For several weeks leading up to December 4, 2025—the day we offloaded the Guan Yin Bodhisattva statue—Master Zhengda Jiaozun had not yet returned from her more than two-month leave. During that period, I first partially and then fully took responsibility for contacting forklift rental companies. I called many providers, and the average price for a suitable forklift was around $1,000. The lowest price I found online was $890, likely before tax.
I remember mentioning to Master Zhengda on a Sunday, while she was outside pruning trees around the temple, that the forklifts were “very expensive.” She did not respond directly. On December 1, Chenming Shi (a monk) and I visited two forklift rental locations in person. It was only at the last place we visited, and which I added last minute, that we found the most affordable forklifts.
The total price for Sunbelt’s forklifts went to be $800, two hundred dollars cheaper than what we were probably going to get anywhere else.
The forklift arrived earlier than we expected but with 6-foot forks. Master Zhengda came to look at it. On the spot, I briefly explained the situation and asked if we should get them to recall it and give us the correct forks. We decided not to do anything about it. In my mind I repeatedly thought in Chinese “Please bless us Zhengda Jiaozun (*请证达教尊加持),” “Please bless the operation to be smooth.” This was critical because the Bodhisattva statue was 4 tons with a length of around 10 feet!!
Side lesson/test: As we were around the forklift Zhengda Jiaozun was talking to a monk about a statue that was 400kg (800 jin) on the spot I was doubtful thinking wait whys the maht not working out? I even pulled out my phone on the spot to double metric conversions just to be sure. A part of the discussion was that Zhengda Jiaozun even said that a few men can carry it off. For context, I didn’t catch the whole discussion, nor even if had I was paying attention the whole time I still would’ve had the doubt because the 400kg statue was also a Guan Yin Bodhisattva Statue! However, I was able to overcome this test in an okay manner by believing a holy being as a true holy being. But it did point out that my first thought/instinct was to still doubt, become puzzled, confused, not taking her word for it to begin with.
- reminded me of the RV and VR story
Google maps has Benevolence Temple’s entrance incorrect. So, Zhengda Jiaozun said something like “is it going to head to the wrong side?” with Huizeng Shi (monk) and I by her side. Note that she doesn’t say it in a commanding way. I was smart enough to take up the hint went to there to wait for the semi-trailer in case it can’t find our parking lot entrance. It’s important to have this “chemistry” with a holy being. The semi-trailer did end up going to the wrong side.
Side lesson/test: Before many things was moved out of the shipping container Zhengda Jiaozun and many Buddhists were on the sideline watching and helping at first. Zhengda Jiaozun constantly yelled for our safety. As we were having trouble figuring out how to move out the statue. The semi-trailer will cost extra after waiting for a few hours, so originally I thought and hoped that it would be possible to get everything done before time cost started. However it was also lunch time. Zhengda Jiaozun told everyone to go have lunch first. The poeple on the sideline went ot have lunch but many of us inside the container as well as mainly in charge of moving things didn’t listen and continued onwards. It wasn’t until Zhengda Jiaozun finished lunch and came out again did I go have lunch and later did the rest of us have lunch. Looking back there was no use to stay the extra time before having lunch and pushing back our lunch time. I deeply believe Jiaozun knew this to begin with. With so much learning of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Dharma discourses I have a good grasp of what to do when. But when applied here I didn’t listen to Jiaozun and bore very small but meaningful consequences. Many Chinese people are hardworking, so when having lunch is seen as the “lesser” thing to do we tend to not go have lunch. However, we cannot apply the same type of thinking with a holy being.
I believe our monks and Dharma brothers have offloaded and moved objects much larger than these at work or at the temple. However, I think this might’ve been one of the their more challenging experiences.
As you can tell from the images, this was one heck of an experience. Namo Buddha and Bodhisattvas. Namo Master Zhengda Jiaozun. We were fortunate to come away without any injuries or damage to the equipment.
