Despite my shallow learning, I have written a short article and a poorly phrased verse in remembrance of the Elder Upasaka Li Jinhua. I knew him quite well when I was in Manchuria. However, the Elder Upasaka didn’t know what to make of me. He noticed that even as a young Shramanera (novice monk), I had been appointed by the Abbot to serve as the chief monk in the temple and that many people believed in me. He couldn’t understand why so many people believed in me when I was so young. As a consequence, he treated me in a puzzling manner. He honored the Abbot of the temple, Great Master Changren, and had full confidence in him. However, he seemed slightly jealous when people believed in me. We were still good friends, but deep down in his heart he knew there was something between us.

After I came to the United States, he heard that I had returned to China to pay homage to the four holy mountains. Someone had told him the news, but he didn’t know if I had really returned. When he heard that the delegation had arrived, he knelt at his doorstep and cried out, “Living Buddha, Living Buddha…” At that time, he could still talk, but seemed to have insufficient energy. Yet he was as sincere as he used to be. At the age of eighty-eight, he knelt at his doorstep in welcome, calling out “Living Buddha! The Living Buddha has come!” Those were my personal experiences with him.

Now that he has passed away, I have written this article in his memory.

Upasaka Li was a Chinese physician. The Elder Upasaka was a tall man who was skilled in Chinese herbal medicine. He was knowledgeable in the field of Chinese medicine, which was developed by Qi Bo and the Yellow Emperor. As a devoted Buddhist with firm faith in the Buddhas, he practiced pure eating—he was vegetarian—and recited the Buddha’s name. He was an enthusiastic philanthropist. He liked to practice charity. He lived in the southwest of Harbin City, in the front village of Xinglong Canal. Xinglong Canal has a front village and a rear village. I’ve been there before.

As he was still childless in his forties… When he was over forty, he still had no children. After some discussion, he and his wife very sincerely went to Three Conditions Monastery in the southwest of the fourth village of Zhenghuangqi, Pingfang Station, and earnestly requested the Abbot, Great Master Changren, to pray for them. The Abbot of Three Conditions (Sanyuan) Monastery was Great Master Changren. They asked him to pray for a son on their behalf. The Abbot then asked the Bodhisattva Who Regards the Sounds of the World and Bestows Children to compassionately fulfill their wish. The following year, a son was born to them, the Upasaka Li Dianxuan. His son’s name is Li Dianxuan.

In the spring of 1985, a delegation was sent on a pilgrimage of the four holy mountains of China. Dharma Realm Buddhist Association sent a delegation of women to China. During their pilgrimage of the four holy mountains, they paid a special visit to the Elder Upasaka. On the way, they stopped over and visited the Elder Upasaka Li Jinhua. At that time, he was already eighty-eight years old, but his memory was still good. He still remembered the events of the past. He could not help but sigh over the events of the present and the past. When he thought of the things that had happened in the past and were happening in the present, he became emotionally excited. The Elder Upasaka knelt at his doorstep to welcome the delegation. When the delegation from the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association arrived, he welcomed them, calling out continuously, “Living Buddha! The Living Buddha has come!” Many people were moved. They were deeply touched by gesture.

Several months later, the Elder Upasaka instructed his son, Upasaka Li Dianxuan, to believe sincerely in the Buddha, to be honest and kind to others, to work for the benefit of society, and to have an upright and virtuous character—to maintain his integrity. After that, he passed away peacefully.

A verse in praise says:

Everyone in Twin Cities County can become a Buddha.
Harbin is the Paris of Manchuria.
Vast are the good roots of Upasaka Jinhua.
Deep is the compassion of Venerable Ren.
Guanyin, the Bodhisattva Who Bestows Children, granted his wish.
Medicine King, Who Lengthens Life, preserved his inherent purity.
Despite the trials and tribulations, he maintained the practice pure eating.
With great circumspection, he bowed to the most Honored One.

Everyone in Twin Cities County can become a Buddha. At the East Gate of Twin Cities (Shuangcheng) County, there is a tablet contributed by the Elder Chief Secretary of the Qing Dynasty. The inscription on it says that everyone in the county will become a Buddha. That might explain why Buddhism is so popular in Twin Cities County. As for me, I am also from Twin Cities County—that’s why I’ve remained a tiny ant to this day.

Harbin is the Paris of Manchuria. Harbin has another name, Little Paris. It’s a very prosperous place in Manchuria, similar to the city of Paris in France.

Vast are the good roots of Upasaka Jinhua. Upasaka Li Jinhua’s roots of goodness were abundant. Deep is the compassion of Venerable Ren. Great Master Changren was compassionate toward him.

Guanyin, the Bodhisattva Who Bestows Children, granted his wish. The Bodhisattva Who Regards the Sounds of the World bestowed a son upon Upasaka Li, fulfilling his wish. While Medicine King, Who Lengthens Life, preserved his inherent purity. Lengthening Life Medicine King protected him and enabled him to live to the age of eighty-eight. This line is not necessarily talking about his son. He himself was protected as well. Therefore, you should not say that only his son was protected. If that’s the case, then who protected the father and enabled him to live to such an advanced age?

Despite the trials and tribulations, he maintained the practice of pure eating. “Trials and tribulations” does not necessarily refer to the hardships caused by the Communist and Nationalist Parties. It means that he suffered many setbacks and adversities during his life. Many times, things went against his will. Despite these hardships, he did not waver in his practice of pure eating. He continued to be a vegetarian.

With great circumspection, he bowed to the most Honored One. When he bowed to the Buddha, he was extremely cautious, as if walking along the edge of a cliff or treading on thin ice. He thought, “I do not know if I have done anything wrong in this life. I do not know if I am in any way improper. I ask the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to eradicate my offense karma. From now onwards, I will abstain from evil and do only good."

(End)