The Power Of Mantra by Ery Camel

The Inner World of the Lake The very first time I saw this lake, I was amazed by its vivacious prospects, Lake Sammamish is surrounded by hills with water as bright as the moon. Words cannot justly describe its beauty, all I can do is using my clumsy hand to write down a tiny portion of it.

Contents

❖ Master, What Do You Have?

❖ The World Of A Crystal Ball

The Power of Mantra

Contemplation Under the Lonesome Light

What exactly is a mantra? How can a mantra cure a fever? "A practitioner chants a mantra and summons the heavenly Water Deity to descend. The Sanskrit syllable Vam in the mantra means water. You fight fire with water, and when the fire is subdued, the fever goes away. It is that simple."

Earth is a prison of the universe. Whoever has karmic hindrances is sent to earth as punishment. We must cut through our delusions and realize the Truth, in order to be released from this prison.

❖ Grandfather Mala

❖ The Thought of Suicide

❖ Avoiding a Land and Mud Slide

❖ The Earth Is A Prison

Living This Moment In Purity

The Aura of Wisdom

Living this Moment in Purity consists of thirteen fascinating true stories detailing the karmic consequences of sexual misconduct. It also explains how the energy practice of Buddhist Tantrayana works as an antidote to the arousal of sexual lust.

This article is written for disciples who have just taken refuge and begun their initial practice of True Buddha Tantric dharma. As a novice, it is important to have faith in the Root Guru, trusting the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. This is the very heart of your spiritual conviction.

❖ Heaven Knows

❖ The Divine Fans

❖ Spiritual Response

❖ Self Importance

Household Feng-Shui

Whispers of the Breeze

With a knowledge inherited from his guru, plus over twenty years of geomantic surveying experience, Master Lu shares with us theories of household feng shui and

For an ordinary person, there is only one correct path that leads to purification: by conquering anxiety and grief, and banish anger and pains. To walk on this path is to practice the Four Earnest Contemplations - Contemplation of the body; the emotions; the mind & the phenomena.

illustrates with real life cases. The secrets unveiled are priceless!

❖ Avoiding Living in "Low and Overshadowed" Areas

❖ Fire Problems in the Kitchen

❖ How to Settle One's Thoughts

❖ Temporary Manifestations

Book 148 The Power of Mantra Translated by Lotus Cheng Chapter 2

Grandfather Mala

n the past, whenever I read the Feng Shui of a person's home, I observed both the visible and the invisible worlds. The invisible world refers to the realm of spirits. I will divulge a great secret: I was once invited to do a Feng Shui reading for a certain prestigious household in Kaoshing, Taiwan. Once I entered the house, I saw many poverty ghosts occupying the place. These ghosts were the debtors of the owner. I instantly knew that this prestigious person would soon lose his wealth altogether. Indeed, soon afterwards, his business failed miserably. On another occasion, I visited the home of a poor man in a village to read the Feng Shui of his house. His house was typical of a Chinese village courtyard. I saw lots of spirits, like an army of ants, carrying sacks of golden sand on their backs marching to his house. One

by one they entered his house to deliver the golden sand. I knew right away that the family would soon possess great wealth. Eventually, his name became well known and he held a position in the government. His wealth increased astronomically and he became the country's wealthiest man. These are my experiences of reading Feng Shui If debtor ghosts demanding payment surround the individual, he is doomed to fail. If wealth deities surround the individual, he is destined to prosper. Thus, the invisible hand of spirits affects everything. I once went to a night market in front of a temple for a midnight supper. In front of the temple was an empty lot with a small stall. The stall only sold four items, which were herbal soup, noodle, rice flour roll and green vegetables. There were many tables around the stall and they were all occupied with customers who were eager to taste the food. It was much like ants after cookies. I opened my divine eye to examine the man running the stall, and what I witnessed was frightening. The open field was filled with more than a hundred patrons visit-

ing the stall, and an equal number of spirits roaming the area. These spirits had swayed the customers to patronize this stall. When the spirits lure one in, one obeys. The stall was famous for its herbal soup, and the taste was delicious. Every night, the traffic of customers flowed in and out like an ocean tide. His business was so prosperous that his wealth flowed like the running tap water. Someone said that the stall owner smiled while calculating his earnings at home. Another said that the stall owner owned a few apartments and his wealth was measured in the billions. I paid close attention to the stall owner's facial features. I observed that his face was dark and gloomy, with a sunken nose, tiny mouth, small eyes and hardly any flesh on his face. He certainly did not look like he was a man of great wealth but instead resembled a homeless old man. I felt there was nothing remarkable about this old man. But how do you explain his wealth? Besides being rich, he had so many spirits helping to lure customers to his stall. The spirits also attended to the cus-

tomers and cleaned up their tables, and this was quite perplexing. I suspected that the old man learned how to keep psychic entities to help him. But upon closer observation, though he looked unpleasant, he did not have any negative energy lingering around his body. From a distance, I looked at the stall and the area of land it was on and observed some glowing beams of red light emerging from the ground, forming a red cloud over the area. This may have explained why the stall was so prosperous. Perhaps it was due to the auspicious Feng Shui of the place. The other stalls did not enjoy the same kind of customer traffic as that one stall did. They were barely surviving to make ends meet. This was indeed interesting. One day, a certain individual came to seek my consultation. He wanted to find a name for his grandson, and when I looked at him, I realized he was the same old man who ran the stall. I said to him, "Your business is doing very well!" "It's just nothing. Nothing at all." The old man said modestly.

"What's the secret of your good business?" I asked curiously. "Luck is on my side!" the old man grinned, exposing his two rows of black teeth. "I believe there's more than just luck." I said. "Why don't you read the divination for me?" He requested. The old man wrote down his name, birth date and address. I made a quick spiritual observation and sensed the sound of a mantra filling the atmosphere, accompanied by the scent of sandalwood. I also saw radiating circles of light, and within each circle stood a Fortune God. This was most astonishing. "Do you know how to recite any mantras?" I asked. "Nope!" Pan Ji, the old man replied. "I heard the sounds of a mantra and smelled the scent of sandalwood. I saw the Fortune God by your side." "Impossible!" I have helped many in my consultations and have

a good track record of accuracy. It was rare to hear someone remark "Impossible." Rather, it was impossible for my divine eye and ear to make a wrong observation. If there was ever any mistake in my observation, I was always able to pinpoint the cause of it. "Does anyone at your home know how to chant a mantra?" I asked him. "Neither my wife nor my kids know how to chant a mantra." Pan Ji replied. "Do any of your other relatives know how to chant a mantra?" I asked. "Do the deceased count?" "Yes," I replied. Pan Ji proceeded to tell me, "In my family, only my grandfather Pan Li knew how to chant a mantra. Once, a monk gave my grandfather a string of chanting beads and taught him how to chant the Earth God Mantra. My grandfather recited the mantra for his entire life using the mala[1] . He chanted on it so much that it eventually turned black and became shiny." "Where is mala now?" I believed I had found my answer.

"My grandfather passed it down to my father, and my father gave it to me, but I don't know where I put it. I think I'll ask my wife to help me find it." Pan Ji returned home and asked his wife about the mala. She told him, "The mala is tucked away inside a hidden crack at your stall. Nobody was aware of this." Pan Ji searched and found the mala at the stall. He then took the darkened mala and showed it to me. He didn't know the value of the prayer beads. I told Pan Ji, "Your grandfather, Pan Li, received protection from the Earth God. This is the result of reciting the Earth God Mantra, respecting the Earth God, visualizing the Earth God, and praising the Earth God." The Earth God Mantra is as follows: Namo san-man-doh, moo-toh-nam, om, doo-loodoo-loo, dei-wei, soha. The Earth God Mantra is usually chanted before reciting a sutra. This is to summon the Earth Gods from the four directions to guard over you while you recite the sutra. Pan Li spent his entire life reciting this mantra. His

sincerity attracted the Earth God to protect him. This mantra is neither from the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas nor the Vajra Protectors. It is not a major mantra, yet it should not be underestimated as it contains amazing power. If anyone is troubled by spirit entities and recites this mantra, the spirits will retreat and give you their respect. If anyone contracts illness and recites this mantra, the illness will leave. All pain will disappear and one's health will return. In the past, I had taught people how to chant this mantra as it is especially helpful for curing several forms of dermatitis such as athlete's foot, chronic dermatitis, discoid eczema, etc. By chanting the mantra, those who have skin-related illnesses should be cured because the Earth God devours the bacteria on the skin. If one recites this mantra diligently and upholds the Five Precepts and Ten Wholesome Deeds, then one will not fall in to the three lower realms and hell. In fact, one will be reborn in the heaven realm and enjoy

utmost bliss and pleasure. The Earth God Mantra is also most effective in terms of accumulating wealth because the Earth Gods and their attendant ghosts will help those who recite the mantra to receive countless fortunes. Pan Li devoted his life to chanting this mantra and achieved great results with it. The mala had been passed down from grandfather to father, and from father to son. Nonetheless, the blessings followed and were passed down as well. This was simply incredible. Thus, I wrote a verse: Filled with pleasure while reciting Buddha's epithet and mantra. Now then, one has found the heritage in samsara. Continue to recite sincerely and respectfully. The blessing of Gods and Ghosts will be with one perpetually. There is another story related to the Earth God Mantra. There was a period when an epidemic swept over Taiwan, and many livestock were killed. I observed many plague ghosts roaming in the wild and biting the

animals to death. Owners of many farms had approached me for help. I studied the constellation of the stars and noted that the Five Plague Gods had descended from the southeastern area of the sky. This meant that an epidemic would sweep the world, resulting in the death of many chickens, ducks, cattle, sheep and pigs. I was worried. I approached Cheng Huang Bodhisattva , the City Patron Bodhisattva, for help and he said, "This is fate, it is not my demand!" "Even if it is the will of the Heaven, I can not just watch people suffer." "Don't interfere. People's hearts are too corrupted." "How can I have peace in my mind? I have to save the poor souls!" I uttered. Cheng Huang Bodhisattva said to me, "You, Sheng-yen Lu try to help people everyday, but their suffering is due to their wrong doing. They deserve it! If one day someone hurts you, I wonder if anyone will save you."

I answered, "If someone hurts me, that's my own karma--but looking at all these suffering souls, I really feel for them in my heart." Cheng Huang Bodhisattva then taught me a method: Take four sticks of bamboo and chip away the green outer layer. Each stick must be one foot six inches long. On the lunar calendar day, the Accomplishment Day, chop the bamboo sticks. On each stick, inscribe the letters of the Earth God Mantra in either Chinese or Sanskrit. In the afternoon of the lunar Removal Day , consecrate the bamboo sticks. Recite the Earth God Mantra 108 times for each stick. The more you recite, the merrier. On the lunar Stability Day, hammer the bamboo sticks on the four corners of the ground of the respective farm. When this is completed, plague will not touch the respective farm. I taught this method to the farm owners and it worked! Each farm that was lined with the mantra-empowered bamboo sticks was protected from plague. Not even one livestock was killed.

However, many other farmers were unaware of this method and during that year when the epidemic occurred, many livestock died. There was hardly enough time to bury every dead chicken or cattle, and the carcasses piled up high like a hill. One farm owner relayed this incident to me. One night, he overheard some conversation that took place outside his farm. However, it was not human beings but plague ghosts who were speaking. A wave of them arrived outside the farm. One ghost exclaimed, "The light of mantra emanates from this farm. We cannot enter." "What mantra?" another asked. "The Earth God Mantra." "That mantra is no big deal. It cannot stop us. Let's go!" "No way!" "Why not?" "The Earth God is after all a righteous god." "We have our orders by the heavenly decree!" the ghost shouted. "But this mantra is empowered by the Living

Buddha-Lian sheng, Sheng-yen Lu himself." "Really!" The ghosts fell silent. One of them suggested, "Let's leave this place! We can feed ourselves elsewhere. Besides the small Earth God Mantra, there's also the Buddha's edict. It's better to leave it alone." Thus, this bunch of ghosts left the farm. Let me share this with you. Many wealthy men owe their riches to the help of spirits. Many disasters are the result of mischief from spirits. You see the hand of these entities at work in all of these incidents. Confucius once said, "Respect the spirit world but keep your distance." This means that the spirit world does exist, but we hardly pay attention to it. In the Bible, Jesus once expelled spirits and exorcised demons. In the Catholic's instruction for the Exorcistate[2], the 3rd of the Minor Orders , it outlines the rite of exorcism. The 75 year-old Father Amorth is himself a famous Catholic exorcism priest!

Footnote 1. prayer beads 2. The Exorcistate - -the 3rd of the Minor Orders is The Order of Exorcist, according to the Traditional Catholic Rite of Holy Orders.

The invisible spirits are worthy of our attention!

Chapter 4

Avoiding a Land and Mud Slide

nce

had a discussion on Buddhism with

Venerable Zhou Ying. "Master Lu, you claim that you're enlightened. May I ask what enlightenment is?" "I replied, "This is beyond words." "How does one know?" "You know what you experience, whether it is warm or cold." "Even a three-year-old can say that!" Venerable Zhou Ying said. "Yes, indeed. But you need to ask yourself if you're truly free within, or not." "Does the Tao have a form?" "As it is, the Tao is formless." "If the Tao is formless, how does it seek its balance?" Venerable Zhou Ying asked. "It does it naturally." Having been practicing Zen for the past twenty

years, Venerable Zhou Ying thought he could shut me up once and for all by discussing the Buddha dharma with me. All it would take is one flaw in my speech and he would go for the kill. I smiled, remaining firm in my verbal defense. "Master Lu, you are neither preaching Buddhism nor Taoism. People talk about you!" "Let me ask you this: is the highest peak connected with the deepest sea?" The Venerable Zhou Ying said, "Why do you have to include the spirits?" "As mighty as the universe may be, it is nothing more than a bubble." I uttered. Venerable Zhou Ying could no longer question me in this topic any further. Then he asked, " Master Lu. You claim you have supernatural power. Can you offer me some proof?" "I wish to save your life!" I uttered. "Save my life?" unconvinced, Venerable Zhou Ying sneered at me and said, "I can liberate myself. I don't need your help." "Whether you are liberated or not is of no concern

here. You have a pending disaster coming your way." "Rubbish! This is just one of those fortune-teller's tricks." "Believe it or not, it's up to you." "Alright then, go ahead and tell me about it!" "There are four men in black who are near you, and they want to take your life!" "How do I protect myself?" "Chant the Marici Bodhisattva Mantra." I spoke in no uncertain terms to the monk, "Chant the Marici Bodhisattva Mantra: Om Marici-yee So Ha." I added, "When you chant the mantra, you must also recite the following: Protect me against troubles from any ruler. Protect me from thieves. Protect me in my travels. Protect me from disasters of fire and water. Protect me from harm in a war. Protect me from psychic attack. Protect me from being poisoned. Protect me from wild beasts, poisonous insects and all enemies.

Protect me in all places and at all times." Venerable Zhou Ying said, "You saw four men in black around me and I see nothing. You want me to recite the Marici Bodhisattva Mantra. I can do this. You say that I will encounter a disaster. If nothing happens to me, I will expose you as a fraud, and your so-called enlightenment will be reduced to nothing more than just plain mental knowledge." I told him, "It's really up to you." The Venerable Zhou Ying clasped his palms and left. Actually, when the monk first approached me, I already sensed that he would face a disaster. That was because he had four men in black, who were spirit officials waiting for him. These four spirit officials were ahead of the monk, and they wanted to rush into my house. ?I stopped them before they could enter and they had to linger around the vicinity as they were waiting for him. This is how I secretly save many sentient beings. Many face calamities and they do not necessarily know about them. I would not let them know. I help them

resolve their situations without their knowledge. Actually, there is bound to be some degree of calamity in our lives. Shakyamuni Buddha foresaw this when he said, "The human life is one of uncertainty." Thus: The Three Realms of Existence are engulfed in one scorching flame. Even the ordained are not ensured safety. Impermanence awaits one nevertheless. Calm your thoughts and prepare yourself for the final journey. I am aware that people are afraid of calamity and disaster. Thus, I cultivate daily and secretly help many go through their hard times. I chanted the Marici Bodhisattva Mantra, and I dedicated the merits to Venerable Zhou Ying. With my help, Venerable Zhou Ying would be saved. Venerable Zhou Ying lived alone in a small hut, deep within the Bagua Mountain in Changhua, Taiwan. He practiced Zen meditation and sat cross-legged in yoga posture. The monk was once a student studying abroad in

Japan. However, while in Japan, he developed a strong interest in Buddhism and was ordained as a monk in a famous Zen monastery of the Soto Sect in Kyoto. His lineage thus comes from Japan. I learned that the Patriarchal lineage of the Zen School had stopped with the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng, due to a dispute over the Fifth Patriarch's Dharma robe. It has since blossomed into the five sects of Zen Buddhism, which are the Lin Ji Sect (Rinzai Sect), T'sao Tung Sect (Soto Sect), Wei Yang Sect, Yun Men Sect and Fa Yen Sect. Zen Buddhism is known as the teaching of the heart. The name of Zen was adopted for this school during the beginning of the T'ang Dynasty. Zen means cultivation of one's thoughts, which is the process of contemplating on truth itself. This is a practice of serenity and concentration. The First Patriarch,Bodhi dharma,a Southern Indian, arrived in China during the Liang Dynasty to transmit the School of Buddha Mind teachings. His method emphasizes the importance of serene

meditation and silent recital, expressing the Buddha Mind and focusing on the practice of concentration and purification. In so doing, the method gives the impression of sitting in meditation; hence it is known as the Zen School. The Zen School stresses the following: Omission of the written language, Direct revelation of the mind, Attaining Buddhahood through Enlightenment,and Active discussion on Prajna, or wisdom. One stormy night, Venerable Zhou Ying was meditating alone in his hut. The rain had been pouring for three consecutive days and nights. Venerable Zhou Ying was aware that the market place at the foot of the mountain was swamped. If the rain persisted, a flood would be inevitable. Suddenly, the cry of a child was heard outside the hut, and the sound intermingled with the pouring rain. "Mommy! Mommy!" Venerable Zhou Ying raised his head and listened: "Mommy! Mommy!" The words kept repeating and it was definitely a child's cry.

As he listened closely, it became: "Marici! Marici! Marici!" He recited a line of the Mantra, "Om Marici-yee So Ha." In the mist of the heavy downpour, Venerable Zhou Ying quickly got up and put on his raincoat and rain boots. Holding a torch in his hands, he hurried out of his hut to search for the crying child: "Mommy! Marici!" Was it Mommy or Marici? He could not tell the difference. The cry was swinging from the front to the back area, and switched from the left to the right. It was as if someone was playing hide-and-seek with him. He walked for an hour in the storm. Suddenly, the cry disappeared. He waited for a long time and listened. There was not a faint noise in range, and he quickly realized there was nobody living within the parameter of the vicinity. If there were no family living in this mountainous area, what would be the chances of finding any child crying? Venerable Zhou Ying rushed back to his hut, only

to find that it was gone. A mudslide had buried the hut under a pile of rocks and mud, forming a molehill. Rocks and mud kept sliding downwards from the mountaintop, and he found himself in extreme danger. Frightened, Venerable Zhou Ying fled the area where he had spent two years meditating. His life was spared, but his hut, together with all his possession were gone. Upon reflection, Venerable Zhou Ying realized that he had to go through this calamity. He remembered that this was prophesied by Living Buddha Lian-shen, Sheng-yen Lu. The four spirit officials in black clothing were waiting to arrest him. It was the suggestion of Living Buddha Lian-shen that he chant the Marici Bodhisattva Mantra, while placing more emphasis on it as his protection mantra. Although Venerable Zhou Ying practices Zen, he was exposed to the teachings of other schools in his life. He chanted the Marici Bodhisattva Mantra in his younger days, and was now able to continue chanting the mantra upon my suggestion.

As the saying goes: If you burn the incense, you shall be protected. If you consume food, you shall be energized. Mommy! Marici! They sound alike. After leaving Bagua Mountain, Venerable Zhou Ying took shelter with various temples and monasteries all over Taiwan. He was used to living the life of a hermit and cultivating alone in his little hut, indulging in almost ascetic-like practices. After experiencing the calamity, he switched from being a hermit to living among others. This was a new experience for him. He met many fellow cultivators and heard many mentions of Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu. Generally speaking, most would choose to criticize me as negative news, and such consciousness spreads its influence. Thus, most practitioners tend to reject me and only a handful chooses to reserve their comments. This is the state of affairs in the religious circle. Venerable Zhou Ying listened but kept his views to himself. When others called me a Mara or a heresy, he

sat in silence, knowing the truth about what had happened. He wanted to clear my name but being outnumbered, he would not stand a chance against the mass. He decided to save his breath and remained silent throughout the conversation. Venerable Zhou Ying visited me and mentioned what he had heard. He said, "Why don't you change your approach to liberate sentient beings and use a new and different way altogether? You can start building a new foundation through it." I replied, "People's minds are set about me. It may seem easy to start all over again, but it would take a lot of work and time to change things." "You must at least have some hope!" "Once people make up their mind about you, it's going stay that way forever. I'm used to this and it doesn't matter." "You think it is unnecessary?" Venerable Zhou Ying asked. "Yes. I take slander and criticism for the better. I take it as my own spiritual discipline!"

"But your reputation suffers!" "Reputation is immaterial in the light of one's spiritual discipline. The experience is much needed for anyone to attain Buddhahood." Venerable Zhou Ying nodded. I told Venerable Zhou Ying, "When I was about to leave my master, Venerable Liao Ming and descend from the mountain, my Master told me that a person like me has only three options. The first option is to enter Nirvana immediately. The second option is to take seclusion in the deep mountains, never to appear again. Or take the last option, which is to act as a fool among people." "Oh!" I smiled and continued, "I am happy and contented within myself and I don't care what others say about me." "Do you have regrets?" Venerable Zhou Ying asked. "No!" "Are you hurt?" "No!"

"What about praise and ridicule, misery and honor?" "They mean nothing to me! Life is but a game to me, and I merely experience it to the fullest." Venerable Zhou Ying invited me to ascend to my teaching seat with the greatest respect, and he prostrated before me three times, in all sincerity. "Why such prostration?" "To thank you for saving my life!" "I didn't save you. You saved yourself!" "That's because you instructed me on what to do!" I remained silent. Venerable Zhou Ying told me this before leaving my place: "I feel like leaving this human world of suffering." I told him, "It's all in your heart. If your heart is free, then that is truly leaving this world behind." "You mean I should adjust and adapt to this world?" "Nope! There is no human world to begin with." I said. Venerable Zhou Ying contemplated on this for a

while, and finally nodded his head. He realized what I meant and said; "I understand this in principle. But putting it into practice and eventually mastering this art constitutes a True Buddha!" Here's a verse: One two three four five six seven, Still the mind and ascend to the Western Heaven. It seems so easy when the words of Buddha are spoken, Yet one stumbles, plunging into mud too often.

Book 145

Living This Moment In

Purity Translated by Jenny Chow Chapter 3

Heaven Knows

n one occasion a man by the name of Cui Jia sought me for a consultation. Cui Jia - handsome, tall, and very fit - came to seek information concerning his future. Upon asking the gods in the spirit realm for guidance on his behalf, I received the answer: "Heaven knows." The response initially seemed a bit strange. Of course "heaven knows" but what did that have to do with Cui Jia 's future? I asked my question a second time. Once again, the response given was, "Heaven knows." I made a third attempt to ask my question, and the response was the same. However, this time, I received the additional message, "Due to the merits accumulated from 'heaven knows,' extra blessings will be bestowed upon this individual, and his fame, career,

and prosperity will flourish. A bright and beautiful future awaits him." I then directed my next question towards Cui Jia, "Why do the gods keep replying with 'heaven knows'?" Cui Jia was taken aback. Blushing in embarrassment, he related the following story to me. In his college days, Cui Jia had rented a room in a residential home near his school. The landlady, a very beautiful and charming woman, was quite a flirt, and the young Cui Jia found himself rather enamored of her - particularly her alluring eyes in which he also detected affection toward himself. The mere thought of her would send flutters through his heart. One day, the landlord traveled out of town on a business trip. As Cui Jia happened to pass by the master bedroom, the door opened, and inside, the landlord 's wife stood gazing seductively at Cui Jia with an inviting, flirtatious expression across her face. Cui Jia stood motionless as his eyes locked with hers. Heat rushed through his body, and he could hardly contain himself. The young woman spoke, "No one will know." He was young and full of sexual desire. As Cui Jia

took a step forward, his heart pounded with excitement. She continued, "It's all right to have some fun once in a while. No one else knows but us." Suddenly, Cui Jia recalled a phrase he had learned in school as a child: "Heaven knows,earth knows,you know,and I know-these are the 'four witnesses'."He stopped in his tracks and said to the young wife,"It may appear as though no one else knows, but heaven knows." The young woman then replied, "So what if heaven knows?" Cui Jia responded, "Heaven knows, heaven knows, heaven knows!" He then turned his back on the young woman and quickly walked away. That same night, she came to knock on Cui Jia's bedroom door. She was leaning against the wall right outside his room, and he could smell her perfume wafting in through the cracks of the doorframe. Several times, he almost unlocked his door, knowing perfectly well that as soon as he opened it, her warm, voluptuous body would fall into his embrace. "Why not open the door?" he asked himself. But the phrase heaven

knows, heaven knows, heaven knows, persisted in his conscience. Other people may not know, but heaven knows. Human beings may be deceived, but one cannot deceive the heavens. Eventually his will power prevailed, and he never opened his door. The next morning, Cui Jia hurriedly moved out of the building and moved in with another classmate. He did not dare mention the incident to anyone; even to his closest friends, he gave the simple excuse that the house had merely been unsuitable for him. So, as it turns out: Indeed, No one knows. Yet Heaven knows. Cui Jia then proceeded to tell me of another strange incident. During his college days, he had moved five different times. This particular event, which occurred after the incident with the young woman, took place while he was lodging at a boarding house for students.

One night while he was fast asleep, Cui Jia suddenly heard a voice in his dreams saying, "Heaven knows, get out of bed quickly. Heaven knows, get out of bed quickly. Heaven knows, get out of bed quickly." The voice had been very clear, and waking from his sleep, he jumped out of bed. Running to look outside his window, he saw flames and thick smoke billowing from the house next door. Immediately he woke the other students in the house and, before escaping, made an emergency call to report the fire. By the time Cui Jia had run out of the house, the flames from next door had already spread to his residence. Soon even the house in which he had been living became completely engulfed in flames. Altogether, six two-story buildings burned down. Many were killed and injured in that fire, and there was a great loss of property and possessions. As Cui Jia shuddered in terror, recalling this incident, he was reminded that had he not heard the words "heaven knows, get out of bed quickly",he would have remained deep in sleep. He and his friends, trapped in the sea of fire, would likely have been burnt to charcoal

corpses. Prior to this event, Cui Jia did not believe in the world of spirits and held no religious beliefs. Afterwards, however, he no longer doubted the existence of gods in this universe. The alarm call, waking him from his sleep, obviously had been a warning message from heaven. I spoke to Cui Jia, "Gods and spirits indeed occupy the invisible world around us. One may try to deceive others in a dark room, but the penetrating eyes of gods perceive everything." Cui Jia responded,"Indeed, heaven knows." I said to him, "You should be commended for your high morals and will power." Cui Jia's face reddened and he said, "Oh, but it was just luck!" "Good and evil." I began. Cui Jia finished my sentence, "are only separated by a single thought." "A moment's error may become the regret of a lifetime." "When one repents, one may be already at the

end of one's life." I explained to Cui Jia, " In today's world, with increasing interaction between men and women, relationships have become increasingly complicated. People no longer concern themselves with traditional principles governing relationships between the sexes. What differentiates humans from other animals is man's sense of ethics. Without morals and guiding values, men are no different than birds and beasts. There are actually people who have abandoned ethics, and they are worse off than the birds and beasts." "How should we maintain our vigilance?" Cui Jia asked. I replied, "As the Forty-two Chapters Sutra says: regard all older women as your own mother or elder sisters, all younger women as your younger sisters or daughters. Developing this kind of view can help extinguish one's licentious thoughts." "What if one finds it difficult to maintain this view? Then, what should one do?" "Learn to practice the unclean view. What remains of a beautiful woman once her outer skin and flesh are

removed? All that remains is a skeleton. When the body is viewed anatomically, one sees internal organs filled with blood, feces, and urine reeking of an unclean and offensive stench.By engaging in this kind of view, one will find the body's physical characteristics quite horrible and disgusting. " "What if one cannot perform this visualization? " "As one's sexual urges begin to rage out of control, just stop and imagine the consequences. Taking that one step may very likely prevent future loss of wealth and reputation. Otherwise, not only might one bring shame to one's family and ancestors, one's infamy may spread, having adverse influence on one's children and grandchildren, and even destroy the career one has worked so hard to build up. Just thinking of these consequences is absolutely terrifying. This should cool down those surging sexual desires right away!" "What if one still cannot restrain oneself. Then what happens? " I could only respond, "A moment's pleasure will bring unending disaster and misfortune."

"But so many people enjoy engaging in such pursuits of momentary happiness," Cui Jia said. "Some would have no regrets even if they had to risk death!" "The Buddha has taught: pleasure is emptiness, form is emptiness." "Generally though, people cannot see this." My final response was, "One creates one's own blessings and disasters." In fact, our dialogue addresses a serious issue facing many members of contemporary societies. Ultimately, these matters can only be decided by each individual depending on his or her conscience, moral character, and power of stability developed from spiritual cultivation. In the invisible world around us, gods and spirits do exist. You may think that no one else knows but, in reality, heaven knows and cannot be deceived. It is my wish that everyone will cherish their bodies and souls, preserve their purity, and engage in spiritual cultivation to transcend the sufferings of transmigration.

Chapter 12

The Divine Fans

r. Yao Tong, an older student who was fifty years old, came to me one time for a consultation. Yao Tong had been married for thirty years, but he and his wife were childless. "Is it in our destiny to have children?" Yao Tong asked me. "Master, you are a Living Buddha and have helped many people with their problems and illnesses. Please bless us and fulfill our wish." "If it is in one's destiny to have something, one will eventually get it. Otherwise, the situation should not be forced," I replied. When Yao Tong heard this, he said calmly, "I know such things are, indeed, predestined and cannot be forced. But I just wish to find out whether or not it is in my fate to have any children." "No," I replied. Two years after the consultation, Yao Tong's wife gave birth to a pair of beautiful twin boys. They had full

foreheads, high-bridged noses, and thick earlobes. All who saw them commented on their fine features. Yao Tong and his wife brought the twins to show me and wanted me to name them. I named them Yao Jing and Yao Xian. Yao Tong said to me, "Master, for many years, we have had faith in your psychic powers of divination. That is why, after having these two sons, we came to you to have you name them for us. We have great respect in the Master's reputation. However, two years ago, when I consulted you regarding whether or not we would have any children, your answer was no. Now we have these sons. Why have things turned out this way?" Yao Tong was a straightforward person and I could not help but feel embarrassed about my previous forecast. How could my psychic divination have erred? Actually, Yao Tong had not blamed me. He had even brought the babies to me to name them, and he still had great reverence for me. He merely wanted to find out why the prior consultation was wrong. If such a thing had happened to another individual, that person

might have shunned me, criticized and cursed me behind my back, or told everyone about the inaccuracy of my readings. I said to him, "There must be a reason behind this. In fact, you look different from the last time I saw you. Today, you have a red light covering your crown, where, in the past, there were traces of black vapor. Something has changed." Yao Tong said, "I know Master is very good at observing people's chi, but I also wish to find out the reason behind the birth of my sons." "Let me do some investigating, and I will get back to you," I said, my face reddening. "Thank you!" said Yao Tong. That night I had a dream. In the dream, I found myself arriving at a magnificent, ancient-looking temple. Upon my arrival, beating drums and gongs sounded, and two rows of ghosts and spirits prostrated before the temple. The main diety of the temple, Duke Wei-ling, stood at the front door, and he brought his palms

together in greeting. I stopped, afraid to step forward. Duke Wei-ling called out, "Please come inside, Lian-sheng. Why are you still standing outside the temple?" "I don't feel I have the virtues or abilities deserving of this welcome," I replied, embarrassed. "A lofty heart is a great virtue and trying one's best indicates great ability." I walked into the temple and sat down at the guest table while Duke Wei-ling and the other spirits sat at the host's and side tables respectively. Immediately, food and liquor were served. Although the food at this banquet could not compare with the delicacies found in the realms of devas, it was still very good. The liquor was smooth yet strong and, after one sip, my whole face turned red. Duke Wei-ling laughed, "I used to have two divine fan attendants. On hot days, with one wave of their fans, all heat would disappear. If they waved twice, the weather would turn chilly. Three waves of their fans would send frost and snow hailing from above."

"That sounds like the plantain leaf fan from Journey to the West," I said. "Not quite the same, but almost." "Where are your two divine fan attendants now?" I asked Duke Wei-Iing. "They have been reborn into the human world." "To which family have they been reborn?" "Into the home of Yao Tong." When I heard Yao Tong's name, I was shocked. Just as I was wondering how I would find an answer to my puzzle, the answer popped up quite by chance. "But according to his life reading, Yao Tong was not supposed to have any sons!" I remarked. "Why were the divine fan attendants born into his family?" "It is true that his life reading held no sons," Duke Wei-ling concurred. "Yao Tong has visited my temple and prayed to me many times. And, though he was very sincere, I saw the trace of black chi upon his face and did not grant him his wish. However, I later received an edict from the Jade Emperor, ordering me to give him the divine fan attendants as sons so he would have a line of illustrious descendents."

"He must have undergone some transformative experiences in his life. What exactly happened?" Duke Wei-ling answered, "I don't know the details of the story but, what I do know, is that Yao Tong saved the life of a woman named Wu Yan and also maintained his integrity by rejecting a sexual liaison offered to him. Because of these honorable actions, he was blessed with two more years added to his life, enlistment into officialdom, and the birth of his two sons. In the future, these two sons will rise head and shoulders above others and enjoy great fortunes. In fact, when Yao Tong visited my temple after the birth of his two sons, I saw that his facial features, chi, and complexion had improved. I also saw a reddish halo above his head." "So, that was what happened," I said to myself. Afterwards, Duke Wei-ling and I had a pleasant talk. Later, when I again met with Yao Tong, I discussed with him the transforming of his fate and told him that his two sons were the incarnations of the divine fan attendants.

Yao Tong then related to me a dream he had had the night before his sons were born. "In my dream, I saw thousands of auspicious, beaming lights above the roof of my house. From the sky, two fans descended. They were not ordinary fans. They looked antique, and were covered with very intricate and elaborate designs. I could see the patterns very clearly. When the dream was over, the babies were born. It was such a strange dream that, until now, I had not dared to share it with anyone." "Also, there was the incident regarding Wu Yan." "You know about that as well?" "Please tell me the details." Thus Yao Tong proceeded to tell me the following true story of his encounter with Wu Yan. One night, while strolling along the riverbank, Yao Tong saw a young woman standing for a long time by the side of the river. Yao Tong watched as the woman slowly started walking towards the middle of the river. She had soon walked so far that her head was no longer above water. It was late at night, and no one else was around.

After calling out several times for help and receiving no response, Yao Tong ran into the water to save the girl. Luckily Yao Tong had been a frogman in the navy when he was young. He loved swimming and had received training as a lifeguard, so in no time, he rescued the young woman and brought her safely to shore. The woman was Wu Yan. When Yao Tong asked her why she had tried to drown herself, she told him that because of her naivety, she had been swindled by a group of con artists and gambled away three million Taiwanese dollars The debt collectors had been pressing her daily to pay the money. Afraid of being reprimanded by her family, and with no means to pay off her debt, she had decided to kill herself. When Yao Tong heard her story, his compassion was aroused. He decided to help her and pay off her debt. Wu Yan was extremely grateful to Yao Tong. Not only had he saved her life, but he had also paid off her entire gambling debt. It was as if he had given her a new life. When she learned that Yao Tong had no descendents, she willingly offered herself to him as a concubine to bear him sons.

Yao Tong's wife saw that Wu Yan was young and quite pretty. Although she had made a mistake in her life, the girl seemed like a kind person, and so she also agreed that Yao Tong should take her in as a second wife. If Wu Yan could bear her husband a son, she would accept it as part of a divine plan. But Yao Tong felt differently about the matter. To him, such a proposal was immoral because it meant he would be taking advantage of someone in a crisis. He had acted out of good intentions, and to culminate the incident in lust and an improper sexual liaison seemed to him a breach of honor. Also, he felt that the difference in their age would render the whole affair quite unethical, so he solemnly rejected the offer. He would rather have no sons than risk such a sexual transgression. Wu Yan and Yao Tong's wife tried many times to persuade him to change his mind, but Yao Tong steadfastly refused. Soon afterwards, Yao Tong's wife actually found herself pregnant, and a medical examination showed that she would have twins.

As stated in these verses: What a wonderful change in one's fate; Fortune comes hand in hand with auspiciousness; Saving another's life and abstaining from lust are true virtues; Lucky stars will appear and life will sail smoothly. Yao Tong once related the conversations he had with me to a Buddhist monk. The Buddhist monk said to him, "If you had remained childless, Sheng-yen Lu would have claimed his reading to be accurate. If your wife gave birth to a son, Sheng-yen Lu would tell you his divination was still correct, but that something had happened to change your fate. Either way, his divination would be correct. I don't see how you can still trust spiritual divinations, or Sheng-yen Lu for that matter." Yao Tong replied, "The Buddhist sutras have said that in this world, there are fixed as well as unfixed dharmas. All phenomena are impermanent, and everything undergoes change. The Buddha himself did not say that one's destiny is fixed, and he believed that fate could be changed. Thus there are practices one can study to establish a new life. The purpose of spiritual

divination is primarily to teach people to act properly and avoid disasters in their lives. It is based on good intentions. What has happened to me is karma. Causes in previous lives had shaped a destiny of no children in this lifetime, but actions in this life resulted in a change of luck. As a result of luck enhancement, I now have two sons." The Buddhist monk asked, "How can one tell if Sheng-yen Lu really is capable of spiritual divination, or if he was just making it all up?" Yao Tong replied, "He knew about the incident with Wu Yan." "Perhaps he had made investigations into your affairs and found that out." Yao Tong made no reply. The Buddhist monk remarked determinedly, "Sheng-yen Lu is evil, and he is also a heretic." Yao Tong replied, "The Living Buddha has taught us that observation of the five precepts and ten wholesome actions is virtuous. Conversely, breaking the five precepts and ten wholesome deeds is evil. The Buddhist scriptures have said that the world

abounds in heretics. In fact, seeking dharma beyond one's heart is a transgression. The Living Buddha has taught us that practicing Buddhism is to cultivate the Buddha Mind to transcend birth and death and realize one's true nature!" When the Buddhist monk heard this, he could not disagree. Yet he still argued, "I have heard that he swindles people out of their money!" Yao Tong replied, "In his whole life, the Living Buddha has never stipulated a fee for anything. He allows people to pay whatever they like, so how can that be considered swindling? In fact, he never even wanted ownership of any of the True Buddha School temples." The Buddhist monk was silent for a moment. Then he came up with another accusation, "I have heard that he takes sexual advantage of female students." "Have you witnessed any of this?" asked Yao Tong. "No, but I have heard such accusations from other people," was the monk's response. Yao Tong remarked, "I have known Living Buddha

Lian-Sheng for many years and spent quite a bit of time with him. He spends his days writing, painting, and meditating. He does his practice every day without fail and, to date, he has published one hundred and forty books. At times, he will put aside part of his day to help others resolve their problems and crises. He truly demonstrates earnest compassion for people of this world. He abides in the nature of the mind, and his actions are in keeping with his words. There are not many people like him in the world. Take for example, his allowing others to pay him whatever they like. People outside of the school may have no knowledge of this, but anyone who has had any contact with him will know this is true. So, the rumors that claim he swindles money are great injustices. Although there is much outside slandering, the Living Buddha has always remained unperturbed. He has only instructed us to do the following two things. First, do not argue. Instead use disagreements as opportunities to practice 'the art of perfecting patience and endurance.' Second, regard a negative encounter as an opportunity to resolve one's karmic hindrance. For thirty years, he has learned from

the tormenting of slanderers to become as expansive as the heavens and the earth. This virtue has earned him a great deal of respect from the realm of spirits." The Buddhist monk was silent. Yao Tong came back to tell me of his encounter with the Buddhist monk. I in turn, was silent. I thought to myself, "I have devoted this entire life to the study and practice of Buddhism and the cultivation of the Tao. I have discovered that the most important goal in life is the transcending of birth and death. Anything else is auxiliary. I have always ignored outside rumors and slanders. To achieve liberation, I have steadfastly studied and practiced the Tantric Dharma in seclusion." Now that I have finally attained Enlightenment and transcended the six realms of transmigration, I can commune with Buddhas in all times and space. My original intent was to completely reveal the secrets of the workings of the divine, but I was afraid that evil people would obtain this knowledge and use it maliciously. "The teachings of the Buddha dharma are inexhaustible. What I have attained is so real and practical,

yet people of the world do not recognize this. How can I awaken all these people from their dreams? When I tell them the truth, they cannot recognize it and mistake it to be false. "My master once told me that there are only three options for a truly enlightened being. The first is to immediately enter nirvana. The second is to live as a mountain hermit. The third is to pretend that one is a lunatic. He made this comment because the survival rate of an enlightened being is not high, and one will eventually be persecuted to death by others." Yet, I am someone who cannot bear to see the fallen people of this world rolling and suffering amidst a world of red dust and bitter seas. So the best way for me to transmit my teachings is by writing books, day after day, year after year. I shall be waiting on the other shore! As for the circulating rumors, just let them be!

Book 69

Household Feng-Shui Translated by Janny Chow Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

Avoid Living in "Low and Overshadowed" Areas

n my younger days, I performed numerous feng-shui consultations. The one rule I always maintained was to treat everyone equally, whether they were rich or poor. When the rich came to seek my services, I gladly advised them. When the poor families approached me for help, I gladly accepted their invitations. During these times, whenever I agreed to fengshui readings, I also stuck to one important principle: I never asked for a service fee but allowed the other parties to pay whatever they wished. Since my only motive for studying geomancy was to help people, I have done readings for very poor families. One such family, whose head of the household made a living by selling vegetables, lived in a very low area at the foot of a broken precipice that rose in a 56

steep wall to the sky. The area around the house was surrounded by bamboo. After studying the house and its surrounding geographical features, I came to the conclusion that the house fit the pattern of that of a "low and overshadowed" house. As written in The Secrets of Earth Magic: The lowest site will meet suicide. The overshadowed site will encounter unexpected hardships. My analysis turned out to be an accurate one. After a fight caused by their declining financial situation, the owner's wife committed suicide by drinking insecticide. The grandmother of the household became half paralyzed from a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis. One child was afflicted with polio, another with asthma. The owner himself, who worked as hard as he could to sell his vegetables, was facing a crushing defeat. Why are houses built in low and hollow sites tied to the fate of suicide? This is because such houses are always in an inferior position. People living in such houses develop emotional blockages and have trouble seeing their own ideals fulfilled. Due to their frustrated

emotional state, they often fail to find safe exits when angered or provoked. Also, low and hollow sites are sites of 'yin' energy, where disembodied spirits and ghosts like to converge. "Yin spirits" may play mischievous tricks on one and engender thoughts of suicide. The close proximity of the tall and broken cliff to the house created a feeling of being 'pressure and overshadowed.' This 'suppression' type pattern predisposes one to strange illness. The closeness of the tall and broken cliff also provoked a sense of desolation and misery. Living in such a house, one would never have the opportunity to become wealthy. There is also a more realistic problem for homes built in the hollows at the foot of mountains. During rains, water accumulates and does not drain quickly. When earthquakes strike, an avalanche may bury the entire house. How can one not be wary of the inherent problems of such sites? I asked the owner of the house, "Are there seven inhabitants in your house now?" He gave me a puzzled look. "There are only five." I smiled and said, "There are indeed seven, although two of the seven could be

considered frequent visitors." He replied, "We rarely have any visitors." I asked him to check with the grandmother to find out if there were, indeed, two visitors at their house. To his surprise, the grandmother confirmed my words. She described seeing a man in black and a woman in red, in Ch'ing Dynasty attire, frequently entering and exiting their home. This reply brought great shock to the owner. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asked the grandmother. The grandmother replied, "I was worried you might be frightened. Besides, I didn't think you would believe me. You would probably have accused me of hallucinating and becoming senile." I told the owner that the low and overshadowed site was unsuitable as a residence because it encouraged the convergence of yin spirits. A healthy person living there would become ill and encounter numerous hardships. Oftentimes, due to the influence of disembodied spirit, one may succumb to their calling and attempt to commit suicide. The grandmother was aware of the yin spirits because she was at the end of her years. The yang

energy in her body was dispersing as yin energy accumulated, and this had led to an opening of her psychic vision. Some feng-shui practitioners believe a low and hollow site accumulates chi from the water element. Because water is regarded as the equivalent of money, such a site is considered a wealthy spot. However, ensuring optimal movement of 'water chi' into such a site requires proper inflow of 'major water chi' and an outflow of 'minor water chi' Otherwise, the sole inflow of major water chi without an outlet, will cause every resident of the home to become 'engulfed by the water.' A house built upon a site that is too low and too hollow is therefore inauspicious. It is also inauspicious to have a tall, broken cliff directly behind (or to either side of) the house as this overshadows the house. I remember, after the reading, I received a red envelope with fifty Taiwanese dollars (approximately US$1.25 then) from the owner. I did not mind the amount because I knew they were poor, and I was not a feng-shui master who sought to profit from his consultations. Feng-shui, as a worldly Dharma, is merely a

skillful means. More important is the goal to move and inspire people to practice the "transcendental" Buddha dharma. So, before selecting a building site, one should first inspect the terrain. This is just too important a factor to ignore. Too high a terrain invites "feng-sha" (noxious wind energy); too low a terrain invites "shui-sha" (noxious water energy). An ideal site is neither too high nor too low. The study of the feng-shui of homes is actually a study of balance and harmony. To learn feng-shui, one must first master 'the art of balance and harmony.'

Chapter 15 Chapter 2:

Fire Problems in the Kitchen

newlywed couple once invited me to their home for a feng-shui consultation. They lived in a very beautiful home surrounded by trees with red blossoms and berries. While inspecting the kitchen, I realized that the position of the stove presented a problem. Their "designer" home had the stove built right in the center of the kitchen. It stood in the middle of the room, unshielded by any objects. Furthermore, the faucet and basin were located directly across from the stove. Such a placement is problematic for two reasons: 1) It is important that the kitchen fire be located in a place that gathers chi. Only a fire that gathers chi can continually burn and maintain its temperature. According to the book The Secrets of Earth Magic, a stove should be protected on three sides with chi flowing in from the fourth side. The best locations for stoves are the south, east, or southwest positions.

Although an unshielded stove located in a central island is a convenient working area, it does not afford the advantage of easily storing chi. Quick dissipation of the temperature of the stove fire can lead to the dissipation of money. 2) It is disastrous to have the kitchen faucet directly facing the stove fire, as this symbolizes the clashing of fire and water. From my observations, such a design portends great trouble and can lead to sexual promiscuity and excessive drinking. Upon arrival, I noticed that the mistress of the house was a very beautiful, graceful lady with tapering fingers and soft palms. Her shoulders were round and her back not too thin. In terms of physiognomy, the upper, middle, and lower segments of her face were well proportioned. She had the hallmark features of a distinguished woman. But I also noticed a coquettishness in her bright, almond-shaped eyes and a charming seductiveness in the way she moved and swayedcharacteristics of someone with 'secret peach-blossom luck.' (The term 'peach-blossom luck' in Chinese refers to the luck one has in attracting lovers.)

I asked my friend, "Do the newlyweds believe in feng-shui?" The mutual friend who had invited me said, "Only a little. They work in scientific fields." "Then the purpose for my coming today was...?" I asked. "Just to get acquainted with them and take a look around," answered my friend. Since I was only there to get acquainted and enjoy the home's gorgeous furnishings, I needed to be tactful by commenting only on the good and avoiding mention of anything negative. I wanted the meeting to be harmonious and cheerful, and I did not want my friends to feel any unpleasantness in the air. It was only after leaving the house that I told my friend to give a message to the owners: they must rectify the fire problem in the kitchen. The owners ignored my advice. A year later, I learned that the lady of the house had had an extramarital affair with her supervisor at work, and her husband had a mistress and had become an alcoholic. In the end, the marriage ended

and each went their separated ways. I would like everyone to heed this fact: if the "kitchen fire" is situated in the center of the kitchen, then whichever direction the faucet is installed in - north ,south, east, or west - chances are that it will be sitting directly across from the stove fire. With the faucet a symbol for "yang" and the stove a symbol for "yin," this is an omen for licentiousness and promiscuity. I have noticed that the designer kitchens of many new homes in the United States have stoves built right in the middle of the kitchens. Architects of such kitchen designs are definitely uninformed in the science of feng-shui. Although their goal may be to create a convenient, aesthetic space, they are, however, contributing to the flourishing of licentiousness! I want readers to know that, when one enters a house, fire must not be the first thing one sees. This means that the kitchen or the fireplace should not be the first thing seen upon entering a home. Avoid having these two types of "fire chi" facing the front door. In business settings, such as restaurants, under no circumstances should stoves (gas stoves, water

Book 60

heaters, electric stoves, electric cookers, etc.) be installed at the center of the cross of the restaurant. Such centrally located "fire chi" can pollute the air inside the entire restaurant, creating a hot and fiery atmosphere. In such an environment, business partners will not get along and customers will not feel comfortable. Over time, they will not want to set foot in the restaurant. And even more importantly, "fire chi" in the center makes it difficult for "earth chi" to remain balanced. In the kitchen, one must also pay attention to the following things: Make sure garbage does not accumulate, is well contained, sealed, and frequently disposed of. Pay attention to the flow of water in the kitchen sink. Also, select a stove fan that does not have its working parts exposed, and install a range hood that does not protrude too conspicuously as this also affects kitchen feng-shui. Finally, one must not install skylights in kitchens as this is conducive to the upward spreading of "fire chi." A skylight opening in the kitchen incurs unexpected accidents and calamities.

The Inner World of the Lake Translated by Janny Chow Ch\ Chapter 19

Master, What Do You Have?

medical doctor from a far away country came to visit me at the lakeside of Lake Sammamish. We sat solemnly and quietly at a round table, facing each other. "Master",said the doctor, "I find it strange that, although all the people in the world have two eyes, one nose, one mouth and two ears, you are honored as a master and I am not." I smiled, "Yes, the principle is very obvious. Why are you honored as a medical doctor and I am not?" "Master, I find you to be very ordinary. You have not even shaved very well. Your hair needs a haircut and your clothes are dusty." "You are right. Your medically trained eyes are quite extraordinary, and your observation is also very keen. A so-called master or guru is a person who seeks inner illumination, that is, the shimmering inner heart 67

which shines like a diamond. Externally, perhaps, he is practicing asceticism and radiating only the light of ordinary glass. "Then master, what do you have? What makes so many people in this world pay so much respect to you?" "Many people venerate me and learn from me, but not because they want to learn such arts as painting or music. Nor are they after the means to earn money, nor how to dress well and neatly. They are learning from me inner illumination. All I have to offer is just the knowledge which leads to inner illumination. Perhaps this is considered by some to be foolish and passe." "Master, can you explain it in a more concrete way?" "You might not understand what I will say, but you can try to listen carefully. A true Vajra Master is someone who understands thoughts and visualization best; he also teaches others about thoughts and visualization. A true Vajra Master is someone who has the supreme wisdom; he also teaches about wisdom. A true Vajra Master understands Emptiness and

Nothingness most; he also teaches his disciples about Emptiness and Nothingness. These abilities are what the master has." "Is there anything else you know?" "No, nothing more. Except for this: a true master can understand Lake Sammamish, but the worldly people do not necessarily understand Lake Sammamish. "Lake? This lake is an ordinary lake. Is there something special about it?" "Yes, Lake Sammamish is an ordinary, common lake. Apart from the water and the surrounding mountains, trees, and grass, it does not appear to have anything else. But, if this Lake Sammamish merges with a true master, then new and abundant knowledge will be generated. The thoughts, the wisdom, the Emptiness and Nothingness will emerge. This is what is different about what a master has." The doctor and I left the enclosing wall, crossed a wide street, and approached the lakeside. The sounds of the lake were murmuring. I opened up my mind and merged with the lake. I was not being controlled by the lake, nor was I controlling the lake. I was not teaching

the lake, nor was the lake teaching me. But, the doctor did not quite understand what was going on. He was totally unconnected to the lake. Lake Sammamish is Lake Sammamish, and the doctor is the doctor. Just like a pig butcher who has no need for any church prayer, the doctor did not feel the necessity of prayer at all. The doctor did not understand Lake Sammamish.Perhaps in the residences by the lakeside, there are many people who also do not understand Lake Sammamish. So, in not understanding Lake Sammamish, they are naturally not able to understand the master. Life at the lakeside is very pure and simple; it is also free of difficulties and strain. Worry has long since drifted far, far away. Desiring nothing has also made everything very easy. Clothes are unimportant; money is unimportant; the etiquette of people interacting with each other is unimportant. With no disruptive dreams, I always sleep throughout the night, not waking until the sun rises. I have no need to call and inquire after anyone; no

need to appease or humor anyone; no need to learn to be slick and sly; no need to bow to the powerful. At the side of Lake Sammamish, there is no need to be too humble; nobody is a master and nobody is a servant. All is spontaneous and equal. I feel that I am very fortunate. Being a foolish Tantric practitioner, I am able to cultivate many useful things at the lakeside. These bits and pieces of Truth and Wisdom of the Cosmos are the priceless pearls of the world and can produce numerous masters. And no robber can take away these kinds of priceless pearls. Let me write a verse! The master answered the doctor, "My path is not lonely; Accompanied by the famous lake, Truth will never wither."

Chapter 31

The World Of A Crystal Ball

bout three miles to the southeast of Lake Sammamish, there is a medium-sized shopping mall. It is a very neat and tidy mall and in it is a small arts and crafts store. On the bottom shelf of the store's glass showcase, five crystal balls were on display. The crystal balls, huge, round, and sparkling, were cushioned on a tripod stand drawn by three horses. They were exquisite. I asked the pretty salesgirl to bring one out for me to look at. First she took a piece of clean paper, carefully picked up a crystal ball with it, then cautiously handed it to me. This emerald green and transparent crystal ball was extremely clear and sparkling. Inside the crystal, lustrous and clean bubbles of emerald and azure were arising from its depth. This extremely beautiful crystal ball seemed to be pregnant with mysteries. "What is this crystal ball for?" I asked knowingly.

The pretty salesgirl, with a unique smile, said, "This crystal ball can tell one's fate." "To know or not to know one's fate, which is better?" Unexpectedly this American young lady seemed to know about contemplation. She hesitated for a while, then smiled and said meaningfully, "To know or not to know, it's the same." Hearing her answer, I felt that she understood fate, just as I have understood it. Many, many people are very curious about their own fate and, when they have time, they find someone to read their fate for them. In our society there are all kinds of popular methods used for prediction, and many people study these various methods to make a living. Knowing one's fate, one still has to walk on the road of fate. Not knowing one's fate, one still has to walk on the road of fate. Knowing or not knowing really makes no difference. That is why people who read others' fate often will not read their own, and why, when they obviously

know something, they cannot say it. Take me for example! I know about many, many events: events in the cosmos, events in the spiritual realms, events in the heavens, events under the ground, events in this human world. I have acquired this ability through studying. This power and ability of mine enable me to understand a person's fate when I meet him. But, can I tell him? He is going to die of an accident. He is going to be bankrupt and will lose everything. He is going to come down with the most serious kind of terminal illness. Fate. Ha! What can one do even if one knows about it! Can one tell it? Everything in this world is like a flash in the pan. Though I know about everything, it is the same as not knowing anything. Though I possess all the wisdom, I actually do not possess anything. I seem to have become a newborn infant, knowing nothing and owning nothing. I have not lost my ability and power, it is just that I

have become silent. To the other person, I just smile, even though I understand everything about him. Whenever I look at an object, I can tell all that is going to happen to it. But, it is just a flash in the pan. A flash in the pan, too many, many flashes in the pan-I know, but I cannot bring myself to say it. Fate, the law of Causes and Effects in the natural world. I know all about it but I will not say anything about it, so what is the difference between knowing and not knowing? Facing the ones that I cannot tell, I will only smile, laugh, or smile with tears. In my eyes fate is like the flowing water and many people people who know nothing, people who have nothing-are washed away by it. Many people get washed away without understanding anything. I laugh at myself, also at others, and all the more at this world. Will I buy a crystal ball? A crystal ball does have its own mystery; light from the crystal can merge with and enter into one's consciousness. But, after one buys a crystal ball, it is possible that the crystal will become a substitute, and one will become dependent on it and

Book 158 Contemplation Under the Lonesome Light lose one's wisdom and ability to think. Do I need a crystal ball? Of course not. Because Lake Sammamish is actually my crystal ball. I know Lake Sammamish is a crystal ball lake and every consciousness can be reflected by it. All the fates, from a minute single thought to the most significant prediction, are all in Lake Sammamish. I might buy a crystal ball though, because the shining bubbles rising up inside the crystal are so beautiful and the crystal is such a wonderful realm. I will place it on my desk and, when I have time, I will gaze at it as if I were looking at Lake Sammamish. It is a kind of beauty, not reality. To go and look at a crystal ball. Not because one wants to read one's fate in it. There is no need to read one's fate. But, because of its beauty of perfect roundness, one has a deep fondness for it.

Translated by Harmony Chapter 6

The Thought of Suicide

was asked once, "Grand Master Lu, please tell us the truth, have you ever thought of committing suicide?" My answer was, " Yes! Let me tell you this: I attempted suicide when I was a sixth grader in elementary school." "Oh!" the people were all very shocked. I revealed more, "My brother Zhao-rong Lu killed himself by drinking potassium hydroxide." Again, everyone was stunned when they heard this. According to an analysis by a famous psychologist, the percentage of people who have suicidal tendencies is definitely not small. Moreover, the number of people who have ever had suicidal thoughts is even greater. Fortunately, for most people, thoughts of killing themselves are immediately eradicated by reason. If

this were not so, the human race would be nearly extinct from suicides. I recently wrote several articles admonishing people not to harbor suicidal thoughts and not to commit suicide. Since I possess spiritual connections I know that the souls of people who commit suicide experience much greater suffering than other souls. After a suicide, it's very hard for the soul to be delivered because it had violated the first of the Five Precepts - abstaining from killing - which results in very heavy negative karma. Even if these souls are able to cleanse all their karma and reincarnate as human beings, they either become handicapped with blindness, deafness, and/or muteness, or they become people with incomplete brains, hands, or legs - these people live in immense pain. In general, most suicides do not gain any sympathy from the world. Instead, suicides only leave those who want to get rid of them rubbing their hands with glee. Therefore, what kind of benefit do they derive from suicide when it only hurts their family and delights their enemies? In my opinion, it's dying an unproductive

death. So what happens when you reach a dead end in your life? My advice is to search for the happiness of the moment. Life's journey should be completed with pure joy. What do you do when you are humiliated, overpressured or in great pain? Buddha taught us Tolerance Paramita. After practicing tolerance, you can reach the other shore. Now I think that as long as you don't die, happiness and bliss will come eventually. If you die, not even hope remains. Therefore, it is wise not to commit suicide.

Chapter 22

The Earth Is A Prison

omebody once said that the earth is a mental institution in the universe. Whoever has an unstable mental disposition is sent to earth. Therefore, countries on earth are mentally unstable, people are mentally unstable, and societies are mentally unstable too. According to an analysis by psychologists, just about everyone has mental obstructions in one form or another, but the syndromes are not prominent in some people. Some people feel oppressed, some are depressed, some don't talk, some are impatient, some are emotionally unstable. In fact, there is some basis to calling the earth the biggest mental institution. This is really an era of unhappiness. The young, the middle-aged and the old are all very depressed and worried. They all have emotional problems. Everyone's body, mind and soul are in trouble.

In my opinion, I consider the earth is a 'prison' for the universe. Anyone with karma is sent to earth for punishment. Coming to this world is to experience suffering: birth, age, sickness, death, separation from loved ones, meeting with the hateful, yearning for someone or something, and the five aggregates. This human planet has the most worries and the most impermanence, and is the least happy, the filthiest and the darkest place. Just think for a moment - "hell", "hungry ghosts" and "animals" are called the Three Lower Realms. On this human planet, some people live in a hell, like hungry ghosts and animals. Isn't the earth a prison? According to the Ksitigarbha Sutra, the deeds and thoughts of the sentient beings of our world (Jambudvipa) constantly cause transgressions and create negative karma and sins. Human beings come with inherent karma and sins, and ignorance is the root of sin. A person with bad karma will be punished. Therefore, it makes sense that the earth is a prison. We cultivators must cut through our delusions and realize the truth, supersede the ordinary and enter the

Book 154 The Aura of Wisdom supreme holy stream. At a minimum, we need to practice the Five Precepts and Ten Virtues in order to be released from this prison.

Translated by Janny Chow Ch\ Chapter 5

Spiritual Response

t is relatively easy to receive spiritual response through the cultivation of the Tantric teachings. This is a well known fact. It is due largely to the Vajra Master who embodies the Triple Jewels of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. He holds immeasurable merits of all the Buddhas, and has the remarkable power of blessings. An enlightened vajra master may bless a person who keeps a firm and pure faith but has yet to begin any form of practice. This is like a person holding a jug of Dharma milk and pouring it into the empty bowl of the receiver. The person who is blessed at once receives the Dharma milk which fills his or her being, achieving the fulfillment of spiritual response. In the Tantric teachings, it is common to find a person without prior cultivation and who has barely taken refuge or received empowerment and yet able to gain

immediate response. Should one experience a string of responses and spiritual phenomena, it is important to remain calm, and treat these events as normal occurrences. One's mind should maintain a sense of balance, best remaining in a state of non-attachment and renunciation. Whether you have spiritual responses or not is perfectly fine, for we should not be too attached to such matters. When you have responses, you may talk to the Master, or relate them to your fellow initiates. It is best to share your experiences with the Master, and use your responses as a basis of encouragement among initiates. Refrain from telling outsiders. Why? People outside your spiritual circle may not believe in such matters, and you may invite criticism, causing more afflictions instead. A person with spiritual responses should be cautioned against showing off his or her experiences, which would be a display of vanity. Know that vanity is the seed of the Mara demon, and many have fallen into the path of Mara upon receiving spiritual responses due to this mentality. Hence, the further one cultivates with

such a mindset, the further one deviates from the Right View, completely unaware of being trapped in Mara. If one's body, speech and mind are pure, it is normal to receive responses. If one persists in cultivation, it is also normal to receive responses from the respective deities and Dharma protectors. Do not hold the thought that one has attained the highest spiritual state, superseding the achievements of all Dharma friends, monks, nuns and masters. Once such vanity arises, it is as good as being deluded by Mara. C

Chapter 9

Self Importance

aster Ching Hai once told her disciples, "Presently, there are indeed some enlightened masters in this world. I am the Enlightened Master. When you find me, there is no further need to search out for others. I am the One." What Master Ching Hai said is fair and modest enough. Someone by the name of Li who runs a certain Gong once said, "The Dharma transmitted by Sakyamuni Buddha is just a minor teaching. The Dharma or Fa that I transmit is Da Fa, or major teaching. In the past, man cultivated Dharma. Today it is Dharma or Fa that cultivates man." Someone asked Mr. Li, "Presently, who is liberating sentient beings in this world?" Mr. Li said, "Only me. There is no other." What this statement implies is that Mr Li feels he is the only "Buddha" in the whole universe, whereas all

others are merely devils. He once commented that a senior monk was a manifestation of the devil, and that Sri Satya Sai Baba was being possessed by a serpent entity. The Japanese Aum Shinrikyo cult was derived from hell ghosts. The qigong masters from mainland China are all being possessed by animal entities. Li says he is the only right path. I know of yet another Mr. Xiao who claims, "I am the manifestation of Vairocana, the Lord of tens and thousands of Buddhas in the universe. Sheng-yen Lu is only a tiny little Buddha who is under my jurisdiction." All right! The reason I write this article is to convey the message that everyone has claimed to have attained realization and reached enlightenment, that they say others are bad and that he or she alone is the greatest, praising themselves and discrediting others, competing to beat others in the game of being the biggest and highest in spiritual attainment. I just want to say this to you, as a Buddhist and practitioner, you need to open your eyes to discern: Who really is being egotistical? Who really are praising themselves and discredit-

Book 156 Whispers of the Breeze ing others? Who really has wonderful teachings? Who is able to remain undistracted? And who is the perfectly enlightened hermit?

Translated by: Wilhall Lee Chapter 1

How to Settle One's Thoughts

disciple once asked me, "My distracting thoughts stray vigorously and are unstoppable. How do we settle all such distracting thoughts?" I answered, "Tibetan Tantric Buddhism teaches one to chant the one-syllable mantra "Pei." By doing so, distracting thoughts are immediately stopped, therefore settling one's mind into emptiness." "What if that does not help?" "You may utilize the method of Zen contemplation. Follow the distracting thoughts to trace their origin, and as you incessantly trace the origin of the thoughts, you will realize that they are really empty and illusory in nature. When you understand that they are but mere conjectures of emptiness and illusions, the thoughts will be cut through." "What if the current thought is detached, only to be replaced by another thought?"

"Use one single thought to block all other thoughts. Have a correct thought to replace all distracting thoughts. This is the visualization technique of Tantrayana. As long as you focus on this visualization and practice it with utmost effort and diligence, all distracting thoughts will no longer arise." I honestly tell my disciples that about two thousand five hundred years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha told us: "For an ordinary person, there is only one correct path that leads to purification, the conquering of anxiety and grief, and the banishment of anguish and sufferings. To walk on this path is to practice the Four Earnest Contemplations." We must constantly focus our thoughts on: Contemplation of the body - observe that the body is impure. Contemplation of the emotions - observe that emotions lead to suffering. Contemplation of the mind - observe that the mind always fluctuates. Contemplation of the phenomena - observe that

all phenomena are devoid of inherent existence. During the time of the Buddha, Arhats lived in caves, beneath trees, and among graveyards in order to reflect on these four contemplations. Because they were able to realize that the human body is impure, their fires of lust were extinguished. Because they were able to realize that emotions lead to suffering, they constantly upheld the intentions of renunciation and transcendence of worldly desires. By realizing the fluctuating nature of the mind, they no longer held on to the thought of self-grasping. By realizing all phenomena are devoid of any inherent existence, they were able to realize that all existences are inherently void. By reflecting on the Four Earnest Contemplations, each thought becomes clear and purposeful. By recalling and holding each thought continuously so as not to forget, one's thoughts are gradually purified, eradicating greed, hatred and ignorance. When all thoughts are continually focused on the correct path, one no longer has any impure or defiled thoughts, thus one becomes completely immersed in the great path towards liberation of the body and soul.

During the Buddha's time, there were many disciples who achieved fruition. They had concentrated their minds and efforts into their meditation practices by following the Four Earnest Contemplations.

Chapter 4

Temporary Manifestations

omeone once asked me, "What is fame?"

I answered, "Illusory existence, illusory cessation!" Question: "What then is wealth?" Answer: "Something that just lets you look at it idly for a few years, on borrowed terms!" Question: "What about physical attraction?" Answer: "Nothing but dry bones!" Truthfully speaking, wealth, physical attraction and fame are all but life's temporary manifestations, that is to say for a moment you may have, but the next you may not. Wealth, physical attraction, and fame are merely manifestations that exist and desist in continuum. Modern people rack their brains to pursue them zealously. If we so pursue them with reckless abandon, scheming and plotting, intent on securing them be it by force or trickery, they will inevitably lead us to hatred and anger, and thoughts of unbridled greed. In the end, 92

they will eventually lead us to our downfall whereby we would suffer in the three foul paths down below. That is why we must break free from the delusions of wealth, physical attraction, and fame. We must be able to correctly understand the perils of blind pursuit and recognize the truth. Do not engender any attachment; you will then naturally be led to the path to liberation. Let us think for one moment that if Prince Siddhartha had craved for the throne, for palatial treasures and wealth, for his queen and his concubines, today there would be no Shakyamuni Buddha, no World-honored One. It would not be too preposterous to postulate the demise of the Sakya kingdom, the capture of its palace and territory, and the execution of King Siddhartha by King Lapis Lazuli, all eventually ending in naught, ending in an ocean of sufferings. A practitioner should possess such understanding: That fame is really nothing but illusory existence and illusory cessation! That riches merely afford you a few years of blank contentment!

That physical beauty is really cloaking a bag of dry bones! All these may provide temporary happiness, but at the same time, they also bear dangerous pitfalls and the cause for affliction. After long periods of observation, Shakyamuni Buddha concluded that the root of all suffering is the greed of the human heart.