Reported by Rev. Pi Yan

On Nov 11, 2006 at 10:30 a.m., Grand Master Lu (LIving Buddha Lian Sheng), the beloved and revered root guru of millions of disciples worldwide, Grand Madam Lu (Vajra Master Lian Hsiang), accompanied by twelve other masters, two instructors, thirty-one reverends and tutors visited the LSCT Temple Chicago Chapter(芝城雷藏寺). There were over a thousand disciples in attendance.

Upon arrival, Grand Master blessed the altar and the great compassion water. He bestowed his calligraphy and paintings to support the temple. Then he walked up to the Vajra Protector Hall, supplicating each one of them. He walked to the basement: to the kitchen and dining hall to greet the volunteers who had been working hard, and to all the disciples who were seated at the basement (because the main floor was completely full).

Everyone was very pleased to see Grand Master again, especially from a close distance. Smiling faces and joyous spirit filled the whole temple.

Reported by Rev. Pi Yan

On Nov 11, 2006, at 1:30p.m., Grand Master Lu (Living Buddha Lian Sheng) visited the LSCT Temple Chicago Chapter (芝城雷藏寺) to conduct a Kalachakra Ceremony. Prior to the ceremony, the president of the Chicago Chinese Association presented Grand Master with a plaque. Written on it was `The Light of the Buddha Illuminates Ubiquitously, Performing Virtues Generates the Greatest Happiness.` The Chicago Chapter also presented a check of ten thousands US dollars to Capital True Buddhist Society, Washington D.C. Chapter (登寶堂) to support the building of their temple. This gesture showed their dedication to Grand Master`s teaching to help each other. It was truly inspirational.

Grand Master conferred the Ordination Vow to Rev. Lian Yi (蓮毅法師), the Bodhisattva Vows for Laity to eight lay practitioners and performed a wedding blessing to two newlywed couples.

Following the Kalachakra Tantra Practice Procedure, upon invitation, Mdm. Lu (Master Lian Hsiang) first bestowed a dharma teaching stating that every time Grand Master transmits the Great Dharma of Kalachakra, the earth, water, fire and wind elements come together to stir up auspicious signs.

Afterwards, the leader of the Chicago Chapter, on behalf of everyone present, supplicated Grand Master to bestow dharma teaching. Grand Master reaffirmed the two notable lineages of True Buddha School Kalachakra: 1. Panchen IX of Tibet (西藏班禪九世) and 2. Jebtzun Damba, the Living Buddha of Mongolia (蒙古哲布尊單巴).

Grand Master also expounded on the meaning of the Kalachakra Empowerment. The empowerment consists of seven initiations as follows:
1. Water initiation signifies rebirth. It means purification.
2. Crown initiation signifies the affirmation for future buddhahood.
3. Silk ribbon initiation signifies dignified adornment.
4. Vajra scepter and bell initiation, vajra scepter signifies steadfast commitment to spiritual cultivation and vajra bell signifies vajra speech, i.e. pure speech.
5. Name initiation signifies the vajra naming of the initiation-holder.
6. Wish-fulfilling initiation signifies the protection of the initiation-holder`s life against all calamities as he grows and advances.
7. Permission initiation signifies the permission to practice the development stages of the Kalachakra Tantra.

Grand Master emphasized that by upholding the precepts and generating bodhicitta, we can eradicate our ill-health and calamities, and receive bestowal of fortunes from heaven.

Finally, Grand Master conferred the empowerments for Kalachakra, Golden Mother`s Seven Dharma, and the Visualization of the Seed Syllable `AH` for Instantaneous Wealth.

The chapter presented a beautiful offering of the rainbow colored Wish-fulfilling Taoist Ornament as a token of gratitude to Grand Master Lu, the Living Buddha Lian Sheng. His visit to the Chicago Chapter to transmit the precious Kalachakra Tantra and confer its empowerment came to a perfect ending. Everyone enjoyed great benefits and was filled with pure dharma joy.

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