2001 - 2006

Retreat and Seclusion Phase

Table of Contents

Six years of Retreat and Seclusion, Manifesting Non-Action

Hong Kong 2000 Kalachakra empowerment

After the Kalachakra Grand Dharma Ceremony in Hong Kong in 2000, Living Buddha Lian Sheng officially announced his retreat and seclusion.

Diligent Writing To Guide People In Unlocking Inner Treasures

During the six years of retreat, Living Buddha Lian Sheng remained devoted to his disciples, steadily increasing his daily writing efforts. Various deities frequently appeared, guiding his practice and study of essential Madhyamaka and Yogachara teachings. Through continuous meditation and deepening realization, his spiritual journey continued to transcend all limits. He recorded his daily experiences and, at times, published nearly one book per month. His diligent writings were intended to help people uncover the treasures within their own hearts.

Writing Crossing The Ocean Of Life And Death While Enduring The Agony Of “Brain-Splitting Syndrome”

To write Crossing the Ocean of Life and Death, Living Buddha Lian Sheng wore the “divine traveling shoes” bestowed upon him by Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and endured the torment of “brain-splitting syndrome,” entering a state of “semi-death samadhi.” He was gravely ill during this time.

Through this profound ordeal, Living Buddha Lian Sheng came to deeply realize that “the body is a prison,” and that the physical form is merely a transient traveller in the cycle of samsara.

As a result, all worldly desires fell away, and his aspiration for liberation grew even stronger.

The Manifestation Of The Golden Mother Of The Jade Pond, Urging The Continuation Of The Dharma Wheel

During his retreat, Living Buddha Lian Sheng realized the emptiness of the “eighteen realms” and understood that there was nothing to be attained.

He originally intended to depart from the Saha world in silence extinction. However, the Golden Mother of the Jade Pond appeared to him and told him that the time had not yet come. She assured him that coming and going would occur naturally, and urged him to remain on the Dharma throne to continue teaching the true meaning of “enlightenment” and how to completely sever all worldly afflictions.

Upon hearing the Golden Mother’s words, Living Buddha Lian Sheng instantly attained great realization.

Ever Mindful Of All Sentient Beings, He Moves Through The Ten Directions In Divine Samadhi

Although Living Buddha Lian Sheng has no attachment to this physical body or the mundane world, the vow to save sentient beings has always been deeply rooted in his heart, across lifetimes and ages.

Later, he employed three types of divine travel (siddhi powers) to benefit sentient beings:

  1. Sleep Divine Travel — Astral travel to save beings while asleep and dreaming.

  2. Meditative Divine Travel — Astral travel to save beings during deep meditation.

  3. Semi-Death Divine Travel — Astral travel in an illusory state to save beings.

His divine travels reach the ten realms and countless Buddha-lands. He responds according to conditions—healing ill disciples, guiding departed souls, answering the prayers of devotees, and empowering practitioners through spiritual blessings. These divine journeys and acts of rescue have never ceased,
not even for a single day. He manifests everywhere to save beings.

Disciples who remember their Grand Master with single-minded devotion or recite the mantra “Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hum” can instantly behold him—whether in meditative states or in dreams.

Sincere Reminder To The Holy Disciples

During the Living Buddha’s period of seclusion and retreat, his sole hope was that his holy disciples would steadfastly uphold the three essentials: Faith, Aspiration, and Practice.

Faith

Have faith in the True Buddha Tantric Dharma.

Aspiration

Aspire to be born in the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds.

Practice

Diligently cultivate both the exoteric and esoteric teachings.

He earnestly cautioned that even after his departure from Seattle, disciples must not lose their faith, nor should they cease supporting the True Buddha School and the Three Jewels — the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

Whether at Redmond Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple or at other Leizang Temples, branches, and practice groups around the world, everyone should diligently engage in spiritual practice and continue promoting Dharma activities. Observe the Five Precepts, practice the Ten Wholesome Deeds, and deepen understanding and realization of the Four Noble Truths, the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, the Six Paramitas, Equal Enlightenment, and Wondrous Enlightenment.

“I earnestly hope that the holy disciples will cultivate right wisdom. Buddhism emphasizes the importance of right wisdom—for only with right wisdom can there be right view, and only with right view can there be right conduct. Disciples should closely associate with good spiritual friends and reside at Leizang Temples to properly cultivate the Dharma.
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1 of 9~ Living Buddha Lian Sheng
“For practitioners of Vajrayana, the practice should follow the proper stages. First is the generation stage, which includes the Four Preliminary Practices, Guru Yoga, and Yidam Yoga.
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2 of 9~ Living Buddha Lian Sheng
“Next is the completion stage, which involves working with qi, channels, and drops, followed by Heruka Practices, Highest Yoga Tantra, and Dzogchen (Great Perfection).
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3 of 9~ Living Buddha Lian Sheng
“If the conditions for practicing Vajrayana are not yet mature, the Mahasaṃnipata Sutra clearly states:
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4 of 9~ Living Buddha Lian Sheng
In the Dharma-Ending Age, out of a billion who practice, it is rare for even one to attain realization;
only by relying on the practice of mindfulness of the Buddha-Recitation can one be liberated from birth and death.
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5 of 9~ Living Buddha Lian Sheng
“Therefore, dear holy disciples, you may practice the Dharma Method of Buddha-Recitation—relying on Amitabha Buddha to receive you and to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the easy path.
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6 of 9~ Living Buddha Lian Sheng
“Otherwise, you must eliminate the three poisons—greed, anger, and ignorance—and overcome the afflictive obstacles. One must sever the delusions of views, delusions of thought, and even the subtlest delusions as fine as dust.
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7 of 9~ Living Buddha Lian Sheng
“Most importantly, one must practice the Six Perfections and perform myriad virtuous deeds with bodhichitta—the awakened mind—cultivating: no self, no other, no sentient beings, and no one who upholds the practice. By engaging in all wholesome Dharma with this spirit, one will attain Anuttara Samyak Saṃbodhi—the supreme perfect enlightenment.
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8 of 9~ Living Buddha Lian Sheng
“Let us encourage each other on this path.”
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9 of 9~ Living Buddha Lian Sheng