An International Way-place of the Ten Directions,
The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas Has a New Appearance
A talk by the Venerable Master on September 17, 1992
There is nothing that does not flow forth from the Dharma Realm,
And nothing that does not return to the Dharma Realm.
In the future, when people from the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas speak the Dharma in the City or at other places, they should first recite the name of the infinite, boundless Triple Jewel of the ten directions. This line of mantra text refers to "the infinite, boundless Triple Jewel of all the Buddhas, the Dharma, and the Sangha in the ten directions and the three periods of time, pervading empty space and the Dharma Realm." Before speaking Dharma to the assembly, we should first praise the Triple Jewel three times. This is our special custom at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, our tradition.
From now on, the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas will be considered a Way-place of the ten directions. This means that everyone is equal, with no notions of masters or disciples. The master and the disciples are equals. We should regard all people as our own folks, without making distinctions of race or nationality, of self or others. We should treat everyone equally. These are the rules of a ten-directions Way-place. I have already announced that I will not accept disciples here at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in the future, be they left-home or lay people, men or women. I'm closing shop here. I'm retiring and will no longer be responsible for anything here, because I have made the City a Way-place of the ten directions.