林鈺堂上師示寂經過的紀錄
承恩弟子 無盡光 敬書
簡繁轉換 - 繁體
佛教瑜伽士林鈺堂上師於美國時間2026年4月4日晚，在美國加州家中示寂。徵得上師及其家人的許可，我與疾呼師姐、曉艷師姐得以在上師身邊，陪同他走完生命的最後一程。以下僅依我的親身見聞記錄此段經歷，未親歷之處師姐會補充説明。
2025年11月，我赴美拜訪上師十三天。其間感覺上師食量漸少，較2024年瘦弱一些，但看起來並無大礙。上師也說自己沒有事，只是年歲大了；仍能開車，也能到山上舉行火供，因此我並未特別在意。其間，上師曾提到近日小便不利，有人建議他做前列腺手術；但他覺得，問題可能與放屁不暢有關，每次只要順利排了氣，小便就會通暢。上師還提到，過去不應做痔瘡切除的手術，因為根據他自己的感受，術後痔瘡仍會復發，而痔瘡一旦受過破壞，癒合後就不會恢復到原來未受損的狀態。
2025年12月至2026年1月，疾呼師姐去美國時，上師幾乎每三天便到山上做一次火供。看到後，我心中不免疑惑：上師為何如此拼命？這不同於他以往做事的風格和節奏。
2026年2月，看到通透師兄赴美探望和照顧上師。其後，上師發郵件給大家，說身體已有好轉。我仍以為上師只是年事已高，加上此前一段時間法務勞累，所以身體抱恙。2月至3月，我因自身原因，沒有聯繫上師。直到3月21日，我才重新聯絡上師，詢問他的身體情況。上師回覆說已經沒事，只是乏力，提東西需要 John 幫忙，並讓我今年年底晚些時候再去。之後一週，我沒有再收到上師的消息。
2026年3月28日，正值初十。我與無盡藏在外用餐時，腦中忽然閃過一句話：「如果上師不在了，我也沒有理由去美國了。」我很納悶，為何會突然生出這樣的念頭。回程途中，我收到曉艷師姐信息，說想與我通話。我與無盡藏先念完初十薈供，隨後接到師姐來電。她告知我，上師病重，已十分危急。
得知這個消息時，頭腦發懵。但我已沒有時間沉浸在情緒中，便立刻聯繫疾呼師姐，進一步了解情況。據上師家人説：上師於2026年3月22日病重住院；3月25日吃完生日晚餐後開始絕食（不進食，不飲水，也不打點滴）。等我們得知這個消息時，已是臺北時間3月28日晚上。
2026年3月29日晚上，師母安排我們與上師視頻連線。當晚得到上師許可後，我與疾呼師姐、曉艷師姐決定儘快赴美，陪上師走完最後一程。
美國時間2026年3月30日晚上，我們三人抵達舊金山；次日早上，前往上師家中。上師當時已從醫院轉回家中，接受安寧治療。由於絕食，上師消瘦很多，但神智仍然清醒。他看到我們來，非常激動，努力打起精神，要我們靠近。因擔心將病菌帶給上師，我們進門時都戴了口罩。上師伸手要我們摘下口罩，想看清我們的臉，並抱住我們的頭為我們加持。此情此景，讓我難以接受：上次來美國時，上師還安然無恙；如今再見，卻是在他生命的最後時刻。想到這裡，眼淚止不住往下流。想一想，還有很多事情要爲上師處理，於是，收拾起情緒，開始著手處理事務。
此次入境時，海關只給了我十四天停留期限，時間變得十分緊迫。在與疾呼師姐商量，請示過上師後，我們需要儘快為上師作阿彌陀佛火供，將留存的已裝好的寶瓶獻入龍宮，清空上師在外租用的倉庫，並整理上師的關房。
第一個困難是用車。我們原本預想使用上師的車處理事情，但始終沒有找到車鑰匙。這讓事情一時變得十分困難：沒有車，許多事都無法推進，而在美國日租車，成本又高得離譜。當晚我們仍為用車發愁時，疾呼師姐忽然在上師的鞋裡看到一串鑰匙，其中包括車鑰匙，以及我們需要的倉庫鑰匙。這件事很奇特；上師平日從不會把鑰匙放在這裡，像是早已為我們準備好。或許，上師預知了這些情況，提前留下了鑰匙。
2026年4月1日，我們先去採買阿彌陀佛火供所需物品。疾呼師姐希望能儘快為上師作火供。此次火供的供品比以往多出很多，我們幾乎供上了所有香枝、香粉、中藥材和茶葉。香枝、香粉代表法脈延續，香火不斷；中藥與茶葉代表祛病與消業，都是很好的緣起。
2026年4月2日凌晨1點41分，我被一陣轟隆隆的聲音驚醒，房間隨即搖晃。手機很快顯示地震資訊：位於灣區南邊的 Boulder Creek 發生4.6級地震。我記得2019年12月，離苦師姐往生時，她家附近的唐山曾發生小地震；當時上師說，那是吉兆，地神歡喜，代表離苦師姐往生到了淨土。4月2日的地震，可能也是相似的預兆。
2026年4月2日早上6點，我們三人出發去作火供。天氣晴朗，並不炎熱，一路順利。到了火供山上的入口處，發現一棵倒下的樹擋住上山的路，幸好三人合力能將樹移開。
火供由疾呼師姐主法，火光明亮且旺盛。由於供品很多，燒了很久仍未燒完。火壇木柴倒下時，一個明顯帶鬍鬚的龍頭朝向西方的佛桌，漸而形成了一個像岡仁波齊神山形狀的灰燼。隨著煙供供品不斷堆上去，更像是一座金字塔般的神山。因我這三年每年都去岡仁波齊神山，對這個形狀格外敏感；而且，上師不久前也曾有法夢，夢見這座神山是水晶般透明的。最後，所有供品都燒成白色灰燼，火供順利圓成。
2026年4月3日早上6點，我睡在上師關房佛堂的地鋪上，夢見自己被很多人痛打一頓，因疼痛而醒。上師曾說，夢裡被打是得力的意思，我想可能是加持我處理事務能順利。上午我原本打算繼續在上師關房收拾整理，疾呼師姐和曉艷師姐先去照顧上師。但沒過多久，我接到電話，得知上師要我過去。上師雖已絕食8天，說話難以聽清，但精神意識仍非常清明。那天，陪伴在上師身邊，他多次像是看見佛、菩薩前來，便舉手拜佛；有一次舉了二十多分鐘，後來雖已無力，仍把手架在頭頂拜佛。還有一次，上師雙手舉在半空，作出捧起蓮花的姿勢，雙手形成容器般的形狀，似乎是在領受甘露加持；隨後又作出將甘露灌入口中的手勢。上師似乎也看見非人的存在，便作手勢讓他們往墳場方向去。疾呼師姐也對他們說，讓他們到墳場等待她修頗瓦法超渡。疾呼師姐說，大德往生前一般會自修頗瓦法；我們途中也看到，上師似乎曾自行修頗瓦法。
2026年4月4日，我終於聯繫上 Jason。他是2026年1月接替 Greg協助上師出海獻龍王寶瓶的人。我已嘗試聯繫他有兩天了，本來希望能在上師示寂前，幫上師完成這件最後遺留的法務，但他的電話一直無法接通。我一度以為此事無法完成；幸而當天早上經過最後一番努力，終於輾轉聯繫到 Jason。他人很好，答應次日便可協助出海獻瓶。於是我們趕快整理剩下的寶瓶；請疾呼師姐加持26個寶瓶，其中包括之前信眾請的寶瓶、每兩個月的大眾合獻寶瓶，以及我們為上師祈禱、祈求龍王加持上師的寶瓶。當天我沒有去上師家，而是開始整理上師存放法務物品的倉庫。倉庫裡都是上師多年積累的法務相關物品；雖然疾呼師姐此前曾和上師一起已清理過一次，仍留下很多東西。這次的挑戰，是如何在極短時間內清理乾淨並退租。整理半天仍毫無起色，我感到十分頭痛。下午帶疾呼師姐來檢查倉庫，她注意到園區門口掛著一張倉庫清運服務廣告，便讓我記下。後來我們在4月7日和8日，請廣告上的墨西哥裔清運師傅幫忙，用兩天清理完庫房。奇妙的是，他說那張廣告正是這兩天才剛掛上去，就被我們看見。此事讓我相信，是冥冥中佛、菩薩的安排，幫我們解決了棘手難題。
4月4日早上開始，上師已經非常虛弱，尿液開始稀少，但神智依然是清醒的。見到疾呼師姐和曉艷師姐如常來看望時，上師給了她倆深深的擁抱，似是最後的道別。晚上，收到師母訊息，得知上師呼吸微弱，可能當晚就會示寂。由於次日我要去龍宮獻寶瓶，所以無法為上師守夜。疾呼師姐和曉艷師姐當晚立刻過去，與師母一起為上師助念12小時。聽兩位師姐說，在為上師助念了8個小時後，她們將手放在離上師頭頂約1寸的地方，尚能感受到上師的頂門發熱。上師平臥病床上頭頂的方向的牆上正好掛著道證法師恭繪的阿彌陀佛聖像，當晚師母感覺一道光從這幅阿彌陀佛聖像迅速地向上師的頭頂射來。這都是實在地告訴世人上師已聖壽圓滿，回歸淨土了。12小時後再次探視上師時，他的身體綿軟，面容安詳。
上師約於美國時間2026年4月4日晚上11點停止呼吸而示寂。翌日4月5日為清明節，亦是復活節，4月6日則為農曆二月十九，觀音菩薩誕辰日。
2026年4月5日早上5點45分許，我出發前往龍宮獻瓶。出發後還沒上高速公路時，我總覺得哪裡不對，才想起忘了帶要獻給龍王的花，於是便折返回去拿。再次出發時，正好剛過6點。後來我回看上師的文章，不由得感嘆：最初祖師尋找龍宮那天，原定5點出發，因遇到友人攀談而延誤到6點；此後獻瓶都保持6點出發的習慣。我並不知道此事，但那天雖提早出發，卻因忘記帶花而折返，重新出發時恰好也是6點。沿著一號公路行駛時，我看到當日海面極為平靜，幾乎沒有浪花，這是我從未見過的情況。9點前，我抵達 Timber Cove，並把上師示寂的事情告訴 Brenda。她是 Timber Cove 營地的管理人；小時候，她父親 Dave 還在時，祖師就已開始在這裡獻寶瓶，至今已有五十多年。Brenda 得知上師的事情後表示惋惜，也希望未來能繼續提供獻瓶服務。
Jason 不久後抵達。他身形瘦高，待人熱情。得知上師示寂，他也表達惋惜之情，並表示很願意繼續協助獻瓶服務。接著，他幫助我們完成了此次獻瓶。同行的朋友 Matt 說，當天這樣平靜的海浪，一年也不會超過四五天。我想，這一定是龍王的加持。
獻完寶瓶後，我上山為上師化符、燒香，並把倉庫剩下的冥幣和許多綢布也敬燒了。
醫護人員記錄的死亡日期為2026年4月5日（因為4日晚師母和兩位師姐為上師助念至次日的11點，然後才讓醫護人員證實上師的死亡）。按此日期計，在上師示寂當天，我們完成了他生前遺留的所有法務。
補記：
3月28日，無盡藏在得知上師病重時，她向佛、菩薩祈禱，希望知道這是怎麼樣的情況。當晚她就得到夢示，看到一個裸體的小孩，騎在一尊銅製的獅子上，造型是石獅子的樣子。我在整理上師關房時，看到桌上放著陳祖師騎在一尊石獅子上的照片，便發給無盡藏看，她說就是這樣的。疾呼師姐說，只有大成就者才能騎獅子。我思忖，是否是佛、菩薩要安排上師去其他地方展開新弘法的含義。
今年1月的某天，疾呼師姐還在美國同上師作火供的時候，那時已經是由疾呼師姐主法了。我夢到上師領著我們弟子，向疾呼師姐磕頭行禮。上師也一起磕頭，好像是為她做認證，讓我們以後跟著疾呼師姐的意思。在夢中疾呼師姐很謙虛，說不要不要。夢醒後，我覺得很奇怪，心想難道是上師交班，要走的預兆嗎？但不敢問上師。
在上師病重期間，一位在台灣的佛友大白天裡看到上師並與他握手。當時他覺得很奇怪，想說上師是否已回來台灣，而且有事情找他。於是他去了上師台北的家要拜見上師，卻得知上師未返台北，且因此得到上師病重的消息。可見，上師是自在去來的。
聼疾呼師姐說，上師於5月1日舉辦了葬禮並火化，三日後大家去斂骨，發現了很多舍利。大家撿出的有舍利花、綠色水晶樣舍利、牙舍利等，其中以牙舍利最多。2025年11月，我在美國時，看到上師的牙老化掉了，他會用手掰下來，放到一個小瓶子裡收著。他說：「你看，人老了就是什麼都會壞，大自然都會給你收回去的。」看到上師的牙舍利，我想起了靈光寺的佛牙舍利，它代表了佛的語加持，所以是所有佛舍利中最珍貴的。上師特意保留了牙舍利，可能也是寓意上師的教言，上師的語加持，會被完整保留並延續下去。
5月6日是為上師舉行海葬的日子。聼疾呼師姐說，海葬的海域是上師幾年前曾在那邊出海獻瓶四年的地方。當年由於某些原因，無法如常在較遠的龍宮獻瓶。當時師姐很納悶，並請示上師說，這地點離龍宮一段距離，在此獻瓶是否適當。當時上師回答說，總有它的因緣在，我們就順緣而做。現在想起來，冥冥中確實是有其緣故，佛、菩薩有安排的。
以上所記，就是我所經歷的林上師示寂的整個經過，我盡可能如實記錄了我的見聞和想法。上師親身示現了「死亡」，他堅定地用絕食的方式，向我們示範如何從容面對死亡。以前在美國時，上師說，不用害怕死，死也只是法界一體遷流中抓不住的一個經歷，和其他事一樣的，一切都是一直過去。我想，上師可能早就知道了自己身體的情況，他也只是照常修行，做法務，過平常日子。他之前說他一輩子就是念佛、做法務，直到做不了了，死掉的那一天。他用一生踐行了法道。
疾呼師姐在上師的葬禮上，念誦了她所作的祈願文。我想以此作為結尾，以表對上師的懷念之情。
「祈請林師早誕頌」
承恩弟子 疾呼 敬撰
養和怙主敬頂禮 侍佛濟眾竭一生
承師法務普供養 平心教示展法緣
香燈臨滅環視顧 盡顯不捨眾生情
唯盼識途早歸來 法脈綿延永續固
二零二六年五月二十六日
An Account of Guru Yutang Lin’s Passing
Originally written in Chinese by his grateful disciple, Wujin Guang
English translation by GPT-5.5, revised by Jihu
Buddhist yogi Guru Yutang Lin entered Parinirvana at his home in California on the evening of April 4, 2026, U.S. time. With the permission of the Guru and his family, Dharma sisters Jihu and Xiaoyan and I were able to stay by his side and accompany him through the final part of his life. What follows records only what I personally saw and heard during this time. The Dharma sisters will add what I did not personally experience.
In November 2025, I went to the United States to visit the Guru for thirteen days. During that time, I felt that the Guru was gradually eating less and was somewhat thinner and weaker than in 2024, but he did not seem to have anything seriously wrong. The Guru also said that he was fine, only getting older. He could still drive and could still go to the mountain to perform fire pujas, so I did not pay special attention. During that time, the Guru mentioned that he had recently had difficulty urinating, and someone had advised him to have prostate surgery. But he felt that the problem might be related to difficulty passing gas. Each time he was able to pass gas smoothly, urination would also become smooth. The Guru also mentioned that he should not have had the hemorrhoid removal surgery in the past, because based on his own feeling, the hemorrhoids still recurred after the surgery, and once hemorrhoids had been damaged, even after healing they would not return to their original undamaged state.
From December 2025 to January 2026, when Jihu went to the United States, the Guru went to perform fire puja on the mountain almost every three days. Seeing this, I wondered why the Guru was pushing himself so hard? This was completely unlike his usual style and pace.
In February 2026, I learned that Dharma brother Tongtou went to the United States to visit and care for the Guru. After that, the Guru sent everyone an email saying that his health had improved. I still thought that the Guru was only getting older, and that he had become unwell because he had been tired from Dharma activities for some time. From February to March, because of my own circumstances, I did not contact the Guru. It was not until March 21 that I contacted the Guru again to ask about his health. The Guru replied that he was already fine, only weak, and that he needed John's help to carry things. He also told me to go later toward the end of this year. After that, for one week, I did not receive any further news from the Guru.
On March 28, 2026, the tenth day of the lunar month, while Wujin Zang and I were eating out, a sentence suddenly flashed through my mind: "If the Guru is no longer here, I have no reason to go to the United States either." I wondered why such a thought would suddenly arise. On the way back, I received a message from Xiaoyan saying that she wanted to speak with me by phone. Wujin Zang and I first finished reciting the Guru Rinpoche offering, and then I received the Dharma sister's call. She told me that the Guru was seriously ill and his condition was extremely critical.
When I learned this news, my mind went blank. But I had no time to dwell on my emotions, so I immediately contacted Jihu to learn more about the situation. According to the Guru's family, the Guru was hospitalized in critical condition on March 22, 2026. After eating his birthday dinner on March 25, he started a total fast: refusing food, water, and even IV drips. By the time we learned this news, it was already the evening of March 28, Taipei time.
On the evening of March 29, 2026, the Guru's wife arranged a video call for us with the Guru. After receiving the Guru's permission that night, Jihu, Xiaoyan, and I decided to go to the United States without delay, so we could be by his side for his final moments.
On the evening of March 30, 2026, U.S. time, the three of us arrived in San Francisco. The next morning, we went to the Guru's home. By then, the Guru had already returned home from the hospital and was receiving hospice care. Because of the fasting, the Guru had become much thinner, but his mind was still clear. Seeing us arrive, he was very moved and tried his best to pull himself together, asking us to come closer. Because we were worried about passing germs to the Guru, we all wore masks when we entered. The Guru reached out and asked us to take off our masks, wanting to see our faces clearly, and he held our heads to bless us. This scene was hard for me to accept: the last time I came to the United States, the Guru was still safe and well; to see him again now, however, is to be with him in the final moments of his life. Thinking of this, my tears kept falling. Then I thought that there were still many matters to handle for the Guru, so I composed myself and began to take care of things.
When I entered the United States this time, immigration admitted me for only fourteen days, so time became very urgent. After discussing with Jihu and obtaining the Guru’s blessing, we needed to perform a fire puja to Amitabha for him as soon as possible, offer the prepared Dragon Vases into the Dragon Palace, clear out the storage unit the Guru rented outside, and organize the Guru's retreat room.
The first difficulty was the car. We had originally planned to use the Guru's car to handle matters, but we could not find the car key. This made things very difficult for a while: without a car, many matters could not move forward, and renting a car by the day in the United States was unbelievably expensive. Later that night, while we were still worrying about transport, Jihu suddenly saw a set of keys inside the Guru's shoe. It included the car key as well as the storage unit key that we needed. This was very unusual: The Guru would never usually put his keys there, it was as if they had been prepared for us all along. Perhaps the Guru had foreseen these circumstances and left the keys there in advance.
On April 1, 2026, we first went to buy the items needed for the Amitabha fire puja. Jihu hoped to perform the fire puja for the Guru as soon as possible. There were far more offerings this time than before. We offered up almost all of our incense sticks, incense powder, Chinese herbal medicines, and tea leaves. The incense sticks and incense powder symbolize the continuation of the Dharma lineage; while the herbal medicines and tea leaves represent dispelling illness and purifying karmic obstacles. These were all auspicious conditions.
At 1:41 a.m. on April 2, 2026, I was awakened by a rumbling sound, and the room then shook. My phone soon showed earthquake information: a magnitude 4.6 earthquake had occurred at Boulder Creek, south of the Bay Area. I remembered that in December 2019, when Dharma sister Liku passed away, a small earthquake occurred near Tangshan, where her home was. At that time, the Guru said it was an auspicious sign: the earth deities were rejoicing, and it meant Liku had been reborn in the Pure Land. The earthquake on April 2 may also have been a similar sign.
At 6:00 a.m. on April 2, 2026, the three of us set off to perform the fire puja. The weather was clear and not hot, and everything went smoothly on the way. When we reached the entrance to the mountain where the fire puja is held, we found that a fallen tree was blocking the road up the mountain. Fortunately, the three of us were able to move the tree together.
The fire puja was led by Jihu. The fire was bright and strong. Because there were many offerings, the burning continued for a long time and still was not finished. When the firewood in the fire altar collapsed, a clearly bearded dragon head faced west toward the altar, and the ashes gradually formed a shape like sacred Mount Kailash. As the offerings for the smoke puja kept piling up, it looked even more like a pyramid-shaped sacred mountain. Because I have gone to sacred Mount Kailash every year for the past three years, I was especially sensitive to this shape. Also, not long before this, the Guru had had a Dharma dream in which he dreamed that this sacred mountain was transparent like crystal. In the end, all the offerings burned into white ashes, and the fire puja was completed smoothly.
At 6:00 a.m. on April 3, 2026, I was sleeping on the floor in the shrine hall of the Guru's retreat room. I dreamed that I was beaten hard by many people and woke up because of the pain. The Guru once said that being beaten in a dream means receiving strength and support. I thought that perhaps this was a blessing so that my handling of matters would go smoothly. That morning, I had originally planned to continue tidying up the Guru's retreat room, while Jihu and Xiaoyan went ahead to look after the Guru. But before long, I received a call and learned that the Guru wanted me to come over. Although the Guru had already fasted for eight days and his words were hard to hear clearly, his mind and awareness were still very clear. That day, as we stayed by the Guru's side, he several times seemed to see Buddhas and Bodhisattvas coming, and he raised his hands to bow in reverence. Once he held his hands up for more than twenty minutes. Later, although he had no strength left, he still put his hands up on his head to worship the Buddhas. Another time, the Guru held his hands up in midair and made the gesture of holding up a lotus flower. His hands formed a vessel-like shape, seemingly receiving the blessing of nectar, subsequently, he made a gesture as if pouring the nectar into his mouth. The Guru also seemed to see non-human beings, and he gestured for them to go toward the cemetery. Jihu also told them to go to the cemetery and wait for her to practice Powa to liberate them. Jihu said that before great masters pass away, they generally practice Powa for themselves. During this process, we also observed signs that the Guru seemed to have practiced Powa on his own.
On April 4, 2026, I finally got in touch with Jason. He was the person who, in January 2026, took over from Greg to help the Guru go out to sea to offer Dragon Vases to the Dragon King. I had already been trying to contact him for two days. I had originally hoped that before the Guru entered Parinirvana, I could help the Guru complete this last remaining Dharma task, but Jason's phone could not be reached. For a time, I thought this matter could not be completed. Fortunately, after one last effort that morning, I finally managed to track Jason down. He was very kind and agreed that he could help us go out to sea the next day to offer the vases. So we quickly organized the remaining vases and requested Jihu to bless the twenty-six vases. These included vases previously requested by devotees, the bi-monthly vases jointly offered by the public, as well as the vases we prepared to pray for the Guru and supplicate the Dragon King for his blessings upon the Guru. That day, I did not go to the Guru's home. Instead, I began organizing the storage unit where the Guru kept Dharma activity items. The storage unit was full of Dharma-related items accumulated by the Guru over many years. Although Jihu had previously cleaned it once together with the Guru, many things still remained. The challenge this time was how to clear it completely and end the rental in a very short time. After organizing for half a day with still no visible progress, I had a great headache. In the afternoon, I brought Jihu to check on the storage unit. She noticed an advertisement for storage clean-out service hanging at the entrance of the facility and asked me to write it down. Later, on April 7 and 8, we asked the Mexican contractor from the advertisement to help, and he cleared the storage unit in two days. What was wondrous was that he said the sign had just been put up in those two days, and we happened to see it. This made me believe that, in unseen ways, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas had arranged it to help us solve this difficult problem.
Beginning on the morning of April 4, the Guru was already very weak, and his urine output had decreased, but his mind was still clear. When he saw Jihu and Xiaoyan come to visit him as usual, the Guru gave each of them a deep embrace, as if it were a final farewell. In the evening, we received a message from the Guru's wife, learning that the Guru's breathing was very weak and that he might enter Parinirvana that very evening. Since I had to go to the Dragon Palace to offer the vases the next day, I could not keep vigil for the Guru. Jihu and Xiaoyan immediately went over that night and, together with the Guru's wife, performed supportive chanting for the Guru for twelve hours. I heard from the two Dharma sisters that after they had performed supportive chanting for the Guru for eight hours, they placed their hands about one inch above the crown of the Guru's head and they could still feel warmth at his crown. On the wall in the direction of the Guru's crown as he lay flat on the hospital bed, there happened to be a holy image of Amitabha Buddha respectfully painted by Dharma Master Daozheng. That night, the Guru's wife felt a beam of light quickly shoot from this Amitabha Buddha image toward the crown of the Guru's head. All of this truly showed the world that the Guru's sacred lifespan had come to completion and he had returned to the Pure Land. When they looked at the Guru again after twelve hours, his body was soft and his face was peaceful.
The Guru stopped breathing and entered Parinirvana at about 11:00 p.m. on April 4, 2026, U.S. time. The next day, April 5, was Qingming Festival and also Easter. April 6 was the nineteenth day of the second lunar month, the birthday of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
At about 5:45 a.m. on April 5, 2026, I set out for the Dragon Palace to offer the vases. After setting out, before I had even entered the highway, I kept feeling that something was wrong. Only then did I remember that I had forgotten to bring the flowers to offer to the Dragon King, so I turned back to get them. When I set out again, it was just after 6:00 a.m. Later, when I looked back at the Guru's writings, I saw that when the Patriarch Chen first searched for the Dragon Palace, he had planned to set out at 5:00, but because he met a friend and talked with him, he was delayed until 6:00. From then on, the practice of setting out at 6:00 for vase offerings was kept. I did not know this, but although I set out early that day, I turned back because I had forgotten the flowers, and when I set out again it was exactly 6:00. While driving along Highway 1, I saw that the sea that day was extremely calm, with almost no waves. This was something I had never seen before. Before 9:00, I arrived at Timber Cove and told Brenda about the Guru's passing. She is the manager of the Timber Cove campground. When she was a child and her father Dave was still alive, the Patriarch had already begun offering vases there. This has continued for more than fifty years. After Brenda learned about the Guru's situation, she expressed sadness and also hoped to continue providing the vase offering service in the future.
Jason arrived soon afterward. He was tall and thin and always treated people warmly. After learning that the Guru had passed away, he also expressed sadness and said he was very willing to continue helping with the vase offering service. He then helped us complete this vase offering. Matt, the friend who came with him, said that waves as calm as they were that day occur no more than four or five days in a year. I thought that this must have been the blessing of the Dragon King.
After offering the vases, I went up the mountain to burn mantra sheets and incense for the Guru, and I also respectfully burned the remaining joss paper and many silk cloths from the storage unit.
The date of death recorded by the medical staff was April 5, 2026, because the Guru's wife and the two Dharma sisters continued supportive chanting from the night of April 4 until 11:00 a.m. on April 5, and only then asked medical staff to confirm the Guru's death. According to this date, on the day of the Guru's entering Parinirvana, we completed all the Dharma activities he had left behind during his lifetime.
Supplemental Notes:
On March 28, when Wujin Zang learned that the Guru was seriously ill, she prayed to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, hoping to know what kind of situation this was. That very night, she received a sign in a dream. She saw a naked child riding on a bronze lion, shaped like a stone lion. When I was organizing the Guru's retreat room, I saw a photo on the table of Patriarch Chen riding on a stone lion, so I took a photo and sent it to Wujin Zang. She said it was just like that. Jihu said that only a great accomplished practitioner (Mahasiddha) can ride upon a lion. I wondered whether this meant the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were arranging for the Guru to begin his new Dharma propagation elsewhere.
One day this January, while Jihu was still in the United States performing fire pujas with the Guru, by then, Jihu was already the one leading the ritual. I dreamed that the Guru led us disciples in prostrating to Jihu. The Guru also prostrated along with us, as if he were formally recognizing her and indicating that we should follow Jihu's guidance in the future. In the dream, Jihu was very humble and said, "No, no." After waking, I felt it was very strange and wondered: could this be a sign that the Guru was handing things over and was about to leave? But I did not dare to ask the Guru.
During the period when the Guru was seriously ill, a Buddhist friend in Taiwan saw the Guru in broad daylight and shook hands with him. At that time, he felt it was very strange and wondered whether the Guru had returned to Taiwan and had something to discuss with him. So he went to the Guru's home in Taipei to pay respects to the Guru, but learned that the Guru had not returned to Taipei, and because of this he learned that the Guru was seriously ill. From this, we can see that the Guru comes and goes at his own will.
I heard from Jihu that the Guru's funeral and cremation were held on May 1. Three days later, when everyone went to collect the cremated remains, they found many holy sarira (relics). The relics included flower-shaped sarira, green crystal-like sarira, tooth relics, and others. Among them, the tooth relics were the most numerous. In November 2025, when I was in the United States, I saw that the Guru's teeth had deteriorated with age. He would remove them by hand and put them into a small bottle for safekeeping. He said, "You see, when people get old, everything breaks down. Nature will take everything back." Seeing the Guru's tooth relics reminded me of the Buddha’s tooth relic at Lingguang Temple. It represents the Buddha's blessing of speech, so it is the most precious among all relics of the Buddha. The Guru deliberately kept the tooth relics. Perhaps this also symbolizes that the Guru's teachings and the Guru's blessing of speech will be completely preserved and continue on.
May 6 was the day of the sea burial for the Guru. I heard from Jihu that the sea area used for the sea burial was the place where, several years earlier, the Guru had gone out to sea to offer vases for four years. At that time, for certain reasons, it was not possible to offer vases as usual at the more distant Dragon Palace. Jihu was puzzled and asked the Guru whether it was appropriate to offer vases at that place, since it was some distance from the Dragon Palace. The Guru answered at that time that there must be causes and conditions for it, so we would follow the conditions and do it. Looking back now, there truly was a reason in unseen ways, and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas had made arrangements.
What is recorded above is the whole process of Guru Lin's passing as I experienced it. I have recorded my own experiences, what I saw and heard, and my thoughts as truthfully as I could. The Guru personally demonstrated "death." Through his resolute fasting, he showed us how to face death calmly. In the past, when I was in the United States, the Guru said that there is no need to fear death. Death is merely an ungraspable experience within the continuous flow of the Dharmadhatu, no different from anything else; everything is constantly passing away. I think the Guru may have known his physical condition long ago, and he simply continued to practice as usual, do Dharma activities, and live an ordinary life. He previously said that his whole life was reciting the Buddha's name and doing Dharma activities, until the day when he could no longer do them and died. He lived the Dharma path throughout his whole life.
At the Guru's funeral, Jihu recited the prayer she had composed. I would like to use it as the ending, to express my remembrance of the Guru.
Supplication to Guru Lin for his Speedy Return
Respectfully composed by his grateful disciple, Jihu
Homage with reverence to Protector Yanghe, Who dedicated his entire life to serving the Buddha and liberating all beings.
Sustaining the Guru’s Dharma activities as a universal offering, With a tranquil mind, he guided us and unfolded endless Dharma affinities.
As the flame of his life drew to a close, he gazed around at everyone, Fully showing his compassionate reluctance to leave sentient beings behind.
We only pray that, knowing the path, he swiftly returns, May the Dharma lineage continue and remain eternally steadfast.
May 26, 2026