. tibetan lamas in ethnic chinese communities 571
(Zhen Fo zong ), which identifies itself as a Vajrayāna Bud-
dhist tradition, although it also draws heavily from traditional Chi-
nese popular religion, both Buddhist and Daoist. The school now has
numerous temples throughout the world, with the majority founded
in areas where there is a sizable Chinese community, such as Taiwan,
Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, and North America. Lu
Sheng-yen currently lives in Redmond, Washington, where the main
temple of this school is based. He is a prolific author, and has writ-
ten, according to one source, one hundred and ten works in Chinese,
several of which have been translated into English.^6
Another Chinese master, Yee Wan Ko (Yi Yungao, ), claims
to be the third incarnation of Vajradhāra Buddha, as indicated by
the title he has assumed, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, as well as
the second incarnation of Vimalakīrti. These claims are made in his
widely-distributed^7 book H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III: A Treasury of
True Buddha Dharma.^8 He currently resides in the United States, and
evidently has established a considerable following.^9 While the claims
of figures such as Lu Sheng-yen and Yi Yungao are by no means uni-
versally accepted, and are doubted by many Tibetan and Han Chinese
Buddhists, their success in attracting disciples and establishing what
are almost certainly new Chinese religious traditions is a testament to
considerable prestige of Tibetan Buddhism among Han Chinese Bud-
dhist communities.
(^6) See Lu (1995, iii). This work is also the best introduction available in English to
the teachings and practices of the True Buddha school.
(^7) While I do not know how many copies of this work were distributed, I presume
that its distribution was wide, since a copy was sent, without having been requested,
to my academic address. 8
Yee 2008. This is a fascinating work that is largely dedicated to proving the
author’s claim that he is an incarnation of Vajradhāra Buddha. Evidence offered
includes reports of miracles allegedly performed by him, as well as letters from vari-
ous Tibetan lamas, which are presented as evidence of support for his claims. 9
See, for example, the Web site of one of his disciples, Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche,
at: http://www.zhaxizhuoma.net/. (accessed 19 May 2009).