Lillian Too is one of those only-in-Asia, low-level occultist, self-proclaimed feng shui "masters" who make a fortune from selling solutions to problems that don't exist -- deftly picking the pockets of a legion of credulous Malaysian housewives. Above, you see one of her shops, and you probably get the idea.
Grasping Turtle mudra
It seems that now Lillian has taken to selling the Dharma. She has recently begun offering a translation of the Mahashri Sutra, for USD $96.00, calling it a "wealth plaque." The thing of it is, the translation she's selling is the work of young translator Erick Zangpo, who lives a hand-to-mouth existence in D'sala, depending on the kindness of strangers.
Let me see if I have this straight -- Lillian Too is ripping off a decent young guy who is starving, and flogging sutras so she has more cash to buy live fish in fancy restaurants, and plunge them into boiling water?
Take back your silver, lady... I cannot tell your fortune.
Are we allowed to accuse another tantric practitioner publicly for stealing or similar things ?
ReplyDeleteThank you Tenpa.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I want to say that I really appreciate your sticking up for me.
Most importantly, I want to clarify a few things.
Lillian Too and I had a previous relationship. I worked for her as a translator, translating one of the Zungdus, giant collections of sutras, mantras, and dharanis. She knew full well that I would not approve of using my text for sale. In fact, I think she may have done it partially to spite me. She did not bother to contact me, and so obviously did not offer any compensation, and did not even credit me as the translator on the plaques. She cannot play innocent. She knew me, and thus should have contacted me.
Also, I want to explain something our previous relationship. Lillian Too got pissed off for some reason, honestly probably because she realized that she could not take full advantage of me in the Zungdu business deal (she was being very cheap). I was trying to get a modestly fair deal, and she threw a fit and trashed the project. At the beginning of the project she had given me a $1000 advance. I had already turned in translation work that was almost equivalent to $1000. She actually asked for the money back! Of course, I didn't give it back to her. At that point, I knew I was dealing with a very greedy person.
Thus, this new development of using my translations for her personal gain is actually not all that surprising.
I would appreciate if people who sympathize with my cause could write to Lillian Too and demand that she apologize, and either remove this product, or give me royalties from it or pay me off substantially.
This woman is a multi-millionaire is very consciously taking advantage of Dharma translators, ones that she knows, who, as this article mentions are truly very poor, and using their work without offering them anything, in order to make money off the Buddha Dharma.
Yes, shame on her, and let's hope that this comes to something good.
Erick Sherab Zangpo
Lillian finally responded, by lying and saying that the translation was from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Wow. Does the negative karma ever end? Lama Zopa's very rough translation is on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. Mine is on my website. If you take a close look at the plaques, you will see that it is definitely my translation.
ReplyDeleteHere is Lama Zopa Rinpoche's version, which Lillian Too claims is the version used on the plaques. Scroll down 2/3 down the page, under the "Improving Business" article:
http://www.lamayeshe.com/index.php?sect=article&id=299&chid=1360
Here is my version on my website: http://emptyelephant.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/the-mahashri-sutra/
Here is the plaque: http://www.fsmegamall.com/index.php?l=product_images&p=2247
A cursory look at the plaque will show you that she used my version, not Lama Zopa Rinpoche's. There is not other translation of this sutra.
Thank you for this posting on Lillian Too, revealing an pervasive archetype in all cultures. The "grasping turtle mudra" is delightful. The DTBA is the best iconoclastic and informative site for Dharma "news", like the "Daily Show" is for secular news.
ReplyDeleteFriends,
ReplyDeletePlease view my post on this situation at:
http://emptyelephant.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/lillian-toos-mahashri-plaques/
She has most definitely immorally and illegally used my translation, claiming it to be Lama Zopa Rinpoche's, for her own gain.
I suspect a happy ending to this soon. And for Lillian, I only hope that her roots of virtue increase, and that her negative tendencies are purified. And that the truth be known, and the wrong made right.
E
her plaque doesn't even look close to Lama Zopa Rinpoche's version. it is very clearly the same as yours, punctuation and all...
ReplyDeleteROFLOL
ReplyDeleteROFLOL
ReplyDeletemakes us wonder how people sell dharma when in older days they selflessly gave dharma "free" to whoever was in greater need.
ReplyDeleteHello Sherab
ReplyDeleteI understand your situation for being cheated from billionair claimed to be religious
I just will saide here depend on my own experience being in Malaysia long time, and its not to offend Chinese
personaly, I have been cheated tens of time by Chinese shopkeeper in Malaysia, even one chinese have admit he cheated me by giving me phone headset, while I want micrphone for computer, and when I come later, he saide, I cheat you, what you gona do??...its terrible actually...I still think this happen, because Chinese have a different culture, which business is something very sacred, above anything including religion
I just advise you to forget this issue, you will tired yourself more without benefits
I know her shop in midvally, which is very expensive
good luck for you
Tashi Delek