29-6-2011 Previews of upcoming events

Dear all, I am given the instruction to chant High King Avalokitesvara Sutra ONE thousand times and dedicate to all sentient beings.

I did not question why but started to follow instruction.

Trust GM 100%!

Haha! I am the one that benefited most.

I recalled the visuals I saw when I first chanted this sutra. After my first 400 plus, I had unbelievable visuals.
This is one sutra that taught me lots of visualization and improves this technique in me helping me cultivate with amazing and often shocking results.

Visualization like in GM's article about tantric practice being SECRET is truly limitless.

GM's phrase is : believe or not up to you! 信不信由你！

I will be unavailable as well as partly out of town this month.

Tentatively these are events which will be kick started at Pure Ksrma's new premises:-

22-7-2011@7.30pm - Vajrasattva mantra marathon & cultivation.

30-7-2011@6.30pm - High King Avalokitesvara Sutra marathon & cultivation. Will share in-depth visualization when chanting this mantra and why I said it is similar to the Borobudur.
This will probably covers a few session and I will not repeat for those who are absent.

2-7-2011@10am - Fire puja registration closes this Friday 1-7-2011 @12:00. As we are doing this event on other's premises, we are unable to accommodate late registrants.

Please register for all our sessions as a courtesy to the fellow students preparing to facilitate excellent cultivation conditions.

Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma Vihara
True Buddha School

27-6-2011 Event Notice for July 2011

Dear all,
There will be a Fire Puja event at Nirvana Memorial Gardens on the 2-7-2011 @10am.
All are welcome.
Registration Compulsory!

There will not be anymore events for the month of July as I am NOT AVAILABLE for most part of July.

Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma Vihara
True Buddha School

26-6-2011 A touching speech by Vajra master Lian Yin

During Saturday's group cultivation in Seattle Temple in the presence of Root Guru, Living Buddha Lian Sheng, our beloved GM, Vajra master LianYin gave a very touching speech.

GM jokes about his crying & liken his emotional state to that of his hometown, Hei long Jiang [Black Dragon River], a blanket of blackness!

Vajra master Lian Yin said he has now understood from various sources & especially the True Buddha Sutra that joining in pleading that GM stays in Seattle permanently is not too ideal.

Vajra master Lian Yin :-
Understanding the four words from the invocation verse, 三生无别= Three lifetime of No Separation.
No matter where GM is physically, he is forever with us in spirit for our past, present & future lifetimes.

All we can do as his diligent disciples is to cultivate diligently & plead for Buddha to stay in this Realm for as long as possible.

A midst his crying & pausing, I gather he has truly shared some very enlightening facts with us all.

I sincerely hope that whoever has video-tape this speech to post it & share with all online.

Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma Vihara
True Buddha School

26-6-2011 The Precious Teachings of Tantric Buddhism

The Aura of Wisdom 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環.

CHAPTER 35 - The Precious Teachings of Tantric Buddhism

In the past, Vairocana Buddha transmitted the supreme vehicle of unexcelled Yoga secretly to Vajrasattva, who waited hundreds of years before transmitting the same doctrines to Nagarjuna Bodhisattva.

Nagarjuna waited another several hundred years before transmitting the secret doctrines to Acarya

Nagabodhi, who in turn waited several centuries before transmitting the teachings to Acarya Vajrabodhi.

Vajrabodhi then proceeded to the east and arrived in China, transmitting the secret teachings to two senior monks, Amoghavajra and Zen Master Yixing.

Hence, from Dharmakaya Tathagata to the senior monks in China, the Tantric Buddhist teaching was directly transmitted to only six Acaryas.

Therefore, the Tantric doctrines are very precious.

The Essentials of Tantric Buddhism states: `Tantric Buddhism is the supreme wisdom gained upon self-realization by the Buddha, whose doctrines are transmitted directly to entangled ordinary individuals.
As such, when one cultivates these doctrines one receives swift progress in which the power attained is simply unimaginable.
However, the Tantric teachings place great emphasis on sadhana ritual, and those who wish to practice must enter the great mandala and receive the empowerment from the Vajra Master before they can be allowed to cultivate the practice.
Otherwise, it would be considered an act of embezzlement, drawing upon oneself unthinkable negative karmic consequences.
Thus, in our motherland, China, Tantric Buddhism has been lost since the Tang and Song dynasties, for no one would dare to study it.`

From this, we know that the self-realized holy wisdom of the Tathagata is extremely precious indeed!

The fact that `no one would dare to study it` is itself appalling.
And the fact that swift progress can be attained in Tantric Buddhism, the power gained far surpassing that of other schools, has attracted great interest and attention to its doctrines.

Sakyamuni Buddha once used the five stages of making ghee (pancaksira) to represent the five respective canons:
Milk is the Sutra canon.
Cream is the Vinaya canon.
Fresh butter is the Sastras canon.
Melted butter is Prajna canon.
Ghee is the Tantric canon.

Ghee is the very essence of milk, and hence, Tantric Buddhism embodies the essence of the Buddhadharma.

It is said that if one leaves Tantric Buddhism, there can be no hope of attaining buddhahood.
It is rare for one to hear the Tantric doctrines. 
You should be glad that you have found them this time.


Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma Vihara
True Buddha School

26-6-2011 The Guru's Power of Blessing

The Aura of Wisdom 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環.

CHAPTER 34 - The Guru's Power of Blessing

A certain story is widespread in Tibet:
A lama climbed up a huge tree where a beehive was found.
The bees were buzzing around the lama, but the lama whispered to the bees, saying, `Don't sting me!`
And interestingly, the bees ignored the lama and did not sting him at all!

Another lama who saw this was very puzzled, and wanted to know the secret of avoiding being stung by the bees.
The lama who was not stung by the bees revealed that there was no secret to this except that he just told the bees not to sting him.
The curious lama then climbed up the tree and spoke the same words `don't sting me!` to the bees, but the bees ignored his words and swarmed towards the curious lama and stung him fiercely.
The poor lama screamed and begged for his life.

Why is it that the same words would bring different results? 
It is said that the first lama prayed to his guru for a blessing before climbing the tree, resulting in the bees listening to him, whereas the second lama followed the instruction without first seeking a blessing from the Guru, thus ending up being stung.

The Buddha epithets mentioned in the sutras of the Sutric tradition are available for recitation to anyone who comes to know them.
There is little restriction over this chanting.

But Tantric Buddhism approaches this differently.
The practice texts of Tantric Buddhism are printed with the words, `Please do not refer to the text without first receiving the proper empowerment.` 

It is required that before the recitation of Tantric mantras, one must first receive the proper empowerment and blessing from one's guru.

Otherwise, all chanting is void and fruitless, as it is tantamount to an act of fraud, a breach of the Samaya Pledge.
Under this circumstance, no Dharma power would ever be invoked through the cultivation of mantra chanting.

Hence, it is only by taking refuge, receiving empowerment, and gaining the blessings of one's guru that cultivation can be authorized.
Only then can the inherent Buddha Nature emerge from delusions, topsy-turvy events, discursive thoughts and attachments.
The Guru's power of blessing is the very key to attaining accomplishment through Tantric cultivation!

Amituofo

Lotuschef

Pure Karma Vihara 

True Buddha School

26-6-2011 Why Practice Buddhism and Do Cultivation?

The Aura of Wisdom 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環.

CHAPTER 33 - Why Practice Buddhism and Do Cultivation?

Having written many articles on the `Thoughts of the Tathagata`, I am back to the starting point, addressing the issue: Why practice Buddhism and do cultivation?

Why practice Buddhism? Why the need to cultivate?
Such questions may not even arise in the minds of many who feel that the goal of being alive as a human is simply staying alive, and upon one's death everything ends.
These individuals see no reason to be tied down by the practice of Buddhism and suffer.

Someone asked me, `When it is time to party, I party. Why bother about learning Buddhism? Why stick to precepts?`
Others have added, `I have no desire to become a Buddha or Bodhisattva. So why bother to cultivate?` Another person said, `Religion stuff is crap! It is just pure nonsense! Cause and effect, heaven and hell...I believe none of these.`

We need to exercise greater patience when explaining the teachings to these individuals, offering them some introductory literature on Buddhism as gifts.

I would share with them my understanding and realization.
It is my view that human life is a cycle of suffering involving birth, old age, sickness and death.
Hence, suffering, emptiness and impermanence always exist.

When I look into the true meaning of life, I realize that the enjoyment is short-lived, for life is short.

And life is illusory, like a dream. 
It is therefore wise to penetrate beyond our present vision of life and resolve the question of life and death.

Just think of the impermanence of the events in life, and how fragile life is.
Contemplate on the true meaning of our existence, and why our hearts remain empty.
Think of how one can gain all the treasures and achievements of the world, only to lose all upon death.
What joy can these treasures bring?

With such awareness comes a sense of alertness! 
I truly realize that the utmost value in one's short lifespan on earth is to practice cultivation with perseverance, attaining True Liberation, Self Realization, and Spiritual Freedom. 
Otherwise, everything else is simply trash generated from discursive thoughts!

Amituofo

Lotuschef

Pure Karma Vihara

True Buddha School

Offering Wine and Meat to the Buddha 酒肉供佛

Terjemahan Bahasa: Mempersembahkan Arak dan Daging Kepada Buddha 酒肉供佛

The Aura of Wisdom 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環.

CHAPTER 32 - Offering Wine and Meat to the Buddha

When the head of the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness Ganden Tripa, visited the Lei Zang Temple in Seattle, he gave me a Dharma robe as a gift.

During his visit, it coincided with the birthday of a Vajra Buddha whom His Holiness worshiped.
His Holiness then requested that the monks in the Lei Zang Temple help him purchase a bottle of wine and some beef and lamb meat from the supermarket.
He wanted to cultivate and make an offering to the Vajra Buddha.

Later, a monk asked me in private, `Can we offer wine and meat to the Buddhas?`

I explained to the monk that in the view of the Sutric tradition, drinking wine and taking meat would have breached the precepts. But not according to the Tantric teachings.

The view of Tantric Buddhism is that all Buddhas are beings abiding in the mind of non-discrimination. 

Therefore, in the eyes of the Buddhas, wine and meat are not seen as wine and meat. 

For example, in the eyes of men, wine is wine. 
In the eyes of the Asuras, wine is a sword and a knife. 
To the hungry ghosts, wine becomes a burning flame. 
The hell beings see wine manifested as a pool of blood. 
Yet, to the Buddhas, wine is a fine nectar.

Let me say this:
If the practitioner is pure, the wine and meat consumed become pure.
Hence the very act of consuming wine and meat is pure.
On the contrary, if the practitioner is impure, the wine and meat consumed become impure.
Hence, the very act of consuming wine and meat is impure.
Please think through this carefully and discern the truth!

A practitioner with actual attainment will transform the wine into nectar, and the meat into cleansed food. 
As he delivers the souls of the slaughtered animals, there is no danger of misbehaviour in consuming wine and meat.

A practitioner who has no spiritual stamina will drink wine until he is drunk, and consume meat out of gluttony. He has breached a major precept in Tantric Buddhism, and has created a heavy karma for himself, which would draw him to the Vajra Hell upon his death.

On the surface, both scenarios may appear similar, but they are separated by the polarities of purity and impurity!

I feel that it is equal and undifferentiated to offer either vegetarian meals or meat to the Buddhas.
But should you want to consume wine and meat, you must know where your spiritual stamina stands.
If one is corrupted by the consumption of meat and wine, then it is absolutely necessary to strictly follow the precept and refrain from consuming wine and meat!



Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma Vihara
True Buddha School

Taking Meat or Vegetarian Meals

Terjemahan Bahasa: Makan Makanan Berdaging atau Bervegetarian

The Aura of Wisdom 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環.

CHAPTER 31 - Taking Meat or Vegetarian Meals

Someone once asked the Dalai Lama, `What is Tantric Buddhism`s stand on vegetarianism and meat eating?`

The Dalai Lama replied, `I personally am a vegetarian, but the lamas aren`t.`

The questioner then raised this issue: `If a person is not a vegetarian, then he or she is killing. Isn`t this a breach of the Five Precepts?`
The reply given by the Dalai Lama was ambiguous, suggesting that being a non-vegetarian does not imply one is killing, and that there is no connection between killing and consuming vegetarian meals.

In fact, the Dalai Lama laughed embarrassingly and said, `The lamas don`t kill for food, neither are they vegetarians.`

When I was at Drepung Loseling Monastery having our meals together with the Khenpo, only meat was served.

To my knowledge, the Chinese Buddhist orders were commanded by Xiao Yan, the Chinese Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, to instruct their ordained monks and nuns to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle.
This is characteristic of Chinese Buddhism, which has the intention to nurture compassion and avoid creating negative karma.

Consuming vegetarian meals in itself has its merits, but it is not a definite key to attaining buddhahood. 

If taking vegetarian meals by itself could lead to buddhahood, horses, cows and sheep would have long attained enlightenment!

Many beginners in Buddhism are not accustomed to sticking to a vegetarian lifestyle.
It is advisable that they consume the `three pure meats`
(no personal sighting of the animal being killed, no actual hearing of its cry while it is being killed, and no killing done by oneself specifically for personal consumption).

This is a convenient solution as an alternative to adopting a vegetarian lifestyle.

Should the True Buddha practitioner adopt a strict vegetarian lifestyle?

My answer to this is: `It`s up to you.`

But any meal-eating practitioner must purify their meat by `blowing a gust of air` and reciting the Manjusri Deliverance Mantra. 
This is applying the Tantric method to deliver the souls of the animals, transforming the meal into purified food. 

Upon offering merits to the soul of the animal whose meat is to be consumed, the meat can thus be eaten. 

This is because when you have extended your compassion and delivered the soul, there exists no bond of negative karmic affinity between you and the animal soul.

The views held by the Sutric and Tantric traditions on taking meat and vegetarian meals are different, but please remember this verse expounded by the Buddha:
One mouthful of pure water 
Contains eighty four thousand worms 
If you do not recite a mantra 
It is as good as killing.

Such subtle truth must be discerned carefully!

Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma Vihara
True Buddha School

26-6-2011 Refrain from Killing 切勿杀生

The Aura of Wisdom 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環.

CHAPTER 30 - Refrain from Killing

A Tantric lineage guru was fishing by the riverside.
A young boy approached him and asked, `The Buddhist precepts do not advocate killing. So why do you kill?`

The guru turned around and looked at the kid, started laughing, and said, `You were once fished by me.`

Padmasambhava once killed all the robbers, bandits and vicious villains living in Butcher City who had committed murder and arson, and then employed the most compassionate deliverance practice to purify their souls, and sent them to the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss instantaneously.

In these two examples, it would appear that the Tantric gurus were killing living beings.
But in actual fact, they were exercising the most compassionate means of deliverance.
Their intention was not to kill, but to deliver. 
Such is true salvation and deliverance for humankind.

My analysis of this situation is as follows:
The Sutra tradition teaches non-killing, and encourages the deliverance of life.
Hence, the protection of animal life is in keeping with this sense of compassion, which grows with such acts of benevolence. 

However, the so-called killings performed by Tantric gurus are in reality the deliverance of sentient beings, touching the soul level with a deeper compassion, liberating and purifying them so that their souls may seek rebirth in the Buddha Pure Land.

In truth, all Tantric practitioners who have not reached the level of spirituality attained by the lineage gurus must abide by the Five Precepts and Ten Virtues set as the essential disciplinary codes of Buddhism.

If one can perform the act of killing followed by deliverance, one's spiritual attainment is equal to the Tathagata Dharma Nature, whose ground of fruition is perfect and complete, and as such, can draw sentient beings to itself by incredible means!

Today`s Tantric practitioners barely scratch the surface of the Tantric doctrines. 
Far from reaching the stage of buddhahood, their behaviour shows great lack of discipline and displays unkindness towards others. 

Hence, it is harmless to learn of a practice such as deliverance through killing, but they should never perform it under any circumstances. 
Instead of helping to deliver any souls, they would bring harm to the Tantric School and its teachings.
Be careful! Be careful!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Haha! After reading Guru's stance on the Killing, please refrain from Killing when you are not able to ensure you can deliver the souls to Pureland!


Remember the Lotus mudra I shared the usage of?
Practice often on those already killed or dead first.
Your Boddhicitta will give strength to your deliverance.

Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma Vihara
True Buddha School

26-6-2011 GM inspects Jingye's Shrine

On the 24 June 2011 at about 16:35hours, I saw GM walking along the above towards the Shrine.
He was at where Lotus Wenqiang [3rd row] is sitting & he turned & smile at me. I was about 10-12 feet behind him.
{The truth is I am at home sitting in front of my laptop, posting blog articles; answering fellow students on Facebook & I got a vision of GM walking towards the shrine & myself following him.}

Haha! Believe it or not, up to you.

At 16:40 I texted Lotus Chris: My dears, how's things? Good news! GM already at the shrine!

He immediately called me. He was just as shocked by my message.
They have just started to unload stuff they transported from old office.
Lotus Helen just brought in GM's picture mounted on a box stand.
They were discussing where to put this when my message was received.

The TIMING is amazingly exact!

Well, GM always inspect event venue before the actual day of the events!

I shared this with all attendees of the Shrine's initialization yesterday too.

Aren't we in TBS very very blessed to have a Root Guru that cares for everyone of us?

Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma Vihara
True Buddha School

25-6-2011 净业坛城开光 Pure Karma's Shrine Initialization

See how happy are we? 

Now we can be seriously concentrating on cultivation too! Hahaha!

The Dharma current was fantastic. We all enjoyed ourselves. 

The food offerings is also fantastic & we had a good party after cultivation.

Amituofo

Lotuschef 

Pure Karma Vihara

True Buddha School

25-6-2011 The Little Lotuschef in Heavenly Realm.

This is drawn by Lotus Yew Chung, one of TBS' foremost artist.

I described the Little Lotuschef that was attending school in the Heavenly Realm & viola!

Talents!!!

Many in TBS are truly talented.

Did you all get the feeling this is a mischievous 8-year old lotus child?

Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma Vihara
True Buddha School

25-6-2011 你怎么可以拜活人？

HOW CAN U PRAY TO SOMEONE THAT IS STILL ALIVE?

• • Ry: 嗨法师，我到哈弗乐路的电油站。一名打材油
    
    
    的服务员给我服务。当他看到我玻璃镜子上贴了
    
    
    师尊圣像，他告诉我他已皈依10年了。
    
    
    后来发生了事故，他就不再提真佛宗也不认为是
    
    
    真佛宗弟子。
    
    
    他问：你怎么可以拜一个活着的人？
    
    
    他还告诉我他的朋友是因为这样才死的。
    
    
    我觉的不快，也没回答他，笑笑便走了。
    
    
    
    
    我: 可怜的家伙。我们不是拜而是学习如何找我们
    
    
    本来就有的佛性。我们都是佛。
    
    
    我今天贴了一遍关于成佛的文章，去读吧。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, dear readers, are you praying to GM or are you learning from him?

Why did this person blamed GM for his friend's death, we don't know?

But harboring this kind of bitterness through Misconception is truly very sad.

In Buddhism, we are potential Buddhas, & I have often stress that we find from within our Buddha nature. GM is a Guru that guides & helps us find that Buddha nature from within ourselves.

WE ultimately take refuge with our own Buddha Nature & not like those who don't know how to cultivate, they pray to Deities & etc for blessings & to fulfill their various & most often ridiculous wishes which are mostly Greed based.

To ask for something, we have to give up something in exchange!

GM taught us to say sorry & repent & dedicate merits to our karmic negatives & all sentient beings. These will eventually neutralize our karmic negatives & at the same time make more friends.

Ask yourself frequently: 

What can I do for True Buddha School's efforts to save & help all sentient beings?

How can I lighten GM's load in propagating Dharma?

Drop the WHAT CAN I GET IN RETURN FOR DOING THIS? & DOING THAT?

Give thanks that you are not "Praying" to GM but learning from him!

Amituofo

Lotuschef

Pure Karma Vihara

True Buddha School 

24-6-2011 HOW CAN U PRAY TO SOMEONE THAT IS STILL ALIVE?你怎么可以拜活人？

Yet another coincidence or GM, the True Buddha, at work again?

I just posted article about attaining Buddhahood in this very body!

Hahaha!

• • Ry: Hi fashi, i went to a petrol kiosk at havelock 
    
    
    rd. Got a service crew pump diesel for me and he
    
    
    saw the pic of grand master that i display on my 
    
    
    windscreen. At first he told me that he had 
    
    
    already gui yi for ten years. Then he told me that 
    
    
    after something happen, he totally never mention 
    
    
    tbs and never regard himself as a student of tbs 
    
    
    anymore. Then he said, HOW CAN U PRAY TO 
    
    
    SOMEONE THAT IS STILL ALIVE? He say that 
    
    
    his friend died because of that. I was quite piss 
    
    
    off but i smile and went off without answering 
    
    
    him anything.
    
    
    Me: Poor fellow. We are not praying but learning 
    
    
    to find our own Buddha nature. We are buddhas 
    
    
    too.

I put up an article today about attaining buddhahood with this body. Go n read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, dear readers, are you praying to GM or are you learning from him?

Why did this person blamed GM for his friend's death, we don't know?

But harboring this kind of bitterness through Misconception is truly very sad.

In Buddhism, we are potential Buddhas, & I have often stress that we find from within our Buddha nature. GM is a Guru that guides & helps us find that Buddha nature from within ourselves.

WE ultimately take refuge with our own Buddha Nature & not like those who don't know how to cultivate, they pray to Deities & etc for blessings & to fulfill their various & most often ridiculous wishes which are mostly Greed based.

To ask for something, we have to give up something in exchange!

GM taught us to say sorry & repent & dedicate merits to our karmic negatives & all sentient beings. These will eventually neutralize our karmic negatives & at the same time make more friends.

Ask yourself frequently: 

What can I do for True Buddha School's efforts to save & help all sentient beings?

How can I lighten GM's load in propagating Dharma?

Drop the WHAT CAN I GET IN RETURN FOR DOING THIS? & DOING THAT?

Give thanks that you are not "Praying" to GM but learning from him!

Amituofo

Lotuschef

Pure Karma Vihara

True Buddha School 

24-6-2011 Attaining Budddhahood in this Very Body

The Aura of Wisdom 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環.

CHAPTER 29 - Attaining Budddhahood in this Very Body

Many students of Buddhism, upon studying the Sutric teachings, insist that it would take as long as three Asankhya kalpas to attain buddhahood.

A small kalpa is represented as 16,798,000 years, and twenty small kalpas add up to a middle kalpa.
Four middle kalpas form a mahakalpa, which is 1,343,840,000 years.
Hence, three Asankhya kalpas literally represent innumerable and unimaginable eons.

Therefore, these students of Buddhism do not agree with the Tantric Buddhist view that one can attain buddhahood in this very body.
But please read what is explicitly expounded in the Breakthrough Sermon (by Bodhidharma):

Student: `But the Buddha said, `Only after undergoing innumerable hardships for three Asankhya kalpas did I achieve enlightenment,` why do you now say that simply beholding the mind and over-coming the three poisons is liberation?`

Bodhidharma: `The words of the Buddha are true. But the three Asankhya kalpas refer to the three poisoned states of mind. What we call Asankhya in Sanskrit you call countless. Within these three poisoned states of mind are countless evil thoughts, and every thought lasts a kalpa. Such infinity is what the Buddha meant by the three Asankhya kalpas. Once the three poisons obscure your real self, how can you be called liberated until you overcome their countless evil thoughts? People who can transform the three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance into the three liberations are said to pass through the three Asankhya kalpas. But people of this final age are the densest of beings. They don`t understand what the Tathagata really meant by the three Asankhya kalpas. They say enlightenment is only achieved after endless kalpas and thereby mislead disciples to retreat from the path to buddhahood.`

This explains how the three Asankhya kalpas actually refer to the countless thoughts generated by the three poisons.
Every thought lasts a kalpa.
Thus, countless thoughts are transformed into countless kalpas as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges river.

To attain buddhahood in this very body, one only needs to remove the three poisons and instantly one shall transcend the three Asankhya kalpas, and attain buddhahood.

Why is attaining buddhahood in this very body possible with Tantric Buddhism?
My view is:
Buddha and I have become One. (the Emanation body)
Empowerment through Miraculous Transformation. (the Bliss body)
The Nature of Emptiness of the Dharma Realm. (the Truth body)

When one cultivates accordingly, one reaches attainment accordingly.

Tantric Buddhism involves the cultivation and attainment of the Emanation body, Bliss body and Truth body. Thus, the attainment of buddhahood in this very body is achievable.

Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma Vihara
True Buddha School

24-6-2011 Perfect Penetration of the Sutra and Tantra Teachings

The Aura of Wisdom 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環.

CHAPTER 27 - Perfect Penetration of the Sutra and Tantra Teachings

When I ascended the Dharma throne and expounded the Dharma to an assembly of two thousand lamas at the Drepung Loseling Monastery, I touched on `the Essentials of Tantric Cultivation`.

When I descended the throne, the Khenpo or abbot of the monastery said to me, `What you have just spoken is beyond their comprehension.`

`Why?` I was astonished.
The Khenpo then explained to me, `The lamas learn only the five sastras [Pramanavartika, Abhisamayalamkara, Madhamakavatara, Vinaya and Abhidharmakosha] of the Sutra tradition while studying here in the three major monasteries. Upon completion of their education, they then proceed to either the Upper Tantric College or Lower Tantric College, or other Tantric grwa tshang (colleges) to learn the Tantric teachings.`

His explanation certainly enlightened me.
Cultivation of the Tantric Dharma in Tibet requires one to study the Buddhadharma of the Sutra tradition for twelve years, following which one must spend another eight years cultivating according to the Tantra teachings. All in all, it takes twenty years of education before one gains a thorough understanding of the Sutra and Tantra teachings.

It goes without saying that the Tantric doctrines are indeed very precious.
In the past, when a person wished to receive transmission of a practice, he was required to make an offering of all his wealth, climb mountains and cross rivers, or take a long and hazardous journey before he could receive the empowerment.
Today, with the wide propagation of the True Buddha Tantric Dharma, we ought to treasure this opportunity offered to us to learn the Buddhadharma.

As Tantric practitioners, we should know that two schools of thought exist in Buddhism, the Sutra and the Tantra traditions.
The Sutra tradition tends to focus more on principle, whereas the Tantra tradition focuses more on practice to reach enlightenment.
The Sutra tradition offers the basic teaching of Buddhism, and it is important to learn the teachings of both traditions.
When practicing the Tantric teachings, one needs to brush up on the theoretical aspects of Buddhism.

Grounded with the proper views of Buddhism, one will not go astray while studying Tantric Buddhism.

The True Buddha School advocates the perfect interpenetration of the Sutra and Tantra teachings, though we begin with the Tantric practices.
When I deliver my Dharma talks, I place great emphasis on the The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lam Rim Chen Mo) and The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra (Nagakrim Chenmo) [both authored by Guru Tsongkhapa].

If the Sutra tradition is the shirt, then the Tantra tradition is the collar. 
There is no way one can forgo the shirt and wear only the collar.

Amituofo

Lotuschef

Pure Karma Vihara

True Buddha School

24-6-2011 Waltzing with Enlightenment - Change Name 改名字

Page 127 : 什么都不是

GM said: None of these.

What's in a Name?
It's just a representation mark/symbol of you only.
It is not your basic material. It is just another add-on only.
For example: Big master, venerable, lecturer, living buddha are all common names, I don't need them.
Because the are not basic/original material/nature.
Therefore, none of these.

Saintly students, decipher [None of these].
What are you?
Birth data, zodiac, name, ancestors, parents. male/female, education history, speciality, position, fame, career, money........

Fixing position for self, seriously give these  thorough scrutiny, does these represent your all?

When you affirmed that they do not  represent your all, then you realised you are [None of these].
Start searching from you are None of these for your basic nature, you will be enlighten.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WE really shouldn't put too  much weight on a Name & fall prey to those who con you for money just to change a name.
I sincerely hope we all listen to GM & be more discerning.

Ask yourself, What would GM think & how would GM react?
Then at least you have brought GM into your mind & wait for GM to guide you.

Names are given by your parents & Gurus. Treasure them.

Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef

Edited 25 May 2017

24-6-2011 改名字与改运

20-6-2011 Changing Name & Fortune 改名字与改运

师尊文集220 - 当代法王答疑惑。 114-7页。

This is a request from fellow student asking for the Chinese Version.

Enjoy!

Amituofo

Lotuschef

Pure Karma Vihara

True Buddha School

24-6-2011 Event Notice 活动通告

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

I am here would like to invite you to join the Fire Puja activity which will be lead by Lotus-Chef Fa-Shi. 

Venue: Nirvana Memorial Garden Singapore (950 Old Choa Chu Kang Road)

Time: 10am 

Bus pick up at behind Jurong East MRT Station 9:15am

Kindly contact Yew Sin 81812449 or Annie 91795381 for registration.

Your support to this event much appreciated.

Thanks,

Amituofo

Lotus Yew Sin

各位师兄/师姐，大家好。

在下个星期六(2/7)将恭请莲厨法师带领大家在新加坡富贵山庄供修护摩。

到时法师将让与会同修亲自下供。

时间早上10点，将会有巴士在9:15am予Jurong East地铁站接送。

请大家踊跃参加。联络有星师兄兄81812449或立燕师姐91795381报名，

并告知是否乘搭所提供巴士。

名额有限请尽早报名。

阿弥陀佛。

莲花有星

24-6-2011 Fetus Spirit 水子灵

H called me one morning & said: GM gave me a new assignment!
Seems in her sleep Gm came & instruct her to help this friend [E] of her co-worker.
She is to chant Dharani & dedicate merits to the Karmic negatives of E & her son.

History: E's son, D, is 5 years old. Few months back, he suddenly refused to go to school for no reason.
Then he refused to eat. Somehow, when he eats he vomits, so he refused to eat hence. This is sudden in onset too. He throws tantrums frequently & overall, he is just like another person altogether.

E brought him round to all the GPs nearby for medical consultations but none of them can heal D.

Co-worker of H told her & asked her whether can get me to help have a look & see whether can do anything for E & her son.

H would like me to meet E on coming Friday as she has a half day off that day & can bring E & her son for the meeting.
I have a signal that says no need to meet E.
So I told H that since GM gave her the assignment, best she continue.
Then H told me that after she dedicated chanting merits as instructed by GM to D & E, D actually started to eat that very day.
So doing as per GM's instructions really can help D & E.
Then H told me about fetus that E has aborted.
I told her then, that the fetus spirit is causing D to be sick & unmanageable.

Best advise is for the mother to say sorry & do a bardo delivery for them.
If the mother not willing to do something to pay her karmic debts, I don't see the point in meeting her.

Next afternoon, I called H & she said she has to stay home & continue to chant & dedicate merits so she can't join us that evening.
Haha! I told her she should offer lotuses & etc in dedication to fetus spirit & the Karmic negatives as well & speed up the process.
She thought GM said dedicate merits so she didn't think to use the lotuses & incense offerings as well.

Well, I got her to get the names & address & I did the offerings for them & the offerings burn well denoting that acceptance is good.

Fetus spirits can come & disturb the live children as they feel resentment & hatred for the mother & live siblings.
Please try not to abort any fetus or if you had done so, then please give them a good send-off.
Don't let them get trap by those unscrupulous & control them & keep them working for them to make money.

Fetus spirits as GM said are normally very hard to negotiate with. Don't give up, continue to say sorry please.

Amituofo
Lotuschef
TBS
Pure Karma Vihara

24-6-2011 Mahabodhicitta, the Mind of Perfect Enlightenment

The Aura of Wisdom 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環.

CHAPTER 26 - Mahabodhicitta, the Mind of Perfect Enlightenment

We are aware that the path of cultivation can take the Hinayana or Mahayana path.
The fruition of Hinayana can be classified as the Sravaka bodhi (hearer) and Pratyekabuddha bodhi (solitary realizer).
The fruition of Mahayana is Supreme Bodhi, the highest Perfect Enlightenment attained upon the fruition of Buddhahood.

Actually, the arousal of Mahabodhicitta is simply the arousal of Unexcelled Perfect Enlightenment.

Mahabodhicitta is the mind required to actualize the bodhisattva way: liberating all sentient beings dwelling in the four forms of birth, the six realms of transmigration and the nine states of reality so that they may enter into Nirvana. 
This mind is infinite and endless, hence it is termed Mahabodhicitta.


I, Living Buddha Lian-sheng, vow to liberate sentient beings in the Saha world in all of my lifetimes, and in so doing I am willing to sacrifice myself completely.
If the hells are not empty, I shall not attain buddhahood. This vow making is essentially Mahabodhicitta.

Having made vows, one must put them into practice.

If someone vows to establish the world`s largest religious community, build the world`s largest monastery, and form the world`s largest charitable organization, such an arousing of bodhicitta is quite great.

But it pales in comparison to the act of liberating beings from the four forms of birth (oviparous, as with birds; viviparous, as with mammals; moisture or water-born, as with worms and fish; and metamorphic, as with moths from chrysalises) and the six realms (deva, human, asura, hell, hungry ghost, and animal) through multiple lifetimes.

The True Buddha practitioner must arouse the mind of Great Perfect Enlightenment in his or her cultivation and actions.
One must remember that we are not doing this for ourselves, but for the sake of sentient beings, for they always come first.
As for us, we come last. Only then can we reduce the entanglement of karma and attain enlightenment within this lifetime.

On the other hand, the attachment to my temple, my territory, my fame, and my fortune is anything but Mahabodhicitta.

Mahabodhicitta means putting sentient beings before oneself, and certainly not thinking about oneself! 

So if it isn`t Mahabodhicitta, what state of mind is it? The answer is simple: It is a selfish state of mind.

Amituofo
Lotuschef
TBS
Pure Karma Vihara