Heavenly Spirit Transcendence

1. Heavenly Spirit Transcendence By Temple Master Henry Chu

2. Introduction • This is the time of the Great Salvation (aka Three Realms Great Salvations) • The Three Realms refer to Heaven realm, Human Realm and Earth Realm • Human realm is us humans, Earth realm is the Earth path (or Buddhist Hell), the Heaven realm is the heavenly spirits

3. Introduction • Heavenly realm spirits have already done a lot of great deeds (Merits) so they enjoy realms of comfort and peace • However, they are still within the cycle of reincarnation and when their heavenly age is up, then they still have to come back down • Therefore, many of the heavenly spirits are happy to learn that they can receive Tao and evade reincarnation

4. Heavenly Spirit Transcendence • According to Buddha’s teaching, every spirit is on a path and there are six paths in the universe (Heavenly Path, Human Path, Earth Path, Animal Path, Hungry Ghost Path and Demon Path) • All six paths are subject to reincarnation of each other (for instance, when a spirit completes the Human Path, he or she will meet the judge and enter into another path)

5. Heavenly Spirit Transcendence • If the person does a lot of good (Merits) in his or her life, then it’s most likely that he or she will enter the Heaven path • If the person does a lot of selfish things (Debts) in his or her life, then it’s most likely that he or she will enter the Earth path • If the person is very much attached (or addicted) to the senses, then it’s most likely that he or she will enter the Animal path

6. Heavenly Spirit Transcendence • If the person is very greedy and stolen from others, then most likely he or she will enter the Hungry ghost path • If the person is very hateful and harmed other people, then most likely he or she will enter the Demon path • According to Buddha, Six Path reincarnations are the cycles of life (one cycle after another)

7. Heavenly Spirit Transcendence • During the time of the 17th Patriarch, the Patriarch announced the Great Salvation, by which spirits of the Human path can receive the Tao and transcend into the Heaven of Truth • During the time of the 18th Patriarch, Father Teacher announced the Three Realms Great Salvation, by which the Heaven realm and Earth realm are added to the previous realm (spirits of the Heavenly Realm can now receive the Tao)

8. Requirement for Transcendence • In order for the Heavenly spirit to receive the Tao, a petition must be made to Je-Gong Buddha (this can also be done by a temple member during the Dharma Meeting when Teach visits) • Once Je-Gong Buddha approves, then the Transmission Master will be consulted and his or her approval is also essential (this may be the most difficult step)

9. Requirement for Transcendence • Once Transmission Master gives the approval then sponsors and guarantors must be sought out (in this case, there will be multiple sponsors and multiple guarantors) • Finally, a designated time will be set to perform the ritual of Heavenly Path Transcendence

10. The Ritual of Transcendence • The ritual of Heaven path Transcendence is very much similar to the Three Treasures ritual, however, there are still differences • For one thing, the presence of the Medium is absolutely necessary in order to conduct the ritual • Also, instead of having one sponsor and one guarantor, there will be many sponsors and many guarantors

11. The Ritual of Transcendence • The first part of the ritual will be the same as Three Treasures ritual, which is the offering of tea and fruit • The second part of the ritual will be the same, which is the Summoning ritual, however, by this time the Heavenly spirit must have taken over the body of the Medium and manifests him or herself to the members

12. The Ritual of Transcendence • The Dragon Heaven form is offered with the presence of the spirit and the spirit is to do the same ten bows afterward • The sponsor and guarantor ritual is the same as the Three Treasures, except there will be many sponsors and many guarantors (most temple members are eager and pleased to be the sponsor or guarantor for the spirit because they know the spirit has a lot of Merits and will help them in return)

13. The Ritual of Transcendence • Finally, the spirit will go through the same Three Treasures receiving ritual as all of us • After the ritual, there will not be a Three Treasures explanation lecture • Instead, the Transmission Master usually addresses the spirit directly (asking the spirit to assist with the transmission of Tao and the guardianship of the temple community)

14. The Ritual of Transcendence • After the Transmission Master’s address, the spirit is usually very grateful and thanked everyone for the assistance of its ritual and the promise of assisting with the temple community as well as the transmission of Tao • These Heavenly spirits usually remain loyal to the temple community and assist with the transmission and guardianship of Tao

15. Examples of Heavenly Transcendence • Many temple communities receive great blessings and success after the assistance of a Heavenly Spirit’s transcendence • Our Grand Elder assisted with the transcendence of a legendary Chinese scholar, historian and imperial chancellor (SimaGuang) from the Song Dynasty (~1,000 AD) • After the ritual, a great expansion happened in the college campus and many college students (scholars) received Tao and joined the community

16. Conclusion • Heavenly Spirit Transcendence was the latest development within the Great Mission of Maitreya Buddha • Only Elders or Senior Transmission Master would take on such a task • Never the less, there is usually great benefits to the community when such ritual is conducted

17. Question