1994 - 2000
Seclusion Phase
Table of Contents
Beginning of Seclusion and Retreat
Everything has a beginning and an end. In this life, Living Buddha Lian Sheng has five million disciples. He presided over large Dharma ceremonies attended by seventy thousand people, witnessed scenes where ten thousand converted, and preached to unceasing applause. He had three hundred branch temples around the world, his disciples lined the streets cheering as the master passed by, and he traveled widely across the globe.
Now, all of these will become a thing of the past. Nevertheless, Living Buddha Lian Sheng does not abandon any living being—only the method has changed.
During the past ten years of teaching Dharma, Living Buddha Lian Sheng clearly and publicly explained all the preliminary steps of Vajrayana external practices leading up to the first-level initiation of Yidam Yoga. However, he has not yet taught practices related to the second-level internal, third-level esoteric, and fourth-level secret esoteric initiations. Therefore, during this seclusion period, he must select disciples with mature affinity to teach them through oral transmission.
All Beings Of The Earth Possess Buddha-Nature; Whether Ascending Or Descending The Seat, It Is The Realization Of One’s True Nature.
On October 23, 1993, at the PTT Buddhist Society in Vancouver, Canada, Living Buddha Lian Sheng formally announced his seclusion and taught:
Beginning October 25, Living Buddha Lian Sheng began explaining the precious internal teachings of Tantrayana Buddhism at the True Buddha Tantric Quarters in Redmond. He discoursed on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment, the Ksitigarbha Sutra, The Great Exposition on the Stages of the Tantric Path (also known as The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra), and the subject of the accomplishment of Rainbow Light. He also published his first album of paintings: Huluan Tuya Ji (Random Doodling).
A Vision Within Non-Action: The Origin Of Establishing The True Buddha Foundation
With disciples dispersed across continents and diverse cultures, spanning various races and nations, and with the rapid worldwide expansion of the school, there arose a pressing need for an organization capable of uniting the collective strength of its members and coordinating Dharma affairs. This was to ensure that the lineage of the True Buddha Tantric Dharma would remain unbroken and be correctly transmitted from generation to generation. Thus, Living Buddha Lian Sheng gave the directive to establish the True Buddha Foundation.
In October 1997, the True Buddha Foundation (TBF) was officially established, becoming the central organizational body for the religious affairs of the True Buddha School. The committee is responsible for overseeing administrative matters, personnel and disciplinary regulations, the educational system, assessments of Dharma propagators, and the promotion of teachings and publications. Living Buddha Lian Sheng expressed his hope that the committee would establish a comprehensive management system to unite all disciples in heart and effort, jointly shouldering the sacred mission of the Tathagata.
On February 7, 1998, Living Buddha Lian Sheng Officially Announced His Retirement From Public Life
Five Dharma Ceremonies Delegated Before Retreat
Living Buddha Lian Sheng had long expressed the wish that when the masters, reverends, and disciples of the True Buddha School were capable of upholding and propagating the True Buddha Tantric Dharma, it would be the time for him to withdraw from public life.
September 12, 1998: The Exclusive Usnishavijaya Grand Dharma Ceremony was held at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA, USA. For the first time, it was presided over by a disciple, Master Lianyin.
November 29, 1998: The Exclusive Ragaraja Grand Dharma Ceremony was conducted by another senior disciple, Master Liandeng, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.
February 27, 1999: The Marici Dharma Ceremony was held at Redmond Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in the United States and presided over by Master Dehui.
March 11, 2000: The Exclusive Hayagriva Grand Dharma Ceremony was also held at Redmond Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple, presided over by Master Lianmiao.
August 27, 2000: In Hong Kong, the Exclusive Kalachakra Dharma Transmission and Empowerment, along with a Pacification, Blessing, and Bardo Deliverance Grand Ceremony, was presided over by Master Lianhan.
Following the Kalachakra transmission, a solemn and moving Lamp Transmission Ceremony was held. As the lamps were lit, Living Buddha Lian Sheng was deeply touched, momentarily overwhelmed with emotion, and rendered speechless. He softly said, “If we are destined, we shall meet again.”
At the end of 2000, Living Buddha Lian Sheng relinquished all fame and status, took only a simple travel bag, and quietly bid farewell to nineteen years of life in Seattle.
Relocation to South Mountain Retreat
Living Buddha Lian Sheng lived by Phantom Lake for over a decade. As the location became widely known and visitors arrived at all hours, he eventually relocated from Phantom Lake to the South Mountain Retreat.
Even while residing at South Mountain Retreat, Living Buddha Lian Sheng continued to drive daily to the True Buddha Tantric Quarters to write and respond to letters, visit Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple to give teachings, and perform fire offerings at Rainbow Villa. He remarked,
Anticipating that the time for retreat and seclusion had come, he told his disciples:
In August 2000, after transmitting the Kalachakra teachings in Hong Kong, Living Buddha Lian Sheng officially entered retreat and seclusion.