slowly, something changes.

The more we see, the less certain we feel.
The more voices we hear, the harder it becomes to know which one is true.
Contradictions pile up. Emotions rise. Clarity fades.

And without noticing it, we grow tired.

Not physically tired—but mentally tired.

When the mind is tired, it stops asking questions.
It stops examining.
It stops distinguishing.

We begin to accept things without really understanding them.
Or we reject everything, thinking, “Maybe nothing is true anyway.”

This is a quiet kind of blindness.

Not because we cannot see,
but because we no longer take the time to look carefully.

In her later essay, Truth and Politics, Arendt warned that when truth is constantly distorted, it does more than mislead—it weakens our trust in truth itself. And when that trust fades, something deeper begins to erode: our sense of judgment, responsibility, and even compassion.

This is not a distant problem.
It is something we face every day.

So what can we do?

Perhaps the answer is simpler than we expect, but not easier.

We pause.

We step back from the noise, even for a moment.
We resist the urge to react immediately.
We allow ourselves time to think.

Not quick thinking,
but careful thinking.

We ask:
Is this true?
What is the source?
Am I reacting, or am I understanding?

And just as importantly, we question even the ideas we already agree with.

Real thinking is not comfortable.
It requires patience.
It requires honesty.
Sometimes, it requires us to admit we were wrong.

But this quiet effort is what keeps the mind alive.

In a world filled with endless information, the greatest danger is not that we are misinformed.
It is that we stop thinking altogether.

So, in the midst of all the noise, we can choose something different.

To slow down.
To look carefully.
To think clearly.

And in doing so, we begin to see again.

#OriginsofTotalitarianism#HannahArendt #Germany #TruthandPolitics #Philosophy

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/05/05/when-noise-becomes-blindness/

Awakening Life in the Deep: An Appreciation of Deep Sea Purple Moss

linda changLeave a comment

Among many spiritually expressive works of art, Deep Sea Purple Moss stands out for its simplicity and depth, offering viewers a striking, almost visceral impact. This Western-style painting by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III may appear abstract at first glance, yet it carries profound reflections on life and inner awakening.

The entire composition is built from just three colors—black, white, and purple—yet it reveals remarkable layers and tension. The black areas resemble a boundless deep sea, mysterious and unfathomable, as if there is no visible end. This depth evokes a sense of stillness infused with latent power. This “black” not only represents the unknown world but also symbolizes the unpredictable circumstances and challenges we encounter in life.

In contrast, the white surges forward like rolling waves, powerful and unstoppable. It breaks the silence of the black, injecting movement and dramatic force into the scene. These waves seem to echo life’s turbulence—the sudden changes, hardships, and trials that compel us to confront reality head-on.

Most captivating is the vibrant touch of purple. Like sea moss growing in the depths, it persists between waves and currents, embodying a resilient and vigorous life force. Here, purple is more than a visual accent; it becomes a symbol—of endurance, of hope, and of life’s ability to thrive even in adversity.

As we contemplate this painting, we begin to see that it is not merely a depiction of the sea, but a reflection of life itself. The black deep sea represents the environment we live in; the white waves, the challenges we must face; and the purple “moss” represents who we are.

In an ever-changing world, we cannot choose every circumstance, but we can choose how we respond. Just like the purple life form in the painting that continues to grow amid stormy waters, we too must learn to adapt, to temper ourselves through trials, and to seek upward strength even in difficult situations.

With its minimalist form, this work conveys a profound truth: true growth is not gained in calm waters, but forged in the midst of surging waves.

Perhaps, the next time we face the “great waves” in our own lives, we may remember this purple moss in the deep sea—growing upward, even in the darkest depths.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/04/30/awakening-life-in-the-deep-an-appreciation-of-deep-sea-purple-moss/

The Water-Splashing Festival: Where Tradition, Faith, and Renewal Meet

linda changLeave a comment

Every year in mid-April, the streets of Xishuangbanna and Dehong in Yunnan, China transform into a vast ocean of water.

To many, the Water-Splashing Festival is simply a joyful, all-out “water fight.” But what is often overlooked is that this grand celebration does not begin with noise or excitement—it begins with a single, quiet drop of perfumed water falling gently on the shoulder of a Buddha statue.

Today, let us step into Sangken Bimai—the New Year shared by the Dai, De’ang, and Blang peoples—and discover how traditional Chinese folk customs and Buddhist culture come together, blending seamlessly through the gentle yet powerful symbolism of water.

“Sangken Bimai” in the Dai language means “the turning of the New Year.” Its roots trace back to Sankranti, a Sanskrit term meaning “transition” or “passage,” tied to ancient Indian calendrical and religious traditions. With the spread of Theravada Buddhism, this observance took root across Southwest China and Southeast Asia, gradually evolving into a festival rich in both spiritual and cultural meaning.

Before the streets erupt in splashing water, every temple begins with a solemn and tranquil ritual: bathing the Buddha.

Devotees gather fresh flowers, soak their petals in clean water, and create a lightly scented infusion. One by one, they approach the Buddha statue, gently pouring the water over it with branches or cupped hands, symbolically washing away dust.

In this moment, there is no noise—only reverence.

This act is not merely an offering of respect to the Buddha; it is also a ritual of inner purification. It represents washing away the greed, anger, and ignorance accumulated over the past year, allowing the heart to return to clarity and light as the new year begins.

The Water-Splashing Festival typically lasts three to four days. While details vary by region, the structure follows a meaningful progression—from letting go of the old, through transition, to welcoming the new.

Day One: Farewell to the Old Year
This day resembles New Year’s Eve.

Along the Lancang River, dragon boats race across the water, sending waves splashing into the air. “Rising rockets”—traditional homemade fireworks—shoot skyward, carrying people’s wishes with them. Dressed in festive attire, people gather at lively markets filled with laughter and celebration, bidding farewell to the passing year.

Day Two: The Day Between Time
This is a deeply symbolic day—belonging neither to the old year nor yet to the new.

People building and decorating sand pagodas with flags and flowers on a beach during a festival

People visit temples to build sand stupas, shaping fine white sand into small pagodas adorned with colorful flags and flowers. Each grain of sand represents a good deed or kind thought.

This act of merit-making expresses hopes for favorable weather, peace, and stability in the coming year.

Day Three: Blessing and Rebirth Through Water
The first day of the New Year begins again with the Buddha-bathing ritual, followed by the festival’s most exuberant moment—water splashing.

For elders, water is gently poured over the shoulders as a sign of respect and blessing. Among peers and younger generations, however, the mood shifts into joyful abandon—buckets, basins, and water guns come into play, and laughter fills the air.

The more water, the deeper the blessing.

At this point, water is no longer just water—it becomes a tangible expression of good fortune and joy, symbolizing the washing away of the past and the arrival of new life.

A Celebration of Culture and Spirit

The Water-Splashing Festival is not only a holiday—it is a vibrant expression of culture.

The rhythmic beat of elephant-foot drums echoes like thunder, while the graceful peacock dance reflects harmony between humans and nature. As night falls, people release floating lanterns onto rivers and send sky lanterns drifting into the night, symbolizing the release of misfortune and the rising of hope.

IP上海 代傲辰 图

In these moments—both dynamic and still—people express reverence for nature and heartfelt wishes for the future.

One Drop of Water, A Shared Cultural World

This festival does not belong to Yunnan alone.

Across Southeast Asia, it appears under different names, yet carries the same cultural essence.

In Thailand, Songkran is not only about water—it is a time of gratitude and family connection. Younger generations gently pour scented water over the hands of elders to receive blessings, while also participating in merit-making rituals such as building sand stupas. Bright floral shirts have become a modern symbol of the celebration.

In Myanmar, the festival—known as Thingyan—has an especially strong spiritual atmosphere. Many people observe periods of fasting, visit temples, or even temporarily ordain as monks to welcome the New Year with purity and reflection. Traditional foods, such as soaked rice infused with fragrant water, are prepared, while large city celebrations feature grand stages where water is sprayed over joyful crowds.

Though names and customs vary, they all trace back to the same origin—Sankranti, marking not only the passage of time, but the renewal of life.

From the valleys of Yunnan to the cities of Southeast Asia, this single drop of water travels across geography and culture, quietly connecting the entire region.

It begins in stillness before the Buddha, and flows into laughter among people.
It symbolizes both letting go and renewal—purification and blessing.

What makes the Water-Splashing Festival so moving is not merely its liveliness, but what it reveals:

Even in the simplicity of everyday life, people continue to express kindness, cherish life, and hold hope for the future in the gentlest of ways.

A drop of water falling on the Buddha’s shoulder is an act of practice.
A splash of water shared among people is a blessing.

And when that water flows through the heart, perhaps what is truly cleansed…is ourselves.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/04/30/the-water-splashing-festival-where-tradition-faith-and-renewal-meet/

A Golden Bowl and an Awakened Heart — A Story of Awareness and Transformation

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Nāgārjuna was a great Buddhist master from ancient India, widely respected as a profound philosopher and teacher who illuminated the path of wisdom and emptiness. Known for his deep insight and compassionate guidance, he helped many turn their minds toward awakening.

There is a story often told about him:

Nāgārjuna lived a simple and pure life, traveling from place to place, guiding others with wisdom.

One day, he arrived in a prosperous kingdom. The queen, a devoted follower of the Dharma, was overjoyed to hear of his visit. She had a beautiful golden bowl specially made, inlaid with precious jewels, and offered it to him with great respect.

When Nāgārjuna entered the city on his alms round, the queen personally presented the golden bowl. He accepted it calmly, without excitement or attachment, just as he would accept any ordinary offering.

Carrying the bowl, he quietly left the city and returned to a dilapidated hut where he was staying.

A thief saw everything.

He thought to himself, “Such a valuable bowl in the hands of a man who lives with nothing—how long can he keep it? If someone is going to take it, why not me?”

So he followed Nāgārjuna in secret.

As night fell, Nāgārjuna returned to his crumbling shelter. There were no doors, no roof—hardly a place anyone would visit.

The thief hid nearby, waiting for the right moment, planning to act once the master fell asleep.

After finishing a simple meal, Nāgārjuna gently placed the golden bowl outside, in a visible spot, and then sat down quietly.

The thief was stunned. He had not expected this.

After hesitating, he stepped forward and asked softly, “Aren’t you afraid someone will take your bowl?”

Nāgārjuna looked at him calmly and said, “Since you are already here, why hide? If you need it, you may take it.”

The thief was taken aback and found himself unable to reach for it.

“Do you not know how valuable this is?” he asked.

Nāgārjuna smiled gently. “If the mind is bound by it, even something precious becomes a burden. If the mind is not attached, even something simple is enough.”

The thief fell silent for a long moment, then said, “If you can see a golden bowl this way, then what you have must be far more valuable. Can you teach me?”

Nāgārjuna nodded. “Yes. But first, you must learn to observe your own mind.”

“How do I do that?” the thief asked.

“When a thought arises—whether of desire, grasping, or wanting to take something—simply be aware of it clearly. Do not follow it, do not suppress it, do not act on it. Just see it as it is.”

“That sounds easy,” the thief said.

“It sounds easy,” Nāgārjuna replied, “but it is not.”

The thief agreed to try.

Person meditating with illustrated thoughts about present moment, past memories, future dreams, sensations, and emotions

When he next attempted to steal, he began to watch his own thoughts. Yet each time he clearly saw the moment of greed arise, something within him shifted. His hand could no longer move forward.

Again and again, he tried—but whenever awareness was present, the urge lost its force.

After some time, he returned to Nāgārjuna, empty-handed.

“I can no longer steal,” he said quietly. “The moment I truly see my thoughts, the desire disappears.”

Nāgārjuna looked at him and said, “It is not that you have lost something. It is that you have begun to see clearly.”

Tears filled the thief’s eyes. “I once believed that gaining more would bring satisfaction. Now I see that when the mind becomes still, the peace and ease I feel are greater than any wealth.”

He knelt and said, “Please allow me to follow you and learn.”

Nāgārjuna replied, “The moment you are willing to face your own mind, your practice has already begun.”

This story has been passed down not to suggest that one should ignore right and wrong, but to remind us:

True transformation does not come from force, but from clear awareness.
True letting go is not merely giving things up, but releasing attachment in the heart.

When we begin to truly see our own minds, many attachments naturally fall away. And perhaps, the real turning point begins the moment we are willing to truly see ourselves.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/04/27/a-golden-bowl-and-an-awakened-heart-a-story-of-awareness-and-transformation/

When Anger Wears the Mask of “Protecting the Dharma” — A Reflection on My Practice

linda changLeave a comment

After years of practice, we often believe we are walking the right path. We may even feel completely confident in our own “devotion.” Yet sometimes, in a single moment, a line of true Dharma strikes like thunder—and we suddenly realize that all along, we have only been practicing on the surface.

Recently, while listening to Fundamental Dharma Expounded in the East, Volume 8 by Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III, I was deeply shaken. In the teaching, a disciple shared her confusion: she was extremely respectful toward the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and her guru, yet her practice did not truly resonate, and she gained no real benefit. In particular, whenever she saw others showing disrespect or even slandering the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, her heart would fill with anger and aversion.

The Buddha’s teaching was like a clear mirror. It revealed not only her blind spot, but also something hidden deep within my own heart.

The Buddha compassionately taught that when facing the ignorance and slander of others, a practitioner should not give rise to anger, but to compassion.

When we see someone slandering the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas out of ignorance, we should think: “Because of her ignorance, she may fall into suffering. Her pain is also my responsibility.” This willingness to take others’ suffering as one’s own is the heart of a Bodhisattva.

Not only that—we should quietly pray for them, wishing that they awaken as soon as possible. We may even make this vow: “I must attain realization as quickly as I can, so I can help liberate her. Otherwise, how could she endure the suffering of lower realms?”

The Buddha gave the example of King Kali cutting the body. When Śākyamuni Buddha was subjected to extreme physical harm, there was not the slightest hatred in his heart. Instead, he vowed that after attaining Buddhahood, he would be the first to liberate that very person. This state—where there is no separation between self and others—is true great compassion, the genuine expression of the Four Immeasurables.

Multi-generational family sharing food and laughter at dinner table

As I listened, I broke into a cold sweat. I was reminded of something that happened in 2025, when I returned to my hometown to visit family.

At a family gathering, my cousin’s husband was filled with anger. He had suffered a stroke and complained that he had never done anything bad in his life, yet had not been protected. My cousin, who has faith in Buddhism—perhaps more from a wish for protection—kept a statue of Guanyin at home. After recovering, he angrily threw the statue onto the ground.

In that moment, a surge of anger rose within me. I felt this was a serious insult to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. I argued with him fiercely, my heart filled with resentment. I even thought to myself, “For someone like you, I will never dedicate blessings or prayers again.” After that, I have not contacted with them again.

What is more unsettling is that, at the time, I even felt a subtle sense of righteousness—as if I were “protecting the Dharma,” as if I were standing on principle.

Only after hearing this teaching did I truly see clearly: my anger was not for the sake of the Dharma—it came from my attachment to self.

To “protect the Dharma” without compassion is already to go astray.
The moment I gave rise to anger, refused to communicate, and gave up caring for them, I had already lost the four limitless states of mind. As the Buddha taught, if we turn away from someone, they are more likely to fall. What I thought was “holding my ground” was actually pushing away someone who needed help.

That was merely futile practice.
My mouth recited sutras and mantras, but my heart built a wall of resentment. Outwardly respectful, inwardly hardened—how could such practice bring any true benefit?

Worse still, it was faulty practice.
Facing others with anger creates no merit—it only accumulates karma.

This teaching helped me see the deepest blind spot in my practice.

I came to understand that the essence of practice is not how devout we appear on the outside, but this: when we encounter misunderstanding, slander, or ignorance, what arises in our heart—fire, or light?

Now, I feel both shame and gratitude. Shame for my ignorance and attachment, and deep gratitude for the Buddha’s teaching, which allowed me to turn back in time.

In my heart, I have quietly repented to my cousin’s husband. I have also begun again to pray for them, wishing that they may be free from suffering and awaken soon.

Practice is, in truth, a long process of “tearing down walls”—walls built from self-attachment, prejudice, and emotional reactions.

May we all, guided by the true Dharma, cleanse the dust from our hearts and cultivate a mind that is truly soft and vast—a heart that sees all beings as our own family.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/04/24/when-anger-wears-the-mask-of-protecting-the-dharma-a-reflection-on-my-practice/