What must we do after the sacred shrine is fully and properly decorated?

We must consecrate the images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and define a protective boundary for the shrine. We must not overlook the important rituals of consecration and definition of the protective boundary. Consecration of the images is sometimes known as "opening the eyes" of the images. After the images are in place, we must choose an auspicious day to make offerings to them. The ritual originates from "the sutra of all enlightened ones on installing the images." As said in the sutra, "once the rite of offering is completed, we must open the eyes of the images so that light shall radiate." It is just by pointing to the eyes of the images, thereafter chant the eye-opening mantra twice. Before the ritual, the practitioner must prepare flowers, and other offerings to the Buddha, ever-lit lamps and the following:

- a piece of new cotton cloth
- a new Chinese brush
- a new round mirror
- a red cinnabar

1. The practitioner recites the purification mantra and invocation mantra and invites all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to descend to the sacred shrine.

2. The practitioner holds the cloth and goes through the motion of cleaning the images at a distance to signify purifying the images so that they are free of dust.

3. The practitioner uses the brush; first dips it into the red cinnabar, then points the brush at the images at a distance, with the right hand holding the brush and the left mirror, shines the reflection from the mirror onto the face of the image.

4. The practitioner then chants the mantra, at the same time pointing the brush at the image at a distance. Thus is the union of mirror, brush and mantra.

5. The eye-opening mantra is translated as follows:

The divine light of the heaven,
The divine light of the earth,
The divine lights of the sun and moon,
With this mantra your eyes shall open;
Please see this world with your eyes,
Please succor all sentient beings with your speech (mouth),
Please hear all requests with compassion with your ears,
Please shower sentient beings with loving kindness from your heart,
Please form the mudras with your hands,>
Please travel long distances with your legs,
Please radiate forth the brilliance from your body,

OM AH HUM SEH.

(Chant the mantra twice)

6. The practitioner presents his offerings.

7. The practitioner recites the sutra, hymns and prostrates.

8. Dedicate the merit.

The practitioner performs the consecration ritual

This is where the King of Mind abides

All the enlightened ones teach the Dharma

So that I shall achieve enlightenment and return to my true self.

The ritual is now considered as auspicious and complete. As long as the ritual is performed with solemnity, in accordance to the procedure, and with a devoted heart, there is no reason why the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas would not descend to the sacred shrine.

If the practitioner is not very familiar with the consecration ritual or he is not confident to do it himself, what can he do?

He may invite any Guru of our sect or other venerables to do the ritual or write to the grandmaster in the U.S.A., inviting him to perform the consecration ritual for one’s sacred shrine. Although the Grandmaster is in the United States, in his True Buddha Sacred Shrine, he can still perform the ritual with a photograph of your shrine; thereafter the dakini (sky-goers) will descend to your sacred shrine as instructed by the Grandmaster, this is indeed an inconceivable act. Here are some of the experiences encountered by disciples:

-Holy water was found sprayed in the sacred shrine.

-Rice was found in the sacred shrine.

-Some disciples dreamt of the Grandmaster arriving personally to do the ritual.

-Heavenly music was heard in the sacred shrine.