It has been nearly three years since the COVID-19 pandemic broke throughout the world. Statistics tell us at least 201 countries and regions across the globe reported confirmed cases, accumulating to more than 620 million cases, over 6 million of which resulted in death. The coronavirus pandemic created chaos in the world order, directly affecting the health of hundreds of millions of people and resulting in fumbled responses early on from some of the world’s best-equipped countries.
Buddha taught that all living beings have Buddha-nature, and that we shall treat them as family members and relatives. The World Buddhism Association Headquarters held a Dharma Assembly to release captive lives and pray for blessings on Buddha-Stipulated Lives-Releasing day. Presiding over the gathering was the Abbot of the Hua Zang Si Temple, Ruzun Ruohui. The congregation was jointly led through the service by the Vice Chairperson of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters, Jiaozun Zhengda, who is also the Honorable Chairperson of the International Buddhism Sangha Association, and Dharma Master Juehui, the Abbot of the Sanger Mission Bodhi Monastery.
The conferment of the Pope of Buddhism to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III originated in January 2018 when the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Awarding Council passed the resolution to confer to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III the title of Pope of Buddhism, the highest leader of Buddhism in this world. However, His Holiness the Buddha refused to accept the conferment…
…His selflessness, breadth and profundity do not flow in the current of the ordinary people. The social status that He has is absolutely beyond compare to those notable Buddhist figures. We are so lucky that we can see the true origin of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III today. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has never been an anchoret in seclusion; just like Shakyamuni Buddha, He has excellent and profound prestige, and He broadly saves living beings and is open with nothing to hide. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s renowned fame is ringing worldwide and is the destination for all the people’s hopes.
As early as January 2018, the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Title Conferment Council came to the resolution to canonize H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III as the Pope Of World Buddhism, but H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III refused to accept it. The World Buddhism Association Headquarters accepted the canonization order and the scepter for the purpose of broadcasting true Buddha Dharma and benefiting all living beings. When the World Buddhism Association Headquarters respectfully presented the canonization order as the Pope Of World Buddhism and the scepter to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said: “Shakyamuni Buddha sits majestically at the tip of the scepter. We should respect Nomo Shakyamuni Buddha.” Then He held the scepter high above the Head, holding palms with a single hand to signify respect. However, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha said that He is only a humbled practitioner of cultivation. He sternly refused the canonization and returned the order and the scepter to the two councils.
On February 9, 2020, there was a huge Vajra pestle of 420 pounds inside the Hall of Shakyamuni Buddha at the Holy Miracles Temple. That was the Supreme Holy Vajra Pestle that was placed on the Golden Step during a Dharma Assembly held two days earlier by Holy Gurus. Other than Tremendously Great Holy Gurus, no one in this world has ever been able to lift it one bit. Since the Supreme Holy Vajra Pestle was already placed onto the Golden Step, the Exam of Lifting the Pestle onto the Platform could not be conducted. This was because according to the Dharma rules, when this Pestle is on the Golden Step, the Vajra Hook cannot be used to lift any pestle. Otherwise, the rules would be violated. Everyone was very worried and all those who have good physical strength came forward, but no one was able to lift that pestle off the Holy Seat with one hand.
Tibetan esoteric Dharmas are classified into two major categories. One category of the Dharmas consists of those translated from sutras or Dharma manuals, which is called Gama. The other category of Dharmas are uncovered terma called Daima. Daima is further classified into Southern Tibetan and Northern Tibetan. The Dharmas of uncovered terma mean these Dharmas are obtained by uncovering the terma and they are generally called Terma Dharma. A Terma Dharma can be further categorized as Uncovering Terma with Direct Verification or Uncovering Terma without Direct Verification.
Wangzha Shangzun is a Great Holy Guru who has attained the level of Gold Button Grade 3 and the state of a non-retrograde Bodhisattva. The Shangzun rarely comes into contact with ordinary people. Finally, He met with a thousand Buddhists at Holy Miracles Temple in Pasadena, Los Angeles. On March 6, 2019, the temple was crowded with a large and orderly congregation of Buddhists. Their sole purpose was to meet Wangzha Shangzun.
In the afternoon of March 6, 2019, peals of thunder could be heard rumbling above the sky of the Holy Miracles Temple, sounding like giant earthquakes and landslides. The rain came pouring down rapidly. The Grand Hall of Shakyamuni Buddha at the Holy Miracles Temple was crowded with nearly a thousand Buddhists from all over the world. Holding khatas with both hands, they kneeled to respectfully and sincerely welcome the greatly accomplished holy guru, Wangzha Shangzun.
In Buddhism, mastery over one’s own birth and death has always been a legend. Yet, in September of 2018, I saw that with my own eyes!
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