Great Buddhist Masters Gathered, Joy and Happiness Filled the Air#
(Hong Kong News) On March 23rd, in Hong Kong's Lantau Island, a group of Buddhist practitioners dressed in robes and various types of Buddhist attire gathered at the International Expo Center. The crowd surged, creating an unprecedented scene for the "Third Dujie Qiangfo Grand Dharma Assembly and the Launch of the True Meaning of the Heart Sutra." This is the largest religious event in Hong Kong's history, and the various holy relics displayed during the assembly are unparalleled in human history, so miraculous that they are indescribable yet factual.
More than 28,000 Buddhist organizations participated in this grand assembly, and in addition, there were countless Buddhist practitioners in casual attire. The event was organized by the International Buddhist Sangha Association. At the beginning of the assembly, the great masters and venerables sat on the podium, each with a "Certificate of Holy Virtue" hanging in front of them, representing their level of spiritual attainment. This solemn and magnificent scene was truly awe-inspiring. It was explained that the Certificate of Holy Virtue has multiple levels, with the number of stars representing the depth of spiritual attainment, with the Sun and Moon Wheel being higher than the Shumil Wheel. Obtaining the Certificate of Holy Virtue is not an easy task; one must demonstrate profound knowledge of the scriptures and extraordinary abilities, and pass the assessment to obtain it. The seriousness with which they treat the selection of holy individuals amazed the reporters, and they admired it greatly.
The highest level of the Certificate of Holy Virtue seen by the reporter was the two-star Sun and Moon Wheel, held by the eighty-year-old Lutongzan Dharma King. Lutongzan Dharma King is the Chairman of the United Nations International World Buddhist Headquarters and was invited to attend the conference. He was the first to speak and set the tone for the conference. The second highest level, the three-star Shumil Wheel, was held by Master Zhide, the Abbot of the International Buddhist Sangha Association. Other speakers included Master Longhui, the Chairman of the International Buddhist Sangha Association, and Living Buddha Zaxi Zhuoma, the Abbot of the Diamond Throne Temple. In their speeches, they respectfully praised H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo as the only Buddha who was born after the passing of Shakyamuni Buddha. The establishment of this fact cannot be represented by the title of a Buddha or determined by anyone; it is the perfect level of a Buddha manifested by H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo's unprecedented state of enlightenment and supreme achievements, which they referred to as the highest level of perfect enlightenment. Master Zhide solemnly announced, "The true Buddha has come to this world, and that is H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo!"
Lutongzan Dharma King said to a master, "This is an obvious fact. From ancient times to the present, there is no famous and accomplished saint who can be compared to H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo in terms of the Five Wisdoms and the accomplishments of the Exoteric and Esoteric teachings. If we compare according to the standards set by Shakyamuni Buddha for the Five Wisdoms and the Exoteric and Esoteric teachings, it is clear that H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo is the true Buddha who has come to this world! Let alone other things, just the fact that the "True Meaning of the Heart Sutra" spoken by H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo has attracted the protection of the Dharma Dragon and the Buddha, and has brought down the three-colored nectar, how great is this! Even if we recite several excellent sutras, we cannot possibly have such a sacred scene of reverence. At most, we may see some illusory clouds and Buddha lights, but there can be no physical evidence. The reason is simple: the sutras were not personally spoken by the Buddha, but were compiled by the Arhats based on their memories. As for the present-day great Dharma Kings and high-ranking monks, it is even more impossible for their teachings to have any hope of attracting sacred relics, because there has never been such a thing in history. Including myself, Lutongzan, I do not have such a high level of spiritual attainment or abilities, and I am not qualified to receive the Buddha's nectar. What we need to do that day is to gather the six types of holy water and bless the first edition seal of the "True Meaning of the Heart Sutra." We never expected that the Buddha himself would come down and congratulate the publication of the "True Meaning of the Heart Sutra"! What I am saying is a sincere and heartfelt statement, not a mockery or a derogation of anyone, but a statement of truth. One Dharma King told me today that his teachings are also authentic. I said to him, 'If anyone claims that their teachings are the highest true Dharma of the Tathagata, then they should also have a book launch. If the Buddha also descends and brings down the nectar, then I will take refuge in him. Empty words can be spoken by anyone, but who has actually achieved it in the face of facts? Only one person - H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo. Apart from him, there is no other holy being in the present who has such a level of spiritual attainment!"
After the speeches by the holy masters, the conference also played a video of the Buddha descending and bringing down the nectar when the holy water was gathered. The video was not edited at all, and the holy relics were real and true. It was truly a moment of great wind and thunder at the conference, with all the saints paying their respects and the Buddha descending with nectar, passing through the crystal bowl.
Sacred Bowls and Sacred Images, Unprecedented in the World#
The scene of the conference visiting the "Chamber of Sacred Relics" was particularly moving. As tens of thousands of people entered the Chamber of Sacred Relics one after another, waves of excitement and astonishment could be heard, and the crowded people pushed forward, making it impossible to stop. There were five sacred objects in the Chamber of Sacred Relics, one of which was the purple-gold copper bowl mentioned by Lutongzan Dharma King, into which unexpected nectar descended. The other four were comparison photos of the sacred relics of the Third Dujie Qiangfo's rejuvenation. The first photo was from twenty years ago, in 1994, showing H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo wearing a master's robe. The second photo was from 2012, showing H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo aging into his eighties after taking on the negative karma of sentient beings for three months, with a face full of vicissitudes and exhaustion. However, when H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo publicly practiced the Dharma, he rejuvenated from his elderly appearance of over eighty years to a young man of eighteen or nineteen in just over ten minutes. This is the third photo - H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo's rejuvenation into a young man of incomparable handsomeness. The fourth photo was taken in February 2012, showing H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo giving a sermon at the Huazang Temple in San Francisco, with big bright eyes, a kind gaze, and a dignified demeanor. The comparison of these photos is truly moving! Especially the young appearance after rejuvenation, with its unique and beautiful features, unparalleled in the world. It is exactly as described by Master Longhui, a distant and mysterious divine realm, surpassing even the most beautiful fairies. A monk said, "What ordinary people know about Buddhism is usually about renouncing the world and seeking enlightenment in a desolate environment. But they don't know that this is a misunderstanding based on partial understanding. Buddhism has 84,000 Dharma doors. Today, thanks to the blessings of H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo, we have the opportunity to witness such a fascinating and auspicious rejuvenation Dharma!"
Master Longhui said, "We have witnessed with our own eyes the rejuvenation of the Buddha Master, it is real and not illusory. When the Buddha Master practiced the Dharma in front of everyone, in an instant, he transformed from an elderly person in his eighties to a young and handsome teenager of less than twenty years old. Who else besides the Buddha Master can achieve such a stunning rejuvenation? Who else? But the Buddha Master firmly opposes calling it a rejuvenation Dharma, stating that it is clearly the effect of medical treatment. However, let's think about it, can the power of medicine produced by human beings turn a person in their seventies or eighties back into a young person in just one or two years, or even ten or eight years? There has never been such a thing in history, let alone transforming an eighty-year-old into a young person in their twenties in just over ten minutes. What kind of medicine is this? If such medicine really exists, then the appearance of the entire human race would change! Worldly methods simply cannot achieve this, only the Buddha Master can. This shows that it is not a worldly method. But the Buddha Master said: In the practice of Buddhism, the most important thing is to cultivate great compassion and benefit others, to help others and find joy in doing so, and to realize the true meaning of prajna wisdom. Therefore, you must repeatedly read and practice the "True Meaning of the Heart Sutra," which is more effective than medical treatment for the human body, and more effective than reversing aging and regaining youth. This is the path to enlightenment."
The "True Meaning of the Heart Sutra" that everyone received in order became their most precious possession and the greatest hope for liberation from life and death. This classic is a treasure trove of blessings that brings immeasurable happiness to practitioners throughout their lives. It is the perfect embodiment of the blessings, wisdom, and liberation achieved by H.H. the Third Dujie Qiangfo, and it is the true Dharma of the Tathagata! (Adapted from a special report in the World Forum Daily)
More than 28,000 Buddhist organizations from around the world and tens of thousands of people attended the Third Dujie Qiangfo Grand Dharma Assembly, making it an unprecedented event in the religious history of Hong Kong.