Explanation of the "Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha" Buddha Name#
On April 3, 2008, the book "The Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha" published by the Global Buddhist Publishing House and the World Dharma Sound Publishing House held a solemn and grand launch ceremony at the Library of Congress in the United States. The Library of Congress officially collected this book, and it was then that people learned that the highly respected Master Yi Yun Gao, Yang E Yi Xi Nu Bu Dafawang, was recognized by the leaders or regents of the major Buddhist sects and the living Buddhas of the world's major Buddhist sects. The third generation of Dorje Chang Buddha, the Buddha's name is the Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha. Since then, people have been calling him "Namo Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha". This is similar to the name of Prince Siddhartha before Gautama Buddha became enlightened, but after Gautama Buddha became enlightened, he changed his name to "Namo Gautama Buddha". Therefore, we now call him "Namo Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha". In particular, on December 12, 2012, the United States Senate Resolution No. 614 officially named the Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha as His Holiness (H.H. Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha). Since then, the position of Namo Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha has been officially established. Moreover, the Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha is also the name recognized by the government. The previous names of "Yi Yun Gao" and the honorable titles of Master and Dafawang no longer exist. However, this news was published before the official announcement of the Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha's Buddha name. At that time, people did not yet know the true identity of the Buddha. Therefore, in order to respect the truth of history, we still retain the names used before the official naming of the Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha in the news. But everyone should be clear that except for the name of H.H. Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha, which is legal, the names used before the official naming no longer exist.
August 30, 2002, Friday
The Unique and Unparalleled Art Masterpiece "Fan Cave Spectacle"
- Reflections on visiting the sculptures of Master Yi Yun Gao - Praying for Radiant Light -
Master Yi Yun Gao is a national treasure-level painter in China and the only internationally renowned master awarded by 4,812 experts and scholars from 48 countries and regions at the World Poets and Cultural Conference. He has always been known as a master of Eastern art. His paintings often set record prices for live human paintings at world art auctions. Master Yi's paintings combine meticulous brushwork with freehand style, displaying great artistic skill and vividness. His unique style has long been recognized by the world.
For a painter to achieve great success in painting horses, fish, flowers, birds, landscapes, and figures in one's lifetime is already remarkable. Master Yi not only excels in all these areas, but also combines meticulous brushwork with freehand style, surpassing all others. His achievements in painting alone would take dozens of people decades to accomplish, yet he has achieved the accomplishments of dozens of people over decades all by himself. I heard that Master Yi has created sculptures, so I spent a lot of effort to find out and finally had the opportunity to see his original sculptures at an exhibition hall in California, USA.
To say that I saw Master Yi's "original" sculptures is a general concept, but in fact, it is a wrong way of speaking because his sculptures cannot be reproduced at all. Where is the distinction between original and replica? This correct way of speaking may seem easy, but in fact, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of world art. When Armstrong stepped onto the moon, he said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Using this analogy, "creating art sculptures that cannot be replicated is one small step for Master Yi Yun Gao, but a giant leap in the history of human art."
Art values creativity and innovation. After a work is completed, as long as it is a good work, it will be copied in various ways, often leading to debates about authenticity. It is almost impossible to prevent artworks from being copied, especially sculptures, which are often reproduced by casting molds, and natural stalactites are often copied by rubbing. When I saw Master Yi's "Fan Cave Spectacle" sculpture, I was amazed. This seemingly stalactite-like giant stone is actually carved with steel-hardened resin using knife techniques. This is already an innovation in sculpture materials. Looking at its layout, there are caves of various shapes and forms from different angles. Looking into any cave, the inside is vast and endless, with a thick and thin network of caves, naturally formed in shape, without any traces of chiseling. It is impossible to reach in with a hand, let alone use a knife or take a paper rubbing. It would be difficult to make a mold for casting. Therefore, it is impossible to replicate. This innovation alone is worthy of special mention in the history of art.
When it comes to artistic value, in addition to discussing structure and technique, we must also discuss artistic conception. The name "Fan Cave" for "Fan Cave Spectacle" naturally carries profound Zen meaning. The artistic conception of the work is like drinking water, one knows its temperature. The deeper one's understanding, the deeper one sees, and the shallower one's understanding, the shallower one sees. In terms of artistic form, the entire stone is translucent, and the light changes with the caves within the caves, creating ever-changing light and shadow. When different angles of light are cast, the colors in the caves change, presenting a magnificent and diverse scene, like a fairyland. In front of this work, I spent fifty minutes and still couldn't fully appreciate its profoundness. People often describe the ultimate beauty of art as being naturally formed, because human chiseling can never compare to the beauty of nature. However, the beauty of lines expressed in "Fan Cave Spectacle" is as natural as nature, surpassing the structure that nature can create. To describe it as exquisite as if it were divinely inspired, it is comparable to the extraordinary. Seeing this artistic masterpiece, I couldn't help but marvel at how Master Yi Yun Gao has written such an immortal beauty for human civilization and surpassed the chapter of creation, leaving an unprecedented eternal height of artistic enjoyment for humanity. Being able to see this one-of-a-kind sculpture in the world is truly a great blessing in life.
When I visited, I couldn't figure out how the "Fan Cave Spectacle" had layers upon layers of different-shaped caves that even a person's hand couldn't reach. How did Master Yi create them? I know that Master Yi is not only a master of art but also a master of Buddhism. Is this artistic expression related to his Buddhist cultivation?
I really wanted to solve this mystery myself, so after I came back, I read many Buddhist classics. One day, I came across the story of the venerable Milarepa and his disciple Rechungpa. "Rechungpa wanted to go to India to study the unique emptiness, but Milarepa told him it was unnecessary. However, Rechungpa insisted on going to India. When Rechungpa returned to Tibet, Milarepa went to see him. Rechungpa was very proud of the new knowledge he had learned. On the way back to Milarepa's cave, a large hailstorm suddenly came. Milarepa saw a yak horn by the roadside and entered it, but the horn did not become larger, and Milarepa did not become smaller. Milarepa sang a song to Rechungpa, saying that the space inside the yak horn is still large for anyone who understands the uniqueness!" When I read this, I seemed to understand how Master Yi entered the Fan Cave to complete his work, and I also realized how the Buddhist master used his artistic skills to the extreme. I also understood how Master Yi Yun Gao, as one person, could achieve the accomplishments of several people over several decades!