Golden Wei Tuo
Blessed Disciple Yutang Lin
Gold-body Wei Tuo granted fearlessness.
Wisdom Sun of Middle Way paves stairs.
Sunyata Joy added splendor under guide.
Graceful merits shine forth to bless us all.
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Golden Wei Tuo
Comment:
About nine years ago I was blessed with a vision of the solid gold body of Bodhisattva Wei Tuo. And through the inspirational experience I was taught to distribute the photo of the Giving of Fearlessness to benefit sentient beings. Soon afterwards Upasaka Zong Xin Wu learned about the inspirational event and offered me a statue made of boxwood that was finely carved by an old expert craftsman in Fu Jian, China. Upon my supplication the Bodhisattva graced us with an indication of his willingness to stay at my Taipei residence so as to help promote Dharma activities in Taiwan. Over the years, now and then, I thought of gilding this statue as a token of gratitude and devotion; unfortunately the opportune conditions had remained insufficient. Luckily this year Detong (Sunyata Joy), a devoted practitioner well-versed in the art of gilding holy statues, voluntarily pledged to undertake this project as an offering. With help from many Buddhists who donated gold leaves made in China, Japan or Taiwan, she skillfully repaired, polished the statue and finally gilded it all over its surface in very fine details.
Detong had gilded over thousand Buddhist statues in the past. This time the experience was very unique and supreme. Unexpectedly, the work was accomplished under the tactful guidance of Bodhisattva Wei Tuo; when the part done was not satisfactory to the Bodhisattva it would become unacceptable and need to be redone. Sources of the gold were from China, Japan and Taiwan. In Chinese the characters representing these three places are Zhong (middle), Ri (Sun), and Tai (platform). That happened to match a proper description of Wei Tuo's Dharma activities: Born of the wisdom Sun of the Middle Way (Complete and Bright Wisdom) to pave stairways (series of platforms) for the advancement of all sorts of serious practitioners.
The holy statue happened to be fully and satisfactorily gilded on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and returned to its original seat that evening. Thus, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the altar had their reunion on the Festival, just as Chinese people are accustomed to do so on this festive day. May this glorification of Bodhisattva Wei Tuo's wondrous merits and blessings help promote the daily maturation of meritorious and wisdom conditions for all sentient beings to advance on the path toward enlightenment!
Written in Chinese on September 11, 2003, Mid-Autumn Festival, and translated on September 16, 2003 at Taipei.
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