Brother Wei, approximately 60 years old, works as a driver in a nursing home in the southern region. He has been a vegetarian for many years and, about a year ago, formed a connection with Guan Yin Shan. He diligently listens to the teachings of Guru Lung du, even taking notes and sharing the content with others, building positive connections.
Upon learning that the esteemed Guru Lung du will be imparting the The Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche, Brother Wei, who had limited knowledge of tantric practices, was introduced to the profound teachings through the sharing of fellow practitioners. Recognizing the profoundness of this ancient teaching, he wholeheartedly engaged in the practice, dedicating time to continuous mantra recitation whenever he could.
Today, Brother Wei joyfully shared his experience. On the fifth day of practicing the teachings, he had an auspicious dream. In the dream, a woman dressed in ancient attire handed him a small golden censer with wisps of smoke emanating from it. She said, “You must wait until the Buddha completes the Dharma assembly.” After these words, she left, leaving him alone in anticipation.
Soon after, another woman, unfamiliar yet not entirely a stranger, arrived and told him, “The Buddha is coming; let’s continue waiting here!” Shortly thereafter, a Buddha, surrounded by divine radiance and a multitude of beings, appeared. The Buddha acknowledged Brother Wei, stopped before him, and presented five Tibetan-scripted golden coins, instructing him to safeguard them.
Brother Wei examined the coins, unable to understand the inscriptions resembling five-sided shapes at each corner. Nevertheless, he felt overjoyed, considering them as precious treasures. The dream concluded upon this realization.
When Brother Wei finished recounting the dream, he discovered a kapala (skull cup) held by the Same As Me statue of Guru Rinpoche, which resembled the shape of the golden coins in his dream.
Brother Wei exclaimed, “Exactly like this! It’s identical to what I saw in the dream!”
As he shared this auspicious dream, I couldn’t help but reflect on the importance of disseminating the profound inspiration of Padmasambhava, the sublime teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism, and the blessings of Guanyin Mountain’s pure lineage. This dissemination is essential for those newly entering the Vajrayana path to receive such extraordinary blessings.
With one part devotion and one part resonance, the Buddha’s words are true and not empty.
As Guru Rinpoche stated, “I neither come nor go; for those who have faith in me, I appear before them to expound the Dharma. On the tenth day of each month, I personally come to see my disciples.”Guru Rinpoche’s dharmakaya pervades the entire expanse of space, beyond the distinctions of coming and going, birth and death. Hence, Guan Yin Shan regularly holds grand offering ceremonies on the tenth day of each month, with sincere offerings of abundant and lavish items.
Praying for the blessings and protection of Guru Rinpoche and all Buddhas and bodhisattvas, each ceremony witnesses the participation of over a thousand people, collectively engaging in prayers, practices, and dedications. Over the decades, the consistent offerings to Guru Rinpoche and the hosting of these ceremonies have become a source of meritorious virtue.
When Guru Lung du imparts the teachings of Guru Rinpoche, those who practice with sincere devotion undoubtedly experience immediate responses, and the merit generated is exceptionally profound.
▎Suffering from chronic ailments with no apparent solution, fortunate encounter with the Dharma dispels karmic obstacles.
Ms. Zheng: “I’ve lived with chronic illnesses for a long time, causing immense pain and suffering. In a fortuitous turn of events, I finally saw a glimmer of hope! Thanks to the sublime teachings of Buddhism, over 20 years of chronic ailments were instantaneously healed! I am deeply grateful and delighted to share my story with everyone.
I worked for many years in a chain store, often requiring physical labor to assist with stocking shelves. It was a demanding job, and after returning home, I had to manage household chores and take care of my child. About 20 years ago, my back would inexplicably ache frequently. During times of work exhaustion, I couldn’t even lift things, and if the symptoms were severe, I felt difficulty breathing. Initially, I suspected a heart problem.
Every day after work, faced with a pile of household chores, I would often become irritable and lash out at people, creating a tense atmosphere at home. I desperately wanted to solve the back pain issue, trying everything from acupuncture, massage, to electric therapy. No matter how well-recommended or distant the doctor, I would give it a try. However, over the course of 20 years, none of it brought relief, and eventually, I gave up...
I felt like I was destined to suffer from this ailment for a lifetime.”
But one fortuitous day, Mrs. Lin, a lay practitioner from Guanyin Mountain Temple, visited Ms. Zheng at her home. During their conversation, Mrs. Lin noticed that Ms. Zheng seemed physically uncomfortable and restless. Concerned for Ms. Zheng’s well-being, she inquired about her health, leading Ms. Zheng to share the 20-year history of her chronic back pain.
Ms. Lin: “I often hear you talk about how painful and challenging your back pain is.” Ms. Zheng: “Sometimes, I almost always sleep lying down in the middle of the night, getting up in pain, and then going back to sleep. I’ve been taking medicine for years because of this chronic ailment...”
After hearing Ms. Zheng’s account and understanding the various pressures brought by the ailment on her life and psyche, Mrs. Lin expressed that, as a fellow practitioner at Guanyin Mountain Temple, she had encountered fellow practitioners with long-standing ailments that defied conventional treatment. The compassionate teachings of Guru Lung Du shed light on such conditions, often caused by karmic issues manifesting as physical illnesses, known as karmic diseases. Unlike regular illnesses that can be treated with medical intervention, karmic diseases require the accumulation of merits, which involves practicing virtuous deeds through the sublime teachings of Buddhism.
Ms. Zheng, heeding Mrs. Lin’s advice, began participating in the temple’s rituals, chanting scriptures, practicing meditation, and engaging in charitable activities. Through consistent proximity to the Three Jewels and charitable actions, she eventually had the auspicious opportunity to seek guidance from the compassionate Guru Lung Du regarding her long-standing health issues. The Master compassionately revealed, “The chronic pain in your back is due to a water spirit lying on you, making it impossible to find a cure through conventional medical means.”
Ms. Zheng suddenly realized that her 20 years of back pain were related to a water spirit issue. Reflecting on her past, she recalled that she had not undergone any surgical miscarriage experiences. It was likely that, after marriage, she unknowingly became pregnant, neglected her health, and inadvertently experienced a miscarriage. Grateful for the compassionate teachings of Guru Lung Du, Ms. Zheng quieted her mind, contemplated the concept of karma, and began to understand the significance of repentance. She started to generate a sincere remorseful heart and engaged in various virtuous deeds specifically dedicated to resolving the issues with the water spirit, seeking reconciliation and release of any lingering karmic entanglements.
Ms. Zheng: “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn Buddhism and for the fortunate karma that led me to the compassionate Guru Lung Du. He helped me understand the root cause of the chronic ailment that troubled me for over 20 years. I went before the Buddha to repent sincerely, seeking guidance on how to accumulate merits and dedicate them to the water spirit. In addition, I actively participate in every temple event, chanting scriptures, practicing meditation, volunteering, and encouraging friends to do good deeds. I hope to channel the merits of these virtuous actions to the water spirit, wishing for its elevation and the opportunity to learn and practice Buddhism.
Continuing with this commitment, one day I had a dream of a child wearing the attire of a novice monk, leaving with their back turned to me. At that moment, I felt in my heart that the water spirit had been reborn into a better realm, even cultivating a connection with Buddhism. I am truly grateful and appreciative for the compassionate blessings of the Master and the Buddhas, unraveling the knots within my heart. My 20 years of back pain completely recovered without medication, offering a new beginning to my life.”
Ms. Zheng, through encountering the abbot of Guanyin Mountain Temple, Guru Lung Du, transformed the negative affinity with the water spirit into a positive connection with Buddhism. Not only did her physical ailment disappear, but her spiritual well-being also found redemption.
▎What is the infant spirit?
The infant spirit is a child who has not been born into the world due to miscarriage or abortion.
Venerable Guru explains: “Infant spirits often find themselves in a state of loneliness and helplessness, not knowing where to go. They are often bullied by other malevolent spirits. Those infant spirits who have not been saved or liberated often have no better place to go, so they end up staying close to their father or mother.” Even though we may not see them with our naked eyes, infant spirits can easily influence the current life of their parents, elders, and living children, leading to family disharmony and affecting personal health.
Therefore, if we are aware of the presence of infant spirits, we should approach the situation with a repentant heart and accumulate merits through Buddhist practices to dedicate to them. By sincerely repenting and dedicating merits, these spirits can sense our intentions.
Dear Dharma Senior, Amitabha : I am a fellow practitioner from the Taichung Center. Today, I want to share my experiences with vegetarianism, sharing positive stories, inviting others to adopt a vegetarian diet, and participating in morning and evening chanting sessions.
I used to suffer from asthma, Mediterranean anemia, and a skin condition on my neck. Over a year ago, my mom led me and my sister to adopt a vegetarian diet. Even though there were opinions from family members that a vegetarian diet might lack nutrition, we overcame each concern one by one. It wasn’t easy, but we made our family aware of the benefits of vegetarianism.
Due to the vegetarian diet, my health has improved, and I visit the doctor less frequently. Every check-up report shows stability. Initially, being naturally slim, I gained ten kilograms after adopting a vegetarian diet, and my complexion improved.
After chanting the Medicine Buddha Sutra for some time, one day in front of the mirror in the bathroom, I shouted to my mom, Mom, come and see! All the skin issues on my neck have completely disappeared. I remember the dermatologist saying that if the medication doesn’t work, laser treatment would be necessary in the future. When my mom and I heard this, we were both worried and upset. However, after practicing vegetarianism and chanting sutras for a while, these positive changes manifested, and the results were remarkable!
The manifested effects of these responses are remarkably positive! Before, I used an inhaler to control my asthma, but whenever the weather turned cold and I caught a cold, the asthma would flare up again. I’ve experienced the agony of asthma attacks, which is truly distressing.
During an attack, within a few seconds, I would cough as if someone were choking my neck, making it difficult to breathe. The sensation felt like my coughing was about to stop my heart. My mom would worry so much that she couldn’t sleep, and I’m truly grateful for her. When the situation became critical, she would immediately take me to the emergency room.
Now, practicing vegetarianism and Buddhism, inviting relatives, friends, teachers, and classmates to adopt a vegetarian diet, sharing virtuous stories with everyone, the frequency of my visits to the doctor for asthma has decreased significantly, and I rarely use the inhaler.
I am thankful for the blessings and protection from the Triple Gem, allowing disciples to have the fortunate opportunity to adopt a vegetarian diet and learn Buddhism. With my modest efforts, I strive to promote non-killing and the protection of life for self-benefit and the benefit of others.
Grateful for sharing with all Dharma Brothers. Amitabha!
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