On October 10, 2009, while the atmosphere of autumn is still dense, tree-tops have changed their outfit to suit the autumn. As usual, Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in metropolitan Seattle held its regular weekend group cultivation. Grand Master, the Living Buddha Lian-Sheng blessed and bestowed a Dharma exposition in person. Devotees and disciples had come far away from Indonesia, Europe, U.S.A., Canada and other areas totaling about 200 people to suffuse with the radiance of the Buddha, to listen intently to his teachings and be rendered blissful of Dharma. Before the start of the group cultivation, a fellow devotee from Vancouver, B.C., Canada, testified to the power of Grand Master`s blessing which healed him of an inherited heart problem without use of medicine. The group cultivation was led by Acharya Lian-Fu Master featuring ``Namo Avalokitesvara Principal Deity Yoga.`` An exposition was given by Dharma Instructor Lian-Ling, following the cultivation, on retrospection of his one-month tenure as a monk; he thanked Grand Master and all the concerned followers for their support and encouragement enabling him to learn a lot of particulars (of responsibilities in monkhood). He said in a sentimental way that, ``The happiest experience is to be with the Grand Master in having dinner, exercising Tai Chi boxing, circumambulating the resident Buddhas and taking a stroll together; this is the greatest experience in the world beyond compare.``

Next, Acharya Lian-Fu Master spoke of the causal affinity that led her to taking refuge with Grand Master, practicing Tantric Dharmas and taking ordination in monkhood. Then, she shared her experience in ``faith`` and spiritual discipline. She said, ```faith` is the foundation of spiritual discipline; be faithful to one`s Buddhist master so that one can reap spiritual benefits cumulatively in return. As long as the practitioner has pure faith in the Lineage Root Guru, attainment of Buddhahood is certain.`` Lian-Fu Master encouraged all attending co-followers that spiritual cultivation is the most valuable thing in one`s life. The goal of practicing Buddhism is to enlighten the mind and discern the quintessential of the Buddha-Mind so as to transcend the captivity of birth and death. One must grasp the invaluably rare opportunity of following the Grand Master in this lifetime by coming to Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple frequently so as to near him.

Next, Grand Master continued on with his discourse on ``The Altar Sutra as Spoken by the Sixth Patriarch``: ``The learned audience, not attaching inwardly or outwardly, coming and going at free will, being able to undo mental attachment, and penetrating unobstructed. If one could carry out such a practice, then it`s not different from the quintessential nature (as per Prajna Sutra).`` Grand Master elaborated: the true enlightenment is non-attachment to either the inward or the outward. The ``mind`` is neither inside nor outside, not to mention the in-between. Furthermore, an enlightened person is free to come and go by following the causal conditions of affinity; since he or she knows that there is no need to dwell on coming or going. From the perspective of all sentient beings, attachment is unlimited; as long as one can rid oneself of attachment, attainment of Buddhahood is still certain.

Grand Master pointed out, freeing oneself of attachment is the philosophy of being unobstructed. Attachment is very hard to remove and can lead to mental anguish. From an individual up to a nation of people, there are always unsatisfactory conditions; this world is never perfect, not even the universe is perfect. Imperfectness hence brings forth mental anguish which then restricts the practitioner upon its emergence. When that happened, the practitioner could undo the mental anguish with the enlightened mind, and hence attained to the state of being unobstructed. The unobstructed wisdom is the same as Prajna wisdom.

Grand Master encouraged the multitude of attending devotees that ``faith`` is the basis for entry (to Buddhism), thereafter the practitioner will endeavor to eliminate his or her attachment leading to the ultimate attainment of immaculate realization.
Once again, Grand Master reminded the devotees of the way to undo one`s own attachment; that is, to observe oneself closely and to find the cause of attachment. One can thus be free of attachment upon elimination of the cause of attachment and enter upon the unobstructed path.

After the Dharma discourse ended, Grand Master sanctified the statues of Buddhas, blessed the Great-Compassion-Sutra water, and bless empowered all attending co-followers by palming their heads upon leaving.
All followers paid homage by prostration and faithfully accepting and implementing the teachings. All departed joyfully.

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