Hello, where's the Living Buddha registration counter?

by Ngakpa Duddul Trogyal Dorje, The Buddhist Channel, Sept 3, 2007

American Buddhist to report to Chinese Embassy in San Francisco for instructions under new Chinese Regulations for Living Buddhas

San Francisco, California (USA) -- A controversial 54 year old performance artist and American Buddhist yogi named Dennis Conkin will report to the Chinese Embassy in San Francisco, California on Wednesday, September 5 at 10 a.m. to comply with new Chinese regulations that require Living Buddhas of the Tibetan Buddhist religion to register with the Chinese government.

"I am aware of the new regulations, so I am reporting as required to the Embassy for instructions on how to proceed. I'm not sure if the Chinese government wants a dossier of my relevant past lives or whether I'm just supposed to show up. Maybe they'll have some spiritual experts already available at the Embassy to look at my past life aura or something," Conkin said. "Maybe they can clear up some confusion I have about a couple of recent incarnations. That would be so helpful to me. And much cheaper than going to Tibet."

"I'm encouraging everyone who possesses Buddha-nature to go to their nearest Chinese Embassy and register for recognition. Validation is so important to a healthy sense of self-esteem and well being," Conkin said

The new regulations were instituted by the Chinese government effective September 1, 2007 and are aimed at curbing the spiritual and political power of His Holiness The Dalai Lama and other Tibetan religious leaders , The regulations are also aimed at preventing the recognition of the next Dalai Lama by Tibetan religious leaders.

Conkin, a full time student at San Francisco City College, is sanguine about the prospect of being recognized as a holy incarnation by the Chinese government. He says he's had little success being recognized by authentic Tibetan Buddhist teachers as well.

"Well, so far the only recognition I've ever had is from the Universal Life Church who said that If I send them the required fee, they will send me a certificate that says I'm a Lama," Conkin said. "They haven't made one that says Living Buddha, yet." he said. "They should. It would be a best seller."

Reaction from Tibetan Buddhist Lamas has been mixed, Conkin says. "Some of them have gotten quite pissed off with me, others just crack up and laugh a lot. It's been a really great meditation about the nature of self-delusion and deception," he said.

Conkin says the Chinese government might consider a similar form of meditation.

"Whoever in the Chinese government cooked up this absurd plan to require TIbetan Buddhist tulkus or incarnate Lamas to seek their approval and registration might consider such a meditation," Conkin said "Or at least start watching their breath, they need to get a serious grip on reality."

Conkin is available for interview and comment at 415 756 1546

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.

Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team

Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv

Search Buddhist Channel

Hello, where's the Living Buddha registration counter?

by Ngakpa Duddul Trogyal Dorje, The Buddhist Channel, Sept 3, 2007