1989 - 1993
Dharma Propagation Phase
Table of Contents
To Establish the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple
The Construction Of The Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple In Redmond, Washington, And The Establishment Of The True Buddha School Lineage.
Beginning in early 1984, Living Buddha Lian Sheng started giving weekly teachings on the Heart Sutra every Saturday at the Ling Xian Attic in Ballard for disciples of the True Buddha School. As the number of followers steadily grew, the Ballard venue quickly became inadequate. Moved by great compassion and a profound vow to uphold and spread the authentic Dharma, Living Buddha Lian Sheng began seeking a new spiritual land for Dharma propagation.
Living Buddha Lian Sheng found a piece of land near the shores of Lake Sammamish that held powerful earth energy. This auspicious site is known as “jie shui zhi lai long” — at the water’s edge, the incoming dragon halts and accumulates its vital energy.
This treasured site possesses the following features:
A raised mound (representing the dragon’s head)
Support at the back (representing the dragon’s body)
A mirror in front (Lake Sammamish)
Protective hills on both sides (with the tiger hill slightly higher and the dragon hill extending farther)
Bubbles in the mirror (the lake’s table-mountain glows with luminous beauty)
The site for Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple was originally a hillside. The dragon vein of energy converges here, marked by three ancient giant pine trees. The Ming Tang—the broader, more expansive space beyond—is excellent, with both mountains and a lake present.
The incoming dragon vein from behind provides strong qi, while the hills on both sides serve as guardians.
Opposite the site lie the storage mountain, the wealth mountain, and the official seal mountain, making it a naturally majestic and sacred place.
Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple is located at the “dragon’s head” position—an ideal geographic spot for outward development. Although the founding temple in Redmond is small, its geomantic location suggests it is well-suited for expansion and growth.
Looking back on the three years of retreat in Ballard, it marked the beginning of Living Buddha Lian Sheng’s “Great Vow,” “Great Action,” “Great Compassion,” and “Great Mercy.” However, the discovery of a spiritually potent land—blessed by both celestial and earth dragons—where the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple was eventually built, became the foundation that enabled the True Buddha Tantric Dharma to spread far and wide, both domestically and internationally.
The Thunderous Roar Reverberates Through The Ten Dharma Realms; Within Me Lies The Tathāgata, Revealing The True Buddha.
The consecration ceremony of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple: Thunder echoes across Heaven and Earth
At 10:00 a.m. on September 14, 1985, the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond, Washington, held its grand consecration and inauguration ceremony. Hundreds of Buddhist practitioners from around the world, both Chinese and international, joined together in reciting the Heart Mantra of Padmakumara:
“Om ah hum, guru bei, ah ha sa sa ma ha, Lian Sheng siddhi, hum.”
At the very moment the temple’s plaque bearing the name “Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple” was solemnly and ceremonially mounted above the main hall, a sudden thunderclap rang out across the clear blue sky of Seattle—a city where thunder is rare. This astonishing and mysterious phenomenon stunned the entire assembly. It was a miraculous response, echoing the verse:
The thunderous roar reverberates through the ten Dharma realms;
Within me lies the Tathāgata, revealing the True Buddha.
With the consecration of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple, the heavens responded with rare signs. The thunder resounding across the skies symbolized the descent of the True Buddha into the world, striking the great Dharma drum and sounding the great Dharma conch horn.
Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond is a powerful magnet, drawing disciples from all five continents. It inspires sentient beings to take refuge, receive precepts, and engage in spiritual practice. Living Buddha Lian Sheng hopes to use this majestic and sacred mandala of a temple—a mandala where all virtues converge—to guide all beings deeply into the Tantric teachings of the True Buddha School, so that all may attain realization and buddhahood.
True Buddha Tantric Quarters: A chronicle of writing and Dharma
Aside from the distinctive spiritual character of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple, the True Buddha Tantric Quarters, located on the temple’s dragon side, became another significant center for Dharma propagation.
The True Buddha Tantric Quarters chronicles the writing life of Living Buddha Lian Sheng. Every book written is a profound spiritual testimony—an expression of his inner cultivation and realization.
In addition, the Tantric Quarters serves as a site for Dharma teachings, initiations, empowerment ceremonies, and the conferment of Vajra Acharya [master] titles. It also functions as the correspondence hub for replying to disciples around the world. In its historical role, the True Buddha Tantric Quarters is just as important as Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond.
The Tantrayana Teachings Of The True Buddha School Spread Across The Five Continents
The founding of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond, Washington, USA, extends the karmic connections of the Dharma from America to all corners of the globe. The radiant light of the Dharma now spreads to every corner of the world.
Side Note: “Legend of the Dragon Deity Stone”
When Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond was about to be built, there was a little-known story concerning the Dragon Deity Stone, located
on the temple’s dragon side—the left side when facing outward from the
main hall.
At the time excavation work began for the foundation of the main hall, the Dragon King spoke to Grand Master, saying, “In a few days, they will
dig into my dragon palace. I humbly ask Grand Master to help protect it.”
Master Lianshi was supervising the construction on site. As workers dug at the center of the main hall’s foundation, they unearthed an enormous
boulder—now known as the “Dragon Deity Stone.” Master Lianshi immediately reported this to Grand Master.
Upon hearing the news, Grand Master promptly instructed, “Move it to the dragon side.”
This is a story few people know. Today, on the dragon side of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple, the naturally formed boulder discovered during the excavation of the main hall’s foundation still remains.
To Take Tonsure And Enter The Monkhood
On the 10th day of the second lunar month, 1986, at the True Buddha Tantric Quarters, Living Buddha Lian Sheng officially received ordination.
Living Buddha Lian Sheng received prophecy from Shakyamuni Buddha and entrustment from Amitabha Buddha and Maitreya Bodhisattva, vowing to transmit the oral instructions for spiritual attainment to all sentient beings. After emerging from retreat, he sounded the great Dharma drum and founded the Ling Xian True Buddha School.
He raised the great Dharma banner and established the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond. Turning the great Dharma wheel, he shaved his head and renounced worldly life to save both humans and celestial beings. Through the transformative methods of the True Buddha Tantric Dharma and the spontaneously revealed True Buddha Sutra, he ensured the undying transmission of the Dharma lamp.
The Holy Revered One Robed in White, the Eminent Tantric Adept— Summons the Four Assemblies.
When Living Buddha Lian Sheng was still a lay practitioner and thus could not conduct full tonsure ceremonies [to make someone formally a monk/nun] or administer the complete Three-Platform Monastic Precepts, he already had hundreds of monastic disciples —including monks from the Theravada tradition and Tibetan tulkus.
It is remembered that long ago, the Golden Mother of the Jade Pond revealed he would take monastic form at age of forty-two.
When Living Buddha Lian Sheng first studied the sutric teachings, many masters, including Master Zhenguang of the Cishan Temple, urged him to renounce worldly life. Later, his disciple Master Guoxian also said:
This gave rise to a strong inner calling toward renunciation in Living Buddha Lian Sheng.
In truth, though maintaining the appearance of a layperson, Living Buddha Lian Sheng was already living a monastic lifestyle—strictly guarding his speech and thoughts, writing books in the morning, responding to letters in the afternoon, and practicing Dharma at night. His life was routine and highly disciplined, even more so than that of many monks in monasteries. The only things missing were formal ordination and the wearing of the kashaya robe. For someone as enlightened as he is, renunciation is merely a matter of form—free and unbound.
March 19, 1986 – Entered Ordained Life By Receiving Tonsure And Donning Monastic Robes
On March 19, 1986 (the 10th day of the second lunar month), at the age of forty-two, Living Buddha Lian Sheng officially received tonsure and entered ordained life at the True Buddha Tantric Quarters.
He had long contemplated this aspiration. Coincidentally, his ordained disciple, Master Guoxian (Master
Lianqi), was visiting him in Redmond at that time. At that moment, a clear and powerful thought suddenly arose in Living Buddha Lian Sheng’s heart:
“Become a monk now! Life is like an illusion, and impermanence arrives swiftly. Do not delay. Shave the head and become a monk.”
He immediately informed Master Guoxian of his decision. Guoxian was surprised and asked, eyes wide, “When?”
Living Buddha Lian Sheng replied resolutely, “Right now.”
In a beautiful twist of fate, this very day also marked the anniversary of Venerable Ananda performing the tonsure for Guru Padmasambhava.
That night, while meditating at the True Buddha Tantric Quarters, Amitabha Buddha of the Western Pure Land descended from the sky, standing within a vast, gently radiant field of light. The light shimmered softly in hues of purplish-red. Amitabha’s eyes were filled with compassion and kindness. To Living Buddha Lian Sheng’s astonishment, Amitabha extended his hand and gently touched the crown of his head, bestowing a prophecy upon him.
Bathed in the auspicious glow, a profound sense of joyful awe arose in Living Buddha Lian Sheng’s heart.
Following the full monastic ordination rituals, Living Buddha Lian Sheng closed his eyes, joined his palms, and sincerely prayed to the buddhas, bodhisattvas, and deities to witness the occasion.
In that moment, all 3,000 strands of worldly worries were shaved away. Thus, he assumed the form of a bhikkhu (monk), donned the robes of merit, entered the gate of the Triple Gem, and vowed to dedicate his entire life to the path of renunciation —bearing the responsibility of the Tathagata’s mission and continuing the Buddha’s wisdom life.
A Remarkable Bond of Both Master and Disciple
Venerable Master Shi Guoxian traveled from Hui Chuan Temple in Hong Kong to Seattle to perform the tonsure ceremony for Living Buddha Lian Sheng. This marked a profound karmic connection between master and disciple.
Living Buddha Lian Sheng was Master Guoxian’s refuge master, while Master Guoxian became his tonsure master—an extraordinary relationship rooted in deep karmic ties. It is reminiscent of the story of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, who accepted Master Yinzong as a disciple and later received tonsure from Yinzong himself—also a relationship of profound karmic significance.
