Dignified Hua Zang Si

The first line of the couplet is “cheng yi san bao qi zheng fa miao mi dian ge pai shan cun shi zhu zong.” Its general meaning is as follows. Following the Buddhas, the dharma, and the sangha (i.e. the Three Jewels), Hua Zang Si carries on the lineage of correct and orthodox Buddhism. and the profound teachings of Vajrayana school. The temple does not hold any extreme or biased views concerning the various sects of Buddhism. It carries on the holy teachings of all sects within Buddhism, treating all living beings equally. Our temple upholds all correct and authentic Buddha-dharma.

The first line of the couplet is “ben si yi zang deng miao lian wan shou ke pan.” There is a dharma method of the Pure Land School by which one takes rebirth in the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss. One can master such a dharma method most quickly and effectively at Hua Zang Si. Our temple is based upon the authentic teachings of Buddhism as written in the Tripitaka and esoteric scriptures. Thus, it is an easy matter for those at Hua Zang Si to take rebirth in the Pure Land (the Western Paradise), where they ascend to a lotus pedestal.

The first line of the couplet is “fo da ci you hao yun en chi ni deng ni chi en yun hao you ci da fo.” This means we see that such statue is gigantic and auspi-cious. Its attractiveness is a type of good luck and blessing (empowerment) bestowed upon you and everyone.To receive this blessing (empowerment), one should take refuge in the Four Jewels. Of course, it is very good that you are compassionately bestowed good luck. However, you should understand something. After this great Buddha blesses (empowers) you, how should you act to be a good Buddhist?

The first line of the couplet is “da du neng rong tian xia shi he lai bu rong zhi rong.” As self-cultivators, we should be like the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. We should have a broad mind, open heart, and great tolerance. If we are the victim of fabricated rumors, if we are maligned, insulted, or persecuted, or if any other bad thing may happen to us, we should remain completely unattached. We should treat such acts with tolerance. We should not become angry or hateful. We should completely eradicate attachment to the false notion of “self.” We must be able to accept calmly in our heart and mind any good thing or bad thing that happens to us.

This couplet expresses the ultimate truths of Buddhism. It expresses the “true thusness” or dharma-nature one realizes upon liberation from the cycle of birth and death, enlightenment of the mind, and seeing one’s original nature. The first line of the couplet is “fa kong gui yuan ben wu xin xin wu ben yuan gui kong fa.” Its general meaning is as follows. The dharma leading to liberation from the cycle of reincarnation is a mind that is free from distinguishing particular forms, characteristics, or attributes.

The first line of the couplet is “chu bao shen xiang lian kai jiu pin yan jing tu.” The general meaning of this line is as follows. The magnificent Amitabha Buddha has the thirty-two major auspicious marks of a Buddha and the eighty minor auspicious marks of a Buddha. He manifests his dignified and solemn reward body (sambhogakaya). He established the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss and made forty-eight vows. His dharma powers manifested lotus pedestals, which represent nine levels of accomplishments, in order to receive living beings to the Western Paradise. That is the Pure Land dharma method that he founded.

Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara) is well known for Her great compassion and loving kindness to save those in times of pain and difficulty. In fact, She attained Buddhahood countless eons ago and is known as Zheng Fa Ming Ru Lai, Correct Dharma Realization Tathagata. Because of Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s bodhicitta and holy vows, She manifests a thousand arms and eyes to save the suffering multitudes of beings in the earthly realm.

Namo Skanda Bodhisattva, the great Holy Dharma Protector protect and blesses all sentient beings in the universe with great compassion. He looks over the entire universe through his concentration and insight as he traverses between the earth and heaven day and night. Namo Skanda Bodhisattva often uses his samadhi concentration to stabilize everything contained in the universe.

Hua Zang Si has held a ceremony in 2005, during which the statue of the Dharma Protecting Deity Guan Yu was installed into a pavilion. Many were amazed at such event. Guan Yu was often mistakenly recognized as a Taoist God. In fact, that is not the case. The couplets on the pavilion of the Dharma Protecting Deity express the profound dharma expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. The first line of the couplets is “yu quan shan zhong li miao tang di jun gui fo men.”