Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lee (Holy Miracles Temple and Sanger Mission donated pet food and care supplies to the animals at the Lange Foundation)
During the 15-day Lunar New Year celebration characterized by familial reunions and time-honored rituals, Holy Miracles Temple in Pasadena and Jen Chen Buddhism Sanger Mission organized the charity campaign “Charitable Acts to Benefit Our Community Together.” This long-running initiative partners the temple with local non-profit organizations to promote and distribute the donation of goods, bringing warmth and hope to those in need.
The Holy Miracles Temple upholds the teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, by cultivating the Four Immeasurable Minds – kindness, compassion, joy, and almsgiving. The Temple extends the compassionate embrace beyond its halls, spearheading an initiative to collect essential provisions for the less fortunate. The donation drive focused on clients of local non-profits. Devotees and volunteers worked throughout the Lunar New Year Festival to gather donations for people and animals in need.
Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lee (Holy Miracles Temple and Sanger Mission donated personal care supplies, baby diapers, and other essential materials to Elizabeth House, an organization dedicated to supporting pregnant women and mothers)
Collected items included high-protein foods (meat, legumes, dairy), non-perishable goods (rice, flour, canned foods), children’s and infant products (diapers, formula milk), as well as hygiene products (soap, toothpaste, toilet paper). All goods were donated to three organizations in nearby communities: the Lange Foundation, Friends In Deed, and Elizabeth House.
Tim Nistler, the Program Director for the Friends In Deed Food Pantry, expressed deep gratitude for the donation drive initiated by Holy Miracles Temple and Sanger Mission. Friends In Deed Food Pantry currently provides food to about 700 households weekly. They could not carry out this relief work without the communities’ support. With the motto ‘Together we can do what we cannot do alone,’ the organization notes that its core values align with the Buddhist principles of compassion and altruism.
Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lee (Tim Nistler, the Program Director for the Friends In Deed Food Pantry, expressed deep gratitude for the donation drive initiated by Holy Miracles Temple and Sanger Mission for three consecutive years.)
Megan Fenner, the executive director for Lange Foundation, a non-profit animal rescue, explained that the Foundation rescues animals that require medical care and are less likely to be adopted from the city shelters. She said that they were extremely grateful to receive a substantial donation from Holy Miracles Temple and Sanger Mission.
Terry Bright, the Interim Executive for Elizabeth House, also thanked the Temple and Mission for the donations of personal care items, diapers, and other supplements. Having served the San Gabriel Valley for 30 years, Elizebeth House supports pregnant women aged 18 and over — many with children 5 and under — providing care from pregnancy through 4 months postpartum and helping them transition to more independent living or transitional housing. On behalf of the organization, Terry expressed sincere appreciation to everyone who chose Elizabeth House to receive these donations.
Holy Miracles Temple propagates the teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, wishing that all sentient beings will be liberated from suffering. Temple representatives stated that Buddhists cultivate compassion by helping others. The Temple has been active in community public welfare through partnerships with various local organizations. Its ongoing charitable activities not only provide substantial aid but also demonstrate the power of cross-sector cooperation, inspiring more people to care for society and bring greater warmth, hope, and peace to the world.
The Ten Virtues | A Simple Introduction to Buddhism
The Ten Virtues
One should contemplate and deeply reflect upon the Ten Good Virtues. As the Buddha taught, the practice of these virtues will undoubtedly bring great benefit. If one strays from them, one should immediately correct oneself.
1. One does not kill. Rather, one saves lives by freeing captive animals and people.
2. One does not steal. Rather, one performs charity.
3. One does not engage in sexual misconduct. Rather, one practices chastity.
4. One does not lie. Rather, one speaks the truth.
5. One does not speak filthy, inappropriate, or idle words. Rather, one speaks upright words.
6. One does not speak in ways that cause division among people. Rather, one speaks words that bring about peace and accord among people.
7. One does not use coarse or harsh language. Rather, one speaks gentle words.
8. One is not lustful or greedy. Rather, one practices the meditation on the repulsiveness of the body and worldly objects.
9. One is not angry. Rather, one practices the meditation on loving-kindness and compassion.
10. One is not ignorant. Rather, one practices the meditation on the twelve links that constitute the chain of conditioned arising.
When over a hundred great Dharma Kings, Regents, and Rinpoches from various Buddhist traditions throughout the world lawfully recognized, in accordance with Buddhist precepts, that Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the reincarnation of the ancient Buddha, Buddhist disciples around the globe rejoiced in celebration. The descent of Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III brings to the beings of this Dharma-ending age the correct and unerring True Dharma of the Tathagata that leads to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. How fortunate living beings are to personally hear the teachings of the Buddha—there is now hope for attaining enlightenment in this very lifetime!
Online Slander and Misunderstanding of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Holy State
However, some people on the internet refuse to face the legitimate recognitions, the holy realization, and the perfect mastery of the Five Vidyās and teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III with reason or correct understanding. Instead, they fabricate rumors, spread insults, slander, defamation, and false accusations—maliciously twisting facts, inventing lies, and making baseless claims. They use vulgar words, forge fake documents, false notices, and false statements, and even create distorted images and mocking content—doing everything they can to attack H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Through their own words and actions, they merely expose their ignorance and lack of virtue.
Some say, “A Buddha or Bodhisattva is realized through practice, not by ‘recognition.’” “Shakyamuni Buddha didn’t need a certificate of recognition.” But their purpose is clear—to stop more people from learning the true Buddha Dharma and attaining liberation!
So, does a Buddha need recognition when descending into the world?
A Practice for the Benefit of Sentient Beings.
A Buddha is one of unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment and complete wisdom. The reason one is a Buddha lies in their realization and enlightenment—not because of any recognition by others. No matter how great a Dharma King, Regent, or Rinpoche may be, their level of realization is far inferior to that of a Buddha; thus, any recognition they offer to a Buddha would be, in essence, just a piece of paper of no value to the Buddha.
However, because sentient beings in this world often lack the wisdom to discern between true and false saints, between genuine Buddha Dharma and false teachings that imitate Buddhism, they may easily be misled by superficial appearances and deviant views. Therefore, for the benefit of sentient beings, by following the Buddhist tradition of formal recognition, those virtuous masters issued such recognitions that help people give rise to faith and thus be saved. This is an act of right knowledge and right view.
The Example of Master Padmasambhava and the Importance of Recognition
Master Padmasambhava
When Master Padmasambhava first went to Tibet to propagate the Dharma, he was not greeted with respectful welcoming crowds. Instead, the Tibetan people were terrified and shouted, “Quick! Drive out this sorcerer who performs strange magic without lineage transmission! Do not let him deceive us with his witchcraft!” They even lifted him up and threw him into a muddy pit. Later, Master Padmasambhava returned to India and asked two renowned masters to write letters of recognition. Only then did Buddhism begin to flourish in Tibet. In fact, those two masters later became Master Padmasambhava’s disciples.
Therefore, when Buddhas or Bodhisattvas reincarnate and manifest again in this world, undergoing recognition according to Buddhist rules is not for their own sake, but for the sake of helping sentient beings generate faith and thereby be liberated.
Indeed, the realization and attainment of a Buddha or Bodhisattva come from their own cultivation and enlightenment. The realization, virtue, and attainment of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are the manifestation of their supreme enlightenment. The pure and flawless conduct of Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, His mastery of both exoteric and esoteric teachings, His perfect command of the Five Vidyās, and His countless acts of liberating sentient beings—all fully demonstrate the enlightenment and realization of a true Buddha!
Therefore, I sincerely advise those who slander: repent sincerely before the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, or karmic retribution will not spare you! At the same time, I compassionately remind all who truly wish to learn and practice Buddhism: we live in the Dharma ending age, when confusion prevails, and the nature of the demonic offspring is to destroy the Dharma and obstruct sentient beings from learning the true path. Kind-hearted beings, please open your eyes of wisdom, discern the true from the false, and do not be deceived by demonic forces—lest you miss the supreme Dharma opportunity that can bring you liberation from birth and death in this very lifetime!