With reverence, we pay homage to Reverend Liao-Ming, Guru Sakya Zheng-kong, His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, Guru Thubten Dargye, and the Triple Jewels at the shrine. Ritual Master, Shi-mu (Master Lian-hsiang), Acharya/Vajra Masters, Reverends, Dharma Instructors, Dharma Lecturers, Dharma Assistants, fellow school members, students from across the internet, and all our honored guests, auspicious greetings to all of you. (Audience applause.)

First let me address what was just discussed by Mr. Sun, a guest speaker. Actually, he did not talk much, but he did send good wishes to everyone. Although we currently reside in the United States, our thoughts extend not just to Seattle, but also to Taiwan, as well as all beings throughout the world. In Taiwan, candidates from the Blue Party and the Green Party are currently campaigning for president. Now Mr. Sun belongs to the Blue Party. In the Seattle Chinese community, as well as in our group of fellow students, advocates for both parties exist. I have a blue colored dragon vest as well as a green colored dragon vest; but for this reason, I am not wearing either color today. Instead, I am wearing a black and white dragon vest. (Audience applause.)

Anyhow, regardless of one's position, one should be concerned about their national birth origin as well as one's current residence. In the future, we should do what we can to repay the communities that have nourished us. (Audience applause.) Putting the politics aside, if one is capable and qualified, we should help that person out. In the eyes of Buddhas, every person is equal. Regardless of which Party a candidate belongs to, our hope is that this person is capable and able to manage the country well. Take Mr. Sun for example, he is the director of a business association and is managing it very well indeed.

We therefore should vote for someone capable who will act in the best interest for the country. The United States is having a presidential election this year. The same principle applies here. We should try our best to fulfill our obligations to serve all beings. This is the first point I want to make.

Secondly, I would like to address what Master Lian-bao discussed earlier. He gave many examples of what he thinks 「love」 is dependent on. Love, actually, should not be dependent on anything. 「Love」 is fundamentally non-existent. He was correct in saying that one needs to transform 「egotistical love」 to an 「expansive love.」 But in reality 「love」 does not even exist in the 「expansive」 state. In that state, you simply do everything with your best effort and in good conscience. That is that! What love is there to talk about？

I fancy the thought of speaking to Master Lian-bao and informing him that I would like to switch places with him. However there are things he indulges in that I would not. The 「small love,」 「great love,」 「old love,」 and 「young love」 he speaks of will lead one very far away from the Buddhas. It may just lead one towards creating a baby. We all know that Master Lian-bao is over sixty years old and his new wife is in her twenties. They just had a baby. Wouldn’t you say that this is far from the Buddhas？ Nevertheless, the facial features of their child are very remarkable, and I do hope in the future he would take the renunciation vow. If he were to come before me in the future, I won’t even know how old I would be by then. I would do what I could to perform the tonsure rite for him. That would be very close to the Buddhas then. (Grand Master laughter)

Now, about Shi-mu. Shi-mu earlier wished everyone good fortune in the year of the Rat. The word 「rat」 in Chinese sounds like the word for 「counting.」 Shi-mu was wishing everyone wealth to the point that everyone would double over from fatigue 「counting」 their money. She also wished upon everyone the good fortune of a sound night's sleep and the ability to awaken naturally in the morning.

Yesterday Chen Chuan-fang, a student, jokingly made the following comments:

「People in this world do not practice what they say. They all say that they know money cannot be brought into this world or taken from it. Yet, they still love money till they die. Everyone knows that speculating in stocks is dangerous. Yet, they still take the risk and end up tied up like Shanghai hairy crabs. Men know well that mistresses can be home-wreckers. Yet, they continue committing one affair after the other. We are all hypocrites! And most importantly, everyone claims that the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, Heaven, is the best place to be. Yet, no one wants to go there.」

(to be continued)

《本文譯自蓮生活佛在西雅圖雷藏寺2008年新春觀音大法會煙供法傳法開示》