Master Qingding paid homage to his teacher. (Image source: video tape taken by Mr. Zhu Shiyong)
Recently, a group of video tapes that had been sealed for over 20 years were made public. Among them were historical footage of contemporary monks paying homage to their teachers. The disciples included the 29th generation successor of the Tibetan Kagyu sect, the Great Moon Tathagata Kangsa lineage, and the contemporary Han Chinese leader of the Yellow Sect, Master Qingding. The act of paying homage by the monks attracted special attention.
In the video, Master Qingding paid homage to a young person and learned Buddhism under his guidance. It turned out that the teacher whom Master Qingding paid homage to was the third incarnation of the Buddha, the true body of the Buddha, who descended to the world. Although the image quality was not as high-resolution as modern ones due to the limitations of filming standards and equipment at that time, it left an indelible historical testimony in the Buddhist world today.
Master Qingding (1903-1999, please refer to Wikipedia "Shi Qingding") once served as the Executive Director of the Chinese Buddhist Association, Vice President of the Sichuan Buddhist Association, and abbot of the Zhaojue Temple in Chengdu (please refer to Wikipedia "Zhaojue Temple"). In his middle age, he achieved profound understanding of both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism, and was highly respected by eminent monks. He was praised by Zhao Puchu, an outstanding Buddhist leader, renowned calligrapher, famous social activist, and great patriot of China, as a rare high monk in China.
Testimony by Zhu Shiyong, pages one and two. (Image source: provided by Mr. Zhu Shiyong)
During his lay life, Master Qingding studied at Guangzhou University and Huangpu Military Academy, and held the rank of junior officer. In 1941, he became a monk and was known as the leader of the Daoist community, with great influence and disciples numbering in the hundreds of thousands worldwide.
At that time, Zhu Shiyong, who was in charge of photography, witnessed the entire process of Master Qingding paying homage to the third incarnation of the Buddha, accompanied by Ven. Shi Yanfa (please refer to Wikipedia "Shi Yanfa") and Ven. Shi Mingnian. Zhu Shiyong personally signed a document, guaranteeing with his personal integrity, family, and property that everything he stated was true and being willing to bear legal responsibility.
According to Zhu Shiyong's memoir written in September 2016, one summer day in 1993, around 10 o'clock in the morning, the contemporary leader of the four great Chinese high monks, Master Qingding, the abbot of the thousand-year-old Zen temple Zhaojue Temple in Chengdu, came with his attendant, Ven. Yanfa (the current abbot of Zhaojue Temple), and Ven. Mingnian to seek an audience with the third incarnation of the Buddha. The other members of the group waited in the outer hall, while Master Qingding went in alone. With the support of the bearded man (the attendant of the third incarnation of the Buddha at that time), Master Qingding slowly walked to the center of the Buddha hall, faced the third incarnation of the Buddha, and paid homage as a disciple. Master Qingding stood up, knelt down, stood up again, and knelt down again... He paid homage four times. After paying homage, H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha said to Master Qingding, "Master Qingding, from now on, you are my disciple. Since you are my disciple, you should follow my conduct and practice according to my methods step by step. Please sit on the cushion..." and let Master Qingding sit on the cushion opposite him to listen to the teachings of Buddhism. Master Qingding listened attentively with great respect for about ten minutes. Finally, after receiving the blessings from H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha, Master Qingding requested to receive the empowerment and transmission of the Dharma from H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha. H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha agreed at that time, and Ven. Yanfa and Ven. Mingnian also came in to pay their respects to H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha. Afterwards, H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha was going to transmit the Dharma to Master Qingding. It took about two hours, and Master Qingding was very happy and walked out with a smile, full of joy. Finally, H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha invited him, his attendant Ven. Yanfa, and Ven. Mingnian to have lunch in the Buddha hall. (Excerpt from Zhu Shiyong's records).
During Master Qingding's lifetime, he also wrote a preface for the "Lectures on the Heart Sutra" written by H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha, which was published by the World Dharma Voice Publishing House. In the preface, the venerable master wrote, "Looking through the chapters of history, the ancient masters have given many teachings on the commentary of the Heart Sutra. Each one reveals the profound use of the Dharma, and their praises are endless. Recently, I had the honor to read the commentary on the Heart Sutra written by an anonymous practitioner (Master Yun Gao) [Note: H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha], which truly opens the door to wisdom. This commentary can be called a shining gem in the present and past, with flawless wisdom and surpassing all ancient masters... I am deeply impressed and cannot help but prostrate myself in admiration, and write this preface to praise the true and non-deceptive meaning...".
Testimony by Zhu Shiyong, pages three and four. (Image source: provided by Mr. Zhu Shiyong)
In June 1999, the same year H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha settled in the United States, the venerable Master Qingding passed away. At that time, Ven. Yanfa, who was his attendant, was appointed as the abbot of Zhaojue Temple in Chengdu and became the 18th generation abbot on December 23, 2004.
The publicized video also includes footage of the 13th generation patriarch of Mount Emei, Venerable Puguan, welcoming H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha to the first Buddhist temple in southern China, the Kaifa Temple in Wuzhong Mountain, as well as the scene of the venerable Master Yun Gao, one of the two Han Chinese Gelug sect leaders in the world and the president of the American Tantric Association, paying homage. The historical footage of these renowned monks paying homage further confirms the true identity of H.H. the third incarnation of the Buddha, who is the true body of the Buddha descended to the world! (China Times)