All masters, senior reverends, reverends, and everyone in attendance, good afternoon. (audience applause)

Today I came to pay a debt. (Grand Master and audience laugh) Many disciples from Vancouver including those from the PTT Buddhist Society, invited Grand Master to visit Vancouver from Seattle. Grand Master has always replied “yes,” but it is not until today that I have finally fulfilled my promise by visiting in person. “Hi Everybody!” (audience applause)

I am wearing two vests today, a bright red dragon vest and a short sleeved dragon vest inside the red one. When I went upstairs a reverend asked me, "Grand Master, is it possible to change your dragon vest?" I replied, "Oh, I understand." It is most likely that I had to repay a debt. (Grand Master laughs)

Therefore I replaced the two dragon vests, that I had been wearing for quite some time, with two brand new ones. One of the two dragon vests will be donated to the PTT Buddhist Society for charitable auction in the future to support their activities or projects. The other vest is also up for auction; however, the funds raised will be used towards the development of True Buddha School.

Just before I left, Shimu asked me to deliver the message that she could not visit due to her busy schedule. She also warned me, "When you go there, be careful! The disciples in Vancouver are very clever. I will not believe it if they do not take everything from you until you are naked." I replied, "I will insist on my own opinions and return in one piece.” (Grand Master and audience laughter) Now, I can return in one piece. I only had to expend two vests and not lose anything else. (audience laughter and applause) In short, I am very happy to see everyone.

As mentioned, seeing the person is far better than thinking of the person. The main purpose of my visit to Vancouver is to visit the PTT Buddhist Society, Lotus Light Lei Zang Temple, and Pu Tuo Chapter, as well as all of the disciples. Be mindful that in life, the “gathering,” “separation,” “departure,” and “re-union,” are transient. “Gathering” is equivalent to "separation." Today’s gathering brings tomorrow’s separation. There are times where we may gather longer, but separation is still inevitable in the end. Therefore, we should fortify our conviction and spiritual faith. Today I can see the firm spiritual conviction of all disciples at the PTT Buddhist Society, including Master Lian Wen and Master Lian Gao – the two long-standing seniors who guard the PTT Buddhist Society forever. (loud audience applause) I am very pleased to see a lot of “old” disciples whom I have known and who have taken refuge in me for a long time.

During my visit today, I saw many additional new shrines at the PTT Buddhist Society, including the Dragon Shrine, Tai Sui Shrine, and Merit Shrine. There is also an Earth Mother God Shrine and a Ksitigarbha Shrine upstairs. All these shrines are packed into this temple. It looks the same as it did twenty odd years ago when I visited this temple. (A disciple responds, "It is not the same.") (Grand Master laughs) Is it not the same? It looks like the temple is filled with many things. In general, the size of the temple is more or less the same. I have heard that the property next door has been purchased. (loud audience applause) This is called progress. I wish that the PTT Buddhist Society could buy the whole block! (loud audience applause and cheering)

Later on, I will give the "Wish Fulfilling Empowerment” to everyone. During the time of the Buddha, he preached the Dharma by answering the requests implored to him by the sentient beings. The Buddha wished that every sentient being could understand the supreme truth and be reborn to the Ultimate Western Paradise. He preached Buddhism because he wished that everyone could be reborn to different pure lands, all could become Bodhisattvas, and all could be Buddhas. Sentient beings have many wishes: some people are concerned about family harmony, while others are worried about career, financial wealth, social status, or public recognition. There are people who simply wish for their karmic enemies to go away because the progress of their cultivation is being hindered by karmic conditions. Therefore during today’s empowerment, please imprint your wish in your heart and receive the blessings and empowerment from Golden Mother, the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, dharma protectors, and all deities and dakinis. They will answer your wishes and fulfill them. This empowerment is called the "Wish Fulfilling Empowerment."

Tonight Grand Master sincerely prays to Golden Mother, the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, dharma protectors, and dakinis to attentively listen to all of the wishes of the disciples. May their wishes come true. Individuals with health problems can think about the problem area(s) in their bodies and pray for a miraculous recovery during the empowerment. If you wish to have a profitable business as well as a healthy body, then you will have to think quickly. (audience laughter) Whether you wish for your karmic enemies to go away, wish for family harmony, or have other wishes that you want fulfilled, then you should recite those wishes continuously. Sincerely supplicate for your wishes from your heart. I wish everyone's wishes will be granted today. (A disciple shouts, "Thank-you Grand Master!") As for Grand Master, I also want my wish to come true. The fact that I can see everyone again in this life is very fortunate. It is all because of your effort that I continue to live. (loud audience applause)

I once wrote that I only wanted to live for fifty-seven years. I wanted my life to end at fifty-seven because I did not want to continue to live after that. However everyone wholeheartedly and desperately prayed to Grand Master, asking me to stay in the saha world and live a long and healthy life rather than enter into Nirvana. How could I leave you? Grand Master's life has been saved by all of you. I really appreciate that. Today I am so energetic, healthy, and even able to give a dharma talk. This is all because of you. I shall work hard for everyone. (loud audience applause)

Master Chiu said that I have to "switch channels" tonight. [visit another temple] Due to the limited time frame, I cannot stay for long. I wish everyone will have a strong spiritual conviction. (All disciples affirm, "Definitely!") Everybody must cultivate once everyday. (All disciples reply, "Certainly!") So long as we have a pure mind and pure thoughts, we will certainly be able to return to the Buddhaland. The Amitabha Sutra affirms that if one recites Amitabha’s name once or seven times, one will be delivered to his Pure Land. Reciting Amitabha's name once will enable one to attain perfection. If Amitabha’s name is recited seven times, one’s thoughts will dwell on Amitabha Buddha which completely purifies you, such that you can certainly be reborn in his Pure Land. Therefore, we must emulate the actions of Bodhisattvas to accumulate our heavenly merits. We should also recite Amitabha’s name single-mindedly to be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land.

Based on the teachings of Amitabha, we must accumulate heavenly merits. In addition, one must recite the Buddha’s name and chant with a focused mind. In Vajrayana, practitioners must single-mindedly recite the Buddhas’ names, chant their mantras, perform mandala offerings, and repent for their negative karma. In other words, we need to have firm spiritual conviction. We must fortify our faith in our Root Guru, the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Also, do not forget about the mandala offerings. Offerings do not only refer to money. You may offer a cup of water, one stick of incense, or a single flower to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and dharma protectors; these are good offerings. Flowers, incense, candles, tea, and fruit are good kinds of offerings. Offerings do not necessary have to be offered in large quantities. In essence, you are not offering a single flower, one cup of water, one stick of incense, one lamp of light, one cup of tea, or one fruit. What you are truly offering is your heart. This heart will come back to you as an offering made to yourself. That is heavenly merit. I wish that everyone treasures our affinity in this life, respects each other, cultivates sincerely, and achieves enlightenment.

Om Mani Padme Hum.
(loud audience applause)