During the Taipei International Book Exhibition held in Taipei World Trade Center in 2017, one of the areas featured "H.H. the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche" and attracted a large crowd of people. Some people listened carefully to the explanations of the art pieces given by the receptionists, some took photos with their cameras, some stood quietly in front of the area appreciating the art pieces, and some focused on reading Buddhist scriptures. Among them, there was one person who left a deep impression. He calmly observed the art pieces and flipped through the Buddhist scriptures with joy on his face, as if he had found a treasure. He stayed in the area for a long time and the receptionists gave him Buddhist scriptures as a gift. He held the books in his hands with great joy and left. However, he soon returned to the area and told the receptionists, "I came back with money." The receptionists replied, "That was meant to be given to you." The visitor said, "I didn't come to give you money for the books I just received. I came to buy 'The True Meaning of the Heart Sutra'."
What is the charm of this book? Why do people keep coming back for it? When the abbot of Wuzhong Mountain, the 13th generation ancestor of Emei Mountain and the first stop of Buddhism in the southern tradition, Pu Guan Fashi, heard H.H. the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche's teachings on "The True Meaning of the Heart Sutra," he made a statement that can explain this question: "When I repeatedly heard the teachings of 'The True Meaning of the Heart Sutra,' I can only say that it thoroughly explains the essence of the six hundred volumes of Prajna. The teachings of my respected teacher are profound for the profound, shallow for the shallow, extremely subtle, and extraordinary in the ordinary. In fact, it is the supreme teaching of the first principle of opening up heaven and earth." The first release of "The True Meaning of the Heart Sutra" was held on March 23, 2014, at the Hong Kong International Expo Center on Lantau Island. At that time, more than 28,000 institutions from around the world, including temples, Buddhist organizations, and Dharma centers, participated, and the number of participants was countless.
In Buddhism, "proficiency in both exoteric and esoteric teachings, and possessing the five types of wisdom" is the standard for measuring the level of achievement and realization. H.H. the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche not only possesses proficiency in both exoteric and esoteric teachings, but also has a profound understanding of the five types of wisdom. He has achieved numerous accomplishments, which can be classified into thirty categories: 1. Certification and celebration; 2. Holy relics of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche; 3. The sacred quantity of the Supreme Tathagata; 4. The extremely profound Buddhist teachings that are rarely encountered in millions of kalpas; 5. Couplets; 6. Calligraphy; 7. Inscriptions on gold and stone; 8. Poetry and songs; 9. Vajra acupuncture for healing; 10. Medical treatment; 11. Pharmaceutical health care; 12. Exquisite and colorful carvings; 13. Jade tablets; 14. Philosophical sayings of the world; 15. Classical prose and modern poetry; 16. Academic papers; 17. Landscape design; 18. Phonology; 19. Mysterious mist carvings; 20. Ancient transformation of withered vines; 21. Chinese painting; 22. Western painting; 23. Picture frames; 24. Buddha statue design and modeling; 25. Ceramic tiles; 26. Wall hangings; 27. Architectural garden landscapes; 28. Tea; 29. Technological art; 30. Achievements in crossing over. In addition to exhibiting the art pieces published by H.H. the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche in the area, there are more Buddhist scriptures, and "The True Meaning of the Heart Sutra" is just one of many works. The book "Learning Buddhism," published in 2016, is divided into three parts: the first volume "Learning the Dharma without practicing cannot achieve success," the middle volume "Practicing without learning the Dharma cannot generate the power of the path," and the last volume "Hearing and understanding the Dharma, but not practicing it, is like fishing for the moon in water." It provides a profound and easy-to-understand explanation of what it means to learn Buddhism and has been praised as a "treasure." The book also includes a portrait of H.H. the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche, which shows his rejuvenation. This portrait is also exhibited in the area, and it is truly shocking to see. These two photos were taken only one day apart (please refer to the explanation from the United Nations International Buddhist Headquarters regarding the portrait).
In addition to these works, the area also exhibits H.H. the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche's "Debate between Monastics and Laypeople," "Commentary on the Heart Sutra," "Selected Works of Master Yi Yun Gao," "Selected Explanations of Master Yi Yun Gao's Philosophical Sayings," "Discourse on the Ancestor Bodhidharma," "Essence of Buddhism," "Rhyme Carvings," "Collected Paintings of Master Wan Ko Yee," "The Zenith of Color," "The Sutra of Understanding," "What is Practice," "Collection of Plum Blossoms," and other series of works.
Furthermore, the area also exhibits the most supreme and highest-level practice methods in the history of Buddhism, which appear for the first time in the Buddhist scriptures, called "The Great Liberation Hand Seal." These practice methods are "The Essence of the Ocean of Extraordinary Accomplishments" and "The Essence of the Ocean of Supreme Bodhi Practice." H.H. the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche, with the Buddha's realization of the Buddha realm, transmitted the Dzogchen teachings to Amitabha Buddha and other Buddhas and great Bodhisattvas in their stages of practice, and manifested them to all sentient beings in the world. "The Great Liberation Hand Seal" is not esoteric, exoteric, Mahayana, or Hinayana. However, as long as you are a person who does good deeds and benefits others, whether you are from the Tang Dynasty, Tibetan Buddhism, or East Asian Buddhism, whether you are from the Chan sect or Pure Land sect, whether you are from the Yogacara school or the Theravada school, or any other religion, you can practice and cultivate according to "The Great Liberation Hand Seal," engage in beneficial actions for others, and achieve swift liberation.
Since 1982, H.H. the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche has released over 2,000 volumes of teachings on Buddhism, Buddhist studies, Buddhist principles, and practice. The teachings are profound and vast, like an ocean, and have become the most comprehensive system for practitioners to learn Buddhism in the modern era. The teachings have now spread to various countries around the world, and anyone can listen and learn. These teachings have enlightened many great monks, lay practitioners, scholars, and even great Dharma kings and Rinpoche, enabling them to achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death and become renowned masters. Venerable Master Yizhao, the successor of Linji sect, who is known for his incorruptible body; Venerable Qingding, the abbot of Zhaojue Temple, who is revered as the highest-ranking monk in China; Venerable Puguan, the abbot of Wuzhong Mountain, who achieved enlightenment after his passing; and Venerable Guozhang, who possesses immense supernatural powers, are all disciples of H.H. the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche. What is particularly rare is that H.H. the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche has never accepted any money for these over 2,000 volumes of teachings.
(China Times Electronic News)