from the International Buddhism Sangha Association:
Recently, we received quite a number of reports stating that some rinpoches, masters of dharma-listening sessions and others set their own prices requiring people to pay a certain amount of money to buy a certain number of CDs of recorded dharma lessons. In response to that, the International Buddhism Sangha Association (IBSA) hereby issues once again the following public announcement to all temples, dharma-listening organizations as well as individuals including dharma kings, rinpoches, acaryas, masters of dharma-listening sessions and all kind believers who listen to the dharma:
- IBSA only provides recorded dharma lessons that contain the dharmas expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III for you all to respectfully request. Also, IBSA is the only organization that provides recorded dharma lessons expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III for you to acquire respectfully. In today’s world, only dharma lessons expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III can guide people to cultivate toward attaining accomplishment and liberation. Regarding the few dharma kings, venerable ones, rinpoches and great dharma masters you mentioned, their so-called discourses or books all contain errors or even big sinful faults and, thus, cannot be called dharma lessons.
- Recorded dharma lessons are not to be sold in exchange for money. Anyone who sells dharma lessons for money, no matter what status he or she has, must have been captured by evil demons occupying his or her body. Cultivators should not follow such a person for dharma listening and learning Buddhism. Otherwise, attaining accomplishment in the current lifetime is very doubtful.
- Buddhist disciples must have correct views. All should be respectful toward dharma lessons. When requesting dharma lessons, offering should be presented. It is a simple fact that one has to spend money to buy recorded music and songs. The supreme and magnificent dharma lessons expounded by the Buddha that can guide you to end the cycle of birth and death are incomparably more precious! However, although the dharma lessons were expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, His Holiness does not accept any compensation, not even a cent. Conversely, His Holiness used His own money from selling paintings to support IBSA and to help and sustain the good cause of Buddhism. The dharma lessons you all requested and received are all produced by IBSA. Needless to say, there are costs associated with producing the recorded dharma lessons. However, offerings for requesting dharma lessons should be made from a sincere mind and within one’s means. To those pious cultivators who have sincere wishes but are not able to make offerings, we should provide dharma lessons to them and help them to find the channels to receive dharma lessons. On the other hand, if one has the resources and means but does not want to present an offering with the intention of acquiring dharma lessons for free, that person is an evil one with the sin of insulting Buddha-dharma. You should all know that all resources that IBSA has are spent on benefiting living beings. Otherwise, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III would not have donated His own money from selling paintings to us.
- Regarding the reports from some people to us about the rumors that IBSA and Hua Zang Si encouraged believers to purchase spaces in ossuary for deceased people and promised to elevate their souls to higher realms, we must seriously inform everyone the fact here. These rumors were totally false fabrications and baseless lies. IBSA and Hua Zang Si never did in the past, do not do now, and will not do in future such business. No matter how much money you offer to buy ossuary spaces for elevating deceased souls to higher realms, IBSA and Hua Zang Si absolutely will not do that. This is because doing such acts is in violation of the principles set by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. What IBSA and Hua Zang Si really have to do is publicize and distribute the dharma lessons expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, selflessly devoting ourselves to benefit other people and all living beings. We must cultivate for enlightenment and learn and realize the holy Buddha-dharma to acquire perfect good fortune and wisdom and achieve the fundamental goal of ending the cycle of birth and death.
This announcement is hereby made publicly to all.
International Buddhism Sangha Association (Seal)
August 30, 2012