Description:

This description highlights a collectible phone card featuring Grand Master Lu Sheng-yen, a revered Taiwanese spiritual leader of the True Buddha School. The card showcases a portrait of Grand Master Lu dressed in traditional ceremonial robes and wearing his iconic tall red hat, symbolizing his esteemed position within the religious community. Surrounding the image are traditional Chinese Mandarin characters rendered in red and black, referencing Buddhist themes such as the Great Compassion Mantra and other sacred chants. The background is a soft pale green, providing a tranquil and understated backdrop that accentuates the vibrant reds and golds of his attire and the highlighted inscriptions.

The phone card bears the AmeriVox logo and branding in the bottom left corner, along with a denomination of $30, indicating its value for telephone use. This combination of religious symbolism and commercial telecommunication creates a compelling juxtaposition, merging spirituality with modern utility. The text on the card includes traditional chants and formal titles, referring to Grand Master Lu as “Living Buddha Lian Sheng” or “Liánshēng Huófó,” reflecting Taiwanese Buddhist traditions. The Chinese characters lend authenticity and cultural depth, firmly situating the card within East Asian religious practices.

In the second image, annotations explain the various elements, such as the partial quotation from the Great Compassion Mantra, the True Buddha School emblem positioned near the top center, and descriptions of the Buddhist chants alongside the grand master’s titles. This overlay provides context for the traditional script and emphasizes the card’s devotional significance. The religious imagery and symbols draw from a syncretic blend of Mahayana Buddhist concepts, common in Taiwan and among followers of the True Buddha School, founded by Grand Master Lu.

Overall, this collectible phone card functions not only as a practical telecommunications tool but also as a devotional artifact embodying the teachings and persona of Grand Master Lu Sheng-yen. He is known for his leadership role as the head of the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in Redmond, Washington. The card exemplifies the integration of traditional Buddhist chants and symbols with contemporary items like phone cards—perhaps used by followers to carry a symbol of faith in daily life. The mention of a blank reverse side suggests it could also serve as a keepsake or proof of devotion, allowing followers of the True Buddha School to connect with their spiritual practice and the grand master through a tangible, collectible object.

Since we have the world's largest inventory of USA phonecards for collectors, you will not necessarily receive the identical serial/batch/PIN number that we have scanned/pictured.