Here is a story in the Avadanasataka Sutra: At the Buddha’s time, in Sravasti, an elderly Brahman’s wife gave birth to a baby boy. Whenever the child was hungry for milk and as soon as the breast milk entered his mouth, the milk would turn bad. It was the same situation whenever he took in other food. Therefore, this had been how he grew up in a semi-starvation state. After he grew up, he beseeched the Buddha for renunciation from household life. Out of compassion, the Buddha approved it.
After the renunciation, other Bhikkhus always returned with a bowl full of food after they went out to ask for offerings. Yet, he was the only one who returned with an empty bowl. One day, it occurred to him that he had to do something for the Three Jewels. Through the physical work, he wished to eradicate his negative karma. He resolved to clean up the monastery and miraculously, the next day, he returned with delicious food. Therefore, he became even more determined to serve the Three Jewels. This way, he got to have food every day.
One day he slept in and missed the clean-up. Sariputra cleaned up the monastery as he passed by. He was very upset about this and told Sariputra, “I only get to eat after I clean up the place. Now, you have done it. I will definitely have nothing to eat today.” After Sariputra heard about that, he said, “It is no problem. I will go to the city and get food for you.” After he went to a layperson’s house, the couple happened to be in a quarrel. He returned with an empty bowl. The next day, Sariputra told him that an Elder had made a meal offer to the Buddha and the Sangha. The Buddha would take them along. After they arrived at the Elder’s home, everyone’s bowl was full of food, except his. They had missed filling up his bowl. He went to inform the owner about his empty bowl, yet no matter how he yelled out to the owner, somehow, he never could hear him.
After Ananda knew about this, he felt sympathy for him. He volunteered to get food for him the next day. Ananda was known as the first in memory, yet, this time, he totally forgot about his promise. On the fourth day, he finally got a bowl of food. However, on his way back, a dog ran to him and spilled the food. Venerable Maudgalyayana also had learned about this. The following day he went out and got the food for him. On his way back, he took a break under the tree. All the birds in that tree flew down and ate up the food in the bowl. Venerable Maudgalyayana singed, “In spite of being the first in supernatural powers, I also cannot do much due to his heavy negative karma.”
Sariputra could not bear to see this. He made up his mind to find food for him. The next day, he went out and got a bowl of food. When he got to the entrance, the door which used to be open suddenly shut closed with a bang. The bowl of food was hit by the door and spread all over the floor.
Until the seventh day, the Bhikkhu had not taken a bit of food still. He cried out of sorrow and shame. He ended up eating the sand and died. Everyone was amazed by what had happened. They went to the Buddha and inquired about the karmic condition of the Bhikkhu. The Buddha told everyone, “At the time of Indradhvaja Buddha (Sovereign Sign Buddha), there was an Elder who loved to do good deeds and give donations. He often offered vegetarian meals to the Buddha and the sangha. He also had a son who followed after his conducts. The family property was managed by the father at that time; therefore, the son was not against the donations.
After the Elder passed away, the son inherited the property. He became greedy and was unwilling to give. Other than being unwilling to give to the sangha, he also did not allow his mother to make offerings. However, his mother was frugal and tried to save to give to the sangha. One day, the mother told him, “I have nothing left to eat. Can you spare me any food?” He talked back at his mother, “I gave you food, but you gave it away to the sangha. Why don’t you just go and eat the sand?” Later, his mother died of starvation. Due to the negative karma of reluctance in making offerings and respecting parents, he degenerated into the hell realm after his death. After countless of eons he had finally made his way back to the human realm. In the same way, he still had to go through the negative karmic retribution of hunger and starvation. Because he did not oppose his father making offerings to the Buddha in the past, he then had the karmic condition to renounce in this life time. Nevertheless, because of the heavy negative karma of disrespect to his mother, in this life, he experienced extreme hunger and eventually died of eating sand.
This is the karmic retribution of greed, disrespect to parents, and negative speech. In spite of the fact that he had renounced himself from the household life, he still could not escape from retribution. From this, we learn that negative karma can be very horrifying.
In 2009, I viewed a video of the Dharma Assembly of Empowerment by Kuan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s Great Compassion for the first time. I was very excited at that time and wished that one day I would be able to attend such a dharma assembly too. Now I finally had that chance and good fortune to attend the Dharma Assembly of Empowerment by Kuan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s Mind of Great Compassion. I must express my gratitude to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and Kuan Shi Yin Bodhisattva. I also thank the Abbess of Hua Zang Si, Dharma Master Ruo Hui.
A short while after the dharma assembly had started, I first felt that a breeze of cool wind blew by my hands. It felt very refreshing and cool. After that, my entire body became warmer and I started to sweat. I was sweating heavily all over. After the sweating I felt extremely refreshed and energized. It was very comfortable. Then I saw (My eyes remained closed throughout the dharma assembly.) pieces of white clouds floating in the blue sky. The scene was very beautiful. After a while, water started to drip from the white clouds, which was different from the feeling of raining. I thought, “That must be nectar and has blessing!” So I opened my mouth to drink it. Actually, I walked around to receive and drink it. The situation lasted until the end of the dharma assembly. My stomach felt full during the entire period.
I am grateful to the empowerment from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and Kuan Shi Yin Bodhisattva! This entire process was truly inconceivable.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata possesses consummate mastery in molding with His hands the myriad beings and things of this world, both sentient and non-sentient. Such works of art include mountains, rivers, land formations, and other natural scenes. We have included in this chapter only some of His Holiness’s hand-sculpted scenes as an expression of the dharma. The hand-molded artwork of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III looks as genuine as real natural scenes. Although these mountains, rivers, and scenery were created in a room, they appear no different from natural landscapes. Broad artistic concepts underlie their design, and they have a majestic quality to them. Nobody in human history has been able to create such works. Those who personally view the hand-molded artwork of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III behold the elegance of natural-looking scenes more beautiful than the creations of nature itself.
Hearing the Sound of Frogs in the Lotus Pond Stone Valley
The circular Mandala with a Yun sculpture depicting Mt. Sumeru (Mt. Sumeru with Sariras of Sakyamuni Buddha) is created by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. The Yun sculpture illustrates the magnificence of precious Mt. Sumeru. It contains holy sariras (sacred relics) of Sakyamuni Buddha for worshipping. The Mandala is a very unique treasure in the world because it is a treasure containing another treasure.
頂禮 H.H. 第三世多杰羌佛-- 正教 