The Gold Medal Was Awarded to H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee In Recognition Of His Outstanding Achievements
He Unselfishly Devotes Himself To The Integration Of Moral Character, Culture, And Art
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.
December 15, 2002
(This is a translation of an article published in the International Daily News on Dec. 15, 2002.)
The Master Wan Ko Yee¹ International Cultural Institute held an academic seminar on the “Ethical and Moral Character and Practices of H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee” at the institute for five consecutive days. This seminar was held in response to the national and local commendations received by His Holiness from various sources. In yesterday’s conference, there had been discussions of H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee not pursuing fame and fortune but personally and humbly practicing ethics and the development of moral character. In addition, there were specific examples discussed about his outstanding and diverse achievements and wholehearted and unselfish devotion toward humanity.
On October 2nd of this year, Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Washington, D.C. to personally award to H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee this medal that symbolizes remarkable achievements. The same day, H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee unexpectedly received a phone call requesting immediate and urgent care for a disciple. Instantly and without any hesitation, the Master left the medal award ceremony. His Holiness rushed to the disciple and saved him by applying his dharma wisdom. Those hearing about this particular action of saving others above his own personal gain were all touched. It turned out that three days later this medal was delivered to the Master’s residence, becoming even more brilliant and magnificent. The Master himself gave his thanks and expressed his apologies for his absence at the award ceremony.
In September of this year, representing President Bush, the chairman of the White House Presidential Advisory Commission for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders arrived at the Master Wan Ko Yee International Cultural Institute in America and personally awarded the Presidential Gold Award to H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee in recognition of the Master’s revered and noble ethics and moral character, achievements in art, and outstanding contributions toward humanity. During the award ceremony, the chairman highly praised each of the Master’s achievements as being the top in the field. This extraordinary honor shows that the Master is not only a leader in the Asian-American society but also an outstanding role model for the world. This is why he was the recipient of such a high honor. Moreover, the Master was the only person to have received this exceptional honor in the entire Asian-American community. This incident was never released to the public and was not brought to the attention of the world until the members of the institute, who attended the award ceremony at the time, spoke about it at the above mentioned seminar.
Approximately more than 100 people attended the seminar, but H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee himself did not attend.
At the seminar, several members stated that H.H. Master Yee’s writing, Brief Commentaries on Selected Philosophical Sayings, had given them enormous inspiration to guide them through life. H.H. Master Yee has profound knowledge, and there is no question that His Holiness is unable to answer. There is no other person to compare with His Holiness in the contemporary world. The most important of all is the greatness and honesty that H.H. Master Yee’s ethics and moral character embody. His righteousness and unselfishness are extremely rare in the world, and have made him a role model for the people of the world. Due to his enormous contributions to humanity, the government of California and the San Francisco city-county government, on the same day, proclaimed March 8, 2000 as “Master Wan Ko Yee Day.” The U.S. Congress, the chairmen of the California Senate, and the 11 members of the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco signed and awarded certificates of recognition to the Master.
At the seminar, most members who had spoken expressed that in the seven years that the Master Wan Ko Yee International Cultural Institute has been established, the institute has grown and developed stronger. The members also stated that they look up to H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee as their role model. In different fields of business and through practical practice in daily life, they have raised their moral character, purified their minds, and have found all sorts of ways to serve society and to benefit the public.
¹Here Master Wan Ko Yee refers to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu.
The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Presidential Gold Award was awarded to Master Wan Ko Yee
