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- (From Issue #133, July 1-14, 1997)
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At the Purple Lotus University in Union City, California, for
three consecutive days on June 16th, 17th, and 18th, 1997, Grand
Master Lu gave a series of teachings based on his 120th book, A
New Realm of the Buddha-King. More than four hundred students from
around the world attended this first seminar organized by the Purple
Lotus University. Some of the topics discussed by the Grand Master
included: Personal Deity Yoga, Different Realms of Heavens, Secrets
of Spiritual Divination, Vajra Fist Exercise, the Secret of Divine
Eyesight, Non-leakage Practice, and the Six Shakya Body Postures
[the six methods of elevation in Energy Practice] . In the afternoon
"question and answer sessions," each of the True Buddha
School masters present took turns answering questions submitted
by the students.
On June 14th, 1997, Grand Master Lu and Master Lian-hsiang attended
the Commencement Ceremony for their daughter, Fo Ching Lu, at the
University of Santa Clara in California. Later that same evening,
a dinner party organized by the Purple Lotus Society to celebrate
her graduation was held at the Purple Lotus University and attended
by two hundred students. When interviewed by the MC for the evening
program which followed dinner, Fo Ching revealed that when she was
small, she often thought about getting far away from the True Buddha
crowd when she grew up. However, as she grew older and more mature,
she changed her mind and decided she would like to serve the True
Buddha School and the community at large when she graduates from
law school. Her words won a big round of warm applause from everyone
present.
On June 21st, 1997, Grand Master Lu arrived at the True Buddha
Diamond Temple in New York to perform a ribbon-cutting and consecration
ceremony. The new temple, located in the middle of New York City's
financial district, at 105-107 Washington Street, has been undergoing
renovation and refurbishing for more than a year. In his speech
following the consecration, Grand Master Lu said, "This consecration
ceremony at the True Buddha Diamond Temple differs from all the
other True Buddha temples' consecrations. The consecration we just
performed was indeed only "ceremonial" because at 6:55
a.m. this morning, many high beings from the Dharma Realm spontaneously
descended to the shrine. The "Light Drop Empty Lights"
of the many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Dharma Protectors, Dakinis, and
various Devas have, on their own, descended to the shrine to take
up their positions. This signifies that, in the future, these high
beings from the Dharma Realm shall take an active role to energetically
help the many sentient beings living on the east coast of America.
This is an occurrence of great significance, and we should all feel
heartened to hear of it."
In the afternoon of June 21st, the True Buddha Diamond Temple
invited the Grand Master to give a teaching and empowerment on the
Ucchusma Practice at Madison Square Garden. The following morning,
on June 22nd, which was the Grand Master's birthday, according to
the lunar calender, a Vajrasattva Healing, Purification, Blessing,
and Bardo Deliverance Fire Puja was performed by Grand Master at
the same venue. Events on both days were attended by about five
thousand people, a record high attendance for True Buddha School
ceremonies held in North America.
On June 15th, 1997, during his trip to California, Grand Master
was invited by the True Buddha Vijaya Society to attend a dinner
in Oakland's Chinatown in celebration of Father's Day. During the
dinner, Oakland's mayor, Mr. Eliju Harris, dropped by to greet the
Grand Master. During his speech, Grand Master Lu explained that
the Female Buddha Vijaya's dharani is extremely powerful and has
helped countless sentient beings. The Grand Master also announced
that he would do a seven-days' practice to bless the person who
would make a donation towards the purchase of a dragon vest earmarked
for auction on June 18th, 1997 to raise funds for the renovation
of the future True Buddha Vijaya Temple. Everyone present was extremely
moved by the Grand Master's compassion. After the dinner, Grand
Master Lu went over to the site of the future temple to perform
a ground purifying ceremony.
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