H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Arrives in Taiwan, an Unprecedented Warm Welcome in Grandeur
The Explanation of the Buddha’s Title – “H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III”
On April 3, 2008, a solemn and dignified first-publishing ceremony of a fact-recording book entitled H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, which published jointly by the World Buddhism Publishing LLC and the World Dharma Voice, Inc., was held at the Library of the Congress of the United States. The book was also formally accepted into the collection of the Library of the Congress of the United States. Only since that time, did people in the world know that Master Wan Ko Yee, who had been broadly respected by the great masses and who had also been known as Great Dharma King Yangwo Yeshe Norbu, had been recognized by the world’s leaders, regent dharma kings, and great rinpoches of Buddhism through official documents as the third incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, who is the primordial Sambhogakaya Buddha of the universe. The Buddha’s name is H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Since then, people began to address His Holiness the Buddha by “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III.” This is similar to the situation that Sakyamuni Buddha’s name was Prince Siddhartha Gotama before attaining Buddhahood. However, after Sakyamuni Buddha had attained Buddhahood, His title changed to “Namo Sakyamuni Buddha.” That is why we now address His Holiness the Buddha as “H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.”
In particular, on December 12, 2012, the Senate Resolution No. 614 of the United States Congress officially used “His Holiness” in the name addressing Dorje Chang Buddha III (That is to say, “H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.”) Since then, the title and status of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has been definitive by nature. And, as a matter of fact, “Dorje Chang Buddha III” is a name used legally in governmental and official legislative documents. Therefore, the previously used respected name and titles such as “Wan Ko Yee,” Great Master, and Great Dharma King no longer exist.
However, the news below was published before the Buddha’s title of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was publicly announced. At that time, people did not know about the true status of His Holiness the Buddha. Therefore, to respect the true history, we still kept the names used before the title of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was legitimately determined in republishing this news. However, all must clearly know that the only legitimate name of His Holiness the Buddha is H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and all other names used before the legitimate determination no longer exist.
When H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu arrived in Taiwan, His Holiness received a grand reception that was unprecedented. For details on this, please see the newspaper reports that were published at that time.
DISTINGUISHED INTERNATIONAL MASTER - WAN KO YEE ARRIVES IN TAIWAN
AN UNPRECEDENTED WARM WELCOME IN GRANDEUR
(This is a translation of an article published in the Hsin-Tao Daily on May 23, 1995.)
Mr. Wan Ko Yee, whose title of “Distinguished International Master” was conferred by 5612 experts and scholars representing academic institutions from 48 countries and regions and is equivalent to the honorary status of a head of state, arrived at the CKS airport at 3 o’clock in the afternoon on May 7. He is the head of the Painting and Art Exhibition Delegation from China and came to Taiwan with his delegation of 8 by the invitation of Mr. Ching-Kuo Wu, Chairman of the Board of the Olympic Foundation, and Mr. Hsi-Jao Ken-Teng, Chairman of the Yun-Tzu Cheng-Chueh Association.
The warm and grand scene of welcome was unprecedented. With flags, signs, and fresh flowers in hand and accompanied by performing bands, over ten thousand people from all walks of life shouted, “Greetings, Master Wan Ko Yee,” “We warmly welcome you, Master Wan Ko Yee!” The cheers of welcome came from all directions and reached high into the sky. As people pushed forward to present flowers and hadas to the Master and his wife, the welcoming lines, originally in good formation, were suddenly jammed out of order. Surrounded by layers upon layers of flowers and hadas, the Master and members of his delegation, with the protection of dozens of tall and strong body guards, finally crossed over the waves of flowers and people to get into the waiting limousine. Over a thousand vehicles, decorated with red-colored welcoming signs, formed a motorcade following the limousine of the Master into Taipei. This created a severe traffic jam. It took well over 3 hours to get to the city of Taipei from the airport.
At the Great Hyatt Hotel where the Master was going to stay, bands were playing and fresh flowers were everywhere. The waiting crowd filled up the main lobby and the open plaza outside the hotel, creating a warm and cheerful sea of welcoming signs. The people of Taiwan most passionately expressed their utmost respect and admiration towards the Master. The general manager of Great Hyatt, Mr. Hardy, was greatly moved. He said, “I have never seen such a welcome scene anywhere. There would be no match to today’s crowd even if all welcoming parties for Mr. Gorbachev, Mr. Samaranch (the former Chairman of the International Olympics Committee), Mrs. Thatcher, international singer Michael Jackson, and entertainment stars Jackie Chan and Andy Liu were added together when they were staying in this hotel. The sight and total number of people would still not be as grand as today’s welcome for Master Wan Ko Yee.”
Over the next few days, accompanied by Mr. Wu and Mr. Hsi-Jao Ken-Teng, there was a most grand, warmest, most impressive scene wherever Master Wan Ko Yee’s art delegation went. In the evening of May 12, when the Master came to Taipei’s Sizi area, residents formed long lines on both sides of the street. The welcoming cheers and applauses were heartening. Fire crackers and fireworks were flying and dancing in the night sky, shinning and reflecting each other. Countless cameras were flashing following one another, recording the unforgettable scene.
In the afternoon of May 13, at the invitation of the Yun-Tzu Cheng-Chueh Association, Master Wan Ko Yee visited Nankan in TaoYuan County. Giant banners of “warmest welcome to Master Wan Ko Yee’s delegation” were hanging high everywhere. People of all ages, including the elderly and very young, came out to welcome the Master’s arrival. Even the scorching sun and the heat at the time did not deter their offerings of respect to the Master. When the Master was leaving, the crowds rushed over and surrounded the Master’s car. With all the applause, weeping, and words of farewell from everywhere, people were reluctant to let the Master leave.
Wherever they went, Master Wan Ko Yee’s art delegation brought up cheers and drew large waves of crowds. The sights were heartfelt and moving. Such scenes of warm welcome to Master Wan Ko Yee from the people of Taiwan was unprecedented in the history of Taiwan.
So many people from all walks of life came to the hotel and asked to be received by the Master that the hosting organization was not able to accommodate them all. Mr. Zuozhao Hwang, a retired lieutenant general, told the reporter, “Even generals like myself have been waiting in the lobby since 7 o’clock every morning for an opportunity to be received by the Master. I still don’t know yet which day will be my turn.”