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Book 69 - Household
Feng-Shui
- Book 69: Household Feng-Shui
- Appendix 05 : Bodhisattva Vows and Future Ordination Vows
- Written by : Master Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated by : Janny Chow
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Here I would like to mention the occasions wherein I generated
the Bodhisattva Vows and received permission from His Holiness for
future renunciation.
On July 7th, 1986, His Holiness conducted a ritual for me to accept
the Bodhisattva precepts. Although few people attended, it was a
very solemn occasion. At the True Buddha Tantric Quarter, I generated
the Bodhisattva Vows for householders, and His Holiness gave me
an empowerment and served as my witness. After the ceremony, His
Holiness gave me a certificate for having accepted the rules of
conduct of a bodhisattva.
Many years ago, in reading His Holiness' books, I learned that
he would eventually become a monk. At the time, I thought to myself
that when His Holiness became a monk, I would also follow suit and
become a monk!
At the beginning of this year, when I heard that His Holiness had
become a monk, my first thoughts were, "Oh this is too quick! I
am not ready to leave my family life yet!" But my determination
to eventually follow in the Grand Master's footsteps is still strong
and unwavering! One night, in late July, I suddenly dreamt of His
Holiness with a Buddha standing behind him. I knelt down to pay
homage to them, and His Holiness smiled and proceeded to perform
a tonsure for me.
When I told this dream to His Holiness, he nodded and said, "Very
good. Let us have a ceremony to mark your future renunciation."
Therefore, on July 28th, 1986, after dinner, His Holiness performed
a solemn and dignified ritual for me in the True Buddha Tantric
Quarter. After snipping a tuft of my hair, he gave me a special
empowerment for being prophesied by Shakyamuni Buddha to receive
monkhood in the future. During the empowerment, a current of warm
energy entered my crown. When the warm current reached my heart,
I could feel it pausing there for a moment before spreading throughout
my body. At that moment, I felt in my heart a sudden opening and
an expanse of bright light. Dwelling in this state of lightness
and peacefulness, I almost did not want to open my eyes.
I prostrated gratefully several times to His Holiness and the Buddhas
and Bodhisattvas. His Holiness compassionately told me that, with
the completion of this ritual, I could in the future have my hair
shorn anywhere and anytime to become a monk. My future name after
tonsure would be Shakya Lian-han.
Om Mani Padme Hum!
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