Forshang Buddhism

Forshang Buddhism (Fo Sheng Zhong) is founded by Miao Kung and Yuan Dao in the early stage of the Republic of China, revering Da Zi Zai Wan Fo (the origin of Buddha nature) as the Originator. Forshang Buddhism emphasizes the knowledge and nature of Buddha: the basic elements of perfect and upright human life. Knowledge is power, strong enough to alter the nature to good or to evil. The nature of Buddha is the origin of good deeds. Therefore, knowledge matching with and full of the nature of Buddha is the perfect enlightenment that the world appears as the essence of Perpetual Pure Land. The perfect enlightenment is the ultimate wisdom and utmost compassion. In the doctrines of Forshang Buddhism, it outlines, "Compassion is the ultmost power of all Buddha." This is the fundamental in which it was established. Other objectives include development and preservation of traditional culture, cultural artifacts, and wisdom of ancient Buddhism; improvement of human health to lengthen human life span; preaching the Supreme Hua Yen of Forshang Buddhism to the future world. These objectives are set forth to cover the past, present and future implementation of physical life, truth and essence. The primary mission of the Forshang World Foundation is, "To let all human beings have the opportunity to learn the knowledge, and realize their own nature of Buddha."

Founding Masters: Miao Kung and Yuan Dao

Forshang Buddhism claimed that Miao Kung is a reincarnation from Spiritual Buddha. He pioneered to unveil the Forshang Buddhism doctrines to the world, to relief all people from sufferings. Well known in Southern China to perform innumerable miracles, after fulfiling his 'manifestation', Miao Kung 'returned to the Land of Perpetual Peace and Glory' in 1950.

As the only disciple, Yuan Dao carried on the holy order which Miao Kung had handed down. Yuan Dao was initiated at the age of 14, after 20 years of unrelenting dedication, he became 'enlightened' in 1956, wholeheartedly preaching the Forshang Buddhism doctrines to the full extent ever since. Before 'passing into Nirvana' on August 11, 1993, he choosed Lee Sun Duo among disciples around the world, named him as the successor and appointed him as the Master of the Third Generation.

New third generation: Lee Sun Don

Lee Sun Don is the Third Patriarch of Forshang Buddhism. He is also the President and Director of the Forshang Buddhism World Center Da Yuan Association, the President and Director of Forshang World Foundation, Honorary Dean of the Graduate School of Modern Management of Business Administration of Tsinan University, Shantung Province, People's Republic of China, the Ambassador-at-large of Liberia in Africa and her Consul General in Singapore and the Honorary Advisor to the International Olympic Committee Member's Office in Taipei, Taiwan.

According to official source, he is born in 1959, he received many literary awards during Military Service, and is adept in playing violin and cello. Following Military Service, he served as the Editor-in-chief of a publishing company, and screenwriter/director of a television station. He has written more than ten sets of Chinese ancient swordsmen novels under his pseudonym - Chi Ru (meaning a Confucian of unusual distinction). His first novel was "Sword of the Cicada's Wing" which was later rewritten for a TV series - "The Legend of the Cicada's Wing" on the Chinese Television channel. It was rated second among all programs broadcast by three major television companies during that entire year.

He first met with Master Kuang Ching of the Tian Zen Temple of the Pure Land School of Buddhism in early 1977, he was instructed to be someone whose purpose in this lifetime was for cultivation. In Oct., 1989, he met with Master Nan Huai Jin in Hong Kong. He claimed that Master Nan has once praised, "This person has great supernatural powers and will become the patriarch of a religious school." In March, 1988, Lee Sun Don joined Forshang Buddhism to study under Yuan Dao's instruction. Three months later, he was able to see through people's bodies and know the causation of their illnesses. Six months later, he acquired the ability to predict international events.

He practiced eight and one half month's secluded meditation from July, 1988 till April, 1989, during which he cultivated over 18 hours everyday. After a major breakthrough, he was instructed by Yuan Dao, the Second Patriarch, to establish Da Yuan Association. He was also verified by him as the Third Patriarch of Forshang Buddhism and the Head Professor of Forshang Buddhism as well. He has been completely devoted to preaching the Forshang doctrine since then.

In Oct., 1989, Lee Sun Don participated in "The International Chi Kung Medical Conference" held in Beijing, People's Republic of China. In that conference, he shocked all the attendees with his supernatural powers and was invited to preach in Japan by many Japanese organizations. Since Nov., 1990, he has visited Japan many times to preach. His disciples are all celebrities in Japanese society, including the Head Trainer of the Art of Sword for the Japanese Royal Family, Mr. Nota Katsuhiko; the President of the Japanese Tai Chi Chuan Association, Mr. Mitsuhiro Masahiro, Vice President of the Overseas Chinese Association, Mr Lo Hung Jen, and Dean of the Graduate School of Modern Religious Study in the College of Religion of the Japanese Lotus School, Mr. Ishikawa. Since Feb., 1991, he became the first non-Japanese teacher formally invited to instruct the Japanese national athletic representatives of Tai Chi Chuan for the Asian Olympic Games to practice the Art of Zen and meditation.

It is said that Lee Sun Don had made many accurate predictions of important international events when he was interviewed in January, 1991 by Mystery Magazine and Unique Journal. Mystery Magazine wrote an article about his predictions in their 65th issue released on Feb. 24. Unique Journal made a report on these predictions in their 141st issue. Lee predicted that the Operation Desert Storm (Persian Gulf War) would end at the number 8. The war ended on Feb. 28. He also predicted that in July of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, the governments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will have further developments. The Red Cross in China came to Taiwan in a devious way. He predicted that the USSR would completely change. The Soviet Union collapsed because of a political coup on Aug., 19, and on Aug., 21, Gorbachev resigned. In addition to these predictions, he predicted the crash of a United Airlines Flight en route from Germany to the United States, the coup in Thailand, the violent riot in Sri Lanka, and a riot occurring in India to religious reasons.

I am wondering if these predictions are actually written after these events, or before. I have no support documents. Can anyone provide?

Speedy Growth under the leadership of Lee Sun Duo

In Aug., 1993, the Second Patriarch Yuan Dao passed away. Lee succeeded him to become the Third Patriarch and has since presided over all preaching activities. The preaching areas cover Taiwan and sites all over the world. At present, the branches and the ritualistic halls are situated in the United States, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia. Disciples, including the professionals in IT, physicians, real estate brokers, engineers, university professors, businessmen, and even politicians, have traveled long distances to study Buddhism under Lee Sun Don.

At present, Forshang disciples in Taiwan already number more than a hundred thousand people among which four or five thousand have already been initiated. In order to accommodate the increasing number of followers, the Forshang Buddhism headquarters in Taipei has established three ritualistic halls in Taipei for preaching and more branches and ritualistic halls in the north, the center, and south of Taiwan have already been established and are still in expansion.

What did Forshang Buddhism teach?

The sole purpose of the preachment of Forshang Buddhism is to awaken the human beings to have the right insight into life. It is said that Forshang Buddhism doctrines can lead the human life to perfect harmony. Its immense capacity covers the entire infinite beings in all dimensions; its unfathomable depth can even alter the Cause and Effect of Past, Present and Future life. Hence the propagation has to be total and complete, following the Four Principles of Preachment:

The Worldly Orientation of Buddhism
The Daily Practicability of Buddhist Doctrines
The Scientific Approach of Buddhist Study
The Modernization of Buddhist System

Forshang Buddhism preachment has advanced far beyond into all levels of life. With its board scope and verified doctrines, opens the gate to raise the human life and civilization into a new horizon. Yuan Dao said, "Forshang Buddhism dawns the new era of the human civilization." Its implementation depends upon broadening human beings perspective of life to the perspective of entire universe. A fulfilling and correct vision of life thus established leads to transforming the world into a pure land.

Forshang Buddhism doctrines teach the ultimate, perfect and speedy doctrines that will lead to the union of the body and mind, and help to attain achievement in the present life. As an inseparable whole, it can be understood as the very heart of Buddha, respectively, there are 9 stages of physical cultivation and 8 stages of mental cultivation:

The 9 stages of physical cultivations:

1st stage - Art of Harmony
2nd stage - Art of Use of Force
3rd stage - Art of Use of Chi
4th stage - Art of Use of Mind
5th stage - Art of Use Without Will
6th stage - Art of Use Space
7th stage - Art of Use Energy
8th stage - Art of Supreme Enlightenment
9th stage - Art of Da Zi Zai

The 8 stages of mental cultivations:

1st stage - Correspondence with Circumstances
2nd stage - Enlightenment
3rd stage - Manifestation
4th stage - Transformation
5th stage - Without Utlization
6th stage - Achieving Pure Land
7th stage - Supreme Enlightenment
8th stage - Da Zi Zai

So, its cultivation is for one's inner testification, which is beyond word, and not for outward seeking. It emphasized the integration of ten great characters of Buddha nature, which are "Integration of Essence and Form", "The Balance of Wisdom and Virtue", "The Harmony of Principle and Practice", "The Ultilization of Energy and Effect" and "The Unity of Time and Space". So they claimed that one can archieve an instantaneous accordance with the Dharma nature, the essence of Buddhism, and to attain Buddhahood in the present life.

To avoid the obstacles on the path of evolution, Lee Sun Don presented the following Expedient Doctrines as the convenient help, to reduce the hindrance so that everyone can have a better chance to attain Buddha nature endowment:

Forshang Lamp:
The Forshang Lamp is empowered by Lee Sun Don's personal achievement. Those who lighten the Lamp is immersed in the light of Bun Schi Da Zi Zai Wan Fo and all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, thus bring about a peaceful body and mind as well as benediction and wisdom.

Forshang Rice:
Under the practice of "Samadhi of Immortality of Da Zi Zai Pure Land", Lee empowered immense energy into ordinary rice, when applied to the deceased, holy relics will appear after cremation, indicating that the deceased ascend to the Pure Land.

Forshang Water:
Lee activated the intrinsic mental energy in deep meditation to implement the "The Samadhi of Da Zi Zai Purification Water". Countless people have enjoyed the miraculous effects in many worldly matters, it is considered to be one of the Forshang treasures.

Forshang Empowerment Doctrine:
By practicing the "Forshang Empowerment Doctrine", Lee conducts consecration to rosary, Buddha statue, etc., to transmit immeasurable blessing of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Da Zi Zai Wan Fo Buddha Statue:
Every Da Zi Zai Wan Fo Buddha Statue was carved with expertise, also under the supervision of Lee Sun Don in person. After empowerment by Lee, all the Buddha status fully possess the inconceivable effects of great merit, great blessings and great wisdom.

Forshang Music:
The "Forshang Dharma Music" CD and tapes composed and produced by Lee, are the Sound Dharani of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the sound wave and vibration can purify the energy field and inspire the inner nature.

Forshang Testification Books:
The testification book series includes Lee's "The Statement of Dharma Nature", "The Supreme Hwa Yen Series", "The Absolute Forshang Series" and "The Collection of Testimonies Series". Readers can acquaint themselves with Forshang Buddhist doctrine, disciples' transformation and learning experiences.

So at the end of the day, how much have you spent for the organization in order to attain Buddhahood?