The World Buddhism Association Headquarters (WBAH) was asked: “Several years ago, Dharma King Gar Tongstan already wrote to the Jue Xing Temple in Taiwan, stating clearly that he could not serve as their abbot because he did not have the time to wait for them to build the temple. This year, he again expressed that he would not be able to attend the foundation-laying ceremony of the Ancient Buddha Temple because he was going to pass away in a perfectly liberated state. We would like to ask when Dharma King Gar Tongstan will pass away in a perfectly liberated state?”
WBAH Reply: Today, two directors of the board of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters went to ask the dharma king, mentioning that some people asked about when he will pass away in a perfectly liberated state. Dharma King Gar Tongstan said that he accomplished the freedom from birth and death by practicing the yidam dharma of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and that he will practice as fast as he can the last session of the dharma. Then he will write a document about his decision to pass away in a perfectly liberated state before doing so and will not delay.
One of the two directors asked about what will be written in the document about his decision to pass away in a perfectly liberated state. While laughing happily, the dharma king said to us, “What do you think will be written there? How could it be interesting if told explicitly now?”
The two directors both tried to persuade him to stay to propagate the dharma and save living beings. The dharma king said, “With the Buddha Master staying in the world, what use can be made from one who has my realization? Human life is simply a dream. One will leave sooner or later. When causes and conditions gather and combine, existence is manifested illusorily. When the conditions come to an end, one will leave. That will be it. I will not stay! Dharma masters, you should earnestly follow the Buddha Master to learn and practice!” Dharma King Gar Tongstan also said, “My freedom from birth and death is decided by me. I can go whenever I want to. This is different from holy virtuous one Zhao Yusheng* who had to rely on the Bodhisattva to be received at a defined time.”
* Refers to another disciple who had recently passed on.
Article is an excerpt from WBAH Inquiry No.20180102.
Original blog article on the Dharma King leaving this world.
Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters
September 14, 2018
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