Hui Lianzhu
Name: Yang Xi
Dharma name: Hui Lianzhu
Occupation: Teacher
Meditation Center: Los Angeles
Date of taking refuge: 2008
A while ago, Musk's DODGE division aggressively cut federal government jobs, causing chaos and devastation wherever he went. My wife's workplace was also in a state of panic; the union, aside from offering condolences, had lost its usual high spirits. Even resorting to the courts yielded no improvement, like ants trying to shake a tree—utterly futile.
At that moment, I had a chance to speak with my guru, and I took the opportunity to ask him about our concerns. After listening to my explanation, he glanced to his right for about a second, then told me that this time it probably wouldn't involve my wife, but he also gave me instructions on how to handle the situation. Hearing my guru's words calmed us considerably, but we were still a little worried. We did everything we could, and could only wait and see. A few months later, news came from her workplace that not only had the layoffs stopped, but many employees who had already left were being recalled. Truly, Buddha's grace was boundless, helping my family through another difficult time.
In many movies and TV shows I've watched before, the protagonist's family starts off happy and carefree. But before the good times even begin, everything changes drastically—the family goes bankrupt or is betrayed by enemies. I really dislike these kinds of plots. Why isn't life a comedy? Reality has slowly taught me that ordinary people's lives are also full of ups and downs, full of hardships. It's true what they say: life imitates art, and art imitates life.
Some people interrupt their Buddhist practice for various reasons, so why have I continued to follow my Guru? Because I cannot betray the loving-kindness my Guru has given me. Furthermore, my life experience tells me that everyone carries an innate constraint: illness, disaster, hardship, and sorrow will recur from time to time, and the Guru and Buddha are the ones who break this constraint. Since my Guru led me into the true Dharma of Buddhism, Buddha has paved the way for me through mountains and built bridges over rivers. Every time I faced difficulties in life, Buddha opened a heavenly gate for me, allowing me to pass through. During the period when the COVID-19 pandemic shrouded the globe, neither I nor my family were infected even once; this was yet another act of compassionate protection from Buddha.
Have I truly seen the Buddha? Not yet. But experience tells me that straying from the Buddha inevitably triggers the inner turmoil, and only practicing Buddhism can bring peace to my life. In this life, I truly cannot escape the Buddha's palm, because that inner turmoil is like a time bomb; only the Buddha can help me eliminate the hidden dangers time and time again. In my dream, I saw four images of my guru turning towards me from left to right, each with its left eye and surrounding area black. What does this dream mean? I'm afraid of being told, "Is this how you perceive me?" So I need to ask my guru tactfully.
During a work assignment with my guru, I asked him, "Is there such a Buddha in Buddhism? He has one black eye." Without hesitation, my guru replied, "Kumārajīva." I was overjoyed: "Master, that's exactly how I dreamt of you!" My guru laughed, "So I was a demon after all."
I breathed a deep sigh of relief. If I had turned my dreams of my master into demonic possession, I would truly be heartless. To me, my master is the one who breaks the curse. When my merit and virtue are insufficient, he takes some from his ocean of merit and bestows it upon me, allowing me to free myself from worldly troubles and continue my practice of Buddhism. This is the compassion and preciousness of the Guru Buddha.
There's a Chinese saying, "He who laughs last laughs best." A moment of glory doesn't guarantee lifelong success; the curses that bind everyone are only a matter of time. I felt the awe of my Guru Buddha because he has the power to break the curse; I felt the Guru Buddha's compassion because he always selflessly bestows blessings and guidance upon me. If a living Buddha's Guru is so compassionate and accepting towards me, how compassionate and sublime must a Dharmakaya Buddha's Guru be? Therefore, in this arduous journey of spiritual practice, may I forever follow my root Guru Buddha, and may the lamp of my heart burn ever bright.