1989 - 1993
Travel & Teaching Phase
Table of Contents
Worldwide Dharma Propagation Begins
The “Travel and Teaching Phase” marked the expansion of spiritual power and the radiant illumination of sentient beings. Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Sheng-Yen Lu, began his extensive travels across the five continents. Due to the limited means of communication at the time, disciples encountered many challenges in learning the Dharma. Thus, by journeying across the globe, Living Buddha Lian Sheng personally transmitted the essence of the True Buddha Tantric Dharma to disciples worldwide.
Relocation To Phantom Lake
In 1988, after residing for three years at the True Buddha Tantric Quarters, Living Buddha Lian Sheng once again relocated his entire household—this time to Phantom Lake, and he lived there for over a decade.
So, Living Buddha Lian Sheng gave himself a miraculous medicine: the joy of following as-is-ness, letting the little boat go with the flow—drifting freely by letting go.
Establishing Rainbow Villa [Temple]
In 1989, while driving along Interstate 90, Living Buddha Lian Sheng suddenly saw multicolored rainbow light shooting up from the ground. Recognizing this as an auspicious geomantic sign, he purchased the land and named it Rainbow Villa.
Rainbow Villa was established to train talents in Dharma propagation, provide a venue for retreats, serve as a sanctuary for unborn baby spirits, and offer a place to conduct sacred fire offerings.
1992: Inauguration of Rainbow Villa [Temple]
From November 24–30, 1992, Living Buddha Lian Sheng conducted the consecration and inauguration of Rainbow Villa [Temple], during which he gave teachings on “A Complete and Detailed Exposition on the True Buddha Tantric Dharma,” This was his first Dharma discourse conducted at Rainbow Villa [Temple] in the United States.
Scenes From The Construction Period Of Rainbow Villa
Returning to Taiwan For The First Time In Seven Years
On April 10, 1989, after seven years in the USA, Living Buddha Lian Sheng returned to Taiwan—the land he had dearly missed. Upon arriving, he was deeply moved to be welcomed by his mother, devoted disciples, family, and friends.
Coincidentally, the construction permit for Taiwan’s Lei Tsang Temple was approved on that very day, making it the first legal temple built on hillside land in Taiwan. The next day, Living Buddha Lian Sheng inspected the site in Caotun, blessed the land, and urged for immediate construction. He prophesied that the spiritual energy of this sacred site would help spread the Dharma far and wide, bringing light and liberation to countless beings around the world.
At opposite sides of the Earth stand two spiritual centers of the True Buddha School. The founding of the Redmond Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in the United States and the Taiwan Lei Tsang Temple has extended the Dharma from Taiwan and the U.S. to all parts of the world.
Today, more than 30 True Buddha temples and over 400 cultivation centers worldwide radiate the light of Dharma to every corner of the world.
Miracles And Deliverances During The Phase Of Travel
Hong Kong Coliseum
The “1st World True Buddha School Pacification and Blessing Dharma Ceremony” was held in Hong Kong. Living Buddha Lian Sheng Sheng-Yen Lu swept through the city like a whirlwind of spiritual power.
Hong Kong Government Stadium
“Substituting the karma of sentient beings—thousands witness miracles”. During this Dharma Ceremony, Living Buddha Lian Sheng “transferred and superseded” the suffering of sentient beings. For three days and three nights, he was completely unable to eat and remained in a semi-comatose state. While in that state, he endured sensations as if he were undergoing more than a hundred surgeries on his body and being struck by a hundred vehicles, with his limbs shattered. He experienced excruciating pain. All his organs felt as though they were burning, and his hands, feet, limbs, and joints suffered from ulcers and abscesses. Hundreds and thousands of diseases and agonies, like a massive wave, converged upon his body.
Living Buddha Lian Sheng knew in his heart: “By enduring these sufferings, I supersede and eliminate the karmic afflictions of others, granting them purification and liberation.” That day, many testified to miraculous healings: •A mute person spoke the first words, •A ten-year-old boy with muscular dystrophy stood and walked, •A baby girl’s tumor on her head vanished, •A lame person’s leg straightened, •A hunchback stood upright, •A fractured bone was healed. The sacred fire of the Homa ritual ignited not only the altar but also the hearts and faith of many.
Changi Prison in Singapore: Death row inmates’ refuge and relics
“Relics from death row—proof of sincere faith and salvation” One of the most astonishing Buddhist stories of the 20th century occurred in Singapore’s Changi Prison in 1992: Over a dozen death row inmates—Lotus Ah Lin, Lotus Qingwen, Lotus Baosheng, Lotus Youxin, and others—took refuge in Living Buddha Lian Sheng and practiced the True Buddha Tantric Dharma with sincere repentance and daily recitations of the High King Sutra. After their execution and cremation, relics (śarīras) were found among their ashes—a miraculous verification of liberation through faith and practice.
A milestone: completion of the 100th published books & continued to transmit the Light of Wisdom Lamp to illuminate all living beings
At the age of 22, Living Buddha Lian Sheng published his first poetry collection, Collection of Light Mist. By the age of 48, he had completed The 100th Collection of Essays, marking a major milestone of having written 100 books. The unwavering perseverance over these 26 years stemmed from a deep passion for writing and, ultimately, a profound love for all sentient beings.
Drank coffee with Shakyamuni Buddha— empowered and bestowed the title of “Lotus Light Perfect Ease Buddha”
Shortly after immigrating to the USA, Living Buddha Lian Sheng received a spiritual empowerment during meditation, in which Shakyamuni Buddha touched his crown and foretold his future buddhahood. On the night of May 6, 1992, while staying at the Jinghua Hotel near Taichung Park, Living Buddha Lian Sheng’s “starlight body” astral-traveled to a café in Taipei, where he had coffee with Shakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha took up a pen and conferred upon him the title “Great Light Perfect Ease Buddha.” However, Living Buddha Lian Sheng felt that the word “Great” might be misinterpreted, so the Buddha smiled and modified it to “Lotus Light Perfect Ease Buddha (Hua Guang Zizai Fo).”
Publication of Pearls of Wisdom
In November 1993, Living Buddha Lian Sheng published Pearls of Wisdom. When he presented the book to his guru, Master Thubten Dargye was overjoyed and praised it as a rare and profound work that fully elucidated the complete view of Vajrayana Buddhism. The supreme wisdom, realization of true suchness, perfect enlightenment, and ultimate attainment expressed in Pearls of Wisdom also led to a wave of Tibetan lamas visiting Seattle from 1994 to 1997 to take refuge in Living Buddha Lian Sheng. The esteemed 100th Ganden Tripa—the spiritual leader of the Gelug school—also personally visited Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Sheng- Yen Lu, to express his respect. [Editor's note: Pearls of Wisdom was released in English in 2026]
Senayan rain miracle in drought-stricken Indonesia
“A Rain Supplication Prayer—dragons and devas respond with sweet rain” On October 9, 1994, Living Buddha Lian Sheng held a large-scale Pacification and Blessing Dharma Ceremony at Jakarta’s Senayan Stadium, dedicated to Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. At the time, Indonesia was suffering from a severe drought that had lasted for four to five months, accompanied by rampant forest fires. On the day of the ceremony, the weather remained clear, and the sun was shining brightly. During the event, Living Buddha Lian Sheng addressed approximately 20,000 attendees and declared:
The crowd responded with confusion and surprise. Just about sixteen minutes after the ceremony concluded, dark clouds gathered, thunder rumbled, lightning flashed, and rain poured down in torrents. People ran around joyfully shouting, “It's raining! It's raining heavily!” The entire audience was stunned. The rain continued for several days, bringing an end to the devastating drought.
A Master Of Tulkus
In 1984, Living Buddha Lian Sheng authored Highest Yoga Tantra and Mahamudra, in which he publicly revealed the essential teachings of enlightenment from the “long transmission lineage” of the Tibetan Kagyu School.
In 1985, he followed with The Great Perfection of Vajrayana, unveiling Dzogchen—the highest and most secret teaching in Tibetan Vajrayana—which he received through “divine transmission” from Guru Padmasambhava.
These revelations by Living Buddha Lian Sheng sent shockwaves through the Tibetan schools—Nyingma, Kagyu, Gelug, and Sakya—and drew significant attention from many rinpoches and lamas.
After the publication of Pearls of Wisdom in 1993, the book’s display of supreme wisdom, realization of suchness, perfect and complete awakening, and attainment of unsurpassed fruition inspired even more Tibetan lamas to take refuge in Living Buddha Lian Sheng between 1994 and 1997, paying deep respects and acknowledging his profound spiritual realization.
Venerable Masters And Tibetan Lamas Pay Homage
1988: Venerable Elder Master Wu-Ming, President of the Buddhist Association of the Republic of China, personally visited Living Buddha Lian Sheng in the United States and praised the True Buddha Tantric Dharma as authentic and righteous.
Tibetan Tulkus Take Refuge In Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Expressing Respect And Recognition
Dagchen Wangpo Rinpoche writes an open letter of praise
Venerable Dagchen Wangpo Rinpoche of the Nyingmapa red sect wrote a letter of praise regarding Living Buddha Lian Sheng's attainments and activities after having received a dharma for opening the third eye from him.
Lama Tharchin Rinpoche
The first Tibetan tulku to take refuge was the 10th Lama Tharchin Rinpoche of the Nyingma School. Since then, many other Tibetan tulkus have followed suit, taking refuge in the True Buddha School.
Elder Kalu Rinpoche of the Kagyu School
H.E. Kalu Rinpoche, the most accomplished master of the [Shangpa] Kagyu School, praised Living Buddha Lian Sheng as the highest achiever in Tantric practice and Dharma propagation in the Chinese-speaking world.
Joint Ceremony with His Holiness Sakya Jigdal Dagchen Rinpoche
Dagchen Rinpoche, the spiritual peer of Living Buddha Lian-sheng, shares a profound karmic connection with him. Both are principal lineage holders of Lamdre and Hevajra Tantra. Decades earlier, Dagchen Rinpoche had co-founded Sakya Monastery in Seattle alongside Sakya Zhengkong Rinpoche, Living Buddha Lian-sheng's root guru in the Sakya tradition. Although Dagchen Rinpoche and Living Buddha Lian-sheng had never met in person before this occasion, they had long been aware of each other's spiritual accomplishments. Moved by news that Living Buddha Lian-sheng was hosting a Homa Dharma Assembly to liberate the departed, Dagchen Rinpoche personally attended and participated in the event.
Venerable Amchok Rinpoche of the Gelug School
The renowned Gelug School lama, Amchok Rinpoche, presented Living Buddha Lian Sheng with the most honorable Dharma throne reserved for Tibetan Dharma Kings. [Note: Amchok Rinpoche visited on multiple subsequent occasions, including the 1991 "All Sects" homa in Hong Kong. In 2023 he sent Geshe Lharampa Palden to pay homage].
Chokling Jigme Palden Rinpoche visits Living Buddha Lian Sheng
On September 21, 1992, when the "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Pacifying and Disaster-Relieving Homa Ceremony" was held at the Seattle Leizang Temple and presided over by Grand Master Lian Sheng, a distinguished guest residing in Switzerland, the Nyingma reincarnation Chokling Jigme Palden Rinpoche, came to visit. Jigme Palden Rinpoche said, "This kind of powerful Homa is something I have only seen once in my life. Grand Master Lian Sheng's True Buddha Tantric Dharma will sweep the world within two years, and all religions will recognize it."
Meeting with Zhalu Rinpoche at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse
At the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Living Buddha Lian Sheng met with Zhalu Rinpoche, a teacher of the 10th Panchen Lama. Zhalu Rinpoche remarked, “Living Buddha Lian Sheng is truly a realized Vajrayana master, radiating powerful spiritual light.”
The Venerable Ganden Tripa – Supreme Leader of the Gelug School
The 100th successor to Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug School, and abbot of Ganden Monastery—one of the three great monastic universities in Tibet— traveled from South India to meet Living Buddha Lian Sheng. Together, they co-hosted a Dharma ceremony. The Ganden Tripa offered the sacred Dharma King’s Robe, passed down through generations of Gelug patriarchs, to Living Buddha Lian Sheng, and solemnly declared: “I now entrust the lineage of the Gelug school to you.” This act represented the highest respect and recognition of Living Buddha Lian Sheng's realization and status.
Enthronement Ceremony conducted by Karchen Rinpoche for Living Buddha Lian Sheng
Karchen Rinpoche, abbot of Karma Lekshey Ling Monastery of the Kagyu School, conducted a Dharma enthronement ceremony for Living Buddha Lian Sheng, formally recognizing him as a Dharma King.
Meeting with the Dalai Lama to discuss the heart essence of Dzogchen
Living Buddha Lian Sheng met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and they discussed the profound heart teachings of Dzogchen.
Teaching at Drepung Monastery: A historic moment
Living Buddha Lian Sheng made a pilgrimage to sacred Buddhist sites in India. While there, he was invited to give a Dharma teaching at Drepung Monastery, one of the three major monastic universities of Tibetan Buddhism, where over a thousand Tibetan monks gathered to hear his teachings. As a Han Chinese reincarnated Vajrayana master ascending the teaching throne of a Tibetan monastery, this marked an unprecedented event in Tibetan Buddhist history and demonstrated the immense respect he commanded.
Kasur Jigme Rinpoche takes refuge with Living Buddha Lian Sheng
Kasur Jigme Rinpoche, former Speaker of the Dalai Lama's parliament, took refuge in Living Buddha Lian Sheng.
His Holiness Orgyen Kusum Lingpa visits Living Buddha Lian Sheng
Tibetan Tantrism Nyingmapa Dzogchen Pema Nyingtik tradition’s lineage holder, His Holiness Orgyen Kusum Lingpa, his son Hungkar Dorje, and translator Khachod T. Pelmo, together with his entourage, arrived at Seattle’s Rey Tseng Temple on May 15th, 1997 paying a visit to the founder of True Buddha School, His Holiness Living Buddha Lian Sheng. HH Orgyen Kusum Lingpa was revered amongst Tibetans as a great terma treasure revealer, leaving 18 volumes behind and stating that Guru Padmasambhava taught him from the formless since he was a teenager, the same as he did for Living Buddha Lian Sheng.
