26. Virtue

• To attain the sacred wisdom and completely clear hearing, seeing, and knowing, the true Buddhist followers should have sincere confidence in my teaching, charity, generosity, joy and equanimity (grandmotherly love). That way they could recognize Me.

• By continuing to exhibit their ego and pride, while believing they are always right, they are not capable of receiving the teaching. Since they display criticism and doubt, they remain in the incessantly changing though they have been trained for thousands of lives.

– Self–Enlightenment Sutra

One day, at the Central Assembly, in the wooden loft of number 42, Hong Bang Street, Nha Trang, the Supreme Pure King incarnating the Maitreya had entered into right concentration, thoroughly observing all groups of living creatures who are wrongly practicing. He had solemnly buttoned the collar of his white blouse, burned seven incense sticks at the main hall, sat down and began His teaching seriously as follows:

“In the first stage, the faithful believer attains his stained merits through offerings such as incenses, fruits, flowers and admiration. These merits create blessed rewards of men and devas. It takes approximately 100 lives of offering and admiration to transfer into the second stage of the training path, but the follower is not yet able to hear the doctrine.

In the second stage, the believer makes up his mind to make offerings such as building pagodas and stupas for the Sangha to practice. He himself practices dharma, worships, respectfully builds the integrity, carries out benevolent deeds, and prays to be attested by the Buddha’s Three Dharma Elements. It takes 100 lives for these merits of offering, yet the believer is still unable to hear the doctrine.

In the third stage, the faithful believer also uses his merits to offer to the Buddhas’ Three Dharma Elements, which also it takes 100 lives. Thus, the faithful believer has to practice more than 300 lives to fulfill his stained merits and step toward the stainless merits. The stained merit stage can be prolonged if the practitioner is tardy and stingy in his character, not openhearted, and practicing only for the sake of it.” –T.V.

If the stained merits are not yet fulfilled, the stainless ones will never bring results. The fulfilled stained merits naturally transform the practice path into stainless merits with a strong foundation. The believer will then be helped and guided by the Devas, Dragon Deity Dharma Protector, and Land Deity to meet the bodhisattvas, the venerables, and the dharma protectors in order to practice for the liberation through wisdom.

Therefore, many disciples do not like to listen to the doctrine on their way to liberation because they do not have enough necessary merits to practice in order to advance to a higher level. They prefer only to recite the sutra, being a vegetarian and admiring the Buddha’s forms. If they had listened to the doctrine, they could have easily fallen asleep, feeling tired, or something happened and obstructed that did not allow them to hear. It is even more difficult to listen to the enlightened ones.

When a man builds a house, the first thing to do is to build a strong foundation. The higher the house, the heavier it will be. Therefore, the foundation must be correspondingly strong to sustain the house for a long time. If the foundation is not firm enough, the house will eventually collapse. The disciple, wishing for liberation through wisdom and complete enlightenment, has to fulfill his stained merits to receive stainless merits. Depending on the level or amount of accumulated virtue, he will fairly receive the precious dharma from the awakened ones equally and appropriately.

Suppose a man fills up his glass with the falling rain. If he continues to add water, it will overflow and spread on the ground. It is useless to continue catching it. Even if he uses a bowl or a jar... it will be filled one after another. The Awakened One, with his deep knowledge of equal nature and wisdom, blesses and guides each disciple accordingly. Buddhas should apply the same principle.

You must be joyful while creating merits even if someone denigrates or blames you. You must be joyful and detached in order to have virtue. Merits without joyful detachment will lead, at most, to the reception of the result of your deeds...

• Joyful Detachment is Virtue

Passing the three above stages, the believer has formed his Bodhisattva conduct that is ‘generosity towards others’ (Dana), ‘avoid even the smallest bad thing, do even the smallest good thing’ (Sila), diligence, patience, wisdom, and meditation. These are the Six Paramitas. He also practices his ‘confidence-conduct-vow’ through compassion, will, courage, and ‘moral-meditation-wisdom’ (Sila-Samadhi-Panna). The practice of dharma by reason and act, included in the abilities and merits, is offered to the perfection wisdom. The disciple has to overcome every obstacle as his bodhisattva vow. After attaining emptiness, he has a solid cuirass to deeply penetrate into the dharma dhatu and gain the ‘Prajana Mind’.

Gaining the ‘Prajna Mind’, his stained merits naturally become offered stainless merits. That means the offering to Tathagata leads to the full attainment to the Bodhisattva realm.

He had stopped his teaching, taking a sip of tea and then continuing:

• “If the disciple forms his virtue, but does not listen much or does not want to listen to the doctrine at all, he will only receive the blessed reward from men and devas, but will not attain the liberation through wisdom.

• If the disciple is faithful to the Buddha, often studies scripture and sutras, listens to the doctrine, demolishes the hindrance of attachment, and disengages his mind, he would be fearless, self-satisfied. He does not try to create his virtue that will naturally give rise to the ego, so he will be ensnared by the big power or impurity and then becomes pompous.

• If the disciple is diligent in creating his virtue, listening to the doctrine, but is deficient in meditation efforts, he will not fully attain. Why? Being deficient in meditation, he won't know the motion of the Tathagata Basket or the universe and men are only one, and are harmonious in communication. He is also doubtful about the scenes of the three realms such as hell fairy, deity... and thinks they do not exist. Being so deficient in his conditions, he will never be liberated through wisdom.

• It is very dangerous if the disciple does not know the doctrine, does not create his virtue, only practices sitting meditation, and believes it to be the dharma subject of liberation. Why? In the meditation, we usually see progressing and evolving scenes, which change in accordance with our knowledge and desire. If the meditator directly accepts them and becomes firmly attached, he will easily fall in the fanaticism. It is only through enlightenment that we can get the exactitude.

• The meditator's eyes and ears may see and hear the heaven’s realm, heaven music and the voices of the fairies, gods, and deities much the same way as they see and hear the television. That is only a mind created scene, which is unreal, but the disciple wrongly claims himself to be Buddha, God deity. As a result, the disciple becomes mentally unstable and miserable. The danger is boundless. This is a very valuable lecture for all, indeed.” –T.V.

When the Supreme Pure King was still in the world, He had taught and diffused meditation to all His true disciples. In all provinces, where true disciples of the Phap Tang Buddhism of Vietnam practice; an organization existed to establish the dharma school called ‘Provincial Association of Dharma Guard’, ‘District Association of Dharma Guard’. The Lord has attested all. He has chosen his deputies among the dharma protectors and venerables to guide the followers.

These dharma protectors and venerables are very trustworthy and showed their confidence, obedience and respect toward the Supreme Pure King. They have guided all the true disciples who always assembled to present themselves before the Lord at the Central to learn the truth and Tathagata meditation. He is serious and earnest. Thus, neither dharma protector nor venerable himself dared to distort the principle guidelines of liberation through wisdom. If they do, they will be immediately eliminated because they are in lack of the ‘Confidence-Conduct-Vow’, which is the requisition of the practice for enlightenment. Otherwise, even one hundred lives of practice would not lead to results. The practice of dharma of one’s own volition has no requisition, but it may be dangerous in meditation.

The meditator essentially needs an awakened one. Otherwise, he is just like an idiot who cooks the stones in hopes of getting the rice. This is immeasurably disastrous. The Lord guides the faithful disciples based on their merits and knowledge, to the liberation through wisdom. None are allowed to practice psychic powers.

* One day, the monk, named Quan in Nha Trang, came to visit the Supreme Pure King at His hermitage. As they lay side by side, the monk asked Him: “Would you please teach me the meditation.” “I will teach you”, replied the Lord, “I will teach you, if you have the ‘Confidence-Conduct-Vow’”. The monk neither bows nor pays homage to Him. Even though he has been taught, the monk would lose his way in the future, so the Lord has kept silent.

All periods are the same, from pre-history to the advanced civilization. Lord Supreme Maitreya always strictly observes the main ideas of the Buddhas of the Ten Directions and the Three Lives in teaching His disciples.

Meditation is infinitively beneficial for the disciple who knows the truth of Buddhism well. It helps the practitioner attain the insight to see and recognize all things, situations and circumstances no matter how complicated they get in their daily life. It helps to understand and resolve everything in a correct and appropriate manner that would astonish living creatures. It is very suitable in the family, the office, the school, and all activities.

Meditation calms the disciple, gradually clearing all delusions, illusions, ignorance or the unique character so that he can be liberated through wisdom.

The Supreme of Phap Tang Buddhism of Vietnam is increasingly grateful to the Buddhas’ Three Dharma Elements, respectfully requested to thoroughly attest all their abilities and merits so that they are able to attain the result of liberation through wisdom in this period of salvation.

The Supreme Pure King Chief Monk represents the Buddhas’ Three Dharma Elements in His salvation, and returns to guide the practice all Four Vehicles: The ‘Small Vehicle’, ‘Great Vehicle’, ‘Unique Vehicle’, and ‘Supreme Vehicle’:

–THE WORSHIP: Eastern Land Medicine Gem Halo Tathagata is the symbol of the present enlightenment.

–THE DHARMA SYMBOL: The Phap Tang Buddhism of Vietnam Bikkhu Amitabha symbolizes the Supreme Unique Ultimate.

–THE DOCTRINE: The Supreme Sakyamuni Buddha

The disciple must have confidence, obedience, and respect toward the enlightened ones to be guided thoroughly on these three factors: virtue, doctrine, and meditation in order to attain liberation through wisdom.

First, the disciple must be diligent in regular sitting meditation, releasing attachment, correcting bad habits and character, and always joyful and detached to create virtue. This is the way to eliminate ignorance. When listening to the Awakened One preaching Buddhist doctrine or reading the sutras, the disciples must have fully the three above elements, neither emphasizing nor neglecting any of them. Regularly harmonizing, and fully communicating, then you will be liberated through wisdom and completely liberated.

The religion of the Phap Tang Buddhism of Vietnam strictly follows the main ideas of the Three Lives of Buddhas. It thoroughly explains all the sutras, including discipline, commentary, and sutra, while aiming to clarify the dharma, releasing attachment, eliminating ignorance, and ascending body, speech, and mind to liberation through wisdom.

25. The Real Dharma Subject Is the Following Path of the Buddha

24. Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha Has Wept For the Monks and Nuns

The disciple who believes himself to be right is standing just on one side of the dharma. If he tries to know that all are right and where the reason of his rightness, he may hope to reach the Buddha.

–Self-Enlightenment Sutra

Venerable Thich Thanh Tu read “All Dharma with the Living Creatures” and made a negative comment.
One day, He told me to go to Vung Tau to meet true disciple Phap Huong. I brought a short lecture to her and the latter offered it to the Venerable Thich Thanh Tu whom read it and made a negative comment.

Two years later, He accidentally read the “Enlightenment Review”, edited in Saigon, an article of the Venerable Thich Thanh Tu on the “human condition.” Long Hoa Chief Monk said that taking a table or a chair, for example, means that form is recognized and there is no part in the article indicating the true nature. He then told me to offer another one of His lectures to the venerable. I went to Vung Tau, meeting true disciple Madame Dieu Minh. I gave her His other lecture entitled “All Dharma with the Living Creatures”, to offer to the Venerable Thich Thanh Tu.

He read it and reprimanded: “How strange this is!” Then he gave it back. Thus, this ‘master’ has been learning and studying sutras, but not training his true nature. That is why he could not understand the lecture. So, how could he write the key of practicing toward enlightenment this way? I went back and reported this to the Lord, He has kept silent.

Venerable Thich Thong Buu stopped a Bhuddist practicing the meditation of Long Hoa Chief Monk.
Madam Dieu Phat was a disciple of the Venerable Thich Thong Buu of the Quan the Am temple in Saigon. She has followed Long Hoa Chief Monk to practice meditation. Knowing that, the Venerable Thich Thong Buu scolded Madam Dieu Phat and said: “You practice the Heterodox Meditation and become mad. Do not come back and disserve me in the future.” Then, he sent a deputy to Madam Dieu Phat's house to place talismans all over the doors to cast out the devils!

When Dieu Phat went back to visit the temple, the venerable got angry and boisterously rebuked her for not stopping the meditation practice of the Long Hoa Chief Monk.

• Venerable Thich Minh Chau had notime to read the "Tathagata Meditation" written by Long Hoa Chief Monk.
One day, I went to the Center of Studying Sutras of the Institute of Van Hanh, Saigon, at 11 o'clock. As I entered the main entrance, a dharma protector (invisible) came to welcome me. I told him that I wanted to see the Venerable Thich Minh Chau, the rector who has a doctorate degree in Buddhism.

When I approached the main hall, which was quiet at that time, the venerable, in his solemn robe, had just come down from upstairs and was standing beside the main hall.

After paying homage to the Buddha, I greeted the Venerable and asked him:
- Revered Sir, are you the Venerable Thich Minh Chau?
- “Yes, I am.” The Venerable answered. I approached and told him: “I have a book that is entitled ‘the Tathagata Meditation’. I'd like to lend it to you.”
- “I have no time to read it,” answered the Venerable.

Unfortunately, they could not understand a word of sutra from Long Hoa Chief Monk incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha.
The two stories cited above during this Dharma-Ending Age are very symbolic to the renunciating followers (Deva Vehicle Form), whose disciples are so numerous. They are all named Venerable or Master. Unfortunately, they could not understand a word of sutra from Long Hoa Chief Monk incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha during the time He has taught dharma in this saha world.

“The disciples must be prudent in their practice. They preached dharma as wonderfully as sacred monks, fairies, deities, and saints. On the contrary, they themselves could not understand their teaching and have not attained anything. They are for correspondence only and must not be attached to them. The Buddha has taught us to preach dharma based on the merits of Tathagata.

By knowing yourselves, you will know that what you say is what the Buddha said. Otherwise, it is only delusion and devil preaching. All disciples must pay attention to this part." –T.V.

Then He sat down and wept because of waiting for them too long.
Through these facts, He has lamented: “The monks and nuns nowadays are applying themselves only to learning and studying sutras, and reject everything contradictory. Would it be possible that all scientists are enlightened?" Then He sat down and wept.

"In the future, if the monks and nuns come, tell them I have been waiting for them too long.” –T.V.

23. Speech Delivered At the Congregation and Attested Afterward In the Great Ceremony by Long Hoa Chief Monk

The speed Phap-Kha, a true disciple delivered at the Congregation and attested afterward in the great ceremony by Long Hoa Chief Monk

Namo Eastern Land Medicine Gem Halo Tathagata.
        Namo Western Blissful Paradise Amitabha Buddha.
        Namo Present Blessed One Sakyamuni Buddha.
        Namo Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha.

Revered Sir,

Today, on the 29th day of the 9th month of the year of the Dragon, 1988, at this sacred moment, in the presence of the Lord through His respected and loved golden body attests the Great Ceremony. All domestic and international disciples are respectful and faithful in their solemn robes. I am representing all our disciples in this Dharma-Ending Age, respectfully offering to Long Hoa Chief Monk incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha, the dharma path that leads to attainment of the supreme perfect truth that He has laboriously and diligently created and granted to us.

Revered Sir,

From the beginning of time, all living creatures originally have Buddha nature within them. However, they are polluted with greed and hatred that brings about ignorance. Therefore, they create the evil nature themselves that, in turn, suppresses the Buddha nature in them.

The evil nature creates its magic force. The Four species are controlled and dominated by this magic force, which is very difficult to overcome. In order to overcome the magic force, we must rely on the Awakened One who is either Buddha or maha bodhisattva for guidance to create appropriate abilities and merits by ourselves. Then according to our degree of faithfulness, obedience, and respect, they shall be appropriately and equally saved.

In the process of training, the practitioner must first pray in mindfulness and patiently pay attention to correct his nature. Patience is especially crucial for examining all dharma carefully without error. He must be capable of recognizing his mistakes, individual deeds, or his nature that creates his own karma and not by someone else. The awakened one only provides the guidance, but he must himself intuitively recognize the continual movement of the karma, which arises from the situation, but depends neither on the situation nor on the mind. The disciple who has such insight is the one who has basic wisdom.

He, who has patience while enduring the bad, accepting the hardship, has no more attachment and faces the favorable or unfavorable things or situations, still keeps patience. He, therefore, calmly finds the appropriate and correct solutions, and handles everything according to time and space. Until, he gets enough abilities and merits and immediately perceives the ultimate wisdom, He then continues to penetrate into the right practice and advances to Prajna. His wisdom is precisely a seven precious sword that cuts everything. The disciple who attains Prajna wisdom will no longer create bad situations for himself in his mind; he can see that greed and hatred clearly create ignorance and passion. Being ignorant and passionate, he will be mistaken in innumerable lives.

We must vow thousands of times to be tolerant and patient, handling everything correctly to generate Prajna, and deeply penetrating all dharma. We realize then the utilization of Tathagata store by practicing so that we can see the baseline, and by clearly manifesting this patience, we shall see and recognize with patience that does not produce a bad outcome. This is ‘no-birth’ patience. ‘No-birth’ means “that it does not produce a bad outcome”. Once we reach the full achievement, we can see that patience is the exact atom of Buddha, also called Buddhist Patience.

When practicing for the charity, manifesting our compassionate heart, we shall have the no-birth compassion, which is the exact atom of Buddha also known as Buddhist World Compassion. When we can observe the precepts, be diligent, wisdom, meditating and clearing up we shall attain no-birth observed precepts, no-birth diligence, no-birth wisdom, and no-birth meditation.

The atoms of Buddha are also called Buddhist Diligence, Buddhist Wisdom, and Buddhist Meditation. All are atoms of Buddha. From the acts, the words to the thoughts all are entirely manifesting the atoms of Buddha, Ksana of Buddha, to immeasurable and no boundary, entirely attain no-birth (does not produce a bad outcome).

Penetrating into continued practice, the practitioner who naturally feels happy when he is praised and ashamed when he is humiliated, and never let the hatred invade all his body, he attains no-birth. The voluntary, respectful offering of the bowing, one pointed-mind to Tathagata is known as the cessation of the ego. Once he considers his body as non-self, he attains Tathagata’s dharma and penetrates into the Prajna wisdom. He realizes that all dharma are originally equal, carries out this equality without discrimination in all dharma, and clearly knows no-birth of four of great elements (Mahabuta). This is the true form of suchness, escaping from the cycle of birth and death.

Every nature is composed of many real form and formless qualities, which are all in motion - clarifying the true form while neither being attached nor detached. That is the understanding of the formless and the perception of the no- birth.

The birth, making it clear that it is neither birth nor destruction, is the no-birth birth.

The death, making it clear that it is neither connection nor separation, is the no-birth death.

Therefore, no-birth does not mean without birth, but the birth clearly understood is seen and attested as no-birth. Insight, or awakening, is an immortal and true concept. Even the concept has neither passion nor attachment. The true heart comes into sight.

The karma is always in motion and movement, evolving to deter every vow. Those who have the ultimate wisdom clarify all things while those who do not yet have the ultimate wisdom have to strengthen their karma. Each karma is just the universe of small ego.

Being wrongly attached to the small ego; therefore, we are living creatures. The karma sees the karma, it is seen by itself. It delicately covers our own hearing, seeing, and knowing. Everyone can easily be mistaken, making it clear, that is attested No-Birth karma.

Even for the form, making it clear, it is seen and attested no-birth form. It is the awakening concept of the form. The no-birth is not directly a true no-birth, based on sound, odor, taste, touch, and dharma. Once they are thoroughly understood, individually, they are attested no-birth sound, no-birth odor, no-birth taste, no-birth touch, and no-birth dharma. (These do not produce a bad outcome)

We must clarify every small ego. Thoroughly understand every awakening concept, numberless awakening concepts numberless small egos, numberless atoms, and defilement in each Ksana (The smallest unit of measure for time or space in Buddhism). Everything once well understood is enlightened no-birth. This is the exact atom of Buddha and Ksana Buddha. Buddha nature and Mara nature are two, but only one, and cling to each other just like shape and shadow. When we are confused or mistaken, our Buddha nature is hidden and suppressed in the Mara hood. When we have wisdom, Buddha nature suppresses the Mara hood. As a result, Buddha nature itself appears everywhere.

Every living creature contains in itself the seed of good and evil. But there is no good or evil in the insight aspect. In the absolute dharma, all these dharma are neither good nor evil, but become evil when there is no Insight. Those who have the insight must be impregnated with thousands of dharma situations and overcome them to strengthen their abilities and merits so that they shine brightly in their authenticity.

Being fully attested will soon lead to great awareness. Being awakened will soon lead to ultimate awareness. Those with ultimate awareness will soon be attested as immortal and then return to the essence, the nature. The nature is the origin of living creatures who are naturally very close to Buddhas. The Buddha's body, lasting forever everywhere, is unchanging and available boundlessly from the beginning to the end of time.

Thus, there would be no Buddha without living creatures, and there would be no enlightenment without ignorance.

Having sufficient abilities and merits, the living creatures are intimately close to the Buddha, and it is in the same body as the Buddha. However, being ignorant, the living creature is, of course, separated very far from the Buddha.

Because of ignorance, the living creatures do not know the Buddha. Only the Buddha knows living creatures. As no-birth, living creatures attest formless to have cleared form. Being no-birth, the dharma knows neither birth nor death, neither impurity nor purity, neither increases nor decreases. Being no-birth, the dharma appears wonderful and full of compassion everywhere.

Originally, all dharma are absolute in their nature. It is at this point of intersection that the bodhisattvas' minds respectfully make their offerings to the Buddha. It is at this point that the minds of the Buddhas of Ten Directions and Three Lives take their permanent refuge unchangingly and the absolute illumination is unalterable from the beginning to the end of time. There is no higher dharma. All attested dharma is co-equal. Being co-equal, they are supreme, and so are the minds. There are no higher minds or dharma. That is unbelievable! Why?

It is beyond the preaching, practicing, researching and thinking, we cannot fully express it in secular examples.

Co-equal dharma are attested Prajna dharma, and co-equal minds are attested Prajna minds. These minds escape from knowledge, no longer using the intelligence of the body to think, or using consciousness in thinking. The very deep and wonderful point is a self attested signal that one naturally knows oneself. The spontaneous handling of the intelligence is named main force and is also the all knowing at the entry of non-thought.

This is the precise path of the Supreme Tathagata Vehicle or Buddha Vehicle. It is present neither in the past nor in the future because it combines the absolute illumination with the motion of the universe. It is impossible to say that a man is previously sympathetic, but very bad now. Since the Buddha Vehicle make it clear that it is based on the existentialism, it can predict and discreetly manage according to the unceasing and rhythmic Tathagata motion, calmly making one's mind in concord with the mind of the universe.

The mind of the universe is that of Tathagata. Through the cleared equality of nature and wisdom and delicate management, we have a continuous understanding of real form and formless dharma of Samadhi.

Once we are capable of managing the true emptiness and understanding the birth, we have joy. The mind can certainly concord and sympathize with the universe without any further dependence on it.

Being no-birth, the dharma are no longer originated and destroyed. They are permanent, but changed their form through so many ways that even the sravaka, the Pratyeka Buddha and the arahants who have insufficient abilities and merits are unable to see all of them either. Only the bodhisattvas, who are attested supreme dharma, know how to transfer their merits to the Buddhas so that the latter is able to demonstrate a profound understanding of it.

The practitioners, who are insufficiently awakened, often make a mistake in seeing the originated form of dharma or the destroyed form of the dharma and hastily believe them to be originated as destroyed dharma. In fact, all dharma are absolutely pure, neither originated nor destroyed.

The practitioner, falsely named the form of self, will be wrongly impregnated with the self. Once he has self-possession, he will wrongly perceive all dharma, thinking they are originated and destroyed. The seed of the self yields its seed of sorrow and prevents us from attaining supreme enlightenment.

In practice, when we could know ourselves that all dharma are originally neither originated nor destroyed, we would rely on the dharma for clarification, preventing every mistake in order to understand well all dharma and enjoy the happiness.

During the period of constant mind, knowing completely that all dharma are equal, you will be very careful to acquire the absolute illumination, to be able to manage all dharma. You will eliminate barriers and obstacles as enormous as the Meru Mountain and the dharma then returns to your mind. This is called moving the Meru Mountain into a mustard seed, but none of the living creatures in that world have this understanding.

The disciple who attains the constant supreme mind without separating time and space is still able to incarnate to have the Three Lives of Buddha.

–The Buddha in the past has appeared in the boundless space.

–The Buddha in the future starts to act in the boundless space.

–The Buddha in the present is based on the present birth and makes it clear.

Each of his speeches, gestures, and thoughts, represent the same great loving powers as the Three Lives and is communicated with the Buddha-Power. Being attested with no ignorance and no extinction of ignorance are quiet and at ease all the time. Every act emits wonderful dharma, realizing the many vows, until perfection, to achieve the ultimate vow. This great compassion, deeply vowed of the bodhisattva, can't be measured by the sentiment of living creatures.

Therefore, we can see that the disciple cannot obtain supreme knowledge while remaining in false consciousness and seeing that he cannot yet enter in the depth. Consciousness is the base of birth and death. It is only when we have plenty of stained merits, including numberless rare merits. We are naturally attested for the stainless merits.

At this point, all karma is definitively eliminated and no longer increase in accordance with conditions. The nature becomes quiet and bright, and the stainless seeds are found everywhere. By attaining the purity, we can discover the fearlessness. The absolute illumination, with no cause of fear or suffering, is called fully enlightened fearlessness. There is no more hindering dharma or birth and death karma

At that point the Prajna appears. That is the true wisdom of no-birth and no-distinction. Living creatures originally have the true form of prajna. Masked by ignorance, we are unable to realize the formless prajna. That is why we can't attain Samadhi.

Entering Prajna wisdom, the disciple will from time to time continuously wish to have all the twelve stages. Not yet attested as all knowing, the disciple could not carry out the wonderful application. Thus, he would never have supreme knowledge, even if he patiently meditates, learns, and studies thousands of sutras. He still remains at the level of knowing the Buddha dharma through intelligent spirit, which is difficult to escape from reasoning.

The practitioner who fully realizes “The vow of making the Tathagata's Merits” is closer to the living creatures and understands them better even though they are not aware of it. Each of our wishes, communicated by induction, fully concords with the twelve stages, thus achieving the ‘Nine Classes of Lotus Flower’. Entering into the Samadhi, we can communicate with the Ten Directions of the Buddha-Power.

Revered Sir,

We vow to lean on the living of all dharma to preach and handle cleverly to understand the living dharma well in order to be attested no-birth and be able to follow the same immortal path as the Buddhas of Ten Direction and Three Lives.

Buddhist true disciple, Phap Kha,
the representative of all the followers, respectfully offers.

The day before the Great Ceremony, He has known that I have attained the supreme enlightenment. He has told me during the ceremony:

“Phap Kha, you have practiced many vows for thousands of years and thousands of lives. Now you encounter me, and I have saved you through love. So you should, with love, save living creatures just like I have done for you.

If any living creatures long for the liberation through wisdom, you should teach them liberation through wisdom. If any living creatures wish the full awakening, you should teach them to be fully awakened. Phap Kha, do you hear that, do you remember that?”

I have bowed to Him and received what He had entrusted. All other disciples present in the ceremony prostrated themselves seven times before Him.

Later, He had also preached to a number of true disciples of the Phap Tang Buddhism of Vietnam as follows:

“From now on, I have a succeeding bodhisattva to propagate the true dharma. I no longer worry. If, in your future path of offering guidance, you meet the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, you should be respectful to them. As for those who claim themselves to be supreme rank, supreme master, you should stay close to them to see whether their supreme rank, supreme master is the same as the suchness from which I put so much effort to form you. If they do not possess the orthodox confidential seal, you must know that “supreme rank, supreme master" is merely doctrine and hypothesis, and not the true ones.”

In the ending of the age, the universe could only produce one reverend, not two. If there were two, they would already meet the Buddha at the same period of time.

During the period of science, some people practice by studying and learning sutras, claiming themselves to be supreme rank, supreme master and say there is neither hell nor other worlds besides the secular one. As a result, countless living creatures live in a carefree manner, and are not being anxious about cause and effect in the future. Long-Hoa Chief Monk has noticed answering them as follows:

“The devas, who run out of fortune, would fall into hell, subjected to punishment and hunger. Such a harmful speech could destroy the Buddhist condition and make a believer undergo the Avichi Hell for hundreds of lives, until the believer makes up his BODHI’s MIND. Thus, his damaging speech could be forgiven. Knowing that, the Buddha always advises people to make up their minds to practice dharma, in order to save those ill-will speakers from hell.”

–T.V.

22. Lord Long-Hoa Chief Monk Teaching the Day before Entering the Great Eight PariNirvana

Before the Lord attains the Great Eight PariNirvana, Mrs. Tang Trinh asked the Lord who would replace Him to teach the dharma after He passes. Phap Thao was beside her at the time.

–“Tang Trinh will be the head of the ceremony, distributing mourning bands,” He said.

–“No, Mrs. Tang Trinh went on. I’d like to know who would replace you to continue the teaching of the dharma.”

He remains silent, not answering her. He was sure that if Madam Tang Trinh knew He had entrusted me to succeed the practice of the dharma, she would revolt and bring the number of hateful disciples ready to act against me. They would commit the dangerous act of killing me. So, He kept silent.

As Chief of the family, He wrote a will, transferring the house at 6, Huynh Thuc Khang Street to Madam Tang Trinh and told her to dissolve the association. Because He has certainly known that madam Tang Trinh's abilities were never at the level of dharma protector the whole time. So, it is not easy for her to maintain and run the religion properly and efficiently.

• He has also taught: “He who holds the confidential seal to succeed is not living in Nha Trang.

    – Quy Nhon is the Buddha’s land, but produces no saint.
    – Da Nang has to leave its ego in the practice.
    – Hue is training to get out of poverty.
    – Only Saigon can be granted the Special Supreme Enlightened One.
    – After my passing, there will be only one bodhisattva who practices the traditional dharma; the rest are just wandering aimlessly.

He has then granted the London Precious Dharma place His pair of shoes, symbolizing the walking in practicing dharma, in order to penetrate into all things. After seeing, one will walk under vows to avoid stumbling and falling.

He has given the disciples in the United States a pair of glasses. The meaning is that you must practice in order to have the eyes capable of seeing all things. After seeing, you can penetrate into the right practice.

• At the Central Assembly too, He said, “The gold analytical scale may be wrong, but what I have already attested would neither be wrong nor erroneous even in the least part.”

Why? The Buddhas have already attained the enlightened form, and would never be mistaken. Normal people may handle a matter under one aspect or another while the Buddha comprehends it measurelessly, and can resolve and conduct all things into a tight round. All the fluctuations of the living creatures and all acts of the saints are far from adequate, so they cannot certainly get out of the cycle. They cannot surpass the Buddhas and do not understand the things as thoroughly as the Buddhas.

“The Buddha Path is passed down from the King Buddha, so it preserves the confidential seal of attestation of venerable. Therefore, in the period of the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng, all disciples though enlightened or attaining the knowledge of Buddha truth, have to go back to worship and receive the attestation before they could enter the full enlightenment in the Tathagata Store of the Supreme.” –T.V.

What He said in this Dharma-Ending Age reminds us that, in the Sixth Patriarch period, even the disciples attaining the knowledge of Buddha have to receive the attestation. At the present time, we must follow these main ideas strictly and then practice for the Buddha's knowledge. This way, we can communicate with the Buddha-Power according to the degree of practice and enlightenment in the Nine Classes of the Lotus Flower.

For that reason, all His true disciples have to be verified and attested afterwards by the successor bodhisattva, or the contemporary second successor patriarch, before they could enter the “Tathagata Store of the Supreme”. In this Dharma-Ending Age, those of his disciples, who did not follow the way He has guided, are rebellious practitioners, acting on their own accord. Therefore, they are unable to communicate with the Buddha-Power, being just like the radio.

“In recent times, I have attested the dharma teaching as a means of practicing. Any enlightened true disciple will be reattested by me later.” –T.V.

• Since the announcement of the appointed bodhisattva, Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha has abolished the grade of dharma teacher.

Through countless challenges, only four dharma teachers remain. He has ordered that all their robes and hats be brought to the central and burned them. He said:

“The true disciples of the Phap Tang are not allowed to claim themselves to be the dharma teacher from now on.” –T.V.

• He has given me 4 wads of yellow cloth, one for myself, one each for the Venerables Phap-Tung, Phap-Bang, Phap-Kien. These continued to wear their venerable robes.

• Later on, at number 6, Huynh Thuc Khang Street, He has told me to make the bodhisattva robe and hat.

I took over the dharma school, teaching dharma for three years while He was still alive. In 1993, He attained Great Eight Pari Nirvana, and I succeeded in handling the dharma practice in conformity with His path and the main ideas of the Three Periods of Buddha.

Not until 1995, in the presence of all true disciples, I began to make my bodhisattva robe and hat at the request of the dharma practice. Thus, I was carrying out His request.

At number 6, Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Nha Trang, Madam Venerable Tang-Trinh was holding a basket of sutras, His ordinances, and certificates.

• Madam Dieu Hanh was a true disciple, usually typing all the sutras and certificates that He wrote. She has also preserved for herself what she has typed for Him.

He used to handle things intentionally in such a wonderful manner so that all True disciples were satisfied and felt a sacred love for Him.

• During 1975, through many ups and downs, He has skillfully used purity and impurity as well as form and formless (or consciousness and unconscionable). We can make a recapitulation of the remaining venerables as follows:

– Lady Venerable Tang Trinh

– Lady Venerable Phap Tung

– Venerable Phap Bang: He had left the dharma for three years, and then had the good cause to meet Him while tending to the grave of a relative. He had told him to go back. Afterwards he had left for one more year. The last time he got angry with Him, he left for six months. When He had entered Great Eight Pari Nirvana, Phap Bang returned to the Central, at the request of his fellow disciples, but refused to see Him for the last time. At last, his co-disciples’ insistence made him come to see Him. He sweetly said: “I know you are waiting until I pass away before you return.”

Venerable Phap Bang has preached the dharma well, but he must achieve penetration of the continued practice, this is a very important matter for a venerable. He has attested the Venerable Phap Bang to be enlightened in the future.

Lady Venerable Phap Tung and Lady Venerable Tang Trinh were attested to attain the ultimate awareness in the future, too. Their degree of practice and enlightenment is deeper than awareness.

– Venerable Phap Kien often spoke interminably, without seeing the dharma, to practice. He said Phap Kien would be influenced later by the external world so he must practice harder to have the Buddha’s knowledge.

– Venerable Tang Than: He has inscribed in the sutra, but is not yet allowed to wear the venerable robe.

– Venerable Phap Hau: Endures well, overcomes many challenges, and preaching well, but He did not yet give him the venerable robe, either.

He has never forgotten nor missed the disciples practicing around Him. His blessings are impartial, without missing even the smallest things.

Before 1975, there were about 10 attested venerables. But after several challenges, they could not endure the unfavorable dharma and left the dharma for many years without returning every now and then to see Him, and avoided other disciples in the school. As for the dharma teachers, from 1975 to 1993, many venerables left Phap Tang because of family difficulties, instabilities and troubles in the Phap Tang house. They never came to know His wonderful applications regarding the parallel path of virtue and wisdom.

• After many occurrences, all the representatives of the venerables and dharma protectors, from the Central to the provincial Precious Dharma Place of Phap Tang still meet and practice. The Chief Monk attested them all in 1993.

◊ At the Central Highness Assembly in Nha Trang:

      1. The Bodhisattva Phap Kha, whose dharma name was changed to Di Nhu. (Nhu -Tathagata, Di-The Surname of Lord Supreme Maitreya)
      2. The Bodhisattva Dharma Protector Tang Buu, whose dharma name is changed to Van Duong, taught the Devadatta's descendants.
      3. Lady Venerable Tang Trinh
      4. Lady Venerable Phap Tung
      5. Venerable Phap Bang
      6. Venerable Phap Thao (has not yet received the ordinance)
      7. Lady Dharma Protector Dieu Hoa was cleared for her awareness store.

Some venerables who clear the Tathagata store still need to practice until the store is fully eliminated then they will be in the Tathagata. A number of faithful disciples still gathered at the Central, but none of them were attested in the teacher rank. In attaining Buddhahood, He has only once attested three people: Boddhisattva Di Nhu, Venerable Tang Trinh, and true disciple Dieu Hanh, who could become Buddha. We bowed to Him to show our gratitude, and then He said to me as follows: Dieu Hanh, who has the faculty of big strength, will go into the world of Buddhas.

◊ At the Provincial City Association of Precious Dharma place of Quy Nhon:

      1. Lady Dharma Protector Tang Hieu
      2. Dharma Protector Phap Quang, who needs more virtue.
      3. Lady Dharma Protector Phap Lien.

Especially for the Venerable Phap Kien, he promulgated an ordinance by which He would no longer recognize him as loyal disciple (that proclamation still stands).

◊ At the Provincial Phap Tang House in Da Nang:

1. Lady Dharma Protector Tang Sinh was attested to be enlightened.
2. Dharma Protector Phap Thanh who needs more wisdom.

◊ At the 3rd District of Da Nang:

1. Dharma Protector Phap Dao

◊ At the Provincial Phap Tang House in Thua Thien Hue:

1. Dharma Protector Tang Chuong.
2. Dharma Protector Tang Thoan.

◊ At the Phap Tang House in Saigon:

In 1981, He had sent me to Saigon to open the Phap Tang House. Later, I have guided some faithful, true disciples who became members in the dharma protector rank. All the venerables and dharma protectors have been diligently practicing dharma for many years. Though living in Saigon, they practiced the working of the Central Highness Assembly, and were cleared for their awareness store by the Lord:

     1. Maha Bodhisattva Di Nhu
     2. Dharma Protector Tang Khiem
     3. Dharma Protector Tang Thang
     4. Dharma protector Tang Thong
     5. Lady Dharma Protector Dieu Tram
     6. Dharma Protector Phap Can
     7. Dharma Protector Phap Truc
     8. Tang Thanh has printed and offered sutras to everyone. He could not practice and be enlightened. However, he will become a rich man later.

Three years after the Lord’s entrance into Great Eight Pari Nirvana, Venerable Phap Thao and some followers had not yet attained enlightenment, and then were led to the black magic path. Fortunately, Phap Thao was then awakened and returned to the right dharma.

Disciple Tang Thanh, who just came to practice, asked me to take the photograph of ‘Proclamation Attesting the Universe’, ‘Proclamation Attesting the Bodhisattva’, and the ‘Proclamation of Faithful-Obedience-Respect’. I agreed with his request to be inclined to the conducted bodhisattva for practice. Tang Thanh has not been attested, he is only a living creature dharma protector, and has not yet proclaimed himself as such. He distorted the constant leading line and object; he will do considerable harm to his own life. Tang Thanh certainly needs more virtue.

In Saigon, there are many more true disciples, practicing Phap Tang, but they are not vowing to practice in the same way, only the above named take care of the dharma together at the Central Highness Assembly.

◊ In London, the United Kingdom

     1. Dharma Protector Tang Thong
     2. Dharma Protector Tang Te
     3. Dharma Protector Phap Vuong
     4. Dharma Protector Phap Hoan
     5. Lady Dharma Protector Phap Quy
     6. Dharma Protector Phap Trao

Tang Thong is the first Dharma Protector to establish the dharma and oversees the disciples in London. Later, he is cleared for his consciousness store and attested by the Chief Monk to be enlightened in the future.

Lady Phap Quy is a faithful devotee who is cleared for her awareness store. If she was insightful, she would be enlightened, too.

◊ In the United States:

     1. Dharma Protector Tang Ao who needs more virtue
     2. Dharma Protector Tang Quang
     3. Lady Dharma Protector Dieu Hoang, who is cleared for her awareness-store.

Ten years later, after the Lord has entered the Great Eight PariNirvana, several United States dharma protectors names are taken off from the list above due to lack of ability and virtue as dharma protectors.

As Principal Chief of the Central Dharma supporting committee, I received the ‘Ordinance of the Bodhisattva’ in the presence of the three venerables and the true disciples. I have gradually received his teachings from Him and taken notes of them.

Out of His 3000 disciples, a number of above-mentioned bodhisattvas, venerables and dharma protectors remain. Nearly 100 faithful believers from everywhere continue to practice Phap Tang and its precious dharma in accordance with their region.

He has attested 36 patriarchs appearing who would succeed in building the true dharma for the next 5000 years. However, there are only a few patriarchs who belong to enlightened rank and they take turn incarnating to preach and take care of the Phap Tang. Also, according to his teachings, the patriarchs, in the future, will advance from awareness to ultimate awareness known as the arahant, the highest of the sage rank. They would not proclaim themselves to be Buddhas while not having enough abilities and merits. It is only by meeting a bodhisattva that he is attested and continues to teach them.

Meeting Him in this lifetime, all of us will realize that the practice of the dharma is very difficult; it slowly advances step by step. Therefore, in the future, we should not plunge forward too fast and claim ourselves to be Buddhas, not even he who has attained the supreme enlightenment. One should wait until he meets an attested supreme enlightened bodhisattva to verify and attest. Only then, one will be invited into the true supreme Tathagata store.

• He has also left and promulgated His declaration of faithfulness, obedience and respect. The patriarchs should preserve the future life because it strictly reflects the main ideas of Long Hoa Chief Monk incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha who represent the Buddhas’ Three Dharma Periods in Ten Directions.

In this Dharma-Ending Age, He has witnessed many patriarchs, and taught men, who claimed by themselves to be the Buddha while their abilities and merits are far below that level.

How precious the Blessed One's teachings are
His power in the old time still remains
It's very difficult to build in this Dharma-Ending Age
Plenty of practice and enlightenment, And they are hard to distinguish.

–T.V.

All the patriarchs and true disciples in the future, even though they have acquired one or all of the three qualities such as using dharma patience to stop karma from spreading, equal nature and mind, and samadhi dharma subject of real form and formless. They all help to deeply penetrate the dharma world and to know the origin of all dharma well. They have to practice until awareness then ultimate awareness is attained before they can become an arahant.

21. Proclamation Attesting the Bodhisattva

Those, who spend all their life seeking for the Truth, will seek the Truth all their life.

Those who spend all their life collecting the Truth will collect the Truth all their life. If they seek the Truth by thinking without obtaining it, they will spend all their life thinking, but in vain.

It is only with the faith in perfect knowledge that they could be Enlightened.

–TV Self-Enlightenment Sutra

(Click on picture to view at full size)

Translated English version of the 'Proclamation Attesting the Bodhisattva':

Superior Chief Monk

Phap Tang Buddhism of Vietnam Highness Assembly January 25, 1977

Year of the Dragon

UNIVERSAL PROCLAMATION

Promulgated to Bodhisattvas, Maha-Bodhisattvas

on The 7th day of the 12th month of

the year of the Dragon- at 9: 30 a.m.

In the presence of the Great Bodhisattva, Maha Bodhisattva and the Dragon God Dharma Protector, Dharma Protector Bodhisattva, Mountain Deity, Land Deity, Supreme Spirit, and Asura Deity are all summoned.

The Supreme Pure King Chief Monk has announced the Ordinance to the Bodhisattva, who has taught to the Gods Dragon, God Dharma Protector, Dharma Protector Bodhisattva, Mountain Deity, Land Deity, Supreme Spirit, and Asura Deity, The Supreme Pure King has declared and taught:

Oh! You should know that countless living creatures make the vow, infinite Tathagata make the vow, Supreme Enlightenment make the vow to attain the fruit of attainment.

From the bodhisattva up, you must practice the maha bodhisattva, chiefly based on controlling his “Mara” ego, to achieve the great enlightenment. That is the only way for the bodhisattva to practice and attain. When the great enlightenment is attained, the practitioner immediately becomes complete master of his ego, also esoteric attested full enlightenment of the true self and called the Supreme Enlightened One. He must fully achieve the practice of the all sides without deficiency in order to guide all living creatures and all the favorable and most unfavorable completely to the Great Eight Pari Nirvana. In His presence, He teaches and saves thousands, countless, from unfavorable conditions, without taking any unfavorable attributes himself.

You should not be tardy in realizing, because of the favorable appearance and presence of the Enlightened One, and because of the wonderful application of the Enlightened One, the correspondence to the Tathagata Store. Being tardy, how can you offer guidance to living creatures and carry out the solemn vow of the infinite Tathagata? In this Dharma-Ending Age, if you want to be fully enlightened you should keep the right dharma completely with all its qualities, in response to the Enlightened One’s orders, you must carry out the guidance and corresponding guide in accordance with Him in order to be enlightened.

These words are rather difficult to hear, know and understand. It is only through the explanation of the Great Bodhisattva and Maha Bodhisattva that all the sages, dragon deities dharma protectors, dharma protector bodhisattvas, mountain deities, land deities, supreme spirits and asura deities can as one understand it thoroughly.

The Ordinance is now promulgated ./.

–The Supreme Pure King Chief Monk

Sealed Transmitting

The ‘Certificate of Venerable’. I have been practicing Phap Tang for one year, on the 30th day of the 9th month of the lunar year, 1970, at the annual Great Ceremony of attestation; I was attested by Lord Long-Hoa Chief Monk Maitreya Buddha, who has given me the ‘Certificate of Venerable’.

After twenty years of constant practice, I trained through millions of hardships with plenty of trials and many times intentional use of unfavorable situations by the Lord to test my virtue and wisdom. I can hold firm on myself and am capable of controlling and restraining all cravings, which resulted from the evil karma.

His 3000 true disciples have refused to come to practice at the Central Assembly, continuing the way of training He has shown at home. I was one of only 7 disciples remaining in Nha Trang.

One day He had told me to make a repentance report.

“Have you thought, you have offered me your wife? - You have to write down that you have abandoned your wife and children, being unable to make ends meet for daily life. Therefore, I have to resolve your family's problems.”

From 1975 onward, every family was confounded, and the life was very hard, too. For my part, I was reeducated, imprisoned and unable to take care of my family. This brought about many hardships to the Supreme Pure King for my sake.

I know that saving living creatures’ nature means happily undergoing things whatever they may be, without refusing. Not following what the Enlightened One has shown would lead to negligence. I have written the repentance report, in compliance with His wishes and submitted it to Him.

The 'Proclamation Attesting the Bodhisattva'. Then at 6:30 a.m., on July 23, 1989 (the 21st day of the 6th month of the year of the snake), in the Central Highness Assembly, the Principal Hall was filled with the sweet scent of incense and sandalwood. Long-Hoa Chief Monk was calmly sitting, in front of Him was me, the Venerable Phap Bang, the true disciple Tang Than, and the true disciple Dieu Hanh all sitting semi-circular as usual. He had given me the ordinance of bodhisattva and maha bodhisattva, and told me:

“Phap Kha, I'm now granting you the ‘Proclamation of Bodhisattva’. You are the only disciple who receives this ordinance bearing my seal and signature. No one else has this principal text. I have given other disciples the same ordinance, but not My seal and signature.”

Then He has turned to Venerable Phap Bang and said:

“Phap Bang, you have to practice in two or three more lives before you can be as good as Phap Kha now. As for Tang Than, you will teach others what you have learned”. Upon these words, I got up and the three others solemnly did the same. I prostrated seven times before the Chief Monk to show my gratitude for His offering the ordinance to me, by which I already have become bodhisattva, realizing maha bodhisattva in the universe, taking over the path of the Buddhas of Ten Directions and Three Periods.

• Jealousy. Just like the Lord has entered the Great Eight Pari Nirvana, Mrs. Tang Trinh, as the Chief Monk’s wife, did not allow me to organize and conduct the Great Ceremony (see sidebar for more information) and Venerable Phap Bang secretly had somebody cut out my pictures in the video of the Great Ceremony. Venerable Phap Bang had to leave during the ceremony due to an earlier motorcycle accident.

As for the true disciple Dieu Hanh, He said nothing. To the Buddhas, two or three more generations mean two or three more lives of the Buddha. In reality, a disciple remaining in the depth of the dharma dhatu belt still remains in the continuous ignorance for countless lives, making it very difficult to get over confusion and clear up the ignorance by himself. Due to his enormous cause, he may find a fully enlightened Buddha or bodhisattva who more or less abolishes the ignorance, depending on his level and this counts for one life. Clarity brings knowledge; therefore, the disciple knows by himself how to practice correctly while conforming to the path of the Buddhas without becoming lost. So He has reorganized everything this time, and the practice of dharma must follow the main ideas strictly, conforming to the declaration of faithfulness, obedience, and respect. It is the only way that the patriarchs and the bodhisattva could go to the Buddha. Those who disapprove and practice dharma on their own will not reach the Buddha. As for Tang Than who teaches the others with his education, that means studying Buddhist Sutra and teaching through thought and reasoning. He has no insight yet.

Just enough time to train only one Bodhisattva to practice Maha-Bodhisattva. The next morning I came to receive the teaching just like I did every time I went from Saigon to Nha Trang. He has told me:

–“In the future, you will return to the world to teach the patriarchs and walk through the fire for the wonderful fruit of Buddha hood. You must know, returning to the world, during the journey of propagation of the dharma, I have just enough time to train only one bodhisattva to practice maha bodhisattva. For My future disciples who are “hungry for dharma” and go seeking for it, only you can teach them efficiently.” –T.V.

It was the same as at the time of Sakyamuni Buddha. When He has attained Great Eight Pari Nirvana, all the venerables were too proud to come to the Venerable Maha Kassapa. Only the Venerable Ananda, ranged as second patriarch, was beside Kassapa.

At the present time, we entertain the same concept: Since they and I are all disciples of the Lord, how can they have the Insight and clear up the ignorance and confusion?

In fact, when Long Hoa Chief Monk incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha gives the ‘Ordinance of Bodhisattva Practicing Maha Bodhisattva’ for someone, he is able to embody into the universe and communicate with the Buddha's Power. He has sufficient abilities and merits to preach to the Four Species, as well as to mankind, heaven, fairies, deities, sage, dharma protector bodhisattvas such as the sravaka, arahant, Pratyeka Buddha in the Three Thousand of Thousand Worlds of Great Heaven in conformity with the main ideas of the proclamation. Those who act oppositely or disapprove of the bodhisattva will be tardy not only in this life, but also in countless lives to come.

Lord Long-Hoa Chief Monk Maitreya Buddha is the supreme leader of Phap Tang. The handling of the dharma support is entrusted to the principal chief of the central dharma support committee. This responsibility is given to me.

The Central, Provincial, District and village Executive Committees are elected every two years to be in contact with the political power on administrative matters. * ftn (Regardless of the “elected” ones position, it is the attested bodhisattva that is the enlightened leader of the religion.)

To Change Phap Kha to Di Nhu. In his last lunar New Year festival of 1993, on the 12th day of the 1st month, after the Great Ceremony marking the year, He told me:

“Phap Kha, you are the highest graduate of our community and you will have your dharma name changed. From now on, you will be named Di Nhu.”

I prostrated three times before Him to receive His offer.

Previously, He has told the true disciples that He would change all their dharma names and they would have the family name of Di. But long afterwards He did not make any change for them. So, He intentionally said that in order to cause neither surprise nor disapproval for anyone, he would consider changing their dharma names into Di.

On my practice path to the enlightenment, many of my disciples, friends, and relatives, who notice my absolute faithfulness, obedience, and respect toward Him, told me that I was a lunatic. In the physical world, I had to undergo countless hardships, but after nine times of dying and reviving, I still held firm, seeking for Buddhahood. I remember one of my former lives in which I underwent hardships, about one hundred times more than those of the period when I traveled from China to India to seek for the dharma.

It's true. He who goes across the bridge will experience that.

He has often told many of His disciples: “I have used a mass of gold as large as Phap Kha's body to create him. What a marvelous achievement!”

After He had given me the ‘Ordinance of Bodhisattva’, every time I went from Saigon to Nha Trang to receive the dharma, He often drove me away, scolding me for betraying Him. Many of his disciples who witnessed this felt happy and said that I was being suppressed and that there will soon be another to replace me to handle the teaching of the dharma.

They were waiting impatiently, but He chose no one to replace me, and I went on handling the practice for Him as usual. The Devadatta's descendants showed their hatred more intensively, expressively. For three times, they have planned to assassinate me, but I had gotten out of danger all three times. In the meantime, the police of the city of Nha Trang forbade Him to practice the dharma. He had already known that if he declared His successor, the government on one hand and His disciples on the other hand would kill the successor.

Only one Ordinance bearing His seal and signature. One morning, He told me at the center: “You have received the Ordinance bearing my seal and signature. You are the First Patriarch”; I bowed to him and retreated. He said: “In order to save you, I have released ten notices, resembling ten eels, and nobody knows which ones to catch.”

Within a few days of handing down the ordinance, He has met and advised me in front of Mrs. Dieu Khiem: “You must go immediately to Saigon. Otherwise, somebody will assassinate you.”

Indeed, He has since handed down ten ‘Ordinances of Bodhisattva’, but none of them has the seal and signature. Most of the recipients were happy.

20. The Existence-Dharma Sutra

When entering Nirvana, The Buddha has made His will to Ananda as follows: After my death the Dharma-Ending Age will come in which my disciples will leave the Dharma and practice wrong doctrines. They will refuse to observe the condition – focused effort - result, and continue to associate with the wicked parties to insult and mock those who keep precepts.

For that reason, all the Devas become chagrined and leave, while the high dignitaries, men of wealth and the common people will lose confidence in the Triple Gem, which will almost destroy the Main Dharma. From then on, these Bikkhus (begging monks) create worse and worse Karma. Fortunately, there are other Bikkhus who know how to maintain pure practice, and preach Tathagata's Dharma to benefit all Living beings. There are also many Kings, High Officials, Common People, Lay disciples and Buddhist Believers, who begin to mourn for the Main Dharma. They worship the Triple Gem, respectfully make offerings to Tathagata, glorify, and show their firm will to receive Dharma. These are the Bodhisattvas who are born with the great wishes to maintain the Buddha Dharma and to give benefit to all living creatures.

That’s why The Supreme Pure King incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya understands the Dharma-Ending Age, which teaches the Living Creatures who wished to attain the Perfect Knowledge that they must be faithful, obedient, and respectful toward their leaders in order to be successful.

Lord Supreme Maitreya acts as a lay disciple to help incarnate Bikkhus in the Dharma-Ending Age, making use of life to guide the Dharma practice, so they are purified at present.

During the time of Sakyamuni Buddha, one day Venerable Ananda saw a huge elephant while meditating who was standing and suddenly collapsed and disintegrated into millions of maggots. A few minutes later, the elephant shook his body and become big and powerful as before. Venerable Ananda asked Sakyamuni Buddha about this story. He taught: The collapsed and disintegrated elephant represents in the final law period, His children Monks and Nuns who are not aware and do not correct their natures. Therefore, True Dharma became denigrated and Dharma ending. Later, the elephant strongly stood up and the maggots disappeared meaning that layman would re-establish and rebuild True Dharma.

19. Attestation of Proclamation about Faith, Obedience, and Respect.

The Buddhist path has a unique principle guideline alongside its objective. The path of Buddhism is directly handed down from the previous Buddha. This path is called the Supreme Principle One. Even if thousands of Buddhas appeared in thousands of lives, only one would have a unique “principle guideline” and its objective. In fact, through the Three Periods of the Buddha, the past, the present and the future, He would help all people to attain liberation through wisdom. During this time, Buddha came into the world and saved people according to their lives.

–T.V

In the Final Law Period, Phap Tang has especially established meditation to make plain that the dharma intends to clear the mind. By the unique nature of Phap Tang, He has determined that the faithful practitioner must have “faith, obedience, and respect” under the guide of the bodhisattvas. Why? In this Dharma-Ending Age, too much study creates the barrier of reason. Thus, we must be faithful, obedient and respectful so that reasoning will not become the barrier, and we could practice attaining true enlightenment. Following is the “Proclamation” handed down by the Supreme Pure King:

Attestation of Proclamation about Faith, Obedience, and Respect.

(Click on picture to view at full size)

Translated English version of 'Attestation of Proclamation about Faith, Obedience, and Respect'

Supreme Chief Monk
Phap Tang Buddhism of Vietnam Highness Assembly, March 10, 1968

Year of the Monkey

PROCLAMATION

Namo Supreme Pure King Buddha

Namo The Central Highness Assembly of Phap Tang of Buddha, and Maha Bodhisattva.

                                 - The Eastern Buddha of Medicine
                                 - The Ratnagarbha Buddha
                                 - The Supreme Pure King Buddha

Attestation of Proclamation:

The Central Highness Assembly of Phap Tang
March 10, 1968 Year of the Monkey

ATTESTS:

The Supreme Pure King Chief Monk, representing the Three Periods of Buddhas is exclusively in charge of the leadership according to the general Way and Vow of the Supreme Pure King Buddha in the Phap Tang Path.

The Chief Monk has the heavy responsibility of ATTESTING all true disciples as well as Living Creatures in the Dharma-Ending Age, and bringing all of them to the present Liberation through Wisdom. Therefore, the true disciples would discover the liberation only from the FAITHFULNESS-OBEDIENCE-RESPECT.

BY FAITHFULNESS - OBEDIENCE - RESPECT TOWARD the CHIEF MONK you will attain.

If losing FAITHFULNESS: You will be lost in the Birth and Death cycles.

If losing FAITHFULNESS - OBEDIENCE: You will be sunk into the Six Ways.

If losing FAITHFULNESS - OBEDIENCE - RESPECT: You are not far from the Hungry Devil, Animal hood and Hell.

NO FAITHFULNESS: Never liberated.

NO OBEDIENCE: Never reaching and attaining.

NO RESPECT: Separated from the nature of wisdom and the three periods of Buddhas.

Full Faithfulness - Obedience - Respect means: Vows of Merits, offerings to the Three Periods, Ordination into Buddha, having the same Vow to the Phap Tang Buddhism of Vietnam, and being in company with the Bodhisattva Buddha in working.

THE PURE KING CHIEF MONK ATTESTS:

In the presence of true disciples:

From the Men and Gods, Fairies and Deities of the three realms and Six Ways such as: Mankind – Asura, Animal hood-Hungry Devil, to almost Hell. All are present and listening.

The Bodhisattvas and Maha bodhisattvas with their efficient protection and help.

The Dragon God, Dharma Protector, and Maha Bodhisattva Protector, with their (efficient) protection and help.

The Highest Spirits, Heaven Deities, Spirits and Men, Asura Deity, Mountain Deity, Water Deity, Fire Deity, Land Deity and the four groups of spirits with their efficient protection and help.

CO-INVITED: The Twelve Yaksas Generals of the Eastern Buddha of Medicine with their efficient protection and help.

In the Common Vow of the Three Periods of Buddha today, the Chief Monk, in the Final Law Period, attests all true disciples and carries out the common duty while aiming at bringing all of them to the Liberation through Wisdom.

Protection and help should be given to the True Disciples according to their own correct application and appropriate retribution or compensation for his previous existence as a result of his past deeds.

March 10, 1968, the year of the Monkey
12:01pm

The Supreme Pure King Chief Monk
Attests

The Supreme Pure King preached at 42, Hong Bang Street, Nha Trang, on His wooden loft. I heard: “I intuitively remember my former life, which was the Maitreya, but how can I inscribe the name of Maitreya under the SUTRA which I write? I must use another name that is the Supreme Pure King.”

The practitioner who wants to meet Lord Supreme Maitreya must know about His Dharma subject. Lord Supreme Maitreya's Dharma subject is a practice, which focuses on the SIGHT-SOUND-ODOR-TASTE-TOUCH-DHARMA of this secular world and yet not infected by it. Practicing this way, you will realize the Truth in the Maitreya's Dharma Subject. As for Lord Sakyamuni, He was the Founder of a Religion in this Sahaloka. How can I claim myself to be another head of religion in order to dispute His position? I only use the highest function in the religion, the Chief Monk, in order to show my respect toward Sakyamuni, the Founder. I cannot use the term Long Hoa either for the sign or for my teaching in the world. So I have to ask permission for the foundation of Phap Tang Buddhism of Vietnam, but I'd like to remind all Living Creatures in this Sahaloka that the Maitreya has come into this world to re-establish the “past”, under the title Phap Tang Buddhism of Vietnam. I also use the words Highness Assembly, but unfortunately no one including Monks, Nuns, or Buddhist Believers, notice these two words when they look at the large board with its yellow ground and sky-blue letters.

The Supreme Pure King Chief Monk is the Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha Himself who takes up the great function of teaching the Dharma in the last of the Three Periods, with the attestation of the Supreme Pure King Buddha.

The Supreme Pure King Buddha is the Tathagata Himself in the Orient, and also the God for the Occident. In the Arabian communities, the Supreme Pure King Buddha is their sacred Allah. His names vary from one place to another, but He is the highest power in the universe.

“All Buddhas in the Ten Directions have to meet the Supreme Pure King Buddha before their attainment in order to be attested so that they could associate with Him, forming the One. That is the meaning of “two is one and vice versa.” –T.V.

The Patriarchs, who have attained True Emptiness, Awareness, Great Awareness or Ultimate Awareness, could not yet meet the Supreme Pure King Buddha. The completely Enlightened Ones are called the Supreme Enlightened Ones and are among those who were able to meet the Supreme Pure King Buddha.

Lord Sakyamuni and all the Buddhas were able to see the Supreme Pure King Buddha before entering Nirvana. Lord Supreme Maitreya has also met the Supreme Pure King Buddha, who came to attest His entering Nirvana.

Lord Supreme Maitreya has to wait before entering Great Eight PariNirvana. The Bodhisattvas, Dragon Deities, and Dharma Protectors asked him what He was waiting for. “I'm waiting for Supreme Pure King Buddha to come and attest,” answered the Lord. He then let go His Right Meditation to say that. Soon afterwards the Supreme Pure King Buddha came and attested, and Lord Supreme Maitreya has immediately entered the Great Eight PariNirvana.

All the Bodhisattvas and Maha Bodhisattvas deserved to meet the Supreme Pure King Buddha who came in order to attest the attainment. However, they could not meet the Supreme Pure King Buddha when they depart from life. Only when they return to the world and their vows result in real Buddha hood, will the Supreme Pure King Buddha came to attest.

Even though the Arahants rank, reached the state of Ultimate Awareness, they were still unable to meet the Supreme Pure King Buddha. In the last of the three periods, many who claimed by themselves to be Buddhas are not presented on the list of ordainment of the Buddha according to the Main Ideas. They have to go around within the Six Ways waiting for the Buddha, who is Succeeding Lord Supreme Maitreya, to verify and attest so that they could enter the Constitution.

One day the Supreme Pure King incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya has said:

“Just like there is only one King in a nation, and his son inherits the throne upon his father’s death, everything evolves in the same way. At the present time, old leaders transfer the leadership to those who succeed them. There is not much difference between the path of life and that of orthodox tradition.” –T.V.

Many people are not aware of the path of the past Buddhas who had to practice one class after another without omission In order to enter the universal realm, claiming oneself to be Bodhisattva or Buddha without sealed esoteric to master the universe.

There are many people who earn a doctorate degree, but the King or Leader as Prime Minister appoints only one of them. The Prime Minister imposes his will on the whole country and his signature is highly valued. Meanwhile, the other doctors earn a living each in their own way as much as they can. Their signatures are not as valid as those of the Prime Minister. The one who succeeds the Prime Minister is as authoritative as the former. Likewise, the Bodhisattva who succeeds the Enlightened One has similar authority. One attains Nirvana while continuing to handle, convert, and save all Living Creatures.

Lord Supreme Maitreya has said: “In this Final Law Period, I have to re-establish the practicing and training policy. If the living creatures follow the way shown by the Enlightened One, they would become citizens of the Buddhist nation. Otherwise, their studies and high level of education would only enable them to return to the physical world.

If you believe in the Buddha and practice Dharma only through scriptures and images of the Buddha made of wood, cement or drawing on paper, you only have integrity or good faculty. At the hour of death, you will be reincarnated in a place where there is Buddhist temple. You will have another chance to practice Dharma and continue to remain in the birth and death cycle.

Believing in the Bodhisattva, you should practice the main ideas. Therefore, He must clearly guide the disciples. Losing faith in the Chief Monk or in the succeeding Patriarch would mean becoming lost in the Birth and Death circle. Why?

If you don't believe in those who well experienced the Birth and Death path when you are not yet certain of what is right and wrong in your daily practice, you will surely be lost. You, therefore, must believe. Otherwise, you will not be able to escape from the birth-death cycle by practicing Dharma in this way, as you like and exactly in accordance with the Sutra.

• Losing Faithfulness and Obedience, you will continue to be sunk in the Six Ways.

Generally, countless people strongly believe in Buddhism, but few believe in the Enlightened Ones. They have to recognize the Truth before they can believe it. It is difficult to practice Dharma by believing in wise men, but it is much more difficult to be enlightened only by obedience.

By neither being obedient nor practicing what the Enlightened One teaches, we could not detach ourselves from following the six ways and sink into them: heaven, mankind, asura, hungry devil, animal and hell.

–As for heaven: Practicing fixed-thought and wishful thinking. That is called Desire Thinking.

–As for mankind: Usually attached to clemency, justice, politeness, intelligence, confidence, does not accept differences and is often clinging.

–As for asura world: Often hot- tempered, easily produced, easily destructed, and attached.

–As for hungry devil: Greedy, disputatious.

–As for animal world: Usually produced, combining to be metamorphosed and multiplied.

–As for hell: Clinging, using only violence not listening to anyone. Acts as a dictator and is easily perished.

• Without Respect, They will be separated from knowledge of nature and the three periods of Buddha.

Those, who neither respect the Enlightened Ones nor have integrity, are ill-natured and cruel because they do not believe in the Buddha, the Dharma, or the Sangha. They are separated from the three periods of Buddha, which means they believe neither Buddha in the past or present nor in the future. After their death, they will live in Hell, and will not be able to hear the words of Virtue.

• Being fully Faithful, Obedient and Respectful means believing in Favorable as well as Unfavorable things, not being attached and obstructed. When the Awakened man purposely utilizes the contrary, he aims at making the faithful disciple understand the Tathagata Basket. These are the Merits toward the Tathagata, and the offerings to Tathagata. By clearing your own living creatures’ natures, you will be ordained into Buddha by Lord Tathagata.

During the last of the three periods, the Supreme Pure King incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya has taught the followers that they must vow together, work together, in company with all the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas in order to benefit from the truth and attain the liberation through wisdom. If they don't have the same vows and devotions, practicing separately according to their own wishes they will never get results. They are losing the way that was recently reorganized by the Lord in the Final Law Period.

In the following Sutra, Lord Supreme Maitreya has written: “... The Mountain Deity, Water Deity, Fire Deity, and Wind Deity... all of them have all been helping efficiently.

–Mountain Deity: The Deity living in the mountains, at the foot of the mountain, and at the foot of a tree.

–Water Deity: The Deity with landscape in Living water such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and the sea.

–Fire Deity: the Deity with landscape in the fire, and eating fire.

–Wind Deity: the Deity with landscape in the wind, and living in the wind.”

There are other countless landscapes in the eyes of a Master of Meditation.

Following is a story, which took place in the 20th century, the century of civilization and progress, in which spacecraft reached the Moon. It was a strange but true story.

It was approximately 1978, at the Re-education Camp of A.30 in Tuy Hoa. I had a friend in the same ward, named Hoa. He had been working with the blacksmith's group during the time we lived in the Camp of Da Ban. When we were transferred to A.30 in 1978, all of us were extremely short of food. Each of us received 4 kg of rice and some cassava each month. Everyone was starving. One day, Hoa's wife came to visit him, bringing him 10 kg of rice. Seeing me for many days in hunger, Hoa gave me one milk-can of rice. “Oh, thank you, a piece in hunger is worth a package in the comfort,” I said while cooking the rice given by Hoa, I prayed for his family before the meal. Hoa and I were, at the time, in a re-education camp, and his wife was in Tuy Hoa City, which was about 30 km away. The next harvest, the whole country suffered from the drought along with spreading insects. As a result, the crops of Tuy Hoa Province and the whole country were gravely damaged. There was almost no harvest crop of rice.

During her visit, Hoa's wife told us that only her rice field had been miraculously fruitful while all the others’ were greatly damaged. The local officials came and asked her about the plantation technique, praising her and inviting other farmers to visit her rice field in order to benefit from her experience. Mrs. Hoa answered that she had grown the rice in the ordinary, usual way, giving it no special care, but she did not know why her field has obtained such a big success.

Through this story, we can see that faithful, obedient and respect for the Buddha is very essential for good results. As for the people who have faithfulness in the superiors and respect for Deities and Buddhas, they will truly benefit from it. Those who behave well toward their inferiors and love them are also praised and admired by the past followers.

Words and actions must sincerely go together. Do not be insincere by using beautiful words and behave the opposite way to kill Deities and Buddhas. Those who behave this way will only go to extremely painful Hell.

Once incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya, the Supreme Pure King has said that it is not unusual that Hell detains 5000 wicked people in the same place. They are pitifully, screaming and groaning all the time.

• “Co-invited: The twelve Yaksas, Generals of the Eastern Buddha of Medicine, give efficient protection and help.”

These twelve Generals have been around there with the Supreme Pure King incarnated as Lord Supreme Maitreya to help the wicked ones to repent and return to Goodness.

The Eastern Land Medicine Gem Halo Tathagata, who is the founder of religion based on meditation, has sent his 12 Generals to protect the Main Dharma, while Lord Supreme Maitreya has incarnated and started the teaching. Presently, they are actively and efficiently helping the Bodhisattvas to establish the Main Dharma. Those who criticize on the ground of illusion are unjust. It is only the insight that can see and hear correctly.

“Protection and help should be given to the True Disciples according to their own correct application and appropriate retribution or compensation for his previous existence as a result of his past deeds.”

Up to now, the Lord has affirmed that all Dharma practitioners, according to the level of Faithfulness, Obedience and Respect will lead every true disciple toward the Dharma path. He has pointed out, using His measureless Abilities, Merits, will be assisted. If the true disciples wish to attain Buddhas' knowledge and wisdom, that means attaining the highest enlightenment through ways of the practice, they will receive the direct compensation for his previous existence called Blessed Reward. The true disciples who practice Dharma will have received a reward of men and Devas.

For the Living Creatures practicing Dharma outside the path of the Buddhas according to their own wishes, they will also receive the retribution of their deeds with equality.

18. Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha Has Seen and Attested the Dharma in the Dharma-Ending Age

Lord Supreme Maitreya has Himself inscribed the following section of sutra to hand it down to the future generations.

“In the last of the Three Periods, it is rare to see true attainment. Why?

In the first period, the doctrine and real practice existed in the training so there was true attainment. In the middle period, whenever theory paralleled with practice, there was immediate attainment. In this Final Law Period, there was theory with less practice, so attainment becomes rare. Whenever dharma goes along with practice, there will be immediate attainment; otherwise, the dharma is simply a theory. Should the training lead to attainment, it is only a theoretical attainment and not the true attainment.” –T.V.

The practicing that does not lead to the destruction of attachment in order to obtain knowledge would not count for one day of practice, even if it has been done for a thousand lifetimes. As Living Creatures, we have limited knowledge, but with good conditions we should be able to meet the Buddha coming to the world. The conditions belong to those who have previously practiced Dharma and attained the Liberation through Wisdom, escaping from the Birth and Death cycle. As for the Living beings with their conditions, they are practicing according to their wishes without knowing what they are and where it will lead. For that reason, we must practice in order to get countless benefits. What is practice? Practice is the diligent training to correct one’s nature through one's way of living. This is known as enlightened practice. Practice also means deeply penetrating the dharma to know its dharma. Each dharma is a conduct or a nature itself. By continuous correction of our conduct, we should be impregnated with integrity, and could recognize our nature to be enlightened ourselves. The practitioner who knows how to correct his own nature and faults will obtain wisdom that is the objective and means of liberation.

As living creatures, naturally we sometimes become confused no matter how long we have been practicing dharma. Words are already spoken and yet the mind does not know. So our mind cannot catch what we say. Therefore, the Lord Supreme Maitreya has said:

“If one speaks without the acknowledgement of the mind, one must be well aware of what was spoken. When one speaks with the mind and the mind acknowledges what was spoken, it is called enlightened mind, which understands the dharma.”

“During the time of Sakyamuni Buddha, there was the same situation where many venerables preached the dharma with too many beautiful words. Sakyamuni Buddha has then told them: ‘You rely on tathagata's merits to say it.’ The venerables have since realized that he must learn about the words when his mind cannot catch what he says. For the people who find themselves in confusion and illusion, they will easily be mistaken that they are, of course, conscious of what they say.” –T.V.

During His journey of practice of the dharma, Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha sometimes has met great venerables, sangha, monks and nuns in their temples. When He has spoken one sentence, they did not understand at all and they responded with ten sentences! He was once seeking many different ways to make the community of “begging monks” believers in order to bestow the Buddha's knowledge upon them, but they did not have enough abilities and merits to perceive it. Finally, He had to embody Himself to be their friend. The monks have only praised Him for His good argument, but they could not receive His teaching.

“When he was not yet the Buddha, but still a monk, he has respectfully made His offerings, adored and worshipped Dipanikara Buddha. The Dipanikara Buddha then ordained him Buddha in the middle life, by the name Sakyamuni Buddha. Sakyamuni Buddha has appeared afterward to guide the ordination of the Maitreya Buddha, the bodhisattvas as well as well educated and uneducated men so that they became Buddhas of the period they liked. The words of the Saddharmapundarika Sutra were the decisive and sincere.

During this time, faithful believers are countless, but due to their lack of foundation, they have rarely attained the Buddhahood. Most of them have followed the fairy path called attainment. Later, with their decrease of faith, they were ordained in the deity path.

The deity path has used talisman to practice psychic power. The practitioners have become fanatics and were subjected to birth, death, sickness, old age, and suffering.” –T.V.

What is the fairy path attainment?

It is diligence in learning, studying sutra, behaving elegantly, residing in a clean and beautiful place, being on a vegetarian diet and practicing dharma in the quietness. It also involves enjoying favorable situations while avoiding the contrary ones, as well as choosing the cleanliness and leaving the filth. By practicing in this way, we shall be able to enter the fairyland and enjoy the blessed reward of men and devas. After the fairy life ends, they shall be re-incarnated into human beings and start the practice of the dharma once again.

The master, who has emerged from meditation to go to the fairyland, could witness the truth: Everything such as food, clothes, and utensils is available. It is not necessary to work for food. Everything wished is soon obtained, thanks to psychic power. Furniture and utensils are very nice. Especially, there is no sunlight in the fairyland. The light, which flashes from the mountainsides and is always mild and the air, is like that of an air-conditioned room. The outside air is just the same. All the fairies are generous and charitable, but somewhat hot tempered. Disciples dare not disobey their master. Everyone you meet is affable in his speech and the two verses written by the Supreme Pure King incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya describe this situation:

While enjoying a glass of wine in the fairy world,

Many springs have gone by in this secular world.

–T.V.

A party of chess or drink is not yet over in the fairyland and there are already 3 – 4 years, which passed in the secular world. One year in the fairyland is equal to one hundred years in the secular world!

The deities in the heaven usually make use of talisman. They are also charitable, but hot tempered. The air in the heaven is as cool as an airconditioned room. Some of them live in the secular world in village community houses, temples, at the foot of old trees, mountains, and rivers. Once their lifetime came to an end, they were also subjected to the wheel of reincarnation. Therefore, how difficult the right practice of dharma to attain enlightenment is! Because of this difficulty, the dharma practitioner should have a path or dharma subject guided by an awakened one in order to attain the enlightenment. Otherwise, the practice will become a formal work, or a practice for good fortune. Why? You are in ignorance and whatever practice may be yours will remain in ignorance. Even if you learn by heart all the sutras, studying all the Buddha's words, you will remain in the passive knowledge, in the ignorance.

It is the same as someone going to a pharmacy and taking all medicines he wants but does not need. Furthermore, he even prescribes medicine for someone else. As a result, both not only do not get better, they become more ill because they have taken the wrong drugs.

If a man, who is lost, tried to guide someone else, both will remain lost, and are just two companions. Thus, in this Dharma Ending Age, practitioners must rely on the dharma subject preached by the Supreme Pure king incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya so that they can attain the true enlightenment.

In this Final Law Period, there are too many dharma subjects to practice, and no one dharma subject can lead people to true enlightenment. Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha has to return and reorganize the way of practice, making the dharma subject clearer and more explicit, while aiming at bringing all living creatures out of the birth, death, old age and suffering cycle.

Every true disciple has his own karma. The leader then uses the right means to guide them. As for the faithful believers, they have to correct their own nature in order to create integrity and endure all challenges of every “favorable” and “unfavorable” situation of all dharma to obtain their knowledge. Once the dharma is cleared, so is the mind. Clearing the mind means being cleared of dharma. This is the essential point of the practice path. The Supreme Pure King incarnating Lord Supreme Maitreya has shown the ways so that there may be no more wrongful practice. He has founded Phap Tang and its principal meaning is Long Hoa. Phap Tang is in conformity with Tathagata. It is also named Unique Buddha Vehicle. It uses the principle of Buddhist dharma without separating from the secular world to reach enlightenment and to explain the means used.

All faithful believers, including bodhisattvas, protectors, arahants, venerables, dharma protectors, and living creatures, have all followed the practice of hearing, seeing, and knowing to reach liberation. The Supreme Pure King, first of all in the practice, has trained them to endure and be brave in order to clarify the Tathagata store and keep the practice uninterrupted. Then, He has taught the basic practice of “condition – focused effort – result” so they might be opened to determine their attainment of awareness, great awareness, and ultimate awareness. The higher practitioner will attain supreme true enlightenment.

IV: 17. The Great Collection Sutra, Five Periods

According to the Great Collection Sutra, the era after Lord Sakyamuni attained Great Eight Pari Nirvana, 2539 years up to the present¹⁹⁹⁵, was divided into FIVE PERIODS.

• The First Period was the first 500 years of the liberation through wisdom. During this period, true Buddhist disciples who consented to practice dharma in conformity with the main ideas, corrected their nature, cleared their mind, gave up bad habits, and followed Buddha's teachings. They also meditated and gained intelligence. All these actions were collectively known as the liberation through wisdom.

• The Second Period was the second 500 years belonging to the meditation period. In this period, most of the true disciples practiced with diligence, obtained purified mind, and trained in meditation in conformity with Buddha's teaching. They were able to attain the ‘stained’ of ‘small career vehicle’ (Hinayana) or the ‘stainless’ of ‘great career vehicle’ (Mahayana), according to their abilities and merits.

• The Third Period was the third 500 years, belonging to the learned period. In this period, the true disciples strictly observed the (12) twelve sets of the sutras to practice, study and discuss exoteric, esoteric immediate and gradual ways. The way of true enlightenment and natural enlightened nature becomes more and more neglected.

• The Fourth Period was the fourth 500 years, belonging to the temple period. During this period, the majority of the faithful believers completely neglected the way of true enlightenment, used natural enlightened nature, and practice without wishing to be liberated and being fond of stain merits. By training in that way, they enjoyed the blessed reward of man and devas after their death.

• The Fifth Period was the fifth 500 years. In this period, the disciples completely lost their true nature, usually competed against each other, displayed hatred, envy, and mistrust and disgraced one another other. Especially, they adhered to their knowledge of the Buddhist sutra and presumed themselves to be right while disputing and disgracing each other to usurp fame and wealth.

These five periods lasted over 2500 years, according to the Buddhist calendar. The society of Vietnam and all the present chaos around the world falls into the Dharma Ending Age, which is why many scholars believe that it is the return period of Lord Supreme Maitreya.

As previously mentioned the powerful Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha came into the world in 1918 and attained Great Eight Pari Nirvana in 1993. During his 37 years of practicing dharma on the earth, He has used the body named Nagarjuna to guide the dharma not only in the human world but also in the fairyland, divine land and throughout the Three Thousand Worlds of Great Heaven. From time to time, He has emerged from the right meditation to reach every place to preach the dharma and bring freedom to all Four Species.

He has vowed to take on every dharma so that all people could be free to practice just the same as faithful disciples. Through his proclamation for attesting the Universe, He has completely released all the defilement in the world so that the present and future generations could practice dharma and gradually enjoy the peace. He has vowed to use all the present precious dharma to offer salvation to living creatures in the Final Law Period and helped them practice the dharma subject: SIGHT, SOUND, ODOR, TASTE, TOUCH, and DHARMA without pollution in order to be fearless and self-satisfied, attained the Dharani liberation through wisdom.

LONG HOA HIGHNESS ASSEMBLY, SECOND PERIOD

Category Archives: CHAPTER IV A_LONG HOA

26. Virtue

26. Virtue

LORD SUPREME MAITREYA WITH LONG HOA

25. The Real Dharma Subject Is the Following Path of the Buddha

23. Speech Delivered At the Congregation and Attested Afterward In the Great Ceremony by Long Hoa Chief Monk

LORD SUPREME MAITREYA WITH LONG HOA

24. Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha Has Wept For the Monks and Nuns

24. Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha Has Wept For the Monks and Nuns

LORD SUPREME MAITREYA WITH LONG HOA

23. Speech Delivered At the Congregation and Attested Afterward In the Great Ceremony by Long Hoa Chief Monk

23. Speech Delivered At the Congregation and Attested Afterward In the Great Ceremony by Long Hoa Chief Monk

LORD SUPREME MAITREYA WITH LONG HOA

22. Lord Long-Hoa Chief Monk Teaching the Day before Entering the Great Eight PariNirvana

22. Lord Long-Hoa Chief Monk Teaching the Day before Entering the Great Eight PariNirvana

LORD SUPREME MAITREYA WITH LONG HOA

21. Proclamation Attesting the Bodhisattva

19. Attestation of Proclamation about Faith, Obedience, and Respect.

LORD SUPREME MAITREYA WITH LONG HOA

20. The Existence-Dharma Sutra

19. Attestation of Proclamation about Faith, Obedience, and Respect.

LORD SUPREME MAITREYA WITH LONG HOA

19. Attestation of Proclamation about Faith, Obedience, and Respect.

19. Attestation of Proclamation about Faith, Obedience, and Respect.

PROCLAMATION

LORD SUPREME MAITREYA WITH LONG HOA

18. Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha Has Seen and Attested the Dharma in the Dharma-Ending Age

18. Lord Supreme Maitreya Buddha Has Seen and Attested the Dharma in the Dharma-Ending Age

LORD SUPREME MAITREYA WITH LONG HOA

IV: 17. The Great Collection Sutra, Five Periods

17. The Great Collection Sutra, Five Periods

LORD SUPREME MAITREYA WITH LONG HOA