English/Chinese Books to Libraries

Everytime, I see Dali Lama show up in the public and surrounded  by thousands of people. I wonder to myself, "Why can Grand Master not receive the same honor?" Is GM's teaching less meaningful? or, is it because just not enough people understand his teaching? Or, is it because Dali Lama has some influential students, such as Richard Geer?

I may sound biased, but I am being practical. Caucasians have much more influences in this world than Asians. Just look at Tibetan and China religion protests, why do cameras always aim at the Caucasian students? Why do the cameras always shoot the Hollywood movie star students during the Dala Lama's teaching?

Deep inside my heart, I really wish that I can find TBS Richard Geer :-)Perhaps, I am vain. How I wish that GM can receive the same or higher kind of treatment and respect as the Dali Lama. Also, people are blind, if there are more Caucasian students, people can start to see the importance of translations. I dont know if I can live that long to see it happen....

Anyway, someone has to make the first step. Well, some of you may have heard the "Library Project". The project will donate GM's Chinese books to the academic and local library. Well, this weekend, I gathered with a few Dharma Sisters/Brothers and I said that I would help out but it needed to have English books. I was **very glad** that they share the same vision with me. So, we will target 100 libraries, 10 books to each library. Within the 10 books, there will be 2 English books :-) The overview of Buddhism and the Feng Shui. Within the 10 books, they will also come with the English/Chinese Yellow Jambhala cards with padmakumara translation website on it. (I told some of you that it was being printed..well, some slackers..I need to give them a deadline)

I have been negotiating with PLS, and PLS will give me some kind of discount.  My friends and I  also have been negotiating with Daden/Randen/PLS with the combination of the books. Normally, those organization dont work together, Our project is the very first project to put them together. Well, too early to say but I hope that it will turn out well.

Last night, I was thinking if I should tell you all about it and ask for donation. My first thought is NO, too much trouble. My second thought is Yes. It really doesnt matter what the money amount is. However, if we dont show participation, how can our voice be heard? Whatever money I donate is my own; whatever money you donate shows your support.


Dont send me any money yet. I need to ask PLS (purple lotus society) about how to issue you the receipts. I still dont want to touch the money :-)I will gather the info, if you are interested.

This will be probably the first project that TBS donates English book to the library. I wish that that it will be a great success, and more non-Chinese students can join TBS. Perhaps, we can find Richard Geer one day :-)


Mimosa


PS: On book 155, GM talked about the merits of donating his books to the libraries. If Lorraine translates that article, I will show it to you all.

Mimosa.

You can definitly count me in.  
I know Grand Master Lu wants to reach all sentient beings.
I never read that he said all "Asian" sentient beings.  

Mimosa I know it will happen and we will find our Richard Geer or he/she will find us.

With our intentions being in the right place we can call upon the Buddha's and the Bodhisattva's for help.  In every case they have always answered me.

Also knowing that Daden/Randen/PLS may be at a "beginning" is a good sign.

Perhaps with Yellow Jambhala's help I can raise enough funds to support the project even more.

Brenda

Hi Mimosa,

Count me in.  I'll do what I can and hopefully it will help.

It would be quite remarkable if PLS & Daden & Randen can work together.  The beginning of a sweet relationship!

It is quite interesting how you mention the differences between the Dalai Lama's "PR" and Grand Master's.  The reason why the Dalai Lama is world-known is because  Gelugpa has been around longer than True Buddha School has, and the Dalai Lama has Fourteen more formal  reincarnations than Grand Master.  

I also pray that our Grand Master finds his Richard Gere one day too--but he doesn't have to since he has Mimosa.  ;)
Mimosa Gere?  ha ha...

Lu

I enjoy reading some of the Dalai Lama's books.  He is an excellent writer and teacher and knows what he is talking about.  

I look at this from another point of view.  There are many caucations and others who have an affinity with Grand Master Lu.  Therefore what I see is how can they find him if they do not have anything to go on.  How can they walk into an almost all Asian temple, providing there is one in their area, and know anything.

What keeps me going is the experiences I have and the faith that has developed because of them.  I know this is the right school for me.  I am also very persistant.

TBS may not be the right school for everyone, but for those that it is, I do not have it in me to watch another person walk out of our temple and never come back.

I may not live long enough to see TBS grow to an outstanding number of "other" students but I will put my effort and time into helping to make it happen.


Bren

Luljeta and Lyciss, you two did mention an important point. Yes, they have been around for much longer! That is very true.

someone in the team also wrote me about Richard Gere being not a true cultivator. I dont need Richard Gere to be a cultivator. I only need him for PR purpose.

When I ask for donation, it doesnt matter how much you donate. However, it matters a lot when you participate and show how much you care. That is the Berkeley side of me again :-) if you dont like something, go protest!

I will need to call PLS and ask for the confirmation of the price, delivery day, and method. Everyone else has already confirmed except PLS.

Mimosa

Thanks to Lorraine, Angela and Tom for their willingness to   help out the project!

Mimsoa

Hi Lyciss,

You brought up a very important point.  I feel the same way that having a famous person show up at Dharma ceremonies and conventions hanging on the arm of the Guru cheapens the moment.  However, the cheapening is sadly needed to help bring more awareness to other people who care about those kinds of things.  

The Dalai Lama has more "formally recognized" reincarnations than Grand Master does--I meant formal in the sense that it is known and acknowledged by everyone.  

But I do believe that our Grand Master has several incarnations as Great Teachers.  On a personal note, I strongly believe our Grand Master was Je Tsongkhapa, founder of Gelugpa because when I first began practicing Guru Yoga, I always had a vision of Grand Master appearing to me as Je Tsongkhapa...our Guru is really quite remarkable.

So, by promoting this project, we can help Grand Master become world-known too.  Those who have affinity with True Buddha School will better be able to find him.  :)

Om mani padme hum

Lu

##Maybe we could circulate a picture of me donating, with ##GM somewhere in the background.  

this is too funny.  :wm8: Dance, are you this funny in person?
I am very tempted to meet you in person. :

Hey guys, somethings been 'itching' at me for the past few days since mom and I went for a coffee and she was telling me about the project on promoting the books. And please I'd appreciate any input on this idea I am trying to present and make some aware of it, though it does not exist here online, it has shown in the 'real world' of today's society I live in. Mom told me to write it in here and not as a new topic in buddhism q's or chat (grrr lol), but here goes nothing, I believe this is something very real, or maybe I'm thinking too much once again :-/ :P

I've been 'involved' in Chin Yin since '97, I've grown to love some of those people as family, and I feel that strong sense of family returned even though I may be the only caucasion teenage girl there. I've seen the kids and others grow old and wise, and visa versa.  When I moved out of here I heard of quite a few people concerned about my well being, and believe you me that I didn't expect, but am very touched by that. I've grown up with the rest of the kids, seen a few born and now are running around like little toddlers  :D.

Though my family has been welcomed with arms wide open, there are a few things that have 'itched' @ my mind ever since 2 days ago @ the coffee shop mom and I hang around at once in a while.

@ Chin Yin, on say a friday there is the all-in-chinese-speakinf/no eng translation practice... We've sat in there for years, and people have been kind to tranlate a few things for us because we know the rest of the practice by heart.(well gee since 97 i think we can memorize the high king quan yin pretty darn close thank you very much :P). Then I believe it was/is on Saturday's *early* the english group would get togeether with a llama and do it in english :). Sat night another pracice, then on sundays, well evvvverryyyyonneee shows up lol.

Yet I've noticed since the English group has been started, it wasn't ever 'up-to-par' with the current events of the temple, or the practices... Suure the baby stuff is understandable, but some things that were taught weren't quite how I wouls say right for the rest of the group. Most of the people coming in out of curiosity would end up leaving, because of either a) culture shock, b)no one's there to welcome them or explain anything to them..so on and so forth. I guess I was lucky to be stuborn to learn and sit there and memorize everything, and was lucky enough to have people @ the temple accepting me and treating me as one of their own =), or else I might have waled out.

Even those who have walked in, been welcomed, and been explained some of the ideologies of TBS, have walked out on a practice because if you think about it, some things may be taken as 'whooaaa.. this is weird ____' lol, or 'this is just plain old essoteric'... Everyone is @ a different level in their practices, from newborn to toddler, learning to walk then run... If there could be a way that I could explain -everything-to a 'noobie' then heck, I'm all up for it. if I can teach someone walking in, and start them from the beginning almost as a personal trainer, then I'll do it. babysteps babysteps. Anything @ all I would do it. I'm sure of all people all of you can relate in one way or another.

I was talking to kevin on the phone, and he had somehow gotten his hand on old temple celeb pictures. Yup my family sticks right out...:P. LOL, hey come on caucasions vs a temple full of chinese people.LOL *shakes head* what more to you expect?

It wasn't until I heard mom talking about last friday when she went to the usual chinese practice, and was told afterwards by unnamed that she shouldn't be there, she should be with the english practice only. That set off my whole 'whoa, wait a minute, that's not totally right, gotta write this one down' bit. We've been there for almost 6 years, they treat me like family, I know the families, they help mom out with questions. Yet I always find that we are the last to know anything. We would not be told anything if it weren't for our constant digging. I sort of see this Padma forum as everyone's findings put together, and that I say with a big grin, (hey can you blame me for having a thurst for answers/better understanding for all these years??) :D.

I sort of went melodramitic with mom, and presented this idea.  
In everyday society lets take Edmonton as a city for example and compare it with temple life ;).

There are the south side people, the east side, the north side, and the west end people. We are all one big community and consider ourselves as 'edmontonian'...on the flip side, temple life:all the same people, same family, all communicating with one another regardless of (looking for correct words) ethniticity?....one big happy family picture right? nay... Think of it this way, I don't see anyone different in any manor, I lend my hand out to anyone regardless of *anything*, and sure as he77 not because of their ethnic origin i see no difference what so ever. LOL, i mean I am afterall dating kevin...*cough**G*... anyyway.

I hate to say it , and i even hate it moreso to even think it. But the way I 'perceive' it to be is that subconsciously *can't spell, my bad lol* there is still some of that culture shock, and bit of prejudice, please don't get me wrong guys, but i only have 2 mins to con't writing this if that much cuz mom wants me offline.

But if there could be someone out there who would be willing to put their time and effort to giude say the english group and teach them what they need to start with and so that those members would not have to spend years digging for information, then that woud be great i even said @ the coffee shop we need 5 moe alices, someone who can speak the language, who knows the information, and who is willing to take the time out and teach others, then my god i think that tbs and tbs and tbsf would be much better off, i don'tthink that in this lifetime i wil lbeable to see all of these tings happen, but i hope sincerely that one of these daysit will happen.  where people in my temple will be moreso pushing us in the direction and say 'hey, this is what's going on tonight, read this, this means that..and that..visualization..'....without having to ask around or go straight to the head master until some kind of clarrification is come to..

sorry guys gotta get off, but in short i'd like to say, i still see a fine line that isn't spoken, but is there where the culture clash is existing, and can't help in everyday society..in temple i see that there is no diffreence, we are there to learn practice communicate and all of the above and more, but there is still that line there that we don't talk about, cultural diffreences, cultural clashes ...and still i'm feeling it til this day even after 6 years

gotta log off, but can someone out there relate??? ???  

I can defineatly relate to that.  It is unfortunate that after soo many years that you and your family have devoted to the tbs that yet, there is still a sense of "tension".

Perhaps before the tbs extends its arms out to world, it should concentrate a little more on its internal members, especially ones who have devoted so much to the cause.

I believe it is only fair to show equal treatment, to look past petty differences and to unite under a commonality. Perhaps I may be a nieve young mind (so my girlfriend says *g*) but if we can inherit the ability to function without cultural differences, I ask you this, would that not be the prime example to convey and present as the values so strongly believed by the tbs?

I for one, may not be the best at translating, or the most knowledgeable in the practices...but I believe Raffinee is right. If we can find the time to "innoculate" newcomers, perhaps ultimately the cause will become more properous.

Raff

Thanks for expressing your frustration and sharing your experiences with us.

First of all, the people made that remark to you must speak lousy or non-fluent English right? You have to forgive them. If they dont speak good English, they can not express themselves well and their words just came out so rude. Another word, they didnt mean what they said. They didnt understand how hurting and inconsiderate their words were.

They may be able to carry conversational English, but they have not immersed themselves in the Western culture. I told my younger sister your post. She said, "9 out of 10 foreigners who dont speak English well tend to be rude because they dont really understand what they are saying" It is a very funny theory. But, think about it. It is very true..

Secondly, Chinese are followers not leaders. I have told Brenda many times. If you go to church, you will be introduced to people, people will greet you nicely, and you feel welcomed and want to go back. That is the Western culture. Asian culture is different. We dont like to act first, we sit there and wait for commands.

It not that your family or you are not welcomed. Chinese just dont express themselves right to non-Chinese. Even being a Chinese myself, I dont like many aspects of my own cultures.

We can not change the whole world, we all know that. However, little bit little, we can make differences in life.

Mimosa

i mean I am afterall dating kevin...*cough**G*... anyyway.  

so do you join padma for me or Kevin!! Now, spill it out!

**Mimosa is getting her whip**

Team

I mentioned the English and Chinese Library project last week. I finally got the confirmation from Purple Lotus Society. They are willing to give me a very good discounted price for the donation. I have already got some donation money from my friends; however, I feel that we should also sponsor the project. If I get more than my targeted 200 libraries, 2 English books per library, I will give away some English books to the libraries you request (Brenda will be very happy to hear that)

However, please dont donate money that is beyond your ability. I wont judge you on the money :-)

Donation deadline: 6/21/02.

Check:
Payable to :Purple Lotus Society
Remark: English books
address:
Alice Yang
1215 South Stovall Ave
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745

Note: I will collect the checks and give all the PLS. They will give you a receipt for the tax deduction

Wire Transfer:
Bank: Wells Fargo Bank
855 EL Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066 USA
account name: Purple Lotus Society
account number: 0445042120
ABA: 121000248

Note: Please remark "English books" and transfer funds as USA dollars. If you use wire transfer, please do tell me the amount so I get an idea.

I will not send out any more emails to solicit donation. Your participation padma is a great charity itself already. It is all up to you. However, I will definitely stop accepting donation on 6/21/02 because I need to  make the final order to PLS

Mimosa

As I have said, PLS really supports this project and gave me a good discount. I think that I may be able to spare about extra 40 English books to libraries of your request.

If the donation goes well, I may be able to send more books to more libraries. However, let me play safe otherwise I may have to live on the street! 40 books, 2 books to each library, free shipping  (my friend will cover it), to the libraries of your request. First comes first serves due to the limited editions

The two books are

Feng Shui
[img]http://www.padmakumara.org/books/book69/images/book69SecondEditionCover.gif
[/img]

and
overview of Buddhism
[img]
http://www.padmakumara.org/bookstore/images/overviewCover.jpg[/img]

how can you help

Contact your local libraries or school libraries via email and follow up with the phone call or something. If they  accept the books, Please post the library addresses on the forum. First comes first serves! I will then send to them sometimes in July.

Also, when you post the library address, please dedicate a wish in your heart. Same one wish okay? Why? I am hoping that the project will go well and people get a good result

GM wrote on his 155 that the Virtue Light Buddha will bless who those help the library project. I am really hoping
GM blesses us to prove that it really makes no difference if it is English or Chinese. I am hoping that some of you may get good bless! I need to collect the spiritual responses and write an article about it.

so, dedicate your wish to GM..(dont post here :-)




Mimosa

Mimosa,

Congratulations on getting the approval from Purple Lotus Society.    

This project will definitely help bring awareness of Grand Master and True Buddha School to others.  

It's one of our birthday gifts to Grand Master! Ha ha...:)

Lu

Mimosa.
Raffinee was relating an experience I mentioned to her that happened to me on Friday at temple.  I was still feeling hurt by the encounter and I should know better by now to ever speak of that kind of stuff.

Raffinee.
I apologize.  What happened with me and that particular Dharma sister was not ment to be passed on.  There is a reason why Grand Master Lu talks about refraining from engaging in double talk or gossip. Although I was venting, your image of that particular Dharma sister may have changed and may have also angered you.  The result of breaking this precept is the accumulation of unwholesome speech karma.

This incident is a good example of how our "ego's" dictate our reactions if we allow them to.

Brenda

Brenda

When you get time, start to research the libraries that will accept GM's English books. read my previous post on what I need.

You will be researching for the Canada libraries, including school and local. Chin Yin will send out the Chinese books, so we will only send out the English books, 2 yes. If we send out the Chinese books, I will step on their toes.

Dont procrastinate on this project. I am working on it with other Dharma Sisters/Brother. If you delay, I can not send out the books.

Mimosa

Yes Mimosa!!!
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

I found a great resource site for Libraries:
http://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/sdlibs.html#top

those seem to be mainly school libraries (I just looked at Washington State) -
I am having a hard time finding e-mail addresses that go to the right people at the public libraries.

Even talking on the phone is difficult!  

lian hua dance
not blue print today

Hi Dance,

I'm having a tough time as well.  I am basically nominated as the coordinator of this project on behalf of my local chapter.

I found the email addresses for 2 people who are in charge of book donations at the main center for NY Public Library. I'm still waiting for replies from them.

I also called several people and they usually direct me to other people who never answer their phones or my messages.

I'm trying to find out if NY Public Library will accept a large volume of books and then distribute them to appropriate branches, but I have a feeling they won't do it this way.

One person I spoke with told me the best thing to do is bring in the books to each individual branch and see if the branches will accept the book donations.  That will be quite a task! There are more than 100 libraries in NY State. I think the actual number is close to 200.  

I don't know how the Public Library system in Washington works, but we both may have to do it the tough way.

If we can get at least one person from our Sangha, or whoever to help us that would be fantastic.

Wishing us both luck,

Lu

All

it seems to be tougher than what I thought. I had a luck contacting one library so I didnt think that it was not hard.

Dance, school or local libraries is both fine, whichever is easier.

#One person I spoke with told me the best thing to do is #bring in the books to each individual branch and see if the

that is too rediculous. dont do that. even if you bring the books to the library, the person in charge may not be there. are you going to bring them back? I wont put you into that situation.

just use internet. as I have said, if at the end, we can not find any library, that is fine. I doubt it though.


Mimosa

Greetings! I am quite new to this forum, but been reading a few of the posts and translations... just want to say, thank yall for the wonderful job you guys are doin' here! Keep up the great work !!

p.s. The translations have helped me alot at ease while trying to figure out the right words for English speaking Dharma brothers n sisters.

Your dedications are much appreciated!

James ;)

For those involved in the Library Project, I have found looking through your search engines for Buddhist Books needed or wanted is a great help as well.

Brenda

like what organization?

Mimosa

I have read all the previous posts with interest. You are all learning what I have already learned: Donating books to libraries is not that easy of a task.

If you want to donate GM's books you have to know "How to donate" them. You have to know which people to talk to, how the library systems work, and so forth. The library system in San Mateo county (that's the area I live in) works like this: all the large local libraries share in a book "pool". Say for example, if the Redwood City library has "Dharma Talks" then if you try to donate a copy of "Dharma Talks" to the San Mateo library they will likely reject it. They will not reject it because they don't need it and not because it's a bad book. But they will reject it because another library already has it in the "system". I have followed up on the books that I donated many years ago. Originally I could find several copies of "Dharma Talks" in a couple libraries. Now I think there is only one copy located in one library.

My task was not easy. I made phone calls and appointments and drove all the way to UC Berkeley. I talked to an older gentleman who took my Dharma book and told me, "I'll read it, and if I think it's worthy, I will put it in our collection." I made many visits to different libraries in the San Francisco Bay Area. I think I covered College of San Mateo, Stanford, San Francisco State, UC Berkeley, and many other local libraries. Almost everytime I spoke with an elderly man who told me he would read the book and if he deemed it worthy, would put it in the collection.

I think that if you are not willing to go to this work, you will get nowhere. If you just sit behind your desk and try to use your email and make a few calls you might get lucky, but the most efficacious method is to take your books to the library to the person in charge of new books. Shortly afterward my plan was to hit the libraries in and around the Renton, WA area, the area around Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple, as well as cities in the South Bay such as San Jose and perhaps the East Bay such as Union City. This takes a lot of driving! I never did get around to it because it does take some work, but I'm glad to hear that you guys are trying. Now I will actually have to see if GM's books are in the collection before donating wheras before I already knew that they didn't have any of his books.

The True Buddha School is an "extreme" school.  It knows no boundaries. Our school is known for its controversy sadly to say. The True Buddha School is villified in asia. I have neighbors across the street. They moved in one year ago. They used to live in Taiwan. I told them about GM Lu. They told me, "I don't believe him". I asked them who they did believe in, but they couldn't give me a definitive answer.

Alice wants the TB School to be more embraced by the mainstream but it's not going to happen unless society changes. When you listen to TB disciples talk, it's sometimes extraordinary talk. Brenda has related her husband's spiritual dreams as well as her own spiritual happenings. This stuff doesn't happen to ordinary people. A lot of Christians will look at this and say this is the work of demons.

The TB School isn't going to get any help from any of the traditional schools of Buddhism. Look at Master Samantha. She has a nice full head of hair. I participated in a fire ceremony yesterday. She had her hair slicked back. A lot of Buddhists will say, "monks are supposed to have their heads shaved!" Why does she not shave her head?!" Actually there are a couple of female monks at the Ling Shen Ching Tze temple who also have full heads of hair. I remember one time I was there: not only did one of the monks have a full head of hair, she had on lipstick, and a fancy black vinyl looking jacket on. Very hip. Monks aren't supposed to dress like that.

At the Purple Lotus temple we had one monk who liked to wear gold necklaces and he would always greet me with a big shout and a big pat on the back, "Hey! Steven! Good to see you!" Monks aren't supposed to wear jewelry, much less gaudy looking gold chains. And they are supposed to act kind of modest and subdued, not loud and boisterous. And let's not get into the thing about Grand Master Lu drinking, dancing, singing karyoke and eating meat.

I'm not criticizing anyone. But a lot of people consider this offensive and this behavior is very controversial. Not to mention all the talk about the spirit world. This is enough to make a good Christian scream and run away in terror. Can you imagine the Pope singing karyoke and dancing? With a full head of hair, slicked back with a black leather jacket on? Well, that's what he have here like it or not. Those are the facts.

Because the True Buddha School is so different and controversial I think it will be extremely difficult for the mainstream to embrace.

Steven

Steve

thanks for your advice. Yes, donating books to library is not a kidding task. They dont just accept books.

it is almost an impossible task

also, it really doesnt matter if you drive there and bring the books to their very face. they have to read it first and then decide...

I dont just email and phone. I have been doing an intensive research on this subject....I am almost converting myself to a liberian. that is why I have not spent much time on padma....

dont worry, it will be handled okay

Mimosa

libraries usually have a gift-exchange department.  that is where u should contact if you wish to donate book.

if there isn't, acquisitions department is the next to try... if not, then the cataloguing department, then the serials/document-something department... (acquisitions, cataloguing and serials department are usually known as technical services department as a whole).

i try to look for email addresses of these departments. if i can't find, i would use the head librarian's, cos' i figure out head librarians are more responsisble (that is why they are heads)

anyway, the worst scenarios is the generic webmaster address... (which is what i did a lot of times, cos' southeast asian libraries dun usually have specific departments. USA's libraries should be more established and the structure should be as more or less what i described. Also, those libraries with ISO qualifications --> an email to the reference departmetn should be ok because they are bound by quality standards to at least reply to u or route to the correct deprtment).

more often than not, collection policy of a library will dictate whether or not they accept the books cos' the library is more interested in what it needs. Often, what they need is in turn dictated by the educational institution

maybe what steven refers to are public libraries...

correct me if i am mistaken

Jessie is already talked like a professional :-) There are more about the library project, but I am too busy to talk about it right now..

Thanks everyone's donation. With the donation, US$1350 from CA and Singapore, I was able to purchase 350 English books. With the donation of $3500 from CA alone, I was able to purchase 700 Chinese books.

I am wrapping up the project now, all the books are targetted to send to 100 libraries on 7/28. Every single book will be inserted an English-Chinese Yellow Jambhala card with our website on it :-)

This week, I need to write my report.......


Mimosa

Hi Steven,

[Steven]The TB School isn't going to get any help from any of the traditional schools of Buddhism. Look at Master Samantha. She has a nice full head of hair.

[Lu] Master Samantha did not take ordination vows.  That's why she has hair.  There's a very important difference to note: we have Lay Masters in our school as well as Masters who are fully ordained monks and nuns.

[Steven]I participated in a fire ceremony yesterday. She had her hair slicked back. A lot of Buddhists will say, "monks are supposed to have their heads shaved!" Why does she not shave her head?!" Actually there are a couple of female monks at the Ling Shen Ching Tze temple who also have full heads of hair. I remember one time I was there: not only did one of the monks have a full head of hair, she had on lipstick, and a fancy black vinyl looking jacket on. Very hip. Monks aren't supposed to dress like that.

[Lu] Again, these women are Masters who did not take ordination vows.  It's okay for them to dress as ordinary lay practitioners do.  
Once a person becomes a monk or a nun, they must keep their heads shaved and they must wear their robes at all times in public.  

When people see the lay Masters who have hair, wear cosmetics and dress in ordinary clothes during their routine outside of the temple, we need to have enough knowledge to tell them that these Masters are the same as you and me because they did not take ordination vows. This common misconception is why a lot of people criticize TBS.

There is no such thing as a monk or nun that did not ordain.  But there are Masters in our school that did not ordain. Once they ordain, no hair, cosmetics, or clothing other than robes are allowed.

Just to note, the True Buddha Foundation passed a rule some time ago that all future Masters must take ordination vows. So basically, there will not be any more Lay Masters after the ones that we already have.  Grand Master noted that there will be a few exceptions who have special cases though.  

Lu

Some of you know that I spent last 2 months on the library project. The Chinese paper is out today, so
Ho Hock and Lorraine, please read it because you two were helping me to collect some money from Singapore, and
I want to make sure that donators know that their money is in good hands :-)
http://www.wtbn.org/389/p389-16-01.shtm
this one has more pictures at the bottom
http://www.e-daden.com/news/0702/20020722-4.htm

Basically,
with everyone's donation, we have accomplished the following
-sent out more than 1 thousand Chinese books and 350+ English books
-7 libraries to Asia (thanks Jessie)
-20 libraries to Australia (thanks kty)
-1 libraries in Canada (thanks brenda)
-4 libraries to africa
-30+ New York Queens libraries
-70+ Southern CA libraries
-20+ university libraries all over usa
-2 jails.

basically, my wish is to spread GM's all over 5 continents!
we did it!! exhausted!!

Thanks team for putting up with my delayed work, now I am cranking up :-)

What a shame, I never have discovered this post till now. Seems like it had been a fun project to work on. Is there any chance to do something for this project now? please notify me if there are other projects running! thanx


ohm mani padme hum
vicky

I ordered about hudreds of Chinese/English books, if you can find library that will accept those books, give me the approval letter, I will deal the shipping and cost. We have a group that sponsors the project.

TBF just wrote a newsletter article on the TBN to compliment our achievemen. Our group has sent books around the 5 continents,  I am too tired and busy to contact other libraries. However, if you want to continue on this effort, go ahead. I will help you out!

Mimosa

Also just to mention a few points regarding GM's and the Dalai Lama's public status to the westerners. Yes, I believe GM has just as many great incarnations as teachers as the Dalai Lama. But we have to remember, there was a movie I believe called the "Seven Years" which feature the younger dalai lama befriend a westerner. That could also be a public awareness his school & himself. Also, the dalai lama study english extensively and his english is pretty good. He has more public appearances in the western TV than any other tantrayana master (I think?)  Before I took refuge with GM, I have seen the Dalai lama on some film and documentaries but didn't feel the affinity with him like I have it with our Grandmaster  :)   It is a matter of affinity but I think a general understanding of the Guru and his teachings are very important to english speakers.  Eventhough our Grandmaster doesn't speak english fluently, I think he is very charismatic in his speech/dharma teachings.  He's move me to learn my chinese and now I practice in chinese with some help  pinyin ;D   hmmmm.....just a few points. Please forgive me  if I made mistakes in information not accurate.

alenachan

cool! I'll try to find libraries here in Holland, who will accept books from the true buddha school. good luck with the project! greetz from vicky

ohm mani padme hum

take your time. I will supply you with books

BTW, do you go to the local chapter? Holland right? That is a remote place. I can send you a set of English books to your local chapter. Let me know. Of course, these books are donated by our local chapter sisters/brothers, so please accept the books only if your chapter needs them, not for the sack of having them. see the difference? :-) sorry for saying that because these books are donated by others...I have to make sure these books go to the right home :-)


thank you


Mimosa