Lu Sheng-yen

In this Chinese name, the family name is Lu.

Not to be confused with Dharma Drum Mountain's Sheng-yen.

Lu Sheng-Yen (Chinese: 盧勝彥; pinyin: Lú Shèngyàn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lô Sèng-gān, born 27 June 1945), known by followers as Living Buddha Lian Sheng, is a Taiwanese-American Buddhist teacher, author of nearly 300 books, and founder of the True Buddha School (TBS). He is regarded by disciples as a Living Buddha and teaches tantric, Taoist, and Confucian-inflected spiritual practices.^[1]

Lu Sheng-Yen
盧勝彥 (蓮生活佛)
Statue of Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu
Title	Grand Master
Personal life
Born	(1945-06-27) June 27, 1945 (age 80) (5th month, 18th day of the Lunar Calendar) Tainan Prefecture, Taiwan (now Chiayi County)
Nationality	Taiwanese, American
Spouse	Lu Li-hsiang (Lian Hsiang)
Children	2
Parent(s)	Lu Er-Shun (Father) Huang Yu-Nǚ （Mother)
Other names	Living Buddha Lian Sheng Grand Master Lu Huaguang Zizai Fo White Lotus Padmakumara
Relatives	Lu De-Jie (Great-Grandfather) Lu Chang (Grandfather)
Religious life
Religion	Buddhism
School	True Buddha School
Senior posting
Based in	Redmond, Washington
Website	TBSN

Early life and background

Lu was born in Chiayi County, Taiwan, and raised in hardship during the Second World War.^[2] At age 26, he experienced a profound mystical awakening at a Taoist temple, where the Golden Mother of the Jade Pond opened his divine eye, revealing his nature as the White Mahapadmakumara, an emanation of Amitabha Buddha.

Before ordination, Lu practiced Christianity, Taoism, Zen, Mahayana, and Tantrayana Buddhism, culminating in his enlightenment known as anuttara samyaksambodhi. He was formally ordained in 1986 and established the international headquarters of the True Buddha School in Redmond, Washington, United States.

Religious life and teachings

Lu holds lineages from all four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug and has transmitted numerous tantric dharma practices.^[3] His teachings emphasize a structured path of bodhicitta development, guru yoga, mantra recitation, yidam visualization, inner-fire cultivation (tummo), and daily ethical conduct.

His public discourses cover the Heart Sutra, Amitabha Sutra, Vajra Sutra, True Buddha Sutra, Ksitigarbha Sutra, and the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment, as well as advanced teachings such as the Hevajra Tantra, Lamdre, Dzogchen, and Madhyamaka philosophy. The True Buddha School is among the few Tantric lineages that openly publish pith instructions traditionally reserved for advanced initiates.

Lu's distinctive approach integrates Buddhist cultivation into family, work, and modern life, making his teachings accessible to householders and lay practitioners across cultures.^[4]

Global legacy

The True Buddha School currently has over 300 temples and cultivation centers globally, with a claimed following of more than five million disciples.^[1] From 2010 to 2019, his weekly dharma ceremonies in Taiwan regularly drew tens of thousands. His teachings are translated into multiple languages including English, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Japanese.

Lu has conferred empowerments to hundreds of masters and disciples and performed dharma ceremonies across Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia. His influence is recognized across the Chinese-speaking world, Southeast Asia, and diaspora communities in North America.

Charitable and educational work

In 2001, Lu established the Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation, which funds healthcare, education, and immigrant justice programs in the United States and abroad.^[5]

The True Buddha School Online University provides comprehensive instruction in Buddhist history, philosophy, ritual, and practice.^[6]

Selected bibliography

Lu has authored nearly 300 books in Chinese and English. Selected works include:

• A Complete and Detailed Exposition on the True Buddha Tantric Dharma (1995), Purple Lotus Society. ISBN 1-881493-04-0
• Crossing the Ocean of Life and Death
• Contemplation Under the Lonesome Light (Book 158)
• The Magical Hands of Sheng-Yen Lu (Book 236)
• The Mystical Experiences of True Buddha Disciples
• The Aura of Wisdom (Book 154)
• The Secrets of Cultivating an Immortal
• True Buddha Tantra
• A Collection of Treasure Remarks: Vajra Sayings Leading to Enlightenment
• An Overview of the Buddhadharma
• Hevajra Tantra Teachings
• Vajrayana Practice Manual Series
• Lamdre and Dzogchen
• My Unparalleled Life and Spiritual Journey
• The Annotated True Buddha Sutra
• Rainbow Light Transformation: The Final Attainment of a Yogi

A full digital archive is available at tbboyeh.org.^[7]

Notable quote

"When the mind is calm, wisdom arises. When wisdom arises, the path is clear." Living Buddha Lian Sheng, *The Magnificent Golden Crown of Victory* (Book 164)