(Reported from the State of California of the United States of America) H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was awarded the World Peace Prize in 2010. A resolution was passed unanimously by the Senate of United States Congress in 2013, which definitively established that the nature of and decisions made by the World Peace Prize were both correct and definitively recognized H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s accomplishments, status, and contributions to the mankind. After these events, the “Celebrating the Buddha’s Birthday for H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III” Dharma Assembly was held by the World Buddhism Association Headquarters on June 24, 2018 at the Holy Heavenly Lake in California. The World Buddhism Association Headquarters announced that on May 15, 2018, the America national flag was raised at the United States Congress in the capital of the United States of America to salute the supreme leader of entire Buddhism, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. This action of raising the flag at the capital of the United States to congratulate the birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III broadly informed Buddhists throughout the world about the greatness and the supreme and unsurpassable status of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. According to what we know, quite a few ranking senators and representatives of the US Congress including committee chairperson(s) and congressional leader(s) also sent written congratulations to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III attended the dharma assembly held by the World Buddhism Association Headquarters. Escorted and guarded by multiple layers of police officers, He walked on the red carpet to the lakeside. Holding khadas in their hands, the attending Buddhists of the seven types kneeled on both sides of the road to welcome His Holiness the Buddha. All chanted loudly the Buddha title of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
During the dharma assembly, the beautiful and shining sun was high in the sky. Although the temperature was quite high at about 82 degree Fahrenheit, the magnificent atmosphere at the site of the dharma assembly and nearby areas totally removed any feeling of the hot weather. Rather, a comforting feeling of cooling ventilation was conveyed to everyone.
In his opening speech for the dharma assembly, Venerable Mo Zhi, who is the leading official of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters, said, “We want to thank our great United States of America. On the day of May 15, America’s national flag was raised at our capital of the United States, flying in the sky. This is specifically to wish a happy birthday for H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. The flag-raising document of the United States Congress says, ‘On the birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, this flag was flying in the sky above the US Congress, saluting the supreme leader of the entirety of Buddhism, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.’ This national flag that you all see flying in the sky today is the same flag that was raised on the Capitol Hill of Washington, DC. That flag was delivered to and received by the Office of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.”
Venerable Mo Zhi told the attending crowd of several thousand Buddhist believers that the lakeside of the Holy Heavenly Lake where the attendees of the dharma assembly gather is a very magnificent mandala filled with auspiciousness for both humans and the locality. He said, “Below where we stand now is a huge crystal lake. Under the Holy Heavenly Lake there is also one of the world’s only two big underground rivers running from south to north. That is truly auspicious! Eminent monks and great virtuous ones are welcome to develop a Buddhist city here. This central city of Buddhism will be developed to be similar to the Vatican. The ‘True Dharma Court’ where H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III will reside will also be built here. A city wall will be built to enclose the entire Buddhist city. Within the city wall is the holy land of Buddhism. Within the Buddhist city will be the world’s extremely magnificent treasure land. You all are welcome to come here in the future. This place will become the one and only most majestic and prosperous central city of Buddhism in the world!”
Venerable Mo Zhi also explained that as of now, only the World Buddhism Association Headquarters and the Holy Heavenly Lake Company own land at this treasure land of Buddhism. No other individual or institution owns any land here. However, some people are buying homes with above-market prices in the surrounding areas of the Holy Heavenly Lake. This has the effect of raising the cost of building the Buddhist city in the future. Such selfish behavior not only causes inflation to the market prices, but also does damage to true Buddha-dharma.
Venerable Mo Zhi said, “Since I shoulder my work at the World Buddhism Association Headquarters, naturally I became a cultivator benefiting the great masses at the World Buddhism Association Headquarters. Being able to serve the great masses to bring them some benefits and happiness, being able to contribute to the prosperity and flourishing of the country and to peace in the world and being able to add one more liberated one in the dharma sphere is my work.”
After delivering his speech, Venerable Mo Zhi kneeled to prostrate to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. He loudly beseeched His Holiness the Buddha to expound the dharma to Buddhist disciples. He also wished the United States of America prosperity, flourishing, and auspiciousness in every undertaking. He wished that the respective countries of the attending Buddhist disciples have abundant harvests of crops and a soothing and beneficial climate. He also wished everyone abundant dharma joy, perfect good fortune and wisdom, and that they attain enlightenment early.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III stepped to the dharma rostrum to expound the dharma to all to emphasize the importance of cultivation and the basic principles of learning from Buddha. His Holiness the Buddha also blessed each attendee with one nectar pill for empowerment. As is the same as His vow in the past, His Holiness the Buddha just selflessly benefited all and did not accept any offerings. Buddhist disciples of the seven types were all extremely happy and filled with dharma joy. The dharma assembly was perfectly successful.
Holding khadas in their hands, thousands of people piously kneeled on the ground to welcome and beseech His Holiness the Buddha. They chanted loudly “Namo Di San Shi Duo Jie Qiang Fo (Homage to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III)!”
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III stepped to the dharma rostrum to expound the dharma to several thousand Buddhists of the seven (four) types to emphasize the importance of cultivation.
Translated from a news report published online at http://www.washingtonchinesedailynews.com/index.php/en/dcnews/%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E8%90%AC%E8%8A%B1%E7%AD%92/4018-%E7%BE%8E%E5%9C%8B%E5%9C%8B%E6%97%97%E7%82%BAh-h-%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E4%B8%96%E5%A4%9A%E6%9D%B0%E7%BE%8C%E4%BD%9B%E5%8D%87%E8%B5%B7.html