In the past, when I was at my teacher Vajra Acharya Thubten Dargye’s place, he told me a true story.
Vajra Acharya Thubten Dargye said that one day White Tara appeared to him and told him:
“You must go quickly to Taiwan and find someone with the surname Luo. At that time, this Mr. Luo will be a rare and precious acharya, and in the future he will attain accomplishment. This acharya’s reward body is none other than Amitabha Buddha.”
At first, Vajra Acharya Thubten Dargye did not take this seriously. However, White Tara appeared to him repeatedly. So my teacher brought his attendant Thubten Qigong to Taiwan to propagate the Buddhadharma, while also searching for someone with the surname Luo.
He searched day after day, but could not find anyone with the surname Luo. Vajra Acharya Thubten Dargye was very distressed that he could not find a Luo.
Not long afterward, I of my own accord took refuge with Vajra Acharya Thubten Dargye. My teacher gave me the dharma name “Thubten Qimo.”
One day, White Tara appeared again. My teacher said to White Tara:
“In Taiwan, I still could not find anyone with the surname Luo.”
White Tara replied:
“He is already by your side. He is Sheng-yen Lu. Teach him the profound secret teachings of the three inner secret dharmas.”
My teacher said:
“His surname is Lu, not Luo?”
White Tara replied:
“In Taiwanese, the surname Lu is pronounced Luo.”
At that point, it suddenly dawned on Vajra Acharya Thubten Dargye.
As a result, I became his main disciple there, and through his teachings I received the essential keys to the inner secret practices, along with incomparable empowerments and continuous blessings.
At Vajra Acharya Thubten Dargye’s place, I received:
Kurukulle empowerment
Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment
Yamantaka empowerment
Great Kalachakra empowerment
...
Even after Vajra Acharya Thubten Dargye entered parinirvana, he still manifested to teach me uncommon Dharma.
I remain deeply grateful for his guidance.
***
One day, White Tara appeared and said to me:
“Grandmaster Lu, you must write a book. You have the responsibility to write such a book.”
“What book?”
White Tara dropped a book down to me from the void above. The moment I opened it, I was greatly startled.
White Tara said:
“Write it! This is a warning to your disciples, who are in danger or have gone astray. It is a way to bring them back to the right path!”
I said:
“This is too difficult!”
White Tara said:
“Doing something difficult is also a kind act! This is a book that sentient beings need to read.”
***
Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu
17102 NE 40th Court
Redmond, WA 98052
U.S.A.