S1B3 - The Purple Lotus - Master Samantha Chou Pt1

The Purple Lotus - Master Samantha Chou
Translated¹ by Janny Chow

(1) First spiritual experience

Master Samantha Chou is a graduate of a Protestant college in Taipei.
In her earlier years she had sought answers to problems in life from Christian
churches. However, she was unable to find practices that could arouse her
sympathy and interests.
After her marriage to Andy Chou, Samantha emigrated from Taiwan to Canada,
residing in Vancouver, British Columbia for ten and a half years. Then, in
July, 1984, for seven consecutive nights, she dreamt of many Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas which she did not recognize. Acting on an inexplicable impulse,
she made a long distance telephone call to her mother in Taiwan, unaware
of the lateness of the hour in Taipei.
At about the same time, her mother, Mrs. Wang, was in the middle of a dream.
In the dream, Mrs. Wang was inside a temple and all the worshippers were
handing her their incense sticks. As a result of this, a great bundle of
incense sticks accumulated in her hands. Then she heard someone call her,
so she handed all the incense over to her daughter, Samantha. It was at this
point that she was awakened by the phone call from Vancouver. While still
under the influence of the dream consciousness, Mrs. Wang asked Samantha
to fly back to Taipei.
Thus, Samantha took a flight back to Taiwan. While on the airplane, she started
reading a Chinese magazine a friend had given her just before her departure,
and she came upon an article written by the famous Chinese writer, San Mou.
In that article, San Mou gave an account of how she had tried to make contact
with her deceased husband through a psychic medium, Mr. Lue, in Taipei. This
piqued Samantha's curiosity and she decided to contact that medium upon her
arrival to see if she could meet her father and grandmother who had passed
away when Samantha was a child. Little did she know that it was to be an
encounter that would lead to dramatic changes in her life, transforming her
from an ordinary housewife to a Buddhist Master devoted to the propagation
of Buddhism.
Samantha met Mr. Lue in August, 1984. Mr. Lue's channelling method,
which he had learned from his father, is quite unusual. His method leads
the participants to see and feel for themselves the spiritual realm. In her
first session, Samantha was blindfolded and seated, while Mr. Lue performed
some rituals and recited incantations. Samantha's body started swaying in
circles. Then she entered a trance-like state. A deity came and led her to
see both her grandmother and her father, who were inhabiting two completely
different realms of disembodied existence.
At the end of the session, Samantha removed her blindfold to find, unexpectedly,
many spectators in the room. She found that the whole session had been taped
by the China Television Company for the local show "Ninety Minutes". (It
was actually a coincidence that the reporters of the Television Company decided
to visit Mr. Lue at that same time, right in the middle of Samantha's session.)
The TV crews requested Samantha to participate in one more session the next
day.
During her second session, she was led not only to different Heavenly realms
but also to the Dragon King's Palace. She saw wonderful scenes that were
not of this world. However, at the end of the session, after coming out of
her trance and removing her blindfold, she realized that she could still
see the deity that led her on the out-of-body trip. Mr. Lue tried to rid
her of this "special sight" by sprinkling water on her and reciting more
incantations, but all to no avail. That night, in addition to the acquisition
of this special sight, Samantha was awakened by a strong force. Bodhisattvas
and deities were talking to her and giving her teachings. This continued
almost every night thereafter. She went back to ask Mr. Lue why these visions
were happening. He said that she had been selected by the deities and that
there was nothing he could do to help her.

(2) Voices from the womb

After returning to Canada, Samantha found that her psychic experience in
Taipei was met with total disbelief by Andy. While watching the taped session
which Samantha had brought back, he found it to be quite funny and started
laughing. Immediately the TV picture tube exploded, leaving only the sound
track running - a divine warning against irreverence.
Upon returning from Taipei, Samantha suddenly stopped menstruating. After
numerous, thorough medical check-ups, Samantha was told by her physicians
that they could find nothing wrong with her. Although they could offer no
explanation as to why she had stopped menstruating, they stated that, as
long as she remained amenorrheic, she would be infertile. At that time, she
had only one son, Phillip, and wanted very much to have a daughter.
When she wrote to Mr. Lue about it, he reasoned that the deities did not
want her to have any more children so that she could serve the sentient beings.
Enraged by this reply, she refused to get up at night to have her spirit
activated. She wondered how the Bodhisattvas could force anybody into doing
anything against ones will. Her refusal to have any further communication
with the deities changed a month later when a voice told her that she would
have a child in July, 1986.
In September, 1985, Samantha moved with her husband and son from Vancouver
to San Francisco. One night in early November, she was suddenly awakened
by a golden light coming from her bedroom door and spreading throughout the
room. A Buddha whom she intuitively knew to be the Buddha Vairocana - the
Great Sun Buddha - was suspended in the air. He spoke to her thus: "You are
pregnant with a girl. Her name is Fu-nian (Maiden Who Gives Blessing). Recite
the Diamond Sutra and Mantra and practice this Mudra as shown." Samantha
instinctively bowed and paid homage to the Buddha.
The next morning she told Andy about the incident. He thought it was ridiculous.
He believed that her desperate craving for a daughter was causing her to
have hallucinations. Concerned, he suggested they adopt a daughter to calm
her mind.
As it turned out, Samantha was, indeed, pregnant and a laboratory test ordered
by her physician a month later confirmed the fact.
One morning, when Samantha was in her seventh month of pregnancy, she was
alone reading newspapers in her living room. Suddenly she heard a very dignified
voice saying "Namo Amitabha" three times in the Taiwanese dialect. This startled
her. Puzzled, she mentally asked, "Who is reciting Buddha's name?" A voice
from her abdomen, travelling to her head replied, "It is me, your daughter."
She was not the only one who heard this voice. During a trip to Los Angeles
one of her high school friends also heard the voice from her womb.
Samantha also heard another voice, that of a powerful, male spirit. This
worried her and she began to wonder if the baby would turn out to be normal
or not. When she related her concern to her doctor, she was told that she
was imagining things. When she approached a well known Buddhist Master in
the Bay Area about the phenomenon, she was told that she was being possessed
by the Demons.

(3) Taking refuge in Grand Master Lu

At this point, Samantha had become quite desperate. She wondered if there
was anyone in this world who could give her guidance? It was at this time
that one of her friends from Canada, Ms. Yao, gave her Grand Master Lu's
name and telephone number in Redmond, Washington. Ms. Yao had just taken
refuge in Grand Master Lu and believed that, with the kind of unusual occurrences
Samantha was experiencing, only Grand Master Lu could offer her help.
Immediately Samantha placed a telephone call to Redmond, Washington and made
an appointment to meet Grand Master Lu. The appointment was set for the 29th
of March, 1986, at 4:00 p.m.. The whole night after making the call, Samantha
dreamt of Grand Master Lu. In her dreams, the Grand Master's head was shaven,
like a monk's, and they conversed with each other for a long time. On the
day of the appointment, Ms. Yao met Samantha at the airport. When Samantha
told her about the dream, Ms. Yao flatly denied its authenticity, as Grand
Master Lu's head was not shaven at all. When they arrived at the Redmond
temple, Ms. Yao found to her astonishment that Grand Master's head was indeed
shaven! Ms. Yao had not known that Grand Master had taken the vow of monkhood
and had his head shaven just ten days earlier, on the 19th of March.
At 4:00 p.m., Samantha entered the True Buddha Tantric Quarter. Upon meeting
Grand Master Lu face to face for the first time, she felt as if she had known
him for a long time. Grand Master Lu silently looked at her, with a smile
on his lips. Then he walked over to the shrine, wrote the following words
and showed them to Samantha:
"The mission given to you by Buddha Shakyamuni to help sentient beings begins
now. There is a sign on your palm to show this. The child in your womb is
incarnating in the dual roles of Bodhisattva and Dharma Protector."
Just as Samantha was wondering to herself what she was supposed to do, Grand
Master Lu asked her to kneel and take refuge. Bewildered, she did as she
was told.
At 8:00 that evening there was to be a group practice at the Redmond Rey
Tseng (Ling Shen Ching Tze) Temple. Samantha, having lost her way en route,
arrived late and sat with her friend in the last row of the temple.
Someone asked Grand Master Lu how the relatively few masters of the True
Buddha School could cope with the large wave of students taking refuge. Grand
Master Lu answered, "There are many causes that lead to the finding of a
master. Today we have found another one and she is the Purple Lotus, Miss
Wang (Samantha's maiden name) from San Francisco." At first, Samantha did
not realize that Grand Master meant her. Her friend nudged her and only then
did it dawn on her. As she stood up, her mind was filled with suspicion:
"Since I am from out of town, could the Grand Master be using me to take
everyone in?" After the group practice, Master Lian-Huo gave Samantha a copy
of the group practice text, while Grand Master Lu simply told her to go home
and practice according to the text.
After returning home, Samantha read a dozen of Grand Master's books. She
practiced according to the text. At first, she was confused and thought that
she had to practice the Eight Principal Deities' Yogas together in one single
session. She spent all her time, from after breakfast until it was time to
prepare dinner, going through the visualization for each Deity and reciting
108 times each Deity's mantra. When she made a mistake with the Mudras, whether
intentionally or not, there was an invisible force that pulled her hands
back to the right gesture, just as if she were being observed. Gradually,
during practice, Samantha felt that the eight Deities were starting to respond
to her.

(4) Bardo deliverance and divination

Samantha had learned to recite the Rebirth Mantra, even before she took refuge
in Grand Master Lu. Around Qing Ming Day (a feast day in Chinese custom when
people pay their respects to the deceased), April 4th, 1985, she recited
the Rebirth Mantra for her ancestors, as well as for people she knew who
had passed away. As she did this, she saw the mantra she was reciting transform
into a lotus of light with many hands reaching out to catch its light. She
knew that lotus light was guiding the deceased toward the Western Paradise
of Ultimate Bliss, the Pureland of Amitabha Buddha.
The birth of Samantha's daughter, Megia, was accompanied by many unusual
signs. For example, Megia gave her mother some very specific instructions
regarding the preparations for her birth, as well as whom she would see during
the first month of her present incarnation. Megia often helped Samantha solve
problems for people who were now starting to come to ask for divination.
One time Samantha became ill after intervening in someone's karmic hindrance
problem. One of Samantha's arms and one of her legs stiffened, thereby immobilizing
her [at that time her transcendental power was not strong]. That night, after
leaving Megia alone for a moment, Samantha returned to find the baby head
over heels on the floor, crying. Samantha felt sorry for the baby, and was
upset that the Dharma protectors had not taken care of Megia. She asked the
Bodhisattvas why this was so, but received no reply. The next day, a voice
told Samantha that Megia had interceded on Samantha's behalf and taken over
her illness. Samantha then noticed that her arm and leg were back to normal.
When Megia was three months old, Samantha and Megia decided to work together
to convince Andy who, because of scientific and rational training, was still
very doubtful of the psychic happenings around him. First, they predicted
to the minute the time he would come home on a specific day. Then they asked
the Buddhas to cure his hay-fever. On both occasions Andy claimed that the
results were mere coincidences. Finally, Samantha made a written pact with
Andy that, if the lipoma (a growth of fatty cells) on his back would disappear,
then he would have to promise to uphold the Buddha Dharma in this lifetime
as well as in his future lives. Samantha then prayed to the Buddhas while
visualizing a Light illuminating Andy's back. Days passed. Then one day,
out of the blue, Andy thought of the growth on his back and reached his arm
around to feel for it. It was gone! He almost fell out of his chair. He found
it hard to believe, yet it was real.
One day, Samantha was looking at Megia and her heart filled with a strong
maternal love and attachment for the baby. She thought to herself, tears
streaming down her cheeks: "How can I detach from my own daughter and do
what Grand Master is doing now, devoting myself to the helping of other sentient
beings?" Suddenly, a huge white lotus blossom appeared in the Empty Space
and the voice of Grand Master Lu spoke to her, "If you can't even detach
yourself from this little bit of personal feeling, how can you then embrace
feeling for the whole world?" Samantha was stunned! Grand Master Lu was,
indeed, an Enlightened Being! Just when she thought about him, He appeared.
The little doubt she still had in Grand Master Lu vanished completely.
With confidence and faith in her guru, Samantha opened her heart completely
to the cultivation of the True Buddha Dharma. Through the transformation
she witnessed in her own inner life, as well as those in other disciples,
she came to recognize that the True Buddha Dharma as taught by Grand Master
Lu is, indeed, a valid and effective method that can lead one back to one's
own Buddha Nature. By sincerely devoting herself to the three keys to all
practice: Honor the Guru, Treasure the Dharma, and Engage in Actual Practice,
Samantha's wisdom and compassion grew. Besides offering divine guidance service
and healing to others, she offered her own living room on Saturday evenings
to other True Buddha practitioners for group practice. With her guidance
and teaching, many people came to take refuge in Grand Master Lu and many
others who had already taken refuge had their faith and confidence reinforced.

(5) Obstacles in the path of cultivation

The path of cultivation is not an easy one and can be full of challenges,
requiring creative transformations initiated by oneself, as well as blessing
and help from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. In the beginning, Samantha found
herself facing many obstacles which demanded skillful solutions and self
sacrifice. For example, there was a period during her early meditations when
she saw many demons trying to attack her. At first she was scared and would
recite Mantras and employ Tantric implements such as vajra scepters to chase
the demons away. The demons would recede momentarily, only to return in more
fierce forms. Finally, in her compassion, she experienced an epiphany. She
decided that if her body would make the demons happy, then they could take
it. Remaining totally detached and unperturbed, she conquered her fear. While
in meditation she observed her body being cut up and carried away by the
demons. Since then, the demons have never returned.
Another time, on the way back from a Dharma ceremony in Redmond, Samantha,
together with her husband, a friend, and Megia (in one car), and her brother's
family (in another car), was driving when Grand Master Lu suddenly appeared
on the hood of the car, followed by the appearance of Maha Cundi Bodhisattva.
She heard the voice of the Cundi Bodhisattva telling her not to be afraid,
to keep reciting the epithet, Namo Maha Cundi Bodhisattva, and the Cundi
Bodhisattva would help her.
Samantha started to recite Cundi Bodhisattva's name. Suddenly Samantha felt
her hands freeze on the steering wheel, and her legs become completely frozen.
Calmly and without any fear, she felt a great force maneuver the car, driving
at top speed directly toward the cement center divider of the freeway. The
moment the car was about to crash head-on into the divider, a different and
mysterious second force pulled the car back to the middle of the freeway.
The first force again maneuvered the car to crash into the cement divider
but the second force again pulled the car back to the middle of the freeway.
This way the car swung back and forth in a big zig-zag several times before
it passed beyond section of freeway that had a cement center divider. Finally
the car came to a stop at the side of the freeway. Andy had originally been
asleep in the back seat, as were Megia and the other friend. They were all
awakened by the great forces and the zig-zagging of the car. To this day,
Andy is reluctant to sit in a car driven by his wife.
During the Chinese New Year Blessing Ceremony in February, 1987, conducted
in the Redmond Rey Tseng (Ling Shen Ching Tze) Temple by Grand Master Lu,
Samantha sincerely asked the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to open up her wisdom.
Suddenly, she experienced a great flame and heat which surged up along her
middle channel all the way up to her crown. Her Kundalini had spontaneously
awakened. The compassionate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas answered her prayer
and Samantha felt so moved by the experience that she broke down and cried
from the depth of her whole being.
In May, 1987, Samantha was instructed by Grand Master Lu to establish the
Purple Lotus Society, a local chapter of the True Buddha School in Bay Area.
In July of the same year, Samantha was formally ordained by Grand Master
Lu as a Vajra Master [Acharya] of the True Buddha School.

(6) More pregnancies

Shortly after Megia was born, Master Samantha heard a voice from above, saying
"In the left is a dragon, in the right is a tiger, forming a tripod; the
dragon head is descending." She was pregnant again. She guessed this time
it would be a boy born in the year of the Dragon. Later she had a dream in
which she found herself in a hospital and her newborn son was nowhere to
be found. Then she heard a voice in the dream asking her where her daughter
was, while another voice asked her to wait a moment. Master Samantha did
not understand what the dream meant until the birth of her third child, Junia,
turned out to be a girl instead of the boy she had announced it would be.
One night when Junia was about two months old, Master Samantha saw Buddha
Shakyamuni appear in the Empty Space emitting two beams of red light on her
and Andy. Master Samantha realized that it might mean another baby and she
really felt that her hands were already full. She decided to have a tubal
ligation procedure done and set up appointments with her physicians. But
somehow important matters always came up at the last minute, making it impossible
to keep the appointments. In the meantime, she found herself pregnant again.
During this pregnancy, she had the premonition that she might not survive
the childbirth. If this were so, she knew that it was karma. But whenever
she thought of Andy and her small children, she was tortured by the prospect
of approaching death. So, while making arrangements for her family, she was
also immersing herself diligently and vigorously into her cultivation, often
practicing with one baby on her back, one baby holding onto her, and still
another growing inside her.

(7) Close encounter of death

On March 2nd, 1989, a son, Engih, was born to Samantha and Andy. The delivery
process was a smooth one. However, after delivery, Master Samantha's blood
pressure suddenly dropped and she went into shock. The doctors could not
determine the source of the presumed internal blood loss so they took Samantha
into the operating room for exploratory surgery. While the nurses were running
to bring more units of blood to the operating room for transfusion into Samantha,
who required a total replacement of 6000cc of blood, Andy knew that Samantha's
life was hanging by a slender thread. In desperation he went to call Grand
Master Lu. Andy placed the phone call to the True Buddha Tantric Quarter
at Redmond and it was Grand Master Lu, himself, who answered the phone. Andy
only managed to say that Samantha was in grave danger before he was swept
up by uncontrollable sobbing and hung up the phone. Usually, at that hour,
there would be no one at the True Buddha Tantric Quarter. However, earlier
that day there had been a snowstorm and Grand Master Lu's car had stalled
on the way home. For this reason he had had to spend the night at the True
Buddha Tantric Quarter and was there to answer the phone. After Andy hung
up, Grand Master went in to the shrine and remained in meditation throughout
the night. His spirit left his body and travelled to San Francisco to help
Samantha.
When Samantha's consciousness left her body lying on the surgical bed,
she felt immensely free. Looking down at her body, cut open at the abdomen
and being examined by the surgeons, Samantha found that she did not want
to go back. There was just too much pain and suffering in human existence.
She focused on the practice that Grand Master Lu had taught and in which
she had worked so hard. She saw the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin, her Personal Deity,
appearing. She was ready to merge with the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin when the
Grand Master appeared and blocked her way. Grand Master Lu told her that
her mission on earth was not yet finished and she would need to return to
her body. Samantha, however, felt that the cross she had to bear, as a woman
with so many small children, was just too hard and she asked Grand Master
to let her go. Then she could come back reincarnated as a male and continue
the service. Grand Master Lu would not allow it. Then Samantha tried to talk
Grand Master into letting her go to the realm of Hell where she could serve
Bodhisattva Ksitigharba in the liberation of the Hell beings. However, Grand
Master would not agree to that either. After much arguing, Samantha finally
came back to the physical realm. Before she became submerged in the human
world again, she visited the Maha Double Lotus Ponds, the Pureland of Padmakumara
(Grand Master's nirmanakaya) and experienced what it was like to be immersed
in the Ocean of Consciousness of the Buddha Vairocana (the merging with the
Universal Consciousness).
The surgery had lasted a total of eight hours. The surgeons finally located
the source of hemorrhage (a ruptured blood vessel near the gall bladder)
and repaired it. After her death experience, Master Samantha felt deeply
the limitation of the gross body and realized that the true significance
of life is to raise one's spirituality and become completely awakened. Master
Samantha told herself that no matter what condition she finds herself in,
she must keep practicing to help the sentient beings and spread the Dharma.
(In the past two years, Master Samantha has made numerious trips to give
Dharma teachings in various countries, including Japan, Malaysia, Brunei,
Taiwan, Indonesia, Dominican Republic, Canada, Singapore, Britain, Holland,
and France.)

Footnote:
1 Based on the Chinese text published in the 3rd issue of Lian Hua Magazine
(published in Taiwan). This translation originally appeared in the June,
1991 Purple Lotus Journal.

On the Dharma Trip to Southeast Asia(1)¹

By Master Samantha Chou, March 17, 1990, at Purple Lotus Society.
Translated by Janny Chow.

Good evening, fellow cultivators! For the past one and a half months,
I have been travelling in Southeast Asia spreading the buddha dharma. Today,
I am very glad to be back here to see you again.


Blessing Ceremonies with over 10,000 in Attendance

I'd like to report briefly on this Southeast Asia trip with Grand Master
Lu. On the 20th of February [1990], after the blessing ceremony in Singapore,
I left Grand Master Lu and went on my own to give dharma teachings in Indonesia,
Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan. Much took place during this time. First, let
me describe the four blessing ceremonies performed by Grand Master Lu in
Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Among the many miraculous happenings,
the one thing that I feel really distinguishes our True-Buddha School is
the full attendance at each of the four ceremonies.
In Taiwan, there are three contemporary Buddhist masters, Hsing Yun, Hui-Lue,
and our Grand Master, who can attract an attendance of more than 10,000 in
their dharma ceremonies. But so far, our Grand Master is the only one who
can draw that attendance in every ceremony he holds - anytime, anywhere,
there is always a big turn-out of people, coming on their own will, to listen
to the buddha dharma spoken by Grand Master Lu. In Taiwan, perhaps it could
be said that such events are not that uncommon, as other masters have held
ceremonies with a turn-out of over 10,000. However, outside Taiwan, I dare
say that there is no other Buddhist master who can match our Grand Master.
Why?- Because none of our dharma ceremonies was accompanied by any special
advertising effort. If these ceremonies did not have their own special appeal,
it is inconceivable that thousands of people would attend. In Malaysia and
Singapore, where the weather was very hot, the ceremonies were always full,
regardless of the time they were held. Everyone stood outside under the blazing
sun in 38oC temperature (100o Fahrenheit), from 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.,
for almost seven hours. Despite the cruelly hot weather, participants were
willing to sit and bear with it. I was deeply touched. This demonstrated
the mysterious power of Grand Master Lu and the superiority of the True-Buddha
School.
Different places have different rituals for opening a ceremony. In Malaysia,
where it is customary, Lion dances were performed to welcome Grand Master
Lu and other masters. It was a fresh experience for me. We entered the place
where the ceremony was held led by two dancing lions amidst the noise of
firecrackers. After a brief rest in the VIP lounge, we were treated to another
round of celebration.
Seeing the heavy mass of people, with everyone's attention focused on us,
I suddenly felt like we were all participating in a stage play. Even the
way of benefitting the living beings had to be suited to the environment.
The plot of spreading and transmitting the buddha dharma is repeated again
and again, like an old movie continuously being shown! The actors keep working
as hard as they can, and the audience remains as involved as possible!

Ghosts' Photographs Captured in Hong Kong

Next I'd like to talk about Hong Kong. Perhaps you have already seen the
pictures of ghost published in the 332nd issue of The Metropolitan Weekly,
a Hong Kong magazine. Those pictures, taken during the Hong Kong Dharma Ceremony,
caused a lot of speculation, and I'd like to give some explanations.
Last September [1989], when our Grand Master held a World Blessing and Deliverance
Ceremony in the Hung Hom Stadium in Hong Kong, twelve thousand people attended,
filling the stadium to capacity. It was the first time Hong Kong experienced
a Buddhist organization's ceremony of that size! It was so successful that
some Buddhist organizations in Hong Kong became jealous and spiteful. They
launched a vicious attack on Grand Master Lu after he had left Hong Kong.
They challenged our Grand Master's statement during the ceremony of his seeing
many spirits in attendance. They asked: How come he was the only one who
saw the ghosts? Who else had seen, or heard, the ghosts? Apart from commenting
that all these things were impossible, they denounced him with foul and senseless
language.
So on February 4th this year, at the ceremony held in the New Queen Elizabeth
Stadium in Hong Kong, those same dis-embodied spirits who participated in
last year's Blessing and Deliverance Ceremony appeared and spoke to our Grand
Master, "Those human beings who do not believe in the existence of spirits
are truly ignorant! To quiet their doubts and to vindicate you, we will give
them definitive evidence of our existence."
That is the reason people captured photographs of the headless ghost, the
pale-faced ghost, and even the energy rays of Dragon Kings (Nagarajas). The
latter occurred when our Grand Master was transmitting the Dragon King Yoga
during the ceremony. There are 15 dragon kings who came to take refuge in
Grand Master Lu. The remarkable shot of energy rays in the form of dragons,
descending one by one, was a result of this incident.
In order to determine the authenticity of the spiritual pictures, many specialists
gathered together to study the negatives. After much argument, they finally
confirmed that those negatives could not have been manufactured by any darkroom
technique. Those transparent, disembodied, headless ghost pictures could
not have been produced by any kind of method! That is why they decided to
publish the photographs on the cover of the 332nd issue of The Metropolitan
Weekly, with the following captions: "Strange Events at the Living Buddha's
Blessing Ceremony," "Fierce Spirits Appearing at the N.Q.E. Stadium," "With
Photographs as Evidence".
What is even more astonishing is that I have brought back a local magazine
of Taiwan, and in it are also pictures of the headless ghost, the pale-faced
ghost, and the Dragon King rays. According to the magazine, those pictures
were photographed by their own reporters sent there, and they couldn't explain
the pictures. What a coincidence! And isn't it amazing?

The Greenish Spirit

The 15,000 people participating during the February 10th ceremony in Malaysia
also broke previous attendance records. During the ceremony someone photographed
a greenish spirit. This greenish spirit was legless, with two arms extending,
just like the kind of ghost found in American cartoons: dressed in white,
covered by a white bed sheet and with only two eyes showing, except that
it was green. Of the two pictures developed, one showed the ghost flying
in an arc in the air, and the other showed it prostrating in front of Grand
Master Lu, paying homage. This was also a very unusual and amazing event.
The local chapters of the True-Buddha School in Malaysia are going to send
us those photographs. Those photographs were printed in the local newspapers
there and have caused quite a stir.
Why were these ghosts and spirits being photographed in these ceremonies?
My personal opinion is as follows: Contemporary human beings are so mired
in obscurations and ignorance that they take the illusory to be the substantial,
and believe the unreal to be real. They no longer have the true wisdom to
judge and comprehend. Without a method of practice and the teachings of a
truly enlightened master, phenomena of much higher realms are beyond their
grasp and comprehension. Pictures of Buddha light are to them impossible
and merely touch-ups done in the dark room or results of improper exposure.
Under such circumstances when people refuse to believe in the existence of
higher realms, the alternative is to give them a jolt by showing them the
lower, more terrifying realms. The purpose is to show those who refuse to
be awakened and continue to create negative karma that ghosts do indeed exist!
If ghosts exist, then gods must exist too since this is a world of duality.
With the acceptance of gods and ghosts, one can accept the Buddhist view
of reincarnations and the existence of the six realms. Beyond the six realms
are the pure lands of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas consisting of absolute
bliss and equality, free from eternal suffering. So, if you take photographs
such as these in the future, don't be frightened. They are just natural phenomena.
One should instead be both cautious and be glad. Be cautious to avoid the
negative karma caused by being ignorant, and keep a clear mind to seek the
way of liberation. Be glad that you have the good fortune of encountering
an enlightened master. Be glad to receive the teaching of the true dharma
that will lead you towards liberation and freedom from suffering. Furthermore,
congratulate yourself for having the wisdom to seize the opportunity for
diligent cultivation so that you may obtain the fruit of realization.

Showing Rainbow Light

The ceremony on the 17th of February in Singapore was also very sensational,
attended by eight thousand people! The local newspapers all vied with each
other to print stories about the ceremony. At one point during the ceremony,
Grand Master Lu told the audience that he would emit three rainbow lights
and he asked the audience to take photographs. Indeed, many captured the
rainbow lights with their own cameras! The three rainbows formed a radiating
arc, illuminating Grand Master Lu and the other masters. After such a public
display of miracles, it is really a pity if people still refuse to believe!


Footnote:
1 Reprinted from August 1990 Purple Lotus Journal.
Purple Lotus Journal.

On the Dharma Trip to Southeast Asia (2)¹
By Master Samantha Chou, March 17, 1990, at Purple Lotus Society.
Translated by Janny Chow.

Thousands of People attend the Consecration
Ceremony

After the ceremony in Singapore, Grand Master Lu departed for Seattle. Master
Lian-zhi and I, however, flew to Indonesia upon the invitation of the Indonesian
chapter of the True-Buddha School, the Cin Siu Thang. We were to attend their
consecration ceremony on the 23rd of February.
It should be noted at this point that Indonesia has a very stringent policy
against anything that is Chinese in origin. Thus, Chinese books cannot be
circulated freely and all symbols associated with the Chinese, such as dragons
and phoenixes, are prohibited. Even Chinese writings in the temples are not
exempted and must be removed.
It was in these circumstances that I visited the temple of Master Ti-Zheng.
There, I found their sign of "Ksitigarba Hall" with the three Chinese characters
removed, and images of a dragon and a phoenix on a wall covered by paint.
Our dharma brothers there have to use practice texts written in Indonesian,
because Chinese is forbidden. You can imagine the difficulty they go through
to do this. Finding a copy of one of Grand Master Lu's books is like finding
a treasure. Everyone tries to make copies for circulation.
Being from overseas, we had to petition for a special permit before we could
give any public speech. Unfortunately, we didn't get the permit, so only
the local master Ti-Zheng could perform the rituals while we used visualization
for the empowerment and consecration.
That day, four thousand people, including visitors and our dharma brothers
and sisters, came for the consecration ceremony. It was quite a spectacle.
Being warned of the possibility of imprisonment for giving public speeches
without permits, Master Lian-zhi and I could not accept speaking invitations
at the various True-Buddha chapters. My heart ached at the sight of the disappointed
faces of our dharma brothers and sisters. The thought of ignoring the warning
crossed my mind, but I would be jeopardizing the dharma brothers there by

getting them implicated and harassed. What if group cultivations are banned
in the future as a result of this? So I had to be steadfast and turn down
their invitations to speak.
While a lot of our dharma brothers there were looking forward to Grand Master
Lu's coming in June, there were many more who, after hearing rumors and threats,
were worried about possible riots that might ensue. They cited many reasons
to try and dissuade Grand Master Lu from coming. They even suggested that
Grand Master Lu's personal safety might be in danger. As a result, many dharma
brothers became extremely nervous about the whole event.
I view this matter differently. Whereas in the past I would have worried
as they did, today I no longer feel and think the same way! After my close
encounter with death last March, I feel that their concern is really unwarranted.
My personal belief is: when the people in a particular place are ready, when
the time is right, a kind of magnetic force will spontaneously occur over
that place, and our Grand Master will go there to lead and liberate them.
Such has been the case in every ceremony elsewhere. No man-made obstruction
can prevent it. When the karma of a certain place is ripe, our Grand Master
will go there. Their fear of riots, government instability and natural disasters
arise because they do not understand the causes behind these events.
People with wisdom understand that, under such circumstances, they should
actually seek this kind of blessing and guidance from an enlightened, Living
Buddha. A ceremony led by Grand Master Lu will bring empowerment and the
blessing of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to the area. Not only will natural
and man-made disasters disappear, but peace, harmony, happiness, and stability
will actually come to stay!
I know my view may be different from others. I am aware that Grand Master
Lu's personal safety must be protected, but I also understand that a Realized
Buddha knows more than we do. The various aspects of his personal life exist
for a reason. Take for example Mala Maudgalyayana, one of the ten chief disciples
of Buddha Sakyamuni. His supreme miraculous power enabled him to escape from
many disasters in his life, yet in the end he allowed himself to be stoned
to death. Why? Because he knew that was his karma. One cannot escape from
one's karma. His death reveals to us that karma and retribution do exist.
Therefore, I privately told the dharma brothers that, should Grand Master
Lu encounter any unfortunate incidents, it would be fate and karma. There
was no need to be worried. The sowing of the seed of Buddha among living
beings must take precedence over everything else. Grand Master Lu himself
casts aside concern for his own life and safety. He has dedicated his life
to the deliverance of living beings, even if it means being smashed to smithereens!
Once the karma of the beings in a certain place is ripe, then that is the
opportune time for him to go to that place. No amount of opposition can stop
him!

Evidence from the Tripitaka

It is no surprise that we face many difficulties in obtaining an official
permit for Grand Master Lu's public teaching in June. The authorities are
really worried, for Grand Master Lu's students and followers comprise the
largest percentage of Indonesia's Buddhist population. Therefore it is understandable
why the officials would want to make things more difficult for us! They have
raised many objections, one of which requires definitive proof of the existence
of the Maha Double Lotus Pond. How indeed could we prove that Maha Padmakumara2
came from the Western Paradise of the Ultimate Bliss? Could there be a witness?
Was there any evidence from the Buddhist Canon, the Tripitaka?
As the authorities demanded evidence from the Tripataka, Master Ding-zhi-fong,
the organizer for the ceremony, decided to purchase the Tripitaka from Hong
Kong and have it transported, through various channels, to Indonesia. Even
as we speak, over a hundred disciples search daily through the scriptures
to find the evidence. Does the evidence exist? Of course it does! To search
for evidence in the Tripataka is a meritorious endeavor. It will establish
a position for our True-Buddha School in the future. Truly the proof is there,
not just in Buddhist literature, but also in the classics of Taoism.
Grand Master Lu has told us that the existing Tripitaka of the Great Canon
is an incomplete collection of Buddha's teachings. There are many unseen
teachings kept in the Palace of the Dragon King. Grand Master Lu has visited
and read those teachings in his meditations and, in the future, he will eventually
write them down. Buddha Sakyamuni was the first one to go to the Dragon Palace,
followed by Bodhisattva Nagarajuna. Living Buddha Lian-sheng (Grand Master
Lu) is the third one who visited there. This is the karma of our generation.
It is the answer to the request of modern-day living beings. The True-Buddha
School was created to fulfill this need. Its task is to publicize the Right
Dharma. Undoubtedly Grand Master Lu is going to add more chapters to the
Tripitaka. Now, however, the dharma brothers in Indonesia are searching through
the Tripitaka, and the evidence will eventually be revealed.
There is a Tibetan book published in Hong Kong which consists of the mandala
and an assembly of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The dates of the original
drawings are not known, but the drawings were done from memory by numerous
high lamas who had seen the mandala in their meditations. I've seen this
book and in it is a page of the Great Assembly of the Padmakumara. The mandala
is clearly depicted on the drawing and has been in existence for a long time.
In preparation for the June ceremony, this book has been sent to Indonesia.
There are many more proofs in existence. In many antique shops, people have
seen standing statues of Padmakumara holding the Preaching Mudra in one hand
and a white Lotus in the other. However, the antique dealers call them Lotus
Bodhisttva instead of Padmakumara. Actually both terms have the same meaning:
Innocence and Purity. There is also another statue which holds the same Preaching
Mudra and Lotus, and wears the same apparel, but it is called Amitabha instead
of Padmakumara. All these statues are actually the same. Many such proofs
are surfacing because the time is ripe. Grand Master Lu has entered the third
phase of his life: that of wandering the world to deliver living beings.
During this phase, further evidence will gradually surface and become more
apparent, so that the people of the world can understand and accept the establishment
of the True-Buddha school.

Footnote:
1 Reprinted from September 1990 Purple Lotus Journal.

On the Dharma Trip to Southeast Asia (3)¹

By Master Samantha Chou, March 17, 1990, at Purple Lotus Society.
Translated by Janny Chow.

Next, I'd like to talk about my impressions of Indonesia. Upon our arrival
at the Indonesian airport, we were led directly into the VIP lounge, experiencing
no problems. After leaving the airport, we drove through the streets of Jakarta.
Our car was a luxurious sedan. Everytime our car slowed down or stopped,
hawkers (adults as well as children) crowded us, knocking at the windows
and trying to sell us all kinds of magazines from the United States and Hong
Kong. They were sweating under the blazing sun, dressed in dirty, tattered
clothes. Being unaccustomed to such a scene, I could not help but glance
at them. When they noticed this, however, they would crowd us even more.
Our driver, who was used to it, would wave them away with a blank look on
his face. One of the Dharma sisters warned us to make sure all our windows
were shut and to avoid eye contact with them, otherwise we would not be able
to get away!
As I witnessed all this, I felt deeply the inequality of life. It was ironic
that, as we sat in the comfort of our air-conditioned luxury sedan, other
people had to endure the scorching heat, sweating, and trying to sell a few
magazines, flowers, or soda-pops....just to be able to buy their next mouthful
of rice! The contrast was so staggering that a surge of unrest and sadness
welled up inside me.
Later we had to go to a department store to pick up a few items and, when
we came out, it was raining very hard. In front of the store were many small
children with umbrellas in their hands, trying to make some money. We didn't
want to get wet, so we waved to them. Immediately, about twenty or thirty
small children rushed over, all fighting to offer their services. I didn't
know how I could get shielded at the same time by 20 to 30 umbrellas, so
I had to make a selection. Randomly I picked a little boy, about 6 or 7 years
old, who only reached up to my waist. His umbrella was turned up at one corner
and half of it seemed to be flying away. Because he was so short, he was
walking on a tip toe in order to hold up the umbrella for me while he himself
was getting drenched. (I, of course, was also getting wet because an overturned
umbrella could not really shield me from the rain.)
When we got back to the car, I was going to get some money out of my purse
to pay him when one of the Dharma sisters told me that a hundred Indonesian
rupiah was the customary fee. So I gave him a hundred Indonesian rupiah.
After saying "terima kasih" (thank you), he dashed back to the crowd, with
his umbrella in his hand, looking for another customer.
My first question to the Dharma sister after getting into the car was, "How
much U.S. money is a hundred Indonesian rupiah?" She replied, "A nickel."
Only a nickel! I felt really bad that I had given him so little money! We
are both human beings, yet our lives are so different. I was thinking, "He
must brave the rain for a nickel to buy himself a meal because his family
is so poor. Although he gets soaked, he still has to pray for the rain to
come, because, without it, he doesn't even get the chance to make a little
money."
In the evening, we were taken out for dinner. The food was exquisite and
delicious, with dishes like shark fin soup and abalones. So much was ordered
that we could not eat it all. I asked them the cost for a banquet such as
this, and they told me, "U.S. $150.00" Oh! One hundred fifty U.S. dollars!
Then I inquired about the average living standard in Indonesia and was told
that, in general, it was very low. Many Indonesians could not afford to go
to restaurants. They told me that one can even hire a household helper for
seven days a week, without any days off, for twenty US dollars a month. Listening
to all this, my heart was deeply touched.
Lately I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world and to study
many things which I did not understand before. This has enabled me to further
comprehend the worries and ignorance of living beings.
I want to tell all of you that we are people with great blessings. Unlike
others, we are assured of our next meal. Even if we may not be among the
extremely rich, we don't have to worry about how to live from day to day.
We can practice our Buddhist belief, do our meditation or study the Sutra
as we like. We don't have to worry about meeting the basic essentials of
life, nor about the problems of censorship of certain spoken and written
languages. We're indeed very fortunate and very blessed!
Indonesia's population is over a hundred million people! There are people
everywhere, and the majority of them are very poor. When will they have the
opportunity to listen to the Buddha Dharma, or to take refuge in an enlightened
master, or to practice cultivations that will lead to liberation? When will
they cease to suffer the pain of retribution, ignorance, and reincarnation?
The money spent by one person on a single meal may cost hours of hard work
for another! If holding an umbrella for someone brings in a nickel each time,
it will take three thousand times to make one hundred fifty dollars. How
long do these people have to wait for equal opportunities? How can we help
them? How can we relieve their sufferings? How can we all achieve equality
and non-discrimination?
Only the Buddha Dharma can genuinely liberate and deliver them! We have to
tell everyone that if we want to avoid retribution, we must first stop committing
unwholesome actions. We must take refuge in an enlightened master, cultivate
the correct practice, repent for our wrongs, perform good deeds. Only then
can we be released from the pain of reincarnation. I hope you all can do
your best to spread Buddhism, to tell everyone about the True-Buddha Vajrayana
Cultivation. All it takes is one person telling ten, and ten telling a hundred,
and a hundred telling a thousand, and pretty soon everyone will get to hear
about it and practice it. Eventually a clear and refreshing realization will
come to them.

The Deliverance of The Flying Snake

Next, let me relate to you some of the miracles that took place while I was
in Indonesia! One of our Dharma brothers living in Bandung, Indonesia, is
Chang-yin-yuan. His wife, Li-yi-mei, was afflicted with an illness called
the "Flying Snake Syndrome". She had bouts of attacks during which she would
experience loss of strength and excruciating headaches.
After I was informed of her illness, I went to their house to visit her.
She was bedridden, very pale, flaccid, and could not move at all. I immediately
went into concentration to invoke Kuan-Yin Bodhisattva and Grandmaster Lu,
Living Buddha Lian-sheng. While forming the Nine-True-Words Mudra, reciting
the mantra, and visualising Grandmaster Lu together with all the Buddhas
and Bodhisattvas compassionately shining light on her, I blessed and transmitted
energy to her head and her whole body.
Afterwards I formed the purification boundary around her house and promised
that I would perform a Deliverance Ceremony for the next four days, and dedicate
the merit to her creditors in the spirit realm. Master Lian-zhi also stayed
at their house to help perform the Deliverance Ceremony.
That night, while I was writing the Evocation Edict to formally start the
Deliverance Ceremony, the whole house started to become inhabited with spirits!
All around us, many spirits were gathering. Master Lian-zhi came downstairs,
urging me ,"Hurry up, hurry up! They are all here. I saw the stuffed birds
in the speciman case flapping their wings. A Malaysian lady spirit in Mrs.
Zhang's room was silently waving her hand. And their ancestors, whose photographs
are hanging on the walls, are coming out one by one! Hurry Up!" While continuing
to write the Edict, I replied, "Be patient, it's almost done." All this time
I could see many snakes crawling on the floor. A pervading chill filled the
whole house as the spirits became more and more impatient. Finally, with
all the preparatory work done, we started the Deliverance Ceremony. Master
Lian-Zhi and I performed in unison the MahaMudra for Deliverance taught by
Grandmaster Lu. The spirits, many of them stained with blood, were everythere.
The next day one of the Dharma sisters, Lian-yuk, informed us that there
was a public cemetary nearby where Indonesian Chinese, murdered during an
Anti-Chinese riot thirty years ago, were buried.
The day after the Deliverance Ceremony, Mrs. Zhang was able to get up and
move around the house. She was able to sleep well for the first time, thereby
ending a long period of suffering from chronic insomnia. The second day she
started to do light housework. After the third and fourth day, she resumed
all her regular activities.
While in Indonesia, our schedule was so full that each night we would not
finish until about 9:30. Master Lian-zhi, who is not as strong and robust
as I am, would go to rest as soon as we came home. Her being a nurse made
a great deal of difference in the way she took care of herself. She was very
disciplined. If the food did not agree with her, she would not eat it. When
she was tired, she slept. I, on the other hand, will eat anything and am
not prone to sleep even when it's late. It is hard for me to stop and rest
even when I am really tired. If I keep this up, she is surely going to outlive
me!
On the second night, as was her custom, Master Lian-zhi went straight to
bed after we arrived home. After our exhausting day, the temptation was just
too great to resist! Looking at her sleeping, my body just could not hold
up anymore. I squinted at my watch, taking note of the time, 9:30. "Okay,
eleven o'clock! Let me rest a little and at eleven o'clock sharp I will perform
the Deliverance Ceremony." I must have fallen asleep as soon as I finished
saying it.
One Dharma sister, Lian-sheng, having heard about the Deliverance Ceremony
the first day, was afraid to come. After learning from us the second day
that Mrs. Zhang was a lot better, she decided to join us. So, while we were
upstairs fast asleep, Lian-sheng was downstairs chatting with Lian-yuk.
Not too long after I fell asleep, I was awaken by knockings at the door.
When I opened the door, it was Lian-sheng who said, "Oh! You were asleep!
Haven't you started already?" "No, why?" I asked. She then explained, "I
heard someone beating the gong three times! I looked at my watch and it was
eleven o'clock, so I thought you had started the Deliverance Ceremoy without
me. That's why I came running up to join you. But you were not in the Shrine
room when I got there. Here I found both of you asleep in the bedroom."
She continued, "How strange! Where did that gong sound come from? We all
heard it!" Master Lian-zhi said, "Oh, the old monk is here already. An old
monk from the spirit realm has also come to help us with the Deliverance
Ceremony!" "Right! It's eleven clock. How punctual!" I said. Lian-sheng never
figured out where the gong sound had come from.
On the third day, our schedule was just as busy. When we got home, Master
Lian-Zhi, exhausted, again went to rest on the bed. (Lian-sheng had not been
feeling well that day and had come back to Mrs. Zhang's house to rest earlier.)
Seeing Master Lian-zhi sound asleep, I was tempted again. So I mentally told
the spirits, "All right, eleven o'clock. I will perform the Deliverance Ceremony
at eleven o'clock." Right away , I fell asleep.
A short while later, I was again awakened by knockings at the door. Opening
the door, I again found Lian-Sheng, who uttered, "You two are still sleeping!
I was sound asleep too. I don't know why, but a force kept pulling me off
the bed. Half asleep, I turned over twice, ignoring it, but it kept dragging
me until after the third time I finally woke up. Then I looked at the clock
- it was eleven, time for the Deliverance Ceremony. That's why I came running
up again to join you! Really I had no idea that you two were still sound
asleep!"
That final day, after finishing the Deliverance Ceremony, Master Lian-zhi
and I stayed up to chat. While we were talking, I noticed that right by my
bedside was a spirit who kept staring silently at us. It was dressed in the
attire of an official of the Qing Dynasty!
Spirits are Everywhere
After being stared at for a while, I felt sort of uneasy, so I asked Master
Lian-zhi if she noticed him too. She said she was not concentrating and had
not noticed him. Then after a while, she exclaimed, "Oh, yes, you are right!
Right over there in that corner! He has been there for several days already."
"That's right, and I can't even sleep in any position, even if I want to"
I complained. "I don't like it this way. I'll just set up a Vajra Boundary
around my bed." Standing up, I proceeded to form the Mudra, and I could see
a surge or brilliant light radiating out. That Qing Dynasty official immediately
curled up and backed up into a corner of the room, appearing to be very scared!
He shouted, "I don't mean any harm at all. Don't be angry! I really don't
have any bad intention." "Really? Then why are you standing over my bed disturbing
us?" I asked. He replied, "I was just admiring you. There is no harm in that."
Then I told him, "When I am sleeping, I don't want to be disturbed. If you
want to look, you can do that during the day. At night, I am sorry, but I
don't appreciate being looked at!" Then, seeing how sorry he was, I thought
to myself, "As long as he is not doing any harm and not being disruptive,
I will tolerate his looking at us." We decided not to be bothered any more
by his presence.
As cultivators, we should know that sometimes we cannot do whatever we want
to do, just because we think no one sees it. Around us are many invisible
beings, some from higher realms or lower realms, and they know everything
we do. This is absolutely true. Don't think that you are alone when you are
asleep, for there may be a circle of beings looking at and admiring you!
You are just not aware of it. If you could feel their presence, there are
spirits everywhere. The boundary between the living and the dead is just
a line thin.
When I was a child, I had heard about a lady living in our neignborhood who,
after having narrowly survived an auto accident, seemed to change into a
different person. Everyone said that she was mentally ill. When she "died"
and was revived, her third eye was spontaneously opened. Why did everyone
think she was crazy? Because whenever she walked, she would walk in a zig
zag way, as if she was afraid to bump into someone! Often, she was heard
apologizing as if she had bumped into someone. When her husband was driving,
she would exclaim nervously, "Oh! You have just hit someone!"
At that time, I really thought that she was crazy! But now I realize she
could really see spirits everywhere! That's why she was trying to avoid bumping
into them. Besides the living, she was also trying to avoid bumping into
the dead, because they were all over! Her apologies were meant for the spirits
she may have bumped!

The Miracle of Taking Refuge

After Mrs. Zhang's illness was cured, many people heard of the news and asked
me to help them. One of them was an old gentleman with liver cancer. After
exhausting the help of many Western and Chinese-herbal doctors and medicines,
he was still sick. With multiple bouts of diarrhea every day, he had been
bed-ridden for seven to eight months.
His son wanted me to go to his house to see him, but it was almost midnight
then, and the house was an hour away by car. So, I asked him if his father
could come instead. He replied, "How could he? He has not been able to move
for almost 7 or 8 months now! It would not be possible."
Looking at the time again, I told him, "I'll go tomorrow then. You can help
him now by taking refuge for him. Do not postpone it; it's important that
he takes refuge. Visualize your father as being in front of you and taking
refuge now." The son also signed up to take the refuge himself. There was
another person who wanted to sign his daughter up to take refuge. His daughter,
who was ten months old, not only did not have any appetite but also had bouts
of diarrhea six to seven times each day.
There were many people that night asking to take refuge. I told all of them
to press their palms together with sincerely, and, for those who had signed
up relatives and friends, to also visualize them by their side to receive
the empowerment. After the empowerment, I told them that each one of them
could make a wish. Then, when I rang the Vajra bell to bless the list of
names of people who had just taken refuge, I saw a brilliant red beam descending
from the sky, and heard a very clear announcement from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas:
"All the wishes made today would be fulfilled." I immediately related this
message to all present.
The next day, I went to visit the old gentleman with cancer. Surprisingly,
he was already able to get up and walk around! His son told me that his father,
since taking refuge the day before and after taking the drink prepared from
my Spiritual paper charm, was able to get up, move, and take a meal!
When I returned home, I found the father whose ten month old daughter had
taken refuge the night before, waiting for me, saying, "My daughter started
to eat a big meal today and stopped having diarrhea for the first time in
months after taking refuge and drinking the preparation from the paper charm
which you wrote. It is just miraculous!"
Incidents like these are many! The people who came back all reported to have
improved! The miracles were endless!
All these are powerful evidence and proofs that the True-Buddha Dharma taught
by Grandmaster Lu is, indeed, real. The True-Buddha School established by
him is real, and everything about Living Buddha Lian-sheng is real. He is,
indeed, a Great Buddha who has come to incarnate because of his Compassion
and Vow. In order to deliver the living beings across a broad range, he has
set up many expedient ways to lead the lost, and to help the confused living
beings to return to the Source. There will be innumerable beings who will
be delivered through this way! If we could understand how remarkable this
Dharma is, we would truly treasure it. We would seize the opportunity to
spread it to the lost and the confused, so they could all come to take refuge!
Do not procrastinate any longer - do not delay your cultivation! Living Buddha
Lian-sheng has come for the One Great Cause! Bring out your hearts! If we
really want to help and save other people, don't waste any more time! Time
won't stand still for us! We have to speak and act now! Only then can we
truly help to liberate all living beings from their sufferings!
Om Mani Padme Hum!

Footnote:
1 Reprinted from October 1990 Purple Lotus Journal.

On Reincarnation and Cultivation

By Master Samantha Chou, November 16, 1990, at Rey Tseng Buddhist Temple,
Alhambra, California
Translated¹ by Janny Chow

Fellow cultivators and visitors, good evening!
As we know, today is the birthday of the Medicine Buddha. I think it is a
wonderful coincidence that I am able to celebrate it here with everyone present.
The celebration of the Medicine Buddha's birthday can help us to reduce and
eradicate much of the negative karmic hindrances that our body, mind, and
speech have accumulated through ignorance. Earlier, we recited the Medicine
Buddha's twelve Great Vows. I was so moved by them that a deep, grateful
feeling welled up within me. I could feel His determination and compassion
very strongly. In their compassion, the Medicine Clear Light Buddha, together
with all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, generated such great vows to help
and liberate all sentient beings. It is just remarkable!
As we were reading the Medicine Buddha's Original Vows And Merits Sutra,
I saw the Medicine Clear Light Buddha appear in the Empty Space. His crystal
clear body emitted a strong blue light over everyone. I knew then that everyone
present was very blessed. The blessing of the Clear Light Medicine Buddha
increases the fortune and wisdom of those who receive it. Our sincerity in
celebrating the Medicine Buddha's birthday will prevent or reduce many inauspicious
events, including calamities - such is the merit and efficacy in participating
in today's ceremony and meditation.
Next I would like to thank the Rey Tseng Temple of Los Angeles for
inviting me to come here to meet and speak with you. Actually, it was not
a simple matter. When I was first invited at the beginning of last year,
I was very pregnant and unable to come. Then, on the second of last March,
I had a profound experience. After I gave birth, I began hemorrhaging. I
hemorrhaged for almost four and a half hours. I lost most of my body's blood
and had to have transfusions. More than that, my consciousness departed from
my physical body and no longer dwelt in the human realm. Were it not for
Grand Master Lu, our Root Guru, who travelled out of his body to save me
and bring me back, I would not be sitting here with all of you.
All those present today are extremely blessed. I say this because all
of us have the wisdom and opportunity to uphold and practice the True Buddha
Tantric Dharma. This affinity has bonded us together; we can all continue
our path of cultivation until we reach our Home - the Maha Double Lotus Ponds.
Our Grand Master brought me back from the realm of the Western Paradise to
make a testimony, to tell everyone: the Maha Double Lotus Ponds (the Pure
Land of Amitabha) exists. Only by taking refuge in the True Buddha School,
by practicing the True Buddha Tantric Dharma, and by becoming a True Buddha
practitioner, can one return to our place of origin - the Maha Double Lotus
Ponds.
Each of us originates there and why do we come here? Through continuous transmigrations
we experience the diversity of worldly life in various roles, each one urging
us on to the successful completion of our missions.
Our presence today is a result of this. The fact that we sit here in harmony
amidst our differences is a testament to it. This affinity is not easily
perceived. How many generations past and how many kalpas are needed for this
affinity to mature? If you understand the principle of Causes and Effects
as explained by the Buddha Dharma, you will not find this affinity surprising!
Although we all come from the same source, the different actions created
by our various division bodies (i.e., vows and desires), cause us to form
unique affinities with those around us. At the Purple Lotus Society, I have
said to the Dharma brothers and sisters - notice the people around you: in
front of you, behind you, to your right and to your left. They may have been
your fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives in your previous
lives. We don't realize that we are all from the same source because we only
see others as they are in this lifetime. In previous lives, we were husbands,
wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. We are all bonded together.

Our worldly life is very short; years pass very quickly. The familial affinities
one forms in one lifetime do not last forever. Once your physical body and
consciousness have departed, you will reincarnate according to your karma.
You will form new affinities and families. When this happens, will you recognize
your families and relatives from before? No, because you have donned a new
mask, a new name, a new environment. You have already forgotten your place
of origin. Do you know how many times you have been reincarnated? How
many kalpas you have gone through? Our planet, Earth, has already experienced
seven times of destruction. How much time does it take for the Earth to go
through each cycle of formation, existence, destruction, and emptiness? Why
do we keep coming back? I often contemplate and ask myself, what is the most
painful experience in our lives? It is not the agony of human relationships
which we encounter. It is the continuous return, the reincarnation into one
role after another, experiencing the same cycle of life - from infancy to
old age - without stopping.
We are a result of our previous actions. Through our ignorance, we have succumbed
to greed, lust and pride - emotions we have created. Why? What a cost have
we paid to fill our need for earthly pleasures - beautiful villa, luxurious
sedan, gentle wife, sensitive husband, obedient children, fame, and success?
Are you aware of Earthly life's impermanence?
Three years ago I was at the Los Angeles Airport with my daughter,
Megia. I had just given a talk at the Mui Yin Society and we were waiting
for our flight back to San Francisco. While waiting, I saw a dignified gentleman
and an elegant lady chatting with each other. They were sitting right beside
us so I could not help but hear their conversation. The gentleman was talking
about how big his house was, how much profit his business was making, how
his children who were attending Stanford University were getting all A's....Wow!
Everything was just so picture perfect! As I cast another glance at them
I could not help but wonder what a person in his shoes could possibly ask
for? I envied him and even fantasized about my future success.
Soon after our boarding instructions were announced, I got up and started
walking. I had only taken a few steps when I heard a loud, crashing sound
behind me. As I turned I saw the gentleman previously sitting next to me
sprawled on the floor. The glasses he had been wearing had broken into fragments,
cutting his eyes and causing blood to flow freely. His urine passed uncontrollably,
possibly due to the shock of the fall on his bladder. The color of his face
had turned from pink to white. Then his breathing stopped - a heart attack
- and he was lying on the floor next to my feet. Holding the baby in my arms,
I was shaking all over. In my heart, I was crying, "Why is it like this?
Why is it like this?" Suddenly the phrase all phenomena in life are Impermanent
appeared in my mind. In that one moment I experienced deeply the impermanence
of life. Where was his business? Where was his money? His family? His prestige
and his status? Where had this man gone to now? He could no longer be found
in this world. This man no longer existed. The shock I experienced in my
heart could not be any stronger. In the instant when he fell next to my feet,
all my fantasy and dreaming were broken.
When I returned to San Francisco, I pondered what is man's object of pursuit
in his life? What is the true meaning of life in this world? If you understand
the relationship between Causes and Effects (Karma) and the principle of
reincarnation, you will not be troubled by the relationships and affinities
formed in this lifetime.
Every person is born at a certain hour, in a certain day, a certain
month, and a certain year. The time of one's birth is one's fate and one's
karma. The family into which one is born and one's surname are predetermined.
One bears the fruits of past lifetime actions. This cannot be avoided. However,
through the practice of cultivation and the accumulation of charitable deeds,
one can change one's fate.
Ever since I was a child, my mother would obtain divination for me.
It was predicted that I would meet a bloody calamity last year. I don't know
how much money she spent in obtaining those readings, but last year I had
my close encounter with death. It was my karma, the fruit of my actions from
a previous life. There was no exception to it. Otherwise, Maudgalyayana,
one of the ten chief disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni, noted especially for
his miraculous power, would not have been struck to his death by falling
stones. Could he not have run away from this retribution through his miraculous
power? Surely he could have run away from it. But for how long was he going
to run away? It was only fair to reveal his retribution to the sentient beings.
It would warn them to stop creating negative karma for themselves.
So last year I met with my pre-determined calamity. Fortunately, a
few years before I had found the correct path. I took refuge in a truly illuminated
Guide.
I often tell people that, if we are going to take refuge, we should do so
through a truly Enlightened Master, not a Master who is merely famous. One
has to understand that a truly Enlightened Master will bring Light to eradicate
one's ignorance, enable one to reveal the Light within oneself, and guide
one on a path that leads to Eternal Liberation. This must be recognized.
I myself have received much empowerment and guidance from Grand Master Lu.
Grand Master Lu's teaching is invisible. When I read the books of spiritual
experiences written by Grand Master Lu, it is not to collect the different
meditation methods he teaches, but to find his motives for writing them.
What is he trying to explain to us? What can readers and disciples learn
from each book? I myself have learned a great deal in the last several years.
I followed Grand Master Lu until I learned to walk a few steps, and gradually
I prepared to depart. Before I could do so Grand Master Lu blocked my departure.
Perhaps I had walked too slowly. This time I have to work harder in my cultivation
so that he will not catch me again.
Upon returning to this human life, I realized that this path is not
easy. The most difficult thing in being a human is that one just doesn't
know one's purpose in life. Actually it is easy to be awakened if we allow
ourselves to be awakened! In spite of this, we let ourselves fall prey to
the many external temptations that hinder us from doing so. These materialistic
traps only serve to entangle us more: from childhood to adulthood, from adulthood
to senility, we compete for more acquisitions. The more we want, the more
trouble we have, and the more suffering we encounter. Then at the moment
of death, once and for all, one has to drop everything and return to the
original state of owning nothing.
Each one of us has a desire to walk on the path of cultivation, but
there are many factors which prevent us from completely embracing the path
right away. As long as we have the desire, we shouldn't be discouraged. Don't
be afraid of storms and obstructions on the path. If one has the desire to
return Home, one will surely find the road and method which will lead one
there. If we rest this desire on the path of cultivation, we will surely
be able to return to our Original Home-the Maha double Lotus Ponds.
Om Mani Padme Hum!

Footnote:
1 Based on the Chinese transcription text published in the 1991 Spring Issue
of the Rey Tseng Buddhist Quarterly. This translation first appeared in the
April, 1991 Purple Lotus Journal.

Bodhicitta¹

By Master Samantha Chou
Translated² by Janny Chow

The Support of Jambhala

I recall that it was Saturday, the seventh of January, 1989, when the weekly
group cultivation of the Purple Lotus Society was moved from the small living
room of my apartment to the Masonic Temple in San Mateo. That evening we
were to do the Jambhala Yoga Practice. I remember vividly that, during that
particular meditation, Jambhala manifested to me and scattered piles of cash,
in American currency, from the sky. All that money spread like a net over
everyone's head. Such a vision was the first ever in my practice of Jambhala
Yoga.
Amid all the cultivators, I noticed that one Dharma brother had a particularly
high pile of money scattered on him and, on top of that, a huge diamond of
several thousand carats had landed on his head.
At that moment, Jambhala made a statement, "As long as one generates the
Bodhicitta and vows to uphold the Buddhadharma, one will obtain this money."
After the meditation, I told the brothers and sisters of the vision I had,
but I did not disclose who that Dharma brother was because, after all, the
generation of Bodhicitta has to come voluntarily with true acknowledgement
from the bottom of one's heart. These actions cannot be mandated. Nor can
they be carried out "reluctantly."
Jambhala has declared, "As long as one upholds the Buddhadharma, I will surely
support him."
This money has already manifested itself upon my fellow cultivators and is
ready to be materialized anytime, though they cannot see it with their physical
eyes. How does one receive this money then? Which bank does one go to? What
is the account number? One has to know the "hows" to receive this money.
I have been paying particular attention to the Dharma brother who had the
exceptionally high pile of money dropped on him because, at that time, Jambhala
also revealed, "If this person devotes himself to the propagation of Buddhadharma,
he will make three million dollars in four years." I attempted to give this
man some hints, but he failed to perceive them. Finally, I encouraged him
to do more charity, though I still have not told him, "There is a lot of
money above you, just waiting to come through!"
The truth is, if one voluntarily commits oneself to the upholding of the
Buddhadharma, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will surely make one a channel
by which money comes through to help the sentient beings. When people generate
the Bodhicitta and make commitments to support various platforms for cultivation,
the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will continue to send money their way.

True Bodhicitta

One of our students in Los Angeles is in the real estate business. When he
opened his first office, his financial situation was very tight. But even
under such circumstances, this student was still very supportive of the Buddhadharma.
With insufficient funds, he could only afford a very small corner of advertisement
in a booklet for real estate ads. The last copy of that edition was tossed
out on the street and, since it was raining, it became wet and dirty after
being stepped on by pedestrians.
Then, someone walked by and saw on the street this very dirty copy of advertisements.
He casually picked it up and took it home. When he flipped through the booklet,
that small frame of advertisement caught his eye and he went to look up this
student of ours. Today, this person is the biggest customer of our L.A. student
and also his best friend.
This student told me the following: "Many things are not accomplished by
us alone. I am just a channel for the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas." He believed
that, if the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas had not wanted to use him as a channel,
he could not have been so successful in his business and made all that money.
I tried to convince my husband, Andy, to make this commitment: "I will offer
one third of my annual income to Master Samantha, without any strings attached,
for the propagation of the Dharma."
After listening, Andy immediately took out a calculator and started computing.
Finally he shook his head, "That won't work! After giving you a third of
my gross income, the remaining two thirds would not be enough to cover salaries,
raw materials, and other household expenditures!"
I explained to him, "This is a question of whether you can really generate
the Bodhicitta. If you have this understanding and knowledge, if you do not
harbor fear and doubt, if you will walk ahead courageously, the channels
will naturally open up for you. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the various
Deities and Dharma Protectors, will surely manifest to support and help you,
because what we are doing is for the benefit of sentient beings, and not
for the satisfaction of our own selfish desires! Besides, what I am doing
today is not confined to this local area. I am bringing your money to all
parts of the world to sow the seeds of the Buddhadharma, to generate more
connections between the many sentient beings and the Dharma, so they can
come to take refuge and do cultivation to liberate their burdens. In a way,
this is of infinite merits!"
I continued, "But, all this depends on generating the Bodhicitta and dedicating
your heart. If you don't have this understanding and knowledge, do not force
yourself. Otherwise, once challenges come, you will lose your faith and give
up."
Many people do a few acts of charity and, when they run into some hurdles,
they complain, "Oh! How come I still have these problems after all the charity
I have done?" Then they start fault-finding. Because of the lack of true
understanding, they will lose the faith and the will to cultivate.
Actually, all deeds of charity and merits are done for one's own sake and
no one can take them away. This can be likened to the intake of food - after
one has opened one's mouth to eat and has swallowed the food, who can take
it away? If one understands the meaning of charity, one knows that, in giving
to others, one is actually giving to oneself. This is because, in the process,
one experiences the emotion of giving, which is really a training for the
infinite expansion of the heart. The more you give, the freer you will be.
Sentient beings are constrained by "self-contraction." If they can release
this "self-contraction," the Infinite Heart will manifest itself and everything
will automatically be free of obstructions. This is why the ones who give
are blessed. To people who can give, the more they give, the more they will
receive in their hearts. They will no longer argue over trifling matters.
Their vision and state of mind will become deeper and wider. Without fear
and attachments, they will be calm, stable, and peaceful. Thus, one who generates
the Bodhicitta to perform charity, ultimately benefits oneself.

A True Cultivator

The performing of charity is not limited to the act of giving money. When
one comes to the Purple Lotus Society, if one sees that the carpet or altar
is wet or dirty, one can help to clean it up. If the flowers have withered,
one can snip them off or water the plants. All these are acts of charity.
People who understand charity will do them anywhere, anytime.
Earlier, someone downstairs had spilled some water on the floor and everyone
was just walking around it. When I went downstairs to look after the children,
I saw the water on the floor and immediately went to get some paper towels
to wipe it up. A Dharma sister saw me and exclaimed, "Oh! Master, how come
you are the one who is cleaning it?"
Why can't I be the one who is cleaning it? Am I not a practitioner?
Which job is one supposed not to do and for whom should one wait to do it?
What place is not suitable for cultivation? It would be wrong to assume that
one can only do cultivation at the Purple Lotus Society where there are the
enshrinements of the Buddhas. People who understand seize every moment, wherever
they are. If when one is at a department store, one sees a piece of clothing
on the floor, one can pick it up and put it back on a hanger. If one sees
fruit peelings on the floor, one can pick them up and toss them into a garbage
can. These are very trivial matters, but when one has kindness in one's heart,
such actions will naturally become a habit. I can tell you that I once went
into a restroom and found that, after entering the only stall, everyone came
out immediately pinching their noses. I went in and found that the toilet
had been stopped up by a whole bunch of paper and pieces of feces were floating
on top of the toilet bowl. When I saw it, I very naturally put my hand into
the water to pull out those papers and put them into the disposal can next
to it. Then I flushed the toilet and went to wash my hands. If it is not
my job, whose job is it?
For example, when we are at a public restroom, if the counter is wet, we
can casually get some papers to dry it. This will make it more pleasant for
the next person, so they won't have to wet their clothes. Yes, these are
very trivial matters. Today we are cultivators; we are not ordinary people.
If one wants to be an ordinary person, then one does not have to work so
hard to do cultivation and to continuously keep correcting one's speech and
actions.
If one knows what cultivation is, one realizes that there is no place on
this earth that is not a platform for cultivation. It is not just here, under
the Buddha Light, that one does cultivation. Wherever one is, whatever one
is doing, one can visualize the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas sitting above, emitting
Light, while one mentally chants the mantra! If one's mind does not harbor
any thought of dirtiness, one does not feel dirty, even if one is holding
excrement in one's hands.
So, people who know how to cultivate will try their best to give of themselves
and form an affinity with others wherever they go. People who don't know
how to cultivate will try their best to take away from others and grab more
for themselves.
Take hold of this teaching and, if you understand it, try to carry it out
as best you can. I am not asking you to give up your responsibilities as
a human being, but to practice to open up your heart. Once your heart is
open, you will understand the meaning of life and the emptiness in all material
things. What is it that belongs to you eternally? It can never be anything
in the gross realm.
Contemplate and understand this: What is cultivation? Who should be doing
the job?
Om Mani Padme Hum.

Footnote:
1 Bodhicitta: "Mind of (Will to) Awakening.'' The all-encompassing dedication
(to realize enlightenment on behalf of all beings) has two aspects: 1) Aspiration
of the Four Immeasurable Vows; 2) Actualization of the Six Transcendent Virtues.
2 An oral teaching by Master Samantha Chou at the Purple Lotus Society on
February 29th, 1992. This article originally appeared in the August, 1992