Mu Hall of Ming Hwa Temple in Vancouver
Dose the setting of Mu Hall symbolize some special meaning?
Mǔ Hall is the place for worshiping God and all celestial deities, as well as a sanctuary for imparting the esoteric dharma. The solemnity displayed in the arrangement of the Mǔ Hall indirectly demonstrates the dharma and mission of I-Kuan Tao.
Mǔ Lamp
The Mǔ Lamp represents God (Lǎo Mǔ or Míngmíng Shàngdì), who is the ruler and origin of the universe. God is the
highest deity worshipped by Tao practitioners. All rituals of I-Kaun Tao must involve lighting the Mǔ Lamp.
Lighting the Mǔ Lamp signifies presence of God. When it is lit, other deities also descend to offer their escort.
Patriarch Maitreya
In response to the eschatological era, Maitreya Buddha vowed before the lotus seat of God to save all sentient beings across the three realms. This mission of saving sentient beings is also known as the Eschatological Great Event. God commanded all celestial deities and Buddhas to assist Maitreya in accomplishing this Great Event. Among them, Buddha Nánhǎi (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) is the main assistant to Maitreya, and Buddha Jìgōng serves as the holy mentor of the three realms, responsible for transmitting God’s esoteric dharma and leading sentient beings to transcend reincarnations. Since all sentient beings are the children of God, Tao-practitioners involves not only saving themselves but also saving others. Therefore, the temples of I-Kuan Tao serve as both the places to practice Tao and the dharma ferries to save all sentient beings.
Buddha Jìgōng
Buddha Jìgōng (濟公活佛) is the spiritual teacher of all I-Kuan Tao disciples. He is the only deity consecrated by God to transmit the authentic esoteric dharma. Due to relentless efforts in propagating Tao for the salvation of sentient beings throughout the Three Realms, Buddha Jìgōng is an universal mentor of all sentient beings as well.
Couplets
The two couplets hanging on the wall behind the upper altar in the Mǔ Hall, though brief, clearly reveal the essence and excellencies of the dharma carried by I-Kuan Tao.
Inner Couplet:
The Tao of Great Learning perdures through the ages as the golden standard of human behaviour. (大學道存千古而為金鑑)
The truth of Doctrine Of The Mean prevails for thousands of generations as the root essence of humanity. (中庸理留萬世則作丹根)
The Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean represent the central tenets of Confucian. This couplet explains that the behavioural principles for Tao-practitioners are primarily based on Confucianism. They practice the teaching of the Great Learning by illuminating virtue, embracing people, and preserving the highest kindness. They follow the Doctrine Of The Mean by being reflective and vigilant when alone and ensuring their emotions, such as joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, remain balanced and appropriate.
Outer Couplet:
(Buddha Jìgōng) Clearly reveals the true-self, transmitting only the ultimate sublime dharma. (明揭真身唯傳無上妙法)
(The cultivators) Blossom in the pure land, awakening the true-self eventually. (華開淨土究竟還得本來)
The first line of the outer couplet illustrates the action of opening one’s mystic portal. This is the practice of transmitting God’s esoteric dharma since antiquity, similar to the examples of “Smiling-At-Twirled-Flower” by Shakyamuni Buddha, to reveal one’s true-self. The term “true-self” denotes our inherent essence which is our real life or real self. The phrase “ultimate sublime dharma” in the first line of the couplet refers to the esoteric dharma of God. The dharma transmitted by Buddha Jìgōng is the same ultimate dharma transmitted by Shakyamuni Buddha. The dharma enables the cultivators to emancipate from reincarnations. Hence it is described as ultimate sublime dharma. The phrase “blossom in the pure land” in the second line of the couplet implies that Tao-practitioners, by practicing the esoteric dharma, will ascend to Maitreya’s pure land, assuring they do not regress, continue their cultivation, and eventually return to God’s heaven when enlightened.
Dual-mode Lamps
When lighting the lamps, in addition to lighting the Mǔ Lamp, the dual-mode lamps, also called sun-moon lamps, on
the lower altar should be lit simultaneously. The Mǔ Lamp represents the essence of Tao or the essence of the universe.
The dual-mode lamps represent the energy of Yin and Yang; they symbolize the metaphysical world where Tao is in
function. When Tao functions, Yin and Yang arise to give life to all beings. This principle is explicated in the book
Tao De Jing (道德經): “Tao produces one; one produces two; two produce three; three produce all beings. All beings,
carrying Ying and embracing Yang, are saturated with these energies to achieve harmony.”
Rites of Zhōu Dynasty
All rituals of I-Kuan Tao follow the rites of Zhōu Dynasty (周朝 1134 BCE ~ 249 BCE). It is very sacred and solemn. People who visit the temples may watch the Offering Ritual or Incensing Ritual to enhance experience and understanding of the distinctiveness of Zhōu Rites.
