Confirmation of the existence of the Ling Xian Zhen fFo Zong sect founded in 1982 by a Master Lu Sheng Yan; reports of problems faced by the sect in China; information on whether the sect maintains a temple in Hong Kong called the Pu Zhao Temple and whether a Master Si Lian is associated with it [CHN40819.E]

Although no reference to the Ling Xian Zhen fFo Zong sect could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, a Grand Master Sheng-yen Lu reportedly founded the "Ling Xian Sect" (TBSN 1995). As of 1999, Master Sheng-yen Lu's sect, known as the True Buddha School, consisted of approximately 4 million people in over 300 chapters around the world (Yellow Dragons Talismans 2001). According to the True Buddha School Net, Master Sheng-yen Lu was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States in 1982 where he built the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond, Washington (1997). The Yellow Dragon Talismans Website, claims that Master Sheng-yen Lu is an accomplished scholar and teacher of Taoism, Sutrayana and Tantric Buddhism (2001).

Although True Buddha chapters in mainland China are not provided, the True Buddha School Website includes contact information for its international chapters, including the Pu Zhao Tang True Buddha Society in Hong Kong (TBSN 1995-2003). Moreover, the Pu Zhao Tang True Buddha Society in Hong Kong has its own Website, in Chinese, that can be accessed at http://www.tbsn.org/wwc/hk/PuZhaoTang/. An unsuccessful attempt to obtain information on whether a Master Si Lian is associated with the Pu Zhao Tang temple was made by the Research Directorate.

In February 2002, the Committee for Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China (CIPRC) released confidential documents obtained from China's Ministry of Public Security that identify the characteristics a group must have to be defined as a cult and declares the government's intention to ban such groups in China (11 Feb. 2002). "The Immortal Real Buddha Sect" led by Lu Sheng-yan, a Chinese-American, has been labelled a cult by the Chinese government (ibid.). The sect, according to the document, is based in Seattle, Washington, and active in over 13 Chinese provinces (ibid.). No information on the treatment of members of this sect could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Committee for Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China (CIPRC) et al. 11 February 2002. Edited by Shixiong Li and Xiqiu (Bob) Fu. Religion and National Security in China. Secret Documents from China's Security Sector. http://www.religiousfreedomforchina.org/English/docs/Final%20Report.htm [Accessed 14 Feb. 2003]

True Buddha School Net (TBSN). 1995-2003. "The True Buddha Society Hong Kong Pu Zhao Tang Co., Ltd." http://www.tbsn.org/chinese2/chapter.php?classid=7&id=24&page=0 [Accessed 17 Feb. 2003]

_____. 1997. "About the Author and Acknowledgements." http://www.tbsn.org/ebooks/wos/chap1.htm [Accessed 14 Feb. 2003]

_____. 1995. The Art of Meditation. http://www.tbsn.org/ebooks/aom/aomch~14.htm [Accessed 14 Feb. 2003]

Yellow Dragon Talismans. 2001. "Master Lu." http://www.talismans.info/pages/masterlu.htm [Accessed 14 Feb. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted


IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Contact was made with the True Buddha Vajrayana Association in Toronto, Ontario. The contact person, who identified himself as a disciple of Master Sheng-yen Lu, refused to be quoted.

Unsuccessful attempts were made to obtain information from the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Scarborough, Ontario, the Pure Moon Buddhism Society of Toronto, Ontario, the Association of True Buddha Society of North Toronto, Ontario, the Loi Shiang Tze Temple in Redmond, Washington, and the Pu Zhao Tang Temple in Hong Kong.

Internet sites, including:

Amnesty International

Canada Tibet Committee

Freedom House

Human Rights in China

Human Rights Watch

World Encyclopedia of Religion