Is “Jade Buddha” a Cheap Advertisement?

IS “JADE BUDDHA” A CHEAP ADVERTISEMENT?

Prologue

One of my original vows is to protect, uphold and spread the Saddharma (Illustrious Doctrine) and Esoteric Buddhism (Guhyamantrayana) and to transform the illusive and heterodox views of sentient beings in the ten directions tirelessly.

Without regard to my body, life and worldly possessions, I pledge to keep this very vow; therefore, repeatedly facing people (including the temple organizations) who have been using Buddhism as a mean to conduct a worldly business. I have taken it upon myself to seek out and analyze the roots of this ugly business across the United States of America and share them with my fellow Buddhists.

Making a Buddha statue with a pure mind to spread the figure of a Fully Awakened One can generate immerse merit. This immense merit will definitely lead to full enlightenment in the near future (see Buddha Pronounces the Mahāyāna Sūtra of Merits of Making Buddha Statue, translator Pram Nguyen). However, making the Buddha statue for worldly business in the name of Buddhism does not achieve much merit.

The current “Jade Buddha” falls into the second category.

First, what is the meaning of making the Buddha statue? The writer will explain in full detail of its comprehensive meaning and analyze the “Jade Buddha”. (pages 4-17)

Second, is the “Jade Buddha” a multi-million dollar business in the name of Buddhism? The writer will prove that it is. There are six elements that contribute to the business of the “Jade Buddha”. One needs to go to each and every Jade Buddha’s Tour not only to observe, but also witness how the business is conducted in a monopoly style. (pages 18-41).

Third, the “Jade Buddha” has been placing halo after halo on it with sacred objects by posting Lights Mandala. Lights Mandala is a false presentation. It misleads the general Buddhists to believe that the Jade Buddha is the sacred statue; as a result, the Canada jade business, which very few people knew, suddenly became a big boom. The writer, an authority of Esoteric Buddhism, will explain the meaning of light mandala or mandala of light. The writer also proves that the mandala of light does not exist for general public, especially, the non-esoteric trained Buddhists. (pages 42-63)

Fourth, colors play an important role in the life the Buddhists. The colors of Buddha/Bodhisattva statues strongly imapct the health and prosperity of those who wear them, but the “Jade Buddha” does not have the healing power as the jade business claimed. (pages 64- 70)

Fifth, the materials needed to make a Buddha/Bodhisattva statue/pendant are very important. The writer introduces what material one should wear and how to obtain the merits as Buddha Pronounces the Mahāyāna Sūtra ofMerits of Making Buddha Statue declares. (pages 71-77)

Sixth, the writer points out the merit of making a Buddha statue. (pages 78-79)

Last but not least, the writer will draw his conclusion in the form of an affirmative statement and a few questions for a well informed person to reflect on about the whole Jade Buddha’s activities. (pages 80-83)

Pram Nguyen Pramnguyen.com Cleveland, Ohio: August 24, 2010 (Ullambana, 7-15th, lunar calendar, 2010)

STATUE/PENDANT:

It is worthless to obtain an expensive statue or a valuable pendant without understanding the real meanings of it.

A statue/pendant of a Buddha/Bodhisattva without a blessing by a qualified master is only a symbol /idol of the Buddhism no more or less.

A Buddha/Bodhisattva statue/pendant attracts an immense power from the very deity of the statue/pendant if and only if the statue/pendant was blessed by a qualified master of esoteric Buddhism.

In addition, the person who possessed the Buddha/Bodhisattva statue/pendant must utilize his/her body-speech-mind in accordance to the Buddha/Bodhisattva’s Actions, Speech and Vows. Otherwise, his/her merit will not be great.

In contrary, a pseudo master of Buddhism can cause more harm than good, not only this very life, but also the spiritual life of the one who obtained the statue/pendant.

According to Jade Buddha for Universal Peace Fact Sheet, the Jade Buddha was blessed three times by the Phra Chuwit Thammavichitdet, Venerable Krubar Boon Choon Yamsunkhvaro and finally it was consecrated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on December 1 2009.

Blessings of the Jade Buddha

The project was first blessed in Northern Thailand before the carving process began. Phra Chuwit Thammavichitdet led a group of five monks who blessed the boulder of jade, the carvers and everyone who would work on the project. When the Jade Buddha was completed it was blessed by Venerable Krubar Boon Choon Yamsunkhvaro in an event attended by 100,000 people on the Thai – Cambodian border. Finally the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace was consecrated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on December 1, 2009 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney Australia.

http://www.jadebuddha.org.au/docs/jade-buddha-fact-sheet.pdf

http://www.jadebuddha.org.au/images/pages/Jade-Buddha-Consecrated-by-HH-DalaiLama.jpg

According to The Jade Buddha’s homepage, The purpose of exhibiting the Jade Buddha around the world is for everyone, irrespective of their religion, to take a moment to reflect upon peace; peace for the world; peace in their relationships; peace for their families and friends; peace at work; peace in their mind. We hope that such positive inspiration will bring joy and motivation in the lives of those who are able to see the Jade Buddha.

The Jade Buddha is on tour throughout major cities in Asia and Australia before being set up at The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said “It will illuminate the world and bring inconceivable peace and happiness and help prevent the destruction that is happening so much in the world, including war.”

“I want to emphasize the importance of so many people, I think it seems millions of people, who have seen the statue and have therefore have had strong imprints placed in their minds for enlightenment. As much as possible remember this and to REJOICE, this is such a wonderful achievement!!! Please remember the benefits to sentient beings in what you are doing with the tour, by people even merely seeing the Jade Buddha, ultimately brings them extensive benefit.”

http://www.jadebuddha.org.au/en/

REALITY CHECK

Sufferings are the nature of this World and sufferings will not spare anyone, except those who truly awaked.

In contrary to the will/wish/hope/want of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his followers, since this Jade Buddha was made the world has experienced more deadly disasters and chaos.

TIBETIAN BUDDHISM

February 11, 2009 China has sentenced 76 people and detained more than 950 since last year's deadly riots in Tibet, state media reported today.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/11/tibet-china-riots

NATURAL DISASTERS

May 12, 2008: Great Sichuan earthquake/Wenchuan earthquake, China, killed at least 68,000 people

April 14, 2010, earthquake in Kyigudo, Tibet

The latest official figures put the death toll at 791 but the Tibetan exiles who have talked with people in Kyegudo say thousands have been killed and the toll is likely to shoot up.

http://www.care2.com/news/member/140535861/1464168 http://thetibetconnection.org/tibetquake.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8mPfUxbUE

January 12, 2010: Haiti earthquake, killing more than 200,000 people, more than December 26, 2004 India Ocean Tsunami (killing more than 150,000 people)

February 27, 2010: Chile earthquake, killing more than 1650 people, many thousands people injured

April 14, 2010: Yushu earthquake, Quinhai, China: 2,698 people have been confirmed dead, 270 missing, and 12,135 injured of which 1,434 are severely injured

On 23 May 2010, the Iceland Government announced that the volcanic activity had stopped.

August 2010 Pakistan Devastated by Deadly Floods, more than 1,400 people have already lost their lives in the disaster.

August 2010 China landslide and heavy floods: The Dandong flooding is the latest disaster in the country's worst flood season in over a decade. Landslides caused by heavy rains have smothered communities in western China and accounted for most of the more than 2,500 people killed.

Authorities in the northwestern province of Gansu on Sunday called off rescue efforts for 330 people still missing after an Aug. 8 mudslide tore through Zhouqu county, killing 1,435 people, Xinhua said. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100822/ap_on_re_as/as_china_floods)

Heavy rains and floods continue.

USA’S FLOODS

Midwest flooding continues to grow since 2008.

USA’S HEAT WAVES

Heat waves across the nation continue to grow.

USA’S HEAVY SNOW STORMS

Heavy snow storms during the winter across the nation continue to grow.

RUSSIA’S WILFIRES

Citing a report by the Moscow Registry Office, Boris Revich, a senior demography and ecology researcher at Russia's Academy of Sciences, said 5,840 more Muscovites had died in July than in the same month last year. http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/nm/us_russia_heat_deaths WARS

Iraq War (March 20, 2003 to August 19, 2010):

Documented "unnecessary" violent civilian deaths, Iraq Body Count – January 2009: 95,158 – 103,819

Total excess deaths, (Lancet) – December 2009: 1,366,350 (highest estimate) Coalition Forces Killed: 4,733

Afghanistan War (October 7, 2001 – present) 7

Afghanistan Security Forces, Coalition Forces, Contractors, etc., killed: 7,821 Civilian deaths: Low estimate, as of 2009: 10,000+

GLOBAL RECESSION

Millions of job lost in US and Canada where Jade Buddha’s Display/Tour.

In total, it is estimated that around 15.1 million people are rendered jobless in US. http://www.india-server.com/news/us-unemployment-rate-grows-highest- in-13201.html

A record 2.8 million properties with a mortgage got a foreclosure notice last year, jumping 21 percent from 2008 and 120 percent from 2007, the Irvine, California- based real estate data company found. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60D0LZ20100114

A total of 861,664 families lost their homes to foreclosure last year, according to RealtyTrac, which released its year-end report Thursday. There were more than 3.1 million foreclosure filings issued during 2008, which means that one of every 54 households received a notice last year. http://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/foreclosure-tsunami-data/1656

RealtyTrac has estimated that the number of foreclosure filings in 2010 will rise to 3.5 million. That creates a shadow inventory for 2010 about 2.4 million homes. That is the total of about 1.7 million repos resulting from 2010 filings plus a 700,000 unlisted REO carry over from 2009.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/182705-foreclosure-filings-2009-not- pretty-2010-expected-to-be-worse

THE REASONS FOR ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE JADE BUDDHA’S ORIGINAL WILL

The reasons can be placed into 6 main categories are

1. His Holiness Dalai Lama is indeed not a highly realized master. 2. He was unable to create purity illusory bodies to appear at his will. In other words, He has no rddhividhi-jnana that is the power to appear at will in any place and to have absolute freedom. 3. He also failed to perform the skillful-in-means to combat with the Chinese military. 4. He has no didya-caksus (divine sight); therefore, He is unable to see his own future,

The Dalai Lama told Bernama in a recent interview at his exile-base in Dharamsala in northern India. "If I die as a refugee and the Tibetan situation remains like this, then logically, my reincarnation will appear in a free country, because the very purpose of reincarnation is to carry on the work which began in my previous life. And, there is some contribution, some fulfillment in work started in the previous life. Then, that is truly reincarnation."

http://www.examiner.com/buddhism-in-syracuse/dalai-lama-says-his- reincarnation-will-be-a-free-country

5. His Holiness Dalai Lama is indeed a politician.

Dalai Lama's Call for Tibetan Autonomy http://www.buzzle.com/articles/235050.html

2006: He met the Chief Rabbi of Israel. The Parliament of Canada voted to make The Dalai Lama an honarary citizen of Canada. The United States Congress awarded the Dalai Lama the Congressional Gold Medal.

The Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Dalai Lama in 2006 http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Wikipedia:14th_Dalai_Lama

2007: He visited Australia. He met the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

April 14, 2008: Dalai Lama set to begin 6-day USA visit

December 1, 2008: PRAGUE - The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, said in Prague on Monday he loved outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush despite some of his policies which he described as a "disaster."

"To be honest, some of his policies have been a disaster, but as a person, I love him, he is open, very truthful," the Dalai Lama told a press conference.

In May 2009, the Prime Minister of Denmark, Lars Løkke met the Dalai Lama.

February 16, 2010: (…) The Dalai Lama, who fled his homeland in 1959 and has lived in India since then, has met Obama before he became president.

During the US presidential election campaign in 2008, Obama voiced support for the Tibetan people but did not meet the spiritual leader then.

Obama later wrote to the Dalai Lama, saying that "American attention to and backing for the people of Tibet is widespread".

"I regret that our respective travel schedules will prevent us from meeting during your visit to the US this month (July 2008), but I wanted to take the opportunity to reassure you of my highest respect and support for you, your mission and your people at this critical time," he said in the letter dated July 24, 2008.

After his election, Obama aides met the Dalai Lama in September last year in Dharamsala and told him how the US could assist in the resolution of the Tibetan issue.

The spiritual leader, who believes in a "middle-path" policy that demands "greater autonomy" for the Tibetans, has met many former US presidents including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Sources in the Dalai Lama's office said he would apprise Obama about the recently concluded ninth round of talks between the exiles and Chinese officials. Since 2002, both sides have held nine rounds of talks in a bid to find a solution to the Tibetan problem.

During special prayer sessions here Sunday to mark Losar (Tibetan New Year), the Dalai Lama expressed concern over the plight of people living in Tibet.

"Despite facing great problems in Tibet for many years, the Tibetan people living inside have shown indomitable courage and sincerity in standing up to the

situation," he said in his address.

"Tibetans are marking the year as a year of remembrance of Tibetan people's suffering... Tibetans living in the free world must not forget the critical situation in Tibet. The Tibetans in exile must keep up their sincerity and courage like their brethren in Tibet," he said.

The Dalai Lama heads a Tibetan government-in-exile that is not recognised by any country. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et- cetera/Dalai-Lama-set-to-leave-for-US-to-meet- Obama/articleshow/5579855.cms

CIA backing

In October 1998, The Dalai Lama's administration acknowledged that it received $1.7 million a year in the 1960s from the US Government through the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and also trained a resistance movement in Colorado (USA). When asked by CIA officer John Kenneth Knaus in 1995 whether the organisation did a good or bad thing in providing its support, the Dalai Lama replied that though it helped the morale of those resisting the Chinese, "thousands of lives were lost in the resistance" and further, that "the US Government had involved itself in his country's affairs not to help Tibet but only as a Cold War tactic to challenge the Chinese."

http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/02/world/world-news-briefs-dalai-lama- group-says-it-got-money-from- cia.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fD%2fD alai%20Lama

6. MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE GREAT STUPA (Buddhist tower). Great Stupa represents for the Buddhahood/Buddha’s Mind (Dharmakaya) and nd each part of the Stupa shows the path to Enlightenment. In a lesser meaning, it represents for the accomplished master. Therefore, the Great Stupa is not something outside your own body and mind. Symbolism of the Great Stupa can be traced from Mahavairocana Abhisambodhi-Vikurvit-Adhisthana-Vaipulya-Sutra. (Pram Nguyen, 1997)

The Great Stupa of Boudhanath, Nepal. http://www.zhaxizhuoma.net/INTRODUCTION/MASTERS/shechen.html

The Great Stupa at Sanchi, India, established by Ashoka the great (4th–1st century BC).

The main Stupa crowning Borobudur, the largest Buddhist structure in the world, Java, Indonesia. http://www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/Stupa?q=stupa&form=hphot3 12

According to The Fourth Chapter of The Legend of the Great Stupa: "The Portents of the Ruin of the Great Stupa in the Middle of the Kaliyuga"

"Again King Trison Detsen spoke to the Lotus Born Guru, "Great Guru, in the kaliyuga, the age of decadence and corruption, when the Voice of Buddha is a mere echo, will this Great Stupa, this Wish Fulfilling Gem, be destroyed or damaged? Will it decay? And if it is neglected or damaged what will be the portent of its ruin? What vice will corrupt this area of the transitory world? When the signs and omens are seen, what must be done?"

Guru Rinpoche replied, "Listen, Great King. The real perfection of this Great Stupa is indestructible, inviolate and incorruptible: it is inseparable from the Body of Infinite Simplicity of all the Buddhas. But the phenomenal fabric of the Great Stupa is perishable, a transitory form in a changing world, and it can be damaged by the four elements. The damage will be repaired by the incarnations of the Lords of the Three Families - Manjusri, Avalokitesvara, and Vajrapani - and the Wrathful Bhrikutis and Tara Devi.

"As the kaliyuga progresses towards the final conflagration, life expectancy of man decreases and the weight of darkness becomes more intense, but there remain restraints on the downward path when the Voice of Buddha is heard and the Path of Dharma followed. Towards the end of the era, when man's lifespan has been reduced from sixty to fifty years and there has been no respite in man's increasing egoism, these conditions will prevail, portending ruin to the Great Stupa: householders fill the monasteries and there is fighting before the altar; the temples are used as slaughterhouses; the ascetics of the caves return to the cultivated valleys and the yogins become traders; thieves own the wealth and cattle; monks become householders, while priests and spiritual leaders turn to robbery, brigandage and thievery. Disorder becomes chaos, which generates panic raging like wildfire. Corrupt and selfish men become leaders, while abbots turned army officers lead their monks as soldiers; and nuns put their own bastards to death. Sons see their estates and inheritances stolen from them. Mean and vulgar demagogues become local bosses. Young girls instruct the young in schools. The belch of the Bon Magician resounds in the yogin's hermitage and the wealth of the sanctuaries is looted; the scriptures of the Tathagatas, the images of the Buddhas, the sacred icons, the scroll paintings and the stupas will be desecrated, stolen and bartered at the market price, their true worth forgotten; the temples become dung- smeared cow sheds and stables.

"When religious duties are forgotten, spirits of darkness previously controlled by ritual power are unloosed, and frenziedly govern the mind of whatever being they possess. Spirits of vindictive power possess monks; spirits of egoistic wickedness possess the mantradhara or magician; spirits of disease possess the Bon Priest; enchanting spirits causing disease possess men; grasping, quarreling spirits

possess women; spirits of wantonness possess maidens; spirits of depravity possess nuns; spirits of rebellion and malice possess children; every man, woman and child in the country becomes possessed by uncontrollable forces of darkness. The signs of these times are new and fantastical modes of dressing - traditional styles forgotten; the monks wear fancy robes and the nuns dress up before a mirror. Every man must carry a sword to protect himself and each man guard his food from poison. Abbots and Masters poison their pupils' minds and hearts; the executive and legislature disagree; men become lewd and licentious; women become unchaste; monks ignore their discipline and moral code; and the mantradharas break their covenant. As the frenzy of malicious, selfish, vindictive and ruthless spirits grows, paranoid rumor increases and ornament and clothing fashions change more frequently.

"Drunkards preach the Path to Liberation; the advice of sycophants is followed; fraudulent teachers give false initiations; guileful impostors claim psychic powers; loquacity and eloquence pass as wisdom. The arrogant elevate profanity; the proletariat rules the kingdom; kings become paupers; the butcher and murderer become leaders of men; unscrupulous self-seekers rise to high position. The Masters of the High Tantras stray like dogs in the streets and their faithless, errant students roam like lions in the jungle. Embodiments of malice and selfishness become revered teachers, while the achievements of tantric adepts are reviled, the guidance of the Secret Guru execrated, the precepts of the Buddha ignored and the advice of yogins and sages unsought. Robes become worn by fools and villains while monks wear foreign dress - even murderers wear the sacred robe. Men resort to maledictory enchantment learning mantra for selfish ends; monks prepare poisonous potions for blackmail, extortion and profit. False doctrines are devised from the Buddhas' Word and the teachers' interpretations become self-vindications. Many treacherous paths, previously uncharted, are followed; many iniquitous practices spread; behavior becomes tolerated which was previously anathema; ideals are established contrary to tradition; and all good customs and habits are rejected and many despicable innovations corrupt. The wealth of the monasteries is plundered and spent upon gluttony by those under vow; following errant paths men become trapped by their own mean actions; the avaricious and spurious protectors of the pure teaching no longer fulfill their functions.

"The celestial order, disrupted, loosens plague, famine and war to terrorize terrestrial life. The planets run wild, and the stars fall out of their constellations; great burning stars appear bringing unprecedented disaster. Rain no longer falls in season, but out of season the valleys are flooded. Famine, frost and hail govern many unproductive years. Rapacious female demons (Mamo) and the twelve guardian protectresses of the Dharma (Tenma), unpropitiated and enraged, release diseases, horrible epidemics and plagues, which spread like wildfire, striking men and cattle. Earthquakes bring sudden floods, while fire, storm and tornadoes destroy temples, stupas and cities in an instant. At this time the Great Stupa itself

falls in ruins. During this pall of darkness the Wheel of Dharma at Vajrasana (Bodh Gaya) ceases to turn; the storm of war rages in Nepal for many years; India is stricken with famine; the Kathmandu Valley is inflicted with plague; earthquakes decimate the people of Upper Ngari in Western Tibet; plague destroys the people of Central Tibet; the Kyi Valley District of Lhasa subsides; the peaks of the High Himalayas in the borderland of Mon fall into the valleys. Three strong forts are built on the Five Peaked Mountain; yogins assemble in the Valley of the Bear's Lair on Mon; two suns rise in Kham to the east; the Chinese Emperor dies suddenly; four armies descend on Central Tibet from the borders; the Muslim Turks conquer India; the Garlok army suppresses the Dharma in Kashmir; the Mongols conquer Tibet; the Jang army enters Kham; the Protectors' Temple, Rasa Trulnang (The Jokhang) in Lhasa is threatened; the famous temple of Samye is desecrated; the stupas of Bhutan tilt and the Wheel of Dharma malfunctions.

"The great monasteries of the country become deserted and the belch of the Bon Priest resounds in quiet hermitages; the wise and simple leaders of the monasteries have been poisoned so that the lineal explanations and practices are fragmented or lost; the holders of the lineal traditions meet sudden death. Impostors and frauds cheat the people and black spectres haunt the land. The knot in the silken thread binding demonic forces in divine bondage is untied and the cord of faith keeping the human mind harmonious is severed. The king's law is broken and the strength of communal unity lost; the people's traditions are rejected and the sea of contentment dries up; personal morality is forgotten and the cloak of modesty thrown away. Virtue is impotent and humiliated and led by coarse, immodest and fearful rulers. Abbots, teachers and professors become army officers, while the ignorant guide religious aspirants, explain the doctrine and give initiation. Aspirants speak with self-defensive abuse, while butchers and wild elephants lead men. The passes, valleys and narrow paths are terrorized by shameless brigands; fearful, lawless and leaderless, the people fight amongst themselves, each man acting out of self-interest. Tibet becomes corrupt and defiled. These are the conditions prevailing during the middle of the kali-yuga when the duration of man's life is fifty years: these are the portents of the destruction of the Great Stupa.

"These signs and sufferings shall awaken the mind of a man sickened by the human condition. Favoured in his actions and governed by sympathy and compassion towards suffering beings, he shall dedicate himself to the restoration of the Great Stupa. He shall aspire to the highest human achievement and fulfil his wish to re-establish perfection."

After Guru Rinpoche had spoken, Trison Detsen and his attendants were stunned and disheartened. Then recovering his senses, Padma Khungtsen, the spiritual leader of Gos, arose and prostrated himself one hundred times before Guru Rinpoche and then addressed him. "Great Guru, let me be reborn to restore the

Great Stupa when it is in ruins during the decadence and corruption of the kaliyuga, when man's life is short."

Guru Rinpoche granted this prayer. King Trison Detsen asked to be reborn as an assistant to restore the Great Stupa and his attendants prayed that they too should be born to assist in the restoration."

SAMAYA GYA GYA GYA -- THE THREEFOLD BOND IS SEALED

http://www.khandro.net/stupa_Boudhnath_KD.htm

Great Stupa of the Shambhala Mountain Center in Creston, Colorado, USA. http://padmasambhava.crestonecolorado.com/

http://www.shambhalamountain.org/living_peace_hhdl.html

The great stupa in Og Min Ogyen Mindrolling Monastery in Dehradun, India http://www.mindrolling.org/stupa/default.cfm

http://www.stupa.org.au/

Great Stupa of Universal Compassion is a Buddhist stupa currently under construction near Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. It will be the home of the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace, once completion is complete.

STRAY FROM THE ORIGINAL VOW, THE “JADE BUDDHA” IS A BIG BOOMING BUSINESS IN JADE TRADING AND DONATIONS.

According to Edmonton Buddhist Research Institute, in 2009, more than 5 million people viewed the Jade Buddha. (http://truclam.ca/vietnamese/?page_id=74). If an average person spent for foods and souvenirs is $100 and donation at least $20, then the total cash flow in 2009 should be

($50 + $20) x 5,000,000 = $35,000,000/in 2009 (average estimation)

On top of it, donations from internet are a mystery.

Prior to welcome the Jade Buddha’s display, a temple asks for donations. As a matter of fact, donations will pour a large amount of money in the donation boxes during three periods of display. For an example, a transportation cost and association fees for the Jade Buddha may range from $15K to $35K; in exchange for the display, the temple must yield its rights of selling jade at the premise.

General Buddhists love to donate cash for the temple in order to obtain a good root; therefore, the initial donation may surpass the $15-35K’s requirement.

Furthermore, the temple has two options to generate more cash in the name of the Jade Buddha:

1. Monopoly:

 The temple organization and the Jade Buddha’s Display organization will sell all kinds of souvenir, with a set price on each item, which is far expensive than the true value of them.

 The temple will place a large order from Vietnam, or China and/ or Jade Company to make a huge profit.

 In addition, the temple organization will request for a large number of Buddhists as volunteers to conduct their work.

 The temple will also hire professional photographers to its business.

A case in point, a small bronze Bodhisattva Avalokistesvara (Quin Yin) statue (made in China) places below the Jade Buddha’s platform can be sold for $1000, while its market value is no more than $200. Total of 100 units must be sold in advance!

http://www.tuongvantuvien.org/SK_HoaMDL_E.html

http://www.tuongvantuvien.org/SK_thinhtuong.html

Loàng ñeøn (a silk candle lamp, made in China) asking for $200, its market value is less than $10. Total of 1250 units must be sold in advance!

Haøo quang raát laï vaø raát ñeïp xuaát hieän vaøo ñeâm July 3, 2010 Do nhieáp aûnh gia Traàn Thy Ñònh chuïp ñöôïc.

http://www.tuongvantuvien.org/SK_longden.html

2. Business open to public with advance fees:

Beyond the above business orientation, the temple can collect a large amount of cash from lottery, food and souvenir vendors.

THÔNG BÁO

Nam Mô Phật Bổn Sư Thich Ca Mâu Ni

“ Lành thay tứ chúng hân hoan, Rước Phật Ngọc xanh đến đạo tràng Phật Tử Thủ Đô vui mở hội Phật về chim hót pháp bình an.”

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Ban Tổ Chức Lễ Hội Cung Nghinh Phật Ngọc xin kính gửi thông báo đến các Nhà Hàng, các Tiệm Bánh, Ban Trai Soạn của các Chùa Viện, các Hội Đoàn trong vùng vào 3 tuần lễ từ 26 tháng 06, đến 17 tháng 07 năm 2010, tại Tu Viện Tường Vân sẽ có đại phước duyên để tổ chức Lễ Hội Cung Nghinh Phật Ngọc và chiêm bái Xá Lợi Phật vô cùng trọng thể, cũng như Xá Lợi các Đại Đệ Tử của Đức Phật như Ngài Xá Lợi Phất, Ngài Mục Kiền Liên v.v…

Ban Tổ Chức dự đoán sẽ có hàng chục ngàn Phật tử trong vùng cũng như ở các tiểu bang lân cận sẽ đến đảnh lễ và chiêm bái Bảo Tượng Phật Ngọc.

Để tạo duyên cho các nhà hàng trong vùng giới thiệu các món ăn trứ danh của các đầu bếp kinh nghiệm, cũng như để lo lắng chu đáo cho Phật tử khắp nơi về tham dự lễ hội thưởng thức các món ăn đặc sắc của nhà hàng. Ban Tổ Chức sẽ tổ chức những gian hàng bán thức ăn, quà lưu niệm, Phật cụ…trong khuôn viên chùa.

Qúy nhà hàng, Hội Đoàn nào muốn tham gia bán thức ăn xin gửi phiếu ghi danh sớm để Ban Tổ Chức sắp xếp thật chu đáo.

TM Ban Tổ Chức Lễ Hội Cung Nghinh Phật Ngọc Sư Cô Thích- Nữ Thanh Liễu

PHIẾU GHI DANH

Tên Họ:……………………………………………………………………………………...... Nhà Hàng hay Đại Diện Hội Đoàn ……...... ……………………………………………….. Địa Chỉ: …………………………...…...... …..……………………………………………….

Điện Thoại:………………………………………Email:…………...... ………………………

BTC sẽ đặt một cái lều cho mỗi gian hàng để qúy vị tùy nghi sữ dụng, các nhà hàng sẽ chịu trách nhiệm mang lò bếp (portable propane stove) , bàn ghế và dụng cụ nhà bếp như bán ở hội chợ.

Xin không mang đồ điện để tránh tình trạng thiếu điện. Xin chỉ ghi danh những món ăn chay hoặc những mặt hàng dự định bán Xin hoan hỷ không bán thức ăn mặn (như tôm - thịt - cá) Lệ phí $700.00 cho gian hàng thức ăn -- $500.00 cho gian hàng bán quà lưu niệm payable to: Tu Vien Tuong Van Banner quãng cáo cho các cửa hàng - $1000.00 Phiếu ghi danh và chi phiếu xin gửi về:

Tu Viện Tường Vân 2101 James Madison Highway Haymarket, Virginia 20169 Phone: (571) 261-2408 E-mail: [email protected] & Web site: www.tuongvantuvien.org

http://www.tuongvantuvien.org/SK_phieughidanh.html

World Tour Dates 2010

9-18 April 2010 Wat Buddharangsi 15200 SW 240th St Miami, Florida (USA)

24 April - 3 May 2010 Buddhist Community Of Memphis and Vicinity Quan Am Monastery 3500 S. Goodlett Rd Memphis, Tennessee (USA) Contact: Ven T. Nguyen Tanh Phone: +1 901 362 8070 Email : [email protected]

9-16 May 2010 Lien Hoa Temple 6510 Lake Drive Charlotte, North Carolina (USA) Contact: Dai Duc Thich Chan Phuc +1 704 502 8738

22 May - 5 June 2010 Linh Son Temple 16 Ruthven Avenue Worcester, Massachusetts (USA) Contact: Rev. Thich Nu Tri Hoa, +1 508 853 8120

12-20 June 2010 Phap Van Temple 420 Traders Boulevard East Mississauga, Ontario (Canada) Contact: Senior Venerable Thich Tam Hoa More Info: Media kit

26 June - 17 July 2010 Tu Vien Tuong Van 2101 James Madison Hwy Haymarket, Virginia (USA) Contact: Sister Thanh Lieu Phone: +1 571 261 2408 Website: www.tuongvantuvien.org 25

24 July - 1 August 2010 Westlock Meditation Center 58012 Range Road 270 Westlock County Alberta, Canada Contact: Reverend Thich Phap Hoa Phone: +1 780 471 1093 Website: www.truclam.ca

6 - 15 August 2010 Hoa Nghiem Monastery 2623 - 272 Street Aldergrove Langley B.C, Canada V4W 3N6 Contact: Ven. Thich Nguyen Thao Phone: + 1 604 435 8486

21 – 29 August Co Lam Temple 3503 S. Graham St Seattle, Washington (USA) Contact: Most Ven. Thich Nguyen An +1 206 723 4741

4 - 12 September 2010 Opening Ceremony: 10AM (4 Sept, 2010) Ngoc Son Tinh Xa Buddhist Association 8318 SE Harney Street Portland, Oregon 97266 (USA) Contact: Thich Minh Thien, Phone: 503 807 3591 or Thanh: Phone (503 686 5451) Email: [email protected] Website: www.ngocsontemple.org More info: download our flyer and our letter

17 September - 01 October, 2010 Vietnamese Bhikkhuni Buddhist Congregation TINH XA NGOC HOA 766 S. Second Street San Jose, California (USA) Contact: Venerable Tien Lien +1 408 295 2436 (Vietnamese) +1 408 507 2363 (English) More info: download our flyer 26

03 - 17 Oct, 2010 Vietnamese Buddhist Community in Northern California Cong Dong Phat Giao Viet Nam Bac California 3119 Alta Arden Expressway Sacramento, California 95825 (USA) Contact: Venerable Thich Nhut Hue (408) 828 5707 Venerable Thich Thien Duyen (916) 206 3757 More info: download our flyer

22 - 31 October 2010 Bat Nha Buddhist Temple 803 S. Sullivan St. Santa Ana, California (USA)

5 - 15 November 2010 Mắt Thương Nhìn Đời, Compassionate Eyes Inc. 7641 Talbert Ave Huntington Beach, California (USA) Contact: Kathy Chon Tinh Dieu +1 714 600 8854

26 November - 28 November 2010 Hawaii Convention Center (HCC) 1801 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 (USA) Contact: Ven. Abbot Thich Thong Hai Phone: (808) 222-0909

2011

04 - 09 January 2011 LA Convention Center 1201 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, California 90015 (USA)

14 - 23 Jan 2011 Minh Dang Quang Temple 8752 Westminster Ave Santa Ana, CA 92703 (USA) Phone: 1-714-895-1218 Fax: 1-748-957-839

30 Jan - 8 Feb 2011 Phap Vuong Monastery Compassionate Eyes Inc. 715 Vista Ave Escondido, California (USA) Contact: Ven. Thich Nguyen Sieu Phone: +1 760 739 8063 Kathy Pham +1 714 600 8854 Website: www.matthuongnhindoi.com

19 - 28 February 2011 An Lac Mission 901 S. Saticoy Avenue Ventura, CA 93004 (USA) Contact: Ven. Abbot Thich Thong Hai

5 - 13 March 2011 Nhu Lai Meditation 2421 West Glenrosa Ave Phoenix, Arizona 85015 (USA) Contact: Ven. Abbot Thich Minh Hoi

19 - 27 March 2011 Kim Cang Monastery 4771 Browns Mill Rd Lithonia, Georgia 30038 (USA) Contact: Ven. Abbot Thich Hanh Dat

2-10 April 2011 Vietnamese Buddhist Association of Savannah / Cat-Tuong Temple 2619 US Highway 80 Garden City, Georgia 31408 (USA) Phone: 912-965-1876 OR 912-965-1876 OR 912-927-4148 OR 912-927-4148

13 - 19 April 2011 Phap Hoa Temple 4706 N. Arkansas Avenue Wichita, KS 67204 (USA)

23 April - 30 April 2011 Truc Lam Buddhist Temple 1521 W. Wilson Avenue Chicago, Illinois (USA) Contact: Ven. Abbot Thich Hanh Tuan

4 - 8 May 2011 Minh Dang Quang Meditation 208 S. Allentown Rd Telford, PA 18969 (USA) More info: download our flyer

4 - 12 June 2011 Phật Huệ Temple Hanauer Landstrasse 443 - 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Contact: Ven Thich Thien Son +49 694 844 980

18 - 26 June 2011 Vien Giac Temple Karlsruher Strasse 6, Hannover,Germany Contact: Most Ven. Thich Nhu Dien & Ven Thich Hanh Gioi, +49 051 187 9630

2 - 10 July 2011 Linh Thuu Nun Temple Heidereuter Str. 30 13597 Berlin, Germany Tel: 0049-303-6711287

16 - 24 July 2011 Lien Tri Nun Temple Kamenzer Str. 1 04347 Leipzig, Germany Tel: 0049-3412-346230

The writer completely understand that the temple really needs money to support its operation, but building a huge temple without real practitioners of the Enlightenment Way is indeed go against the will of our beloved Father Shakyamuni Buddha and the Buddhas in the ten directions. Prince Siddhartha not only left his royal palaces to seek the Supreme and Perfect

Enlightenment (Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi) for the welfare of all sentient beings, but also three beautiful royal consorts and 8,000 royal maidens. (see Lalitavistara/Lalita-Vistara-sutra (Sutra of Diffusion of Shining— A biography of the Buddha which develops the legendary aspect of his life) and Buddhacharita: a poem by Asvaghosa mentioned a life of the Buddha from his birth to his parinirvana with much legendary matter).

The action of Siddhartha has a subtle and profound meaning that the Buddha’s teaching’s on celibacy for people of inferior faith who would not benefit by a teaching on Tantric union (Guhyamantrayana) or might even be harmed by it.

In contrary, the real truth is taught secretly (reveal the truth of passion and pleasure) to the people of supreme faith. Passion and pleasures are not suitable for ignorant and lustful beings. The mind of the inferior faith does not know the reality of passion and pleasure. Therefore,

Monks and nuns select their path to achieve supreme enlightenment should not long for a huge temple with rose garden and surrounding them by laypersons as their slaves.

Temples must unite! Monk and nun communities must be in harmony! Beautiful temples will erect, bless and consecrate without asking.

MONOPOLY STYLE

The Logistic Manager Steve Lowe Pictures taken by Pram Nguyen on July 3, 2010 at Tu Vien Tuong Van

The above pictures were taken by the writer. Picture number 1, an upset Buddhists confronted with Jade Buddha’s Manager asking for his copy right or trade mark of Jade Buddha’s goods. Picture number 2, nuns from difference temples paid Tu Vien Tuong Van $500 to anticipate the Jade Buddha Display event from June 26 to July 7, 2010. They got small Jade Buddha directly from Jade West Company and sold for $35-$40/piece while the same statue was sold for $88 from The Jade Buddha for Universal organization.

After the Jade Buddha left Tu Vien Tuong Van, Virgina, The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace’s homepage immediately posted the Warning.

This Warning misled the general public that,

How much Jade is left from Polar Pride?

Polar Pride originally weighed over 18 tonne. The Jade Buddha for Universal Peaceweighs approximately 4 tonne. The off-cuts from Polar Pride amounted to approximately 14 tonne.

While all the large off-cuts are now gone we estimate that there is still sufficient jade left to provide small jade pendants for the next few years. At some point all jade from Polar Pride will have been used up. We expect genuine jade from Polar Pride will be a keepsake for generations to come.

WARNING: BEWARE JADE BUDDHA IMITATORS

Unfortunately some people have seen the popularity of the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is a business opportunity and have made false claims about the items they sell.

How can you be sure that the jade you buy is a genuine off-cut of the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace?

The way you can be sure that you are buying a genuine piece of Polar Pride (the boulder from which the Jade Buddha for Universal Peacewas carved) is to: 1. Buy your jade item from the official Jade Buddha stand at the venue where the Jade Buddha is on show. Check that the people you deal with are wearing an official Jade Buddha for Universal Peaceidentification seen below

2. Insist on a Certificate of Authenticity which is shown below. (NOTE If the seller is not able to produce the Certificate, please notify the Authority at the temple or email us at [email protected] providing the details of the location, name of the seller who tried to sell you the jade).

How much Jade is left from Polar Pride?

Polar Pride originally weighed over 18 tonne. The Jade Buddha for Universal Peaceweighs approximately 4 tonne. The off-cuts from Polar Pride amounted to approximately 14 tonne.

Where is the Jade kept and carved?

The jade from the Jade Buddha is kept under tight security at a jade factory in Thailand. The small jade items are carved by the same team that worked on the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace.

Where is the jade sent to? Once carved in Thailand the jade items are sent direct to each city where the Jade Buddha is on show. A limited range of newly carved items is sent to each city.

How can I buy a Jade Buddha? Initially we offered Jade Buddha statues from the off-cuts of Polar Pride but these Buddha statues are no longer available – they are now fully sponsored. However, due to the demand for statues we are currently sourcing a new piece of high quality jade from which we will be able to offer large Buddhas (same size as The Buddha for the King) and small statues. These Buddhas will be carved by the same carvers who created the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. If you wish to register for the waiting list please send an email to [email protected]

Where do the proceeds from the sale of jade items from Polar Pride go to? All proceeds from the sale of jade off-cut items from Polar Pride go to the costs of the world tour of the Jade Buddha and the construction of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion which is the final home of the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. The Great Stupa is a member of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition a California Non-Profit Religious Corporation.

Please be advised that the pendant and the “certificate” shown here have absolutely nothing to do with the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. This is a blatant rip-off and is clearly an attempt to mislead the general public. The only way to be sure you are buying a genuine off-cut of the Jade Buddha is to see us at the official Jade Buddha for Universal Peace stand during the Jade Buddha showing and to ensure that you obtain a genuine Certificate of Authenticity

With this Warning, people can obviously realize that Jade Buddha is indeed a business with a strong competition. The two organizations can get most benefits from this multi-million dollars business are:

1. Jade West Co. and its associations, 2. The exile Tibetan Monks

If the Jade Buddha is only to “display” as the Buddhist Art, then 1. The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion Ltd. (Đại Tháp Từ Bi), 2. The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace Project (Dự Án Phật Ngọc cho Hòa Bình Thế Giới) should not sell anything in the name of healing, souvenirs.

Another interesting Response from the very Organization one should know. The Organization did not post the criticism; therefore, the writer has no clue where it came from and how reliable of the source(s). Note that this Response is no longer posted on the Jade Buddha’s homepage.

Response to criticism of the Jade Buddha project in USA from the Board of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion

The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, The Jade Buddha Project, staff of the Jade Buddha project and in particular our Chairman Ian Green have become the target of widespread false and misleading criticism in the USA. This criticism has been spread in paid radio messages by a certain Sangha member, emails and has recently extended to an open letter from associates of the Sangha member.

Allegation of financial burden on temples The writers of the letter and the monk who made the radio broadcasts have alleged that the Jade Buddha tour imposes a very heavy financial burden on the temples. We always check that temples before, during and after the showing of the Jade Buddha to make sure that the temples are happy with the showing. We have never been told that the temples are carrying a large financial burden after the Jade Buddha leaves. If there was such a large financial burden why would four of the seven hosts / temples we have visited so far have invited the Jade Buddha back as part of the second tour of USA?

The temples receive funds from their own fundraising endeavors, they also retain all funds from the donation boxes at the temple and of recent times we have contributed a percentage of funds received from sale of jade mementos.

The tour of the Jade Buddha is dedicated to peace and we are particularly careful to ensure that all actions that we undertake reflect this greater goal. Maintaining good relations with our Buddhist brothers and sisters is of utmost importance to us and we are proud to say that we have a very positive friendship with all temples that we have visited to date. We were however forced to cancel one showing of the Jade Buddha planned for northern California due to the negativity and disharmony of that particular temple.

Allegation of Authenticity of Mementos This letter claims that the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion / Jade Buddha Project have misled people by stating that our jade memento items come from “Polar Pride”. The writers of the letter allege this is false, and bases the allegation on invoices from Thailand and China.

This allegation is totally false. Our memento items do come from Polar Pride and are all carved in Thailand at the same factory that carved the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. All our memento items are issued with a “Certificate of Guarantee” which states clearly that the particular piece of jade comes from an off-cut of Polar Pride. We explain clearly on our website that the only way people can be sure that they are buying a genuine piece of Polar Pride (the boulder from which the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace was carved) is to buy jade item from the official Jade Buddha stand at the venue where the Jade Buddha is on show. We urge everyone to check that the people they buy from are wearing official Jade Buddha for Universal Peace identification and that insist on a Certificate of Authenticity.

We have never hidden the fact that certain jade items (for example the jade rings) that we have for sale do not come from “Polar Pride”. This is made abundantly clear and we never issue a “Certificate of Authenticity” with these items.

Genuine off-cuts from Polar Pride

The writers of the letter also claim that it is not possible for there to be any jade left from Polar Pride as so much of it has been sold. This is false. The facts are that:

• Polar Pride originally weighed over 18 tonne. • The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace weighs approximately 4 tonne. • The off-cuts from Polar Pride amounted to approximately 14 tonne. • While all the large off-cuts are now gone we estimate that there is still sufficient jade left to provide small jade pendants made from Polar Pride off-cuts for the next few years. • At some point all jade from Polar Pride will have been used up. We expect genuine jade from Polar Pride will be a keepsake for generations to come.

The remaining jade from the Polar Pride is kept under tight security at the jade factory in Thailand. The jade memento items are carved by the same team that worked on the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. Once carved in Thailand the jade items are sent direct to each city where the Jade Buddha is on show.

Proceeds from jade off-cuts All proceeds from the sale of jade off-cut items from Polar Pride go to the costs of the world tour of the Jade Buddha and the construction of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion which is the final home of the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. No individual makes any personal gain from these sales.

Allegation about breach of tax laws The writers of the letter also claim that we are operating outside the taxation system of the United States. The Great Stupa is a member of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), which is a California Non-Profit Religious Corporation. FPMT complies fully with its obligations under the relevant taxation legislation in the United States, as does the Great Stupa pursuant to Australian tax law. The allegation is false.

Ethical Behavior As devout Buddhists, our whole team is extremely concerned by the vindictiveness of these unfounded allegations. Each one of us is working to fulfill the wishes of our holy guru Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The vast majority of our team are volunteers. Only one person receives payment and this is a very small salary. We consider our ethical behavior and our concern for right livelihood to be of the utmost importance. These allegations are a personal attack on our sincerity and morality. Even more importantly they are also allegations which question the motives of our holy guru and the honesty of Buddhism itself. It is extraordinary and

deeply troubling to us that this criticism should come from Buddhists – and even more importantly from Buddhist Sangha members.

Why make these false allegations? We can only speculate as to the true motives of those people leading the criticism of the Jade Buddha. We can offer some factual evidence which may or may not throw some light on those motives. One Sangha member is known to have purchased an extremely large amount of Canadian jade with a view to making a large profit from the Jade Buddha tour of USA. Early on in the Jade Buddha tour of USA several members of our Jade Buddha team witnessed this Sangha member selling jade by falsely claiming that his jade came from the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. We brought this conduct to the attention of the authorities at the temple who arranged for the immediate removal of the Sangha member from their temple grounds.

Request to stop lying

Whatever their motivation we call upon all those involved to stop spreading these false and defamatory allegations. Our lawyers have advised us to take legal action to stop this conduct. To date we have resisted this because of our concern for the negative impact on Buddhism in the wider community.

We pray and trust that all fair minded Buddhists will see through this criticism and those perpetrating it will cease immediately.

Yours in the dharma,

The Board of Directors

The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion Ltd

The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace Project

In my humble opinion,

“One Sangha member” is referred to Viet Nam Temple, Houston, TX Or TRUNG TÂM PHẬT GIÁO – CHÙA VIỆT NAM 10002 Synott Rd, Sugar Land, TX 77498 Tel: 281/575-0910 Fax:281/498-4540 www.vnbc.org – email: [email protected]

Friday March 26 to April 4, 2010 http://www.vnbc.org/TTPG/

Let’s do the math: 1. The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace weighs approximately 4 tonne (1 tonne = 907 kilos or metric ton).

2. A gift for the Thai Royal family (from Jade Buddha Brochure)

The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion and Jade Thongtavee chose to carve a scale model of the Buddha as a gift to the Royal Family of Thailand. In the Brochure, it did not mention the second larger jade stone.

This Buddha has been prepared with great care and precision to recognize the contribution of Thailand in making the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace a reality.

3. Ngoc Bich-Nephrite store in Viet Nam possessed a large amount of Jade from Jade West Co. According to the company’s Brochure, at the back of its Brochure, also displays the Polar Pride, the Buddha statue (as a gift to the Royal Family of Thailand) weights 7 tons from a 32 tons Polar Pride (?).

4. Ngoc Quan Am Cho Tinh Thuong Nhan Loai weights approximately 1.2 tons. 5. A smaller Jade Buddha also display in the temple where the large Jade Buddha’s tour.

6. Jade Buddha’s Tour is a multi-million dollars business (targeting the Vietnamese Community in Vietnam, Australia, United States of America/Canada)

VIETNAM MARCH – MAY 2009

• Quan Am Temple, Danang • Dai Tong Lam Temple, Ba Ria Vung Tau • Pho Quang Temple, Ho Chi Minh City • Hoang Phap Temple, Ho Chi Minh City • Van An Temple, Dong Thap • Phat Tich Temple, Bach Ninh (Hanoi)

AUSTRALIA JUNE – DECEMBER 2009

• Brisbane Square, Brisbane Australia. • Wat Thai Buddharam. • Darling Harbour, Sydney • Van An Temple, Sydney • Minh Quang Temple, Sydney • Phap Hoa Temple, Adelaide • Museum of Western Australia, Perth • Minh Quang Temple, Sydney • Sydney Entertainment Centre • Quang Duc Temple, Melbourne • Quang Minh Temple, Melbourne

At Tu Vien Tuong Van, Virginia

7. Where is the jade sent to? Once carved in Thailand the jade items are sent direct to each city where the Jade Buddha is on show. A limited range of newly carved items is sent to each city.

How much nephrite from the Jade Buddha’s gem stone really leftover?

MANDALA OF LIGHT? A FALSE PRESENTATION

According to Jade Buddha for Universal Peace Fact Sheet, before the Jade Buddha was consecrated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on December 1 2009, a mandala of lights occurred. Mandala Lights around the Jade Buddha Very unusual lights have regularly appeared in photographs taken of the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. These lights first appeared at Quán Thế Âm temple in Đà Nẵng. They have since appeared at every showing of the Jade Buddha in Vietnam, Australia and USA. These lights appear in a wide range of conditions and even appear inside buildings such as the Museum of Western Australia in Perth and the Sydney Entertainment Centre. But not all people seem to be able to take these photographs. The lights have been called “Mandala Lights” because of the symmetrical design which has a similarity to a Buddhist mandala. The lights appear to be semi-transparent and while they appear to be largely white when enlarged they are seen to be made up of many colours. Enlargements of the lights have also shown wonderful and colourful patterns within the lights. http://www.jadebuddha.org.au/en/home/7 http://www.jadebuddha.org.au/docs/jade-buddha-fact-sheet.pdf

http://www.tuongvantuvien.org/SK_HoaMDL_E.html

The Jade Buddha was placed in the open field with the ambient temperature held around 84-104 degree F during the course of display. Many cars parked on the dried soil, about 200-300ft, on the left side of the Jade Buddha’s plate from. A large amount of cars moving on the unpaved road dispersed a large amount of aerosol from exhaust systems and also disturbed the particulate matters causing the dots on the pictures while taking at night with flash on.

A few very large dots appear on the pictures can tell that small drops of cooking oil may adhere/tainted on camera’s lens because the dots are very large comparing to the 4 tonne Jade Buddha!

Hình ảnh Chiêm Bái Phật Ngọc 9-16 May 2010 Lien Hoa Temple http://www.hoavouu.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2048&Itemid=69

Hoa Mạnđàla trong lễ Cung Tiễn Phật Ngọc Lúc 8 giờ đêm ngày 16 tháng 2 năm 2010 Tại Tu Viện Pháp Vương, Escondido, California, Hoa Kỳ http://www.hoavouu.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1595&Itemid=71

Similar flash effect or PhotoShop or copycat?

Hiện tượng lạ xuất hiện tại điện Phật ngọc trong ngày lễ An Vị tôn tượng Phật ngọc tại Tu Viện Pháp Vương http://www.hoavouu.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1627&Itemid=69

LENS’ FLARE. The circle indicates the lens had problem.

The writer checked with NASA, no strange phenomenon on February 6, 2000 to Feb 15 at San Diego, CA.

xaraxone.com elflady.com Radial Lens Flare

Lens Flare - WW 1.4 Lens Flare http://www.alpix.com/3d/worldwin/ blogs.ign.com

Flood lights were on day and night, many people took pictures with flash on Hào Quang Phật Ngọc trong lễ khai mạc tại TV Pháp Vương, Hoa Kỳ http://www.hoavouu.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1578&Itemid=71

(Images via: Lisa Andriani-Gonnelli, Unwired and UMN)

A circumhorizontal fire rainbow arc occurs at a rare confluence of right time and right place for the sun and certain clouds. Crystals within the clouds refract light into the various visible waves of the spectrum but only if they are arrayed correctly relative to the ground below. Due to the rarity with which all of these events happen in conjunction with one another, there are relatively few remarkable photos of this phenomena.

http://webecoist.com/2009/01/18/nature-phenomena-wonders-natural-world/

How to make a lens flare in Photoshop

By tuan, eHow Member

make a lens flare in Photoshop

User-Submitted Article

Flare makes a halo or glow around bright objects, causes a general fogging of the film, and overall decreases the contrast of the image. Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Photoshop • The image

1. Open Photoshop, open the image 2. Go to Filters, then go to Renders and then choose Lens Flare 3. Move the target by using left mouse to wherever you want the flare to starts 4. Choose the britness level 5. Choose the lens type, from small to big 6. Hit OK

http://www.ehow.com/how_2000826_make-lens-flare-photoshop.html

UNDERSTANDING CAMERA LENS FLARE

Lens flare is created when non-image forming light enters the lens and subsequently hits the camera's film or digital sensor. This often appears as a characteristic polygonal shape, with sides which depend on the shape of the lens diaphragm. It can lower the overall contrast of a photograph significantly and is often an undesired artifact, however some types of flare may actually enhance the artistic meaning of a photo. Understanding lens flare can help you use it--or avoid it--in a way which best suits how you wish to portray the final image. WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

The above image exhibits tell-tale signs of flare in the upper right caused by a bright sun just outside the image frame. These take the form of polygonal bright regions (usually 5-8 sides), in addition to bright streaks and an overall reduction in contrast (see below). The polygonal shapes vary in size and can actually become so large that they occupy a significant fraction of the image. Look for flare near very bright objects, although its effects can also be seen far away from the actual source (or even throughout the image).

Flare can take many forms, and this may include just one or all of the polygonal shapes, bright streaks, or overall washed out look (veiling flare) shown above. BACKGROUND: HOW IT HAPPENS

All but the simplest cameras contain lenses which are actually comprised of several "lens elements." Lens flare is caused by non-image light which does not pass (refract) directly along its intended path, but instead reflects internally on lens elements any number of times (back and forth) before finally reaching the film or digital sensor.

Note: The aperture above is shown as being behind several lens elements.

Lens elements often contain some type of anti-reflective coating which aims to minimize flare, however no multi-element lens eliminates it entirely. Light sources will still reflect a small fraction of their light, and this reflected light becomes visible as flare in regions where it becomes comparable in intensity to the refracted light (created by the actual image). Flare which appears as polygonal shapes is caused by light which reflects off the inside edges of the lens aperture (diaphragm), shown above.

Although flare is technically caused by internal reflections, this often requires very intense light sources in order to become significant (relative to refracted light). Flare-inducing light sources may include the sun, artificial lighting and even a full moon. Even if the photo itself contains no intense light sources, stray light may still enter the lens if it hits the front element. Ordinarily light which is outside the angle of view does not contribute to the final image, but if this light reflects it may travel an unintended path and reach the film/sensor. In the visual example with flowers, the sun was not actually in the frame itself, but yet it still caused significant lens flare. REDUCING FLARE WITH LENS HOODS

A good lens hood can nearly eliminate flare caused by stray light from outside the angle of view. Ensure that this hood has a completely non-reflective inner surface, such as felt, and that there are no regions which have rubbed off. Although using a lens hood may appear to be a simple solution, in reality most lens hoods do not extend far enough to block all stray light. This is particularly problematic when using 35 mm lenses on a digital SLR camera with a "crop factor," because these lens hoods were made for the greater angle of view. In addition, hoods for zoom lenses can only be designed to block all stray light at the widest focal length.

Petal lens hoods often protect better than non-petal (round) types. This is because petal-style hoods take into account the aspect ratio of the camera's film or digital sensor, and so the angle of view is greater in one direction than the other.

If the lens hood is inadequate, there are some easy but less convenient workarounds. Placing a hand or piece of paper exterior to the side of the lens which is nearest the flare-inducing light source can mimic the effect of a proper lens hood. On the other hand, it is sometimes hard to gauge when this makeshift hood will accidentally become part of the picture. A more expensive solution used by many pros is using adjustable bellows. This is just a lens hood which adjusts to precisely match the field of view for a given focal length.

Another solution to using 35 mm lenses and hoods on a digital SLR with a crop factor is to purchase an alternative lens hood. Look for one which was designed for a lens with a narrower 52

angle of view (assuming this still fits the hood mount on the lens). One common example is to use the EW-83DII hood with Canon's 17-40 f/4L lens, instead of the one it comes with. The EW-83DII hood works with both 1.6X and 1.3X (surprisingly) crop factors as it was designed to cover the angle of view for a 24 mm lens on a full-frame 35 mm camera. Although this provides better protection, it is still only adequate for the widest angle of view for a zoom lens.

Despite all of these measures, there is no perfect solution. Real-world lens hoods cannot protect against stray light completely since the "perfect" lens hood would have to extend all the way out to the furthest object, closely following the angle of view.

Unfortunately, the larger the lens hood the better-- at least when only considering its light-blocking ability. Care should still be taken that this hood does not

block any of the actual image light.

INFLUENCE OF LENS TYPE

In general, fixed focal length (or prime) lenses are less susceptible to lens flare than zoom lenses. Other than having an inadequate lens hood at all focal lengths, more complicated zoom lenses often have to contain more lens elements. Zoom lenses therefore have more internal surfaces from which light can reflect.

Wide angle lenses are often designed to be more flare-resistant to bright light sources, mainly because the manufacturer knows that these will likely have the sun within or near the angle of view.

Modern high-end lenses typically contain better anti-reflective coatings. Some older lenses made by Leica and Hasselblad do not contain any special coatings, and can thus flare up quite significantly under even soft lighting. MINIMIZING FLARE THROUGH COMPOSITION

Flare is thus ultimately under the control of the photographer, based on where the lens is pointed and what is included within the frame.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/lens-flare.htm

Although photographers never like to compromise their artistic flexibility for technical reasons, certain compositions can be very effective at minimizing flare. The best solutions are those where both artistic intent and technical quality coexist.

One effective technique is to place objects within your image such that they partially or completely obstruct any flare- inducing light sources. The image on the left shows a cropped region within a photo where a tree trunk partially obstructed a street light during a long exposure. Even if the problematic light source is not located within the image, photographing from a position where that source is obstructed can also reduce flare.

The best approach is to of course shoot with the problematic light source to your back, although this is usually either too limiting to the composition or not possible. Even changing the

angle of the lens slightly can still at least change the appearance and position of the flare.

VISUALIZING FLARE WITH THE DEPTH OF FIELD PREVIEW

The appearance and position of lens flare changes depending on the aperture setting of the photo. The viewfinder image in a SLR camera represents how the scene appears only when the aperture is wide open (to create the brightest image), and so this may not be representative of how the flare will appear after the exposure. The depth of field preview button can be used to simulate what the flare will look like for other apertures, but beware that this will also darken the viewfinder image significantly.

The depth of field preview button is usually found at the base of the lens mount, and can be pressed to simulate the streaks and polygonal flare shapes. This button is still inadequate for simulating how "washed out" the final image will appear, as this flare artifact also depends on the length of the exposure (more on this later). OTHER NOTES

Lens filters, as with lens elements, need to have a good anti-reflective coating in order to reduce flare. Inexpensive UV, polarizing, and neutral density filters can all increase flare by introducing additional surfaces which light can reflect from.

If flare was unavoidable and it produced a washed out image (due to veiling flare), the levels tool and local contrast enhancement can both help regain the appearance of contrast.

According to the Esoteric Buddhism, Light Mandala only occurs by the power of the Maha Acarya (achieved the enlightenment) who constructs a mandala in space (it is also called Mind Mandala, the lights will immediately transformed into Buddha/Bodhisattva-figures) only those who received the abhiseka (consecration/empowerment) can see it. In the Esoteric Buddhist history, only the Maha-Acarya Subhakarasimha (637-735) could perform this task for the royal artists to draw the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Krodhas (Angry- deities) of Garbhadhatu and Vajradhatu Mandalas. In Vajrayana tradition, from the Buddha Shakyamuni’s time to the end of 84 Mahasiddhas’ time, there is no one else able to form/create Light Mandala. The characteristics of Light Mandala are extremely brilliant, not only calm your mind, but also give pleasure your eyes for weeks or months. Furthermore, I witnessed the so-called Light Mandala on July 4, 2010 (around 9:25 PM) and also in my Hotel’s room in San Francisco on July 21, 2010 around 8:30 PM

July 4th, 2010 – Eden Center, VA

Hotel’s room in San Francisco The dots are Light Mandala? (SAMSUNG SL 102, 10.2 mega pixelsa, 3xZoom 6.3-18.9mm)

At the hotel, aerosols, PM2.5 in the atmosphere and a flash still opens during the night while taking the pictures can create the illusory/false background. It is called a lens’ flare, nothing mysterious about circle lights in a picture. This only occurs with an amateur like the writer, not a professional.

In brief, dust and automobile's exhaust fume (aerosols, PM2.5) producing a very spotty image, especially with the dry and hot days. At night, a flash should be avoided. It will reflect off of the tiny dust particles in the air, producing a very spotty image.

Darkening the picture through PhotoShop for viewing the so-called Light Mandalas in the air, the walls, the bed and the chair at the Hotel where the write spent a night.

http://amysrabbitranch.com/CreeksideGraphics/Images/Photos/NightSnowfall-Bushes.jpg

Christmas Night Effects

• By Vlad Gerasimov • Published 05/15/2007

Tips about how I made the Christmas Night wallpaper (see wallpaper).

Before you start reading this tutorial, I recommend making a big cup of coffee - it will be quite long :-)

So, to start, create new document (I made it 3200x2000 pixels) and fill background with solid black color.

To fill our sky with stars, we'll need some help of ContextFree. You can get it at www.contextfreeart.org. I downloaded one of fractals and manipulated it so that it fits my needs. You can download my fractal file here: xmasnight.cfdg. Using this file, create several similar fractals (in ContextFree, hit Ctrl-R to refresh and get new variation) and saved them as PNG images (right-click and save as image).

Open all PNG fractals in Photoshop, copy and paste them into one document, so that each fractal is a layer. For each layer, set Blend mode to "screen". It will make stars blend together.

Repeat as many times as you like, until you get enough stars. (I used about 20 fractals). If your stars are wrong color, you can colorize them - hit Ctrl-U and adjust hue and lightness as

necessary.

I wanted that the stars do not only fill entire image, but also create subtle "paths", or roads. For that, I used another fractal-generated image from ContextFree. Sorry I deleted the source file! But if you open ContextFree and open "cillasun" or "demo1" from examples menu, that might be OK too.

ContextFree generates black fractals on white background. I need only black fractal, with transparent background. Here's how: open PNG image in Photoshop, select all (Ctrl-A), copy (Ctrl-C), close (Ctrl-W), create new file (Ctrl-N), paste (Ctrl-V), switch to mask mode (Q), paste (Ctrl-V), sqitch back (Q), delete (Del).

Instead of black fractal, you need white. The fastest way is Ctrl-U, then set lightness = 100%.

Copy resulted fractal image and paste it into top-right corner of our artwork.

Then, simply set its layer opacity mode to "overlay". Result: in this corner stars are now grouped into nice "roads". If you need to make result more visible, simply duplicate the layer with fractal.

http://www.eyesontutorials.com/articles/168/1/Christmas-Night-Effects/Page1.html

Flash forward to present day, and iasw has been refurbished to look brand-spanking new. The light effects at night are incredible, making the exterior look even more magical:

http://davelandblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/tempest-in-teapot.html

http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee122/silver_fox_rival/My%203D%20Textures/?action=view&cur rent=MysticNight.jpg

Red sky at night... Posted by rcnaylor (My Page) on Sun, Jun 22, 08 at 22:39

Sailor's delight? Not too many sailors out here on the plains but just after sunset as a thunderstorm was moving past my house I took these pics. But, I was in such a hurry to get the pictures while the effect was there I grabbed my wife's camera. It was still raining, and dark and I was not real sure some of the lightening in the area was gone, so I couldn't get her flash turned off. It made for some interesting affects with the raindrops and trees in the yard.

Then, a couple of minutes later the red had settled in to kind of a purple and I took this picture of what the sidewalk and road looked like reflecting it. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/photo/msg0622393415966.html

http://www.juddnet.com/photography/frame.php?id=28

2002-12-22 - 28 west yellowstone

http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c158/rotax7/2002-12-22%20- %2028%20west%20yellowstone/?action=view¤t=312_top_at_nightcopy.jpg

MAHAVAIROCANA-SUTRA

This extremely important Esoteric Buddhist text is a foundation of colors and mandalas in Buddhism.

NAMAHÏ SAMANTA BUDDHAØNAØMÏ _ A VAMÏ RAMÏ HAMÏ KHAM

Deities of the Five Elements GROUP ONE -- Esoteric Buddhism

SANSKRIT JAPANESE Vairocana Dainichi Nyorai 大日 Space/Center/Zenith Space/Center/Zenith

Akshobhya Ashuku Nyorai 阿閦如来 Air / Wind / East Air / Wind / East

Ratnasambhava Hōshō Nyorai 宝生 Fire / South Fire / South

Amitabha Amida Nyorai 阿弥陀 Water / West Water / West

Amoghasiddhi Fukūjōju Nyorai 不空成就 Earth / North

Earth / North

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/5-elements-pagoda-gravestone.html

This Five Great Element Stupa was copied by Feng-shui Masters and changed into Chinese Five Elements.

The Tibetan letter at the base is HUM

The stack-up of five different shapes (in three dimension) represent the Productive Cycle of the powerful Five Elements, which is the basis of Fengshui studies. The square at the bottom represents Earth Element, which produces Metal Element, that in turn produces Water Element, which produces Wood Element and finally yields Fire Element at the top.

This particular model of 5 Element Pagoda has also the Chinese Calligraphy representing the 3 Star Immortals, Fuk, Luk & Sau engraved alongwith the Special Trigram Chien, to shower the Energy of Heavens & protect the family members.

This Five Tier Pagoda is a powerful Fengshui Metal Cure to entrap and imprison strong earth energy of 5 Yellows Star (that bring in arguments, fights, disputes, tiffs, accidents, financial loss, etc.) and the Black Star #2 (which brings illnesses, sickness and other ailments), especially in this Period 8. It also activates the Lucky Stars 1, 6 and 8 Flying Stars as well, to bring in Health, Wealth, Harmony & Happiness for the Family.

Place this 5 Element Pagoda in the Center of your Home to ward off the negative energies of the Flying Stars Fengshui. The Earth (soil) material and the Multi- Coloured Crystal Chips should be changed every year & also when you shift your home.

Many people believe in it, but how many people really got what they expected?

Color Symbolism in Buddhism

Color symbolism is used in a wide variety of fascinating ways in Buddhist art and ritual. In Buddhism, especially in Tibetan Buddhism, each of five colors (pancha-varna) symbolizes a state of mind, a celestial buddha, a part of the body, a part of the mantra word Hum, or a natural element. (Blue and black are sometimes interchangeable.)

Hum

http://www.visiblemantra.org/hum.html

It is believed that by meditating on the individual colors, which contain their respective essences and are associated with a particular buddha or bodhisattva, spiritual transformations can be achieved (see the table below).

Following is a table summarizing the meaning of the main color symbols in Buddhism. Click on the color name for a full article and examples of that color. (This article on general color symbolism continues below.)

Color Blue Black White Red Green Yellow coolness, life force, learning, balance, infinity, primordial preservatio rootedness, General knowledge harmony, ascension, darkness, n, the renunciatio Meanings , purity, vigor, youth, purity, hate sacred, n, earth longevity action healing blood, fire White turquoise, saffron black Tara, coral, red Seen In: lapis Green Tara robes of thangkas white thangkas lazuli monks elephant subjugation restraining Emotion, killing, killing, rest and and exorcism and Action anger hatred thinking summoning nourishing delusion delusion of anger into of jealousy into hate into attachment pride into Transforms mirror- ignorance the wisdom of compassio into the wisdom of : like into accomplishme n wisdom of sameness wisdom wisdom of nt discernment reality Akshobhy Ratna- Buddha n/a Vairocana Amitabha Amoghasiddhi a sambhava

Part of the dot (drop) on the n/a syllable 'ha' vowel 'u' the head the crescent Hum crescent Body Part Ears n/a eyes tongue head nose Element Air air water fire n/a earth

In addition, there is the Buddhist concept of the "rainbow body," the penultimate transitional state of meditation in which matter begins to be transformed into pure light. It is said to be the highest state attainable in the realm of samsara before the "clear light" of Nirvana. As 68

the spectrum contains within itself all possible manifestations of light, and thus of color, the rainbow body signifies the awakening of the inner self to the complete reservoir of terrestrial knowledge that it is possible to access before stepping over the threshold to the state of Nirvana. Understandably, when depicted in the visual arts, due to the profusion of colors, the result is spectacularly unique.

In a spectacular visualization, the Tibetan tradition states that the syllable hum (part of Om Mani Padme Hum), although blue in color, radiates five different colors. The dot (drop) on the crescent should be blue, the crescent is white, the head is yellow, the syllable 'ha' is red and the vowel 'u' is of green color.

The four elements air, fire, water and earth are also identified in the Kalachakra-tantra with four different colors: blue (or black), red, white and yellow, respectively. These four elements are further depicted as semi-circular, triangular, circular, and square respectively. This is a precursor to Tantric imagery where color and geometry (not mutually exclusive) are the basic building blocks making up the whole edifice of Tantric symbolism.

Color symbolism is also of great importance in a mandala, the quintessential symbol of Tibetan Buddhism. The Mahavairochana- Sutra states that a should be painted in five colors: one should start at the interior of the mandala with white and to be followed by red, yellow, blue and black.

The Chakrasambhara-tantra prescribes that the walls of a mandala should be painted in five colors and should maintain the order of black in the interior followed by white, yellow, red and green.

In certain mandalas, the four directions within the palace are indicated by different colors. The east is indicated by white, west by red, north by green and the south by yellow while the center is painted blue.

The Kalachakra-tantra, however, prescribes a different color scheme to indicate different directions: the color black indicates east, yellow west, white north, and red stands for the south. Whatever the color association with directions, the protecting circle of a mandala is almost always drawn in red.

http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols/color.htm

The colors of Buddha/Bodhisattva statues have a strong impact on health and prosperity of those who wear them. For an example, the Jade Buddha was made with the dark green color to attract money, however, the purple cracks, the fading dye and the golden color face causing the adverse effects … The Jade Buddha has no healing power.

June 27, 2010, Tu Vien Tuong Van, Virginia, by the writer

If a person who was born in the year of an Ox wearing the statue of an ox or a cow, or Buddha/Bodhisattva or jewelries with the black and/or green color will have many troubles with financial affairs and/or love.

In Esoteric Buddhism, the ox or cow is a symbol of enlightenment. Various deities are shown riding atop it.

However, a person who was born in an Ox also faces with one of the five subcategories (5 Elements): Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth.

Therefore, a qualified master can help you out with a selection of a right Buddha/Bodhisattva (Adhideva/Astadeva/Svadeva) or a suitable ornament.

MATERIALS

Materials of making a Buddha/Bodhisattva statue/pendant are very important. In general, we should use gold, silver, ruby, agate/translucent carnelian/Onyx/Blood stone, pearl, copper and gems to make. One can use other material(s) to make a Buddha/Bodhisattva statue/pendant. However, the meanings are different. Hinduism has used different color-stone to assist those who practice yoga/tantra.

http://www.freewebs.com/mykal-laws/chakrasystems.htm

In the art of healing, people often use color crystal/quartz as a mean for expelling the bad energy. This assay does not criticize any art of healing. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Chakra Balancing

One of the simplest ways to help balance the whole chakra system is to place a stone of the appropriate colour on each area. This will give each chakra a boost of its own vibration without altering its energies or the overall harmony of the system. It is believed that the interaction between the stones and chakras will return the chakra into healthy vibration, therefore healing the part of the body affected. Simply by placing a different beneficial stone on each of the seven chakras can be a general tonic to strengthen and tone up the entire system.

If you lay your collection of stones out so that you can easily see them all you will find your attention goes to the best choice of stone for each chakra. It is a good idea to place a grounding stone, like smoky quartz, between the feet to act as an anchor. Place the stones on the lowest chakra first, and move upwards than proceed with your Reiki healing session as you would normally do. When removing the stones, always remove the highest one first, leaving the lowest stone last.

1. Choose a red stone to put near the base of the spine or, alternatively, use two red stones of the same sort and rest one near the top of each leg. This will treat thee Base chakra. 2. For the Sacral chakra choose an orange stone to put on the lower abdomen. 3. At the Solar plexus use a yellow stone, placed between the navel and the ribcage. If there is tension in this area an energy—shifting stone, like a tiger's eye or a small clear quartz point, can be put at the diaphragm to help release. 4. The Heart chakra in the centre of the chest can be balanced with a green stone. A pink stone can be added for emotional clearing. 5. For the Throat chakra use a light blue stone . Place it at the base of the throat, at the top of the breastbone. 6. An indigo or dark blue stone is normally used to balance the Brow chakra in the centre of the forehead. Amethyst or another purple stone can be used here. 7. The stone for the Crown chakra rests just above the top of the head. If you have chosen an amethyst for the brow, use a clear quartz at the crown. If you used a dark blue stone at the brow you can use violet stone at the crown.

http://www.reikihealingcheshire.co.uk/crystal-therapy.htm

Chakra Energy Colors 7 colors of the Chakra Energy System

1. Red or Black - Root Chakra – Grounding, Security 2. Orange - Sacral Chakra – Creativity, Sexuality, Intimacy 3. Yellow - Solar Plexus - Personal Power, Vitality 4. Green - Heart Chakra – Love, Hope, and Forgiveness 5. Light Blue or Turquoise Blue - Throat Chakra - Communications 6. Dark Blue - Brow Chakra - Intuition and Insight 7. Violet - Crown Chakra - Connection to the Divine Source.

Clear quartz for extra energy. Black stones for protection.

http://quintessentialbling.com/chakra_info1.html

Ancient Traditional Birthstones Birth Month Modern Birthstones Hebrew birthstones Roman birthstones Arabic birthstones Hindu birthstones

January Garnet Garnet Garnet Garnet Ruby February Amethyst Amethyst Amethyst Amethyst Topaz

March Aquamarine, Bloodstone Bloodstone Bloodstone Bloodstone Opal

April Diamond Sapphire Sapphire Sapphire Diamond May Emerald Agate Agate Emerald Emerald

June Pearl, Moonstone Emerald Emerald Agate Pearl July Ruby Onyx Onyx Carnelian Sapphire August Peridot Carnelian Carnelian Sardonyx Ruby September Sapphire Peridot Peridot Peridot Zircon

October Opal, Tourmaline Aquamarine Aquamarine Aquamarine Coral

November Yellow Topaz, Citrine Yellow Topaz Yellow Topaz Yellow Topaz Cats-eye

December Turquoise, Blue Topaz Ruby Ruby Ruby Topaz

http://www.fabiostreasurechest.com/stone-properties.php

Traditionally speaking, Bhaisajyaguru or Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja or Yakushi, the Buddha of Healing and Medicine, is often shown holding a small jar of medicine in his left hand, while his right hand is in the mudra position meaning “No Fear.” When Buddhism arrived in Japan in the 6th century from Korea and China, Yakushi was among the first to arrive, and he quickly became revered throughout Japan as a powerful deity who could cure earthly suffering and sickness.

The use of the analogy of a Buddha being depicted as a doctor who cures the illness of suffering using the medicine of his teachings appears widely in Buddhist scriptures.

If one worships this Buddha statue, or wears this Buddha pendant, but

1. does not read the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja Sūtra (Medicine Buddha Sutra), 2. does not know His 12 Original Vows, 3. does not know His eastern realm of Vaidūryanirbhāsa, or "Pure Lapis Lazuli"; 4. does not understand the esoteric meanings of His Dharani and Mantra by heart; 5. does not know Eight Great Bodhisattvas surrounding Him; two Attendants: Suryaprabha and Candraprabha; 75

6. does not know the Twelve General Yakshas and their real bodies, and last but not the least 7. does not practice His Sadhana, then, this persons will not get the merits as the Sutra explained nor drive out his/her gravely illness or deadly disease.

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/yakushi.shtml

The beloved Father Shakyamuni Buddha does not bestow the healing power as Bhaisajyaguru Buddha; therefore, buying even an authentic jade pendant to wear in order to eliminate a chronic disease(s) without a help from a medical doctor/herbalist or medicines, it should be a practical joke!

How many people who possessed the jade Buddha’s head pendant really understand

1. His Original Vows? 2. His real Bodies? 3. His real realm/Buddha-land? 4. The esoteric meanings of His Dharani and Mantra by heart? 5. The Eight Great Bodhisattvas surrounding Him? 6. Two Attendants: Manjusri, Samantabhadra? 7. His Sadhana?

Did the pendant(s) was blessed and consecrated?

These two examples can be a role model for those who wear a Buddha/Bodhisattva pendant or worship at any Buddha/Bodhisattva statue.

Wearing the Buddha/Bodhisattva pendant generate an immense merit if and only if one can get rid of his/her egoism and practice 7 basic items above.

Once, one obtained an immense merit he/she will definitely accomplish anything at will. Otherwise, he/she will not possess any wish/hope/want even spending a large amount of money for a statue or pendant.

MERITS OF MAKING BUDDHA STATUES

( … ) People who make Buddha images, will possess bright eyes and elegant looks in their after lives; their physical bodies, arms and feet are well-proportioned. Even if they are born as devas/devis (gods/goddesses), with radiant eyes and countenance, their immaculateness outshines other gods of any realms. Indeed such a fortune is attained by those who make Buddha statues.

Any places in which people who make Buddha images are born in their subsequent lives will be void of any evilness. Their physiques are flawless. When they pass away, they will be born in the deva realm of the Brahma heaven (see The Ultimate Theory of The Universe, Pram Nguyen). Their appearance is exceptionally graceful that all devas will honor them. Indeed such a fortune is attained by those who make Buddha statues.

People who make Buddha statues will be born in their subsequent lives to dignified families that excel any other families existent on earth; never will they be born to underprivileged families. Indeed such a fortune is attained by those who make Buddha statues.

People who make Buddha golden statues in their after lives will be golden color in their physiques and be peerlessly refined.

People who make Buddha statues will be born in their subsequent lives to affluent families, with wealth, money, and precious jewels in abundance beyond measure. They will also be cherished by their parents, siblings, and other relatives. Indeed such a fortune is attained by those who make Buddha statues.

When people who make Buddha statues are born in Jambudvipa (Earth), they will be born in their subsequent lives either in the royal families or benevolent families (in different world). Indeed such a fortune is attained by those who make Buddha statues.

People who make Buddha statues will be born in their subsequent lives as the most noted and the most revered emperors among other monarchs (in different world). They are also worshipped as the patrons of all the other emperors. Indeed such a fortune is attained by those who make Buddha statues.

People who make Buddha statues will be born in their subsequent lives as Cakra- vartin-rajas (Dharma-turning kings) who are able to ascend and travel across deva realms and return at will (in different world). There is nothing beyond their capabilities. Indeed such a fortune is attained by those who make Buddha statues.

People who make Buddha statues will be born in their subsequent lives in the Brahmin-devas realm. Their wisdom is infinite and after they pass away, they won't be born in any lower realms. While alive, they constantly watch their deeds, think of Buddhas in pursuit of the Enlightenment. Indeed such a fortune is attained by those who make Buddha statues.

People who make Buddha statues will in their after lives repeatedly venerate Buddhas and revere the Holy Scriptures. They continually make offerings to Buddha's relics (sarari) by presenting assorted silk cloths, exquisite incenses, splendid flowers, oil- lit lights, and other precious jewels as well as other rarest treasures of the world. After innumerable kalpas, they will attain Nirvana. Those people who aspire to dedicate precious properties to Buddhas are not ordinary beings but were true Buddhist practitioners in previous lives. Indeed such a fortune is attained by those who make Buddha statues.

The virtues gained in the after lives by people who make Buddha statues are immeasurable. There is not enough time to delineate its magnitude. If the total volume of all rivers and oceans of the four great continents is gauged, the virtues of making Buddha statues outweigh the volume tenfold. Wherever these people are born, in their after lives they will always be respected and protected by others.

As if during a rainstorm, the people who make Buddha statues/images have reliable lodgings that they need not fear anything. These people never ever fall into the lower realms—be it hell, animals or hungry ghosts realms—after their ensuing deaths. If there are people who hold both of their palms together devotedly in front of Buddha statues and take refuge in Buddha stupas or Buddhas' relics, after their time is done, for one hundred kalpas, they will neither enter the lower realms of hells, animals, nor hungry ghosts, but instead will be born in the heavenly realms of the devas/devis. Once their life spans are used up, they will descend to this world as the children of prosperous families. Their possessions of precious jewels and treasures are incalculable. Eventually they are bound to attain the Buddhahood.

Merits of Making Buddha Statue Sutra

--- oOo ---

THE WRITER’S CONCLUSION STATEMENT AND QUESTIONS FOR A WELL-INFORMED PERSON

In my humble opinion, THE JADE BUDDHA MUST HAVE BEEN IN TIBET, CHINA, IRAQ, IRAN, ISREAL, PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, AFRICA, COLUMBIA, N. KOREA, etc … where wars and deadly political tension take place to serve its meanings.

In addition, why should $5 million-dollar insurance tag attach to the Jade Buddha? Are there no Bodhisattvas, no mighty God-Kings of the 18 level-heavens and other powerful Semi-God/Spirit Lords surrounding the Dalai Lama consecrated-statue to protect?

The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace

The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is the largest Buddha carved from gemstone quality jade. The Jade Buddha is 2.5 metres (8 feet) high and sits on an alabaster throne of 1.4 high. The Jade Buddha itself weighs around 4 tonne (4.5 ton) and has been valued at $5 million.

Its size and beauty make it a wonder of the world. The Buddha has been carved from a rare boulder of translucent jade (“Polar Pride”) which was discovered in Canada in the year 2000.

http://jadebuddha.org.au/docs/jade-buddha-fact-sheet.pdf

THE REAL COST OF MAKING JADE BUDDHA

“Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Green's spiritual master at the Australian stupa, also took a liking to Sun-Hill. After throwing Tibetan Mo dice, which are used for divination, Green said his master told him the stone must be made into a jade Buddha as a holy object to be offered to the world.

Green headed to Vancouver to purchase the stone, which its owners were selling for $1 million. They agreed to part with it for a deposit and installments over five years.”

http://mingkok.buddhistdoor.com/en/news/d/4883

JADE BUDDHA’S PROFITS

Many Jade Buddha’s Tours has been generating large profits for The Jade Mine/Jade West Company, the so-called the “owner” (Ian Green) of the Jade Buddha and the selected temples. Why should the representative (Steve Lowe) of so-called “owner” of the Jade Buddha repeatedly prohibits the Nuns from other temples who have no opportunity to participate in the selling souvenirs at the Jade Buddha’s Tour.

New range of Jade memento items available

Off-cuts from the carving of the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace are now available in a range of pendants that have been etched with images of the Buddha and the mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum”. You can purchase these at each tour venue.

CHORTEN STUPA EDITION No. 29

Do these remained items really come from the same 18 tons-nephrite stone?

How much Jade is left from Polar Pride? Polar Pride originally weighed over 18 tonne. The Jade Buddha for Universal Peaceweighs approximately 4 tonne. The off-cuts from Polar Pride amounted to approximately 14 tonne.

COMPARATION OF TWO STATUES AND THE JADE MEMENTO ITEMS

The Buddha has been carved from a rare boulder of translucent jade (“Polar Pride”)

http://jadebuddha.org.au/docs/jade-buddha-brochure-en.pdf

Mementos of the Jade Buddha

The workers at Jade Thongtavee were instructed to carefully collect every chip that came from Polar Pride during the carving process. These pieces of jade have been transformed into unique mementos of the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. The memento items are available for a limited time at each tour venue.

Jade Buddha Brochure, page ¾ http://jadebuddha.org.au/docs/jade-buddha-brochure-en.pdf

These items are very expensive!

… miniature carved jade pieces from Polar Pride will be sold as pendants for about $100. Acrylic models with chips from the original stone will be sold for $15.

http://mingkok.buddhistdoor.com/en/news/d/4883

In the past, very few people know the jade mine/jade west company. IS “JADE BUDDHA” A VERY CHEAP ADVERTISEMENT FOR A JADE COMPANY IN THE NAME OF BUDDHISM?

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