1312：It’s Difficult to Attain the Human Body, Listen to the Buddha Dharma, and Encounter a Guru.

Prostrations to His Eminence Vajra Guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, the Lineage gurus, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and Dharma Protector Achi. Greetings, Dharma brothers and fellow believers, I am Chen Qing Zhang from Group Seven, and my Dharma name is Gong Chu Ding Xu; my mother is Chen Zhu Zhao Zhi, my wife is Liu Jing Wen, and my daughter is Chen Yi Wen, all from Group Five. Today, I want to share with you here the traces of how Rinpoche has rescued and blessed my family and me, and to repent for the evil karma I have committed. 

I am grateful to Rinpoche for bestowing me the opportunity to take refuge and learn Buddhism on November 2, 2008.

Looking back, I was always full of self-attachment and self-righteousness in handling matters. At the end of 2007, due to the fate of my father-in-law’s illness, I was fortunate to meet His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche. At that time, Rinpoche compassionately (maitri and karuna) expounded that my karma of killing was heavy, and that I was manifesting ‘the suffering of unfulfilled desire’; Rinpoche also compassionately (maitri and karuna) instructed us to become vegetarian and give money personally to those who could not afford medical treatment and to children who could not afford schooling. But at that time, I was truly too ignorant to heed the teachings at all, nor did I act in accordance with the teachings. Until October 2008, when my wife was 19 weeks pregnant and unfortunately suffered a miscarriage, I implored Rinpoche to transfer the child’s consciousness, yet I was actually filled with deep self-attachment and irreverence in my mind, and at that time, I shamelessly told Rinpoche that I one hundred percent believed in the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. As a result, Rinpoche scolded me compassionately (maitri and karuna) on the spot, saying that I did not understand repentance at all and had no good fortune, merit, or fate; Rinpoche further pointed out that if I had not previously read The Life of Milarepa, I would have definitely had no fate to meet Rinpoche that day. These words were a sharp warning, instantly awakened me, and I repented with my tears flowing uncontrollably. Subsequently, Rinpoche, out of compassion (maitri and karuna) for sentient beings, still bestowed blessings and the precious nectar pill, instructing me to return to the hospital to ‘save lives.’ Only by this was my wife, amid her subsequent high fever and childbirth crisis, miraculously able to land on her feet and spared immense suffering. Regarding this experience, everyone may refer to Article No. 421 on the Traces of Liberating Beings.

In 2012, I was hospitalized twice due to acute pancreatitis and cholecystitis. When I fell ill for the first time, all my medical indicators were ten times above the normal range. Logically, I should have been writhing in pain on the floor, yet, due to Rinpoche’s blessings, I actually did not feel any severe pain. This illness gave me the opportunity to sincerely repent for my greed at work. Even more miraclely, this touched the heart of my father, who had originally been strongly averse to learning Buddhism; when he saw that Rinpoche held the Grand Puja for 20,000 people without collecting a single cent and without appointing any donor, my father was greatly amazed by the purity and equality, and from then on felt at ease to support us in learning Buddhism. Later, my old illness recurred due to my greed for food, and the second episode of illness was more severe; I not only experienced difficulty breathing and clouded consciousness, but also developed dangerous ascites. At that time, I faced the decision of whether to undergo gallbladder removal surgery. Just as I hesitated, because of a Dharma brother’s reminder， I suddenly realized: the body is ‘a mandala of 100 peaceful and wrathful deities,’ being able to repay karma through illness shows that one possesses great good fortune, and my resolve to practice Buddhism should definitely not waver! That same day, I immediately signed up to make offerings to Rinpoche at the Buddhist Center, and implored Rinpoche to compassionately (maitri and karuna) accept my offerings. Rinpoche then asked me, ‘What is it?’ I reported to Rinpoche, ‘I had been hospitalized again due to pancreatitis caused by gallstones.’ Rinpoche then asked, ‘What did the doctor say?’ I reported to Rinpoche, ‘The doctor recommended surgery to remove the gallbladder, but I do not want to undergo surgery.’ Rinpoche then expounded: ‘Since you do not want surgery, constantly taking Chinese medicine to regulate your body, which can expel the gallstones.’ Rinpoche also instructed me not to drink coffee and not to eat fried food. After that, I decided to take Chinese medicine from the Glorious Jewel Chinese Medicine Clinic to regulate my body.
 
In January 2013, on the eve of attending the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha Puja in Japan, my old illness flared up again. I vomited ceaselessly and could not eat any of the three meals, and all night I could only visualize the guru and implore the guru for blessings. During the puja, due to my arrogance, I struck the instrument incorrectly and feebly. I am grateful to Rinpoche for compassionately (maitri and karuna) correcting me three times and manifesting the wrathful Vajra form, scolding me loudly. I immediately knelt, and in that instant, I felt a wave of heat flowing down from the top of my head. My previously swollen and uncomfortable abdomen miraculously flattened on the spot, like a balloon with the air released! After the puja, I am grateful to Rinpoche for bestowing the opportunity on the disciples to have dinner together. I was astonishingly able to eat normally, which is virtually impossible from a medical standpoint. I am truly and deeply grateful for Rinpoche’s compassionate (maitri and karuna) rescue. Everyone is welcome to read Article No. 592 on the Traces of Liberating Beings for a detailed process.
 
After continuously taking Chinese medicine from the Glorious Jewel Chinese Medicine Clinic for half a year, the abdominal ultrasound during the company health check showed that my original gallstones had astonishingly disappeared completely! The doctor was extremely surprised and said that it was rare to see Chinese medicine treat gallstones so thoroughly; moreover, follow-up examinations over the subsequent years showed no recurrence. All of this once again confirmed Rinpoche’s incredible blessing power.
 
In June 2016, I was fortunate to follow His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche to Bhutan to attend the incomparably wondrous ‘Fire Offering’ puja. During the puja, I accidentally suffered a severe burn on my right hand, and a large blister immediately formed. I am grateful to Rinpoche for instructing me that after returning to Taiwan, I must go to the hospital for treatment to prevent the wound from infection, and I should apply Bao Yuan Gao. I am grateful that under Rinpoche’s blessings and the protection of Bao Yuan Gao, the originally severe injury miraculously healed with remarkable speed. What was most incredible to both the medical staff and me was that, despite such a high-temperature burn injury, the skin on my right hand is now smooth as if it had never been injured, without even the slightest scar left behind.
 
In October 2017, when my wife saw a doctor because of physical discomfort, she unexpectedly discovered that she had already been seven weeks pregnant. My wife, who had polycystic ovary syndrome and was already 42 years old, was astonishingly able to conceive naturally, which is truly minuscule. Besides, my wife had a history of miscarriage due to ‘cervical insufficiency,’ and the doctor strongly recommended she undergo a preventive cerclage surgery. Facing the high medical risks, we chose to firmly believe in Rinpoche’s teaching: ‘Live adapting to fate and feel at ease under any circumstance,’ and face the impermanence of life in an ordinary state of mind. During my wife’s pregnancy, she not only refrained from any self-funded invasive examinations or surgeries, but also worked as usual, and even followed Rinpoche to go on a pilgrimage to India. I am grateful for Rinpoche’s compassionate (maitri and karuna) blessings. While other pregnant women experienced late-stage swelling and further difficulty walking, my wife was still able to work and act normally. In May 2018, my wife delivered at full term, and both mother and daughter were safe and well. About all of this incredible smoothness, I should be sincerely grateful to His Eminence Vajra Guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s compassionate (maitri and karuna) blessings and protection.

I would also like to share an incident occurring to my daughter when she was three years old. That time, she accidentally fell off the bed and heavily struck her front teeth; at that time, the teeth were knocked out of alignment, and blood flew without stopping. At first, we helped her apply Bao Yuan Gao, and the bleeding quickly stopped. Later, we took her to a dentist for examination, and the dentist also found it miraculous that her teeth were astonishingly not broken at all. What moved our entire family most was that, as soon as our daughter returned home, she unexpectedly and proactively ran before the mandala and, facing Rinpoche’s Dharma portrait, prostrated with utmost sincerity, deeply grateful. Only after asking later did we learn that, at the very moment my daughter fell, she personally saw His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche appear in yellow Dharma vestments to protect her. Hearing this, I truly felt deeply ashamed and immensely grateful. It turned out that even in the subtle details we did not notice, the guru’s compassionate Dharmakaya (Dharma-body) was ceaselessly protecting our family members. I am grateful to Rinpoche for allowing the child to endure a lessened effect of heavy karmic retribution, turning danger into safety in times of crisis!
 
Here, I sincerely repent for all the evil karma and mistakes I have committed in the past:
 
 1. Eighteen years ago (in 2007), when I first met His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, due to my heavy self-attachment, I did not aspire to take refuge and learn Buddhism at first. I repent that, with little good fortune, shallow fate, and insufficient roots of virtue, I squandered such an incomparably wondrous fate.

2. While serving as a sound volunteer at the Grand Puja, I failed to accurately hand over the speaker arrangement personally designed by Rinpoche, which hindered the planned progress of the audio settings in the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Monastery of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche. I deeply repent. At that time, at the Nangang Exhibition Center, the professional audio company was at a loss when facing the severe echo interference. Thanks to Rinpoche’s great wisdom in guiding us to rotate the speakers toward the seating area, the echo was immediately eliminated upon on-site testing. The company staff were exceedingly dazzled by this, which further revealed that it was my oversight and carelessness, and I was so irresponsible.
 
3. While serving as a Dharma affair volunteer, due to an incorrect mind and lack of reverence, I committed several mistakes:

1) Inattention in serving: While serving the guru by the side, I often failed to pay attention to the guru because of nervousness. After the lamp-lighting liturgy, I, in my haste to retrieve the lighter, obstructed Rinpoche’s walking space. I repent that my mind was solely focused on completing the task; I paid no attention to the guru at all, nor did I show any reverence to the guru. 

2) Absence from my duty without approval: During the Bhutan puja in 2016, due to my incorrect mindset, I even took it upon myself to join the Tiger’s Nest Monastery trip, which caused the guru to find me everywhere in vain when dispatching assignments. I repent for failing to fulfill my duty of attendance and service, placing personal leisure above Buddhist affairs.
 
3) Negligence and procrastination: Before the Grand Puja in 2016, we disciples failed to promptly seek instructions regarding the nectar pills, making the attending assembly unable to receive the nectar water. I am grateful to Rinpoche for compassionately (maitri and karuna) instructing the disciples to perform the grand prostrations to repent and for scolding us, thereby eliminating the disciples’ heavy karmic obstacles.

4) Deep and heavy self-attachment: In 2016, when performing the Fire Offering Ritual during the puja in Saitama, Tokyo, Japan, Rinpoche guided me on where to stand to maintain the order, however, due to my attachment to my own thoughts, I only took the proper position after being corrected three consecutive times. I deeply repent that my every arising thought revolved around ‘self,’ consuming the guru’s extremely precious time and effort, which should have been used for practicing Dharma.

4. Rinpoche taught us that when learning Buddhism, we should not have the slightest trace of laziness and should be dedicated to all matters. While preparing for the consecration ceremony of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Monastery of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, I repent that as the main person responsible for the walkie-talkies, prior to the consecration ceremony, I had rented out 50 walkie-talkies without authorization. I not only did not seek the guru’s instructions in advance, but also failed to discuss the intended use with the working group; I just accepted everything as presented, neglected my duty of oversight, and completely forgot that every penny of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Monastery of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche comes from the hard-earned money of sentient beings. I am grateful to Rinpoche for compassionately (maitri and karuna) pointing out my grave mistake. During my report, the guru carefully asked questions many times, which made me realize I had utterly lacked dedication in handling matters. Not only was my report careless and the details poorly explained, but it also revealed my insincere mindset of ‘just completing the task.’ I seriously consumed the guru’s precious time and energy, and had not even comprehended the hardships the guru endures in maintaining the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Monastery of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche. Currently, the expenses of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Monastery of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche are enormous, and Rinpoche has even gone so far as to sell his property and vehicles to wholeheartedly donate to the Monastery. I should have prudently and proactively overseen matters, rather than passively waiting for instructions.
 
My mistakes are too numerous to record. I vow to use this as a lesson to warn myself, and I pray that Dharma brothers do not commit the same errors. I will surely correct my past mistakes thoroughly, amend my self-attachment, listen obediently, and practice by following the teachings.
 
I am grateful to His Eminence Vajra Guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche. I lack good fortune, fate, and capability. Since taking refuge, my family and I have received Rinpoche’s compassionate (maitri and karuna) blessings and protection in every circumstance, which has enabled us to overcome obstacles and learn Buddhism with stability. I am grateful to Rinpoche for transferring the consciousnesses of my father-in-law, my prematurely deceased twins, and my ancestors, and for helping us relieve our suffering through the Buddha Dharma during our most difficult times. Rinpoche often expounded, ‘It’s difficult to attain the human body, listen to the Buddha Dharma, and encounter a guru. ’Now that I have encountered the meritorious Vajra Guru and taken refuge in him, if I do not cherish the incomparably wondrous fate in this lifetime, truly uphold the Five Precepts and the Ten Meritorious Acts, examine and amend my own mind each day with the Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas, and vow to be reborn in the Pure Land, then this lifetime will have been lived in vain.

I pray for His Eminence Vajra Guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s good health, longevity, and auspiciousness; his Buddha Dharma activities flourish; his Dharma lineage spreads eternally; and the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Monastery of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche benefits all sentient beings. I thank all fellow believers and Dharma brothers for listening patiently. 

 

 Respectfully written by disciple Chen Qing Zhang, Group Seven, 

 on December 28, 2025

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Updated on January 2, 2026