Introduction to Our Master

The Eighty-Fifth Patriarch of Chan Buddhism

Chan Master Wujue Miaotian was born in 1934 in Pingtung, southern Taiwan, with the legal name of Ming-Liang Huang. 

World War II filled Chan Master's childhood with miserable memories. His mother died while he was still a child. At a very young age, Chan Master has learned about the bitterness and impermanence of the human world, which inspired his pursuit of spiritual awakening and liberation after he entered adulthood.

After Chan Master retired from the military at the age of 40, he started seeking masters and practices of different religions. His great commitment resulted in meeting the 84th Patriarch of Chan, Master Jingzai, through the guidance of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. He then started to practice Heart Imprint Dharma, which focuses on "Buddha Heart-to-Heart Transmission". Eight years later, Chan Master was transmitted with Buddha Heart Imprint by Chan Master Jingzai. He was also blessed and transformed by Shakyamuni Buddha and other Buddhas. At the age of 48, Chan Master has attained Buddhahood. He thus inherited the lineage of the Linji Order and became the 85th Chan Patriarch since Master Maha Kasyapa, the 58th Patriarch of Chinese Chan since Master Bodhidharma, and the 48th Patriarch of the Linji Order since Master Linji Yixuan.

Chan Master graduated from the National Defense University and went to the graduate school in the Political Science Department at the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan. He received his Ph.D. degree from the Institute of Philosophy of the Toyo University in Japan in 1993. In 1999, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree by the Institute of International Education in New York.

In October 2007, Chan Master led 1,000 disciples to Shaolin Temple in China to visit the birthplace of the Chinese Chan lineage and to pay tribute to the Patriarchs of Chinese Chan. This event also initiated the return of the Chinese Chan lineage from Taiwan to China. It represented a significant milestone in the development of Buddhism in its history of 2,500 years.

Grand Dharma Assemblies

The Grand Dharma Assemblies with Thousands of Attendees Immerging in the Teaching

In the past 30 years, Chan Master has held quite a number of dharma assemblies in Taiwan, each with over 10,000 people attending. At these assemblies, Chan Master promulgated the supreme and profound teaching with an aim for practitioners to awaken the heart, to witness the true nature and Buddha, and to attain enlightenment. These events included: the "Dharma Assembly to Commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of Chan Master's Teaching" in February 1994 at Lanya Junior High School,Taipei, the "Heart Imprint Chan Presentation" in February 1995 at Siang-Shang Junior High School in Taichung, the "Assembly of Heart Imprint Chan and Attainment of Buddhahood" at Taipei International Convention Center in August 1995, the "Dharma Assembly of Heart Imprint Chan - Witness the True Nature and Attain Buddhahood" at Taoyuan Arena Stadium in December 1995, the “Dharma Assembly to Commemorate the Twelfth Anniversary of Chan Master's Teaching" at Taipei International Convention Center in March 1996, the "Dharma Assembly for Welcoming the 21st Century & World Peace" at Taoyuan Arena Stadium in December 1999, the dharma assembly "Buddhaland on Earth; Everyone Be a Buddha" at Taipei Arena in January 2012 and the "Assembly for Sharing Witnesses by Heart Chan Practitioners" in October 2012 at Taipei Arena.

1994, February - "Dharma Assembly to Commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of Chan Master's Teaching" at Lanya Junior High School,Taipei

1995, February - "Heart Imprint Chan Presentation" at the Siang-Shang Junior High School in Taichung

1995, August - "Assembly of Heart Imprint Chan and Attainment of Buddhahood" at Taipei International Convention Center  ith 6,000 attendees

1996, March - "Dharma Assembly to Commemorate the Twelfth Anniversary of Chan Master's Teaching" at Taipei International Convention Center

The Largest Religious AssembliesI. The 1995 "Assembly of Heart Imprint Chan and Attainment of Buddhahood" with over 60,000 attendees

On December 17, 1995, the "Dharma Assembly of Heart Imprint Chan - Witness the True Nature and Attain Buddhahood" was held at Taoyuan Arena Stadium with over 60,000 attendees. The event caused a great sensation in both political, economic and religious circles. Quite a few political dignitaries were present, including Chiu Chuang-huan (the President of the Examination Yuan), Chen Li-an and Wang Ching-feng (presidential and vice presidential candidates), Frank Hsieh (legislator), Huang Chu-wen (Minister of the Interior) and so on. This remarkable event was the largest religious assembly ever held in Taiwan.

On that day, highways were filled with cars.

Over 60,000 people participated in the assembly, a great sensation for the political and educational circles.

Ferrying Spirits at the Turn of the Century

II. The 1999 "Dharma Assembly for Welcoming the 21st Century & World Peace"

In December 1999, the "Dharma Assembly for Welcoming the 21st Century & World Peace" was especially held to ferry the spirits of those who died in Taiwan 921 Earthquake and in the two world wars as well as all sentient beings in the world. Over 30,000 people attended the event. The dignitaries presented were: Jonathan Taylor, special envoy of Liberia's President, Liberia's ambassador, Prince Rokuju Yukang of Japan, Dr. Brick, President of the Institute of International Education in New York from which Chan Master was awarded the degree of Honorary Doctor of Philosophy.

Chan Master Wujue Miaotian rang the bell of peace.

Rokuju Yukang, prince of Japan

Mr. Cummings, Liberia's ambassador

 III. The 2002-2003 "Portrait Exhibition of the Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva" with over 300,000 attendees

In 2002, Taiwan Zen Buddhist Association sponsored the "Portrait Exhibition of the Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva" at National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei. The event was a huge success. Over 100,000 people attended the exhibition. In 2003 the re-exhibition at the same venue attracted over 200,000 people, which was the largest Buddhist relics exhibition ever held in Taiwan in recent years.

Reemerging of the True Teaching

      

IV. The 2012 Dharma Assembly of "Buddhaland on Earth; Everyone Be a Buddha" with over 10,000 attendees

On January 29 in 2012, the 100th anniversary of the Republicof China, Chan Master held an assembly with a determination to bring Buddhism back to its right track. Over 10,000 people attended the assembly, including monastic and lay practitioners, dignitaries, and those who had connections to the practice. In the assembly, Chan Master shared the "Wisdom in Spiritual Practice" in the realm of formless true form with the audience. He also clearly explained the path of Shakyamuni Buddha's spiritual practice, how He became enlightened as well as the Buddha's aspiration for the world to become a Buddhaland and for everyone on earth to become a Buddha. At the end of the assembly, Chan Master gave blessings to all those present. He also opened their wisdom and Buddha Gate. It was indeed a rare and extremely meaningful experience.

Honest Practice and True Witness

V. The 2012 "Assembly for Sharing Witnesses by Heart Chan Practitioners" with over 20,000 attendees

   

In 2012, many sources predicted that the world would come to an end that year, and frequent reports on both natural and man-made disasters attracted much attention. To bring tranquil and dispel people’s worries, a dharma assembly was held at Taipei Arena on October 14, 2012. Its goal was to make more spiritual practitioners realize not to be attached to rituals, such as teaching and reciting sutras, doing repentance or making pilgrimages to temples. These practices have deviated from the true teaching - "awakening the heart, witnessing the true nature and Buddha, and attaining Buddhahood" - passed down from Shakyamuni Buddha and the Chan patriarchs. Chan Master was invited to speak and transmit the true teaching. Ten disciples of the Chan Master also shared their experiences and witnesses of their practice. A charity fundraising for underprivileged groups was also held in the assembly, and a total of 5,150,000 NT dollars was raised within 5 hours. The stadium was packed with over 20,000 people, including many dignitaries from business, government and education circles, such as Wang Jin-pyng, President of the Legislative Yuan, several legislators from both the ruling and opposition parties, Chiu Chuang-huan, chairman of the KMT Central Review Committee, andEric Chu, Mayor of New Taipei City.