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Big eyes, black skin, not very tall and a bit round, the first black monk of True Buddha School hails from London of England. His Dharma name is Reverend Lian Hong.
The first time I heard his name was during the Marici Bodhsiattva Dharma Ceremony in Seattle last year. Grand Master mentioned that more and more disciples are entering the True Buddha School. There are so many disciples that he can't even recall all of their names. But there is one disciple who he will always recognize, even if this disciple is burnt to charcoal . [Everyone burst into laughter once Grand Master said this.] Grand Master went on to say that this disciple is Reverend Lian Hong. I was thinking to myself, "What kind of disciple would leave such a deep impression on Grand Master?" That day also happened to be my ordination day. I came to the temple after the ceremony and I then realized, "Oh! He is a black monk." Reverend Lian Hong is one of the monks having earned my deep respect. The more you spend your time with him, the more you will discover his virtues. He is hardworking and very keen to learn. One year ago, he could speak only simple Chinese. Now he can speak Mandarin quite fluently while leading a group cultivation. He can even do a simultaneous translation of Grand Master's speeches. When I saw his progress, I complimented him and he humbly replied, "This is due to the blessing of Grand Master!" When I first ordained, I witnessed various displays of human nature, as well as several disputes that occurred in the temple. It was totally different from what I expected, and I was discouraged by it and felt a bit down. Reverend Lian Hong was the one who took the initiative to console me. He told me, "Everyone must endure tests in their cultivation. If you can walk past this place, you will be able to stay at any place with no problem!" When I asked him why he wanted to be a monk, he replied, "I came for Grand Master! I can give my life to him." His pair of big, sincere eyes filled with tears of emotion when he said that. I will forever remember that scene. At that moment, the feeling of having found someone who understood me suddenly filled my heart with motivation and gratitude. I quickly turned to walk away because I did not want him to see my tears either. There was one phrase he spoke that stupefied me: "What else is there that I can't conquer?" Due to these words, I developed complete respect for Reverend Lian Hong. Reverend Lian Hong told me that he has always loved the Chinese culture since he was very young. He found it to be familiar. At age eleven, he forced his parents to let him learn the Chinese Martial Arts. At age 15, he took refuge in True Buddha School through the introduction of his Martial Arts teacher. When he was active, he practiced martial arts. When he was passive, he practiced the True Buddha Tantric Dharma. He never thought of becoming a monk until one fine day when he read the biography of Ancestral Guru Milarepa. Suddenly, he found great changes occurring within himself. He told me what happened that day. "My whole person was gone! After work, when my mum talked to me, I didn't even know how to answer her. I completely immersed myself in the book. I was overwhelmed by the spirit of seeking the Dharma, and by the perseverance of Guru Milarepa. So I told myself, 'don't waste your time anymore, because Grand Master is just like Marpa, the master of Guru Milarepa. He is truly a master who can release your worries eternally. What am I waiting for?'" Thus, he overcame many obstacles to come to Seattle. He said the happiest moment in his life was when he ordained. Reverend Lian Hong has been a monk for nearly two years now . He merges the teachings of Grand Master into his daily life. This is the secret of his cultivation and the source of his happiness. In reference to everyone around him, he says, "I treat everyone as a Bodhisattva." Speaking of himself, he says, "I hope to be a good example." The Westerners can have difficulties in understanding the Buddha's teachings and they can be difficult to salvage. Their cultivation often lacks persistence and perseverance. This is what pains him the most in his heart. When I asked him what his most difficult problem is, he thought for a long time without answering. Maybe, any difficulties to him are no longer seen as problems. The amount of mantras he chants in a day is quite shocking, but Reverend Lian Hong is no boring person. On the contrary, he is very lively and possesses several talents. During the New Year Celebration Party performances, he performed as a woman and his role was to portray a jealous concubine of the Ching Dynasty. His acting was so real and comical that it made Grand Master laugh very heartily. His best and most special performance is his Kung Fu Martial Art. Reading the books of Grand Master and numerous books on the Ancestral Gurus has helped him to increase his wisdom. He has read the biography of Guru Milarepa up to 6 times. He expresses compassion to all sentient beings through his respect and courtesy for everyone around him. In turn, this has attracted much love and respect from other Reverends and Dharma disciples. The root of cultivation achievement is based on his steady faith in Grand Master. He can maintain a clear head and a humble character whenever he is being respected or complimented. His forever friendly and easy-going attitude is even more precious. Reverend Lian Hung will definitely be able to salvage many people in the future. His Dharma name, 'Hong' means tides that will bring the wisdom of Buddha to tides of Sentient Beings. I believe that this is Grand Master's expectation of Reverend Lian Hung. Reported by Reverend Lian Zhi.
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