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Book 69 - Household
Feng-Shui
- Book 69: Household Feng-Shui
- Appendix 04 : Birthday Celebration
- Written by : Master Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated by : Janny Chow
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On June 23rd, the eighteenth day of the fifth lunar month, I awoke
early at the break of dawn to go to the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple.
At that hour, it was still very quiet. I looked admiringly at everything
around me and began to videotape the scenery.
This day was the birthday of His Holiness Living Buddha Lian-sheng.
The sun was rising from the horizon, and its golden rays shone on
the roof tiles of the Ling Shen Ching Tze. With its reddish yellow
roof turning suddenly glittering gold, the temple, a sacred place
for hundreds of thousands of fellow disciples around the world,
looked even more majestic than usual. Bathed in the golden sunlight,
my heart filled with a reverent joy, and I looked carefully at every
tree and bush around me, taking in my surroundings. Finally I fixed
my gaze on the True Buddha Tantric Quarter. Our Holy Guru, Living
Buddha Lian-sheng, a supremely enlightened adept, revered by hundreds
of thousands of students, was living inside this building.... Just
then, out of nowhere, a crow that could chant mantras suddenly cried
out the long sound "Ah!" It punctured the quiet in the air and aroused
me from my thoughts.
In the afternoon, students coming for the celebration began arriving
at the temple. Filled with great sincerity and reverence, they had
come from around the world to take part in this joyful occasion.
The abbot of Ling Shen Ching Tze, master Lian-huo (John Chen) and
his two brothers and their families had already prepared a sumptuous
buffet and a huge birthday cake. Everything was ready for the arrival
of the Grand Master, His Holiness Living Buddha Lian-sheng.
Around 5:00 p.m., His Holiness, accompanied by shi-mu [the master's
wife], walked inside the temple. Everyone crowded around them and,
after escorting them to their seats, the students began to prostrate
three times to honor them. But, after the first prostration, His
Holiness and shi-mu stood up, turned around to face the shrine,
and prostrate together with us all to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
His Holiness was wearing an apricot colored monk's robe and a
pair of gray monk's shoes. His round face was as compassionate
as a Buddha's, and he was completely unassuming and modest, without
the airs one might assume of a founder of a school or a Living Buddha.
He frequently joined us in laughter.
Written on the huge birthday cake were the words: "Congratulations
and Happy Birthday, Living Buddha Lian-sheng." After the lighting
of the candle on the cake, everyone applauded and sang Happy Birthday.
The Grand Master smiled at everyone and, when the singing was over,
he bent over to blow out the candle. Everyone cheered and the entire
congregation filled with jubilation. As the group of more than two
hundred people focused their gaze on the Grand Master, he slowly
cut a straight line across the cake and spoke in Taiwanese, "A straight
road up the path!" he said the Dharma phrase in such a humorous
tone that everyone broke out in laughter.
Amidst the laughter, I thought to myself, "How many people actually
understand the sincerity and earnest wishes behind His Holiness'
words?"
Outside the temple, people were eating and drinking. At this time,
the Grand Master picked up the first slice of cake and placed it
on the plate I was holding with both of my hands....
After satisfying the students' requests to have pictures taken
with him, His Holiness gave a Dharma teaching with everyone sitting
around him.
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