Thousands of DHARMA VESSELS

Preface

        The period from 2020 to 2021 to ... has been the mostturbulent time in my life. The COVID-19 pandemic created havoc across the globe. The chaos it caused turned daily life completely upside down.

        Since the start of the pandemic, I, Sheng-Yen Lu, have conducted a bardo deliverance ritual every night at the South Mountain Retreat in Redmond, Washington. The ritual is primarily intended to deliver those who have died of COVID-19.

        This is how I carry out the ritual:

      Sitting on the Dharma throne, my mind and qi merge. My principal deity appears and blesses me with the three lights. I transform into the principal deity. I am Amitabha and Amitabha is me. We are one and the same.

        My right hand forms the Dharma Discourse Mudra, while my left hand forms the Wish-fulfilling Mudra. A golden Dharma vessel slides down from the open palm of the Wish-fulfilling Mudra, waiting to sail.

        As the wind impinges on the vessel, the vessel enlarges and transforms into 10, 100, and then 1,000 vessels. The sight of 1,000 vessels on the ocean is spectacular.

        At this moment, my three principal deities appear in the void, the mighty divine power of the king of the celestials [Golden Mother],the ten powers of the king of tathagatas [Amitabha Buddha], and the Dharma power of great vows of the king of the earth [Ksitigarbha].

        The deities summon the bardo spirits of the deceased to ride the Dharma vessels. (Bardo spirits transform into points of light.)

     Pure light shines on the bardo spirits, purifying their bodies and minds. By supernatural power, the Dharma vessels fly up from the ocean surface into the void. The three principal deities guide the 1,000 vessels, navigating to the pure land of Amitabha, the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

        I recite “Na-mo  san-shi-liu-wan-yi  yi-shi-yi-wan  jiu-qian-wu baitong-ming-tong-hao ah-mi-tuo-fo.” [Namo the 36 trillion 119 thousand and 500 Amitabha Buddhas] and the mantra, “Om, ah-meedeh-wah-seh.”

        I then dedicate the merit: “May all who uphold the name of Amitabha Buddha be born together in the Pure Land of His Western Paradise, repaying the Fourfold Generosity from above, and aiding those who suffer in the Three Paths below. Upon seeing the Buddha, may I be liberated from the cycle of birth and death, and may I develop the qualities of Buddhahood, and thus free all who suffer.”

        Following the dedication, I enter samadhi.

      One night, upon emerging from samadhi, I heard a voice telling me, “The title of your next book will be Thousands of Dharma Vessels, as deliverance boats are constantly sent out from the bitter sea.” This inspired me to name my 283rd book, Thousands of Dharma Vessels.

        This book is filled with Dharma words of liberation. Good deed! Good deed! May this book enrich your mind!

Contact Sheng-Yen Lu

17102 NE 40th Ct.,

Redmond WA 98052

U.S.A.

Feb. 2021