Lingmei's Visit to Guanyin Bodhisattva

The Visit to Guanyin Bodhisattva

“A man’s body and mind are a Dharma vessel, as well as the twelve divisions of the Buddhist Canon. Since time beginless, it has been read and chanted…” It came right into my mind as I was sitting in meditation with some doubt in mind. Therefore, I decided to put into words what Guanyin Bodhisattva spoke to me when my soul traveled to meet Him at Mount. Luo Jia.

As if in a trance, I thought of what Master had told me and decided to go to Mount. Luojia to pay a visit to Guanyin Bodhisattva. I hence asked Master for a bestowal of power. In a flash of thought, I was there. Wow! Certainly it is a heavenly abode!

Upon arrival, I immediately felt refreshed all over. First came into my eyes were the lotuses. The palaces were surrounded by the aureole of the cloud light. Gradually, the lotuses I had seen grew larger and larger, till they merged to radiating golden light.
Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared before me, sitting on a lotus, just when I was being amazed by it all. Exactly as I had thought, He was so amicable and respectable. I could not hold back my tears when I saw Him. I had been feeling at a loss in those days.
I bowed to Him, and said, “Bodhisattva! I don’t want to return. Can I just stay?” Guanyini Bodhisattva smiled to me, and said, “The condition has not yet ripened. You have yet to complete the mission.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva then spoken to me in verse form, “While the task is arduous and the journey tough, always keep in mind the Dharma talks. Cultivation is like climbing up a mountain. The goal is right before you. Keep your mind clean like the lotus, while cultivating in the secular world. Do not just look at what others are doing. You are fulfilling your vows, and shall return. Time is empty and passing by fast. There is no need to count how long it has been.”
Realizing that I did not understand it, He added, “It is accumulated bit by bit, and manifests accordingly bit by bit. Follow your Master’s instruction, and reflect within. Though having witnessed all the scenes, you should never overlook the mind.”
Honestly, I still did not get the point. Guanyin Bodhisattva then spoke to me, “Don’t you want to take a look around? Go ahead.” Upon saying that, He disappeared. A voice spoke into my ears, “It is a different wonderland.” I looked around, and found it all changed around me. I was by a bamboo grove. Cranes were strolling at a leisurely pace. They were happy to see me and told me, “This is the entrance.” I soon got in. Certainly it was a completely different wonderland.
I walked to a brook. The water was limpid and clean. It is rushing downward rapidly from its origin in the upper reach. I then saw an elderly gentleman sitting by the brook fishing. I said to him, “Grandpa, the water runs so rapidly and is crystal clean that we can even see right to the bottom. How can there be any fish in it?”
The gentleman replied, “Yes, no fish can survive in such clean water, and rushing water flow takes away everything. Why fish here?”
I soon understood why. It was Guanyin Bodhisattva trying to enlighten me. The elderly gentleman disappeared before I knew it. The air was filled with Bodhisattvas. A voice resounded from above: “With myriad transformations, I relieve the beings from suffering by contemplating their sound. Mindful of the Buddha, and you get liberated in due time.”
In less than a second, I was back. I thought over what Guanyin Bodhisattva had said to me, and realized it served well to address the challenges I faced in cultivation. More and more, I dislike socializing with others. The other day, my husband warned me, “Are you not going to live like a human anymore?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva was reminding me that I should not behave as if I had transcended the secular world. After all, there are many things waiting for me to do and I need to keep the mind pure as the lotus, and improve myself by practicing the power of Buddha in the very secular environment. Do not just look. Practice it, but refrain from being impatient. Bit by bit our merits and virtues shall accrue. Be patient, and persistent in sutra recitation and meditation sitting. Follow the Master’s guidance, and reflect within. Place the focus in the cultivation of the mind.

Amitabha-Buddha!

Master Zhenlin’s Commentary on Lingmei’s Sutra-lecturingTrip to the Trayastrimsha Heaven

Master Zhenlin’s Commentary on Lingmei’s Sutra-lecturingTrip to the Trayastrimsha Heaven

I sent Lingmei to the Trayastrimsha Heaven first, as it was more efficient. Once in the Trayastrimsha Heaven, all the living beings could be summoned from the Six Heavens of Desires, from Heaven of Sound and Light, and the Brahman Heaven. Once in the Heaven of Neither-Thought-Nor-Non-Thought, all the living beings from the Heavens of Formless Realm shall join to listen. Therefore, I made the arrangement of three trips for her：The Heavens of Desires, the Heavens of Form Realm, and the Heavens of Formless Realm.
There are three realms in the Saha World, and the three realms can be further divided into twenty-eight layers of heavens.
Lingmei had been to the Southern Gate of Heaven twice before the trip to the Trayastrimsha Heaven. Before she set off this time, I told her that she’d be a Bodhisattva once in the Heaven. People would make offerings to her. She should accept them. Otherwise, those heavenly beings would not be able to accomplish any merits or virtues. Therefore, she did not humbly turn them down this time.
At the outset, she wrote,
Text:
Travelling between Heaven and Earth takes only one thought. It is because of the sagely conditions that I shuttle several times between. Upon the instruction by the holy teachings of Venerable Master, my soul travel around like an immortal.
Commentary:
She was quite cheerful when she wrote it. It does take only one thought for one to soul travel to other heavens, at a speed much higher than the Monkey King Sun Wukong does. Within the length of one thought, we can roam through places much further away than be calculated.
Take, for example, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. While it is one billion Buddhalands away, a single thought along takes one there. Certainly it is much easier to travel to other heavens. Why, you may ask, only Lingmei got the chance to visit it. It is because the conditions are ripened for her. It is because of the sagely conditions set by her Venerable Master. Mind you, the Master mentioned here is not me.
“My soul travel around like an immortal”.
This verse is easily understandable. She roamed around like an immortal, not with her physical body, but the soul.
Text:
One day, I arrived at the Trayastrimsha Heaven, when I seemed in a dream but yet in truth it was not.
Commentary:
Where is the Trayastrimsha Heaven located? It is located above the Heaven of the Four Kings, and is also known as the Heaven of Thirty-three. This is not the 33rd layer of heaven from the bottom up. It is in the middle with eight heavens in the east, eight heavens in the west, eight heavens in the south and eight heavens in the north. Four times eight makes 32. The 32 heavens belong to the 32 brothers of Shakra (The Lord of Heaven). They surround the 33rd heaven in the center, making this heaven the Heaven of Thirty-Three.It is above the Mount. Sumeru.

It was also at the Trayastrimsha Heaven that Shakyamuni expounded a sutra on the day when he attained enligthenment.
Text:
What I saw and heard was nothing new to me, as I had been there twice. Again, as if in a trance, I was sitting on a lotus that kept revolving.
Commentary:
When in a trance, our soul can lead us to the state.
Text:
My mind was gradually at peace. All of a sudden, I thought of what Master had told me. Within a flash of thought, my soul travelled to the Southern Gate of Heaven.
Commentary:
We humans live in the South Jambudvipa. We have to go through the Southern Gate if we were to enter any Heaven.
Text:
The Heavenly generals and soldiers stood in straight rows.
Commentary:
They had known long time ago that someone would be lecturing the Sutra of Longevity for them. Lingmei did not realize it, however.
She said,
Text:
They seemed to be waiting for someone.
Commentary:
In fact, they were waiting for none other than her.
As I said before, we humans can be very dull. They had known it immediately once I told her to go there.
Text:
They showed utmost respect and reverence to me. After all, I have been there twice, and they knew me well.
Commentary:
She was quite known to them.
Text:
By then, Shakra came to greet me in person. He even sent me a piece of priceless heavenly clothes. I thought of what Master had told me, and therefore transferred it to him. After I did that, the heavenly clothes transformed into numerous golden flowers flying around me.
Commentary:
Shakra is no other than the Heavenly King that we Chinese people often talk of. Why did he receive Lingmei in person? He did so because Lingmei was there to transmit the Buddhist scripture. You have already known it.
“He even sent me a piece of priceless heavenly clothes.”
Mind you, this was no bribery! It was out of respect that the Heavenly King presented it to her. I had told Lingmei before the trip that she had to accept whatever the treasures they presented to her so that their merits and virtues would accrue. She could then transfer the treasures to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Master. It is fine to do so.
It all changed after she did the transference when in such a state. As was written, “I thought of what Master had told me, and therefore transferred it to him. After I did that, the heavenly clothes transformed into numerous golden flowers flying around me.”
This is very magnificent a scene, and certainly beautiful. While you may imagine to some degree how it is by reading it, it still falls short of its true beauty and wonder unless you see it yourself. When your heavenly eyes or dharma eyes are open, you can see it when practicing the dharma cultivation. That happened to me first when I was reciting the Lotus Sutra one day. I was surprised suddenly to see multi-colored lights radiated around me, purple rays, red rays, etc. I took time to watch them, and soon I was surrounded by flowers! By then, I realized what happened. As long as we recite the scripture with utmost sincerity, the heavenly beings will make offerings of flowers to us.
Text:
Again, Shakra summoned all the heavenly beings to the Trayastrimsha Heaven. I won’t go into details about it
Commentary:
Well, Lingmei should have gone into details here and described how people looked there. People dwelling in the Trayastrimsha Heaven are very much different from each other in size and height.
Text:
What is slightly from my previous trip was that I saw lotuses floating in the air as I lectured the Sutra. Everywhere it smelled fragrant and refreshing.
Commentary:
Why is it so? Living beings in the Heavens of Six Desires are of form and mark. That is why such a wonderful scene was being presented to her, with so many lotuses floating in the air. Surely it was refreshing to smell! They were heavenly flowers!
Text:
I went on to lecture the Sutra of Longevity for them. It turned out exactly as Master had said! The Sutra of Longevity is such a precious treasure not only for humans but also for heavenly beings! “The ghastly ghost of Impermanence comes at unpredictable times. Even if we wish to bribe him with innumerable and limitless amount of gold, silver, money and precious jewels and seek to lengthen our life, it will still be in vain.” I think we living beings should all stay alert when reading it. See, all the answers can be found in the A Simple Explanation of the Sutra of Longevity by Master Zhenlin.
Commentary:
The reason? They had no idea of it either. They should be reminded that their life, too, will come to an end. Anyway, you may refer to the A Simple Explanation of the Sutra of Longevity to get the answers.
Text:
Indeed! No matter how comfortable and decent our life is, or how wealthy we are, we can do nothing about it when the ghastly ghost of Impermanence comes to get us. We can take nothing along. No amount of wealth can exchange for our life! The Heavenly beings do have good comprehension! These lines alone woke many up!
Commentary:
In fact, it is not a matter of the level of comprehension, but that they are in a different state from ours.
“These lines alone woke many up!”
They too, have a finite lifespan. If they do not cultivate, they shall be subject to the revolving wheel of death and rebirth by the time their life comes to an end.
Text:
They were full of joy to hear the Sutra. All kinds of treasures were presented to me from the air. I transferred them all to Master, and they only came forth in larger number. I was not attentive to them, though.
Commentary:
They were heavenly beings. They make progress once they realize the truth. This is how they are different from us. They have a better level of comprehension, and therefore greater blessings.
Text:
They too, have a finite lifespan. If they do not cultivate, they shall be subject to the revolving wheel of death and rebirth by the time their life comes to an end. They were full of joy to hear the Sutra. All kinds of treasures were presented to me from the air. I transferred them all to Master, and they only came forth in larger number. I was not attentive to them, though.

Commentary:
They listened to the Sutra, got enlightened, and were therefore full of joy. They presented their treasures as offerings to Lingmei. There were so many treasures that they filled the air. Could not see them clearly if she tried. Lingmei was fond of seeing the treasures. However, they were just so many of them that she was not attentive to them.
Text:
By then, Shakra stood up and said, “A genuine person is transmitting the genuine sutra here. The flying lotuses show how happy we are. All the heavenly generals and soldiers have joined to listen. We feel so lucky to have such a condition. Like the Get-together at the Three Assemblies under the Naga-puspa Tree, we meet here now at the Heavenly Palace. With great joy, we look forward to hearing the Sutra. You are rescuing with great strength the lost beings in their present life. We vow to exert our best efforts to uphold and practice what is instructed in the Sutra. We shall act in strict compliance with the teachings by our genuine Master.”
Commentary:
“Genuine person” is the wording used in the Realm of Desires. It is a term used commonly by Taoists. It is referred to as the Buddha Nature in Buddhism. Do not take it as a title. A genuine person is formless, unmarked, and unconditioned in the way he behaves. As the popular saying goes, a genuine person does not show himself. Many, however, take it as a title, and think a Taoist as a genuine person. In fact, a genuine person means to our true mind of brightness and permanence.
“The flying lotuses show how happy we are.”
Lotuses were flying around in the air during the sutra lecture. Why was it? The heavenly beings were joyful and happy to hear it. They were filled with the joy of the Dharma. They produced the flying lotuses with their spiritual penetrations to express their happiness and as a token of respect and reverence. The lotuses showed how sincerely-minded they were.
“All the heavenly generals and soldiers have joined to listen.”
They all gathered there.
“We feel so lucky to have such a condition.”
It is certainly very lucky for them to have such a wonderful condition.
“Like the Get-together at the Three Assemblies under the Naga-puspa Tree, we meet here now at the Heavenly Palace.”
This is an analogy. It is not yet the time for the Three Assemblies under the Naga-puspa Tree. They, however, compared the sutra lecture to the Three Assemblies, as it was very wonderful. That is to say, when the time for the Three Assemblies arrives, there will again be sutra lectures at the Heavenly Palace.
Since the Naga-puspa tree is mentioned, let me talk more on it, as some of you may not know what it is.
It is in reference to the Maitreya Bodhisattva. In 5.6 billion years, He will come to the Jambudvipa and be a Buddha here. He shall transmit the Three Vehicles Buddha Dharma. During his Dharma lecture assemblies, people shall certify to three fruitions. At the first assembly, the people shall certify to Arhatship. At the second assembly, the people shall certify to Pacceka Buddhahood. And at the third assembly, the people shall become Bodhisattvas.
Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment under a Bodhi Tree, while Maitreya Bodhisattva shall make it under a Naga-puspa tree. This is the background to the Three Assemblies under the Naga-puspa Tree.
Thos of us who fail to enter Buddhahood cultivating the Dharma expounded by Shakyamuni Buddha shall again be born as humans and cultivate the Great Way by the time the Maitreya Buddha is here. This is what is often referred to as “Get-together at the Three Assemblies under the Naga-puspa Tree” .
By then, people living in the Jambudvipa survive differently from how we do now. They don’t have to plant the field to get rice or food to eat. They’ll eat japonica rice while clothes shall grow in the trees. This is quite similar to how things are now in the Uttarakuru. Anyway, I won’t go into details on it. By then, we may have to come to the secular world again.
“With great joy, we look forward to hearing the Sutra.”
They were full of joy and expect Lingmei to take the Sutra close to them.
“You are rescuing with great strength the lost beings in their present life.”
Living beings, either born in the heavens, or on earth, are still in delusion, and therefore yet to escape from the Three Realms. Once we learn the Sutra of Longevity and get enlightened, we shall all gain release from the Three Realms and five elements, and in a different state. It is so because the Sutra talks of the Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation, which takes one to the Path of the Pratyeka Buddha. Once enlightened, a heavenly being shall immediately gain release and into the Path of Pratyeka Buddha or Arhatship.
“We vow to exert our best efforts to uphold and practice what is instructed in the Sutra. We shall act in strict compliance with the teachings by our genuine Master.’”
This is the vow they made that they would do their best to uphold and receive the Sutra, and they would abide by the teachings of the Master.
Text:
Upon saying that, he treated me to the heavenly delicacy.
Commentary:
Remember the Trayastrimsha Heaven is within the Heavens of the Six Desires, where delicacies can be found. You don’t get delicacy up in the Heaven of Light and Sound, and less so when in the Heaven of Neither Thought Nor Non-Thought. Nevertheless, living beings in the Heavens of the Six Desires eat by looking at the food. They do not really use the mouth to do as we humans do. They do not have skeleton, nor internal organs. They only have a physical mark.
Text:
He then took me around for sightseeing. Finally, I got to know how heavenly music sound.
Commentary:
Music played in the heaven is beautiful beyond description.
Text:
We got to the heavenly pond, where I saw heavenly maids dancing to the beautiful music. I thought I should wash away there the three poisons I had as a human.
Commentary:
We cannot wash away the three poisons, but can rid ourself of fatigue there.
Text:
While in the pond, I thought of what Master had told me. I walked out of it, took a look at myself, and found myself different. I did not look as a human. Rather, I was wearing clothes the same as the heavenly beings. My body felt like the cloud and fog. Anyway, I did not want to stay longer, and turned back.
Commentary:
Why did it feel like the cloud and fog? It was so because heavenly beings only had a physical mark. There is no real substance to it.
Text:
My will was not firm enough. While I was able to lecture the Sutra, it was made possible only with the bestowal of power by Master! Life was too comfortable in the Heaven! No wonder they say cultivation is hard for those enjoying a wealthy life. It cannot be more true!
Commentary:
Isn’t it the same for us humans? Some are born to be rich and powerful, due to the blessings they have cultivated in the previous life, thus forsaking cultivation.
Heavenly beings are too much at ease and their life too comfortable. They have limitless spiritual penetrations, and endless fun. They do not remember to cultivate, just like the Eight Immortals who are criticized for spending their time drinking, eating, and having fun, while leaving aside cultivation.
Text:
Cultivating in the heaven for centuries is not as effective as doing it the secular world for one day!
Commentary:
This is true, too. It is the most difficult to cultivate in the secular world, and sutra lecturing is no exception. You get well-respected lecturing Buddhist scripture for heavenly beings, as they know the chance is rare that they get to hear it, and only a genuine cultivator can ascend there to lecture it for them.
It is not the case in the secular world among human beings. Shakyamuni Buddha chose to give the sutra lecture in the secular world, while sending his disciples to the heavens to carry out the lectures for heavenly beings, except on several occasions where the conditions were specific. He did so because it is more difficult to lecture the Buddhist scripture and propagate the Buddha Dharma in the secular world. It is particularly the case here in Jambudvipa.
The human beings are obstinate and hard to subdue. They take revolving in the Six Paths as something joyful, or maybe they do not believe that there is such a revolving at all. Therefore, cultivating in the secular world is the most accomplishing.
Text:
As Master said when he lectured the Sutra of Longevity, this is why the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas prefer to get close to living beings in the Jambudvipa.
Commentary:
Though we have to suffer living in the Jambudvipa, we also receive good blessings here. We get the chance to learn the Buddha Dharma. The next time a Buddha is born as a human, he still is born in the Jambudvipa. Living beings in the Uttarakuru are not as lucky as we are. They don’t get the chance to learn the Buddha Dharma. Besides, you have to have patience to cultivate. That is why it is most accomplishing to practice cultivation here in the state.
Guanyi Bodhisattva and the Great Strength Bodhisattva, who now dwell in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, for example, achieved enlightenment cultivating here in the Jambudvipa. Though it is not a well-blessed land, it can be accomplishing for a cultivator. We get good merits and virtues as long as we take the time to practice it.
Text:
While it is not a well-blessed land here in the Jambudvipa, many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas achieve enligthenment here. We get our will steeled the best in the secular world. Everyday we face all kinds of tests and enticement. Finally, I have come to understand why I am so fond of the lotus. It grows in the mud and yet stays clean from the filth. Life is like a grand stage. There are all kinds of roles for us to play and different challenges to face.
Commentary:
There is much to be said about the lotus. It grows in the mud and yet remains clean from filth. The lotus is compared to the Buddha Dharma as well. It is a rather unique plant here in the secular world. It blossoms and bears fruits simultaneously. While its root is buried in the mud, its stalk grows out of the water surface to the air. Few plants have flower blossom and fruits borne at the same time. This is like the cultivation of the Buddha Dharma in the secular world. Mud is comparable to the secular world. While our physical body exists in the world, our mind should be out of it like the stalk. If we cultivate in this way, our merits and virtues shall accrue and we shall make it to see flowers blossom and fruits borne at the same time. By then, we shall be in the state of the Buddha. It is both existence and non-existence. This is what the lotus symbolizes.
Text:
Master told us to keep our mind firm no matter what we do. All the trials and challenges are meant to increase our faith in the Buddha Dharma. Meet the challenge, and we shall improve ourselves.
Commentary:
Hardship is inevitable for us as we cultivate in the secular world. They are meant to make our will stronger. Face them squarely, as we shall be made as strong as Vajra by them. In the famous novel Journey to the West, eighty-one ordeals were set for Monk Hsuan-Tsang.
Lingmei’s journey to the Trayastrimsha Heaven is rather easy to read. I am not going to speak about it too deeply.
Amitabha-Buddha!!! May you be filled with the joy of Dharma!!!
May the merit and virtue accrued from this work,
Adorn the Buddha’s Pure Lands,
Repaying the four kinds of kindness above,
And aiding those suffering in the paths below.
May those who see and hear of this,
All bring forth the resolve for Bodhi,
And when this retribution body is over,
Be born together in Ultimate Bliss.
Amitabha-Buddha! May we all be filled with the joy of the Dharma!

Lingmei's Sutra-lecture Trip to the Trayastrimsha Heaven

The Sutra-lecture Trip to the Trayastrimsha Heaven


Travelling between Heaven and Earth takes only one thought. It is because of the sagely conditions that I shuttle several times between. Upon the instruction by the holy teachings of Venerable Master, my soul travel around like an immortal.

One day, I arrived at the Trayastrimsha Heaven, when I seemed in a dream but yet in truth it was not. What I saw and heard was nothing new to me, as I had been there twice.

Again, as if in a trance, I was sitting on a lotus that kept revolving. My mind was gradually at peace. All of a sudden, I thought of what Master had told me. Within a flash of thought, my soul travelled to the Southern Gate of Heaven. The Heavenly generals and soldiers stood in straight rows. They seemed to be waiting for someone. They showed utmost respect and reverence to me. After all, I have been there twice, and they knew me well.

By then, Shakra came to greet me in person. He even sent me a piece of priceless heavenly clothes. I thought of what Master had told me, and therefore transferred it to him. After I did that, the heavenly clothes transformed into numerous golden flowers flying around me.

Again, Shakra summoned all the heavenly beings to the Trayastrimsha Heaven. I won’t go into details about it. What is slightly from my previous trip was that I saw lotuses floating in the air as I lectured the Sutra. Everywhere it smelled fragrant and refreshing.

I went on to lecture the Sutra of Longevity for them. It turned out exactly as Master had said! The Sutra of Longevity is such a precious treasure not only for humans but also for heavenly beings! “The ghastly ghost of Impermanence comes at unpredictable times. Even if we wish to bribe him with innumerable and limitless amount of gold, silver, money and precious jewels and seek to lengthen our life, it will still be in vain.” I think we living beings should all stay alert when reading it. See, all the answers can be found in the A Simple Explanation of the Sutra of Longevity by Master Zhenlin.

Indeed! No matter how comfortable and decent our life is, or how wealthy we are, we can do nothing about it when the ghastly ghost of Impermanence comes to get us. We can take nothing along. No amount of wealth can exchange for our life!

The Heavenly beings do have good comprehension! These lines alone woke many up! They too, have a finite lifespan. If they do not cultivate, they shall be subject to the revolving wheel of death and rebirth by the time their life comes to an end. They were full of joy to hear the Sutra. All kinds of treasures were presented to me from the air. I transferred them all to Master, and they only came forth in larger number. I was not attentive to them, though.

By then, Shakra stood up and said, “A genuine person is transmitting the genuine sutra here. The flying lotuses show how happy we are. All the heavenly generals and soldiers have joined to listen. We feel so lucky to have such a condition. Like the Get-together at the Three Assemblies under the Naga-puspa Tree, we meet here now at the Heavenly Palace. With great joy, we look forward to hearing the Sutra. You are rescuing with great strength the lost beings in their present life. We vow to exert our best efforts to uphold and practice what is instructed in the Sutra. We shall act in strict compliance with the teachings by our genuine Master.”

Upon saying that, he treated me to the heavenly delicacy. He then took me around for sightseeing. Finally, I got to know how heavenly music sound!

We got to the heavenly pond, where I saw heavenly maids dancing to the beautiful music. I thought I should wash away there the three poisons I had as a human. While in the pond, I thought of what Master had told me. I walked out of it, took a look at myself, and found myself different. I did not look as a human. Rather, I was wearing clothes the same as the heavenly beings. My body felt like the cloud and fog. Anyway, I did not want to stay longer, and turned back.

My will was not firm enough. While I was able to lecture the Sutra, it was made possible only with the bestowal of power by Master! Life was too comfortable in the Heaven! No wonder they say cultivation is hard for those enjoying a wealthy life. It cannot be more true! Cultivating in the heaven for centuries is not as effective as doing it the secular world for one day!

As Master said when he lectured the Sutra of Longevity, this is why the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas prefer to get close to we living beings in the Jambudvipa. While it is not a well-blessed land here in the Jambudvipa, many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas achieve enligthenment here. We get our will steeled the best in the secular world. Everyday we face all kinds of tests and enticement.

Finally, I have come to understand why I am so fond of the lotus. It grows in the mud and yet stays clean from the filth. Life is like a grand stage. There are all kinds of roles for us to play and different challenges to face. Master told us to keep our mind firm no matter what we do. All the trials and challenges are meant to increase our faith in the Buddha Dharma. Meet the challenge, and we shall improve ourselves.

Master Zhenlin’s Commentary on Lingmei’s Second Visit to Amitabha-Buddha

Master Zhenlin’s Commentary on Lingmei’s Second Visit to Amitabha-Buddha, Tour to the Hell, and a Sutra-lecturing Trip to the Heaven of Great Comfort

Why do I arrange for Lingmei the sutra-lecturing trip to Heaven of Great Comfort first? The realm of the Heaven of Great Comfort is quite unique. Though it is a Heaven, it is located geographically at the top of Mount. Kunlun. You won’t get access to it, though, by reaching the top of the mountain. It exists in a space at the mountain top. It is quite a supreme place even though it is so close to the secular world. Its Heavenly King has previously been a Bodhisattva, who later was born in the Path of Hungry Ghost, and then became the King. Shakra and Brahman King would descend to bow to him. His is a heaven of great comfort. It is a very good state. Therefore, I sent Lingmei to the Heaven of Great Comfort first.
Text:
Cast away the small self, and we shall obtain the big self. Cast away the big self, and we shall have no self. Only the state of being no self is permanent, which is what I have been seeking for.
Commentary:
It is quite thought-provoking a passage. What does small self refer to? The small self is our physical body while the big self is the Bodhisattva body. When we are able to cast away the Bodhisattva or Buddha body, we shall be free from the self. Only the state of being without a self is permanent. It is when we attain the true mind of brightness and enlightenment, the Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, and the Buddha Nature. It is where the real life resides. Do not seek externally. Everything that is external is not real, but illusory.
Text:
I’d note it down as long as it shall benefit the people so that you can all read it. I traveled to the West as if in a dream.
Commentary:
The last time she went to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, she was there for a very short while before she returned. She could remember nothing what the Buddha had spoken to her. She then asked me how could she keep in mind the teachings by the Buddhas. I so told her what she should do when in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. As it turned out, unlike in her previous trip, she was able to note down each and every word that Amitabha Buddha spoke to her.
Text:
“The heaven is as big as your mind is. The mind can take you to heaven. No Dharma is fixed. It is a tough journey. It takes as short a span to go through a thousand eons as to give rise to a single thought. The eon is not fixed but made by the mind. Whether something is difficult or not depends on the mind. A mind of the Way should be at peace, but yours is circled by external things. The true mind is like gold. If you can cling to the mind of the Way that is peaceful, you shall attain Buddhahood in the present life. Apply good efforts to cultivation! The Buddha is no Buddha.”
Commentary:
“The heaven is as big as your mind, and the mind can take you to heaven.”
How much our mind can take depends on how big and broad it is. If it is big enough to house the entire universe, the entire universe is in our mind. Therefore, it is our mind that leads us to heaven, the true mind of brightness and permanence.
“No Dharma is fixed.”
There is no fixed model to the Buddha Dharma. We may employ any expedient means to propagate it. When we reach an advanced stage in cultivation, we shall find the Dharma in every word uttered and everything done. Do not take life as life, but as the Dharma. If you get angry and hateful when seeing your enemy, you are being turned by the states. If you do not get angry nor have any complaints, the state is being turned by you, and it shows you have come to understand the Buddha Dharma. Your mind is firm enough and at peace. No Dharma is fixed. It exists in our life. We expound the Dharma according to the changing surroundings. We employ expedient means to propagate it. We'd meet many obstacles as we cultivate.
“It is a tough journey.It takes as short a span to go through a thousand eons as to give rise to a single thought. The eon is not fixed but made by the mind.”
It is because we discriminate that the spaces are created. When we are able to rid ourselves of the discriminative mind, we will be in Buddhahood. There is no eon to speak of. There is no difference between a thousand eons and two eons. An eon may finish after you give rise to a single thought. A mosquito, for example, will get reborn soon if it gets enlightened by listening to the Sutra of Longevity. The eon in the case of the mosquito is very short.
One eon lasts one hundred years in Jambudvipa, 300 years in Purvavideha, 500 heavenly years in the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings, and 1,000 heavenly years in the Trayastrimsha Heaven. Therefore, the eon is not fixed. Since it is not fixed, how does it come into existence? It is all created by our mind.
Everything in the universe is created by our mind, because it is burdened by the three poisons, six desires, and seven emotions. Whether something is difficult or not, be it curing a disease or cultivation, depends on the mind. It depends on whether our mind is set at peace and sincere. Being sincere means you speak what you think. You don’t have to make a plan for it. Unfortunately, we people in the Jambudvipa are mostly not sincere, and do not speak what we think. Therefore, Amitabha Buddha tells us that we’d be a Buddha if we are completely sincere. We are deluded if taken away by our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, consciousness, and greed, hatred, and ignorance. We get deviated to the demon’s path.
“A mind of the Way should be at peace, but yours is circled by external things. The true mind is like gold.”
As we cultivate the Way, we shall attain the mind of the Way by which our mind shall always be at peace no matter what happens. As I have often told you, a genuine Dharma Master, no matter how prestigious he is, always takes himself as an ordinary person. Most people, however, would rather take themselves as a prestigious master. Their mind is not peaceful, and therefore far away from the Great Way. A genuine Dharma master never discriminates. He treats everyone the same, regardless of one’s wealth or social status. He who makes it has attained the mind of the Way that is peaceful.
What are the external things that circle it? Our mind of the Way is supposed to be peaceful, and yet it is usually circled by many external things, such as the seven emotions, six desires, and three poisons. Inside the circle is our mind of the Way, the true mind of brightness and permanence, the Buddha nature.
“The true mind is like gold.If you can cling to the mind of the Way that is peaceful, you shall attain Buddhahood in the present life. Apply good efforts to cultivation!The Buddha is no Buddha!”
In fact, there is no Buddhahood to be achieved. In the Chinese character, the word Buddha consists of “No” and “Person”. That is to say, a Buddha is not a person. I am not going to dwell on this point. Otherwise, some of you may get confused. You have to be in the state of the Great Vehicle to know what it means to become a Buddha and what the state of the Buddha is like. It is an inexpressible state. No language can describe it. There is nothing to say about it. You will know it when you are in the state.
Text:
I did not quite the the point, and was wondering whether it was because I went there too often. By then, a voice spoke to my ears, " It takes only one thought for you to ascend to the heaven or drill down to the earth. Having tasted all the heavenly delicacies, you still need to find our true mind. Comprehend the Dharma with the knowledge that the Dharma is no Dharma. When you get enlightened to the Dharma, you shall know there is no Dharma. If you understand that there is in truth no Dharma, your mind is awakened to the Dharma. Not until then will you understand all is the same.There is no “self”, and it is not a ‘Self’… Haw-haw!”
Commentary:
This passage is very well-said. Who could have said so if not in the state?
It takes only one thought for us to ascend to the heaven or drill down to the earth. Our traveling between heaven and earth is to find our true mind.
Comprehend the Dharma with the knowledge that the Dharma is no Dharma.
Comprehend the Dharma with our mind. When we get enlightened, we will find nothing can be spoken about the Dharma. Having expounded the Dharma for 49 years, Shakyamuni Buddha said “I have not said a word over the past 49 years.”
If you understand that there is in truth no Dharma, your mind is awakened to the Dharma.
The Dharma appears as the expedient means employed to help the beings learn it. It is very difficult to get enlightened, though.
Our mind is not awakened to the Dharma unless we reach the state devoid of Dharma. Not until then will we understand all is the same. That is to say, all is like the air. You hold some air with your right hand, and other with your left hand, and you will find no difference in the air held.
There is no “self”, and it is not a “Self”.
We won’t find the “self”. You are me, I am you. When in such a state, Guanyin Bodhisattva is Shakyamuni Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha is Amitabha Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha is Manjushri Bodhisattva. There is no difference. It is because of our discriminative mind that creates the difference.
Text:
With the laughter, the voice became less and less audible. The other day, Master suggested that I visit the Hell. I said no because I was fearful of it, though not knowing for what. Having listened to the instruction of Amitabha Buddha, I decided to pay a visit to the Hell.
Lingmei heard the Haw-haw laughter and it became less and less audible. Having read the instruction from the Buddha, she decided to pay a visit to the Hell, without fearing it anymore.
Text:
It seemed like a dream, but in truth was not. As if in a trance, I visited the Hell, and had a short stay there, during which, there was voice speaking to me along the way. Soon after I arrived, I heard “Life in the secular world is dream-like. Both ups and downs come and go quickly. Since you have come to the Hell, please exhort the people to practice cultivation.
Commentary:
These lines are really nice.
“Life in the secular world is dream-like.”
Our living in the world is like a dream. In the twinkling of an eye, the ups and downs in life are over.
“Since you have come to the Hell, please exhort the people to practice cultivation.”
We’d end up suffering in the Hell if we do not put down the secular emotions. Therefore, “please exhort the people to practice cultivation.” We will not end up in the Hell if we cultivate to improve ourselves.
Text:
Whenever I passed a hell, I heard a saying describing it respectively. I now put them together, and it says, “Those who are greedy end up in the Exoculation Hell; those who bully the elder and the underprivileged end up in the Hell of Boiling Oil; those who kill the living beings end up in the Hell of Iron Knives. If you still do not believe in karma and retribution, take a look at how crowded the Hell is. If you want to know the retributions of blessing and misfortune to befall you in the present life, turn the light and reflect back. The dust has all been settled.”
Commentary:
“Those who are very greedy fall into the Exoculation Hell.”
They get deluded by external forms. Greed arises when our eyes see the form (anything in the universe).
In the Hell of Boiling Oil, the hell beings are thrown into the pot of boiling oil. Those who bullied the elder and the underprivileged when alive fall into the Hell.
In the Hell of Iron Knives, there are knives all over that slice the flesh the hell beings off bit by bit. Those who kill the living beings fall into the Hell of Iron Knives.
“If you still do not believe in karma and retribution, take a look at how crowded the Hell is.”
A visit to the Hell will convince you that law of cause and effect. The Hell is so crowded by those falling into it that it is almost beyond its capacity.
“If you want to know the retributions of blessing and misfortune to befall you in the present life…”
Blessing includes holding an high office, or being in possession of a good fortune, or living a decent life.
“…turn the light and reflect back. The dust has been settled down.”
If you want to know how your life is in the present life, just take a look back at what you did in your previous life. Ordinary people do not have the ability to tell what they did in their previous life. If we cultivate, gradually we develop the ability. We won’t be angry anymore if we know what we did at that time. Perhaps we killed someone, and as a result, he or she wants to kill us in the present life.
Text:
I also saw the Great Iron Ring Mountain, where the suffering was exactly as acute as Master had described when he was lecturing the Sutra of Longevity. I could not bear to see it. Why do the hell beings have to undergo such serious retributions? As I just thinking over it, I was told that these beings were impious and bad to there parents when they were alive. Being filial to our parents are the most meritorious. It is suggested that people should read the Filial Piety Sutra.”
After I returned, I thought of what Master had spoken to me, “We cultivators are walking on thin ice. We can either ascend the Heaven, or fall down to the Hell I do not want to fall into the Hell. I don’t want to suffer anymore from transmigration. I must cultivate wholeheartedly to get back to my true home.
Commentary:
She also saw the Hell of Great Iron Ring Mountain and the Hell of Small Iron Ring Mountain.
“the suffering was exactly as acute as Master had described when he was lecturing the Sutra of Longevity. I could not bear to see it. Why do the hell beings have to undergo such serious retributions?”
As she just thinking over it, she was told that these beings were impious and bad to there parents when they were alive, and that being filial to our parents are the most meritorious. It is suggested that people should read the Filial Piety Sutra.
After she returned, she thought of what Master had spoken to her, “We cultivators are walking on thin ice. A single thought can decide whether we go to the heaven or fall down to the hell.”
As Lingmei wrote, “I don’t want to suffer anymore from transmigration.”
Well, who would like to be subject to the cycle of birth and death? Let us apply real efforts to cultivation, to upholding the Buddhist scripture, so that we can return to our true home. The true home lies in our true-self.
Text:
I had decided not to roam around anymore. Some co-cultivators jokingly said to me the other day that I should pay a visit to the Medicine Buddha, and indeed my soul traveled to His Buddhaland. Soon after I arrived, the Buddha spoke to me, “ The Buddhalands of the ten directions are in fact empty. They manifest differently before different people. You have been well-travelled through the trips. Please tell the people not to try to discern the truth. The medicine of miracle lies right in your mind. Why bother to seek it externally? Hold on to single-mindfulness, set your mind at peace, and you shall sit on the lotus dais and get back to your true-self.”
Commentary:
This passage tells us that the Buddhalands of the ten directions are in fact empty. Our Saha World is empty, too. However, they become real if you are in the state. It all depends on who you are. Lingmei is well-travelled as she has visited the heavens and the hells.
“Please tell the people not to try to discern the truth.”
The Buddha warns us against ever trying to discern it. After all, we are not able to make it. We just need to place our faith in it.
“The medicine of miracle lies right in our mind.”
Why bother to go out of our way to look for it everywhere?
“Hold on to single-mindfulness, set your mind at peace, and you shall sit on the lotus dais and get back to your true-self.”
When we are single-mindful, our mind is at peace, and all the Buddhalands in the ten directions hall appear in our mind. By then, we shall be able to get back to the state of the true-self, the state of the Buddha, by sitting on the lotus dais.
Text:
Again, he said, “Be mindful of it! Always!” He then added, “Apply the medicine of miracle to your mind. Clean away the secular dust and you shall be free from the self. Always be mindful of the fine words and hold on to your true self. Do not forget the trip and you shall transcend time and space”. As I was thinking what the real treasures are, a voice spoke to my ears, “Being-able-to-give-it-up Herb, the Cure-all.” Put it down, and it all gets smooth. Your mind shall be set at peace and free from afflictions.”
The medicine of miracle is our mind. How can we be free from the self? We have to first clean away the secular dust of greed, hatred, and ignorance. He hoped that you could always be mindful of it.
“Do not forget the trip and you shall transcend time and space.”
The trip refers to our being born as humans. Do not forget that we shall transcend the time and space, gain release from the Three Realms and Five Elements. Do not be buried by the secular dusts.
“As I was thinking what the real treasures are…”: She was wondering what the real treasure is.
Then a voice spoke to her ears, “ Being-able-to-give-it-up Herb, the Cure-all.”
What kind of herb is it? Well, we will get it as long as we can put down the unreal things in the world. Our being able to put them down is a cure-all! Put it down, and our mind shall be set at peace and free from afflictions.”
Text:
A Sister suggested that I recite the lines for Master when he got on-line. Master told me, “I won’t send you around any more.” He also told me that these verses could be very thought-provoking for our co-cultivators, so I wrote them down. I was still thinking why not more traveling when Master spoke to me again, “Lingmei, you’d better not visit the Medicine Buddha. You may pay a visit to the Heaven of Great Comfort, though.” I always do what Master instructs me to. I know well that I can always make whatever Master wants to me do. By the way, let me share with you a secret: Miracles can happen anytime. We ourselves are a miracle.

Commentary:
Lingmei felt it a miracle that she was able to travel around to all the wonderlands. She felt it true, amazing, and miraculous.
Text:
Below is what happened when I was in the Heaven of Great Comfort. Miracles did take place when I followed Master’s instruction and treated them with equality and reverence.
Commentary:

“Below is what happened when I was in the Heaven of Great Comfort.”
She noted it down.
“Miracles did take place when I followed Master’s instruction and treated them with equality and reverence.”
I had a long talk with her before she set off for the Heaven of Great Comfort. She was fearful and worried whether she was being too arrogant. She would not have arrived there when so concerned. I talked to her to help address her concerns the other day. She understood and accepted it. Miracles did happen when she treated them with equality and reverence.
Text:
It turned out exactly as Master had said, that I was lecturing the Sutra of Longevity for them. I won’t go into details about it, though. They liked it very much and many asked for a copy of the Sutra. Believe it or not, when in such a state, as soon as I gave to the thought on whether Master could send them a copy of the Sutra, they got the copy.
Commentary:
Her description is correct.
“It turned out exactly as Master had said, that I was lecturing the Sutra of Longevity for them.”
Lingmei was in the state of the ordinary people. Never had she thought of giving a sutra lecture to heavenly beings. She was just too nervous and thought she was being arrogant. In fact she was not. She just did not know why. She wrote down how she felt.
She was in the Heaven of Great Comfort, where everything is transformed from thoughts.

Text:
Below is what the King of the Heaven of the Great Comfort said to me after hearing me talk: “At great comfort our happiness is endless. In the twinkling of the eye, thousands of years are gone. We shall be turned on the wheel of transmigration. We now avail ourselves of the opportunity to practice cultivation. Those who can put it down are as at comfort as the immortals. It is never too late to practice cultivation. I used to feel it a pity but now it is solved. Let us meet again in our Homeland in the future. Please drink the glass of wine, as your presence brings to us warm breeze that pervades the whole Immortal Mountain. We shall keep in mind the precious sutra you send to me. Put it down, and we obtain true merits and virtues.

Commentary:
“At great comfort our happiness is endless.”
This is the state in the Heaven, where the heavenly beings are great comfort and extremely happy.
“In the twinkling of the eye, thousands of years are gone.”
Thousands of years pass in the twinkling of an eye.
“We shall be turned on the wheel of transmigration.”
They will be subject to the cycle of life and death when their heavenly blessings come to an end.
“We now avail ourselves of the opportunity to practice cultivation. Those who can put it down are as at comfort as the immortals.”
They also need to seize the precious opportunity to cultivate. Those who can put down the great blessings they enjoy in the Heaven will be as at comfort as the immortals.
“It is never too late to practice cultivation.”
They will be as great as the immortals if they can put it down. Living in the Heaven of Great Comfort is too comfortable. If they can put it down, it is never too late to practice cultivation.
“I used to feel it a pity but now it is solved.”
It was quite a pity for them as they still have to be subject to transmigration when their heavenly lifespan comes to an end. Fortunately, having listened to the sutra, they are able to gain release from the Three Realms and Five Elements. There isn’t any more pity.
“Let us meet again in our Homeland in the future.”
We shall get together again before the Buddha.
“Please drink the glass of wine, as your presence brings to us warm breeze that pervades the whole Immortal Mountain.”
Lingmei’s visit to the Heaven of Great Comfort brought warm breeze to the land so much as that it pervaded the whole Immortal Mountain.
“We shall keep in mind the precious sutra you send to me. Put it down, and we obtain true merits and virtues.”
Lingmei brought to them the Sutra of Longevity, and it was such a precious book! The king said he’d be mindful of it. The merits and virtues shall accrue if they can put it down.
“Before I left, he again said to me, ‘We feel ashamed of ourselves having listened to what you have said. We now vow to reach the other shore of perfection, no matter how difficult it is!’”
The King of the Heaven of Great Comfort said that they were ashamed of themselves compared to us humans. They vowed to practice cultivation to reach the other shore of perfection, to become Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, no matter how hard it is.
Text:
Two days later, I paid a visit to the Heaven again while sitting in meditation, as I was not sure that I could really lecture the sutra for them. When I was there, I again requested that I talk the Sutra for them. I quoted the ending passage of the Sutra of Longevity, “As these livings do not realize their danger, which resembles that of burning eye-brows, so they greedily indulge in the benefits of wealth, love and sensual desires. Or they consume so much wine that their life span is at stake. There are also those who are jealous, deluded and arrogant. Most of them will sink in the seas of suffering with no chance for liberation. Only the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are able to cross over the seas of birth and death. The common sentient beings are sure to sink into them.”
Commentary:
This passage is copied from the Sutra of Longevity, which I have expounded. No need to talk more on it.
Text:
Some heavenly beings got enlightened just when I was reciting it. I returned soon after I had finished saying it. I think I’d better not think too high of myself. I again was struck by secular thoughts. I thought I was out of myself with the bestowal of power by master. I was fearful. I feared I might just fall down.
When I was thinking about it, a voice spoke to me, “Nothing that you fear will happen if you are acting according to the Buddha Dharma and on the vow you’ve made! I am just too dull. I feel unhappy after returning from the Heaven of Great Comfort. I want to ask master why face to face, but master is just too busy. I think I need to find the answer myself, and the key is to work on my mind!
Commentary:
Some of them got enlightened as she was reciting the sutra passage. Why did she visit it again? Some of the heavenly beings would gain enlightenment and release from the Three Realms immediately after they listen to the sutra.
“I returned soon after I finished saying it.”
Why? The heavenly beings in the Heaven of Great Comfort made offerings to her with their treasures. Lingmei was unprepared for it and quite scared. She did not write it down in the article. She did tell me about it, though, and that she dared not accept the offerings. I told her why not. She had to accept the offerings so that those making the offerings to her could accumulate merits and virtues.
“I think I’d better not think too high of myself.”
She still had some concerns.
“I again was struck by secular thoughts. I thought I was out of myself with the bestowal of power by master. I was fearful. I feared I might just fall down. When I was thinking about it, a voice spoke to me, ‘Nothing that you fear will happen if you are acting according to the Buddha Dharma and on the vow you’ve made!’ I am just too dull. I feel unhappy after returning from the Heaven of Great Comfort.”
Why was she unhappy? She was fearful. Even those living in the Heaven of the Great Comfort, a place so full of comfort, are subject to the cycle of life and death. She could not figure out why. It was the first time that she had been to the heaven. Her mind was being burdened with many secular thoughts as yours.
I want to ask Master why face to face, but Master is just too busy. I think I need to find the answer myself, and the key is to work on my mind! She then wrote about how she felt.
Text:
I seemed to find the answers as I was sitting in meditation this morning. Why was I fearful when in the Hell? Why did I enjoy the stay in the Buddhaland? Why did I feel uncomfortable while in the Heaven of the Great Comfort so much so that I did not stay there for longer than necessary? Why did I fail to hold back my tears when I heard some telling their past experience or complain that it was torturing for them? I have been quite tearful since I returned from the visit to the Heaven of the Great Comfort. I think I now know why. We have been cultivating for so many lives, and gone through, so to speak, numerous eons being turned on the wheel o the Six Paths. We are still being entangled in emotions. Not just emotions between man and woman. I am very much attached to friendship. I used to think I have put it down, but I have not yet.
In the Heaven of Great Comfort, there is no need to practice cultivation. They get whatever they want. Time flies by quickly as their life is fully of joy. As a result, they get lost. They had endured great hardships before being born in the heaven. Isn’t it a great pity that they now forget what they have gone through?
I think I am fully ready now. No matter how challenging it is, I will keep cultivation in the present life. I must find my way back home! Put all the burdens down! We won’t be able to take any of them along. There is always winning and losing. We need to let it go from our mind. Remove the obstacles in our mind by cultivating the mind. By the time we overcome ourselves, we shall find our true-self.
Commentary:
This passage explains how she felt. It is well-said. Nevertheless, we have to cultivate in a step-by-step manner when in the world. A popular Chinese saying goes like this, “passing through five barriers and fighting against six generals”. The five barriers refers to form, feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness and the six generals refers to our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and consciousness. We need to chop them off to find the true-self. Only by then will we feel truly at comfort.
Every time Lingmei returns from her trip, Master will have a talk to her to encourage her. She is getting more and more courageous and her mind more at peace. She is really like an immortal now! (Laughter)
Text:
This is how I feel after I return from the trip. We cultivators need to apply real efforts as well as time to it. Time is the best touchstone. With the passage of time, everything comes, and everything goes. There is nothing to fear as long as we are equipped with a fearless mind. Besides, Master is always with us when at critical junctures. Master is omnipresent!
Amitabha-Buddha!
Commentary
She certainly knows what to get from Master. (Laughter).
She is right to say that Master is always with you. This is truly the case. Why do I become your Master? It is to bestow power on you. You are like a tree. You have to rely on your own efforts to grow, while Master is the wooden stick standing closely by the tree so that you remain upright when blown by heavy wind. I have to shield the wind for you because you have yet to be grown-up. I protect you and support you as you grow. Nevertheless, you still need to absorb nutrition yourself even with the bestowal of power.
Amitabha-Buddha!

May the merit and virtue accrued from this work,
Adorn the Buddha’s Pure Lands,
Repaying the four kinds of kindness above,
And aiding those suffering in the paths below.
May those who see and hear of this,
All bring forth the resolve for Bodhi,
And when this retribution body is over,
Be born together in Ultimate Bliss.
Amitabha-Buddha! May we all be filled with the joy of the Dharma!

Lingmei's Second Visit to Amitabha-Buddha

A Second Visit to Amitabha-Buddha, Tour to the Hell, and a Sutra-lecturing Trip to the Heaven of Great Comfort

Cast away the small self, and we shall obtain the big self. Cast away the big self, and we shall have no self. Only the state of being no self is permanent, which is what I have been seeking for.
I’d note it down as long as it shall benefit the people so that you can all read it.
I traveled to the West as if in a dream.
“The heaven is as big as your mind is. The mind can take you to heaven. No Dharma is fixed. It is a tough journey. It takes as short a span to go through a thousand eons as to give rise to a single thought. The eon is not fixed but made by the mind. Whether something is difficult or not depends on the mind. A mind of the Way should be at peace, but yours is circled by external things. The true mind is like gold. If you can cling to the mind of the Way that is peaceful, you shall attain Buddhahood in the present life. Apply good efforts to cultivation! The Buddha is no Buddha!”
I did not quite the the point, and was wondering whether it was because I went there too often. By then, a voice spoke to my ears, " It takes only one thought for you to ascend to the heaven or drill down to the earth. Having tasted all the heavenly delicacies, you still need to find our true mind. Comprehend the Dharma with the knowledge that the Dharma is no Dharma. When you get enlightened to the Dharma, you shall know there is no Dharma. If you understand that there is in truth no Dharma, your mind is awakened to the Dharma. Not until then will you understand all is the same. There is no “self”, and it is not a ‘self’…Haw-haw!”

With the laughter, the voice became less and less audible. The other day, Master suggested that I visit the Hell. I said no because I was fearful of it, though not knowing for what. Having listened to the instruction of Amitabha Buddha, I decided to pay a visit to the Hell.

It seemed like a dream, but in truth was not. As if in a trance, I visited the Hell, and had a short stay there, during which, there was voice speaking to me along the way. Soon after I arrived, I heard “Life in the secular world is dream-like. Both ups and downs come and go quickly. Since you have come to the Hell, please exhort the people to practice cultivation.”

Whenever I passed a hell, I heard a saying describing it respectively. I now put them together, and it says, “ Those who are greedy end up in the Exoculation Hell; those who bully the elder and the underprivileged end up in the Hell of Boiling Oil; those who kill the living beings end up in the Hell of Iron Knives. If you still do not believe in karma and retribution, take a look at how crowded the Hell is. If you want to know the retributions of blessing and misfortune to befall you in the present life, turn the light and reflect within. The dust has all been settled.”

I also saw the Great Iron Ring Mountain, where the suffering was exactly as acute as Master had described when he was lecturing the Sutra of Longevity. I could not bear to see it. Why do the hell beings have to undergo such serious retributions? As I just thinking over it, I was told that these beings were impious and bad to there parents when they were alive. Being filial to our parents are the most meritorious. It is suggested that people should read the Filial Piety Sutra.”
After I returned, I thought of what Master had spoken to me, “We cultivators are walking on thin ice. We can either ascend the Heaven, or fall down to the Hell.” I do not want to fall into the Hell. I don’t want to suffer anymore from transmigration. I must cultivate wholeheartedly to get back to my true home.
I had decided not to roam around anymore. Some co-cultivators jokingly said to me the other day that I should pay a visit to the Medicine Buddha, and indeed my soul traveled to His Buddhaland. Soon after I arrived, the Buddha spoke to me, “ The Buddhalands of the ten directions are in fact empty. They manifest differently before different people. You have been well-travelled through the trips. Please tell the people not to try to discern the truth. The medicine of miracle lies right in your mind. Why bother to seek it externally? Hold on to single-mindfulness, set your mind at peace, and you shall sit on the lotus dais and get back to your true-self.”
Again, he said, “Be mindful of it! Always!” He then added, “Apply the medicine of miracle to your mind. Clean away the secular dust, and you shall be free from the self. Always be mindful of the fine words and hold on to your true self. Do not forget the trip and you shall transcend time and space”.As I was thinking what the real treasures are, a voice spoke to my ears, “Being-able-to-give-it-up Herb, the Cure-all.” Put it down, and it all gets smooth. Your mind shall be set at peace and free from afflictions.”
A Sister suggested that I recite the lines for Master when he got on-line. Master told me, “I won’t send you around any more.” He also told me that these verses could be very thought-provoking for our co-cultivators, so I wrote them down.
I was still thinking why not more traveling when Master spoke to me again, “Lingmei, you’d better not visit the Medicine Buddha. You may pay a visit to the Heaven of Great Comfort, though.” I always do what Master instructs me to. I know well that I can always make whatever Master wants to me do. By the way, let me share with you a secret: Miracles can happen anytime. We ourselves are a miracle.
Below is what happened when I was in the Heaven of Great Comfort. Miracles did take place when I followed Master’s instruction and treated them with equality and reverence.
It turned out exactly as Master had said, that I was lecturing the Sutra of Longevity for them. I won’t go into details about it, though. They liked it very much and many asked for a copy of the Sutra. Believe it or not, when in such a state, as soon as I gave to the thought on whether Master could send them a copy of the Sutra, they got the copy.
Below is what the King of the Heaven of the Great Comfort said to me after hearing me talk: “At great comfort our happiness is endless. In the twinkling of the eye, thousands of years are gone. We shall be turned on the wheel of transmigration. We now avail ourselves of the opportunity to practice cultivation. Those who can put it down are as at comfort as the immortals. It is never too late to practice cultivation. I used to feel it a pity but now it is solved. Let us meet again in our Homeland in the future.Please drink the glass of wine, as your presence brings to us warm breeze that pervades the whole Immortal Mountain. We shall keep in mind the precious sutra you send to me. Put it down, and we obtain true merits and virtues.”

Two days later, I paid a visit to the Heaven again while sitting in meditation, as I was not sure that I could really lecture the sutra for them. When I was there, I again requested that I talk the Sutra for them. I quoted the ending passage of the Sutra of Longevity, “As these livings do not realize their danger, which resembles that of burning eye-brows, so they greedily indulge in the benefits of wealth, love and sensual desires. Or they consume so much wine that their life span is at stake. There are also those who are jealous, deluded and arrogant. Most of them will sink in the seas of suffering with no chance for liberation. Only the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are able to cross over the seas of birth and death. The common sentient beings are sure to sink into them.”

Some heavenly beings got enlightened just when I was reciting it. I returned soon after I had finished saying it. I think I’d better not think too high of myself. I again was struck by secular thoughts. I thought I was out of myself with the bestowal of power by master. I was fearful. I feared I might just fall down.
When I was thinking about it, a voice spoke to me, “Nothing that you fear will happen if you are acting according to the Buddha Dharma and on the vow you’ve made!”
I am just too dull. I feel unhappy after returning from the Heaven of Great Comfort. I want to ask master why face to face, but master is just too busy. I think I need to find the answer myself, and the key is to work on my mind!

I seemed to find the answers as I was sitting in meditation this morning. Why was I fearful when in the Hell? Why did I enjoy the stay in the Buddhaland? Why did I feel uncomfortable while in the Heaven of the Great Comfort so much so that I did not stay there for longer than necessary? Why did I fail to hold back my tears when I heard some telling their past experience or complain that it was torturing for them? I have been quite tearful since I returned from the visit to the Heaven of the Great Comfort. I think I now know why. We have been cultivating for so many lives, and gone through, so to speak, numerous eons being turned on the wheel o the Six Paths. We are still being entangled in emotions. Not just emotions between man and woman. I am very much attached to friendship. I used to think I have put it down, but I have not yet.
In the Heaven of Great Comfort, there is no need to practice cultivation. They get whatever they want. Time flies by quickly as their life is fully of joy. As a result, they get lost. They had endured great hardships before being born in the heaven. Isn’t it a great pity that they now forget what they have gone through?
I think I am fully ready now. No matter how challenging it is, I will keep cultivation in the present life. I must find my way back home! Put all the burdens down! We won’t be able to take any of them along. There is always winning and losing. We need to let it go from our mind. Remove the obstacles in our mind by cultivating the mind. By the time we overcome ourselves, we shall find our true-self.
This is how I feel after I return from the trip. We cultivators need to apply real efforts as well as time to it. Time is the best touchstone. With the passage of time, everything comes, and everything goes. There is nothing to fear as long as we are equipped with a fearless mind. Besides, master is always with us when at critical junctures. Master is omnipresent!
Amitabha-Buddha!

Master Zhenlin’s Commentary on Lingmei’s Visit to Earth Store Bodhisattva

I had sent Lingmei to pay a visit to Amitabha-Buddha. After the trip, I wanted her to visit Earth Store Bodhisattva in his world of lapis lazuli. As my disciples, you all took refuge with Earth Store Bodhisattva. Surely we should visit him. He is our Grand Master. Therefore, I sent Lingmei to meet him.
Earth Store Bodisattva resides in the world of lapis lazuli. While it is often mentioned in Buddhist scripture, no description is given to it. Perhaps nobody knows how it looks. People simply know that Earth Store Bodhisattva lives in the world of lapis lazuli, and tend to think it is underground. As a result, some would put the offerings made to Earth Store Bodhisattva on the ground as they think He lives under it.
In fact, Earth Store Bodhisattva lives in a very beautiful world, the world of lapis lazuli.
It was the first time that Lingmei had been there. I did not tell her how the world looked before she set off. I simply asked her to describe what she would see during her trip to me after she returned and I would know whether she’d been there or not. The world of lapis lazuli is unique in characteristics. I taught Lingmei the way to note down and put into words what she saw and experienced there. She did not know how to do it and therefore forgot all that happened to her during her first trip to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. She applied what I taught her and did write very well her second trip to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. She was therefore quite experienced in the writing by the time she visited Earth Store Bodhisattva.
Text:
It thus comes and thus goes, thus goes and thus comes. It comes and goes freely. Everything can thus come.
Commentary:
This explains how our true mind of brightness and permanence is. It is the Buddha nature inherent in us. The body is but an exterior shell. The true life, or the energy body, is the Buddha nature. Our true mind of brightness and permanence can be interpreted as the Buddha nature, the Energy Body. This is how energy exists. It thus comes and thus goes, thus goes and thus comes. It comes and goes freely. Everything can thus come. There is no obstacle to it. It just happens as is wished. To describe it more specifically, it is a state when the Buddha nature inherent in each of us manifests when our mind is awakened. The nature is our true-self, where the real life resides. What does the true-self look like? It is invisible, unmarked, tasteless, and formless. It does nothing but can do everything. We do not know who it looks. While it is not doing anything, everything is within its reach. Everything in the universe and each and every bit about our life evolves from it. This verse describes our true self.
Through the series of trips, Lingmei has distilled her true-self out. She is able to reach the state, where, coupled with the bestowal of power by Master, her true-self can get out of the physical body and roam around. It can be inconceivably speedy as it travels. Without it, it may take thousands of years for one to travel to the world of lapis lazuli. Only when our Buddha nature, the true mind of brightness and permanence, manifests can we roam around freely. So, the true mind is both real and illusory. It is real, but is also devoid of reality or illusion.
Text
It is both real and yet illusory. I was sitting in meditation and, as if in a dream and with a flash of light, I thought of paying a visit to Earth Store Bodhisattva. In less than a second after I gave to the thought, I felt I already had arrived at the world of lapis lazuli. Immediately I asked Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva for bestowal of power. I was thinking, “Master, please allow me to take a good look!” As it turned out, it was crystal everywhere. While it seems to be transparent, it is not. It was of such a blue color that word fails to describe how beautiful it is. I felt refreshed all over once I saw the light.
Commentary:
Lingmei described it as “It is both real and yet illusory….and, as if in a dream”: It was like a dream. She was sitting in stillness when she entered the state.
“With a flash of light, I thought of paying a visit to Earth Store Bodhisattva.” She gave rise to the thought.
“I felt I already had arrived at the world of lapis lazuli. Immediately I asked Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva for bestowal of power.” I told her to do this.
I was thinking, “Master, please allow me to take a good look.” She then found it a world similar to crystal. It seems to be transparent, but it is not. What is lapis lazuli? Well, it is kind of like crystal but not really the same. There is no way to describe it as we do not have it in our world. Its blue color is beyond description. Nothing in the secular world can surpass its beauty. It is just stunning! The blue color is quite similar to the color of our sky. But our sky is not crystal blue. Anyway, this is the best I can describe it to you.
“I felt refreshed all over once I saw the light.” Why did she feel so? She was in the state of the Bodhisattva. No wonder she felt refreshed!
Text
At that time, I saw our Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva. Ridding on the Earth Hearer, He emitted all kinds of lights. I felt Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva so familiar, as if I had known him since numerous lives past. I observed him carefully, and came up with a phrase that best describes him: 32 marks and 80 minor characteristics.
Commentary:
She then saw our Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva ridding on the Earth Hearer. The Earth Hearer used to be a dog when in the secular world. He was previously named Good Hearer. After our Original Master became the Earth Store Bodhisattva, his name was changed to Earth Hearer.
Lingmei felt Earth Store Bodhisattva very familiar to her because it was not the first time they met. We surely have met him many times.
“…as if I had known him since numerous lives past”: Right, this is just how it feels.
“I observed him carefully, and came up with a phrase that best describes him: 32 marks and 80 minor characteristics.”
According to an anthroposcopy in India, people with 32 marks are well-blessed in fortune and wealth. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas all have 32 marks and 80 minor characteristics.
Text:
I felt like a naughty child and said, “Master, may I take a look at how you look when your crown is off?” Master smiled to me. In the twinkling of the eye, the light illumined heaven and earth. In the light there appeared uncountable Transformation Buddhas. I was filled with joy seeing it, but I also felt myself growing smaller. Immediately, I collected my thoughts, and asked Master for bestowal of Power. Master spoke to me, “ Take a look around.”
Commentary:
Lingmei was quite amusing. “I felt like a naughty child and said, ‘Master, may I take a look at how you look when your crown is off?’ Master smiled to me. In the twinkling of the eye, the light illumined heaven and earth. In the light there appeared uncountable Transformation Buddhas.”
This proves Lingmei must have been there. She could not have fabricated it by imagination.
“Master smiled, and instantly the light illumined heaven and earth.”There wasn’t any movement involved. It does not take any movement but a single thought for the Bodhisattva to have such a manifestation.
“In the light there appeared uncountable Transformation Buddhas.” Lingmei was filled with joy to see it. We don’t see it in the secular world. It is beyond description. The light is bright but not offending to the eyes. It is very beautiful and wonderful. Once she felt joyful, the state of her mind became ordinary again and “I also felt myself growing smaller.” In the state of the Bodhisattva, one with an ordinary mind would be like an ant and could not see things clearly. She knew why, as Master had warned her of it. Do not give rise to any secular thought, otherwise it is quite a trouble. Immediately, “I collected my thoughts, and asked Master for bestowal of Power.”
Master spoke to her, “Take a look around.”
Text:
I bid Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva, and went along. I felt the ground was transparent, too. I seemed to be walking in the air. I looked into the distance and saw no end. All the palaces were translucent like a crystal. By then, I arrived at a lune-shaped pond. The water surface was so calm that it looked like a mirror. By instinct, I wanted to take a bath in it. After I did so, I felt myself lighter. I heard someone speaking to me by then, “ It is the Half-moon Spring. You could have your body and bone transformed washing in it.”
Commentary:
The Master here refers to Earth Store Bodhisattva instead of me. She bid Earth Store Master farewell first, went ahead, and “I felt the ground was transparent, too. I seemed to be walking in the air.” Why is it? It is called the World of Lapis Lazuli because everything is made of Lapis Lazuli there. She felt herself walking in the air because it was all transparent.
I looked into the distance and saw no end. Certainly you could see no end. How could you see the end in the state of the Bodhisattva? She found all the palaces were translucent like a crystal. They were made of lapis lazuli.
Then, Lingmei arrived at a lune-shaped pond. This is something unique to the world of Earth Store Bodhisattva. “The water surface was so calm that it looked like a mirror. By instinct, I wanted to take a bath in it.” Why did she give rise to such a thought? It was Earth Store Bodhisattva that helped her with it. He wanted to give Lingmei such a blessing. After she did so, she felt herself lighter. She heard someone speaking to her by then, “ It is the Half-moon Spring. You could have your body and bone transformed washing in it.”
Text:
My interest grew intense. I continued to walk ahead. Suddenly, I saw many people. Well, I should call them Great Bodhisattvas. Their body was kind of transparent. They said to me, “You should listen to the Dharma talks first since you are here.” I replied, “I don’t quite understand it with my level of comprehension.” Then I heard Earth Store Bodhisattva speaking to me, “You can recite the mantra.” Once I gave rise to the thought, I was reciting it.
Once I gave rise to the thought, I was doing it. Having recited a few lines, I found myself sitting on the lotus like the Great Bodhisattvas. We were listening to Earth Store Bodhisattva expounding the Dharma. I thought to myself, “Master sent me here to get the true sutras.” Therefore, I said to Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva, “If it can benefit the public, please help me remember it all!” I listened as Earth Store Bodhisattva talked on the Shurangama Sutra and the Lotus Sutra.
Commentary:
Let’s see what is next. “My interest grew intense. I continued to walk ahead.” She then felt such a description is not that correct, and decided to call them “Great Bodhisattvas.” They were in truth Great Bodhisattva. She felt “Their body was kind of transparent”. Everything in the world of lapis lazuli is made of lapis lazuli, including their body. One won’t know it unless having been there. They said to her, “You should listen to the Dharma talks first since you are here.” The Bodhisattvas were trying to enlighten her. Wouldn’t it be a huge pity if she went there without listening to any sutra lecture?
Lingmei was worried that she perhaps would fail to understand it based on her level of comprehension. Then she heard Earth Store Bodhisattva speaking to her. Earth Store Bodhisattva did not have to be before her to speak to her. The voice reached here anyway. He said, “You can recite the mantra.” Reciting a mantra when in the state of the Bodhisattva is very powerful.
“Once I gave rise to the thought, I was doing it. Having recited a few lines, I found myself sitting on the lotus like the Great Bodhisattvas.”
I did not tell Lingmei why this time. In fact, if we turn the light and reflect within, we shall find ourselves becoming very large and our body of lapis lazuli when in such a state.
Let’s see what’s next.
I thought to myself, “Master sent me here to get the true sutras.” The Master she referred to is me this time.
“Therefore, I said to Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva, ‘If it can benefit the public, please help me remember it all!’”
I told her to do so. She could not have remembered it if without the help of Earth Store Bodhisattva.
She then listened as Earth Store Bodhisattva talked on the Shurangama Sutra and the Lotus Sutra.
The next is passage is about Master. I am not going to explain it.
Text:
“Spreading the Wonderful Dharma is not easy. It is a meritorious work that will benefit thousands of generations. People in the secular world have little blessings and their mind remains filthy. You shall leave behind a body of gold as the manifestation. You have now listened to Earth Store Master’s instructions, and you will attain the Way in the present life and that is irreversible. Whether it is real or illusory, you should always reflect within. The ten directions are not of the ten directions. Take your body as other’s body. No self, without a self. No Buddha, without a Buddha.”
Commentary:
A heavenly secret is contained in the lines. I am not going to talk on it. Try to figure it out yourself.
Text:
I could hear him clearly, but did not quite understand it. I then asked Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva whether he had more instructions to us. He replied,
“All the living beings in the Dharma Realm of the ten directions have great affinity with me. I appear before you from time to time in different transformations. You should seize the opportunity before you and get connected to me. When your life is over, you shall leave a dream-like legacy.
Commentary:
This passage is the instruction to us. We living beings in the Dharma Realm of the ten directions have great affinity with Earth Store Bodhisattva. That is why I ask you to take refuge with him to get connected.
He would appear before us with various transformations. We need to seize the opportunity when it is before us. We are connected with Him after take the refuge with Him, and should thereafter follow Master in cultivation.
After our life comes to an end, we shall leave a dream-like legacy, and will be remembered by people. They will be talking about us as we do to Shakyamuni Buddha and the Arhats around Him, for thousands of years. It’s going to be a legend. When we leave the world, many miracles shall take place.
Text:
I was just intrigued by the verse. As I wanted to take a look at the treasures of Earth Store Bodisattva, I again asked Master for a bestowal of power in my mind. In less a second, I saw a bead, which seemed to be transparent and white in color, and was emitting fine lights. I was told it was “wish-granting bead” I also saw something with a lotus-shaped dais with myriad transformations up on it. I asked what it was and was told that it was “Heaven and Earth Bowl”.
Commentary:
Lingmei asked Master for a bestowal of power so that she could take a look at the treasures of Earth Store Bodhisattva. In less than a second she saw them. First it was a bead. In fact we should notice it when we pay homage to the Bodhisattva. He usually holds on one hand a bead and on the other hand a gold bowl.
“I saw a bead, which seemed to be transparent and white in color”: It was almost beyond description.
“and was emitting fine lights. I was told it was “wish-granting bead. I also saw something with a lotus-shaped dais.” In many of the statues of Earth Store Bodhisattva, the dais is not built. Anyway, even the dais can have numerous transformations. She asked what it was and was told that it was “Heaven and Earth Bowl”.
If you pay attention to the statues of Earth Store Bodhisattva, you’d notice that in some cases the Heaven-and-earth Bowl is not there but the bead is. In fact, usually Earth Store Bodhisattva often holds the bowl and places the bead inside it. As the statue people have not seen Him like this, they build it without the bowl.
Text:
I was not satisfied having seen them. I said I would like to take a look at the mirror. I had thought it was like the mirror we use everyday, but it turned out to be just different. The mirror, no matter seen from what angle, was lune-shaped, transparent, but kind of like a crystal. I stood before it and wanted to see my true-self, but could see nothing. I again asked Master for bestowal of power, but only heard Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva speaking to me, “The condition is not ripe. Work to cultivate concentration.”
“I was not satisfied having seen them. I said I would like to take a look at the mirror. I had thought it was like the mirror we use everyday, but it turned out to be just different. The mirror, no matter seen from what angle, was lune-shaped, transparent, but kind of like a crystal”: It was actually lapis lazuli. She took a close look at it and felt it was not a mirror. in fact, she wanted to see her true-self, but could see nothing. Bodhisattva did not allow her to see anything from it for fear that she might reveal the heavenly secrets contained in it. It is called “Hiding-life Mirror”. What we have been over the past 80,000 kalpas can be reflected from it. That was why Earth Store Bodhisattva did not show it to her. Otherwise, Lingmei would have know lots of heavenly secrets.
I again asked Master for bestowal of power, but only heard Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva speaking to me, “The condition is not ripe. Work to cultivate concentration.”
The Bodhisattva told her directly that the condition was not ripe. It was not ripe because her concentration was not firm enough. Well, Lingmei you had no alternative but to accept it.
Text:
“May I look around inside the mirror?” I asked. I found myself already inside it as I was asking. I felt it was but endless and boundless in all directions. “Why there is no end? Where is the end?” I was out of the mirror before I knew it.
“How come the mirror is so big?” I asked.
“It is Hiding-life Mirror. The marks of all beings are contained in it.”
I was reluctant to leave by then, and wanted to take a further look, as I felt my mission was not fulfilled yet.
“Master, do you have any more instructions for us?” I asked.
“Exhort people to cultivate virtues. Deflate self-importance.” Earth Store Bodhisattva answered. “You may go back now!”
In an instant, I was back.
Commentary
“May I look around inside the mirror?” I asked.
She was quite curious and wanted to see what’s inside the mirror. In fact, inside the mirror is the state of the Buddha, which is formless, unmarked and tasteless.
“I found myself already inside it as I was asking”:
Earth Store Bodhisattva allowed her in and she was in it.
I felt it was but endless and boundless in all directions. “Why there is no end? Where is the end?” I was out of the mirror before I knew it.
This was so because it was unmarked and formless.
I felt it was but endless and boundless in all directions. “Why there is no end? Where is the end?” I was out of the mirror before I knew it.
She was inside it for a short while and out again.
“How come the mirror is so big?” She asked.
The Master answered, “It is Hiding-life Mirror. The marks of all beings are contained in it.”
Though she was not supposed to know the secrets contained in the mirror, the Earth Store Bodhisattva still told her what the mirror was about. It is really thought-provoking! Just to think that the marks of all the beings are in it! Isn’t it amazing?
I was reluctant to leave by then, and wanted to take a further look, as I felt my mission was not fulfilled yet.
“Master, do you have any more instructions for us?” I asked.
“Exhort people to cultivate virtues. Deflate self-importance.” Earth Store Bodhisattva answered. “You may go back now!”
In an instant, I was back.
I was reluctant to leave by then, and wanted to take a further look, as I felt my mission was not fulfilled yet.
On the one hand, the mission was not fully completed. On the other hand, she was just being intrigued by the world. Nevertheless, she should not stay in the state for too long, despite the bestowal of power by Master. As I had warned her, “if you stayed there for too long, your Old Wang (Lingmei’s husband) may be too old to be found.” (laughter)
Lingmei then asked, “Master, do you have any more instructions for us?”
“Exhort people to cultivate virtues. Deflate self-importance.” Earth Store Bodhisattva answered.
Do not always think for ourselves. Refrain from being selfish and always put we ourselves before others. Some people are so ego-centric that they start everything from “I”. I’ve seen it. I heard about it. I want to be rich. I want a wife. I want a child. We don’t need the false self but should get back to the true-self. The self in the physical body is false.
Earth Store Bodhisattva answered. “You may go back now!”
In an instant, I was back.
Earth Store Bodhisattva knew you should not stay there for long even with the bestowal of power by Master.
Text:
Everything that had happened remained real as if right before my eyes after I returned. I immediately worked to collect my thoughts, and noted down what I had seen and heard. As my skill was too weak, I could not quite understand it, nor could I tell which was true and which was illusory. Having noted it down I asked Master, “Is it a dream?”
Then I heard a voice speaking to my ears, “It is both real and illusory, like a poem.” I thought to myself, “While some people could roam around from heaven to earth and the realms in the ten directions, they could not overcome the obstacle in my mind.” I seemed to gradually understand it, though. The Dharma realms in the ten directions are right in our mind!

Commentary:
After she returned, everything remained so real as if right before her eyes. It was like her dharma eyes and heavenly eyes were open. Immediately, she collected her thoughts, and noted down what I had seen and heard. As my skill was too weak, I could not quite understand it, nor could I tell which was true and which was illusory. Having noted it down I asked Master, “Is it a dream?”
Then I heard a voice speaking to my ears, “It is both real and illusory, like a poem.”
When we reach the state of the Buddha, we’d find that all is illusory, be it the world of lapis lazuli, or a Buddhaland. It is true if we are in our current state.
Lingmei then thought to herself, “While some people could roam around from heaven to earth and the realms in the ten directions, they could not overcome the obstacle in my mind.” I seemed to gradually understand it, though. The Dharma realms in the ten directions are right in our mind! Lingmei realized that the biggest challenge lies in our mind. We cannot put down what could easily be put down. We take what is false as true. If we put it all down, we could enter heaven and roam about in th Buddhalands of the ten directions. With the bestowal of power by Master, she realized that the Dharma realms of the ten directions are right in our mind. Our true mind of permanence and brightness is the Dharma realms, and is the Buddha.
Text:
I would like to share with my family all that I have seen during my trip. Hopefully, it can serve as a mirror and illumines all you, and help you attain the Way!
Commentary:
All of us who cultivate the Dharma are members to the family. It is a mirror that illumines us and helps us attain the Way. The Buddha Dharma
We practice the Dharma to improve ourselves not to find faults with others. It won’t work if you try to ferry over others while you yourselves do not cultivate.
Shakyamuni Buddha told us that we need to ferry ourselves over first before taking others across.
Lingmei’s visit to Earth Store Bodhisattva is very helpful. I used to talk a lot, and some of you thought I simply was talking on what I had read from books. Now that Lingmei has been there and brought back with her what she had seen in person, surely it is more convincing. Do not get jealous (laughter)! You too have your own missions to fulfill. Some ask me, “Why cannot I travel to those wonderful places?” It is because you are too heavily burdened, by seven emotions, six desires, by attachment, and by arrogance. It takes only one thought to enter heaven and drill down the earth!
Amitabha-Buddha!

May the merit and virtue accrued from this work,
Adorn the Buddha’s Pure Lands,
Repaying the four kinds of kindness above,
And aiding those suffering in the paths below.
May those who see and hear of this,
All bring forth the resolve for Bodhi,
And when this retribution body is over,
Be born together in Ultimate Bliss.
Amitabha-Buddha!

Lingmei's Visit to the Earth Store Bodhisattva

“It thus comes and thus goes, thus goes and thus comes. It comes and goes freely. Everything can thus come.”
It is both real and yet illusory. I was sitting in meditation and, as if in a dream and with a flash of light, I thought of paying a visit to Earth Store Bodhisattva.
In less than a second after I gave to the thought, I felt I already had arrived at the world of lapis lazuli. Immediately I asked Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva for bestowal of power. I was thinking, “Master, please allow me to take a good look!” As it turned out, it was crystal everywhere. While it seems to be transparent, it is not. It was of such a blue color that word fails to describe how beautiful it is. I felt refreshed all over once I saw the light.
At that time, I saw our Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva. Ridding on the Earth Hearer, He emitted all kinds of lights. I felt Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva so familiar, as if I had known him since numerous lives past. I observed Him carefully, and came up with a phrase that best describes him: 32 marks and 80 minor characteristics.
I felt like a naughty child and said, “Master, may I take a look at how you look when your crown is off?”
Master smiled to me. In the twinkling of the eye, the light illumined heaven and earth. In the light there appeared uncountable Transformation Buddhas. I was filled with joy seeing it, but I also felt myself growing smaller. Immediately, I collected my thoughts, and asked Master for bestowal of Power. Master spoke to me, “ Take a look around.”
I bid Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva, and went along. I felt the ground was transparent, too. I seemed to be walking in the air. I looked into the distance and saw no end. All the palaces were translucent like a crystal. By then, I arrived at a lune-shaped pond. The water surface was so calm that it looked like a mirror. By instinct, I wanted to take a bath in it. After I did so, I felt myself lighter. I heard someone speaking to me by then, “ It is the Half-moon Spring. You could have your body and bone transformed washing in it.”
My interest grew intense. I continued to walk ahead. Suddenly, I saw many people. Well, I should call them Great Bodhisattvas. Their body was kind of transparent. They said to me, “You should listen to the Dharma talks first since you are here.”

I replied, “I don’t quite understand it with my level of comprehension.”
Then I heard Earth Store Bodhisattva speaking to me, “You can recite the mantra.”
Once I gave rise to the thought, I was reciting it. Having recited a few lines, I found myself sitting on the lotus like the Great Bodhisattvas. We were listening to Earth Store Bodhisattva expounding the Dharma. I thought to myself, “Master sent me here to get the true sutras.” Therefore, I said to Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva, “If it can benefit the public, please help me remember it all!” I listened as Earth Store Bodhisattva talked on the Shurangama Sutra and the Lotus Sutra.
“Spreading the Wonderful Dharma is not easy. It is a meritorious work that will benefit thousands of generations. People in the secular world have little blessings and their mind remains filthy. You shall leave behind a body of gold as the manifestation. You have now listened to Earth Store Master’s instructions, and you will attain the Way in the present life and that is irreversible. Whether it is real or illusory, you should always reflect within. The ten directions are not of the ten directions. Take your body as other’s body. No self, without a self. No Buddha, without a Buddha.”
I could hear him clearly, but did not quite understand it. I then asked Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva whether he had more instructions to us. He replied,
“All the living beings in the Dharma Realm of the ten directions have great affinity with me. I appear before you from time to time in different transformations. You should seize the opportunity before you and get connected to me. When your life is over, you shall leave a dream-like legacy.”
I was just intrigued by the verse. As I wanted to take a look at the treasures of Earth Store Bodisattva, I again asked Master for a bestowal of power in my mind. In less a second, I saw a bead, which seemed to be transparent and white in color, and was emitting fine lights. I was told it was “wish-granting bead” I also saw something with a lotus-shaped dais with myriad transformations up on it. I asked what it was and was told that it was “Heaven and Earth Bowl”.
I was not satisfied having seen them. I said I would like to take a look at the mirror. I had thought it was like the mirror we use everyday, but it turned out to be just different. The mirror, no matter seen from what angle, was lune-shaped, transparent, but kind of like a crystal. I stood before it and wanted to see my true-self, but could see nothing. I again asked Master for bestowal of power, but only heard Original Master Earth Store Bodhisattva speaking to me, “The condition is not ripe. Work to cultivate concentration.”
“May I look around inside the mirror?” I asked. I found myself already inside it as I was asking. I felt it was but endless and boundless in all directions. “Why is there no end? Where is the end?” I was out of the mirror before I knew it.
“How come the mirror is so big?” I asked.
“It is Hiding-life Mirror. The marks of all beings are contained in it.”
I was reluctant to leave by then, and wanted to take a further look, as I felt my mission was not fulfilled yet.
“Master, do you have any more instructions for us?” I asked.
“Exhort people to cultivate virtues. Deflate self-importance.” Earth Store Bodhisattva answered. “You may go back now!”
In an instant, I was back.
Everything that had happened remained real as if right before my eyes after I returned. I immediately worked to collect my thoughts, and noted down what I had seen and heard. As my skill was too weak, I could not quite understand it, nor could I tell which was true and which was illusory. Having noted it down I asked master, “Is it a dream?”
Then I heard a voice speaking to my ears, “It is both real and illusory, like a poem.”
I thought to myself, While some people could roam around from heaven to earth and the realms in the ten directions, they could not overcome the obstacle in my mind. I seemed to gradually understand it, though. The Dharma realms in the ten directions are right in our mind!

I would like to share with my family all that I have seen during my trip. Hopefully, it can serve as a mirror and illumines all you, and help you attain the Way!

Amitabha-Buddha!