32

The Power of Mantra

What exactly is a mantra? How can a mantra cure a fever?

"A practitioner chants a mantra and summons the heavenly Water Deity to

descend. The Sanskrit syllable Vam in the mantra means water. You fight fire with

water, and when the fire is subdued, the fever goes away. It is that simple."

❖ Grandfather Mala 04

❖ Avoiding a Land and Mud Slide 18

Living This Moment In Purity

Living this Moment in Purity consists of thirteen fascinating true stories detailing

the karmic consequences of sexual misconduct. It also explains how the energy

practice of Buddhist Tantrayana works as an antidote to the arousal of sexual lust.

❖ Heaven Knows 32

❖ The Divine Fans 41

Household Feng-Shui

With a knowledge inherited from his guru, plus over twenty years of geomantic sur-

veying experience, Master Lu shares with us theories of household feng shui and

illustrates with real life cases. The secrets unveiled are priceless!

❖ Avoiding Living in "Low and Overshadowed" Areas 56

❖ Fire Problems in the Kitchen 62

The Inner World of the Lake

The very first time I saw this lake, I was amazed by its vivacious prospects, Lake

Sammamish is surrounded by hills with water as bright as the moon. Words cannot

justly describe its beauty, all I can do is using my clumsy hand to write down a tiny

portion of it.

❖ Master, What Do You Have? 67

❖ The World Of A Crystal Ball 72

Contemplation Under the Lonesome Light

Earth is a prison of the universe. Whoever has karmic hindrances is sent to earth

as punishment.

We must cut through our delusions and realize the Truth, in order to be released

from this prison.

❖ The Thought of Suicide 76

❖ The Earth Is A Prison 80

The Aura of Wisdom

This article is written for disciples who have just taken refuge and begun their initial

practice of True Buddha Tantric dharma. As a novice, it is important to have faith in

the Root Guru, trusting the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. This is the very heart of

your spiritual conviction.

❖ Spiritual Response 83

❖ Self Importance 86

Whispers of the Breeze

For an ordinary person, there is only one correct path that leads to purification: by

conquering anxiety and grief, and banish anger and pains. To walk on this path is

to practice the Four Earnest Contemplations - Contemplation of the body; the emo-

tions; the mind & the phenomena.

❖ How to Settle One's Thoughts 89

❖ Temporary Manifestations 93

Contents

5

by one they entered his house to deliver the golden

sand. I knew right away that the family would soon pos-

sess great wealth. Eventually, his name became well

known and he held a position in the government. His

wealth increased astronomically and he became the

country's wealthiest man.

These are my experiences of reading Feng Shui

If debtor ghosts demanding payment surround the

individual, he is doomed to fail. If wealth deities sur-

round the individual, he is destined to prosper. Thus,

the invisible hand of spirits affects everything.

I once went to a night market in front of a temple

for a midnight supper. In front of the temple was an

empty lot with a small stall. The stall only sold four

items, which were herbal soup, noodle, rice flour roll

and green vegetables.

There were many tables around the stall and they

were all occupied with customers who were eager to

taste the food. It was much like ants after cookies. I

opened my divine eye to examine the man running the

stall, and what I witnessed was frightening. The open

field was filled with more than a hundred patrons visit-

Translated by Lotus Cheng

Grandfather Mala

In the past, whenever I read the Feng Shui of a

person's home, I observed both the visible and

the invisible worlds. The invisible world refers to the

realm of spirits.

I will divulge a great secret:

I was once invited to do a Feng Shui reading for a

certain prestigious household in Kaoshing, Taiwan.

Once I entered the house, I saw many poverty ghosts

occupying the place. These ghosts were the debtors of

the owner. I instantly knew that this prestigious person

would soon lose his wealth altogether. Indeed, soon

afterwards, his business failed miserably.

On another occasion, I visited the home of a poor

man in a village to read the Feng Shui of his house. His

house was typical of a Chinese village courtyard. I saw

lots of spirits, like an army of ants, carrying sacks of

golden sand on their backs marching to his house. One

4

Book 148

The Power of Mantra

Chapter 2

7

tomers and cleaned up their tables, and this was quite

perplexing.

I suspected that the old man learned how to keep

psychic entities to help him. But upon closer observa-

tion, though he looked unpleasant, he did not have any

negative energy lingering around his body.

From a distance, I looked at the stall and the area

of land it was on and observed some glowing beams of

red light emerging from the ground, forming a red cloud

over the area. This may have explained why the stall

was so prosperous. Perhaps it was due to the auspi-

cious Feng Shui of the place. The other stalls did not

enjoy the same kind of customer traffic as that one stall

did. They were barely surviving to make ends meet.

This was indeed interesting.

One day, a certain individual came to seek my

consultation. He wanted to find a name for his grand-

son, and when I looked at him, I realized he was the

same old man who ran the stall.

I said to him, "Your business is doing very well!"

"It's just nothing. Nothing at all." The old man said

modestly.

ing the stall, and an equal number of spirits roaming the

area. These spirits had swayed the customers to

patronize this stall. When the spirits lure one in, one

obeys.

The stall was famous for its herbal soup, and the

taste was delicious. Every night, the traffic of customers

flowed in and out like an ocean tide. His business was

so prosperous that his wealth flowed like the running

tap water. Someone said that the stall owner smiled

while calculating his earnings at home. Another said

that the stall owner owned a few apartments and his

wealth was measured in the billions.

I paid close attention to the stall owner's facial fea-

tures. I observed that his face was dark and gloomy,

with a sunken nose, tiny mouth, small eyes and hardly

any flesh on his face. He certainly did not look like he

was a man of great wealth but instead resembled a

homeless old man.

I felt there was nothing remarkable about this old

man. But how do you explain his wealth? Besides

being rich, he had so many spirits helping to lure cus-

tomers to his stall. The spirits also attended to the cus-

6

9

a good track record of accuracy. It was rare to hear

someone remark "Impossible." Rather, it was impossi-

ble for my divine eye and ear to make a wrong obser-

vation. If there was ever any mistake in my observation,

I was always able to pinpoint the cause of it.

"Does anyone at your home know how to chant a

mantra?" I asked him.

"Neither my wife nor my kids know how to chant a

mantra." Pan Ji replied.

"Do any of your other relatives know how to chant

a mantra?" I asked.

"Do the deceased count?"

"Yes," I replied.

Pan Ji proceeded to tell me, "In my family, only my

grandfather Pan Li knew how to chant a mantra. Once,

a monk gave my grandfather a string of chanting beads

and taught him how to chant the Earth God Mantra. My

grandfather recited the mantra for his entire life using

the mala[1] . He chanted on it so much that it eventually

turned black and became shiny."

"Where is mala now?" I believed I had found my

answer.

"What's the secret of your good business?" I

asked curiously.

"Luck is on my side!" the old man grinned, expos-

ing his two rows of black teeth.

"I believe there's more than just luck." I said.

"Why don't you read the divination for me?" He

requested.

The old man wrote down his name, birth date and

address.

I made a quick spiritual observation and sensed

the sound of a mantra filling the atmosphere, accompa-

nied by the scent of sandalwood. I also saw radiating

circles of light, and within each circle stood a Fortune

God. This was most astonishing.

"Do you know how to recite any mantras?" I

asked.

"Nope!" Pan Ji, the old man replied.

"I heard the sounds of a mantra and smelled the

scent of sandalwood. I saw the Fortune God by your

side."

"Impossible!"

I have helped many in my consultations and have

8

11

sincerity attracted the Earth God to protect him. This

mantra is neither from the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas nor

the Vajra Protectors. It is not a major mantra, yet it

should not be underestimated as it contains amazing

power.

If anyone is troubled by spirit entities and recites

this mantra, the spirits will retreat and give you their

respect.

If anyone contracts illness and recites this mantra,

the illness will leave. All pain will disappear and one's

health will return.

In the past, I had taught people how to chant this

mantra as it is especially helpful for curing several

forms of dermatitis such as athlete's foot, chronic der-

matitis, discoid eczema, etc. By chanting the mantra,

those who have skin-related illnesses should be cured

because the Earth God devours the bacteria on the

skin.

If one recites this mantra diligently and upholds

the Five Precepts and Ten Wholesome Deeds, then

one will not fall in to the three lower realms and hell. In

fact, one will be reborn in the heaven realm and enjoy

"My grandfather passed it down to my father, and

my father gave it to me, but I don't know where I put it. I

think I'll ask my wife to help me find it."

Pan Ji returned home and asked his wife about

the mala. She told him, "The mala is tucked away

inside a hidden crack at your stall. Nobody was aware

of this."

Pan Ji searched and found the mala at the stall.

He then took the darkened mala and showed it to me.

He didn't know the value of the prayer beads.

I told Pan Ji, "Your grandfather, Pan Li, received

protection from the Earth God. This is the result of recit-

ing the Earth God Mantra, respecting the Earth God,

visualizing the Earth God, and praising the Earth God."

The Earth God Mantra is as follows:

Namo san-man-doh, moo-toh-nam, om, doo-loo-

doo-loo, dei-wei, soha.

The Earth God Mantra is usually chanted before

reciting a sutra. This is to summon the Earth Gods from

the four directions to guard over you while you recite

the sutra.

Pan Li spent his entire life reciting this mantra. His

10

13

animals to death. Owners of many farms had

approached me for help.

I studied the constellation of the stars and noted

that the Five Plague Gods had descended from the

southeastern area of the sky. This meant that an epi-

demic would sweep the world, resulting in the death of

many chickens, ducks, cattle, sheep and pigs.

I was worried.

I approached Cheng Huang Bodhisattva , the City

Patron Bodhisattva, for help and he said, "This is fate, it

is not my demand!"

"Even if it is the will of the Heaven, I can not just

watch people suffer."

"Don't interfere. People's hearts are too corrupt-

ed."

"How can I have peace in my mind? I have to

save the poor souls!" I uttered.

Cheng Huang Bodhisattva said to me, "You,

Sheng-yen Lu try to help people everyday, but their suf-

fering is due to their wrong doing. They deserve it! If

one day someone hurts you, I wonder if anyone will

save you."

utmost bliss and pleasure. The Earth God Mantra is

also most effective in terms of accumulating wealth

because the Earth Gods and their attendant ghosts will

help those who recite the mantra to receive countless

fortunes.

Pan Li devoted his life to chanting this mantra and

achieved great results with it. The mala had been

passed down from grandfather to father, and from

father to son. Nonetheless, the blessings followed and

were passed down as well. This was simply incredible.

Thus, I wrote a verse:

Filled with pleasure while reciting Buddha's epithet

and mantra.

Now then, one has found the heritage in samsara.

Continue to recite sincerely and respectfully.

The blessing of Gods and Ghosts will be with one

perpetually.

There is another story related to the Earth God

Mantra.

There was a period when an epidemic swept over

Taiwan, and many livestock were killed. I observed

many plague ghosts roaming in the wild and biting the

12

15

However, many other farmers were unaware of

this method and during that year when the epidemic

occurred, many livestock died. There was hardly

enough time to bury every dead chicken or cattle, and

the carcasses piled up high like a hill.

One farm owner relayed this incident to me.

One night, he overheard some conversation that

took place outside his farm. However, it was not human

beings but plague ghosts who were speaking. A wave

of them arrived outside the farm.

One ghost exclaimed, "The l ight of mantra

emanates from this farm. We cannot enter."

"What mantra?" another asked.

"The Earth God Mantra."

"That mantra is no big deal. It cannot stop us.

Let's go!"

"No way!"

"Why not?"

"The Earth God is after all a righteous god."

"We have our orders by the heavenly decree!" the

ghost shouted.

"But this mantra is empowered by the Living

I answered, "If someone hurts me, that's my own

karma--but looking at all these suffering souls, I really

feel for them in my heart."

Cheng Huang Bodhisattva then taught me a

method:

Take four sticks of bamboo and chip away the

green outer layer. Each stick must be one foot six inch-

es long. On the lunar calendar day, the

Accomplishment Day, chop the bamboo sticks. On

each stick, inscribe the letters of the Earth God Mantra

in either Chinese or Sanskrit.

In the afternoon of the lunar Removal Day , con-

secrate the bamboo sticks. Recite the Earth God

Mantra 108 times for each stick. The more you recite,

the merrier. On the lunar Stability Day, hammer the

bamboo sticks on the four corners of the ground of the

respective farm.

When this is completed, plague will not touch the

respective farm. I taught this method to the farm own-

ers and it worked! Each farm that was lined with the

mantra-empowered bamboo sticks was protected from

plague. Not even one livestock was killed.

14

17

Footnote

1. prayer beads

2. The Exorcistate - -the 3rd of the Minor Orders is The

Order of Exorcist, according to the Traditional Catholic Rite of

Holy Orders.

Buddha-Lian sheng, Sheng-yen Lu himself."

"Really!"

The ghosts fell silent. One of them suggested,

"Let's leave this place! We can feed ourselves else-

where. Besides the small Earth God Mantra, there's

also the Buddha's edict. It's better to leave it alone."

Thus, this bunch of ghosts left the farm.

Let me share this with you. Many wealthy men

owe their riches to the help of spirits. Many disasters

are the result of mischief from spirits. You see the hand

of these entities at work in all of these incidents.

Confucius once said, "Respect the spirit world but

keep your distance." This means that the spirit world

does exist, but we hardly pay attention to it.

In the Bible, Jesus once expelled spirits and exor-

cised demons. In the Catholic's instruction for the

Exorcistate[2], the 3rd of the Minor Orders , it outlines

the rite of exorcism. The 75 year-old Father Amorth is

himself a famous Catholic exorcism priest!

The invisible spirits are worthy of our attention!

16

19

years, Venerable Zhou Ying thought he could shut me

up once and for all by discussing the Buddha dharma

with me. All it would take is one flaw in my speech and

he would go for the kill.

I smiled, remaining firm in my verbal defense.

"Master Lu, you are neither preaching Buddhism

nor Taoism. People talk about you!"

"Let me ask you this: is the highest peak connect-

ed with the deepest sea?"

The Venerable Zhou Ying said, "Why do you have

to include the spirits?"

"As mighty as the universe may be, it is nothing

more than a bubble." I uttered.

Venerable Zhou Ying could no longer question me

in this topic any further.

Then he asked, " Master Lu. You claim you have

supernatural power. Can you offer me some proof?"

"I wish to save your life!" I uttered.

"Save my life?" unconvinced, Venerable Zhou

Ying sneered at me and said, "I can liberate myself. I

don't need your help."

"Whether you are liberated or not is of no concern

Avoiding a Land and Mud Slide

Once had a discussion on Buddhism with

Venerable Zhou Ying.

"Master Lu, you claim that you're enlightened.

May I ask what enlightenment is?"

"I replied, "This is beyond words."

"How does one know?"

"You know what you experience, whether it is

warm or cold."

"Even a three-year-old can say that!" Venerable

Zhou Ying said.

"Yes, indeed. But you need to ask yourself if

you're truly free within, or not."

"Does the Tao have a form?"

"As it is, the Tao is formless."

"If the Tao is formless, how does it seek its bal-

ance?" Venerable Zhou Ying asked.

"It does it naturally."

Having been practicing Zen for the past twenty

18

Chapter 4

21

Protect me in all places and at all times."

Venerable Zhou Ying said, "You saw four men in

black around me and I see nothing. You want me to

recite the Marici Bodhisattva Mantra. I can do this. You

say that I will encounter a disaster. If nothing happens

to me, I will expose you as a fraud, and your so-called

enlightenment will be reduced to nothing more than just

plain mental knowledge."

I told him, "It's really up to you."

The Venerable Zhou Ying clasped his palms and

left.

Actually, when the monk first approached me, I

already sensed that he would face a disaster. That was

because he had four men in black, who were spirit offi-

cials waiting for him.

These four spirit officials were ahead of the monk,

and they wanted to rush into my house. ?I stopped

them before they could enter and they had to linger

around the vicinity as they were waiting for him.

This is how I secretly save many sentient beings.

Many face calamities and they do not necessarily know

about them. I would not let them know. I help them

here. You have a pending disaster coming your way."

"Rubbish! This is just one of those fortune-teller's

tricks."

"Believe it or not, it's up to you."

"Alright then, go ahead and tell me about it!"

"There are four men in black who are near you,

and they want to take your life!"

"How do I protect myself?"

"Chant the Marici Bodhisattva Mantra."

I spoke in no uncertain terms to the monk, "Chant

the Marici Bodhisattva Mantra: Om Marici-yee So Ha."

I added, "When you chant the mantra, you must

also recite the following:

Protect me against troubles from any ruler.

Protect me from thieves.

Protect me in my travels.

Protect me from disasters of fire and water.

Protect me from harm in a war.

Protect me from psychic attack.

Protect me from being poisoned.

Protect me from wild beasts, poisonous insects

and all enemies.

20

23

Japan. However, while in Japan, he developed a strong

interest in Buddhism and was ordained as a monk in a

famous Zen monastery of the Soto Sect in Kyoto. His

lineage thus comes from Japan.

I learned that the Patriarchal lineage of the Zen

School had stopped with the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng,

due to a dispute over the Fifth Patriarch's Dharma robe.

It has since blossomed into the five sects of Zen

Buddhism, which are the Lin Ji Sect (Rinzai Sect),

T'sao Tung Sect (Soto Sect), Wei Yang Sect, Yun Men

Sect and Fa Yen Sect.

Zen Buddhism is known as the teaching of the

heart.

The name of Zen was adopted for this school dur-

ing the beginning of the T'ang Dynasty. Zen means cul-

tivation of one's thoughts, which is the process of con-

templating on truth itself. This is a practice of serenity

and concentration.

The First Patriarch,Bodhi dharma,a Southern

Indian, arrived in China during the Liang Dynasty to

transmit the School of Buddha Mind teachings.

His method emphasizes the importance of serene

resolve their situations without their knowledge.

Actually, there is bound to be some degree of

calamity in our lives. Shakyamuni Buddha foresaw this

when he said, "The human life is one of uncertainty."

Thus:

The Three Realms of Existence are engulfed in

one scorching flame.

Even the ordained are not ensured safety.

Impermanence awaits one nevertheless.

Calm your thoughts and prepare yourself for the

final journey.

I am aware that people are afraid of calamity and

disaster. Thus, I cultivate daily and secretly help many

go through their hard times. I chanted the Marici

Bodhisattva Mantra, and I dedicated the merits to

Venerable Zhou Ying. With my help, Venerable Zhou

Ying would be saved.

Venerable Zhou Ying lived alone in a small hut,

deep within the Bagua Mountain in Changhua, Taiwan.

He practiced Zen meditation and sat cross-legged

in yoga posture.

The monk was once a student studying abroad in

22

25

As he listened closely, it became: "Marici! Marici!

Marici!"

He recited a line of the Mantra, "Om Marici-yee So

Ha."

In the mist of the heavy downpour, Venerable

Zhou Ying quickly got up and put on his raincoat and

rain boots. Holding a torch in his hands, he hurried out

of his hut to search for the crying child:

"Mommy! Marici!"

Was it Mommy or Marici? He could not tell the dif-

ference.

The cry was swinging from the front to the back

area, and switched from the left to the right. It was as if

someone was playing hide-and-seek with him.

He walked for an hour in the storm.

Suddenly, the cry disappeared. He waited for a

long time and listened. There was not a faint noise in

range, and he quickly realized there was nobody living

within the parameter of the vicinity. If there were no

family living in this mountainous area, what would be

the chances of finding any child crying?

Venerable Zhou Ying rushed back to his hut, only

meditation and silent recital, expressing the Buddha

Mind and focusing on the practice of concentration and

purification. In so doing, the method gives the impres-

sion of sitting in meditation; hence it is known as the

Zen School.

The Zen School stresses the following:

Omission of the written language,

Direct revelation of the mind,

Attaining Buddhahood through Enlightenment,and

Active discussion on Prajna, or wisdom.

One stormy night, Venerable Zhou Ying was medi-

tating alone in his hut. The rain had been pouring for

three consecutive days and nights. Venerable Zhou

Ying was aware that the market place at the foot of the

mountain was swamped. If the rain persisted, a flood

would be inevitable.

Suddenly, the cry of a child was heard outside the

hut, and the sound intermingled with the pouring rain.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

Venerable Zhou Ying raised his head and listened:

"Mommy! Mommy!" The words kept repeating and

it was definitely a child's cry.

24

27

As the saying goes:

If you burn the incense, you shall be protected.

If you consume food, you shall be energized.

Mommy!

Marici!

They sound alike.

After leaving Bagua Mountain, Venerable Zhou

Ying took shelter with various temples and monasteries

all over Taiwan. He was used to living the life of a her-

mit and cultivating alone in his little hut, indulging in

almost ascetic-like practices. After experiencing the

calamity, he switched from being a hermit to living

among others. This was a new experience for him.

He met many fellow cultivators and heard many

mentions of Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu.

Generally speaking, most would choose to criticize me

as negative news, and such consciousness spreads its

influence. Thus, most practitioners tend to reject me

and only a handful chooses to reserve their comments.

This is the state of affairs in the religious circle.

Venerable Zhou Ying listened but kept his views to

himself. When others called me a Mara or a heresy, he

to find that it was gone. A mudslide had buried the hut

under a pile of rocks and mud, forming a molehill.

Rocks and mud kept sliding downwards from the

mountaintop, and he found himself in extreme danger.

Frightened, Venerable Zhou Ying fled the area where

he had spent two years meditating.

His life was spared, but his hut, together with all

his possession were gone.

Upon reflection, Venerable Zhou Ying realized that

he had to go through this calamity. He remembered

that this was prophesied by Living Buddha Lian-shen,

Sheng-yen Lu. The four spirit officials in black clothing

were waiting to arrest him. It was the suggestion of

Living Buddha Lian-shen that he chant the Marici

Bodhisattva Mantra, while placing more emphasis on it

as his protection mantra.

Although Venerable Zhou Ying practices Zen, he

was exposed to the teachings of other schools in his

life.

He chanted the Marici Bodhisattva Mantra in his

younger days, and was now able to continue chanting

the mantra upon my suggestion.

26

29

"But your reputation suffers!"

"Reputation is immaterial in the light of one's spiri-

tual discipline. The experience is much needed for any-

one to attain Buddhahood."

Venerable Zhou Ying nodded.

I told Venerable Zhou Ying, "When I was about to

leave my master, Venerable Liao Ming and descend

from the mountain, my Master told me that a person

like me has only three options. The first option is to

enter Nirvana immediately. The second option is to take

seclusion in the deep mountains, never to appear

again. Or take the last option, which is to act as a fool

among people."

"Oh!"

I smiled and continued, "I am happy and content-

ed within myself and I don't care what others say about

me."

"Do you have regrets?" Venerable Zhou Ying

asked.

"No!"

"Are you hurt?"

"No!"

sat in silence, knowing the truth about what had hap-

pened. He wanted to clear my name but being outnum-

bered, he would not stand a chance against the mass.

He decided to save his breath and remained silent

throughout the conversation.

Venerable Zhou Ying visited me and mentioned

what he had heard.

He said, "Why don't you change your approach to

liberate sentient beings and use a new and different

way altogether? You can start building a new founda-

tion through it."

I replied, "People's minds are set about me. It may

seem easy to start all over again, but it would take a lot

of work and time to change things."

"You must at least have some hope!"

"Once people make up their mind about you, it's

going stay that way forever. I'm used to this and it does-

n't matter."

"You think it is unnecessary?" Venerable Zhou

Ying asked.

"Yes. I take slander and criticism for the better. I

take it as my own spiritual discipline!"

28

31

while, and finally nodded his head. He realized what I

meant and said; "I understand this in principle. But put-

ting it into practice and eventually mastering this art

constitutes a True Buddha!"

Here's a verse:

One two three four five six seven,

Still the mind and ascend to the Western Heaven.

It seems so easy when the words of Buddha are

spoken,

Yet one stumbles, plunging into mud too often.

"What about praise and ridicule, misery and

honor?"

"They mean nothing to me! Life is but a game to

me, and I merely experience it to the fullest."

Venerable Zhou Ying invited me to ascend to my

teaching seat with the greatest respect, and he pros-

trated before me three times, in all sincerity.

"Why such prostration?"

"To thank you for saving my life!"

"I didn't save you. You saved yourself!"

"That's because you instructed me on what to do!"

I remained silent.

Venerable Zhou Ying told me this before leaving

my place: "I feel like leaving this human world of suffer-

ing."

I told him, "It's all in your heart. If your heart is

free, then that is truly leaving this world behind."

"You mean I should adjust and adapt to this

world?"

"Nope! There is no human world to begin with." I

said.

Venerable Zhou Ying contemplated on this for a

30

33

and prosperity will flourish. A bright and beautiful future

awaits him."

I then directed my next question towards Cui Jia,

"Why do the gods keep replying with 'heaven knows'?"

Cui Jia was taken aback. Blushing in embarrass-

ment, he related the following story to me.

In his college days, Cui Jia had rented a room in a

residential home near his school. The landlady, a very

beautiful and charming woman, was quite a flirt, and

the young Cui Jia found himself rather enamored of her

- particularly her alluring eyes in which he also detected

affection toward himself. The mere thought of her

would send flutters through his heart.

One day, the landlord traveled out of town on a

business trip. As Cui Jia happened to pass by the mas-

ter bedroom, the door opened, and inside, the landlord

's wife stood gazing seductively at Cui Jia with an invit-

ing, flirtatious expression across her face. Cui Jia stood

motionless as his eyes locked with hers. Heat rushed

through his body, and he could hardly contain himself.

The young woman spoke, "No one will know."

He was young and full of sexual desire. As Cui Jia

Translated by Jenny Chow

Heaven Knows

On one occasion a man by the name of Cui Jia

sought me for a consultation. Cui Jia - hand-

some, tall, and very fit - came to seek information con-

cerning his future.

Upon asking the gods in the spirit realm for guid-

ance on his behalf, I received the answer: "Heaven

knows."

The response initially seemed a bit strange. Of

course "heaven knows" but what did that have to do

with Cui Jia 's future? I asked my question a second

time. Once again, the response given was, "Heaven

knows."

I made a third attempt to ask my question, and the

response was the same. However, this time, I received

the additional message, "Due to the merits accumulat-

ed from 'heaven knows,' extra blessings will be

bestowed upon this individual, and his fame, career,

32

Book 145 Living This Moment InPurity

Chapter 3

35

knows, heaven knows, heaven knows, persisted in his

conscience.

Other people may not know, but heaven knows.

Human beings may be deceived, but one cannot

deceive the heavens.

Eventually his will power prevailed, and he never

opened his door.

The next morning, Cui Jia hurriedly moved out of

the building and moved in with another classmate. He

did not dare mention the incident to anyone; even to his

closest friends, he gave the simple excuse that the

house had merely been unsuitable for him.

So, as it turns out:

Indeed,

No one knows.

Yet Heaven knows.

Cui Jia then proceeded to tell me of another

strange incident.

During his college days, he had moved five differ-

ent times. This particular event, which occurred after

the incident with the young woman, took place while he

was lodging at a boarding house for students.

took a step forward, his heart pounded with excitement.

She continued, "It's all right to have some fun

once in a while. No one else knows but us."

Suddenly, Cui Jia recalled a phrase he had

learned in school as a child: "Heaven knows,earth

knows,you know,and I know-these are the 'four wit-

nesses'."He stopped in his tracks and said to the young

wife,"It may appear as though no one else knows, but

heaven knows."

The young woman then replied, "So what if heav-

en knows?"

Cui Jia responded, "Heaven knows, heaven

knows, heaven knows!" He then turned his back on the

young woman and quickly walked away.

That same night, she came to knock on Cui Jia's

bedroom door. She was leaning against the wall right

outside his room, and he could smell her perfume waft-

ing in through the cracks of the doorframe. Several

times, he almost unlocked his door, knowing perfectly

well that as soon as he opened it, her warm, volup-

tuous body would fall into his embrace. "Why not open

the door?" he asked himself. But the phrase heaven

34

37

corpses.

Prior to this event, Cui Jia did not believe in the

world of spirits and held no religious beliefs.

Afterwards, however, he no longer doubted the

existence of gods in this universe. The alarm call, wak-

ing him from his sleep, obviously had been a warning

message from heaven.

I spoke to Cui Jia, "Gods and spirits indeed occu-

py the invisible world around us. One may try to

deceive others in a dark room, but the penetrating eyes

of gods perceive everything."

Cui Jia responded,"Indeed, heaven knows."

I said to him, "You should be commended for your

high morals and will power."

Cui Jia's face reddened and he said, "Oh, but it

was just luck!"

"Good and evil." I began.

Cui Jia finished my sentence, "are only separated

by a single thought."

"A moment's error may become the regret of a

lifetime."

"When one repents, one may be already at the

One night while he was fast asleep, Cui Jia sud-

denly heard a voice in his dreams saying, "Heaven

knows, get out of bed quickly. Heaven knows, get out of

bed quickly. Heaven knows, get out of bed quickly."

The voice had been very clear, and waking from

his sleep, he jumped out of bed. Running to look out-

side his window, he saw flames and thick smoke billow-

ing from the house next door. Immediately he woke the

other students in the house and, before escaping,

made an emergency call to report the fire.

By the time Cui Jia had run out of the house, the

flames from next door had already spread to his resi-

dence. Soon even the house in which he had been liv-

ing became completely engulfed in flames. Altogether,

six two-story buildings burned down. Many were killed

and injured in that fire, and there was a great loss of

property and possessions.

As Cui Jia shuddered in terror, recalling this inci-

dent, he was reminded that had he not heard the words

"heaven knows, get out of bed quickly",he would have

remained deep in sleep. He and his friends, trapped in

the sea of fire, would likely have been burnt to charcoal

36

39

removed? All that remains is a skeleton. When the

body is viewed anatomically, one sees internal organs

filled with blood, feces, and urine reeking of an unclean

and offensive stench.By engaging in this kind of view,

one will find the body's physical characteristics quite

horrible and disgusting. "

"What if one cannot perform this visualization? "

"As one's sexual urges begin to rage out of con-

trol, just stop and imagine the consequences. Taking

that one step may very likely prevent future loss of

wealth and reputation. Otherwise, not only might one

bring shame to one's family and ancestors, one's

infamy may spread, having adverse influence on one's

children and grandchildren, and even destroy the

career one has worked so hard to build up. Just think-

ing of these consequences is absolutely terrifying. This

should cool down those surging sexual desires right

away!"

"What if one still cannot restrain oneself. Then

what happens? "

I could only respond, "A moment's pleasure will

bring unending disaster and misfortune."

end of one's life."

I explained to Cui Jia, " In today's world, with

increasing interaction between men and women, rela-

tionships have become increasingly complicated.

People no longer concern themselves with traditional

principles governing relationships between the sexes.

What differentiates humans from other animals is man's

sense of ethics. Without morals and guiding values,

men are no different than birds and beasts. There are

actually people who have abandoned ethics, and they

are worse off than the birds and beasts."

"How should we maintain our vigilance?" Cui Jia

asked.

I replied, "As the Forty-two Chapters Sutra says:

regard all older women as your own mother or elder

sisters, all younger women as your younger sisters or

daughters. Developing this kind of view can help extin-

guish one's licentious thoughts."

"What if one finds it difficult to maintain this view?

Then, what should one do?"

"Learn to practice the unclean view. What remains

of a beautiful woman once her outer skin and flesh are

38

41

The Divine Fans

Mr. Yao Tong, an older student who was fifty

years old, came to me one time for a con-

sultation. Yao Tong had been married for thirty years,

but he and his wife were childless.

"Is it in our destiny to have children?" Yao Tong

asked me. "Master, you are a Living Buddha and have

helped many people with their problems and illnesses.

Please bless us and fulfill our wish."

"If it is in one's destiny to have something, one will

eventually get it. Otherwise, the situation should not be

forced," I replied.

When Yao Tong heard this, he said calmly, "I know

such things are, indeed, predestined and cannot be

forced. But I just wish to find out whether or not it is in

my fate to have any children."

"No," I replied.

Two years after the consultation, Yao Tong's wife

gave birth to a pair of beautiful twin boys. They had full

Chapter 12"But so many people enjoy engaging in such pur-

suits of momentary happiness," Cui Jia said. "Some

would have no regrets even if they had to risk death!"

"The Buddha has taught: pleasure is emptiness,

form is emptiness."

"Generally though, people cannot see this."

My final response was, "One creates one's own

blessings and disasters."

In fact, our dialogue addresses a serious issue

facing many members of contemporary societies.

Ultimately, these matters can only be decided by each

individual depending on his or her conscience, moral

character, and power of stability developed from spiritu-

al cultivation. In the invisible world around us, gods and

spirits do exist. You may think that no one else knows

but, in reality, heaven knows and cannot be deceived. It

is my wish that everyone will cherish their bodies and

souls, preserve their purity, and engage in spiritual cul-

tivation to transcend the sufferings of transmigration.

40

43

might have shunned me, criticized and cursed me

behind my back, or told everyone about the inaccuracy

of my readings.

I said to him, "There must be a reason behind this.

In fact, you look different from the last time I saw you.

Today, you have a red light covering your crown,

where, in the past, there were traces of black vapor.

Something has changed."

Yao Tong said, "I know Master is very good at

observing people's chi, but I also wish to find out the

reason behind the birth of my sons."

"Let me do some investigating, and I will get back

to you,"

I said, my face reddening.

"Thank you!" said Yao Tong.

That night I had a dream. In the dream, I found

myself arriving at a magnificent, ancient-looking temple.

Upon my arrival, beating drums and gongs sounded,

and two rows of ghosts and spirits prostrated before the

temple.

The main diety of the temple, Duke Wei-ling,

stood at the front door, and he brought his palms

foreheads, high-bridged noses, and thick earlobes. All

who saw them commented on their fine features.

Yao Tong and his wife brought the twins to show

me and wanted me to name them. I named them Yao

Jing and Yao Xian.

Yao Tong said to me, "Master, for many years, we

have had faith in your psychic powers of divination.

That is why, after having these two sons, we came to

you to have you name them for us. We have great

respect in the Master's reputation. However, two years

ago, when I consulted you regarding whether or not we

would have any children, your answer was no. Now we

have these sons. Why have things turned out this

way?"

Yao Tong was a straightforward person and I

could not help but feel embarrassed about my previous

forecast. How could my psychic divination have erred?

Actually, Yao Tong had not blamed me. He had even

brought the babies to me to name them, and he still

had great reverence for me. He merely wanted to find

out why the prior consultation was wrong. If such a

thing had happened to another individual, that person

42

45

"That sounds like the plantain leaf fan from

Journey to the West," I said.

"Not quite the same, but almost."

"Where are your two divine fan attendants now?" I

asked Duke Wei-Iing.

"They have been reborn into the human world."

"To which family have they been reborn?"

"Into the home of Yao Tong."

When I heard Yao Tong's name, I was shocked.

Just as I was wondering how I would find an answer to

my puzzle, the answer popped up quite by chance.

"But according to his life reading, Yao Tong was

not supposed to have any sons!" I remarked. "Why

were the divine fan attendants born into his family?"

"It is true that his life reading held no sons," Duke

Wei-ling concurred. "Yao Tong has visited my temple

and prayed to me many times. And, though he was

very sincere, I saw the trace of black chi upon his face

and did not grant him his wish. However, I later

received an edict from the Jade Emperor, ordering me

to give him the divine fan attendants as sons so he

would have a line of illustrious descendents."

together in greeting.

I stopped, afraid to step forward.

Duke Wei-ling called out, "Please come inside,

Lian-sheng. Why are you still standing outside the tem-

ple?"

"I don't feel I have the virtues or abilities deserving

of this welcome," I replied, embarrassed.

"A lofty heart is a great virtue and trying one's best

indicates great ability."

I walked into the temple and sat down at the guest

table while Duke Wei-ling and the other spirits sat at

the host's and side tables respectively. Immediately,

food and liquor were served. Although the food at this

banquet could not compare with the delicacies found in

the realms of devas, it was still very good. The liquor

was smooth yet strong and, after one sip, my whole

face turned red.

Duke Wei-ling laughed, "I used to have two divine

fan attendants. On hot days, with one wave of their

fans, all heat would disappear. If they waved twice, the

weather would turn chilly. Three waves of their fans

would send frost and snow hailing from above."

44

47

Yao Tong then related to me a dream he had had

the night before his sons were born. "In my dream, I

saw thousands of auspicious, beaming lights above the

roof of my house. From the sky, two fans descended.

They were not ordinary fans. They looked antique, and

were covered with very intricate and elaborate designs.

I could see the patterns very clearly. When the dream

was over, the babies were born. It was such a strange

dream that, until now, I had not dared to share it with

anyone."

"Also, there was the incident regarding Wu Yan."

"You know about that as well?"

"Please tell me the details."

Thus Yao Tong proceeded to tell me the following

true story of his encounter with Wu Yan.

One night, while strolling along the riverbank, Yao

Tong saw a young woman standing for a long time by

the side of the river. Yao Tong watched as the woman

slowly started walking towards the middle of the river.

She had soon walked so far that her head was no

longer above water.

It was late at night, and no one else was around.

"He must have undergone some transformative

experiences in his life. What exactly happened?"

Duke Wei-ling answered, "I don't know the details

of the story but, what I do know, is that Yao Tong saved

the life of a woman named Wu Yan and also main-

tained his integrity by rejecting a sexual liaison offered

to him. Because of these honorable actions, he was

blessed with two more years added to his life, enlist-

ment into officialdom, and the birth of his two sons. In

the future, these two sons will rise head and shoulders

above others and enjoy great fortunes. In fact, when

Yao Tong visited my temple after the birth of his two

sons, I saw that his facial features, chi, and complexion

had improved. I also saw a reddish halo above his

head."

"So, that was what happened," I said to myself.

Afterwards, Duke Wei-ling and I had a pleasant

talk.

Later, when I again met with Yao Tong, I dis-

cussed with him the transforming of his fate and told

him that his two sons were the incarnations of the

divine fan attendants.

46

49

Yao Tong's wife saw that Wu Yan was young and

quite pretty. Although she had made a mistake in her

life, the girl seemed like a kind person, and so she also

agreed that Yao Tong should take her in as a second

wife. If Wu Yan could bear her husband a son, she

would accept it as part of a divine plan.

But Yao Tong felt differently about the matter. To

him, such a proposal was immoral because it meant he

would be taking advantage of someone in a crisis. He

had acted out of good intentions, and to culminate the

incident in lust and an improper sexual liaison seemed

to him a breach of honor. Also, he felt that the differ-

ence in their age would render the whole affair quite

unethical, so he solemnly rejected the offer. He would

rather have no sons than risk such a sexual transgres-

sion.

Wu Yan and Yao Tong's wife tried many times to

persuade him to change his mind, but Yao Tong stead-

fastly refused.

Soon afterwards, Yao Tong's wife actually found

herself pregnant, and a medical examination showed

that she would have twins.

After calling out several times for help and receiving no

response, Yao Tong ran into the water to save the girl.

Luckily Yao Tong had been a frogman in the navy when

he was young. He loved swimming and had received

training as a lifeguard, so in no time, he rescued the

young woman and brought her safely to shore.

The woman was Wu Yan. When Yao Tong asked

her why she had tried to drown herself, she told him

that because of her naivety, she had been swindled by

a group of con artists and gambled away three million

Taiwanese dollars The debt collectors had been press-

ing her daily to pay the money. Afraid of being repri-

manded by her family, and with no means to pay off her

debt, she had decided to kill herself. When Yao Tong

heard her story, his compassion was aroused. He

decided to help her and pay off her debt. Wu Yan was

extremely grateful to Yao Tong. Not only had he saved

her life, but he had also paid off her entire gambling

debt. It was as if he had given her a new life. When she

learned that Yao Tong had no descendents, she willing-

ly offered herself to him as a concubine to bear him

sons.

48

51

divination is primarily to teach people to act properly

and avoid disasters in their lives. It is based on good

intentions. What has happened to me is karma. Causes

in previous lives had shaped a destiny of no children in

this lifetime, but actions in this life resulted in a change

of luck. As a result of luck enhancement, I now have

two sons."

The Buddhist monk asked, "How can one tell if

Sheng-yen Lu really is capable of spiritual divination, or

if he was just making it all up?"

Yao Tong replied, "He knew about the incident

with Wu Yan."

"Perhaps he had made investigations into your

affairs and found that out."

Yao Tong made no reply.

The Buddhist monk remarked determinedly,

"Sheng-yen Lu is evil, and he is also a heretic."

Yao Tong replied, "The Living Buddha has taught

us that observation of the five precepts and ten whole-

some actions is virtuous. Conversely, breaking the five

precepts and ten wholesome deeds is evil.

The Buddhist scriptures have said that the world

As stated in these verses:

What a wonderful change in one's fate;

Fortune comes hand in hand with auspiciousness;

Saving another's life and abstaining from lust are

true virtues;

Lucky stars will appear and life will sail smoothly.

Yao Tong once related the conversations he had

with me to a Buddhist monk. The Buddhist monk said

to him, "If you had remained childless, Sheng-yen Lu

would have claimed his reading to be accurate. If your

wife gave birth to a son, Sheng-yen Lu would tell you

his divination was still correct, but that something had

happened to change your fate. Either way, his divina-

tion would be correct. I don't see how you can still trust

spiritual divinations, or Sheng-yen Lu for that matter."

Yao Tong replied, "The Buddhist sutras have said

that in this world, there are fixed as well as unfixed

dharmas. All phenomena are impermanent, and every-

thing undergoes change. The Buddha himself did not

say that one's destiny is fixed, and he believed that fate

could be changed. Thus there are practices one can

study to establish a new life. The purpose of spiritual

50

53

Lian-Sheng for many years and spent quite a bit of time

with him. He spends his days writing, painting, and

meditating. He does his practice every day without fail

and, to date, he has published one hundred and forty

books. At times, he will put aside part of his day to help

others resolve their problems and crises. He truly

demonstrates earnest compassion for people of this

world. He abides in the nature of the mind, and his

actions are in keeping with his words. There are not

many people like him in the world. Take for example,

his allowing others to pay him whatever they like.

People outside of the school may have no knowledge

of this, but anyone who has had any contact with him

will know this is true. So, the rumors that claim he swin-

dles money are great injustices. Although there is much

outside slandering, the Living Buddha has always

remained unperturbed. He has only instructed us to do

the following two things. First, do not argue. Instead

use disagreements as opportunities to practice 'the art

of perfecting patience and endurance.' Second, regard

a negative encounter as an opportunity to resolve one's

karmic hindrance. For thirty years, he has learned from

abounds in heretics. In fact, seeking dharma beyond

one's heart is a transgression. The Living Buddha has

taught us that practicing Buddhism is to cultivate the

Buddha Mind to transcend birth and death and realize

one's true nature!"

When the Buddhist monk heard this, he could not

disagree. Yet he still argued, "I have heard that he

swindles people out of their money!"

Yao Tong replied, "In his whole life, the Living

Buddha has never stipulated a fee for anything. He

allows people to pay whatever they like, so how can

that be considered swindling? In fact, he never even

wanted ownership of any of the True Buddha School

temples."

The Buddhist monk was silent for a moment. Then

he came up with another accusation, "I have heard that

he takes sexual advantage of female students."

"Have you witnessed any of this?" asked Yao

Tong.

"No, but I have heard such accusations from other

people," was the monk's response.

Yao Tong remarked, "I have known Living Buddha

52

55

yet people of the world do not recognize this. How can I

awaken all these people from their dreams? When I tell

them the truth, they cannot recognize it and mistake it

to be false.

"My master once told me that there are only three

options for a truly enlightened being. The first is to

immediately enter nirvana. The second is to live as a

mountain hermit. The third is to pretend that one is a

lunatic. He made this comment because the survival

rate of an enlightened being is not high, and one will

eventually be persecuted to death by others."

Yet, I am someone who cannot bear to see the

fallen people of this world rolling and suffering amidst a

world of red dust and bitter seas. So the best way for

me to transmit my teachings is by writing books, day

after day, year after year. I shall be waiting on the other

shore!

As for the circulating rumors, just let them be!

the tormenting of slanderers to become as expansive

as the heavens and the earth. This virtue has earned

him a great deal of respect from the realm of spirits."

The Buddhist monk was silent.

Yao Tong came back to tell me of his encounter

with the Buddhist monk. I in turn, was silent.

I thought to myself, "I have devoted this entire life

to the study and practice of Buddhism and the cultiva-

tion of the Tao. I have discovered that the most impor-

tant goal in life is the transcending of birth and death.

Anything else is auxiliary. I have always ignored outside

rumors and slanders. To achieve liberation, I have

steadfastly studied and practiced the Tantric Dharma in

seclusion."

Now that I have finally attained Enlightenment and

transcended the six realms of transmigration, I can

commune with Buddhas in all times and space. My

original intent was to completely reveal the secrets of

the workings of the divine, but I was afraid that evil peo-

ple would obtain this knowledge and use it maliciously.

"The teachings of the Buddha dharma are inex-

haustible. What I have attained is so real and practical,

54

Translated by Janny Chow

Chapter 2:

Avoid Living in "Low andOvershadowed" Areas

In my younger days, I performed numerous

feng-shui consultations. The one rule I always

maintained was to treat everyone equally, whether they

were rich or poor. When the rich came to seek my serv-

ices, I gladly advised them. When the poor families

approached me for help, I gladly accepted their invita-

tions.

During these times, whenever I agreed to feng-

shui readings, I also stuck to one important principle: I

never asked for a service fee but allowed the other par-

ties to pay whatever they wished.

Since my only motive for studying geomancy was

to help people, I have done readings for very poor fami-

lies. One such family, whose head of the household

made a living by selling vegetables, lived in a very low

area at the foot of a broken precipice that rose in a

56 57

steep wall to the sky. The area around the house was

surrounded by bamboo. After studying the house and

its surrounding geographical features, I came to the

conclusion that the house fit the pattern of that of a "low

and overshadowed" house.

As written in The Secrets of Earth Magic:

The lowest site will meet suicide.

The overshadowed site will encounter unexpected

hardships.

My analysis turned out to be an accurate one.

After a fight caused by their declining financial situation,

the owner's wife committed suicide by drinking insecti-

cide. The grandmother of the household became half

paralyzed from a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis.

One child was afflicted with polio, another with asthma.

The owner himself, who worked as hard as he could to

sell his vegetables, was facing a crushing defeat.

Why are houses built in low and hollow sites tied

to the fate of suicide? This is because such houses are

always in an inferior position. People living in such

houses develop emotional blockages and have trouble

seeing their own ideals fulfilled. Due to their frustrated

Book 69

Household Feng-Shui

Chapter 2

59

considered frequent visitors." He replied, "We rarely

have any visitors." I asked him to check with the grand-

mother to find out if there were, indeed, two visitors at

their house. To his surprise, the grandmother confirmed

my words. She described seeing a man in black and a

woman in red, in Ch'ing Dynasty attire, frequently enter-

ing and exiting their home. This reply brought great

shock to the owner.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asked the

grandmother. The grandmother replied, "I was worried

you might be frightened. Besides, I didn't think you

would believe me. You would probably have accused

me of hallucinating and becoming senile."

I told the owner that the low and overshadowed

site was unsuitable as a residence because it encour-

aged the convergence of yin spirits. A healthy person

living there would become ill and encounter numerous

hardships. Oftentimes, due to the influence of disem-

bodied spirit, one may succumb to their calling and

attempt to commit suicide.

The grandmother was aware of the yin spirits

because she was at the end of her years. The yang

emotional state, they often fail to find safe exits when

angered or provoked. Also, low and hollow sites are

sites of 'yin' energy, where disembodied spirits and

ghosts like to converge. "Yin spirits" may play mischie-

vous tricks on one and engender thoughts of suicide.

The close proximity of the tall and broken cliff to

the house created a feeling of being 'pressure and

overshadowed.' This 'suppression' type pattern predis-

poses one to strange illness. The closeness of the tall

and broken cliff also provoked a sense of desolation

and misery. Living in such a house, one would never

have the opportunity to become wealthy.

There is also a more realistic problem for homes

built in the hollows at the foot of mountains. During

rains, water accumulates and does not drain quickly.

When earthquakes strike, an avalanche may bury the

entire house. How can one not be wary of the inherent

problems of such sites?

I asked the owner of the house, "Are there seven

inhabitants in your house now?" He gave me a puzzled

look. "There are only five." I smiled and said, "There

are indeed seven, although two of the seven could be

58

61

skillful means. More important is the goal to move and

inspire people to practice the "transcendental" Buddha

dharma.

So, before selecting a building site, one should

first inspect the terrain. This is just too important a fac-

tor to ignore. Too high a terrain invites "feng-sha" (nox-

ious wind energy); too low a terrain invites "shui-sha"

(noxious water energy). An ideal site is neither too high

nor too low.

The study of the feng-shui of homes is actually a

study of balance and harmony. To learn feng-shui, one

must first master 'the art of balance and harmony.'

energy in her body was dispersing as yin energy accu-

mulated, and this had led to an opening of her psychic

vision.

Some feng-shui practitioners believe a low and

hollow site accumulates chi from the water element.

Because water is regarded as the equivalent of money,

such a site is considered a wealthy spot. However,

ensuring optimal movement of 'water chi' into such a

site requires proper inflow of 'major water chi' and an

outflow of 'minor water chi' Otherwise, the sole inflow of

major water chi without an outlet, will cause every resi-

dent of the home to become 'engulfed by the water.'

A house built upon a site that is too low and too

hollow is therefore inauspicious. It is also inauspicious

to have a tall, broken cliff directly behind (or to either

side of) the house as this overshadows the house.

I remember, after the reading, I received a red

envelope with fifty Taiwanese dollars (approximately

US$1.25 then) from the owner. I did not mind the

amount because I knew they were poor, and I was not

a feng-shui master who sought to profit from his consul-

tations. Feng-shui, as a worldly Dharma, is merely a

60

Chapter 2:

Fire Problems in the Kitchen

Anewlywed couple once invited me to their

home for a feng-shui consultation. They lived

in a very beautiful home surrounded by trees with red

blossoms and berries. While inspecting the kitchen, I

realized that the position of the stove presented a prob-

lem. Their "designer" home had the stove built right in

the center of the kitchen. It stood in the middle of the

room, unshielded by any objects. Furthermore, the

faucet and basin were located directly across from the

stove.

Such a placement is problematic for two reasons:

1) It is important that the kitchen fire be located in

a place that gathers chi. Only a fire that gathers chi can

continually burn and maintain its temperature.

According to the book The Secrets of Earth Magic, a

stove should be protected on three sides with chi flow-

ing in from the fourth side. The best locations for stoves

are the south, east, or southwest positions.

62 63

Although an unshielded stove located in a central

island is a convenient working area, it does not afford

the advantage of easily storing chi. Quick dissipation of

the temperature of the stove fire can lead to the dissi-

pation of money.

2) It is disastrous to have the kitchen faucet direct-

ly facing the stove fire, as this symbolizes the clashing

of fire and water. From my observations, such a design

portends great trouble and can lead to sexual promis-

cuity and excessive drinking.

Upon arrival, I noticed that the mistress of the

house was a very beautiful, graceful lady with tapering

fingers and soft palms. Her shoulders were round and

her back not too thin. In terms of physiognomy, the

upper, middle, and lower segments of her face were

well proportioned. She had the hallmark features of a

distinguished woman. But I also noticed a coquettish-

ness in her bright, almond-shaped eyes and a charm-

ing seductiveness in the way she moved and swayed-

characteristics of someone with 'secret peach-blossom

luck.' (The term 'peach-blossom luck' in Chinese refers

to the luck one has in attracting lovers.)

Chapter 15

65

and each went their separated ways.

I would like everyone to heed this fact: if the

"kitchen fire" is situated in the center of the kitchen,

then whichever direction the faucet is installed in - north

,south, east, or west - chances are that it will be sitting

directly across from the stove fire. With the faucet a

symbol for "yang" and the stove a symbol for "yin," this

is an omen for licentiousness and promiscuity.

I have noticed that the designer kitchens of many

new homes in the United States have stoves built right

in the middle of the kitchens. Architects of such kitchen

designs are definitely uninformed in the science of

feng-shui. Although their goal may be to create a con-

venient, aesthetic space, they are, however, contribut-

ing to the flourishing of licentiousness!

I want readers to know that, when one enters a

house, fire must not be the first thing one sees. This

means that the kitchen or the fireplace should not be

the first thing seen upon entering a home. Avoid having

these two types of "fire chi" facing the front door.

In business settings, such as restaurants, under

no circumstances should stoves (gas stoves, water

I asked my friend, "Do the newlyweds believe in

feng-shui?"

The mutual friend who had invited me said, "Only

a little. They work in scientific fields."

"Then the purpose for my coming today was...?" I

asked.

"Just to get acquainted with them and take a look

around," answered my friend.

Since I was only there to get acquainted and enjoy

the home's gorgeous furnishings, I needed to be tactful

by commenting only on the good and avoiding mention

of anything negative. I wanted the meeting to be har-

monious and cheerful, and I did not want my friends to

feel any unpleasantness in the air.

It was only after leaving the house that I told my

friend to give a message to the owners: they must recti-

fy the fire problem in the kitchen.

The owners ignored my advice.

A year later, I learned that the lady of the house

had had an extramarital affair with her supervisor at

work, and her husband had a mistress and had

become an alcoholic. In the end, the marriage ended

64

67

Translated by Janny Chow

Ch\

Master, What Do You Have?

Amedical doctor from a far away country came

to visit me at the lakeside of Lake

Sammamish. We sat solemnly and quietly at a round

table, facing each other.

"Master",said the doctor, "I find it strange that,

although all the people in the world have two eyes, one

nose, one mouth and two ears, you are honored as a

master and I am not."

I smiled, "Yes, the principle is very obvious. Why

are you honored as a medical doctor and I am not?"

"Master, I find you to be very ordinary. You have

not even shaved very well. Your hair needs a haircut

and your clothes are dusty."

"You are right. Your medically trained eyes are

quite extraordinary, and your observation is also very

keen. A so-called master or guru is a person who seeks

inner illumination, that is, the shimmering inner heart

Book 60The Inner World of the

Lake

Chapter 19

heaters, electric stoves, electric cookers, etc.) be

installed at the center of the cross of the restaurant.

Such centrally located "fire chi" can pollute the air

inside the entire restaurant, creating a hot and fiery

atmosphere. In such an environment, business part-

ners will not get along and customers will not feel com-

fortable. Over time, they will not want to set foot in the

restaurant. And even more importantly, "fire chi" in the

center makes it difficult for "earth chi" to remain bal-

anced.

In the kitchen, one must also pay attention to the

following things: Make sure garbage does not accumu-

late, is well contained, sealed, and frequently disposed

of. Pay attention to the flow of water in the kitchen sink.

Also, select a stove fan that does not have its working

parts exposed, and install a range hood that does not

protrude too conspicuously as this also affects kitchen

feng-shui. Finally, one must not install skylights in

kitchens as this is conducive to the upward spreading

of "fire chi." A skylight opening in the kitchen incurs

unexpected accidents and calamities.

66

69

Nothingness most; he also teaches his disciples about

Emptiness and Nothingness. These abilities are what

the master has."

"Is there anything else you know?"

"No, nothing more. Except for this: a true master

can understand Lake Sammamish, but the worldly peo-

ple do not necessarily understand Lake Sammamish.

"Lake? This lake is an ordinary lake. Is there

something special about it?"

"Yes, Lake Sammamish is an ordinary, common

lake. Apart from the water and the surrounding moun-

tains, trees, and grass, it does not appear to have any-

thing else. But, if this Lake Sammamish merges with a

true master, then new and abundant knowledge will be

generated. The thoughts, the wisdom, the Emptiness

and Nothingness will emerge. This is what is different

about what a master has."

The doctor and I left the enclosing wall, crossed a

wide street, and approached the lakeside. The sounds

of the lake were murmuring. I opened up my mind and

merged with the lake. I was not being controlled by the

lake, nor was I controlling the lake. I was not teaching

which shines like a diamond. Externally, perhaps, he is

practicing asceticism and radiating only the light of ordi-

nary glass.

"Then master, what do you have? What makes so

many people in this world pay so much respect to

you?"

"Many people venerate me and learn from me, but

not because they want to learn such arts as painting or

music. Nor are they after the means to earn money, nor

how to dress well and neatly. They are learning from

me inner illumination. All I have to offer is just the

knowledge which leads to inner illumination. Perhaps

this is considered by some to be foolish and passe."

"Master, can you explain it in a more concrete

way?"

"You might not understand what I will say, but you

can try to listen carefully. A true Vajra Master is some-

one who understands thoughts and visualization best;

he also teaches others about thoughts and visualiza-

tion. A true Vajra Master is someone who has the

supreme wisdom; he also teaches about wisdom. A

true Vajra Master understands Emptiness and

68

71

need to appease or humor anyone; no need to learn to

be slick and sly; no need to bow to the powerful. At the

side of Lake Sammamish, there is no need to be too

humble; nobody is a master and nobody is a servant.

All is spontaneous and equal.

I feel that I am very fortunate. Being a foolish

Tantric practitioner, I am able to cultivate many useful

things at the lakeside. These bits and pieces of Truth

and Wisdom of the Cosmos are the priceless pearls of

the world and can produce numerous masters. And no

robber can take away these kinds of priceless pearls.

Let me write a verse!

The master answered the doctor,

"My path is not lonely;

Accompanied by the famous lake,

Truth will never wither."

the lake, nor was the lake teaching me.

But, the doctor did not quite understand what was

going on. He was totally unconnected to the lake. Lake

Sammamish is Lake Sammamish, and the doctor is the

doctor. Just like a pig butcher who has no need for any

church prayer, the doctor did not feel the necessity of

prayer at all.

The doctor did not understand Lake

Sammamish.Perhaps in the residences by the lakeside,

there are many people who also do not understand

Lake Sammamish.

So, in not understanding Lake Sammamish, they

are naturally not able to understand the master.

Life at the lakeside is very pure and simple; it is

also free of difficulties and strain. Worry has long since

drifted far, far away. Desiring nothing has also made

everything very easy. Clothes are unimportant; money

is unimportant; the etiquette of people interacting with

each other is unimportant. With no disruptive dreams, I

always sleep throughout the night, not waking until the

sun rises.

I have no need to call and inquire after anyone; no

70

The World Of A Crystal Ball

About three miles to the southeast of Lake

Sammamish, there is a medium-sized shop-

ping mall. It is a very neat and tidy mall and in it is a

small arts and crafts store.

On the bottom shelf of the store's glass showcase,

five crystal balls were on display. The crystal balls,

huge, round, and sparkling, were cushioned on a tripod

stand drawn by three horses. They were exquisite. I

asked the pretty salesgirl to bring one out for me to look

at. First she took a piece of clean paper, carefully

picked up a crystal ball with it, then cautiously handed it

to me.

This emerald green and transparent crystal ball

was extremely clear and sparkling. Inside the crystal,

lustrous and clean bubbles of emerald and azure were

arising from its depth. This extremely beautiful crystal

ball seemed to be pregnant with mysteries.

"What is this crystal ball for?" I asked knowingly.

72 73

The pretty salesgirl, with a unique smile, said,

"This crystal ball can tell one's fate."

"To know or not to know one's fate, which is bet-

ter?"

Unexpectedly this American young lady seemed

to know about contemplation. She hesitated for a while,

then smiled and said meaningfully, "To know or not to

know, it's the same."

Hearing her answer, I felt that she understood

fate, just as I have understood it. Many, many people

are very curious about their own fate and, when they

have time, they find someone to read their fate for

them. In our society there are all kinds of popular meth-

ods used for prediction, and many people study these

various methods to make a living.

Knowing one's fate, one still has to walk on the

road of fate.

Not knowing one's fate, one still has to walk on

the road of fate.

Knowing or not knowing really makes no differ-

ence. That is why people who read others' fate often

will not read their own, and why, when they obviously

Chapter 31

75

have become silent. To the other person, I just smile,

even though I understand everything about him.

Whenever I look at an object, I can tell all that is going

to happen to it. But, it is just a flash in the pan. A flash

in the pan, too many, many flashes in the pan-I know,

but I cannot bring myself to say it.

Fate, the law of Causes and Effects in the natural

world. I know all about it but I will not say anything

about it, so what is the difference between knowing and

not knowing?

Facing the ones that I cannot tell, I will only smile,

laugh, or smile with tears. In my eyes fate is like the

flowing water and many people people who know noth-

ing, people who have nothing-are washed away by it.

Many people get washed away without understanding

anything. I laugh at myself, also at others, and all the

more at this world.

Will I buy a crystal ball? A crystal ball does have

its own mystery; light from the crystal can merge with

and enter into one's consciousness. But, after one buys

a crystal ball, it is possible that the crystal will become

a substitute, and one will become dependent on it and

know something, they cannot say it.

Take me for example! I know about many, many

events: events in the cosmos, events in the spiritual

realms, events in the heavens, events under the

ground, events in this human world. I have acquired

this ability through studying. This power and ability of

mine enable me to understand a person's fate when I

meet him.

But, can I tell him?

He is going to die of an accident.

He is going to be bankrupt and will lose every-

thing.

He is going to come down with the most serious

kind of terminal illness.

Fate. Ha! What can one do even if one knows

about it! Can one tell it? Everything in this world is like

a flash in the pan. Though I know about everything, it is

the same as not knowing anything. Though I possess

all the wisdom, I actually do not possess anything. I

seem to have become a newborn infant, knowing noth-

ing and owning nothing.

I have not lost my ability and power, it is just that I

74

77

Translated by Harmony

The Thought of Suicide

I was asked once, "Grand Master Lu, please tell

us the truth, have you ever thought of commit-

ting suicide?"

My answer was, " Yes! Let me tell you this: I

attempted suicide when I was a sixth grader in elemen-

tary school."

"Oh!" the people were all very shocked.

I revealed more, "My brother Zhao-rong Lu killed

himself by drinking potassium hydroxide."

Again, everyone was stunned when they heard

this.

According to an analysis by a famous psycholo-

gist, the percentage of people who have suicidal ten-

dencies is definitely not small. Moreover, the number of

people who have ever had suicidal thoughts is even

greater. Fortunately, for most people, thoughts of killing

themselves are immediately eradicated by reason. If

Book 158Contemplation Under the Lonesome Light

Chapter 6

lose one's wisdom and ability to think.

Do I need a crystal ball? Of course not. Because

Lake Sammamish is actually my crystal ball. I know

Lake Sammamish is a crystal ball lake and every con-

sciousness can be reflected by it. All the fates, from a

minute single thought to the most significant prediction,

are all in Lake Sammamish.

I might buy a crystal ball though, because the

shining bubbles rising up inside the crystal are so beau-

tiful and the crystal is such a wonderful realm. I will

place it on my desk and, when I have time, I will gaze

at it as if I were looking at Lake Sammamish. It is a kind

of beauty, not reality.

To go and look at a crystal ball. Not because one

wants to read one's fate in it. There is no need to read

one's fate.

But, because of its beauty of perfect roundness,

one has a deep fondness for it.

76

79

death.

So what happens when you reach a dead end in

your life? My advice is to search for the happiness of

the moment. Life's journey should be completed with

pure joy.

What do you do when you are humiliated, over-

pressured or in great pain? Buddha taught us

Tolerance Paramita. After practicing tolerance, you can

reach the other shore.

Now I think that as long as you don't die, happi-

ness and bliss will come eventually. If you die, not even

hope remains. Therefore, it is wise not to commit sui-

cide.

this were not so, the human race would be nearly

extinct from suicides.

I recently wrote several articles admonishing peo-

ple not to harbor suicidal thoughts and not to commit

suicide.

Since I possess spiritual connections I know that

the souls of people who commit suicide experience

much greater suffering than other souls. After a suicide,

it's very hard for the soul to be delivered because it had

violated the first of the Five Precepts - abstaining from

killing - which results in very heavy negative karma.

Even if these souls are able to cleanse all their

karma and reincarnate as human beings, they either

become handicapped with blindness, deafness, and/or

muteness, or they become people with incomplete

brains, hands, or legs - these people live in immense

pain. In general, most suicides do not gain any sympa-

thy from the world. Instead, suicides only leave those

who want to get rid of them rubbing their hands with

glee. Therefore, what kind of benefit do they derive

from suicide when it only hurts their family and delights

their enemies? In my opinion, it's dying an unproductive

78

81

In my opinion, I consider the earth is a 'prison' for

the universe. Anyone with karma is sent to earth for

punishment. Coming to this world is to experience suf-

fering: birth, age, sickness, death, separation from

loved ones, meeting with the hateful, yearning for

someone or something, and the five aggregates. This

human planet has the most worries and the most

impermanence, and is the least happy, the filthiest and

the darkest place. Just think for a moment - "hell", "hun-

gry ghosts" and "animals" are called the Three Lower

Realms. On this human planet, some people live in a

hell, like hungry ghosts and animals. Isn't the earth a

prison?

According to the Ksitigarbha Sutra, the deeds and

thoughts of the sentient beings of our world

(Jambudvipa) constantly cause transgressions and cre-

ate negative karma and sins. Human beings come with

inherent karma and sins, and ignorance is the root of

sin. A person with bad karma wil l be punished.

Therefore, it makes sense that the earth is a prison.

We cultivators must cut through our delusions and

realize the truth, supersede the ordinary and enter the

The Earth Is A Prison

Somebody once said that the earth is a mental

institution in the universe. Whoever has an

unstable mental disposition is sent to earth. Therefore,

countries on earth are mentally unstable, people are

mentally unstable, and societies are mentally unstable

too.

According to an analysis by psychologists, just

about everyone has mental obstructions in one form or

another, but the syndromes are not prominent in some

people. Some people feel oppressed, some are

depressed, some don't talk, some are impatient, some

are emotionally unstable.

In fact, there is some basis to calling the earth the

biggest mental institution. This is really an era of

unhappiness. The young, the middle-aged and the old

are all very depressed and worried. They all have emo-

tional problems. Everyone's body, mind and soul are in

trouble.

80

Chapter 22

83

Translated by Janny Chow Ch\

Spiritual Response

It is relatively easy to receive spiritual response

through the cultivation of the Tantric teachings.

This is a well known fact. It is due largely to the Vajra

Master who embodies the Triple Jewels of the Buddha,

Dharma, and Sangha. He holds immeasurable merits

of all the Buddhas, and has the remarkable power of

blessings.

An enlightened vajra master may bless a person

who keeps a firm and pure faith but has yet to begin

any form of practice. This is like a person holding a jug

of Dharma milk and pouring it into the empty bowl of

the receiver. The person who is blessed at once

receives the Dharma milk which fills his or her being,

achieving the fulfillment of spiritual response.

In the Tantric teachings, it is common to find a per-

son without prior cultivation and who has barely taken

refuge or received empowerment and yet able to gain

Book 154

The Aura of Wisdom

Chapter 5

supreme holy stream. At a minimum, we need to prac-

tice the Five Precepts and Ten Virtues in order to be

released from this prison.

82

85

such a mindset, the further one deviates from the Right

View, completely unaware of being trapped in Mara.

If one's body, speech and mind are pure, it is nor-

mal to receive responses.

If one persists in cultivation, it is also normal to

receive responses from the respective deities and

Dharma protectors.

Do not hold the thought that one has attained the

highest spiritual state, superseding the achievements of

all Dharma friends, monks, nuns and masters. Once

such vanity arises, it is as good as being deluded by

Mara. C

immediate response.

Should one experience a string of responses and

spiritual phenomena, it is important to remain calm, and

treat these events as normal occurrences. One's mind

should maintain a sense of balance, best remaining in

a state of non-attachment and renunciation. Whether

you have spiritual responses or not is perfectly fine, for

we should not be too attached to such matters.

When you have responses, you may talk to the

Master, or relate them to your fellow initiates. It is best

to share your experiences with the Master, and use

your responses as a basis of encouragement among

initiates. Refrain from telling outsiders. Why? People

outside your spiritual circle may not believe in such

matters, and you may invite criticism, causing more

afflictions instead.

A person with spiritual responses should be cau-

tioned against showing off his or her experiences,

which would be a display of vanity. Know that vanity is

the seed of the Mara demon, and many have fallen into

the path of Mara upon receiving spiritual responses due

to this mentality. Hence, the further one cultivates with

84

87

others are merely devils. He once commented that a

senior monk was a manifestation of the devil, and that

Sri Satya Sai Baba was being possessed by a serpent

entity. The Japanese Aum Shinrikyo cult was derived

from hell ghosts. The qigong masters from mainland

China are all being possessed by animal entities.

Li says he is the only right path.

I know of yet another Mr. Xiao who claims, "I am

the manifestation of Vairocana, the Lord of tens and

thousands of Buddhas in the universe. Sheng-yen Lu is

only a tiny little Buddha who is under my jurisdiction."

All right! The reason I write this article is to convey

the message that everyone has claimed to have

attained realization and reached enlightenment, that

they say others are bad and that he or she alone is the

greatest, praising themselves and discrediting others,

competing to beat others in the game of being the

biggest and highest in spiritual attainment.

I just want to say this to you, as a Buddhist and

practitioner, you need to open your eyes to discern:

Who really is being egotistical?

Who really are praising themselves and discredit-

Self Importance

Master Ching Hai once told her disciples,

"Presently, there are indeed some enlight-

ened masters in this world. I am the Enlightened

Master. When you find me, there is no further need to

search out for others. I am the One."

What Master Ching Hai said is fair and modest

enough.

Someone by the name of Li who runs a certain

Gong once said, "The Dharma transmitted by

Sakyamuni Buddha is just a minor teaching. The

Dharma or Fa that I transmit is Da Fa, or major teach-

ing. In the past, man cultivated Dharma. Today it is

Dharma or Fa that cultivates man."

Someone asked Mr. Li, "Presently, who is liberat-

ing sentient beings in this world?"

Mr. Li said, "Only me. There is no other."

What this statement implies is that Mr Li feels he

is the only "Buddha" in the whole universe, whereas all

86

Chapter 9

89

Translated by: Wilhall Lee

How to Settle One's Thoughts

Adisciple once asked me, "My distracting

thoughts stray vigorously and are unstop-

pable. How do we settle all such distracting thoughts?"

I answered, "Tibetan Tantric Buddhism teaches

one to chant the one-syllable mantra "Pei." By doing

so, distracting thoughts are immediately stopped, there-

fore settling one's mind into emptiness."

"What if that does not help?"

"You may utilize the method of Zen contemplation.

Follow the distracting thoughts to trace their origin, and

as you incessantly trace the origin of the thoughts, you

will realize that they are really empty and illusory in

nature. When you understand that they are but mere

conjectures of emptiness and illusions, the thoughts will

be cut through."

"What if the current thought is detached, only to

be replaced by another thought?"

Book 156

Whispers of the Breeze

Chapter 1

ing others?

Who really has wonderful teachings?

Who is able to remain undistracted?

And who is the perfectly enlightened hermit?

88

91

all phenomena are devoid of inherent existence.

During the time of the Buddha, Arhats lived in

caves, beneath trees, and among graveyards in order

to reflect on these four contemplations. Because they

were able to realize that the human body is impure,

their fires of lust were extinguished. Because they were

able to realize that emotions lead to suffering, they con-

stantly upheld the intentions of renunciation and tran-

scendence of worldly desires. By realizing the fluctuat-

ing nature of the mind, they no longer held on to the

thought of self-grasping. By realizing all phenomena

are devoid of any inherent existence, they were able to

realize that all existences are inherently void.

By reflecting on the Four Earnest Contemplat-

ions, each thought becomes clear and purposeful.

By recalling and holding each thought continuous-

ly so as not to forget, one's thoughts are gradually puri-

fied, eradicating greed, hatred and ignorance. When all

thoughts are continually focused on the correct path,

one no longer has any impure or defiled thoughts, thus

one becomes completely immersed in the great path

towards liberation of the body and soul.

"Use one single thought to block all other

thoughts. Have a correct thought to replace all distract-

ing thoughts. This is the visualization technique of

Tantrayana. As long as you focus on this visualization

and practice it with utmost effort and diligence, all dis-

tracting thoughts will no longer arise."

I honestly tell my disciples that about two thou-

sand five hundred years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha told

us:

"For an ordinary person, there is only one correct

path that leads to purification, the conquering of anxiety

and grief, and the banishment of anguish and suffer-

ings. To walk on this path is to practice the Four

Earnest Contemplations."

We must constantly focus our thoughts on:

Contemplation of the body - observe that the body

is impure.

Contemplation of the emotions - observe that

emotions lead to suffering.

Contemplation of the mind - observe that the mind

always fluctuates.

Contemplation of the phenomena - observe that

90

93

Temporary Manifestations

Someone once asked me, "What is fame?"

I answered, "Illusory existence, illusory cessation!"

Question: "What then is wealth?"

Answer: "Something that just lets you look at it idly

for a few years, on borrowed terms!"

Question: "What about physical attraction?"

Answer: "Nothing but dry bones!"

Truthfully speaking, wealth, physical attraction and

fame are all but life's temporary manifestations, that is

to say for a moment you may have, but the next you

may not. Wealth, physical attraction, and fame are

merely manifestations that exist and desist in continu-

um. Modern people rack their brains to pursue them

zealously. If we so pursue them with reckless abandon,

scheming and plotting, intent on securing them be it by

force or trickery, they will inevitably lead us to hatred

and anger, and thoughts of unbridled greed. In the end,

Chapter 4During the Buddha's time, there were many disci-

ples who achieved fruition. They had concentrated their

minds and efforts into their meditation practices by fol-

lowing the Four Earnest Contemplations.

92

95

That physical beauty is really cloaking a bag of dry

bones!

All these may provide temporary happiness, but at

the same time, they also bear dangerous pitfalls and

the cause for affliction.

After long periods of observation, Shakyamuni

Buddha concluded that the root of all suffering is the

greed of the human heart.

they will eventually lead us to our downfall whereby we

would suffer in the three foul paths down below.

That is why we must break free from the delusions

of wealth, physical attraction, and fame. We must be

able to correctly understand the perils of blind pursuit

and recognize the truth. Do not engender any attach-

ment; you will then naturally be led to the path to libera-

tion.

Let us think for one moment that if Prince

Siddhartha had craved for the throne, for palatial treas-

ures and wealth, for his queen and his concubines,

today there would be no Shakyamuni Buddha, no

World-honored One. It would not be too preposterous

to postulate the demise of the Sakya kingdom, the cap-

ture of its palace and territory, and the execution of

King Siddhartha by King Lapis Lazuli, all eventually

ending in naught, ending in an ocean of sufferings.

A practitioner should possess such understanding:

That fame is really nothing but illusory existence

and illusory cessation!

That riches merely afford you a few years of blank

contentment!

94