Chapter 5 - Headline In The Lian-he Evening News

Mr Chen Zhen, the chief editor of Lian-He evening news in Singapore sent a senior reporter Mr Ou Fu Li to Raffles City Hotel on 17 December 1992 to interview me.

A week later on 24th December, the following headline appeared in the news:

"A controversial character in the religious field, Living Buddha Lu Sheng Yen came to Singapore on a propagation tour."

"Candidates of the US presidential election consulted him."

"He is said to have possessed certain mystic powers."

"According to Master Lu, heresy is when a religion walks on the wrong path."

Occupied quite a big column, the news continued for three days.

On seeing the publicity, the True Buddha disciples were very happy. Master Lu Sheng Yen and True Buddha suddenly became a hot topic in the local news.

Other schools were adamant and claimed that the offensive publicity was coordinated to culminate in the final ritual. The thought itself is ridiculous. It is absurd. Lian Hua Li Na, a disciple of mine, is a family friend of the chief editor.

The chief editor once asked her. "In what way can I help you?"

Lian Hua Li Na said :"My teacher, Living Buddha Lian Shen is coming from the States of America soon. He is a Living Buddha who advocates practical cultivation. I wish you could learn something from him."

As a result of this, Lian He evening news reported the event in three consecutive days.

We did not plan any publicity, let alone finale. The commotion created by the news media was triggered off by the statement made by Lian Hua Li Na.

It has been said :"Lu Sheng Yen is an active volcano. He has been restrained by the traditional schools for a long while. Ousted, attacked and hunted by them, he has been the victim of rumour for umpteen years. One of these days, the volcano will erupt and the lava soars all over."

The world will change its colour,

The universe will have a deluge.

The history of religion will have a new page.

It is also said,"Lu Sheng Yen outwardly shows he is cool and expressionless. In fact, he is an active volcano."

On these views, may I say that, "I am an ordinary person. I am not a piece of wood , nor a rock. I am not a piece of ice, nor am I a legendary volcano. I am not lunatic, although sometimes I behave like one."

For the sake of walking the path to the truth, I am capable of doing what others can't do. I have made a vow to sacrifice my life for the succour of all sentient beings. I am willing to burn myself like a torch, so as to bring brightness to others.

Knowing all the truth , all the dharma in this universe, I am the one and only person to have achieved this level, that is why I dare to say my enlightenment is magnificent. I am more than willing to impart my wisdom to all the sentient beings.

I am the messenger of Buddha. I come with a mission to succour lives, to help other people gain enlightenment. I am definitely not a butcher.

I am just an ordinary folk, who lives in this samsara world. Harbouring no ill-will, I do not have a master plan. I will die a natural death like anybody else. Remember, even the most intelligent person who possesses the most magnificent tantra will have to go through the stages of "form, existence, deform and decay".

Lian He evening news also touched on the rarity of having sarira in the remains. People from religious fraternity know that only one person can cause the dead convicts to have sarira in their remains, and he is none other than Master Lu Sheng Yen.

The incidence is not only bizarre and mysterious. It is a sacred event. It is the best evidence to prove the adage:

"laying down the butcher's knife and one can be an instant Buddha."

Some may conclude that, "May be this is the reason why Master Lu Sheng Yen is considered "a new star is born" in the religious world."

Four columns were used by Singapore's Lian He evening news to report on Living Buddha Lian Shen's propagational tour in Singapore on 24th December 1992.

The headline was :"The controversial character in the religious field- Living Buddha Lian Shen arrived in Singapore for propagation." The reports almost occupied the whole page. Among others, the reporter said "I have tried. By giving him a few names, he was able to give me an account of their whereabouts and problems facing them."

Other points discussed during the interviews are extracted as follows:

Reporter: "How do we distinguish between religion and politics?"

Living Buddha: "Religion is purely a cultivation of mind. It should not be linked to politics. Politics concerns the management of people, while religion manages the minds of the people. Since time immemorial, religion is used to interfere with politics. It is no easy task to separate the two of them. To learn Buddhism, we must use our wisdom and intelligence objectively. Cultivate ourselves with open mind. The religious world will have no quarrel if we just do that.

Reporter: "Is it true that employees of the last few Presidential nominees in the States of America came to consult you?"

Living Buddha: "Before the US presidential elections, employees of the nominees came to consult me. Whether they were under instruction or acted out of curiosity, that I could not tell."

Reporter: "Master Lu is also known as Living Buddha. What is the difference between a living Buddha and a Dalai Lama?"

Living Buddha: "In terms of status all Living Buddha are equal. It is not necessary to find out whose status is higher. If we can cultivate to the extent of capable of controlling our life and death, and the Buddha nature appears, we are Living Buddha. The appearance of Buddha nature is more important than the status."

Reporter: "Lately there have been many cults appearing in different parts of the world. How do they have the powers to control their followers?"

Living Buddha:"Heresy is a religious belief that moves along the wrong path; and go against what is considered as a good tradition. It is seeking the truth from external, unlike all the righteous religions that advocate cultivate internally. Every religion will have its power, and this cannot be denied. The question is how do we go about inducing these powers. In short, power derives from concentration. The cults that flourish these few years harbour ill-will. They are used to achieve personal gain and for illegal purposes.

All major forms of religion including Catholicism, Christianity and others embody the Buddhist dharma. The only difference lies in the level of attainment. All religions are good."

When reporting the news , the reporters were impressed by the broad-mindedness and temperament of Living Buddha Lian Shen. Skimming over such topics as "mystic powers" casually, Living Buddha Lian Shen who is a soft speaker, was able to convince them that he never indulges in loud and empty talk.

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