A few days ago, I watched a DVD of my Buddha Master, Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III, refusing to accept money (offerings) from disciples who have already or about to receive an initiation.
Buddha Dharma isn’t for exchange. One cannot value Buddha Dharma simply by just one’s money. I totally agree with what Dharma brother Guan Weicheng said. What use is money to a Buddha or Bodhisattva? What can you give the Buddha or Bodhisattva that has any value? Not worldly things. The repayment for my Buddha Master’s compassion and help is through my own accomplishment and liberation, and by helping living beings attain the same. This is my understanding.
I wish my Buddha Master received offerings. I wish my Buddha Master was super rich. That way, He could benefit more living beings, whether by literally releasing boatloads of aquatic living beings or by building temples that teach the True Buddha Dharma. But the truth is, He doesn’t. Why? I gained insight when I remembered a situation about a person with supernatural powers (I don’t remember his name) who saw a beggar on the street. He wanted to go against cause and effect and change the beggar’s life. He gave him lots of silver, enough money to buy lots of land and become a landlord. The beggar was counting the silver openly on the street. Guess what. A few bandits saw it, killed him, took away the money. This event tells us that that higher being couldn’t forcefully alternate someone’s cause and effect. That begger doesn’t have the fortune, at least not at the moment or in that life, to become rich.
It’s not that my Buddha Master can’t bear the money (offerings) of people. Rather, it is that living beings cannot bear the fortune if my Buddha Master were to become much wealthier and spend significantly more money building more facilities. It is also that living beings don’t have the fortune. There are also other reasons I can think of related to compassion why He would not receive offerings. My Dharma brother Jinyu speaks well. Either way, whether a Buddha or Bodhisattva receives offerings or doesn’t, it is for the benefit of living beings. It is the best outcome.
Who is my Buddha Master? He can create beautiful art that can go upwards of tens of millions USD. He creates these insanely quickly. He has created world-renowned Chinese tea and medicine. He can tell his rich millionaire (for sure has), even billionaire (I believe there are), disciples to give Him money to fund projects, and they would give it to Him in an instant. Why would He need to scam? When would He even have the time to scam? He is way too busy saving living beings by constantly giving Dharma Discourses, giving initiations, healing people from diseases, practicing Dharma… H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s 30 categories of remarkable achievements demonstrate that He can do anything that is good. Please learn about what the Five Vidyas are. As I shared some of this with my Dharma brother and sister, I recalled another occurrence. There was one time a disciple gave my Buddha Master many stock shares. Buddha Master took it. He held the shares and years later gave back every single share, with the value folded many many times over. It seems that that disciple is able to bear such fortune.
I'd like to share this as well
Here is Dharma sister Dunzhu’s account of Dharma brother Pan Shiao Rui（潘孝銳）trying to give H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III a huge amount of gold (where it would take a ship or plane to deliver all of them):
Note: Pan Shiao Rui is the founder of Nan Feng Steel Company in Taiwan and is known as the “King of Ship-Breaking (aka ship recycling).” He is Pan Siyuan’s (潘思源) father.
Bulletin #49–Offerings to the Buddha Master:
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H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said, “You all should pay particular attention to know that I have made the vow of always benefiting the great masses for free and forever not accepting offerings. I once again remind you all that I do not accept donations or offerings from anyone.”
“Through the many years, I have clearly and seriously announced over and over again in the recorded dharma discourses and the public announcements that I do not accept offerings. I made such announcement publicly in the book H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III published in 2008. Today I again state my vow, speech, and conduct clearly. That is: I do not accept offerings; and no one is authorized to accept offerings or donations on my behalf. As a matter of fact, I have never accepted any offering from you or any offering presented through a third party. Why so? This is because I made the vow of always benefiting the great masses for free and forever not accepting offerings.”
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