Purple Lotus Publisher > Journal > Volumn NO. 6

A Meeting Between Grand Master Lu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Reported by Rev. Lian Lian from Dharmasala, India

revised by Janny Chow and Pamela Ziv Johnson

On November 12th, 1996 at 2:30 p.m., Grand Master Lu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama met for the first time. The meeting took place in HH Dalai Lama's general meeting room, and lasted about thirty minutes. Both were formally introduced and exchanged firm handshakes. Afterwards, the two holy men were escorted to the reception room, where Grand Master Lu presented the Dalai Lama with the traditional hada.

Grand Master Lu and HH Dalai Lama discussed Tantric Dharma, exchanging their vast knowledge of the subject. Through the translator, Grand Master Lu briefly introduced the True Buddha School, and told him of the thirty temples which have been established, the three hundred Buddhist chapters, and the over four million disciples from around the world. Grand Master Lu also stated the reasons for his visit to India, which included visits to the eight famous holy sites, as well as various Tantric shrines and sites. Grand Master Lu also said that he had heard of a Tantric temple in South India which might be in need of some financial assistance. Grand Master Lu wanted to know how he could personally help by visiting the area.

Grand Master Lu briefly shared with the Dalai Lama the history of his cultivation and practice in the various levels of achievement in the many lineages of Tantric Dharma. Some of those included were Kagyupa's Mahamudra, Gelugpa's Yamantaka Dharma Protector, Sakyapa's Great Perfect Victorious Wisdom, and Nyingmapa's Great Perfection. His Holiness the Dalai Lama was very interested in Grand Master Lu's cultivation and achievement, even having his personal assistant postpone some other scheduled engagements so not to interrupt the meeting. Some of the subjects HH Dalai Lama wished to discuss were: which sutras and Tantras had the Grand Master studied? What is the main point of the three treatises of Nagarjuna? How did comparable practices in various Tantric schools differ? Finally, the Dalai Lama and the Grand Master exchanged their personal experiences on the phenomena accompanying the practice of the Stabilization of Bliss and Emptiness, and the phenomena that arise during the two levels of Great Perfection Practice.

The Dalai Lama favorably received Grand Master Lu and the information he offered. This included the information about the True Buddha School and of the Grand Master's personal achievements in knowledge and cultivation. Before Grand Master Lu's departure, the Grand Master presented the Dalai Lama with a beautiful, pure gold Sanskrit syllable from Grand Master Lu's Heart Mantra. In return, His Holiness the Dalai Lama presented Grand Master Lu and those in attendance with His traditional hada.