Taipei Musings: Learning Never Ends

After eight years of filming videos, most of them were just me talking directly to the camera. It was always one angle, no fancy shooting needed — as long as my face is in the frame and the camera is not shaky, it is fine.

But it wasn’t until I made a pilgrimage to Seattle this January that I realized how little I knew about simple camera angles and how to move the camera. I felt deeply regretful that I could not capture the beauty and distinctiveness of Seattle’s Lei Tsang Temple and Rainbow Temple to better showcase them to my audience. I felt like I had let down my Root Guru.

This has been on my mind ever since, wondering how I could improve.

To keep up with the trends of videos, I watch at least 100 videos a week, from all kinds of industries and genres. I skim through them, observing how others speak, shoot, edit, what pacing they use, background music, sound effects — I study it all. Whether it is related to my field or not, I watch it and think about how I can integrate it into my own style.

These days, you cannot succeed as a Feng Shui master without multiple skills. Don’t think that teaching Dharma and helping others is grand by itself. If you do not know marketing, no matter how good your skills are, nobody will pay attention. Marketing is how we unlock our peach blossom and wealth luck!

While scrolling through Instagram, I found two young Taiwanese ladies offering classes on basic filming techniques. I was immediately drawn to them and booked a ticket to Taipei without hesitation. That was how I ended up serving my Taiwanese clients during this trip.

Taiwan has a vibrant community of video creators. My classmates in the course were all highly skilled. I love this kind of learning environment. The competition pushes me to elevate my own creative standards.

I hope my videos continue to bring freshness and practical value to all of you.

Once, while browsing TikTok, I came across several Feng Shui masters and spiritual practitioners from China and Taiwan, all using identical scripts, saying 99% the same words. I was shocked! Isn’t this deceiving people? I was not sure if it was plagiarism or if they were all using the same media marketing company. But if the content is not original, and they recite scripts like robots without soul, how can they move their audience?

The night before I flew to Taipei, I pulled an all-nighter working and did not sleep. On the plane, I set up my demarcation shield and fell into a deep sleep. There was a baby seated beside me who was on their first flight and kept crying, while the mother was a new mom. I did not mind, having been a flight attendant and hearing babies cry plenty before.

However, out of consideration for others, I made a sword gesture with my fingers, visualizing my Guru radiating light above my head, and quietly drew a seed syllable behind the baby. The child stopped crying. I did it twice, and each time, the peace lasted for about an hour. Sorry, my skills under extreme grogginess could only manage that! But deep inside, I truly felt how amazing True Buddha Tantric Dharma is — it even works on a crying baby!

Before heading to Taiwan, my Shifu instructed me to buy a wealth chest from Louis Vuitton at Taipei 101 — it had to be from Taipei 101! Unfortunately, for three consecutive weeks, they were out of stock.

I also visited Zhong Guan Lei Tsang temple in Taipei, where I had the good fortune of meeting Vajra Master Shi Lianyue, who is in charge there. The temple had just been renovated and felt incredibly comfortable and welcoming. The fellow practitioners were very warm-hearted. I feel the disciples at Zhong Guan Lei Tsang Temple are very fortunate to have such an outstanding Vajra Master leading them. We in Singapore are also lucky, as we are able to invite Vajra Master Shi Lianyue to preside over the Medicine Buddha Ceremony and repentance rituals around October each year.

I also had the pleasure of meeting the young and talented Master Lianjiu, who is in charge of Sound of Lei Tsang. This unit produces many high-quality mantra recordings for use at large Dharma ceremonies. You can check them out on YouTube: [Leizang Sound](https://youtu.be/SU03o86wPKo?si=aVNhRkaQ-5w6snmG).

You know the Grandmaster’s books that many of you purchased? They all feature Grandmaster’s original paintings. The Purity blanket and Accomplishment of Hom blanket that many viewers have bought are also painted by Grandmaster. The Root Guru’s paintings are vibrant with colours and limitless in Zen meaning. He integrates his lifelong cultivation into His art, making each painting come to life. It is inspiring that the Root Guru only started learning painting when he was in his 60s. His spirit of relentless learning is admirable!

For me, besides Dharma, my life revolves around metaphysics. Learning these two things come easily to me, but I am slow in other areas.

However, I look to the Root Guru for inspiration. If what you are learning interests you and can be integrated into propagating the Dharma and helping others, then do not worry about learning slowly, just make sure not to stop.

A few words to encourage all grownups:
1. The meaning of hard work is never about success but about having no regrets.
2. There are many talented people in the world; what you think is your limit might just be someone else’s starting point.
3. When your talent does not support your ambition, slow down and learn. When your ability does not match your goals, take time to gain experience.

Rather than blaming others, cultivate yourself deeply.

What talent does not bring, hard work might.

I sure hope the Root Guru return to Taiwan at the end of the year! I truly look forward to the day I can bring my father, who is in his 80s, to personally see our Root Guru!

Wealth Chests Galore! None could follow me home, but looking at them brings pleasure to my eyes. 

Arriving at a cafe for the class felt completely different because there was delicious food and drinks available.  The three hours went by in no time. With the foundation from the previous class, I was able to grasp the key points quickly in the next class. Teacher also taught us many techniques behind a seemingly simple angle. The less skilled you are, the more you need to practice!  Teacher Yi Wei was great, and there is a Line group we can join, but unfortunately, not available for Singapore users.

When I arrived at the hotel room, I recited the Rebirth Mantra and dedicated it to the guardian spirit of the room, then used a sword mudra to create a protective boundary. On the airplane, when I blessed the crying baby, I didn’t make any noticeable movement — didn’t want to be thought of as crazy  I just discreetly drew the seed syllable on the baby’s back.

At the Buddhist artifacts section of Zhong Guan Lei Tsang Temple, from left to right, the statues represent:

1. **Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva**: The Bodhisattva holds a staff and a wish-fulfilling jewel, symbolizing his boundless vow to save beings from suffering, particularly those in hell realms.

2. **Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva**: This Bodhisattva, with a thousand arms and eyes, signifies infinite compassion and wisdom, able to aid and protect countless beings simultaneously, while observing the world’s sufferings.

3. **Green Tara**: Born from the tears of Avalokiteshvara, Green Tara is a Bodhisattva who swiftly rescues beings from fear, distress, and danger. Her right foot stepping on a lotus represents her readiness to help and protect at any time.

These statues collectively symbolize compassion, wisdom, and immense power to save beings, offering great support and inspiration to devotees in their spiritual practice.

The calligraphy at the entrance of Taipei Zhong Guan Lei Tsang Temple, written by Root Guru His Holiness Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, radiates profound spiritual energy and wisdom:

Zhongguan Dharma Realm:
In the Lotus Pond of the Dharma Flower, a wondrous lotus blooms. In a realm beyond distinctions, holy fruition is achieved.

This verse carries deep Buddhist meaning, expressing the beauty of the lotus blossoming in the Lotus Pond of the Dharma Flower, while emphasizing that within a non-discriminating Dharma realm, one can attain the fruition of enlightenment, symbolizing the completeness and attainment of Mahayana Buddhism.

This piece of calligraphy is not only an interpretation of Dharma but also an inspiration for disciples, reminding them to transcend discriminative thinking, enter the pure realm of Dharma, and ultimately reach the fruition of enlightenment.

Middle: Taipei Zhong Guan Lei Tsang temple, Vajra Master Shi Lian Yue
Right: Sound of Lei Tsang, Vajra Master Shi Lian Jiu

Could not get my hands on the wealth chest, so I got a pair of Wenchang chopsticks and spoon from Taipei 101 souvenir store at basement. I like the 9-level Wenchang pagoda on them. Since I did not manage to top up my wealth luck, I shall boost my Wenchang luck. Not a wasted trip after all!