Buddha Light

I just returned from a wonderful weekend conference at Harvard with His Holiness GrandMaster Lin Yun , leader of the 4th Stage of the Black Hat Sect of Tantric Buddhism. He is also the person responsible for bringing the more spiritual, less dogmatic type of Feng Shui that I practice to the U.S. I arrived in Boston expecting to learn a lot about "The Most Secretive of the Secretive Cures" and other arcane Feng Shui knowledge.

I left with a new respect for Buddhism in general.

Sure, I received many new tips and techniques to use on my Feng Shui appointments, but the tapestry that was woven around the lessons was rich and varied. I'm not one who is easily impressed by outward displays of reverence or flash. In fact, many of the participants turned me off by their sycophantic words of praise and adulation for Professor Lin. And even when I met him, it wasn't like there was a flash of light, angels surrounding him, or even any loud gongs sounding. It wasn't until the next day, when he gave us a glimpse of the sense of humor that lies buried in the intricacies of his native Mandarin, and his graciousness about allowing photos to be taken with him that I began to see why people are so fond of him.

I had been approaching him as a mere teacher, not the mentor that they were.

Many of the participants shed tears as the weekend drew to a close. I guess if I had been following someone around the world for 15-20 years, and now that time was nearing the end, I would be sad, too. I guess I still don't understand the devotion that comes with that type of dedication. Bands have their groupies...why not a spiritual teacher?

Some of the knowledge imparted still doesn't seem practical, but once my Western mind wraps itself around it, I'm sure I'll be able to adapt it properly to my clients' needs. All I can say is, if anyone has a really old Chinese cooking wok with a black bottom, please don't throw it away! Let me know and I'll tell you how it can serve you, all for the price of 9 red envelopes!

I took part in a special ceremony at the end of the weekend, too. While they called it "Refuge", and many actually prostrated themselved in front of Professor Lin, I perceived it as a type of blessing ceremony. The Buddhist nature of it was fascinating...so accepting of others and their belief systems...they actually stressed that they did NOT want anyone to convert to Buddhism, that the participants should keep their current belief systems. Wow! What a change to the standard Christian practice of Convert & Conquer...

I got a Chi Infusion from him, which left me energetically charged for days, too. That man has great energy! And eventually, I'll get a small golden Buddha statue, which will contain the energy of both Professor Lin and Crystal Chu, his successor.

Her Holiness Khadro Crystal Chu Rinpoche will take over teaching these Feng Shui seminars, as well as continue her work as a teacher of Buddhist philosophies around the world, once the 78-yr-old Professor chooses to retire. The fact that a woman was chosen to fill his shoes is huge...historically, women weren't even allowed to know anything about Feng Shui, let alone be the leader of a world-wide organization! She is a lovely and gracious individual, and I look forward to seeing what she will offer in her time.

I realized, too, that many of the meditations and prayers that I already say are not dissimilar to the ones presented during the weekend. The biggest difference was the vocabulary surrounding the invitation to allow the Universal Light into your heart. They simply used "Buddha Light"...but it's all Love. God's Love. Buddha's Love. Allah's Love. Sweet Spirit.

And it's all Good!