Lu Sheng-yen
Encyclopedia
Lu Sheng-Yen (born 27 June 1945; 5th month, 18th day Lunar Calendar), commonly referred to by followers as 師尊 (Grand Master Lu) is the founder and spiritual leader of the True Buddha School
, a new
Buddhist sect with teachings taken from Sutrayana
and Vajrayana
(Tantric Buddhism), as well as Taoism
. Master Lu has declared himself to be Living Buddha Lian Sheng (蓮生活佛, Liansheng Huófó) and is revered by his disciples as a Living Buddha.
His organization says that over seven million students have taken refuge as disciples under Lu. There are also more than four hundred local chapters of the True Buddha School, including thirty major temples, such as the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond, Washington
. The majority of his disciples hail from Taiwan
, Singapore
, Indonesia
, and Malaysia. He has dual American and Taiwanese citizenship, and often travels between the two countries.
Lu is married to Lian Hsiang, who is also a vajra master, and is referred as Grand Madam Lu. Lu and Lian Hsiang have two children.
, Taiwan
in 1945, Lu was raised a Christian
, attending a Protestant
school. His post-secondary education was at Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, and he graduated with a degree in Survey Engineering. In his early twenties he was both a survey engineer and a Sunday school Bible teacher.
He has written that his epiphany came in 1969 when he had a mystical experience, leading him to seek out a total of twenty-one human gurus in Taoism, Sutra, and Tantra. In 1982, Lu and a small following of his disciples moved to the United States, and lived in the state of Washington.
To date, Lu has written over 200 books in Chinese on various topics, including Feng Shui, spirituality, and profound dharma teachings. Many of these books have been translated to both English and Spanish.
He went into retreat for six years starting late 2000, spending most of his time in Taihiti, as well as some in Taiwan. Today he lives in Taiwan.
method of attaining Buddhahood. His teachings follow the traditional stages of the practice of the Four Preliminaries, followed by Guru Yoga, Deity Yoga, the Vajra Practices
, and finally Highest Yoga Tantra
. Lu has written that his spiritual gurus included the 16th Karmapa
, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje
and Tai Situ Rinpoche.
He describes the state of enlightenment using the allegory of Padmakumara, whom he identifies with Amitabha Buddha
and his own enlightened self.
According to Noah Casey, Lu's teachings do not prohibit the consumption of meat and alcohol (as do some sects in Vajrayana); however, "The consumption of alcohol is limited to quantities not resulting in intoxication, and the eating of meat is restricted to animals not butchered especially for the person consuming. Before consuming either of these, or any other nutritional substance, a special prayer is required. For meats, the spirit of the animal must be delivered." However, this is seen as contradiction, in comparison with traditional Pure Land Buddhist
teachings.
Lu made headlines during an investigation by the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission into his cash donations to then-Governor Gary Locke
, who Lu had hoped would run for the White House
. Locke was cleared of any wrongdoing by the commission in 1998. Further, this did not affect Locke in his pursuit for confirmation as the current U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
He was also sued in civil court by a former disciple, a 41-year-old Malaysian immigrant over allegations of sexual misconduct, after the King County, Washington
prosecutor declined to file charges for lack of evidence. The case was dismissed by King County Superior Court Judge Kathleen Learned citing constitutional issues. In the case S.H.C. v. Sheng-Yen Lu, the Superior Court of King County granted the Temple's motion for summary judgment, and the Court of Appeals later "affirm[ed] the trial court's grant of summary judgment dismissing all claims against the Temple." The school has recently re-addressed this matter in the hopes of closing the case.
After a meeting in November 1996 with the Dalai Lama and a meeting with the 100th Ganden Tri Rinpoche
, Lu asserted that both the Dalai Lama and Ganden Tripa Rinpoche had endorsed him as an authority in Tibetan Buddhism
. It is unclear whether there was retraction of such endorsement, as has been widely rumored. His claims that he has millions of disciples have also been heavily questioned by Tibetan sources, as well as his claim to have attained lineage from various Tibetan lineages, albeit most of his critics do not know him personally.
Lu has also gained attention for his opulent lifestyle, an example being his vehicle being a Bentley
.
True Buddha School
The True Buddha School is a modern Vajrayana Buddhist sect based in Taiwan and parts of East Asia with influence from Sutrayana and Taoism.Founded in the late 1980s, the founder of this sect is Lu Sheng-yen , often referred to by his followers as a tulku, a Tibetan term for a reincarnated teacher...
, a new
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
Buddhist sect with teachings taken from Sutrayana
Sutrayana
Sūtrayāna, in the Indo-Tibetan three-fold classification of yanas, is the yana that leads to the realization of emptiness. It consists of Hinayana and Mahayana. The other two yanas, according to this classification, are Tantrayana and Dzogchen, which together constitute Vajrayana....
and Vajrayana
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...
(Tantric Buddhism), as well as Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
. Master Lu has declared himself to be Living Buddha Lian Sheng (蓮生活佛, Liansheng Huófó) and is revered by his disciples as a Living Buddha.
His organization says that over seven million students have taken refuge as disciples under Lu. There are also more than four hundred local chapters of the True Buddha School, including thirty major temples, such as the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond, Washington
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000....
. The majority of his disciples hail from Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, and Malaysia. He has dual American and Taiwanese citizenship, and often travels between the two countries.
Lu is married to Lian Hsiang, who is also a vajra master, and is referred as Grand Madam Lu. Lu and Lian Hsiang have two children.
Life
Born in Chiayi CountyChiayi County
Chiayi County is a county in southwestern Taiwan surrounding but not including Chiayi City. Its historical name in Taiwanese Hokkien derives from Tsirosen in the Formosan languages...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in 1945, Lu was raised a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, attending a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
school. His post-secondary education was at Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, and he graduated with a degree in Survey Engineering. In his early twenties he was both a survey engineer and a Sunday school Bible teacher.
He has written that his epiphany came in 1969 when he had a mystical experience, leading him to seek out a total of twenty-one human gurus in Taoism, Sutra, and Tantra. In 1982, Lu and a small following of his disciples moved to the United States, and lived in the state of Washington.
To date, Lu has written over 200 books in Chinese on various topics, including Feng Shui, spirituality, and profound dharma teachings. Many of these books have been translated to both English and Spanish.
He went into retreat for six years starting late 2000, spending most of his time in Taihiti, as well as some in Taiwan. Today he lives in Taiwan.
Teachings
Lu teaches the MahamudraMahamudra
Mahāmudrā literally means "great seal" or "great symbol." It "is a multivalent term of great importance in later Indian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism" which "also occurs occasionally in Hindu and East Asian Buddhist esotericism."The name refers to the way one who...
method of attaining Buddhahood. His teachings follow the traditional stages of the practice of the Four Preliminaries, followed by Guru Yoga, Deity Yoga, the Vajra Practices
Tantra techniques (Vajrayana)
Tantra techniques in Vajrayana Buddhism are techniques used to attain Buddhahood. Vajrayana partially relies on various tantric techniques rooted in scriptures such as tantras and various tantric commentaries and treatises...
, and finally Highest Yoga Tantra
Highest Yoga Tantra
Anuttarayoga Tantra , often translated as Unexcelled Yoga Tantra or Highest Yoga Tantra, is a term used in Tibetan Buddhism in the categorization of esoteric tantric Indian Buddhist texts that constitute part of the Kangyur, or the 'translated words of the Buddha' in the Tibetan Buddhist canon...
. Lu has written that his spiritual gurus included the 16th Karmapa
Karmapa
The Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa , itself one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism....
, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje
Rangjung Rigpe Dorje
The sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje was spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism...
and Tai Situ Rinpoche.
He describes the state of enlightenment using the allegory of Padmakumara, whom he identifies with Amitabha Buddha
Amitabha
Amitābha is a celestial buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahāyāna school of Buddhism...
and his own enlightened self.
According to Noah Casey, Lu's teachings do not prohibit the consumption of meat and alcohol (as do some sects in Vajrayana); however, "The consumption of alcohol is limited to quantities not resulting in intoxication, and the eating of meat is restricted to animals not butchered especially for the person consuming. Before consuming either of these, or any other nutritional substance, a special prayer is required. For meats, the spirit of the animal must be delivered." However, this is seen as contradiction, in comparison with traditional Pure Land Buddhist
Pure Land Buddhism
Pure Land Buddhism , also referred to as Amidism in English, is a broad branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism and currently one of the most popular traditions of Buddhism in East Asia. Pure Land is a branch of Buddhism focused on Amitābha Buddha...
teachings.
Controversies
The True Buddha School has, in recent times, been criticized by seven major Buddhist organizations in Malaysia and many other Buddhist organizations in Taiwan and Hong Kong as a cult and as a breakaway from orthodox Buddhist teachings.Lu made headlines during an investigation by the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission into his cash donations to then-Governor Gary Locke
Gary Locke
Gary Locke may refer to:*Gary Locke , Chinese American politician; U.S. Secretary of Commerce and former Governor of Washington*Gary Locke *Gary Locke...
, who Lu had hoped would run for the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. Locke was cleared of any wrongdoing by the commission in 1998. Further, this did not affect Locke in his pursuit for confirmation as the current U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
He was also sued in civil court by a former disciple, a 41-year-old Malaysian immigrant over allegations of sexual misconduct, after the King County, Washington
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
prosecutor declined to file charges for lack of evidence. The case was dismissed by King County Superior Court Judge Kathleen Learned citing constitutional issues. In the case S.H.C. v. Sheng-Yen Lu, the Superior Court of King County granted the Temple's motion for summary judgment, and the Court of Appeals later "affirm[ed] the trial court's grant of summary judgment dismissing all claims against the Temple." The school has recently re-addressed this matter in the hopes of closing the case.
After a meeting in November 1996 with the Dalai Lama and a meeting with the 100th Ganden Tri Rinpoche
Lobsang Nyima Pal Sangpo
Lobsang Nyima Pal Sangpo , also known as Lobsang Nyima Rinpoche, a Tibetan religious leader, was the 100th Ganden Tripa, or spiritual leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism from 1994 until 2002....
, Lu asserted that both the Dalai Lama and Ganden Tripa Rinpoche had endorsed him as an authority in Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
. It is unclear whether there was retraction of such endorsement, as has been widely rumored. His claims that he has millions of disciples have also been heavily questioned by Tibetan sources, as well as his claim to have attained lineage from various Tibetan lineages, albeit most of his critics do not know him personally.
Lu has also gained attention for his opulent lifestyle, an example being his vehicle being a Bentley
Bentley
Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O". Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later...
.
External links
- True Buddha School Net (Official site)
- Unofficial True Buddha School Blog