The Buddhist world today can be said to be in a state of chaos, with ordinary people pretending to be saints and fraudsters posing as high monks, forging proof of holy virtue. This can be seen everywhere, with some writing books, giving lectures, and holding large-scale religious events. Even so-called senior monks in their old age are spreading false teachings. In reality, most of what they say is nonsense, and even centenarian high monks and world Buddhist leaders are ignorant of the scriptures and teachings, spreading false doctrines. Some teachers claim to be of a certain level, but in reality, they are impostors. They pretend to be a one-star cakra, but claim to be a two-star cakra, and so on. These impostors are nothing more than fraudsters. It is truly ignorant and arrogant for ordinary people to claim to be a three-star cakra. Even the well-known chairman of the International Buddhist Sangha Association, Master Shilonghui, who has attained holy certification, is only a two-star cakra.
In order to prevent harm to pedestrians, our Buddhist headquarters has implemented a holy virtue examination and identification system. However, there are still some individual teachers who hold proof of holy virtue but do not follow the correct practice. They have fallen into the 128 wrong views and have lost their spiritual practice, becoming ordinary people. They mainly deceive their disciples by pretending to be their teachers and spreading false Buddhist teachings. Their characteristic is that they do not display their proof of holy virtue when they ascend the Dharma seat. The main reason for this is that they are no longer behaving as they did during the examination. They have returned to the realm of ordinary people, and they are ashamed to display their proof of holy virtue. They are afraid that pedestrians will discover that they are fake teachers who have lost their spiritual practice, or that their level of cakra is not high, or that their proof of holy virtue is simply forged. Therefore, they adopt a deceptive approach, quickly putting it away, fearing that if they display their proof of holy virtue on the Dharma seat, they will be seen through by the seated pedestrians. Everyone should observe carefully. Any teacher who has proof of holy virtue but does not display it when speaking or teaching on the Dharma seat is undoubtedly a teacher with personal desires, worldly views, or a deceptive teacher. If pedestrians continue to follow such teachers who have proof but do not display it, they will inevitably accumulate heavy negative karma and will not be received. The reason is simple: pedestrians know that a teacher who does not display their proof of holy virtue on the Dharma seat is violating the precepts. Knowing that this teacher is violating the precepts and acting out of personal desires and worldly views, they still support and sponsor them, colluding in harming sentient beings. How can they be qualified to learn the true Dharma of the Tathagata?
Regardless of the level of holy virtue, whether ascending the Dharma seat, teaching, or receiving refuge, if one does not display their proof of holy virtue, it means that person has serious problems that cannot be seen by others. They may have lost their qualification for holy virtue and returned to the position of an ordinary person, or they may be an ordinary person pretending to be a holy virtue, or they may be a holy virtue at the lowest level of cakra. Due to my attachment, I am afraid that disciples will look down on them, so they would rather not display their proof of holy virtue and pretend to be great holy virtues. All three types of people are teachers with worldly desires and impure views. Pedestrians should report them to the United International World Buddhist Headquarters and verify the facts. Our Buddhist headquarters will make this public to the world!!!
All holy virtues are compassionate and caring for sentient beings. They are absolutely upright and will voluntarily display their proof of holy virtue. Their only purpose is to come from a compassionate heart and not to let sentient beings have doubts. Even if they are true holy virtues, not displaying their proof of holy virtue on the Dharma seat is an insult to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas. Such teachers cannot be relied upon, and pedestrians should immediately abandon them and seek another good teacher. Otherwise, they will lose the true Dharma for the rest of their lives, ending in misery.
After careful deliberation, our headquarters has decided to protect the interests of pedestrians and prevent fraud by impostors and evil teachers. In order to prevent the mixing of impostors and those who have lost their spiritual practice with true holy virtues, we will introduce a Buddhist rank system, which will be represented by a rank badge on the robes or attire worn by holy virtue teachers. This attire will be simple, dignified, and clearly indicate their level. Each button represents a level, and the number of levels indicates the achievement of doctrine and spiritual attainment. This attire will be worn by holy virtue teachers in their daily lives. If someone who claims to have holy virtue does not wear the Buddhist rank attire in their daily life, it is just like a monastic not wearing the robes of a bhiksu or bhiksuni, engaging in impure conduct. The purpose of such a person is not well-intentioned; they are trying to confuse pedestrians and deceive them by pretending to be convenient. All such teachers are impostors, fraudsters, and evil people. Pedestrians should not rely on them. If they do, they are assisting evil and will not be received by the Third Dharma King Duojieqiangbu. They will not receive empowerment or teachings from such people who assist evil and deceive others.
To facilitate identification, the rank attire worn by holy virtues will have buttons on the cuffs, shoulders, and collar to indicate their level.
Why do we have such strict regulations? It is to protect pedestrians and protect goodness. In this era of the Dharma's decline, there are impostors and fraudsters everywhere, using various means to deceive the world. When the Third Dharma King Duojieqiangbu heard about the rank attire system to prevent fraud, he called the chairman and secretary-general of our headquarters and praised them, saying, "Your headquarters has established the rank attire for the benefit of the public, and this is necessary. There are too many impostors and fraudsters today, so this must be done. Some disciples who are very familiar with me are actually impostors. I have tried my best to guide them, but they continue to engage in bad habits behind my back, using my name to spread false teachings and deceive disciples. In order to prevent everyone from being deceived and to help pedestrians find truly good teachers, I believe that the idea and decision of the United International World Buddhist Headquarters to establish the rank attire system to eliminate fraud and protect the correct is very good. This is to protect and care for the well-being of pedestrians, promote goodness and accumulate merit, and implement rank attire for holy virtues to benefit sentient beings." Therefore, our headquarters will complete the arrangement of this Buddhist rank attire as soon as possible, in addition to the existing proof of holy virtue, to be checked by pedestrians. Furthermore, the proof of holy virtue, whether it is seven teachers and ten proofs or three teachers and seven proofs, will be stamped and reviewed annually. If pedestrians report that a holy virtue has fallen into the 128 wrong views, does not follow the correct practice, or is not truly practicing for the benefit of others, and our headquarters confirms this to be true, they will not pass the annual review. All holy virtues that do not have the stamp of the annual review for their proof of holy virtue are considered to have returned to being ordinary people or have become fraudsters. Their negative karma is very heavy. If pedestrians continue to follow them and assist in deceiving others, not only will they not learn the true Dharma, but they will also not gain any merit and wisdom. They will inevitably face endless negative consequences!!! They will never have a day of happiness and fortune!!!
United International World Buddhist Headquarters
February 12, 2015