On the afternoon of April 11, 2026, the sky was slightly overcast, the temperature was around 15 degrees Celsius, and a light rain fell intermittently, like silk threads, gently sprinkling onto the eaves and stone steps of Yen Ming Temple, washing away the dust and nourishing the hearts of every devotee who had traveled from afar. Despite the drizzling rain, the main hall was brightly lit and warm as daytime, with every seat filled—everyone held their breath, their eyes focused on the mandala, their hearts filled with piety and anticipation. At exactly 2:00 PM, amidst solemn chanting, the Padmakumara Heart Mantra gently resounded, spreading slowly like a tide, officially commencing the Dharma Assembly. During the Dharma assembly, the presiding master, Vajra Lian Yi, skillfully performed various Tantric mudras; the melodious and gentle mantra of Ushnishavijaya, like celestial music, flowed along with the rising flames of the Homa ritual. The firelight reflected on the clasped palms and silent faces of everyone present. The fluctuations of the mantra and the leaping flames intertwined and resonated, deeply stirring every heart yearning for liberation. At that moment, the compassion and power of the Dharma realm seemed tangible, and a solemn and dignified atmosphere enveloped the entire hall, unconsciously drawing everyone into this sacred ocean of mantras and the light of the Homa fire, filled with boundless emotion. After the Dharma assembly's rituals were completed, the master compassionately ascended the throne and expounded the Dharma teachings. The Dharma rain fell upon all, echoing the cool, …
On the afternoon of April 11, 2026, the sky was slightly overcast, the temperature was around 15 degrees Celsius, and a light rain fell intermittently, like silk threads, gently sprinkling onto the eaves and stone steps of Yen Ming Temple, washing away the dust and nourishing the hearts of every devotee who had traveled from afar. Despite the drizzling rain, the main hall was brightly lit and warm as daytime, with every seat filled—everyone held their breath, their eyes focused on the mandala, their hearts filled with piety and anticipation.
At exactly 2:00 PM, amidst solemn chanting, the Padmakumara Heart Mantra gently resounded, spreading slowly like a tide, officially commencing the Dharma Assembly. During the Dharma assembly, the presiding master, Vajra Lian Yi, skillfully performed various Tantric mudras; the melodious and gentle mantra of Ushnishavijaya, like celestial music, flowed along with the rising flames of the Homa ritual. The firelight reflected on the clasped palms and silent faces of everyone present. The fluctuations of the mantra and the leaping flames intertwined and resonated, deeply stirring every heart yearning for liberation. At that moment, the compassion and power of the Dharma realm seemed tangible, and a solemn and dignified atmosphere enveloped the entire hall, unconsciously drawing everyone into this sacred ocean of mantras and the light of the Homa fire, filled with boundless emotion.
After the Dharma assembly’s rituals were completed, the master compassionately ascended the throne and expounded the Dharma teachings. The Dharma rain fell upon all, echoing the cool, sweet dew outside the hall, creating a sublime Dharma feast that nourished both body and mind.
Offering Him a Bright Moon: Excerpts from Master Lian Yi’s Teachings
The most important meaning of spiritual practice lies in its ability to change one’s destiny and life. This is a core goal that every practitioner should deeply understand.
One. The Practice of the Path of Light: Inspiration from the Peaceful Nursing Home in Malaysia
At the Peaceful Nursing Home in Malaysia, we witnessed a concrete and moving practice. The elderly residents there diligently participate in daily midday offerings and evening prayers, and on weekdays, Dharma monks lead them in devout recitations of the “Guru’s Heart Mantra,” the “High King Sutra,” and the “Hundred Syllable Mantra.” The Master sincerely praised this nursing home, saying it was guiding the elderly onto a path of hope and light. Even in their twilight years, they can still illuminate the lamp within through spiritual practice.
Two. The Zen Master’s Bright Moon: The Power of Compassionate Transformation
Once upon a time, there was a Zen master who was in retreat on a mountain. One night, he went for a walk and looked up to see a bright moon hanging high in the sky, clear and luminous. When he returned to his meditation room, he found an uninvited guest—a thief. The Zen master did not make a sound, but simply stood quietly outside the door waiting. When the thief came out and saw the Zen master, he was immediately terrified. However, the Zen master smiled compassionately and said, “You’ve come all this way to see me; you can’t leave empty-handed.” With that, he took off his outer robe and gently draped it over the thief. The thief, filled with shame, lowered his head and hurried away. The Zen master gazed at the bright moon and sighed, “Poor man, I wish I could give him a piece of the moon.”
The next morning, the sun shone brightly. The Zen master opened the door to his meditation room and found the robe he had given the thief the night before neatly folded and placed at the door. The Zen master said with satisfaction, “I have finally given him a piece of the moon.”
The master asked everyone present: What exactly is this bright moon?
The answer is: **The bright moon is light.** The Zen master’s selfless compassion transformed the thief, guiding him to abandon evil and embrace good—a concrete manifestation of leading someone away from darkness and towards light.
Three. The Core of Buddhist Practice: Inner and Outer Merits Complement Each Other
Our Buddhist practice is about using our inner light to help others dispel darkness. When others encounter adversity in life, we should learn how to skillfully extend a helping hand. The purpose of Yen Ming Temple, such a solemn place of practice, is precisely to help more people in need.
Life cannot be without troubles; therefore, studying Buddhism is crucial. What Buddhism seeks is wisdom that transcends worldly concerns. Wise people can see problems from different perspectives, thus finding a way out of difficulties.
Once, a volunteer came to consult the Master. He did many good deeds, but when he encountered adversity in his own life, he felt deeply confused: “Why have I helped so many people, yet I can’t help myself?” Master answered him: “Helping others is indeed good, but this accumulates ‘external merit.’ Doing good deeds helps us accumulate resources and blessings, and increases our chances of meeting helpful people. However, studying Buddhism and practicing is cultivating ‘internal merit.’ Internal merit is the wisdom gained through practice. This wisdom can change your outlook on life, change your perspective on problems, and open your heart. Only internal merit has the power to transform adversity. Only when internal and external merit complement each other can life truly be fulfilling.”
Four. True Practice: Changing Habits and Utilising the Dharma
If you don’t know how to apply the Dharma, it will forever remain just words on the scriptures. Knowing how to apply the Dharma allows you to transform it into nourishment for life, and this nourishment is wisdom. If you wish for a fulfilling life and family, abundant resources, and a successful career, you must learn to use the Dharma to change your destiny. True practice is about changing your habits and correcting your behaviour.
The master shared a true story: A fellow practitioner was impoverished before taking refuge. After taking refuge, he vowed to recite the Guru’s mantra two million times. When he reached one million recitations, he won the lottery. Later, he made money through investments and donated a portion of it to local nursing homes, Lotus Light Charity Society, and other charitable causes. This story teaches us three things:
First, this practitioner believed in the root guru, in the true Buddha’s teachings, and in himself.
Second, self-effort is necessary to receive the blessings of others.
Third, when someone’s career is not going well, their family life is not harmonious, or their life is full of obstacles and adversities, it means that they have accumulated a lot of negative energy. At this time, they need to use positive energy to bless themselves and expel the negative energy. Buddhist practice is the most authentic positive energy. Over time, when your positive energy is strong enough, your wishes will easily come true.
Therefore, when you are currently experiencing adversity in life, you must practice more and recite mantras more. Mantras represent light and power. Spiritual practice is not difficult; as long as you grasp the key points and diligently practice, you can change your destiny. Buddhism has the power to break free from predestination and allow us to truly establish our own lives.
Another fellow practitioner desperately wanted to attend the Grand Dharma Assembly presided over by Grand Master in Seattle, but lacked the necessary resources. So he practiced Dharma daily, dedicating the merits to his practice, praying for his wish to be fulfilled. After some time, he participated in a storytelling competition and surprisingly won first prize—enough Vajra money to travel to Seattle.
The Master used a clever analogy to illustrate this: If you like butterflies, don’t try to catch them; instead, attract butterflies by planting flowers. This is the Law of Attraction. In other words, in life, if you want something, you must use good thoughts or right mindfulness to attract what you desire.
Five. The Power of Changing Your Mindset: Freedom and Liberation of the Soul
Master Hongyi once said, “The best release is releasing yourself.” In this world, there are many people suffering internally. The more resentment in your heart, the more suffering you experience; the more gratitude you have, the more blessings you receive. Therefore, when facing difficulties, you must maintain an optimistic attitude.
There is a beach in Sydney, Australia, where people used to frequently commit suicide by jumping into the sea. A resident nearby often went for walks along the cliff. Whenever he saw someone with suicidal tendencies, he would sincerely invite them to his home for tea. Through his kindness and care, he dispelled countless suicidal thoughts. Over the years, he saved more than 160 people and was respectfully called the “Angel of the Cliff.”
Life is often a matter of a single thought. When we can’t think things through, we might do something irreversible. Therefore, we should often visualise Grand Master residing above our heads and read Grand Master’s books more often. Grand Master’s books themselves possess blessings. We should apply GRand Master’s wisdom to our daily lives; only then will Buddhism truly come alive.
A fellow practitioner read all of Master’s works and would write down good sentences. Whenever he encountered a bottleneck in life, he would refer to his notes. Those wise sayings were a form of blessing for him.
A painter once wrote: “Last year, I was hospitalised for a long time because of bone spurs; the same year, I left my beloved job and was forced to retire; the same year, my elderly mother passed away; my son was in a car accident. It was truly a terrible year.” His wife, upon seeing this, wrote: “Last year, after your bone spur surgery, years of pain disappeared; the same year, after retiring, you had more time to do what you wanted; the same year, your elderly mother passed away peacefully; the same year, your son survived a close call and was given a second chance at life. This year is truly a year to be grateful for.”
The Master used this example to tell everyone: changing your perspective completely changes everything. Often, it’s because we are too attached, constantly magnifying small things, that we become increasingly unhappy.
True freedom is the liberation of the mind. South African President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on a remote island for 27 years for advocating equality for all, during which time he was frequently tortured by prison guards. After his release, Mandela said, “If I cannot leave resentment and pain behind, then I am still in prison.” Similarly, if we encounter unhappy things and keep them lingering in our hearts, then our minds have not achieved true liberation. The purpose of studying Buddhism is precisely to achieve freedom of body and mind.
Some people like to repeatedly tell others about their unhappiness. The master teaches us that the best way is to quietly chant mantras, visualising the Guru’s light shining upon us like the sun. Daily practice is very important; with regular practice, when unhappy, we will know how to use mantras to help us resolve inner turmoil.
Six. Conclusion: Offering Others a Bright Moon
The master emphasises that friends and environment are very important. It is essential to find friends with stronger and better energy than yourself to help eliminate negative energy. The master encourages everyone to frequently visit Yen Ming Temple, because the Grand Master and Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the temple can certainly help you emerge from adversity.
The greatest act of giving is not just doing good deeds, but guiding—leading sentient beings onto the path of light. Therefore, we should help others more, creating opportunities for more people to learn Buddhism and use the Dharma to change their destiny and lives. This is offering others a bright moon. May each of us become that bright moon, illuminating ourselves and all sentient beings with compassion and wisdom.
The Dharma assembly concluded successfully amidst solemn chanting of mantras, with the hearts of all participants filled with boundless Dharma joy and gratitude. We sincerely thank our Root Guru, His Holiness Living Buddha Lian Sheng, and all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for their great blessings; we thank our Presiding Master, Venerable Shi Lian Yi, for his compassionate presiding and for revealing the path to liberation with pure Dharma sounds; and we also thank Reverend Shi Lian Jie, resident monk of Yen Ming Temple, and Dharma Assistant Yue Hua, who led all the directors, volunteers, and fellow practitioners in their tireless preparation and selfless dedication over the past few days. It is precisely because of the convergence of all conditions that this auspicious Dharma feast was made possible, allowing every participant to share in the Dharma benefits and experience the light of enlightenment. May this merit be dedicated to all sentient beings, that their blessings and wisdom increase, and that they quickly attain Bodhi.
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