People are asking about Wealth Deities. I translated an article a while ago..let me re-post it here.
The Practice of the Wealth Deities of the Five Directions
The Practice of the Wealth Deities of the Five Directions
Translated by Alice Yang and Darrell McLaughlin from a Dharma
Teaching by Grand Master Sheng-yen Lu, April 10, 1993, in Los
Angeles.
This Purification Ceremony has been collectively organized
the masters and practitioners of Rey Tseng Buddhist Association,
and the Miu Yin Tang and Ming Chi Tang chapters. I hereby
supplicate that the Light of Buddha prevail everywhere. May all
endeavors be successful and may all enjoy good health. May all
businesses prosper and may all attain perfection in their
cultivation.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf Business and Dharma}
\bigskip
The purpose of my visit to Los Angeles this time is to
transmit the secret of the Tantric practice of the Wealth Deity,
as well as to give to the audience the empowerment of the Wealth
Deities of the Five Directions Practice. Before I arrived, I
learned that Los Angeles has many Buddhist activities.
Many Dharma ceremonies, many lectures on expounding the Buddhist
sutras, and a big ceremony of the Three Stages Precept Ordination,
are being held in Los Angeles. Also, there are many masters
who are giving a series of Dharma teachings. Today, seeing such a
large audience, I do feel deeply grateful. [audience laughter,applause] Today's attendence is not bad. Why is that? While the
number of True Buddha School students is booming in local chapters
around the world, the chapters in Los Angeles are drooping.
[audience laughter] For that reason, I certainly had to visit you.
Los Angeles is supposed to be a mountain city, right? Isn't
there a mountain somewhere around Los Angeles? Such a wonderful
mountain city; such a wonderful geographic environment; such a
wonderful harmony among the people! This is undoubtedly a great
place for our True Buddha School and the True Buddha Tantric Dharma
to flourish and thrive.
Let's talk about Dharma later; business should be brought up first.
[audience laughter] These days, even monks have a hard time
managing the business of a temple. In America and Canada, most
people's living environment is not very satisfactory, so they
gradually become less generous. [audience laughter] Due
to a lack of sufficient donations, the temples in American and
Canada are very likely to encounter financial crises and collapse,
as when the stock market crashes. Either situation-the stock market
collapsing or a temple dissolving-would be very dangerous.
Therefore, I have been thinking of changing my Dharma title.
Forget about the title "Living Buddha Lien-shen." That title
doesn't attract many people. How about Supreme Master of the
Eastern Sea? [audience laughter] If anyone asks where I come from,
I should say that I am from the Mount Rainier, which is a majestic,
snowy mountain in Seattle. If anyone asks what kind of Dharma I
transmit, I will reply that I specialize in guiding students on the
pathway to the Wealth Deities! By the way, if there are wooden
boards, the next time we do the ceremonial entrance, please arrange
that each master is seated on a wooden board and is carried into
the hall!
If this flamboyancy still cannot attract a larger audience
and lead to better business, then I give up. I will quit! [audiencelaughter] If I quit teaching, I will sell the Rey Tseng Temple.
[audience laughter] Then I will not teach any Wealth Deities
Practices. I am just joking, though, don't pay any attention.
Dharma is Dharma; business is business. They don't interfere with
each other. However, business still relates to Dharma and, in the
same sense, Dharma relates to business, because they both mention
"money."
You don't believe it? The Kuan-si-yin Universal Gate Sutra that you
just recited mentions money. Did you not come across this
sentence, "Aksayamati [Inexhaustible Mind Bodhisattva]
again addressed the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, saying `Out of pity
for us, accept this necklace!' " Do you know how much the necklace
was worth? "It costs hundreds and thousands of ounces of gold." My
goodness! I really appreciated that when I read this sentence! If
I had been present at that time, I would have convinced
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to divide it into three shares. One
would have been offered to Shakyamuni Buddha, another to
Prabhutaratna Buddha; and the last share would go to me. [audiencelaughter, applause] Too bad, I missed my chance! If I had been
there, I would have asked for my share from Shakyamuni Buddha.
It was worth hundreds and thousands of ounces of gold! That is
a lot! We could build not just one but several Hsi Lai Temples with
that much money. Today, the reason that I am transmitting the
practice of the Wealth Deities is to cheer up the students in Los
Angeles. Don't look so down all the time. [audience laughter] What
is wrong? All other chapters around the world are booming-only L.A.
is not. To be honest with you, I was even very worried while I was
still in Seattle. What, if on the day of the ceremony, there was
only one row of Masters on the stage looking out at only one row of
students in the audience? If the propagation of the Dharma in
L.A. continues to progress the way it is now, perhaps in the future
only Lotus Hui Wen will be sitting there, right in the cener of all
the seats, with absolutely no one around him! I considered bringing
some money for my four-day stay in L.A.-just in case that I had to
pay for my dinner. [audience laughter] Just kidding!
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf Offer As You please}
\bigskip
Most temples request a fixed donation for services.
We are quite different. Our Rey Tseng Temple is very special ---
all offerings in exchange for services are voluntary. No
matter whether it be for taking refuge, registering for any
ceremony, setting name plaques up for one's ancestors, or asking
for any other services, one can pay whatever amount one likes.
[audience applause] The new regulation at Rey Tseng Temple
provides for free dinners before the group cultivation on Saturdays
and one still need not feel it is necessary to make a donation.
[audience applause] Another difference with Rey Tseng Temple is
that all the fees for the Repentance Ceremony are voluntary, and
this includes the Water Repentance, Emperor Liang Repentance, Great
Compassion Repentance and the Medicine Buddha Repentance. Even when
we are requested to go to a particular place to perform a chanting
service, the fee is still voluntary.
We are not running the temple as a business, so the fee is
voluntary. However, some others do know how to run a temple as a
business and are quite successful at it! [audience laughter] But,
cheer up, today you all will learn the secret of the Jambhala
Practice. If one understands the secret of the practice, one will
become rich. Even if one does not ask for money, it will be sent to
one's door anyway. Even though, for me, everything is voluntary, if
someone gives me a present, I will take it. And surely, later,
I will happily accept the offering for the empowerment.
[audience laughter and applause]
Recently the Zhen Gui chapter in Holland, requested that its four
story building be transferred to my name, becoming part of my
assets. I was also offered the whole building belonging to the Lian
Yuen Chapter in Malaysia. They asked me to go there to sign the
contract. If I signed it, the whole chapter and building would
become my personal property. Ah! I tell you all, I am not that
stupid! [audience laughter] I am not going to accept these
gifts. Why? Why not take such real estate of great value, ones
which are approximately ten times larger than the Rey Tseng Temple
in Los Angeles? Why dont' I accept them? Because I don't want to
pay for the rent! They want me to pay for the rent! How many days
in my whole life can I live in Holland's Zhen Gui Chapter, or in
Malaysia's Lian Yuen Chapter? I will probably never use it! You
don't think that I am that stupid, do you? [audience laughter] If
you want to use it, you'd better pay the rent yourself! Don't try
to trap me! These days students are getting smarter, and I am
getting more stupid. (laughter) It is hard to be a Grand Master
these day. It's better to be smart! If I accepted every gift
offered to me, I would be in trouble.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Lineage of Tantra}
\bigskip
I have been a student of Tantrayana, and now it is time for me to
proclaim my four major lineages. Firt, my lineage in Nyingmapa is
from Monk Liu Ming. Second, my lineage in Kargyu is from the
Sixteenth Karmapa. Third, my lineage in Gelugpa is from Guru
Tubten Taerchi. Fourth, my lineage in Sakyapa is from Skaya
Cheng-kung.
During my stay in Hong Kong, I visited my Master in
Gelugpa. He said, "Surely, you received the Gelugpa lineage from
me!. Why do the rumors say that the Grand Master does not
havelineage from the Gelugpa and Tantrayana? What is going on? Guru
Tubten Taerchi is still alive! How did people make up such a lie?"
He bestowed upon me a sacred emblem-a Dharma Wheel made of
diamonds, which is very expensive. My Master told me, "This
diamond-made sacred emblem will prove your lineage from me. It is
the only on the face of the earth." I (Grand Master) didn't bring
it with me this time because it is too heavy to carry
around. [audience applause] If there is a chance anther time, I
will show it to you.
The sacred emblem really is made with diamonds. As soon as
this beautiful Dharma Wheel came into sight, I asked my Master,
"Are the diamonds genuine or fake? Is it made in America or
Russia?"(audience laughter) My Master replied, "Everything I use is
genuine, including the diamonds. This Dharma Wheel is made of
diamonds and is the only one in this world; it proves the receipt
of authentic lineage from me!" In the future, I will elaborate on
my sacred emblems from the four Tantric sects in order to fortify
students' faith, to reassure you all about my authentic lineage
inheritance. I do have true lineage; I am not a charlatan who is
out to cheat people.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf How to Make Offerings}
\bigskip
When we practice Buddhism, we have to learn to render offerings to
the Buddhas. Offerings are included in our Four Preliminary
Practices. As far as offerings are concerned, if the offering is
presented to the Buddhas, one should offer whatever one likes
oneself. That would be the most appropriate choice. Some may ask,
"What if the offering is cheap?" It is all right! As long as one
likes the offering oneself, then the Buddhas will take their
pleasure from the pleasure that sprouts in one's own heart. Buddhas
don't have any particular likes or dislikes. Last night when I was
giving a teaching at Rey Tseng Buddhist Association, I also
mentioned that Buddhas, since they abide in the Ultimate
Realization, don't have any particular likes or dislikes. So, one
may offer whatever one likes to Buddhas. However, regarding Devas,
one should pay attention to the appropriateness of the offerings.
Devas still possess personalities. They have not reached the level
of equanimity, and so still have likes and dislikes.
Since Devas have their preferences, only the proper offering will
please them. One should avoid upsetting Devas by presenting
offerings they don't like. Remember to bring appropriate offerings
when you visit Devas. You all know what I like, right? You may
offer me what I like. [laughing] If your offering is what I don't
like, I may not even bother to pay attention to you.
In Southeast Asia, there are people who keep the spirits of
dead children to perform black magic. Have you heard about this?
What do they offer to these child spirits? The child spirits like
candies, cookies, and toys, such as bright marbles, poker cards,
rubber bands and such things as they used to play with as kids.
They enjoy these kinds of offerings quite a bit. It is not
necessary to buy them electric toys! These children are dead many
generations, so they like traditional toys. The spirits of children
who died more recently are not used for black magic; only those
from many generations ago are suitable. So, the child spirits who
are used for black magic still like toys such as rubber bands,
poker cards, bright marbles, etc.. Such offerings please them a
great deal!
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf Wealth Deity Practice}
\bigskip
Why are there Wealth Deity Practices in Tantra? By taking
advantage of people's essential desires, Tantra provides the most
expedient pathway to entice people to step through its door.
The knowledge of Buddhism is very profound; most people are not
capable of understanding it when they first encounter it. When,
however, like the subject in today's talk, is on how to make money,
a crowd of people fills every seat.
Before I came down here on this trip, some people called me in
Seattle and asked, "Grand Master, you have lectured
many times on Worldly Dharma, would you please transmit
Other-Worldly Dharma instead? Why do you continue talking about
the Wealth Deity practice?" Don't you realize that if the topic for
today was Other-Worldly Dharma, there might only have been two
people in the audience? Who would these two people have been? "One
person is dead, and the other has not been born yet!"
[This is a very famous Chinese saying from Chinese Puppet Show;,
underlying meaning is that "there are no such people".]
[laughter] In that case, to whom would I transmit the
Other-Worldly Dharma? Therefore, I shall stick with the Wealth
Deity Practice. See --- everyone is really exhilarated and anxious
to listen to today's teaching. There are five major Wealth
Dieties[Jambhalas] in Tantra, who are different from the Wealth
Deities of the Five Directions that will also be transmitted today.
When a Tibetan Living Buddha makes an appearance, people rush to
see him. It seems that empowerments such as Yamantaka, Hevajura,
and Guhyasamaja, are rarely given, due to the complexity of the
practice. However, people like Wealth Deities so, when a Living
Buddha makes an appearance, it is very like that he will transmit
the Wealth Deity Practice, as it is the most popular Tantric
practice. Why are there only five major Wealth Deities? One might
say that the family of a Wealth Deity consists of a Son, Father,
Mother, Grandmother, and Grandfather. So, it is totally five.
Actually, they have different titles. The five most
important Jambhalas [Tantric Wealth Deities] are the White
Jambhala, Red Jambhala, Yellow Jambhala, Black Jambhala, and the
Wealth Deva King. If, however, one intends to practice their yoga,
one must know the secrets in order to obtain responses. Otherwise,
no matter how hard one practices, one's efforts will be to no
avail.
I will give an example of my own, not one from my students. I used
to live in an illegally constructed house. The best image to
describe the condition of my house is that if it was pouring
outside the house, it would be sprinkling inside the house.
[laughing] My living room had multiple functions: kitchen,
bathroom, living room, and bedroom. If I was taking a shower, a
sign would be posted on the door "in shower." [laughing] Those
were my living conditions at that time. Now my living conditions
have changed, and this is due to the blessings and responses from
practicing the Jambhala Practice. Keep in mind: continuously
practicing Jambhala Yoga will eventually enable one to become a
Deity(who can give out great blessing to others) What Jambhala Yoga
have I practiced? I have practiced the White Jambhala Yoga. What is
the secret of practicing the White Jambhala Yoga? I will reveal
part of the secret today. If one desires to penetrate the entire
depth of the secret, then one has to make a personal effort to
beseech. But today I will clearly explain the Practice of the
Wealth Deities of the Five Directions, and I will reveal one of the
many secrets to each of the Jambhala Yogas.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Secret of the White Jambhala Yoga}
\bigskip
The White Jambhala likes to take a shower, so the best
offering for him is bathing water. What is bathing water? One may
put some soap or soap powder into water to make bathing water.
After the practice, one may dip one's fingers into the bathing
water, sprinkle the water into the air, and visualize the water
transforming into one hundred dollar bills, each with the picture
of a white-haired old man on it. Don't visualize these as one
dollar bills! That would take too long and not be very efficient at
all. One may then sprinkle the bathing water to the east, west,
north and south, as if it were raining. When the money is falling,
one may wish to be crushed by the mountain of money. [audiencelaughter] If one can be buried under such a mountain-like pile of
money, it guarantees that one will be very rich.
The secret of the White Jambhala is the bathing water. Since he is
white in color, he likes to take baths to become whiter and whiter.
As one sprinkles the bathing water, one is praying that money will
be falling from the air, surrounding one. As one sits there
sprinkling the bathing water, one will eventually feel as if one is
sitting in a well that is made of hundred dollar bills. One becomes
"a fog in a well" --- this is not too bad.
I often visualize that the money will start to pile up as high as
the houses, extending until the pile falls down and crushes me.
[audience laughter] It is not bad to be buried under a pile of
money. Anyway, the secret of the White Jambhala practice is the
bathing water.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Secret of the Red Jambhala Practice}
\bigskip
What about the Red Jambhala Practice? The Red Jambhala has
vowed that if a Tantra practitioner uses the vajra scepter to touch
his crown, he cannot keep from sneezing. When he sneezes, the
treasure will fall from his nostrils. That is the secret to it!
Don't underestimate this secret; that could cost you thousands or
millions of dollars. When one visualizes, one should emphasize the
visualization of the nose so that the nostrils extend out as far as
possible. It is best if his nose can go all the way to the bank.
[audience laughter]. As the nose extends, the nostrils will enlarge
and a vajra hook will come out to grab all the cash in the bank and
bring it back to the practitioner. When one uses the vajra scepter
to touch the crown of the Red Jambhala, he will remember his vow
immediately spilling out the treasure to the practitioner. Can you
visualize that? It is very easy. [audience laughter] Simply extend
the nose east to Seattle,(no, Seattle is located to the north;
shift to the north then). [audience laughter] If the nose extends
to the east, it will reach New York, to the west will be mainland
China, to the south will be Central or South America. The nose can
extend according to your imagination. The vajra hook inside the
nose can hook back whatever one desires. It is the secret of the
Red Jambhala. I was kidding at the beginning of my Dharma teaching,
but the teaching now is real. One should take notes. If later one
forgets and calls back to ask for more details, then one has to
make an
offering. [audience laughter]
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Secret of the Yellow Jambhala Practice}
\bigskip
The Yellow Jambhala is one of our Eight Personal Deities, also
called Vaisravana. The secret of the Yellow Jambhala Practice
relates to the swollen big toe on his right foot. If one calls upon
the Five Dhyana Buddhas, they will empower the Yellow Jambhala and
alleviate the pain of his swollen toe. Once he is not suffering,
he will not hold his mongoose so tightly. Then, the mongoose will
open his mouth and spill out some treasure. Remember to visualize
clearly, with great concentration. One student wrote to me, saying
that every time he visualized the mongoose opening his mouth,
rocks would fall out immediately! How can you be so silly! Can you
not visualize rocks as diamonds? But, the student just could not
visualize diamonds. When he tried to visualize the diamonds, rocks
would show up right away. I then suggested that he open a
construction company, dealing with rock and sand. If he engaged in
any career related to rock or sand, the company should be
successful. I replied to his letter and said that, since rocks
which the mongoose spilled out could be utilized as bricks or as
the foundation of houses and other construction, he should choose
a career which involves rock and sand.
One may visualize whatever one desires spilling out from the
mongoose's mouth. The importance lies in the empowerment from the
Five Dyana Buddhas: Om Hum Jam Sa Ah-the five syllable mantra.
While receiving the empowerment from the Five Dyana Buddhas, the
pain in his swollen big right toe will be alleviated. This is the
secret to it.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Secret of the Black Jambhala Practice}
\bigskip
The Black Jambhala's face is black and his heart is also black.
Since his heart is black, so he often has chest pains. When one
visualizes, one should visualize that the heart of the Black
Jambhala cools down and its color transforms to a soothing green.
At that moment, Black Jambhala will bestow money upon you. This is
the secret of the Black Jambhala Practice.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Secret of the Wealth Deva King Practice}
\bigskip
Besides the four Jambhala Practices, the Wealth Deva King is also
enshrined by many people. The Wealth Deva King holds a
Dharma Banner. There is a secret in his practice. When one
calls upon the Wealth Deva King, one should, in advance, make a
small Dharma Crown of jewelry for him. Each time the practitioner
does the Wealth Deva King Practice, he can let the Wealth Deva King
wear the jewel crown. After practice, one should take the
crown away and keep it for the next practice. Why is that? If the
Wealth Deva King becomes too used to wearing the fancy jeweled
crown, he will not grant your wishes. In other words, if one asks
the Wealth Deva King for something once, then one should let the
Wealth Deva King wear the crown once; if one asks him for something
twice, then one should let him wear the crown twice. If one lets
the Wealth Deva King wear the jeweled crown all the time, he will
think, "This is mine now, so I don't have to grant your wish."
When the Wealth Deva King gets to wear the crown, he will be happy
and will grant your wish. Afterward, when one takes the crown away
from him, he will miss the crown and will be unhappy until he has
another chance to wear it again. When he wears it again, he will
appreciate it and will again grant one's wish. Thus, the secret of
the Wealth Deva Deity Practice is the crown. I have transmitted to
you the secrets of the Five Jambhalas Practice. If one follows the
correct liturgy and prepares the proper offerings, one should
receive the power of the refuge reliance and will obtain the
blessing.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Entrance to Buddhism}
\bigskip
Why do Buddhists concern themselves with money? When the
subject of money is brought up, doesn't it conflict with the
principles of Buddhism, which discourage people from greed?
Actually, there is a reason behind this. In Tantra, it is using the
base desires of sentient beings as bait to lead them to the
entrance to Buddhism. Once people have actually stepped through
the door of Buddhism, they will have a chance to hear and
learn the profound knowledge of the Dharma, and it is hoped that
they will go on to learn the greatest wisdom, Tathagata wisdom.
This is the method of Tantra.
When one practices the Jambhala practice and obtains money
from the blessings of the Jambhala, one should make a donation to
help the propagation of the Dharma. The more one gives, the more
merits one accumulates. It works in a cycle; as one gives, one's
merits increase, and good fortune will arrive. This is the cause
and effect that Tathagata talks about. In the samsaric world,
regardless of how wealthy one is, the fact is at the wealth does
not truly belong to one. However, money talks in this samsaric
world, so it is very powerful. Yet, in the whole Universe, the most
powerful thing is the Path; money is secondary.
When I was little, I heard this story from my mother. There was an
old lady, who was a pious believer in Buddhism. Every day, she
would recite the names of the Buddhas, circumambulate the
Buddhas, pay homage and do meditation. She especially liked one
temple and, although she was poor, she would always pick one flower
from her yard to take to the temple to offer to the Buddhas. As a
routine, she performed this ritual every day without fail; she
would pick one flower and sincerely offer it to the Tathagata in
the temple. Since she did the same thing every day, people were
accustomed to her appearance. No one paid her any particular
attention when she came. One day, as she entered the temple, she
felt that there was something strange happening. There were two
neat rows of monks --- old, young, high-status, big,little ---
everybody. They were even wearing their Dharma robes,
crowns, and malas. The whole troop looked very majestic. "Oh!"
The old lady was very touched because she thought that even the old
monks had come to welcome her. She had come to the temple for so
many years, it must be that the Tathagata was finally touched and
had told the abbot in a dream about the old lady's sincerity. "Ah!"
The old lady stumbled, but she was so touched that she got down and
crawled from the open space in front of the temple to the
Tathagata image enshrined in the temple shrine. There she
immediately offered him her one little flower. However, upon seeing
the crawling old lady, the old abbot did not move at all and kept
his palms closed. Not even paying any attention to the flower in
front of his eyes, he whispered, "Old lady! hurry up and hide
yourself somewhere! Our biggest benefactor is coming here soon.
We are all here to welcome him." The old lady was so disappointed!
"Heavens! ", she sighed, "They are not welcoming me at all. What
a waste of my tears! And I crawled up here for nothing."
After a while, the rich benefactor arrived, with many trucks of
rice and Dharma robes, which may have cost hundreds of thousands of
ounces of gold. When the offerings arrived, the monks, both young
and old, all became very busy, trying to serve the benefactor. Some
hurriedly got water to wash the benefactor's feet; some got water
to wash his face. What kind of tea was to be served to the
benefactor was not even a question. When regular benefactors came,
they were served regular tea. A more important benefactor would be
served a better quality tea. When the most important benefactor
came, he would definitely be served the best quality tea. How
unfair! But, money talks, even in the temple.
Now, if one becomes rich, one may get involved in charity. One
may become a an honorary board chairman --- one in name only.
Sometimes, I wonder when I will be offered with an honorary
doctoral degree. There was one monk who was an elementary school
dropout although he only stayed in America for one month, returned
to Taiwan with an honorary doctoral degree. He had just come to
America from Taiwan, and now he returned with an honorary doctoral
degree. He got his degree in Los Angeles. I have been living here
for so long. How come no one ever thinks of bestowing upon me an
honorary doctoral degree?
There was another monk who, after seeing how that other monk
acquired a honorary degree in California, hurried down to Los
Angeles. After only a week there, he received an honorary doctorate
of philosophy. Then, when he returned, he had new business cards
made. Somehow, he omitted printing the "honorary" in front of the
doctoral degree --- the cards showed that he was a doctor of
philosophy. But, if one checks his educational background, one
finds that he did not even graduate from elementary
school! Why was it so easy for him to get a doctoral degree? Money
talks! He donated the money to build a building for the college.
One building? How about a master's degree as a return? Hmm, one
row of buildings ? Okay! Here you go with a doctoral degree! These
are two monks who both have philosophy degrees. I was upset
because I thought that my knowledge should not be less than theirs.
Then, how come I still have only a bachelor's degree? Among our
students, if anyone is capable of establishing a university, he
should give his teacher (me) a real doctorate in philosophy.
[applause]
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Wealth Deities of the Five Directions}
\bigskip
Now, we come to the talk about the Wealth Deities of the Five
Directions. I am aware that one direction, two, three or four are
not helpful enough, so I will transmit the practice of the Wealth
Deities of the Five Directions.
This is the Dipper Lamp Method. Have you seen a dipper lamp?
Yesterday I visited the Rey Tseng Temple in Chicago. Oh, no, not
the Rey Tseng Temple in Chicago, which is in the process of
construction. I visited the Rey Tseng Temple in Los Angeles. There
were a few dipper lamps on the left side of the temple, but they
were not ready yet. I noticed that the lamps were positioned upside
down, [laughing] perhaps, it meant that the dipper lamps were not
ready to help business and make money yet. However, when you are on
your way to make Big Money, you have to position the dipper lamp
upright. The top of the dipper lamp is a canopy and, the bottom
base is full of rice and has a small light bulb on it. Then five
colored pennants are attached to the base on the appropriate sides,
corresponding to the directions. The East Wealth Deity is
represented by a yellow pennant, which is placed on the east side.
The West Wealth Deity is represented by a red one, which is placed
on the west side. The North Wealth Deity is represented by black
and placed to the north, and the Central one is represented by
white, which is placed in the center. After the lamp is lit, one
may recite the mantra, "Namo sam-man-do, moo-toh-nam, om, do-lo
do-lo de-wei, so-ha"
What a coincidence! Isn't it that the Local God Mantra? Indeed!
Local Gods are Wealth Deities, and they are the Wealth Deities
closest to the human realm. You may not know about this, but I do.
When I was in Taiwan, I had several statues enshrined at my house,
not only those of the five directions, but as many as twelve of
them, including Mr. Local God and Mrs. Local God. My house, Ling
Sheng Ching Tse, is located at Tai Zhong, Tai Pang Hsiang. I have
not gone back for so long that the number and address fades away
from my memory. Anyway, I have a great many Local God statues at
that old house.
What about the mudra? One should employ the Treasure Mountain
Mudra, which consists of interlacing the fingers of both hands
inward like a treasure mountain. When one does this practice, it is
to tell the Wealth Deities of the Five Directions to grasp the
treasure tightly in order to give it to one. This is the Treasure
Mountain Mudra, interlacing one's ten fingers inward.
What about the visualization? If one cannot visualize the
Five Wealth Deities, one can visualize the five different colors of
light descending from the spiritual realm, shining on the lamp to
enable it to generate more light. Then one must employ the
physical prostration to pay homage to the Wealth Deities. Prostrate
nine times to each direction of the Wealth Deities and ask them if
they have descended to the shrine. This is done by using the
prophecy blocks. If they have come, the prophecy blocks will show
one face up and another face down. One should recite the mantra and
form the mudra until all Wealth Deities have descended to the
altar. Upon their arrival, one may then beseech that one's wish be
granted. This is a secret practice of the True Buddha School.
As a matter of fact, wealth is predestined. When one was born,
one's wealth had already been predestined by Heaven. However, part
of the wealth still need one's own effort to obtain it. One needs
to work hard, to do business. One also needs to do meditation
practice, like practicing this yoga of the Wealth Deities of the
Five Directions. Through these practices, one increases one's
wealth.
One last method is the geomancy method, which is used to avoid
the leakage of the chi of the money. If the chi of the money
doesn't leak away, then one can accumulate a lot of money-money
bringing more and more money.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Closest Wealth Deity: the Local God}
\bigskip
As far as beseeching for wealth is concerned, there are five
kinds of Wealth Deities yoga in Tantrayana and the Wealth Deities
of the Five Directions, (also called the Dipper Lamp Method,) of
the True Buddha School. Why are the Wealth Deities so effective?
Since the Wealth Deities are the Local Gods, the devas that are
closest to the human realm, they can understand and help human
beings more quickly. If one asks the Wealth Deities to grant one's
wish and one's wish is still not granted, one might as well forget
about it.
One might ask the Tathagatas, whose status in the spiritual realm
is very high, to grant one's wish. Although the manifestation and
the light of Tathagata prevails everywhere, he is not a deva, so he
will only use the force of the karma to judge and observe one. If
such wish granting is allowed, Tathagata will ask the gods who are
on duty that day, that night or that year to carry out the action.
One should not ask wealth from Tathagata. When Tathagata checks
one's balance book of karma, he may find out that one still owes
the Tathagata in one's previous life. If that is the case, how can
Tathagata grant your wish when you ask? One should be grateful if
Tathagata doesn't get back what one owes him!
So one should not ask for money from Tathagata. One may want
to turn to other Great Bodhisattvas like Manjusri Bodhisattva,
Akasagarbha Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, etc. However
those Bodhisattvas are quite busy with the works of Buddhas.
The problems among human beings appear very trivial to
them. Anyway, they only take care of wisdom, not the money part.
For example, Akasagarbha Bodhisattva is concerned with the
Akasagarbha Wisdom, Manjusri Bodhisattva with the Ultimate Wisdom,
and the Samantabhdra Bodhisattva relates to the Ten Samantabhdra
Vows; all are other-worldly Dharma. They will not pay attention to
your wishes.
"Okay, then," you may say, "I will ask the City God Chen Huang
or the Mountain and Local Gods to help me then." There you go!
As these gods are very close to us here in the samsaric world, when
one sincerely prays to them, make sure to recite, "Namo sam-man-do,
moo-toh-nam, om,do-lo do-lo de-wei, so ha." Don't look down on the
earth mantra as it can generate very superior power. After reciting
it one hundred thousand times, one should be able to perceive the
light of the Local Earth God. When the Local Earth God come, it
will definitely bless one. If a pious personone recited the mantra
sincerely, and the Local Earth God still refused to bless him,
wouldn't the Local Earth God be too cruel? If everyday one bows
nine times to each of the Wealth Deities of the Five Directions,
won't the Wealth Deities be so moved that they transfer some wealth
to one?
The Local Earth God is your most intimate comrade; he is with
you all the time. He lives with you, right next to you. Since your
cultivation level may not be too high, you can only be with the
Local Earth God. The highly-achieved cultivator can be with
Bodhisattvas and Tathagatas. Yet, if one is still interested in
the profit, one should attempt to form an affinity with the Local
Earth God. If one doesn't pray to the Local Earth God, one will
just follow the path of karma. However, if one prays to the Local
Earth God, the Local Earth God will manifest and guide one in the
right direction. Therefore, one should recite the mantra one
hundred thousand times. One will then be blessed.
If anyone recites a Tantric mantra one hundred thousand times,
the powers will be generated --- purification, magnetization,
enrichment and subjugation. Yet, one has to receive empowerment
from one's master in order to generate such power. After one
recites the mantra one hundred thousand times and then prays to the
Local Earth God, the Local Earth God will definitely bless one.
It is possible that one does not bring wealth from birth, or that
one is predestined to be a beggar or a bum and to have all kinds of
bad luck. Even worst, whomever works with you will encounter the
bad luck as well. But as one recites the mantra, the merit of
reciting is already being accumulated. When one recites the Local
Earth God Mantra a hundred thousand times, and supplicates daily to
the Local Earth God, one will definitely receive a spiritual
response. One's body will radiate red light or yellow light. Red
light means that one has accumulated good merits and the light is
from the Buddha. When one is blessed by yellow light, one may
benefit financially. If someone owes you money, the Local Earth
God will move that money to you.
If one does not clearly understand the practice of the Wealth
Deities of the Five directions, one may refer to my newest
published book, A Collection of Extraordinary Tantric
Transformations. It elaborates the details of the practice. True
Buddha News also had an article that teaches one how to practice;
one may refer to it for instruction.
The first requirement is to receive empowerment and the second
requirement is to recite the mantra one hundred thousand times.
If one is ill and recites this mantra one hundred thousand times,
one's sickness will be cured. In fact, this mantra can even help
one to gain health. It also covers purification, magnetization,
enrichment and subjugation. No matter which mantra one recites, as
long as one recites that particular mantra one hundred thousand
times, the power will be generated. However, in order to inherit
the power of blessing, one must receive the empowerment from a
genuine mater prior to reciting the mantra. If this still is not
clear, one may refer to the True Buddha News and my book A
Collection of Extraordinary Tantric Transformations.
The Wealth Deities practice is the expedient yoga in Tantrayana,
but the ultimate practice at the end is in the Other-Worldly
Dharma; that is, to attain Buddhahood in the present body.
The Shingon Sect in Japan teaches the three lower parts of
Tantrayanan which are the theory, practice and yoga.
This is characteristic of the teaching of Japanese Tantra. The
Tibetan Esoteric School also covers the three lower parts of the
teaching. All practices before the Personal Deity yoga are
considered external practices. When we start to practice chi and
channel, we come to the stage of the second level empowerment,
which is the esoteric practice. The practice of the "light drop" is
part of the third level of empowerment, the inner esoteric
teaching. When the fourth level of empowerment is received, it is
then called the Great Completion.
We Tantra practitioners should clearly understand the procedure of
the liturgy. Once one finishes practicing the Jambhala yoga, one
should continue practicing the external practices: Personal Deity
Yoga, Guru Yoga, and the Four Preliminary Practices, and keep
practicing until one receives yogic response. Then, one can
practice the following yogas step by step: Treasure Vase, Inner
Flame, Opening One's Channel, Five Chakras, Highest Tantra, Five
Vajra, and Great Completion. When one attains the stage of the
Great Completion, one can become Buddha in the present body.
Practice in order to progress from "attachment to forms" to "no
form", and from Worldly Dharma to Other-Worldly Dharma.
I hope that one will not become too attached to the Jambhala
practice; instead, one should accomplish the Tantra Practices ---
the external practices and internal practices, on up
to the esoteric practice and high esoteric practice. One will have
the four empowerments; at that time, what one is able to accomplish
in these practices is a far greater achievement than that of the
Jambhala practice.
According to the sacred teaching of the Tathagata, it is the
Buddha's wish that all beings can attain Buddhahood. In the view of
the Tathagata, all behaviors of sentient beings possess the nature
of Buddha. All sentient beings are Buddhas; there is no exception.
It is only because we want to save sentient beings that we talk
about this Wealth Deity practice. If it were not for that purpose,
Tathagata would only talk about the Supreme Dharma directly.
However, He has to get people interested first, so He utilizes
people's essentialdesire --- greed as a bait to lead people to the
pathway of practice. The nature of greed can be transformed to
Tathagata; the nature of one's anger can be transformed to Vajra;
the nature of one's ignorance can be transformed to Bodhisattva. If
one can transform the greed, anger, and ignorance to Tathagata,
Vajra, and Bodhisattva, one can attain Buddhahood.
The motivation to transmit the Jambhala practice in answer to
one's greed. However, the practice is not to encourage one to be
more and more greedy. It is to lead one to the path of doing the
practices. When one steps into the door of cultivation and acquires
money, one can then use the money to help to spread the teaching of
Tathagata. That is what we meant when we said that we would attract
people, using their desires first, and then teach them the Buddha
wisdom. This is the real goal of cultivation. After listening to
the Jambhala practice, one should not become so attached to the
Jambhala practice that one no longer practices the others
like the Four Preliminary Practices, Guru Practice, Personal Deity
Practice, Five Vajras, Highest Tantra, or the Great Completion. It
is after one's samsaric world's business has been settled, that one
can try to achieve to a higher level practicing until the Great
Completion is attained. I hope that you can really understand
the message behind my teaching today.
Om ma ni bei mi hon
The Practice of the Wealth Deities of the Five Directions
The Practice of the Wealth Deities of the Five Directions
Translated by Alice Yang and Darrell McLaughlin from a Dharma
Teaching by Grand Master Sheng-yen Lu, April 10, 1993, in Los
Angeles.
This Purification Ceremony has been collectively organized
the masters and practitioners of Rey Tseng Buddhist Association,
and the Miu Yin Tang and Ming Chi Tang chapters. I hereby
supplicate that the Light of Buddha prevail everywhere. May all
endeavors be successful and may all enjoy good health. May all
businesses prosper and may all attain perfection in their
cultivation.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf Business and Dharma}
\bigskip
The purpose of my visit to Los Angeles this time is to
transmit the secret of the Tantric practice of the Wealth Deity,
as well as to give to the audience the empowerment of the Wealth
Deities of the Five Directions Practice. Before I arrived, I
learned that Los Angeles has many Buddhist activities.
Many Dharma ceremonies, many lectures on expounding the Buddhist
sutras, and a big ceremony of the Three Stages Precept Ordination,
are being held in Los Angeles. Also, there are many masters
who are giving a series of Dharma teachings. Today, seeing such a
large audience, I do feel deeply grateful. [audience laughter,applause] Today's attendence is not bad. Why is that? While the
number of True Buddha School students is booming in local chapters
around the world, the chapters in Los Angeles are drooping.
[audience laughter] For that reason, I certainly had to visit you.
Los Angeles is supposed to be a mountain city, right? Isn't
there a mountain somewhere around Los Angeles? Such a wonderful
mountain city; such a wonderful geographic environment; such a
wonderful harmony among the people! This is undoubtedly a great
place for our True Buddha School and the True Buddha Tantric Dharma
to flourish and thrive.
Let's talk about Dharma later; business should be brought up first.
[audience laughter] These days, even monks have a hard time
managing the business of a temple. In America and Canada, most
people's living environment is not very satisfactory, so they
gradually become less generous. [audience laughter] Due
to a lack of sufficient donations, the temples in American and
Canada are very likely to encounter financial crises and collapse,
as when the stock market crashes. Either situation-the stock market
collapsing or a temple dissolving-would be very dangerous.
Therefore, I have been thinking of changing my Dharma title.
Forget about the title "Living Buddha Lien-shen." That title
doesn't attract many people. How about Supreme Master of the
Eastern Sea? [audience laughter] If anyone asks where I come from,
I should say that I am from the Mount Rainier, which is a majestic,
snowy mountain in Seattle. If anyone asks what kind of Dharma I
transmit, I will reply that I specialize in guiding students on the
pathway to the Wealth Deities! By the way, if there are wooden
boards, the next time we do the ceremonial entrance, please arrange
that each master is seated on a wooden board and is carried into
the hall!
If this flamboyancy still cannot attract a larger audience
and lead to better business, then I give up. I will quit! [audiencelaughter] If I quit teaching, I will sell the Rey Tseng Temple.
[audience laughter] Then I will not teach any Wealth Deities
Practices. I am just joking, though, don't pay any attention.
Dharma is Dharma; business is business. They don't interfere with
each other. However, business still relates to Dharma and, in the
same sense, Dharma relates to business, because they both mention
"money."
You don't believe it? The Kuan-si-yin Universal Gate Sutra that you
just recited mentions money. Did you not come across this
sentence, "Aksayamati [Inexhaustible Mind Bodhisattva]
again addressed the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, saying `Out of pity
for us, accept this necklace!' " Do you know how much the necklace
was worth? "It costs hundreds and thousands of ounces of gold." My
goodness! I really appreciated that when I read this sentence! If
I had been present at that time, I would have convinced
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to divide it into three shares. One
would have been offered to Shakyamuni Buddha, another to
Prabhutaratna Buddha; and the last share would go to me. [audiencelaughter, applause] Too bad, I missed my chance! If I had been
there, I would have asked for my share from Shakyamuni Buddha.
It was worth hundreds and thousands of ounces of gold! That is
a lot! We could build not just one but several Hsi Lai Temples with
that much money. Today, the reason that I am transmitting the
practice of the Wealth Deities is to cheer up the students in Los
Angeles. Don't look so down all the time. [audience laughter] What
is wrong? All other chapters around the world are booming-only L.A.
is not. To be honest with you, I was even very worried while I was
still in Seattle. What, if on the day of the ceremony, there was
only one row of Masters on the stage looking out at only one row of
students in the audience? If the propagation of the Dharma in
L.A. continues to progress the way it is now, perhaps in the future
only Lotus Hui Wen will be sitting there, right in the cener of all
the seats, with absolutely no one around him! I considered bringing
some money for my four-day stay in L.A.-just in case that I had to
pay for my dinner. [audience laughter] Just kidding!
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf Offer As You please}
\bigskip
Most temples request a fixed donation for services.
We are quite different. Our Rey Tseng Temple is very special ---
all offerings in exchange for services are voluntary. No
matter whether it be for taking refuge, registering for any
ceremony, setting name plaques up for one's ancestors, or asking
for any other services, one can pay whatever amount one likes.
[audience applause] The new regulation at Rey Tseng Temple
provides for free dinners before the group cultivation on Saturdays
and one still need not feel it is necessary to make a donation.
[audience applause] Another difference with Rey Tseng Temple is
that all the fees for the Repentance Ceremony are voluntary, and
this includes the Water Repentance, Emperor Liang Repentance, Great
Compassion Repentance and the Medicine Buddha Repentance. Even when
we are requested to go to a particular place to perform a chanting
service, the fee is still voluntary.
We are not running the temple as a business, so the fee is
voluntary. However, some others do know how to run a temple as a
business and are quite successful at it! [audience laughter] But,
cheer up, today you all will learn the secret of the Jambhala
Practice. If one understands the secret of the practice, one will
become rich. Even if one does not ask for money, it will be sent to
one's door anyway. Even though, for me, everything is voluntary, if
someone gives me a present, I will take it. And surely, later,
I will happily accept the offering for the empowerment.
[audience laughter and applause]
Recently the Zhen Gui chapter in Holland, requested that its four
story building be transferred to my name, becoming part of my
assets. I was also offered the whole building belonging to the Lian
Yuen Chapter in Malaysia. They asked me to go there to sign the
contract. If I signed it, the whole chapter and building would
become my personal property. Ah! I tell you all, I am not that
stupid! [audience laughter] I am not going to accept these
gifts. Why? Why not take such real estate of great value, ones
which are approximately ten times larger than the Rey Tseng Temple
in Los Angeles? Why dont' I accept them? Because I don't want to
pay for the rent! They want me to pay for the rent! How many days
in my whole life can I live in Holland's Zhen Gui Chapter, or in
Malaysia's Lian Yuen Chapter? I will probably never use it! You
don't think that I am that stupid, do you? [audience laughter] If
you want to use it, you'd better pay the rent yourself! Don't try
to trap me! These days students are getting smarter, and I am
getting more stupid. (laughter) It is hard to be a Grand Master
these day. It's better to be smart! If I accepted every gift
offered to me, I would be in trouble.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Lineage of Tantra}
\bigskip
I have been a student of Tantrayana, and now it is time for me to
proclaim my four major lineages. Firt, my lineage in Nyingmapa is
from Monk Liu Ming. Second, my lineage in Kargyu is from the
Sixteenth Karmapa. Third, my lineage in Gelugpa is from Guru
Tubten Taerchi. Fourth, my lineage in Sakyapa is from Skaya
Cheng-kung.
During my stay in Hong Kong, I visited my Master in
Gelugpa. He said, "Surely, you received the Gelugpa lineage from
me!. Why do the rumors say that the Grand Master does not
havelineage from the Gelugpa and Tantrayana? What is going on? Guru
Tubten Taerchi is still alive! How did people make up such a lie?"
He bestowed upon me a sacred emblem-a Dharma Wheel made of
diamonds, which is very expensive. My Master told me, "This
diamond-made sacred emblem will prove your lineage from me. It is
the only on the face of the earth." I (Grand Master) didn't bring
it with me this time because it is too heavy to carry
around. [audience applause] If there is a chance anther time, I
will show it to you.
The sacred emblem really is made with diamonds. As soon as
this beautiful Dharma Wheel came into sight, I asked my Master,
"Are the diamonds genuine or fake? Is it made in America or
Russia?"(audience laughter) My Master replied, "Everything I use is
genuine, including the diamonds. This Dharma Wheel is made of
diamonds and is the only one in this world; it proves the receipt
of authentic lineage from me!" In the future, I will elaborate on
my sacred emblems from the four Tantric sects in order to fortify
students' faith, to reassure you all about my authentic lineage
inheritance. I do have true lineage; I am not a charlatan who is
out to cheat people.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf How to Make Offerings}
\bigskip
When we practice Buddhism, we have to learn to render offerings to
the Buddhas. Offerings are included in our Four Preliminary
Practices. As far as offerings are concerned, if the offering is
presented to the Buddhas, one should offer whatever one likes
oneself. That would be the most appropriate choice. Some may ask,
"What if the offering is cheap?" It is all right! As long as one
likes the offering oneself, then the Buddhas will take their
pleasure from the pleasure that sprouts in one's own heart. Buddhas
don't have any particular likes or dislikes. Last night when I was
giving a teaching at Rey Tseng Buddhist Association, I also
mentioned that Buddhas, since they abide in the Ultimate
Realization, don't have any particular likes or dislikes. So, one
may offer whatever one likes to Buddhas. However, regarding Devas,
one should pay attention to the appropriateness of the offerings.
Devas still possess personalities. They have not reached the level
of equanimity, and so still have likes and dislikes.
Since Devas have their preferences, only the proper offering will
please them. One should avoid upsetting Devas by presenting
offerings they don't like. Remember to bring appropriate offerings
when you visit Devas. You all know what I like, right? You may
offer me what I like. [laughing] If your offering is what I don't
like, I may not even bother to pay attention to you.
In Southeast Asia, there are people who keep the spirits of
dead children to perform black magic. Have you heard about this?
What do they offer to these child spirits? The child spirits like
candies, cookies, and toys, such as bright marbles, poker cards,
rubber bands and such things as they used to play with as kids.
They enjoy these kinds of offerings quite a bit. It is not
necessary to buy them electric toys! These children are dead many
generations, so they like traditional toys. The spirits of children
who died more recently are not used for black magic; only those
from many generations ago are suitable. So, the child spirits who
are used for black magic still like toys such as rubber bands,
poker cards, bright marbles, etc.. Such offerings please them a
great deal!
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf Wealth Deity Practice}
\bigskip
Why are there Wealth Deity Practices in Tantra? By taking
advantage of people's essential desires, Tantra provides the most
expedient pathway to entice people to step through its door.
The knowledge of Buddhism is very profound; most people are not
capable of understanding it when they first encounter it. When,
however, like the subject in today's talk, is on how to make money,
a crowd of people fills every seat.
Before I came down here on this trip, some people called me in
Seattle and asked, "Grand Master, you have lectured
many times on Worldly Dharma, would you please transmit
Other-Worldly Dharma instead? Why do you continue talking about
the Wealth Deity practice?" Don't you realize that if the topic for
today was Other-Worldly Dharma, there might only have been two
people in the audience? Who would these two people have been? "One
person is dead, and the other has not been born yet!"
[This is a very famous Chinese saying from Chinese Puppet Show;,
underlying meaning is that "there are no such people".]
[laughter] In that case, to whom would I transmit the
Other-Worldly Dharma? Therefore, I shall stick with the Wealth
Deity Practice. See --- everyone is really exhilarated and anxious
to listen to today's teaching. There are five major Wealth
Dieties[Jambhalas] in Tantra, who are different from the Wealth
Deities of the Five Directions that will also be transmitted today.
When a Tibetan Living Buddha makes an appearance, people rush to
see him. It seems that empowerments such as Yamantaka, Hevajura,
and Guhyasamaja, are rarely given, due to the complexity of the
practice. However, people like Wealth Deities so, when a Living
Buddha makes an appearance, it is very like that he will transmit
the Wealth Deity Practice, as it is the most popular Tantric
practice. Why are there only five major Wealth Deities? One might
say that the family of a Wealth Deity consists of a Son, Father,
Mother, Grandmother, and Grandfather. So, it is totally five.
Actually, they have different titles. The five most
important Jambhalas [Tantric Wealth Deities] are the White
Jambhala, Red Jambhala, Yellow Jambhala, Black Jambhala, and the
Wealth Deva King. If, however, one intends to practice their yoga,
one must know the secrets in order to obtain responses. Otherwise,
no matter how hard one practices, one's efforts will be to no
avail.
I will give an example of my own, not one from my students. I used
to live in an illegally constructed house. The best image to
describe the condition of my house is that if it was pouring
outside the house, it would be sprinkling inside the house.
[laughing] My living room had multiple functions: kitchen,
bathroom, living room, and bedroom. If I was taking a shower, a
sign would be posted on the door "in shower." [laughing] Those
were my living conditions at that time. Now my living conditions
have changed, and this is due to the blessings and responses from
practicing the Jambhala Practice. Keep in mind: continuously
practicing Jambhala Yoga will eventually enable one to become a
Deity(who can give out great blessing to others) What Jambhala Yoga
have I practiced? I have practiced the White Jambhala Yoga. What is
the secret of practicing the White Jambhala Yoga? I will reveal
part of the secret today. If one desires to penetrate the entire
depth of the secret, then one has to make a personal effort to
beseech. But today I will clearly explain the Practice of the
Wealth Deities of the Five Directions, and I will reveal one of the
many secrets to each of the Jambhala Yogas.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Secret of the White Jambhala Yoga}
\bigskip
The White Jambhala likes to take a shower, so the best
offering for him is bathing water. What is bathing water? One may
put some soap or soap powder into water to make bathing water.
After the practice, one may dip one's fingers into the bathing
water, sprinkle the water into the air, and visualize the water
transforming into one hundred dollar bills, each with the picture
of a white-haired old man on it. Don't visualize these as one
dollar bills! That would take too long and not be very efficient at
all. One may then sprinkle the bathing water to the east, west,
north and south, as if it were raining. When the money is falling,
one may wish to be crushed by the mountain of money. [audiencelaughter] If one can be buried under such a mountain-like pile of
money, it guarantees that one will be very rich.
The secret of the White Jambhala is the bathing water. Since he is
white in color, he likes to take baths to become whiter and whiter.
As one sprinkles the bathing water, one is praying that money will
be falling from the air, surrounding one. As one sits there
sprinkling the bathing water, one will eventually feel as if one is
sitting in a well that is made of hundred dollar bills. One becomes
"a fog in a well" --- this is not too bad.
I often visualize that the money will start to pile up as high as
the houses, extending until the pile falls down and crushes me.
[audience laughter] It is not bad to be buried under a pile of
money. Anyway, the secret of the White Jambhala practice is the
bathing water.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Secret of the Red Jambhala Practice}
\bigskip
What about the Red Jambhala Practice? The Red Jambhala has
vowed that if a Tantra practitioner uses the vajra scepter to touch
his crown, he cannot keep from sneezing. When he sneezes, the
treasure will fall from his nostrils. That is the secret to it!
Don't underestimate this secret; that could cost you thousands or
millions of dollars. When one visualizes, one should emphasize the
visualization of the nose so that the nostrils extend out as far as
possible. It is best if his nose can go all the way to the bank.
[audience laughter]. As the nose extends, the nostrils will enlarge
and a vajra hook will come out to grab all the cash in the bank and
bring it back to the practitioner. When one uses the vajra scepter
to touch the crown of the Red Jambhala, he will remember his vow
immediately spilling out the treasure to the practitioner. Can you
visualize that? It is very easy. [audience laughter] Simply extend
the nose east to Seattle,(no, Seattle is located to the north;
shift to the north then). [audience laughter] If the nose extends
to the east, it will reach New York, to the west will be mainland
China, to the south will be Central or South America. The nose can
extend according to your imagination. The vajra hook inside the
nose can hook back whatever one desires. It is the secret of the
Red Jambhala. I was kidding at the beginning of my Dharma teaching,
but the teaching now is real. One should take notes. If later one
forgets and calls back to ask for more details, then one has to
make an
offering. [audience laughter]
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Secret of the Yellow Jambhala Practice}
\bigskip
The Yellow Jambhala is one of our Eight Personal Deities, also
called Vaisravana. The secret of the Yellow Jambhala Practice
relates to the swollen big toe on his right foot. If one calls upon
the Five Dhyana Buddhas, they will empower the Yellow Jambhala and
alleviate the pain of his swollen toe. Once he is not suffering,
he will not hold his mongoose so tightly. Then, the mongoose will
open his mouth and spill out some treasure. Remember to visualize
clearly, with great concentration. One student wrote to me, saying
that every time he visualized the mongoose opening his mouth,
rocks would fall out immediately! How can you be so silly! Can you
not visualize rocks as diamonds? But, the student just could not
visualize diamonds. When he tried to visualize the diamonds, rocks
would show up right away. I then suggested that he open a
construction company, dealing with rock and sand. If he engaged in
any career related to rock or sand, the company should be
successful. I replied to his letter and said that, since rocks
which the mongoose spilled out could be utilized as bricks or as
the foundation of houses and other construction, he should choose
a career which involves rock and sand.
One may visualize whatever one desires spilling out from the
mongoose's mouth. The importance lies in the empowerment from the
Five Dyana Buddhas: Om Hum Jam Sa Ah-the five syllable mantra.
While receiving the empowerment from the Five Dyana Buddhas, the
pain in his swollen big right toe will be alleviated. This is the
secret to it.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Secret of the Black Jambhala Practice}
\bigskip
The Black Jambhala's face is black and his heart is also black.
Since his heart is black, so he often has chest pains. When one
visualizes, one should visualize that the heart of the Black
Jambhala cools down and its color transforms to a soothing green.
At that moment, Black Jambhala will bestow money upon you. This is
the secret of the Black Jambhala Practice.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Secret of the Wealth Deva King Practice}
\bigskip
Besides the four Jambhala Practices, the Wealth Deva King is also
enshrined by many people. The Wealth Deva King holds a
Dharma Banner. There is a secret in his practice. When one
calls upon the Wealth Deva King, one should, in advance, make a
small Dharma Crown of jewelry for him. Each time the practitioner
does the Wealth Deva King Practice, he can let the Wealth Deva King
wear the jewel crown. After practice, one should take the
crown away and keep it for the next practice. Why is that? If the
Wealth Deva King becomes too used to wearing the fancy jeweled
crown, he will not grant your wishes. In other words, if one asks
the Wealth Deva King for something once, then one should let the
Wealth Deva King wear the crown once; if one asks him for something
twice, then one should let him wear the crown twice. If one lets
the Wealth Deva King wear the jeweled crown all the time, he will
think, "This is mine now, so I don't have to grant your wish."
When the Wealth Deva King gets to wear the crown, he will be happy
and will grant your wish. Afterward, when one takes the crown away
from him, he will miss the crown and will be unhappy until he has
another chance to wear it again. When he wears it again, he will
appreciate it and will again grant one's wish. Thus, the secret of
the Wealth Deva Deity Practice is the crown. I have transmitted to
you the secrets of the Five Jambhalas Practice. If one follows the
correct liturgy and prepares the proper offerings, one should
receive the power of the refuge reliance and will obtain the
blessing.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Entrance to Buddhism}
\bigskip
Why do Buddhists concern themselves with money? When the
subject of money is brought up, doesn't it conflict with the
principles of Buddhism, which discourage people from greed?
Actually, there is a reason behind this. In Tantra, it is using the
base desires of sentient beings as bait to lead them to the
entrance to Buddhism. Once people have actually stepped through
the door of Buddhism, they will have a chance to hear and
learn the profound knowledge of the Dharma, and it is hoped that
they will go on to learn the greatest wisdom, Tathagata wisdom.
This is the method of Tantra.
When one practices the Jambhala practice and obtains money
from the blessings of the Jambhala, one should make a donation to
help the propagation of the Dharma. The more one gives, the more
merits one accumulates. It works in a cycle; as one gives, one's
merits increase, and good fortune will arrive. This is the cause
and effect that Tathagata talks about. In the samsaric world,
regardless of how wealthy one is, the fact is at the wealth does
not truly belong to one. However, money talks in this samsaric
world, so it is very powerful. Yet, in the whole Universe, the most
powerful thing is the Path; money is secondary.
When I was little, I heard this story from my mother. There was an
old lady, who was a pious believer in Buddhism. Every day, she
would recite the names of the Buddhas, circumambulate the
Buddhas, pay homage and do meditation. She especially liked one
temple and, although she was poor, she would always pick one flower
from her yard to take to the temple to offer to the Buddhas. As a
routine, she performed this ritual every day without fail; she
would pick one flower and sincerely offer it to the Tathagata in
the temple. Since she did the same thing every day, people were
accustomed to her appearance. No one paid her any particular
attention when she came. One day, as she entered the temple, she
felt that there was something strange happening. There were two
neat rows of monks --- old, young, high-status, big,little ---
everybody. They were even wearing their Dharma robes,
crowns, and malas. The whole troop looked very majestic. "Oh!"
The old lady was very touched because she thought that even the old
monks had come to welcome her. She had come to the temple for so
many years, it must be that the Tathagata was finally touched and
had told the abbot in a dream about the old lady's sincerity. "Ah!"
The old lady stumbled, but she was so touched that she got down and
crawled from the open space in front of the temple to the
Tathagata image enshrined in the temple shrine. There she
immediately offered him her one little flower. However, upon seeing
the crawling old lady, the old abbot did not move at all and kept
his palms closed. Not even paying any attention to the flower in
front of his eyes, he whispered, "Old lady! hurry up and hide
yourself somewhere! Our biggest benefactor is coming here soon.
We are all here to welcome him." The old lady was so disappointed!
"Heavens! ", she sighed, "They are not welcoming me at all. What
a waste of my tears! And I crawled up here for nothing."
After a while, the rich benefactor arrived, with many trucks of
rice and Dharma robes, which may have cost hundreds of thousands of
ounces of gold. When the offerings arrived, the monks, both young
and old, all became very busy, trying to serve the benefactor. Some
hurriedly got water to wash the benefactor's feet; some got water
to wash his face. What kind of tea was to be served to the
benefactor was not even a question. When regular benefactors came,
they were served regular tea. A more important benefactor would be
served a better quality tea. When the most important benefactor
came, he would definitely be served the best quality tea. How
unfair! But, money talks, even in the temple.
Now, if one becomes rich, one may get involved in charity. One
may become a an honorary board chairman --- one in name only.
Sometimes, I wonder when I will be offered with an honorary
doctoral degree. There was one monk who was an elementary school
dropout although he only stayed in America for one month, returned
to Taiwan with an honorary doctoral degree. He had just come to
America from Taiwan, and now he returned with an honorary doctoral
degree. He got his degree in Los Angeles. I have been living here
for so long. How come no one ever thinks of bestowing upon me an
honorary doctoral degree?
There was another monk who, after seeing how that other monk
acquired a honorary degree in California, hurried down to Los
Angeles. After only a week there, he received an honorary doctorate
of philosophy. Then, when he returned, he had new business cards
made. Somehow, he omitted printing the "honorary" in front of the
doctoral degree --- the cards showed that he was a doctor of
philosophy. But, if one checks his educational background, one
finds that he did not even graduate from elementary
school! Why was it so easy for him to get a doctoral degree? Money
talks! He donated the money to build a building for the college.
One building? How about a master's degree as a return? Hmm, one
row of buildings ? Okay! Here you go with a doctoral degree! These
are two monks who both have philosophy degrees. I was upset
because I thought that my knowledge should not be less than theirs.
Then, how come I still have only a bachelor's degree? Among our
students, if anyone is capable of establishing a university, he
should give his teacher (me) a real doctorate in philosophy.
[applause]
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Wealth Deities of the Five Directions}
\bigskip
Now, we come to the talk about the Wealth Deities of the Five
Directions. I am aware that one direction, two, three or four are
not helpful enough, so I will transmit the practice of the Wealth
Deities of the Five Directions.
This is the Dipper Lamp Method. Have you seen a dipper lamp?
Yesterday I visited the Rey Tseng Temple in Chicago. Oh, no, not
the Rey Tseng Temple in Chicago, which is in the process of
construction. I visited the Rey Tseng Temple in Los Angeles. There
were a few dipper lamps on the left side of the temple, but they
were not ready yet. I noticed that the lamps were positioned upside
down, [laughing] perhaps, it meant that the dipper lamps were not
ready to help business and make money yet. However, when you are on
your way to make Big Money, you have to position the dipper lamp
upright. The top of the dipper lamp is a canopy and, the bottom
base is full of rice and has a small light bulb on it. Then five
colored pennants are attached to the base on the appropriate sides,
corresponding to the directions. The East Wealth Deity is
represented by a yellow pennant, which is placed on the east side.
The West Wealth Deity is represented by a red one, which is placed
on the west side. The North Wealth Deity is represented by black
and placed to the north, and the Central one is represented by
white, which is placed in the center. After the lamp is lit, one
may recite the mantra, "Namo sam-man-do, moo-toh-nam, om, do-lo
do-lo de-wei, so-ha"
What a coincidence! Isn't it that the Local God Mantra? Indeed!
Local Gods are Wealth Deities, and they are the Wealth Deities
closest to the human realm. You may not know about this, but I do.
When I was in Taiwan, I had several statues enshrined at my house,
not only those of the five directions, but as many as twelve of
them, including Mr. Local God and Mrs. Local God. My house, Ling
Sheng Ching Tse, is located at Tai Zhong, Tai Pang Hsiang. I have
not gone back for so long that the number and address fades away
from my memory. Anyway, I have a great many Local God statues at
that old house.
What about the mudra? One should employ the Treasure Mountain
Mudra, which consists of interlacing the fingers of both hands
inward like a treasure mountain. When one does this practice, it is
to tell the Wealth Deities of the Five Directions to grasp the
treasure tightly in order to give it to one. This is the Treasure
Mountain Mudra, interlacing one's ten fingers inward.
What about the visualization? If one cannot visualize the
Five Wealth Deities, one can visualize the five different colors of
light descending from the spiritual realm, shining on the lamp to
enable it to generate more light. Then one must employ the
physical prostration to pay homage to the Wealth Deities. Prostrate
nine times to each direction of the Wealth Deities and ask them if
they have descended to the shrine. This is done by using the
prophecy blocks. If they have come, the prophecy blocks will show
one face up and another face down. One should recite the mantra and
form the mudra until all Wealth Deities have descended to the
altar. Upon their arrival, one may then beseech that one's wish be
granted. This is a secret practice of the True Buddha School.
As a matter of fact, wealth is predestined. When one was born,
one's wealth had already been predestined by Heaven. However, part
of the wealth still need one's own effort to obtain it. One needs
to work hard, to do business. One also needs to do meditation
practice, like practicing this yoga of the Wealth Deities of the
Five Directions. Through these practices, one increases one's
wealth.
One last method is the geomancy method, which is used to avoid
the leakage of the chi of the money. If the chi of the money
doesn't leak away, then one can accumulate a lot of money-money
bringing more and more money.
\bigskip
\centerline{\bigbf The Closest Wealth Deity: the Local God}
\bigskip
As far as beseeching for wealth is concerned, there are five
kinds of Wealth Deities yoga in Tantrayana and the Wealth Deities
of the Five Directions, (also called the Dipper Lamp Method,) of
the True Buddha School. Why are the Wealth Deities so effective?
Since the Wealth Deities are the Local Gods, the devas that are
closest to the human realm, they can understand and help human
beings more quickly. If one asks the Wealth Deities to grant one's
wish and one's wish is still not granted, one might as well forget
about it.
One might ask the Tathagatas, whose status in the spiritual realm
is very high, to grant one's wish. Although the manifestation and
the light of Tathagata prevails everywhere, he is not a deva, so he
will only use the force of the karma to judge and observe one. If
such wish granting is allowed, Tathagata will ask the gods who are
on duty that day, that night or that year to carry out the action.
One should not ask wealth from Tathagata. When Tathagata checks
one's balance book of karma, he may find out that one still owes
the Tathagata in one's previous life. If that is the case, how can
Tathagata grant your wish when you ask? One should be grateful if
Tathagata doesn't get back what one owes him!
So one should not ask for money from Tathagata. One may want
to turn to other Great Bodhisattvas like Manjusri Bodhisattva,
Akasagarbha Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, etc. However
those Bodhisattvas are quite busy with the works of Buddhas.
The problems among human beings appear very trivial to
them. Anyway, they only take care of wisdom, not the money part.
For example, Akasagarbha Bodhisattva is concerned with the
Akasagarbha Wisdom, Manjusri Bodhisattva with the Ultimate Wisdom,
and the Samantabhdra Bodhisattva relates to the Ten Samantabhdra
Vows; all are other-worldly Dharma. They will not pay attention to
your wishes.
"Okay, then," you may say, "I will ask the City God Chen Huang
or the Mountain and Local Gods to help me then." There you go!
As these gods are very close to us here in the samsaric world, when
one sincerely prays to them, make sure to recite, "Namo sam-man-do,
moo-toh-nam, om,do-lo do-lo de-wei, so ha." Don't look down on the
earth mantra as it can generate very superior power. After reciting
it one hundred thousand times, one should be able to perceive the
light of the Local Earth God. When the Local Earth God come, it
will definitely bless one. If a pious personone recited the mantra
sincerely, and the Local Earth God still refused to bless him,
wouldn't the Local Earth God be too cruel? If everyday one bows
nine times to each of the Wealth Deities of the Five Directions,
won't the Wealth Deities be so moved that they transfer some wealth
to one?
The Local Earth God is your most intimate comrade; he is with
you all the time. He lives with you, right next to you. Since your
cultivation level may not be too high, you can only be with the
Local Earth God. The highly-achieved cultivator can be with
Bodhisattvas and Tathagatas. Yet, if one is still interested in
the profit, one should attempt to form an affinity with the Local
Earth God. If one doesn't pray to the Local Earth God, one will
just follow the path of karma. However, if one prays to the Local
Earth God, the Local Earth God will manifest and guide one in the
right direction. Therefore, one should recite the mantra one
hundred thousand times. One will then be blessed.
If anyone recites a Tantric mantra one hundred thousand times,
the powers will be generated --- purification, magnetization,
enrichment and subjugation. Yet, one has to receive empowerment
from one's master in order to generate such power. After one
recites the mantra one hundred thousand times and then prays to the
Local Earth God, the Local Earth God will definitely bless one.
It is possible that one does not bring wealth from birth, or that
one is predestined to be a beggar or a bum and to have all kinds of
bad luck. Even worst, whomever works with you will encounter the
bad luck as well. But as one recites the mantra, the merit of
reciting is already being accumulated. When one recites the Local
Earth God Mantra a hundred thousand times, and supplicates daily to
the Local Earth God, one will definitely receive a spiritual
response. One's body will radiate red light or yellow light. Red
light means that one has accumulated good merits and the light is
from the Buddha. When one is blessed by yellow light, one may
benefit financially. If someone owes you money, the Local Earth
God will move that money to you.
If one does not clearly understand the practice of the Wealth
Deities of the Five directions, one may refer to my newest
published book, A Collection of Extraordinary Tantric
Transformations. It elaborates the details of the practice. True
Buddha News also had an article that teaches one how to practice;
one may refer to it for instruction.
The first requirement is to receive empowerment and the second
requirement is to recite the mantra one hundred thousand times.
If one is ill and recites this mantra one hundred thousand times,
one's sickness will be cured. In fact, this mantra can even help
one to gain health. It also covers purification, magnetization,
enrichment and subjugation. No matter which mantra one recites, as
long as one recites that particular mantra one hundred thousand
times, the power will be generated. However, in order to inherit
the power of blessing, one must receive the empowerment from a
genuine mater prior to reciting the mantra. If this still is not
clear, one may refer to the True Buddha News and my book A
Collection of Extraordinary Tantric Transformations.
The Wealth Deities practice is the expedient yoga in Tantrayana,
but the ultimate practice at the end is in the Other-Worldly
Dharma; that is, to attain Buddhahood in the present body.
The Shingon Sect in Japan teaches the three lower parts of
Tantrayanan which are the theory, practice and yoga.
This is characteristic of the teaching of Japanese Tantra. The
Tibetan Esoteric School also covers the three lower parts of the
teaching. All practices before the Personal Deity yoga are
considered external practices. When we start to practice chi and
channel, we come to the stage of the second level empowerment,
which is the esoteric practice. The practice of the "light drop" is
part of the third level of empowerment, the inner esoteric
teaching. When the fourth level of empowerment is received, it is
then called the Great Completion.
We Tantra practitioners should clearly understand the procedure of
the liturgy. Once one finishes practicing the Jambhala yoga, one
should continue practicing the external practices: Personal Deity
Yoga, Guru Yoga, and the Four Preliminary Practices, and keep
practicing until one receives yogic response. Then, one can
practice the following yogas step by step: Treasure Vase, Inner
Flame, Opening One's Channel, Five Chakras, Highest Tantra, Five
Vajra, and Great Completion. When one attains the stage of the
Great Completion, one can become Buddha in the present body.
Practice in order to progress from "attachment to forms" to "no
form", and from Worldly Dharma to Other-Worldly Dharma.
I hope that one will not become too attached to the Jambhala
practice; instead, one should accomplish the Tantra Practices ---
the external practices and internal practices, on up
to the esoteric practice and high esoteric practice. One will have
the four empowerments; at that time, what one is able to accomplish
in these practices is a far greater achievement than that of the
Jambhala practice.
According to the sacred teaching of the Tathagata, it is the
Buddha's wish that all beings can attain Buddhahood. In the view of
the Tathagata, all behaviors of sentient beings possess the nature
of Buddha. All sentient beings are Buddhas; there is no exception.
It is only because we want to save sentient beings that we talk
about this Wealth Deity practice. If it were not for that purpose,
Tathagata would only talk about the Supreme Dharma directly.
However, He has to get people interested first, so He utilizes
people's essentialdesire --- greed as a bait to lead people to the
pathway of practice. The nature of greed can be transformed to
Tathagata; the nature of one's anger can be transformed to Vajra;
the nature of one's ignorance can be transformed to Bodhisattva. If
one can transform the greed, anger, and ignorance to Tathagata,
Vajra, and Bodhisattva, one can attain Buddhahood.
The motivation to transmit the Jambhala practice in answer to
one's greed. However, the practice is not to encourage one to be
more and more greedy. It is to lead one to the path of doing the
practices. When one steps into the door of cultivation and acquires
money, one can then use the money to help to spread the teaching of
Tathagata. That is what we meant when we said that we would attract
people, using their desires first, and then teach them the Buddha
wisdom. This is the real goal of cultivation. After listening to
the Jambhala practice, one should not become so attached to the
Jambhala practice that one no longer practices the others
like the Four Preliminary Practices, Guru Practice, Personal Deity
Practice, Five Vajras, Highest Tantra, or the Great Completion. It
is after one's samsaric world's business has been settled, that one
can try to achieve to a higher level practicing until the Great
Completion is attained. I hope that you can really understand
the message behind my teaching today.
Om ma ni bei mi hon