Brief Introduction of Hua Zang Si

        Hua Zang Si is a temple of authentic Buddhism in the United States based upon all exoteric Buddha-dharma and the esoteric Buddha-dharma of Tibet. Hua Zang Si practices and teaches the dharma expounded by Sakyamuni Buddha. Buddhist disciples at Hua Zang Si cultivate themselves in strict accordance with the orthodox Buddha-dharma as contained in the Tripitaka (the sutras or discourses, the monastic discipline, and the commentaries or treatises) as well as the esoteric scriptures. The temple respectfully upholds the rules laid down by Sakyamuni Buddha and teaches living beings in accordance with the 84,000 dharma methods handed down by Sakyamuni Buddha. 

        Therefore, Hua Zang Si is different from other temples that propagate only one sect within Buddhism. Strictly complying with the Buddha’s teachings, our temple contains the teachings of all of the various sects within Buddhism. Our viewpoint is not limited to particular sect. Some of the main dharma teachings of our temple include the following: the dharma method of the Pure Land sect in which Amitabha Buddha’s name is chanted, Zen meditation, the instantaneous and gradual realization methods, the essence of visualization of the Hua-yen school, methods of the consciousness-only or Fa-hsiang school, the four types of yoga as taught by the esoteric schools, the essence of Mahayana methods, and samatha or stabilizing meditation as taught by the Hinayana school. Eminent monastics and laypersons of great virtue will teach these dharma methods based upon the disciple’s particular karmic conditions.

        Hua Zang Si was legally constructed with the permission of the local government. It is an impressive-looking temple within the city of San Francisco. The Sakyamuni Buddha Hall is on the first floor. On the second floor, there is an Amitabha Buddha Hall. In that hall there is a large circular mandala on which a Yun sculpture depicting Mt. Sumeru is placed. In that Yun sculpture are sariras (sacred relics) of the Buddha for worshipping. The third floor contains a library of Buddhist scriptures. The temple’s statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Maitreya Bodhisattva, and Skanda Bodhisattva are very dignified-looking Buddhist statues. The magnificent statue of Amitabha Buddha is an extremely solemn sight.

        There are precious and wonderful couplets composed by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu praising the Buddhas. These couplets can be seen near the temple gate, in the Maitreya Bodhisattva Hall, in the Sakyamuni Buddha Hall, in the Amitabha Buddha Hall, on the sacred shrine of Skanda Bodhisattva, on the pavilion that contains evidence of holy feats and on the pavilion of the Dharma Protecting Deity. The verbal parallelism and symmetry of these couplets are flawless, and the style in which they are written is elegant. These couplets contain a profound and mysterious truth. They directly point to the holy truth regarding the nature of the mind and reality. When comparing these couplets to those written throughout history, these couplets can truly be called unique and refined. They have brought to the West the truth of the Buddha dharma.

        That is why one after another of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu’s disciples have attained great accomplishment or liberation. That is why three married couples who were disciples of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu all attained liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. Newspapers, television, and other media reported on such matters in detail. Disciples of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu who have cultivated themselves in accordance with the dharma have performed countless holy feats. There are numerous Disciples of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu who have reached remarkable levels of realization and virtue, who have been reborn in the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss, who have left behind sariras (holy relics) after their death, or who have manifested supernatural powers.

        The abbess of Hua Zang Si in charge of dharma matters and the abbess in charge of administration matters were appointed in 2004. They have followed H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu for eleven years. They comply with the precepts impeccably and are very much worthy of respect.

        It is also noteworthy that Hua Zang Si is the only temple in the United States that has holy objects. There are eight such treasures. The first treasure is the discourses spoken by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu. The second treasure consists of the sariras (holy relics) of Sakyamuni Buddha and the Yun sculpture on the circular mandala described above. This Yun sculpture of Mt.Sumeru is a unique treasure in the world. With the addition of holy Buddhist sariras inside the sculpture for worshipping, it is the second treasure of Hua Zang Si. The third treasure is the magnolia tree that rained nectar for three successive days. That event was seen by many people and widely reported in the media. That tree has been moved to Hua Zang Si and has been planted there as an object of veneration. The fourth treasure is the lotus tub used at the Ultimate (or Highest) Form of Bathing the Buddha Dharma Assembly in which the seven holy states were manifested, thereby showing the power of the Buddha-dharma in front of many people. The fifth treasure is the Guru Padmasambhava dharma tent that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu manifested “permanence” and “impermanence”. The seventh treasure is a holy bronze dharma bowl. It was an ordinary bronze bowl. Nectars and more than 200 sariras of various colors were bestowed by the Buddhas and entered the bowl after H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu beseeching to the Buddhas.

        The eighth treasure is the Buddha statue that emitted bright light. On the holy birthday of Sakyamuni Buddha in 2004, a Bathing the Buddha Dharma Assembly was held by Sanger Mission in Los Angeles. The statue of the young prince Siddhartha (Sakyamuni Buddha) was placed on the center of the Bathing the Buddha tub. After the ritual of bathing the Buddha was completed, it was then covered with a red dharma robe and placed in front of the Amitabha Buddha statue in the Three Holy Beings Hall. Soon thereafter, the prince statue began to emit golden light which became so dazzling that the face and the dharma robe of the prince statue could no longer be seen. The upper half of the statue was covered by a ring of light for a long time. The holy feat was recorded in high resolution video. This extraordinary holy object is now kept by Hua Zang Si for public worship and veneration. There is also the Dharma Protecting Deity Guan Yu pavilion at the courtyard for public worship and beseeching guidance.