On October 25th, 2008, His Holiness Living Buddha Lian Sheng and Shi Mu, Acharya Lian-Xiang attended the Saturday night group practice at 8 p.m.  Acharya Lian Shi (蓮世上師) led the practice of the Padmakumara Yoga.   In addition to Acharyas, Senior Reverends, Reverends and dharma siblings from Seattle and Vancouver, there were also those coming from Mexico, China, Taiwan, and various parts of Canada.  After the practice, Reverend Lian Xi (蓮喜法師) shared insight on how obstacles and fate drove her to better appreciate those fortunate encounters and benefit self and others.  Acharya Lian Shi talked about the story he heard while visiting Taiwan on August 17th 2008.  Dharma brother Lian Hua Zhen Yi was suffering from colorectal polyps.  Grand Master entered his dream and cured him of the ailment.   His restoration to full health without treatment served as profound testament to the True Buddha dharma.

Grand Master followed with the “arrival at the other shore” to succinctly summarize the Reverend’s earlier talk.  He then presented several examples of the “mystical quality” of Sixth Patriarch’s robe.  He also verified the Archarya’s story, supplementing the supernaturalism of Buddha dharma and lineage blessing.  Grand Master made reference to the experimentation on Friday night in the temple – He blew a breath of air into the bell and dorje which are then placed on the glass-surfaced table.  When the Acharyas and Reverends attempted to move both items off the table, they felt the miraculous power Grand Master exerted on the bell and dorje.  In the mean time, the bell and dorje Grand Master was using to illustrate the experiment again magically stick firmly to the table in front of everyone, drawing joyous laugher.  Grand Master clarified the robe passed down from Shakyamuni, Kashyapa, Ananda, Bodhidharma, then to the Second Patriarch, and eventually to the Sixth Patriarch, possess immensely transcendent lineage power.  Ordinary people would not be able to move it.  Rainbow Temple’s white jade Maitreya, whose consecration encountered the first light of dawn beaming into the woods and all the birds singing in harmony, also once showed a miracle in stopping his burglars.   Chuang-Yen Temple’s Lian Hua Ming Xin also dreamed of Grand Master remedying her intestinal condition.  With diligent practice of the True Buddha yoga, her intestinal pain dissipated.

Grand Master then resumed the lecture of the Platform Sutra.  When Reverend Hui Ming achieved enlightenment under the guidance of the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng, he asked, “Apart from the esoteric speech and message, did the lineage masters transmit anything else?”  Sixth Patriarch replied: “True esoteric speech and message are to be reflected upon with Buddha’s wisdom.”  He then instructed Hui Ming to rest when reached Yuanzhou and settle down in Mengshan.  (Translator’s note: both locales are in Jianxi, China)  Practice in accordance to Buddha’s teachings.

On the topic of lineage robe, Grand Master delightfully revealed he has four robes that will be passed on to those who have fully awakened.  He mentioned a student’s enlightenment stanza stated: “Enlightenment is no big deal.” Grand Master laughed and said, “Enlightenment is indeed no big deal.”  “However, to be able to carry out Enlightenment would be a great accomplishment.”  Enlightenment cannot be expressed but only corroborated.