Written by: Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen
Lu
Translated by: Yenyu
Edited by: Dance Smith
Proofread by: Mimosa
Chapter 26: The Seattle Dharma Seat
When I gave Dharma talks at the Seattle Lei Zang Temple in the
United States, I often said that someday I would "live in seclusion"
and "walk to the forest", and I might not come back again.
I said, "Life is impermanent. Any kind of gathering will come
to an end. There is not much time left."
When my disciples surrounded the Dharma Seat and listened to Dharma
talks, they never thought I would leave, because it was comfortable
to live there. The air in Seattle was fresh, and the scenery was
beautiful with the mountains and lake. The Dharma Seat that I sat
on when I expounded Dharma in the temple was raised high. I usually
gave Dharma talks on Saturday nights, I usually performed Homa on
Sundays, and I usually led the group cultivation every afternoon.
The disciples in Seattle were very pure and considerate. They
were very sincere and faithful. They knew that I liked disciples
like that. They made special arrangements for me so that I could
live peacefully, enjoy my meals and meditate without disturbance.
I lived nearly twenty years in Seattle, and more importantly,
everything I taught, including True Buddha Tantric Dharma, was accepted
with respect and faithfully followed. The Dharma Voice spoke at
the Dharma Seat of the Seattle Temple and spread to the rest of
the world.
Usually, when I left Seattle, my trips were short, the longest
one being a month. I would definitely come back, because in Seattle
there were "Rainbow Villa", "True Buddha Tantric
Quarter" and "Southern Mountain Cottage". My disciples
also said to me, "Don't leave us too long. We will miss you
very much. Please come back to the Dharma Seat at Lei Zang Temple
and teach us the Dharma". In my life, the Dharma Seat in the
Seattle Lei Zang Temple has been the best. Everything was the best
there, and I felt attached to it. I would miss everything, including
the people, places, things and strong relationships everyday. Let's
think of one another all the time!
One can safely predict that sooner or later two things in life
will happen: Separating in life and departing at death.
I said that it was time for me to go to the forest and live in
seclusion. It was time for me to head toward the future alone.
Do all of you know? This is a teaching. This teaching is for everyone
to realize "impermanence". "Impermanence" is
as real as this!
