World Journal September 26, 2020 report:
World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and Conferring Committee:
The conferral of the title of World Buddhist Pope to H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha is unchangeable.
On September 24, 2020, Ms. Suzi Leggett, Chairwoman of the World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee, visited the Holy Land Temple affiliated with the World Buddhist Headquarters. On behalf of the World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee, she made the ultimate announcement: the revocation of the ordination decree and the papal scepter of H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha as the Buddhist Pope is invalid. The position of the World Buddhist Pope can only belong to H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha, and no one else has the right to replace it!
As early as 2018, after detailed investigation and evaluation by the World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee, H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha was officially ordained as the World Buddhist Pope. The ordination decree and the papal scepter were signed and awarded by Mr. Han Myung-soo, the Chairman of the two committees at that time. However, to everyone's surprise, the Third Dzogchen Buddha had no feeling for the lofty position and great honor of "World Buddhist Pope" and did not accept the ordination. The Third Dzogchen Buddha said, "In the Buddhist world, there are titles such as Buddha, Bodhisattva, Dharma King, Living Buddha, Master, Great Monk, and Holy Virtue. There is no need for a Pope. I am a humble practitioner and cannot bear this heavy responsibility." When the World Buddhist Headquarters presented the received ordination decree and papal scepter to H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha, H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha saw the image of Sakyamuni Buddha on the scepter and immediately raised the papal scepter above his head to show respect to the Lord Buddha. However, unexpectedly, H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha directly returned the ordination decree and papal scepter to the World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee.
In this announcement, Chairwoman Leggett said, "For decades, our committee has awarded the World Peace Prize to President Reagan, Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Rabin, and many presidents and prime ministers of various countries. There has never been a precedent for returning the prize. Any decision made and implemented by our committee is a very serious and solemn decision that cannot be changed... The act of H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha returning the papal scepter and ordination decree is invalid. The position of the World Buddhist Pope belongs only to H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha, and no one else can use it. This is a permanent and unchangeable conclusion!" Since H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha still refuses to accept, Chairwoman Leggett immediately handed over the returned ordination decree and papal scepter to the World Buddhist Headquarters.
Representing the World Buddhist Headquarters, Venerable Mozhi received the ordination decree and papal scepter from the two committees and stated, "The World Buddhist Headquarters believes that the decision of the two committees is correct and wise! Since the nirvana of Sakyamuni Buddha, there has been no supreme leader of the Buddhist community like the Buddha himself. However, the position of the Pope must be held by a leader qualified to represent not just one Buddhist sect, but the entire Buddhist community. Only the leader who can encompass the entire Buddhist community, like the Buddha himself, can hold this position. H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha perfectly embodies the teachings of Buddhism and meets the standards recognized by various sects. He embodies the essence of the Buddha and has the realization of the Buddha's wisdom. No one else can meet this standard. Only H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha can bear the sacred and incomparable responsibility of the Buddhist Pope and guide the correct path of Buddhist learning. Therefore, on behalf of the Buddhists, the World Buddhist Headquarters is very grateful for the final decision made by the World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee."
Below is the joint resolution read by Chairwoman Suzi Leggett of the World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee:
The conferral of the title of World Buddhist Pope to H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha is unchangeable, and our committee refuses to revoke the ordination decree.
The current world of Buddhism is quite chaotic, and there must be an absolute Buddhist leader to lead and correct the direction. All Buddhists know that the true highest leader of world Buddhism, apart from the Buddha, is not qualified to be ranked as the highest leader of world Buddhism, regardless of whether they are great Bodhisattvas, Dharma Kings, high-ranking lamas, or great masters. Especially in today's Buddhist world, there are many false living Buddhas and masters who do not possess true Buddhist qualities, causing the entire world of Buddhism to fall into chaos and confusion.
For traditional and legitimate Buddhism, there are dozens of sects such as Esoteric Buddhism, Exoteric Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Theravada Buddhism. Regardless of how high the Dharma Kings and great masters of each sect are, they can only lead their own sects. However, within their own sect systems, there are also many false living Buddhas and masters who are ignorant of the scriptures and teachings, pretending to be great monks and virtuous beings. As a result, the legitimate Buddhism established by Sakyamuni Buddha has unknowingly been mixed with non-Buddhist teachings and even heretical doctrines. The main reason for this is the lack of a supreme leader for the entire Buddhism, a holder of the correct teachings and orthodox Dharma.
Considering that the Dharma Kings, patriarchs, and great masters of various sects can only lead their own sects and do not possess the qualifications to be the leader of the entire Buddhism, the only one who can represent the entire Buddhism is the Buddha himself, just as God governs everything in Catholicism and guides its doctrines. From the time of Sakyamuni Buddha to the present, there is only one true Buddha recognized by all major sects in the world, and that is H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha. The certification letter and congratulatory letters written and endorsed by leaders, Dharma Kings, regents, and great living Buddhas of various major sects have reached over a hundred, making it an unprecedented certification feat. Especially the substantial realization and complete perfection of the Buddha's wisdom, which makes H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha the first person in the entire Buddhism. His selfless virtue is loved and respected by all, and only H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha possesses the essence and nature of the Buddha. There is no second Buddhist master in the world who possesses such qualifications. Only H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha can bear the sacred and incomparable responsibility of the Buddhist Pope and guide the correct path of Buddhist learning.
Chairman Han Myung-soo of the World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and I, together with the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee, have made the final decision after two years of efforts and rigorous examination. On January 31, 2018, the ordination decree and papal scepter of the World Buddhist Pope were officially awarded to H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha. Since then, H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha has officially ascended to the throne of the World Buddhist Pope.
Therefore, the World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee officially conferred the title of World Buddhist Pope to H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha in January 2018. However, at that time, H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha refused to accept the ordination and scepter, stating, "In the Buddhist world, there are titles such as Buddha, Bodhisattva, Dharma King, Living Buddha, Master, Great Monk, and Holy Virtue. There is no need for a Pope. I am a humble practitioner and cannot bear this heavy responsibility." Therefore, the World Buddhist Headquarters accepted the ordination and took the scepter on behalf of H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha.
However, H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha returned the ordination decree and papal scepter to the World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee. The two committees believe that H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha's return of the ordination decree and papal scepter is illegal. The World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee have carefully and seriously examined and decided to ordain the Buddhist Pope, and it cannot be revoked casually. This is the decision of the two committees and cannot be decided by H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha alone.
For decades, our committee has awarded the World Peace Prize to President Reagan, Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Rabin, and many presidents and prime ministers of various countries. There has never been a precedent for returning the prize. Any decision made and implemented by our committee is a very serious and solemn decision that cannot be changed. Therefore, the World Peace Prize Awarding Committee and the World Peace Prize Religious Leaders Conferring Committee make the ultimate statement: H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha's return of the papal scepter and ordination decree is invalid. The position of the World Buddhist Pope belongs only to H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha, and no one else can use it. This is a permanent and unchangeable conclusion!
We wish the World Buddhist Pope H.H. the Third Dzogchen Buddha a prosperous and beneficial reign for the world!