Author：Sheng-yen Lu
Publisher：True Buddha Prajna Treasury
Publication Date：2021/05/13
Language：Chinese
Suitable for ages ：All ages
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Summary：
Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu
Book 283
Thousands of Dharma Vessels
Preface
The period from 2020 to 2021 to ... has been the most turbulent time in my life. The COVID-19 pandemic created havoc across the globe. The chaos it caused completely turned daily life upside down.
Since the start of the pandemic, I, Sheng-Yen Lu, have conducted a bardo deliverance ritual every night at the South Mountain Retreat in Redmond, Washington. The ritual is primarily to deliver those who have died of COVID-19.
This is how I carry out the ritual:
Sitting on the Dharma throne, my mind and qi are merged. My principal deity appears and blesses me with the three lights. I transform into the principal deity. Amitabha is me and I am Amitabha. We are one and the same.
My right hand forms the Dharma Discourse Mudra, and the left hand the Wish-fulfilling Mudra. From the open palm of the Wish-fulfilling Mudra, a golden Dharma vessel slides down waiting to sail.
As the wind impinges on the vessel, the vessel enlarges and transforms into ten, a hundred, and a thousand vessels. On the ocean, the sight of one thousand vessels is spectacular.
At this moment, my three principal deities appear in the void.
With the mighty divine power of the king of the celestials [Golden Mother],
the ten powers of the king of tathagatas [Amitabha Buddha],
and the Dharma power of great vows of the king of the earth [Ksitigarbha],
the deities summon the bardo souls of the deceased to ride the Dharma vessels. (Bardo souls transform into points of light.)
Pure lights shine over the bardo souls to purify their body and mind. The supernatural power enables the Dharma vessels to fly up from the ocean surface to the void. Through the guidance of the three principal deities, the thousand vessels navigate to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the pure land of Amitabha.
I recited “Na-mo san-shi-liu-wan-yi yi-shi-yi-wan jiu-qian-wu-bai tong-ming-tong-hao ah-mi-tuo-fo.” [Namo the 36 trillion 119 thousand and 500 Amitabha Buddhas] and the mantra of “Om, ah-mee-deh-wah-seh.”
I then dedicate the merit: “May all who uphold the name of Amitabha Buddha be born together in the Pure Land of His Western Paradise. Repaying the Fourfold Generosity from above, and aiding those who suffer in the Three Paths below. Upon seeing the Buddha, may I be liberated from the cycle of birth and death, and may I develop the qualities of Buddhahood, and thus free all who suffer.”
Following the dedication, I entered samadhi.
One night, on emerging from samadhi, I heard a voice telling me, “The title of your next book is Thousands of Dharma Vessels, as deliverance boats are constantly sent out from the bitter sea.” This inspired me to name my 283rd book, Thousands of Dharma Vessels.
This book is filled with Dharma words of liberation. Good deed! Good deed! May this book enrich your mind.
Contact Sheng-yen Lu
17102 NE 40th Ct.,
Redmond WA 98052
U.S.A.
Feb. 2021
Book 283, Thousands of Dharma Vessels, Chinese Versions Released on May 13, 2021
21. The Conception of the Purification Hall
22. My Vision of the Purification Hall
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