Buddhism appears to be very dominant in some countries in Southeast Asia. However, many Buddhists there always regard “Arhat” as the highest status of accomplishment in Buddhism. To them, Bodhisattvas who are often mentioned in Mahayana sutras such as Manjushri Bodhisattva and Kuan Yin Bodhisattva are simply not comparable to Arhats. That is why during the past thousands of years Mahayana Buddhism has never been able to propagate and spread widely in those regions. Of course, such a situation is due to karmic conditions of the living beings.
I am going to talk about a couple living in Thailand with family roots there for generations. The husband’s last name is Deng and the wife’s last name is Wang. Due to their hard working, honesty, and leading a plain and simple family life, they have long become well-known people with prominent fame in the business circle in Thailand. Meanwhile, they respectfully worship the Three Jewels, support the sangha, and engage in charities. Therefore, they are also praised by everyone as great and kind benefactors in the community. Though they possess deep root of kindness, due to the influence from some deviated views in the tradition of the Lessor Vehicle, they were unable to elevate their level of cultivation to enter deeply into the essence of the dharma principles contained in Mahayana. It was only until one day in 2004 when the karmic condition of their good fortune became mature. On that day, they were introduced by their friend to an opportunity of listening respectfully to the recorded dharma discourses expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Only at that time, did they greatly awaken to the fact that true Buddha-dharma is so extensive, broad, precious, and profound.
The dharma expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is perfect and unimpeded, presenting the wonderful truth of true-suchness openly and widely. Mr. and Mrs. Deng admired wholeheartedly. They also deeply realized that the innumerable eminent monks and great virtuous ones that they had visited and consulted before in Thailand and Burma were so tiny, low, and insignificant with their shortcomings easily seen in comparison to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Though he was very busy in his business undertaking, Mr. Deng still flew across the Pacific Ocean often to beseech teachings from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and spared no effort in the actions of propagating and spreading the true dharma of the Tathagata. However, deep in the couples’ mind through so many years, there was always an untied knot which was, “Are there really Bodhisattvas?”
One day, the couples finally summed up their courage and begged H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III while kneeling on the ground, “Great Buddha Master, are there really Bodhisattvas? Can we ask for seeing Bodhisattvas?”
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said expressionlessly, “When the karmic condition is mature, I will satisfy your wish.”
Time elapsed day by day. Long after that, they figured that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III had forgotten what they had asked for long ago and thus dared not mention it again. Furthermore, what if Bodhisattvas did not come even when invited?
Later, they had a chat with several fellow brothers who are rinpoches one day. Only then did they learn that the house that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was living in was badly out of repair. Even the office space was just a small space next to a restroom and narrow stairs. Furthermore, the office desk was actually a very small table! They were greatly astounded after hearing the brothers’ descriptions! What was even more implausible to them was the fact that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III worked with His own hands to create artworks, not only to make the living but also help His disciples with their resources of cultivation as well as contribute to disaster relief efforts and benefit people.
The couples were deeply moved. They immediately made a decision to present a stock holding valued at 2.5 million US dollars as an offering to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. However, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said, “I have already said that I will only benefit living beings and will not accept any offerings. Therefore, I will not accept your offering.”
Although they begged very hard and repeatedly, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was not persuaded at all and firmly refused to accept even a penny from that offering. Without any other choice, they could only transfer that stock holding entirely to the World Buddhism Association Headquarters.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was to determine their karmic conditions. Observing their piousness toward their Master, diligent cultivation and practice, and selflessly benefiting living beings, they truly have established undeniable merit of Bodhi. Therefore, His Holiness the Buddha decided to fulfill the wish they had for many years.
On the magnificent and auspicious day when His Holiness the Buddha was going to transmit the inner-tantric initiation, Laypersons Mr. and Mrs. Deng came to the open-air mandala at the holy site. The sky was completely clear without any cloud on that day. With beautiful green lawn, breeze blowing from time to time, singing and winging of bees and birds in the background, varieties of flowers contesting for beauty, and charming and attractive branches and shoots in the trees, the whole court was covered with splendid colors in addition to jade green.
Sitting on the Vajra dharma throne, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said to the human and non-human disciples in the mandala, “I practice the dharma this time to invite and invoke a Bodhisattva for these two laypersons with their last names being Deng and Wang respectively. I do not have confidence! If it accidentally turns out to be successful, that would be due to the merit of Disciple Deng and Disciple Wang. However, you must absolutely pray and beseech with the most pious heart.”
Shortly after the discourse, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III immediately practiced the dharma. In less than 20 minutes, suddenly a beam of golden light flashed in the sky above. Next, countless light rays were emitted. A Vajra Bodhisattva with a height of about 16 feet suddenly appeared. The Bodhisattva was adorned with pearls necklace and looked extremely solemn and majestic, stepping on a lotus flower shape auspicious clouds of rainbow colors. In a few strides, the Bodhisattva descended into the mandala, standing in front of Mr. Deng and Mrs. Wang with a smile.
While they two were still stunned and astounded, the Bodhisattva took out the holy substance to empower them. With a finger snap, a five-colored light ray flew into the mouth of each of them. The taste was utmost delicious without comparison. They both felt relaxed and uninhibited throughout the body. An auspicious state manifested over the entire mandala at the holy site. Only then did the Vajra Bodhisattva merge into the brightness in the sky and disappear.
While everyone was still deeply enjoying the dharma joy and calming lightness occurring just moments ago, Mr. and Mrs. Deng excitedly described the personal feelings and experience that just happened to them, with hand gestures as they spoke. They two were extremely moved and bowed repeatedly to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
They saw a Bodhisattva! They truly saw a real Bodhisattva descending before them to meet with them! This is not a dream state and much less an illusory image. Though several years have passed, what really made us awaken is: Then, who is the Master who is living right before us and whom we follow closely to learn from? Good heavens! Have you forgotten? He is the supreme teacher of Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas in the ten directions and even of all Buddhas! He is really the genuine incarnation of the holiest ancient Buddha in the dharma realm – Dorje Chang Buddha!
How fortunate living beings in the current dharma-ending era are to be able to meet this opportunity of H.H.Dorje Chang Buddha III descending to this earthly world. This is the great matter indicating the maturing of good fortune stemming from the karmic conditions since the beginning-less time. I sincerely, wholeheartedly, and eagerly hope that sentient beings in the six realms of the three spheres can all hear the dharma expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, to attain in the current lifetime perfect good fortune and wisdom, freedom from birth and death, holy status of liberation, and realization of great enlightenment!
Master Asanga was born with uniquely deep talent and wisdom from his past lifetimes. When studying sutras and commentaries, he was able to understand the meaning with a quick reading. Later, he practiced meditative concentration and became free of desires. He repeatedly thought about the “meaning of emptiness” but was unable to deeply understand and explain it. He was quite unhappy for that. An Arhat named Pindola-Bharadvaja heard about his difficulty and came to him to teach “the Small-Vehicle (Hinayana) School’s view of emptiness.” Then, he practiced contemplation according to the teaching and achieved a deep understanding. However, Master Asanga was still not satisfied after learning the Small-Vehicle School’s view of emptiness because he still did not have perfect answers for many doubts and questions he had.
At that time, the teaching of Mahayana Buddhism (the Large Vehicle) was available from Maitreya Bodhisattva. However, to receive Maitreya Bodhisattva’s teaching in person, one must successfully enter into the state of concentration. Due to his urge to quest for the dharma, Master Asanga longed for the opportunity to meet Maitreya Bodhisattva in person to be taught with the dharma. Therefore, he chose a mountain cave in a sparsely populated area and began practicing cessation and contemplation diligently.
As time was flowing away continuously, six years elapsed. Master Asanga still was unable to see Maitreya Bodhisattva while practicing concentration in the cave. A thought came up in his mind, “If it is impossible to see Maitreya Bodhisattva, I should just give up!” Thus, he decided to take a break from cultivating and practicing in the cave. He put on his regular clothing and walked out of the cave. On his way of coming down from the mountain, he saw a white-haired elder lady, who held an iron stick and was laboriously grinding it on a flab of stone. The scene caught Master Asanga’s attention.
“Elder lady. May I ask what you are doing?” Master Asanga asked.
“Oh, I am grinding this iron stick into a thin needle.”
“You are grinding it into a thin needle?” Master Asanga was very much astonished and also greatly moved. He thought, “This elder lady was willing to grind it day after day with a seemingly silly movement. In contrast, as a cultivator, I could not adhere to practicing true Buddha-dharma to pursue wisdom.” The arising of this extremely precious thought caused Master Asanga to introspect himself and generate humility in mind. Then, he returned to the cave to devote himself into the difficult and hard cultivation and practice once again.
During the next three years, Master Asanga still did not make any achievement. Another thought rose in his mind, “Why should I waste time? It is simply impossible to see Maitreya Bodhisattva!” So he again broke his practice in retreat and went down the mountain. This time, he met a person, who was using a feather to scrub an enormously big rock. Master Asanga asked that person what he was doing. That person said, “This big rock blocks sunlight. I am grinding it to make it smaller, so that sunlight can shine into my room.” Upon hearing that, Asanga was alerted and began to introspect himself, “This person can be so unyielding in doing such a ridiculous thing. Comparing to him, I am so ashamed. I receded from my determination just because of a small setback!” With regret he again returned to his retreat chamber in the mountain.
Thus, another three years passed. Master Asanga was still unable to see Maitreya Bodhisattva appearing. At last, he receded from his determination once more. With discouragement, he left the retreat chamber again. On the way of coming down from the mountain, he saw a dying old dog, whose body had already begun to rot. The wounds were totally covered by maggots that were diffusing an awful stench. Compassion rose in Master Asanga toward this dog. He cut off a piece of flesh from his own body to feed the dog and also intended to remove the many maggots from the dog’s wounds. At that time, Master Asanga thought, “These maggots have very tender and fragile bodies. If I use my coarse fingers to move them, they will definitely be harmed.” Therefore, he decided to use his tongue to carefully lick up the maggots to move them to an inhabitable place for them. However, those maggots really looked very terrible. Master Asanga had to kneel on the ground and close his eyes. He then lowered his body to lick the maggots with his tongue.
As he was lowering his body, Master Asanga actually felt that his tongue was touching the ground. He opened his eyes and saw that the dog was no longer there. The solemn and majestic Maitreya Bodhisattva was standing in front of him. After the moment of excitement, Master Asanga asked Maitreya Bodhisattva, “I wholeheartedly prayed and beseeched you, revered Bodhisattva, to manifest before me for the last twelve years. Why didn’t you?”
Maitreya Bodhisattva replied, “Starting from the first day when you entered the retreat and began to pray, I was with you and next to you at every moment. However, due to the obstruction by your karmic forces, you were never able to see me. Through your diligent cultivation and practice during these twelve years, most of the karmic hindrance has been purified. Additionally, you generated great compassion in the occasion that just passed. Now all your karmic hindrance has been removed. That is why you can see me now! If you do not believe what I said, you can carry me on your shoulder and walk around at the market to see if people can see me.”
Thus, Master Asanga carried Maitreya Bodhisattva on his shoulder and walked to the market. While walking, he yelled to people, “What do you see that is on my shoulder?” People all thought that he had mental problems. They laughed and said, “There is nothing!” Only one old lady said that he was carrying a dog with scabies. Thus, Master Asanga was totally convinced and free of any doubt. Uncommon respect and faith rose in him toward Maitreya Bodhisattva.
After meeting Maitreya Bodhisattva, Master Asanga politely sought teaching from the Bodhisattva. Maitreya Bodhisattva asked, “What do you want to learn?” Master Asanga said, “My wish is to propagate the Mahayana Dharma.” Maitreya Bodhisattva was delighted to hear that and brought him to the pure land within the Tusita Heaven. Maitreya Bodhisattva expounded to him the precious views of Mahayana Buddhism and the “Five Shastras (Commentaries) by Maitreya.” The teachings enlightened Master Asanga like pushing away clouds to see the Sun. Many doubts that he had had before were completely removed. Since then, he followed Maitreya Bodhisattva’s teaching to dedicate himself to study “the View of Emptiness of Mahayana Buddhism.” Maitreya Bodhisattva gave him a series of discourses and also explained the essence of the Mahayana sutras to him in detail. Master Asanga was enlightened from listening to the teachings and basically gained the understanding and proficiency in the sutras and shastras of Mahayana Buddhism. Later, Master Asanga also practiced the Dharma of Sunlight Samadhi. Through learning and practicing diligently, he eventually attained holy accomplishment. From then on, he was able to understand what he could not before and could forever remember all Buddhist scriptures he read. Later, he built a big lecture hall and dedicated himself to expound all Mahayana sutras to the great masses.
Master Asanga lived in the world for 150 years and made great contributions to the undertaking of widely propagating the teachings and dharmas of Mahayana Buddhism. He benefited countless living beings.
I Am Grateful to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. I recall that it was 2007. At that time I just changed my job and thus was very busy. Sometimes I had to work overtime for the whole night and still had to work the next day. Doing that for long was more than what my body and mind could bear. I was like a robot working continuously without stop. I felt that human life was just for the three meals and I had to work incessantly.
Also, I had to spend considerable time and mental effort. Therefore, sometimes I would feel sad for no obvious reason. It was until my friend led me to the Bodhi Monastery in LA to listen respectfully to the recorded dharma discourses expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Then, my whole person was like being fully charged and my heart was filled by indescribable joy, as if I had found a treasure that could let my mind feel satisfaction and pleasure. Since then, I always went to Bodhi Monastery on holidays and whenever I had time.
Also at that time, due to being too tired from so much work, I had chronic headache. When the pain came, it was truly horrible. I felt so painful like being hit by a hammer. My nose bled sometimes too. I went to doctors for that and had all kinds of examinations, but no cause could be found. At that time, I thought about reducing my workload, but was afraid of affecting the work progress. Also, that could not alleviate my problem of headache either. I was very much plagued and did not know what I should do.
Once, after listening respectfully to the recorded dharma discourses expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, I chatted with a dharma master of the monastery about my physical situation. The dharma master gave me a red-colored holy pill (nectar pill) and let me take it orally. After returning home, I felt that my body was like being pinched by needles, as if undergoing a session of acupuncture. The feeling traveled like flowing throughout my body. I did not give much thought about that at the time. Then, without knowing how long it was after that, I suddenly realized while at work that I no longer had headache or nose bleeding recently. At that time, I recalled the sense and feeling I had after taking the nectar pill and returning home. I was moved to tears. I had this illness of headache for quite a few years. It could not be cured by treatment. I was very excited and shouted spontaneously:
I am grateful to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III! I am grateful to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III! I am grateful to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III! His Holiness the Buddha let me have this karmic condition to encounter the true dharma of the Tathagata and let me receive empowerment physically and mentally. I am willing to continuously make my effort in my entire life to follow H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to learn the true dharma of the Tathagata and I will never stop.
