In order to help Buddhist practitioners choose knowledgeable and virtuous teachers with a good understanding of Buddhism, the United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters conducted a two-year public examination for teachers. There were a total of 11,657 participants from around the world, including venerables, dharma kings, living buddhas, dharma masters, and lay practitioners. Among them, 3,273 individuals officially took the written examination on the Buddhist scriptures, vinaya, and treatises. Only 1,085 individuals ultimately qualified for the final examination.
The final examination was based on the one hundred questions from the Buddhist scriptures, vinaya, and treatises. These questions were derived from the correct knowledge and teachings of the Buddhist scriptures, vinaya, and treatises. For example: 1. Are the views of Buddhism the same as those of other religions? Is it theistic or non-theistic? 2. What is the relationship between the power of prajna and mantra? 3. Explain the source and function of samadhi and prajna. 4. Briefly describe the concepts, unity, and contradictions of prajna, madhyamaka, and yogacara. 5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of holding onto fixed views and conventional views? How can one be correct? 6. What are the differences between the esoteric, exoteric, and esoteric-exoteric sects of Vajrayana? 7. Provide a simple explanation of faith, vows, conduct, precepts, samadhi, and prajna. 8. What is the purpose of Chan meditation? 9. What are the components of the three realms? What is the dharma realm? 10. How does cause and effect work in the realm of fruition? 11. What is deluded thought? What is the realm of wisdom? 12. Explain why the "Great Liberation Mudra" transcends the quick attainment of Chan, Pure Land, and Esoteric Buddhism. 13. Explain how one can attain Buddhahood in the intermediate state according to the teachings of the Middle Way. 14. What is non-action dharma? What is action dharma? 15. Explain the functions of fire offering, subduing demonic fire, water and land Dharma assembly, giving of oneself, and vajra Dharma assembly. 16. What is the liberation view of the ultimate reality? What are the differences between Huayan, Vinaya, and Agama sects? 17. What are the different types of emptiness, such as stubborn emptiness, small emptiness, great emptiness, empty emptiness, cessation emptiness, true emptiness, or the eighteen emptinesses? 18. What are the differences between direct perception of the object, comparative perception, known object wisdom, unknown object wisdom, and non-dual wisdom? 19. List the commonly used empowerments in esoteric Buddhism and who performs them. Do they belong to the inner or outer esoteric or the supreme esoteric? 20. Briefly explain what is Chan, what is dhyana, what is samatha, and what is vipassana? What are the functions of the four dhyana and eight samadhis, and the three bodies and four wisdoms? 21. Elaborate on the natural wisdom view and the emptiness view of others. What is the difference between self-emptiness, dharma-emptiness, and person-emptiness, dharma-emptiness? Which sect and school do they belong to? 22. What are the main works of Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Dignaga, Asanga, Vasubandhu, Nagarjuna, Shantarakshita, and Buddha Protector? What are the main points of their respective works?
After passing the one hundred questions, the candidates entered the final examination. The final examination was conducted using the methods of the Wheel of Rebirth Eight Winds Formation and the Vajra Formation. The examination was divided into large and small formations. Both the Wheel of Rebirth Eight Winds Formation and the Vajra Formation had seven saints and ten proofs. The examination was conducted in a fair and equal manner, with all candidates participating together under the same conditions. It is like a stone placed on the ground, and everyone has an equal chance to pick it up. Some people can pick it up on the first or second try, while others may not be able to pick it up even after three attempts. For example, using a rope to enclose an area of about 20,000 square feet, although there is only one rope separating everyone, some candidates can enter when their level is sufficient, while others cannot cross the rope even when they are outside the boundary, and all the candidates participating in the examination are observing and supervising each other. The virtuous teachers of different levels who passed the examination are divided into three levels of gold clasps. The highest level is the Supreme Virtuous Teacher, such as the Vajra Acharya Wangzha. The entire examination was presided over by the Vajra Acharya Wangzha. The second level is the Dharma Acharya, and the third level is the Junior Acharya. Below that is the Blue Clasp. The highest level of the Blue Clasp is the Blue Three Black Second Stage, known as the Great Virtuous Teacher. Below that is the Blue Three Black First Stage, known as the Proclamation Virtuous Teacher. Below that is the Blue Clasp Third Stage, known as the Nourishing Virtuous Teacher. Below that is the Blue Clasp Second Stage, known as the Increasing Virtuous Teacher. Below that is the Blue Clasp First Stage, known as the Practicing Virtuous Teacher. Being able to achieve a level with the word "virtuous" is already quite extraordinary. Below the Practicing Virtuous Teacher, there is no level, and they do not belong to the category of teachers. Even those who only achieved the Practicing Virtuous Teacher level must have made significant progress in their Buddhist practice and have benefited others through hearing the Dharma. They have both conduct and virtue. Therefore, even though they are only at the Practicing Virtuous Teacher level, they have aspects that are worth learning from.
On December 31, 2016, the two-year public examination conducted by the United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters officially ended. They are no longer accepting applications for the examination. It is important to note that, except for the Supreme Virtuous Teacher at the Gold Clasp Third Stage and above, whose level of attainment does not regress, others may fall into the 128 views and regress from the path of cultivation and practice. Therefore, the headquarters will randomly review and assess the virtuous individuals each year to ensure the safety of Buddhist practitioners and prevent them from being misled by teachers who have regressed from the path.
Currently, there is only one Supreme Virtuous Teacher at the Gold Clasp Third Stage actively propagating the Dharma worldwide, and that is the Vajra Acharya Wangzha. The other individuals at the level of Dharma Acharya have not publicly propagated the Dharma, and the individuals at the level of Junior Acharya have not publicly propagated the Dharma either, except for one who is actively propagating the Dharma and accepting disciples. Among the individuals at the level of Proclamation Virtuous Teacher, only seven have passed the examination, and apart from two who are actively engaged in Buddhist practices but have not accepted disciples, the other five are accepting disciples and establishing centers for hearing the Dharma. Thirteen individuals at the Nourishing Virtuous Teacher level are establishing centers for hearing the Dharma and accepting disciples. Fifty-eight individuals at the Increasing Virtuous Teacher level are establishing centers for hearing the Dharma, and almost all of them are accepting disciples. There are many individuals at the Practicing Virtuous Teacher level, some of whom are accepting disciples, while others are only establishing centers for hearing the Dharma. The Vajra Acharya Wangzha specifically congratulates those who have achieved different levels of examination results and virtuous ranks, but he must clearly warn them that the Third World Honored One, Dorje Chang Buddha III, opposes the use of the final examination to determine ranks. Now he understands that although the final examination can determine the correct level of teachers and prevent false teachers and fraudsters from achieving results, it is impossible for teachers to rely on the final examination to achieve realization. To achieve liberation and realization, one must also listen to the teachings and Dharma voice of the Third World Honored One, Dorje Chang Buddha III, understand the Buddhist scriptures of Dorje Chang Buddha III, and practice and learn according to the teachings. Remember, you are Buddhists, disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha and all Buddhas of the ten directions. I am not your rank teacher; I am also a student of the compassionate teacher Dorje Chang Buddha III and the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. Therefore, I hope everyone will refrain from doing evil, practice good, and sincerely follow the teachings of the Buddha to benefit sentient beings. Only then can liberation and realization be achieved. This is the goal.
Please note that if you find a teacher who has taken the examination but is not wearing the rank attire, it means that this teacher has regressed from the path and is not a genuine Buddhist practitioner but a fraudster who uses Buddhism for deception! The reason is that such a teacher is afraid that his disciples will see that his rank is not high and does not match his previous exaggerated propaganda, and will discover that he is actually a fraudster who has regressed from the path. Therefore, he chooses not to wear the rank attire to deceive temporarily and deceive one more person. In addition, there is another situation where some people registered for the examination but did not dare to take the examination, and some people took the written examination but performed poorly and did not qualify for the final examination. Therefore, they do not have rank attire to wear, and these people naturally do not belong to the category of teachers. I hope they will continue to work hard and become virtuous individuals as soon as possible.
To prevent the evil behavior of some teachers who intentionally do not wear rank attire to deceive Buddhist disciples, pretending to be genuine and pretending to be high-ranking in order to deceive others, the headquarters will now publicly announce the results of the final examination. Starting from January 15, 2017, you can inquire about the specific examination results of the virtuous individuals from the United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters. The contact number for inquiries is +1-626-789-1001, and the email for inquiries is [email protected].
United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters
January 1, 2017
United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters
660 Monterey Pass Rd. #100
Monterey Park, CA 91754
USA
Tel: (626)588-2579
Fax: (626)588-2290
email: [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]