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Master Ru Sun visits Master John D. Hughes

Chan Academy Australia
33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Victoria, Australia


23 July 2003


Photographer: Rodney Johnson






Master Ru Sun with Master John D. Hughes






From left to right: Anita M. Hughes, Master John D. Hughes, Jason Thigh, Master Ru Sun, Katy Thigh



Master Ru-Sun's visit to Master John D. Hughes
on 23 July 2003 at 33 Brooking Street, Upwey"

On 23 July 2003, The Most Venerable Master Ru-Sun, Abbot of Yun Yang Temple in Narre Warren, Victoria, visited Master John D. Hughes and his wife Anita Hughes to offer assistance with his recovery to stable good health. Master Ru-Sun was accompanied by his attendant Jason Thigh and Jason's wife Katy.

John D. Hughes wrote his explanations and remarks on paper and Anita Hughes read them out. Master Ru-Sun spoke Chinese and Jason Thigh interpreted his words into English.

Master Ru-Sun said that through meditation he had checked the rupa, or material body, of John, and that there is one good solution for putting a stop to the unstable state of John's health.

Master Ru-Sun said that he would like to organise a special Dharma Ceremony and transfer the merit of that ceremony to all the "spirits" responsible for the fluctuations in John's health.

Anita Hughes said to Master Ru-Sun "Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu."

John D. Hughes replied, "Yes, I have had contact with sickness "spirits" such as pus-eating ghosts when I have healed sick people this life. I have also had contact with the "ghosts" of sick persons.

I have healed many persons by talking to the ghosts and "sending" the ghosts to their next and better birth. This was done by merit transfer, which is a form of giving blessings.

From time to time the ghosts come back seeking more blessings. If a ghost touches me, illness comes on the breath - on the breathing; because it is by the breath that I control the transfer of my merit to the ghosts.

I cannot tell you how many I healed but among their number were sick dragons, or nagas, in both the human and heaven realms.

The Dragon King thanks me and the Prince of the Hungry Ghosts thanks me too. But the bad spirits are many and cause much sickness by coming near healthy people.

A big puja transferring merit for millions of sickness producing ghosts and hungry ghosts would help me. Then those beings would desist from requesting a big puja from me.

Master Ru-Sun then confirmed correctness of John D. Hughes' analysis.

John D. Hughes said that he does not currently have the energy to do a big puja himself.

Master Ru-Sun responded by offering to perform the puja himself, saying: "If Venerable John likes, I can do it."

John D. Hughes went on to say: "If I do this (referring to a large puja) and transfer the big merit I will become sicker.

The Master must not get sick.

Master Ru-Sun said: "I will become more healthy."

Jason said: "Because the Master is helping you."

John D. Hughes responded: "The Master must promise me he will not get sick."

Master Ru-Sun: "Those spirits or ghosts will help me become more healthy if we transfer the merit to them.

If we can invite many Monks and Nuns to come and help that will be even better. We can do a big puja."

John D. Hughes expressed his gratitude to Master Ru-Sun: "Thank you Master. You have the correct and the safe view."

Thus was made the decision to hold a puja for the stable good health of John D. Hughes.

We intend to invite other Venerable Monks, Nuns and the heavenly Sangha to come, as well as many students of Master Ru-sun and all of the students at our Centre.

John D. Hughes said that apart from Anita and Julie, none of his students are strong enough to help without getting sick.

Master Ru-Sun said: "Once we have the wish sincerely, strong or not strong enough we can help."

Anita Hughes said: "Good, it's the correct view" That's why (John) doesn't ask his other students, because they have to be very strong.

Master Ru-Sun said ask all John's disciple students to come to the puja. The mind power will be very strong.

Anita Hughes said with combined minds, then the Venerable Masters can guide. OK.

Jason said "Yes"

John D. Hughes wrote "The other approach is for the Master to make my students strong enough to do the puja."

Master Ru-sun: "No problem. Once we conduct the puja, every one of them will become very powerful, very strong."

John D. Hughes: "They need more confidence that they can do it."

"I am happy to rest for a while because the world's beings come here to be healed. We must continue to heal those who are not able to heal themselves."

Master Ru-Sun said: "There are three requirements for all the participants for the puja. The first one. They try to be at least one week vegetarian. They cannot eat meat for one week.

"Second thing, they come with some offerings. For the puja ceremony we need to prepare offerings. Those offerings also should be vegetarian. Without any meat. After the puja they can take the offerings home.

"The third one must be based on their ability. They should donate some money for this Centre (according to their means). They can make the offering for building the Temple or do anything that is good generosity.

"By doing that they will generate merit for themselves, and also can transfer the merit to all the deceased, all the spirits.

These are the three basic requirements."

John D. Hughes said: "That is the correct way for Buddha followers to do."

Master Ru-Sun said: "The puja will be meant for all sentient beings with no limitation which kind of religion they are following. To transfer merit to beings of all the 9 different Dharma realms."

John D. Hughes said: "The puja will be successful and safe to do."

Master Ru-Sun said he is sure it will be successful and safe.

John D. Hughes said: "I thank the Master".

Master Ru-Sun said: "We have been conducting many, many pujas in Australia, Malaysia and Taiwan; we are very experienced."

John D. Hughes: "We thank the Master for hearing our prayers and we thank the Master for the puja he has just done. He is Master of puja."

Master Ru-Sun said: "Normally a person who finishes a puja becomes very tired. I am different, I feel more good energy."

John D. Hughes thanked Master Ru-Sun in Chinese, saying "Sheishei, sheishei, sheishei".

Jason said: "Master Ru-Sun is going to Malaysia and we are doing puja for three days then Master has to go back to Taiwan to do three pujas. So we will come back here on the 20th August. After that we can arrange the puja."

Anita Hughes said that the day of the puja should be arranged to suit the Master.

Master Ru-Sun suggested a Saturday or Sunday as suitable So Saturday 30 August 2003.

John D. Hughes said: "I will send my mind to follow the Master around the world to get full Blessings."

Master Ru-Sun: "When John's physical condition is very good he is certain ... but when John becomes sick, he always, his mind is always with John."

John D. Hughes: "I walk with you, Master, in many lives."

Master Ru-Sun: "I never say I would like to conduct a puja for another Temple. This is the first time so we have very close affinity, very close relationship."

Anita Hughes: "When John first died I asked Buddha for help and Master Ru-Sun's face came to mind immediately."

John D. Hughes: "Buddha sends Master Ru-Sun to heal me. I praise the Buddha, Namo Buddha."

Master Ru-Sun said: "As we need to decorate, prepare this puja, the whole environment, maybe, we can use Saturday to organise the place properly and second day, the Sunday, we doing the puja ceremony."

Anita Hughes said: "John says yes" and indicated to Member Frank Carter that this is what we will do.

Master Ru-Sun asked: "Do we need to notify, or to ask approval from the city council because we have some banner, instruments, affects the neighbours?"

Anita Hughes said: "We can check. Check with the Council for the 31 August. We will be using some instruments and chanting."

John D. Hughes then offered a bunch of daffodils to Master Ru-Sun saying he offers the flowers for 10 Blessings.

Jason then told Frank Carter to inform the council that the puja will start around 9.00am right through to around 7.30 to 8.00 in the evening, with chanting and Dharma instruments.

Master Ru-Sun: "All the participants can put their name in so that during the lunch offering Master can recite all their names for the Blessing."

John D. Hughes: "Our friends prosper; our Temples stand a long time, and are suitable for Buddha Dharma practice."

Jason: "There are two ways. The participants can put their names in. The Master will recite their names for the Blessing. Also they can put their deceased family names in to share the offering."

Master Ru-Sun: "The puja should be on (Sunday) 31 August, then we can do the preparations on Saturday 30 August.

We chant one Sutra first, then after that we do the Grand Offering to Buddha and from 3.00 pm - 7.30 pm we do the puja for the sentient beings."

Anita Hughes said: "Good. We will write a program and invite other Temples to come."

Jason: "Yes, the Monks, disciples."

Anita Hughes: "We will write a program and send it to Jason to have it checked."

Jason said: "I will check with the Master which Sutra we are going to recite."

John D. Hughes: "I am feeling better and success is certain."

Master Ru-Sun in answer to Jason's question about which sutra will be recited, said:

"The most suitable Sutra will be the Earth Treasure Bodhisattva Sutra (Ksitigarbha). It's quite long, normally it's around 4 or 5 hours. We will do 2 1/2 hours on Saturday afternoon and the last volumes will be completed on Sunday morning.

"We will start on Saturday at 3.00 pm with Volume 1 & 2 then Volume 3 on Sunday morning at 9.30 am."

John D. Hughes said: "Success is certain. I have advised The Dragon King and Prince of Hungry Ghosts of what we wish for. The Earth Store Bodhisattva said he would come.

A good day's work for the Master."

Master Ru-Sun said, "Let the Council know we are doing the puja on Sunday - on Saturday we will do it inside the Shrine to minimise the chanting level".

John D. Hughes, "We have a new fence so it stops the noise for the neighbours. A good day's work. Thank you Master for your wisdom."

Anita Hughes thanked Master Ru-Sun.

Jason then said that Master Ru-Sun would like to walk around the Temple ground to inspect the site.

After walking around the site Master Ru-Sun and Jason then returned to talk with John.

Jason said that after walking around, they had something they would like to discuss with John.

"Normally on (day of) the big puja many, many people come (and) we need (a) big space, also we need to cook a lot of dishes, prepare a lot of papers and altars; so maybe it's an idea to do (it) in our Temple and can more easily can save a lot of problem with the preparation.

Then John can come (to our Temple) or he can stay (here), it's up to you".

John D. Hughes said: "Yes, I can come."

Master Ru-Sun was delighted that John will go to the puja. He clasped John's hand and both Masters were very happy.

Anita Hughes then thanked the Master and Jason.

Master Ru-Sun and his attendants then said good-bye and left shortly after.

Jason said he would keep in contact with our Centre about the puja plans.

We thank Master Ru-Sun for helping Our Teacher John D. Hughes.

We thank Jason Thigh for interpreting, and his wife Katy.

May all beings be well and happy.


These recollections were written and edited by John D. Hughes, Frank Carter, Leanne Eames and Pennie White.


This text is also "The Buddhist Hour" radio script for Sunday 26 July 2003, 11am to 12pm on Hillside FM 88FM



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