Essay Help Please

Fellow Dharma Brothers and Sisters,
I have a major essay due in my religious studies class "Belief in the Afterlife." The class looks at various world religions and their view of the afterlife and the end of the physical death. Everyone in the class is supposed to write an essay with respect to any religion on the answer for death. However, we are not allowed to write on our own religion and the professor said that after years of reading essays she could tell if we were writing about our own religion or not. I have chosen to write about Taoism for my essay because I really don't know much about it. More so, to make my essay unique from others, I wanted to write in particular the Religious (not philisophical) and Taoist cult surrounding the pantheon of deities...primarily the Golden Mother of the Primordial Pond.

Does anyone know of resources outside of TBS on her? Where can I find more information?

In what books does Grandmaster discuss the Golden Mother extensively?

What are other names for her?

What role does she play in Taoism?

Any additional information related to this essay topic would be greatly appreciated. Not only will it help me to write a good essay but help develop and increase my own understanding of The Golden Mother and the influence of Taoism.

Many thanks.

Om Mani Padme Hom

hi, Celestial Maiden,

these are the few books of GM Lu in which he talked
mainly about Taoism but i am afraid they are not been
translated yet.

Book No 40  " Record of the Taoism marvels "
Book No 44  " The dharma sounds of Taoism "
Book No 45 " The incrediblity of Taoism "

below are two Bilingual Taoist website in my folder,
hope it will help you in your research.

http://www.ctcwri.idv.tw/godking.htm

http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/

Lian Hua Dance,

I'm not sure at all whether your posting with pic and mine with pic is of the same.  I wish someone can shed some light because I have never gotten any answers.  If I am correct, someone told me she is the "Jade Pond Mother of all Buddhas"

HELP -- HELP -- HELP -- need other experts on this matter.
???

John

picture was taken on or about Oct. 15, 2002 at Houston TBS; statue locate on left side of the main shrine

if i am not mistaken,

Golden Mother has three "bodies":
1) Wang Mu NIang Niang (manages heavenly matters)
2) Golden Mother of the Primodial Pond (manages matters concerning the human world)
3) -- (can't remember)....

need memory jolt

I wish someone can shed some light because I have never gotten any answers.  If I am correct, someone told me she is the "Jade Pond Mother of all Buddhas"

   

Yes , yes, yes, John, that is her , all right.  :)
We have the exact same statue in all the temples here.

Jade Pond Golden Mother is direct translation from
her Chinese name. She will always be wearing that
Phoenix Crown on her head that signifies the Empress
Status.

Golden Mother of Jade Pond is one, then there are others too.  Can you, or anyone, help distinguish and identify?

Here is "Mother of Goddess (MA ZU)" in the Redmond temple.

lian hua dance
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Hi Dance,

I have a hard time distinguishing b/w " Golden Mother of the Primordial Pond " and " Ma Zu " myself. Both of them
are wearing the same headgear.  I will only get to know
the difference if there is a label somewhere to tell me
who the statue is. Just like this one in the picture.

I read in GM Lu 's book that Ma Zu is actually the transformation Body of Golden Mother of the Primordial Pond.

Maybe that is the reason they both look alike.   ???

So sorry, i am not that into Taoism myself.  ;D

Golden Mother has three "bodies":
1) Wang Mu NIang Niang (manages heavenly matters)
2) Golden Mother of the Primodial Pond (manages matters concerning the human world)
3) -- (can't remember)....

need memory jolt

 
Hi Jessie,

third body ?  Is it Ma Zhu ? ( manages affairs of the Sea )
[/quote]

<<Yes , yes, yes, John, that is her , all right.  
We have the exact same statue in all the temples here.  

Jade Pond Golden Mother is direct translation from
her Chinese name. She will always be wearing that
Phoenix Crown on her head that signifies the Empress
Status.

    Swallow>>


Madam Swallow,  :)

1.) Thank you for sheding some light.  I wonder if "Jade Pond Golden Mother" is the Mother of all Buddhas?

2.) Is she a Buddha, Bodhisattva, or a Heavenly God?

3.) And if she is a God, will she one day be reborn in the human form?

4.) I have never felt close to her, I mean -- how do we pay respect to her?  I haven't read enough yet to know what Grand Master Lu have advised us so.

I do respect all and I do wish to respect all properly without prejudice.  Sorry for putting you [ Swallow ] in the spotlight to do the research for us ---  ;D

I'm happy to hear from any Dharma brothers and sisters.

Thank you,

"sleepless in Seattle, oopppss I meant sleepless in Houston"

John  ::)