As the year draws near to an end, the winter solstice also brings along the seasonal climate (in Northwest). In the interests of greeting the upcoming seasonal festivities, Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in metro Seattle has adorned the facade of the Temple building with multicolour laterns, which continue to raise ``temperature`` of the holiday spirit. On the evening of December 5, 2009, the night of weekend group cultivation, Mr. Dong-zhou Liao, the consular of Taipei Economic and Cultural Affairs Office in Seattle (台北經濟文化辦事處處長:廖東周大使) had come to pay a visit to the Temple who was embracingly and cordially greeted by the Temple staff on arrival. Consular Liao has been maintaining a mutual relationship with Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple ever since. The friendly dialogue between Grand Master and Consular Liao was quite harmonious. Consular Liao not only praised Grand Master upon seeing the seven certificates of honorable commendation Grand Master received at the Dharma Assembly in Texas recently, but also translated word for word for Grand Master the full contents of all seven certificates. After Consular Liao finished his dinner at Grand Cafeteria with Grand Master, he went along with Acharya Master Lian-ning to look at the new True Buddha Foundation quarter as well as Grand Master`s latest works of calligraphy and Chinese brush painting.

The night`s group cultivation was ministered by Acharya Master Lian-zhu (蓮主金剛上師)featuring ``Amitabha Principal Deity Yoga`` practice. Afar had come fellow devotees from Australia, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Canada, various states of U.S.A. and other areas of the world totaling 300 plus devotees who were eager to hear the Dharma teachings. Before the group cultivation commenced, a VIP guest at the venue, Consular Dong-zhou Liao of Taipei Economic and Cultural Affairs Office in Seattle (台北經濟文化辦事處處長:廖東周大使) said in his formal address that he`s very pleased to be able to participate in the True Buddha School`s group cultivation for the first time, and that he would, in the name of Taipei Economic and Cultural Affairs Office and Taiwan government, greet and bless everyone having easygoing activities as wished and being fruitful in spiritual endeavors in the coming year. He also admiringly praised Grand Master for having been able to utilize the gists of His 200 plus books and dramatically humorous Dharma discourses (given at group cultivation sessions, Dharma Assemblies, homa ceremonial assemblies and other occasions) to subtly convey the principles of Buddhism in the heart of everyone whereby one can learn to acquire wisdom from daily life, further acquires the innate wisdom of Life, discerns the intrinsic Buddha Nature and ultimately becomes enlightened.

After the group cultivation practice had ended, a Dharma exposition was given by Shi Lian-zong Dharma Instructor (釋蓮仲法師) with regard to subjects on ``flow along with Karmic affinity`` 「順緣」and ``going against Karmic affinity`` 「逆緣」, which are merely temporary phenomena in life. As a practitioner, one should confront the phenomena with equanimity; counter the confrontation with self-composure and flow along with the Karmic affinity as to reach the true state of blitheness. Next, Acharya Master Lian-zhu (蓮主金剛上師)spoke retrospectively about the Karmic affinity conditions that befit Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple, namely, favorable climatic, geographical and human conditions (天時、地利、人和); these Karmic conditions were expedient to the founding of the Temple. He also encouraged True Buddha practitioners to treasure the factual condition that ``we have already heard the Buddha-Dharmas and met the Attained Master at the threshold,`` we ought to forge ahead towards the ultimate goal of enlightening the heart and discerning the Essence of Mind (明心見性).

Lastly, the King of Dharma, Grand Master Lian-sheng continued on with His discourse on ``The Altar Sutra as Spoken by the Sixth Patriarch``: the Sixth Patriarch elucidated the section on Prajna, ``...It is by our innate wisdom that we enlighten ourselves, and even the extraneous help and instructions of a pious and learned friend would be of no use if we were deluded by false doctrines and erroneous views. Should we introspect our mind with real Prajna, all erroneous views would be vanquished in a moment, and as soon as we discern the Essence of Mind we arrive immediately in Buddhahood state.`` Grand Master expounded on this excerpt: When erroneous thought and/or delusive thought arise in the mind like ferocious ocean waves, there is very little hope of being rescued by an extraneous agent. So, how can one save himself or herself? Here is how: utilize one`s own wisdom to introspect the mind and behavior. Be it permanent happiness or suffering, it`s all ``amid one thought 「一念之間」.`` The practitioner must keep a vigilant watch on one`s own mind, listen to the voice of one`s Master, retrospect on the Master`s teachings and introspect one`s own mind.

At times the Master may be ambivalent over choosing a course of action to take, He would listen tranquilly to the subtle instructions of the Buddha within. Naturally, the Buddha is neither from an external source nor from the Mandala Shrine; it`s actually a wisdom called forth from within, thereby one can utilize it to introspect one`s own Buddha Nature. The Sixth Patriarch had mentioned the significance of ``Seal of the Great Void 「大空之印」`` in his Dhyana teaching, which is paraphrased as ``Wisdom being equivalent to Void.``

Only through the ``Seal of the Great Void 「大空之印」`` can the practitioner acquire the state of ``lightheartedness or blitheness (自在)`` and ``being able to maneuver freely (任運).``

On closing of the assembly, the compassionate Grand Master imparted Refuge Empowerment to new initiates, blessed the Great Compassion Dharani water and sanctified the Buddha statues and effigies. Grand Master also compassionately bless empowered the kneeling fellow devotees along two sides of a human aisle on His way out of the Temple. The VIP guest, Consular Dong-zhou Liao told everyone on his way out that ``Five million devotees of True Buddha School are indeed the most fortunate ones because Grand Master is a genuinely perfect `Master of Wisdom` with the highest moral standards. May everyone treasure (the togetherness with the Master).``

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