Seven Days on the Holy Mountain

Holy Mountain

 

“Before God entrusts a man with a significant task, He shall distress his mind and will, tire his physical body…”      — Mencius

 

In those days that I missed Holy Master dearly, I headed towards a journey of pilgrimage to the Western Shrine on the Holy Mountain. For a lay person who conducts spiritual practice in the secular world, it is a great opportunity to bathe in the bliss of Dharma and join the cause at the Holy Mountain Buddha Land. It is a wonderful blessing from Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi.

 

There was a quote from a movie, The Shawshank Redemption which deeply impressed me: “I guess it comes down to a simple choice: Get busy living, or get busy dying.” Many people do not understand why they were born into this world, busy living their own lives, working for money, working for a house, and working for their children. However, all of these things will eventually leave each person. Holy Master’s Converted Students and Converted Disciples are very fortunate, encountering a guiding beacon during the life and death samsara. Holy Master provides a road sign for all the beings, guiding the direction of life.  He bestows the opportunity to move away from the busy road towards death and instead, onto the busy road towards life.

 

The seven days on the Holy Mountain were filled with hardship, joy, heartfelt feelings, and a deep sense of gratitude. The construction work in the Holy Mountain Buddha Land is directed and led by Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi. We wake up daily at five o’clock in the morning to the sound of drills and saws coming from the Buddha Sanctuaries.

 

I participated in the construction work of the “Ten-Thousand-People Square”, breathing fresh air, watching the magical changes of clouds in the sky, and listening to the clatter of rocks hitting each other. I had not been to the Holy Mountain in some time, and hence felt weaker, clumsier than the others. When I needed a break, I watched the others continue to work.  Everyone appeared to be well organized, volunteering their time happily, without any complaints or slacking off. The temperature difference during June can vary – one may need to wear a jacket in the early morning, but also needs to account for the increased temperatures in the afternoon. I could sense how hard the brothers and sisters had been working from observing their tanned skin.

 

Despite all of the labor, working in the Shrine was joyful and amazing.  We worked extremely hard during the day time and consumed simple meals. I typically experienced soreness all over my body, however, through listening to the Dharma and practicing, my energy would be miraculously restored the next day without much sleep during the evening. As a result, I was able to work even harder than the previous day, and found my strength was gradually increasing during the second, third, and fourth day.  I was repeating the same type of work each day but with different tools.

 

I learned how to keep my head low and bend down, which is a necessary path for a cultivator to let go of self-attachment. Holy Master once gave us the instruction: “Only after pouring out water in the glass, can one receive pure raindrops”. How much essence you can absorb depends on how much impure water you pour out. Ego is an obstruction on the path of cultivation, hindering us from contemplating the Buddhist Dharma. I’ve learned to be more focused in construction work, which serves as important training for a Buddhist cultivator. When a person can concentrate on doing one task properly and persistently, they can also train themselves to strengthen the will, as it will give rise to the heart of gratitude. “Standing with both feet firmly on the ground” needs concentration and stability, so that “the mountain behind your back will not fly away”.

 

What I felt through the construction work is that a diligent body can develop wisdom, which is an important subject in the cultivation of the Five Wisdoms. The proper and skillful usage of each tool can double the efficiency of construction work. I.e., because of the sticky mud on the road, one of the tasks each day was to clean the mud off the wheel of the excavator. When the mud was stripped off piece after piece, my heart was filled with delight. The mud is comparable to the bad karma being carried along with us from previous lives, as well as diseases and impurity. Stripping off each layer after working on construction was difficult and painful, but I learned this transformation brings us rebirth. I sincerely appreciated it. It was the best elixir granted by Holy Master for helping ourselves.

 

I also truly learned the significance of being proactive. Every practitioner on the Holy Mountain had the self-discipline that they could arrange and work on their jobs without being supervised or monitored. Even when working alone, they remained diligent and joyful. Personally, I also experienced this when I was pushing a wheelbarrow full of rocks down a muddy road by myself.  I was walking under the scorching sun alone, but not lonely. I carried on doing the work without being urged to by others, supervising myself. When I saw the mountain of rocks sitting in front of me, I felt really content. The Guang Huan Mi Zong cultivation path can be compared to this. We observe precepts as our teacher, and supervise ourselves, manage ourselves, and contemplate ourselves. We do this in order to avoid the interference from outside and keep the message communication with Holy Master connected.

 

Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi quoted Mencius: “Before God entrusts a man with significant task, He shall distress his mind and will, tire his physical body”.  Holy Master allows us to understand that participating in the construction work of the Buddha Land is an opportunity bestowed by him for each one of his disciples to grow.  It is the best practice for contemplating the Buddhist Dharma. The cultivation of Guang Huan Mi Zong Buddhism is the best way to open up and develop wisdom. The path towards being a Great Achiever is a way of experience and experimentation. Holy Master allows every student, disciple and pilgrim to work in different areas of construction labor.  On the same token, when they listen to the Dharma, they can contemplate the Dharma with their own hard effort to unlock the gates of different levels of wisdom. This method of tiring one’s physical body is really worthwhile, because wisdom is an intangible asset which will belong to us forever.

 

What I have seen, what I have heard, what I have experienced, and what I have learned in the seven days in the Holy Mountain are analogies to a thorough ablution of Buddhist Dharma for me. I will carry the spirit of contemplation with me after I head back to the secular world and become more diligent in cultivation practice, promoting the Dharma, and enlightening others.

 

By Sundy Zhao

 

 

Experience of Samadhi in the Disciple Retreat Class

 

GHMZ Dharma practice

 

Leaving all projects behind, I arrived at the Holy Mountain Buddha Land to study the Dharma, and ultimately, received much more than I had expected.

 

In the 2014 Converted Disciple Retreat Class that I attended, 13 days had felt as if I had been in a time tunnel, without any concept of time passing by. I underwent many special experiences during my practice, especially the indescribable bliss of Dharma springing within my heart. I wrote down my summary to share with other practitioners, to help encourage them to be diligent with their own practice.

 

Day 1: I felt nothing.

 

Day 2: After I entered my cave, I prostrated myself before the Buddha’s Illustration of Ten Dharma Realms. There was a Bodhisattva in a sitting posture, manifesting directly in front of me, emitting white light.

 

Day 3: I was practicing after Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi taught us the Yin-Yang Mudra. I saw two balls of light which were continuously rolling, while one beam of white light and another red light appeared on each side of my body. Afterwards, I saw a large Buddha sitting above the world with numerous rainbow light emitting from his body.

 

Day 4: My heart was not well adjusted, so I did not experience anything.

 

Day 5: In the evening, I entered and exited Hell three times. There is indeed the door of Hell. Upon entering it, everything appeared upside down. The crying and screaming of the beings in Hell were horrific, like bone-chilling winds. I experienced the profound realization that it’s really not easy to be born in the world with a physical body. It is an occurrence that should not be taken for granted. It’s just as Holy Master said: “If one with a physical body does not cultivate towards enlightenment, it’s difficult to know which life one has to wait until he can be enlightened.”

 

Day 6: My first time of entering Samadhi. From head to toe, my entire body was covered and protected with a thick light. Despite both of my legs becoming initially numb from sitting, they soon became relaxed in a second. I then began to feel that my body no longer belonged to myself any more, and gradually just disappeared. I continued moving toward the origin, following the light, and soon after, had engaged in conversations with a certain Buddha. All of a sudden without any control, I burst into tears and the energy flushed into my body continuously. Each cell was filled with an electrical current. Eventually, I promised this Buddha one thing: the direction of my life.

 

Day 7: Abhisecana for Vajra Disciples. At the moment of Abhisecana, that is, an energy empowerment, powerful golden light-like lightning, was pouring into my crown chakra from the Space Realm. A golden light Buddha appeared after a few seconds. When we disciples were making vows with our eyes closed, I saw balls of light shining in red and white within my palms, and they floated upwards into the space. How wonderful the Guang Huan Mi Zong Dharma is! The vows we had made were being registered in the Dharma Realm.

 

Day 8: Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi imparted to us the Seven-word Mantra. I saw an enormous powerful purple light penetrate a purple white body, as if through a channel. Energy kept on pouring into my body even after we stopped our cultivation. I discovered that after the Vajra Disciples’ Abhisecana, whenever Holy Master was giving his speech, the energy would be flowing to me once I made the Mudra. I would feel heat all over my entire body with both of my hands sweating profusely. Therefore, my pants would be drenched in perspiration after the class or after my practice. Other practitioners had also witnessed this.

 

Day 9: I had developed a very good state of practice, and didn’t want to stop when I was meditating with the Mantra. I soon discovered after the Vajra Disciples Abhisecana, the energy level had doubled, tripled, or increased four to five times, no matter which Dharma I practiced. If the energy I experienced in the past could be compared to a flashlight, now it can be said the energy was as powerful as lightning.

 

Day 10: Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi compassionately imparted to us the Dharma of Seven Chakras. I vaguely saw my central energy channel, like a column of white light. I was completely amazed by the wondrous Guang Huan Mi Zong Esoteric Dharma. Afterwards, I saw golden light appear all over near Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi and two golden energy bodies directly next to Him. When I tried to concentrate while focusing my attention at Holy Master, I witnessed His appearance changing, with an image standing out from behind the wall, beyond our three-dimensional world.

 

Day 11: When I was meditating in the Buddha Hall, I saw a golden light body appear above the Western Shrine. I thought it was Guan Yin Bodhisattva, but afterwards with a closer look, it was Saint Mary. Saint Mary was standing with her palms open downward. Golden and rainbow light were emitting from her head and body towards me, and I felt the burning heat all over my body. Now I understand the profound meaning of religious harmony expounded by Holy Master.

 

Day 12: I saw the future outlook of the Western Shrine. There were many monks, and a golden Buddha statue, in Thai style, situated towards the front of the Shrine. There was a fountain located near the rear section. The exterior of the Shrine was a fusion of a new era church and temple, with white walls, magnificent in appearance.

 

Day 13: Holy Master told us that we had not completely digested the Dharmas we learned in the Disciple class. I was shocked, and could not imagine how it would be after they are fully digested. Guang Huan Mi Zong Dharma is so profound, as deep and mysterious as the ocean, let alone the Dharma beyond the Three Vehicles.

 

I am deeply grateful for Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi’s great compassion, letting me become His Converted Disciple, and listen to and practice the true Esoteric Dharma. This opportunity is difficult to obtain in hundreds of eons. Hail and obeisance to Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi! I truly appreciate it!

 

By OneOne

 

(The author is a young film director from Hong Kong. He had been a Christian during his earlier years, and became very interested in Buddhist teachings later on. He met Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi in 2011 and became a Converted Student. In this article he shares his Samadhi experience in the Converted Disciple Class he attended this year.)

 

 

Secret Words, Secret Sutra, Secret Dharma

It was a special opportunity, when we were receiving the precious instructions of the teaching. Honorable Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi expounded one sentence from the classic “Diamond Sutra” and bestowed unto me, an insightful epiphany.

It requires the opportune chance and fortuitous timing for receiving the secret Dharma. This type of chance is often difficult to beseech and receive, and also difficult to even be explained. Perhaps it takes the accumulation from several lifetimes to obtain it. Those who are without merit are unable to attain it.

“Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra” (Diamond Sutra), the “unsurpassed sutra in the world” as claimed by Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi, possesses immeasurable secret treasures of the three thousand worlds. Through Holy Master’s instruction, one of the priceless glowing pearls was unveiled and instantly emitted glittering light. I felt a wonderful information channel that gradually opened up; many previously puzzling questions became unlocked.

Buddha’s speech from the Holy Master is embedded with a transcendent beauty of simplicity and extraordinary power. Along the path of cultivating the Buddhist Dharma, if one does not take refuge in converting to an authentic Vajra Guru, listen to his Dharma, and practice the Dharma through contemplation and cultivation, one cannot understand the secret nature of the language, and the secret meaning of the sutra. People will easily become confused by the extrinsic nature of the language, and will not be able to penetrate the exterior to reach within. Deviant views and arrogance could arise in their heart, thus leading them towards the wrong direction.

In my past lives, I had been reborn many times in samsara, either going astray in the secular world, or meditating in a temple. My heart had been drifting without finding a place where it belonged to. The craving and calling for the true light were buried deep down in the soul. It was something that could not be expressed throughout the entire life, which finally returned to silence. After one life, two lives, three lives and more, I still was not able to find a true master, or meet the noble Buddha. How sad is that?

Along the spiritual cultivation path in this life, I have been touched most deeply by the gratitude for Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi’s descent to this world. From the praise of the wonderful sutra scripts and esoteric Dharmas, I truly feel fortunate to be able to continue the affinity with the Buddha, convert to Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi, receive his Holy Nectar of Dharma, and practice the Supreme Esoteric Dharma.

Life is like riding a train without a destination while carrying out an adventurous journey for treasure hunting. At each stop, we have to change to a different appearance and form, forget everything and everyone in the previous stops, abandon all our belongings, and start a completely brand new life. In this stop, I have been travelling all the way, arduously and long, but accidentally obtaining a secret jewel on the way. The serendipity has brought me overwhelming joy.

By Elise

Unforgettable Christmas Celebration – Goddess of Mercy Temple 2013

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In honor of Christmas, New Years and the Birthday of Amitabha Buddha Guang Huan Mi Zong and the World Culture and Art Association held a fantastic Christmas celebration in the newly renovated Goddess of Mercy temple located in Amsterdam NY.

 

For weeks preceding the big day the team at GHMZ worked tirelessly to prepare the venue and performances. The decorations of the temple projected simultaneously spiritual splendor and holiday festivity. Of note were 3 spectacular new chandeliers, suspended gracefully from the tall ceiling by slender chains and shaped like Vajras, their thousands of crystals reflected brilliant light across the grand hall.

 

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Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi opened the ceremony with a short speech welcoming the guests and the performances then began with a traditional Chinese lion dance. Two regal looking lions, animated vividly by the Lion Dance Team, strutted down the center of the temple’s main hall, paying their respects to Guan Yin Bodhisattva and receiving the spiritual blessing and offering of food from the Holy Master.

 

Edward

 

Welcomed next to the stage was a Mohawk Indian drumming group led by Edward Wren. Gathered together around their drum, the Voice of the Grove, they graced the audience with a beautiful and moving performance of traditional Native American drumming and chanting.

 

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Another Native American musical performance was given by Erick, who dedicated a soulful flute solo as a prayer for the purity of the Earth and its life giving waters.

 

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Chris, a local Muslim youth, gave thanks for the wonderful performances and told how his travel to the Holy Mountain and the spiritual practice he learned from Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi inspired him. Then, he played an original composition on electric guitar along with the drummer Matt. The piece entitled ‘Wave Dharma’ was peaceful and meditative.

 

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Larry quoted Holy Master’s Dharma speech on “True Liberation” and gave a speech comparing the harmony between Buddhist and Native American spiritual philosophy to the resonance between drums. Larry praised Holy Master for the insight and wisdom he had gained after practicing GHMZ Dharma and making pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain. Larry talked about his Native heritage and the striking similarity between Buddhist and Native American prophecy predicting “a man in a red cloak, coming from the East, will restore the law of the Native American”.

 

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The last performance was a colorful dance, featuring many different traditional costumes from the many different ethnic groups of China. The audience was invited to come to the stage for sharing the joyful moment. One by the one everyone came up the stage, clapping and dancing, drumming and singing together in a beautiful moment of holiday celebration and cultural exchange dedicated to world peace, human health and religious harmony.

 

By C.J.

 

The Advent of Holy Mountain Buddha Land

 

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[break] In the vastness of the universe, the earth is like a drop of water in the sea. In the course of history and evolution, this beautiful blue planet has welcomed an unprecedented age of prosperity. In the Dharma Vanishing Era, globalization is engulfing the world. The earth is experiencing an unprecedented transformation at multiple levels in the transition between old and new ideological trends.

[break] When prosperity and disintegration, war and peace, development and poverty are co-existing, a glorious milestone – “Holy Mountain Buddha Land” is erected on the road towards world peace and religious harmony. In order to realize the philosophy of human health, world peace and religious harmony, and guide the people with affinity towards light and liberation, in the magnificent Hall of Amitabha Buddha, Honorable Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi announced with his clear and pure Buddha sound: “Holy Mountain Buddha Land is born in the Saha world!”

[break] In a blink of an eye, this great news was spreading all over the space realm in the universe; all Buddha lands were shaken by the blissful power! Thousands of beautiful Sanskrit sounds and songs were resonating; splendid rainbow lights weaving through the air shone upon the Hall. The Cosmic Halo was covering the whole pure Land of Bliss. A bridge towards the Buddha Land in the space realm was formed in a second, transcending time and space in the attunement of emptiness and form. All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the three thousand galaxies bestowed their blessings with jubilation for this new legendary page in the history of the world.

[break] The flag of the Holy Mountain Buddha Land has arisen, waving in sky above the Western Shrine. Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi made an illuminating speech: “Holy Mountain Buddha Land is a symbol of religious harmony, serving as a cornerstone of world peace and foundation of disseminating Guang Huan Mi Zong’s Mahayana Buddhism. It has proven Shakyamuni Buddha’s prophecy 2,500 years ago – Buddhist Dharma will be widespread all over the world from a virtuous and gracious place. Guang Huan Mi Zong Dharma is like the Ocean which embraces thousands of rivers, and eventually all dharmas will return to their origin.”

[break] Throughout history and across the world, founding a “utopia” is the dream of those who have ambitious hearts. That is a Buddha’s nation. The descendant of Holy Mountain Buddha Land will continue the legacy of Shakyamuni Buddha’s Right Dharma and thus signifies a turning point in history. It embodies profound meaning for the promotion of Guang Huan Mi Zong culture.

[break] To realize a Buddha Land on this planet is the dream of all Buddha’s children. Holy Mountain Buddha Land carries a noble mission which requires the endeavors of all Buddha’s children. It will be an unprecedented time for the Saha world under Mahavairocana Buddha’s light and honorable Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi’s leadership and guidance. Founding Holy Mountain Buddha Land will offer the opportunities that everyone with the affinity in the world has been longing for – opportunity with vitality, opportunity towards achievement, and provide a stage for them to utilize their talents and make their dreams. When the Buddha Land of the space realm manifests in the world, whoever participates in and donates for the founding of Holy Mountain Buddha Land will receive immeasurable merit and incredible benefits.

[break] The birth of Holy Mountain Buddha Land will bring luck to all those with good affinity who were born in this complicated era and glory to all the Buddha’s children who are in this cause. Guided by Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi’s philosophy – World Peace, Human Health and Religious Harmony, Holy Mountain Buddha Land designates Guang Huan Mi Zong Mahayana teachings as its religion; it will unite all virtuous religions, facilitate diplomacy and promote Nine Vehicle Great Perfection Esoteric Dharma, for purifying the world. [break]

By Ru Yin (Translated by Elise)