Purple Lotus Publisher > Journal > Volumn NO. 5

The 1996 True Buddha School Bardo Deliverance Ceremony at Redmond

by Lianhua Shu-yi

Translated by Janny Chow [1]

At 1:00 p.m. on September 7th, 1996, more than three thousand True Buddha School students from around the world converged at the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond, Washington to attend the annual True Buddha School Bardo Deliverance Ceremony. The ceremony was conducted by Master Lian-shi and presided over by His Holiness Living Buddha Lian-sheng. In order to accommodate all of the students, a huge outdoor tent had been set up in front of the temple. Inside, at one end of the tent, was a majestic altar decorated with the beautiful tangkas and sacred images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. In front of the altar a bountiful array of offerings had been gathered. Large screen television sets were placed throughout the tent so that all students could see their beloved Guru during the ceremony's proceedings.

Special guests at the ceremony included His Holiness Ganden Tripa Rinpoche, Lhading Rinpoche, and Geshe Lobsang Tenzin from South India. H.H. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche is the one hundredth successor to the seat of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Other honored guests attending the ceremony were Mr. Gary Locke, gubernatorial candidate for the State of Washington, Mr. Chen Jun-ming, director of the Seattle branch of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and many key community leaders from the Seattle area.

At the beginning of the ceremony, as the youth chorus and band of musicians (made up of Reverends) walked solemnly over to the True Buddha Tantric Quarter to receive the entrance of H.H. Living Buddha Lian-sheng, H.H. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche, and the True Buddha acharyas, a majestic feeling of peace and a strong energy descended upon all, pervading the huge tent.

Two special events preceded the Bardo Deliverance Ceremony. First, H.H. Living Buddha Lian-sheng performed a tonsure rite for eleven students taking their ordination vows to become Buddhist monks and nuns. Afterwards, His Holiness gave a brief teaching to the students, "Those of you who are ordained are indeed very blessed. May all of you attain Liberation over life and death. From now on, you should give up all mundane pursuits and devote yourself to the practice and diffusion of the Dharma. Achieve self-awakening and help others to achieve awakening. Through the practice of 'Guru-devotion, cherishing the Dharma, and actual practice,' one will attain perfection both in realization and actualization."

Next, His Holiness performed a Bodhisattva Vows Ceremony for twenty-five students, and gave the following teaching, "Although this receiving of the vows seems relatively simple, adherence to the Bodhisattva Vows may be quite daunting. Have perseverance and always be mindful that you are a bodhisattva. In a moment I shall shine a mirror on each of you. When the mirror shines on your heart, visualize a pearl there. Guard this pearl as you would guard the precepts. Keep it bright and free of stain by right conduct and pure living."

Mr. Gary Locke, Mr. Chen Jun-ming, and several key leaders in the community were each invited to give a speech. Afterwards, the director and supervisor of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple, Rev. Deng-shao and Rev. Lian-ning, respectively, each made the offering of a white silk scarf to H.H. Living Buddha Lian-sheng and H.H. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche.

H.H. Living Buddha Lian-sheng marked the opening of the Bardo Ceremony with this verse:

Great is the Wisdom of the Tathagata,
Deep is our love for our ancestors;
By chanting the sutra and dedicating the merits,
The One Mind brings true deliverance.

After the completion of the Deliverance Ceremony, H.H. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche gave a speech in Tibetan, which was translated into English by Geshe Lobsang Tenzin. His Holiness said he was very happy to see so many people attending a Buddhist ceremony. There are many pathways within Buddhism and one may choose the one that is in accord with one's root qualities and disposition. One must have the right view and right thought. After taking refuge in a Personal Deity with whom one has an affinity, one must persevere in the practice. H.H. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche also said that Living Buddha Lian-sheng is a master of supreme wisdom, and that the students should cherish this opportunity and work hard on their practice. The relationship between a master and his students in Tantric Buddhism must be pure and intimate. His Holiness said he was deeply touched to see the unity and guru-devotion shown by the True Buddha School students.

H.H. Living Buddha Lian-sheng then gave a brief speech. After thanking the community leaders for attending the ceremony, and acknowledging his appreciation of the freedom of religion practiced in the United States, he encouraged the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple to get more involved with community work. Next, Living Buddha Lian-sheng thanked H.H. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche, Lhading Rinpoche, and Geshe Lobsang Tenzin for lending their support to the True Buddha School. Upon meeting with H.H. Living Buddha Lian-sheng, H.H. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche had presented a dorje, bell, damaru, and ceremonial robe that he himself had used for many years, as well as some sacred objects and ritual implements from the Dalai Lama. The gifts from the Rinpoche represented the transmission of the Gelugpa lineage to the True Buddha School. In return, the Living Buddha presented some crystal ritual implements to His Holiness. He hoped there would be future exchanges in culture, friendship, and religious dialogue between the True Buddha and Tibetan Gelugpa students. H.H. Living Buddha also reported that H.H. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche was amazed at the spiritual presence of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas at the altars of the True Buddha School. At the altars of both the Rainbow Villa and the Ling Shen Ching Tze, when the Rinpoche tossed silk scarves to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as an offering, each of the silk scarves landed in the hand of a Deity on the Shrine, indicating its acceptance by a Deity in the spiritual realm. Living Buddha Lian-sheng commented that this happened because each Buddha and Bodhisattva at the altars is alive.

Finally, H.H. Living Buddha Lian-sheng announced that the Bardo Deliverance Ceremony was very successful and that H.H. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche also had empowered the ceremony. During the ceremony, Living Buddha Lian-sheng saw many light drops join together to form strands of vajra chains. Each vajra chain then transformed into a Dharma vessel, carrying all of the disembodied spirits to Sukhavati. Living Buddha Lian-sheng also commented that the teaching given by H.H. Ganden Tripa Rinpoche was one of right knowledge and right views. Afterwards, H.H. Living Buddha Lian-sheng gave everyone present an empowerment bestowing blessing and affinity.

Footnotes
[1] Translated from an article published in Issue 114 of True Buddha News, Sep. 15-30, 1996.