Regarding the consultation of the ranking of the Eighteen Methods, the headquarters of Shengde Group hereby solemnly and accurately announces the following: It seems that you did not receive the empowerment of the Bodhi Path of Loss, Reduction, Increase, and Gain, but instead encountered a certain Shengde who received the empowerment and witnessed the holy realm, so you are not clear about the ranking.
As a Buddhist disciple, it is necessary to understand that the purpose of learning Buddhism is to obtain blessings and wisdom, to free oneself from the suffering of ordinary beings and to become a saint. The Eighteen Methods listed in this announcement are all the great methods of "Manifestation of Reality" among the eighty-four thousand Dharma doors spoken by the Buddha. Because these methods have different functions and rankings in different uses.
In terms of ranking based on the achievement of liberation through learning Buddhism, the first is the "Buddha's Bestowal of Nectar Empowerment," also known as the "Supreme and Equal Threefold Enlightenment Day," which is the top-ranking supreme and equal holy king method among the eighty-four thousand Dharma doors. The second is the "Bodhi Path of Loss, Reduction, Increase, and Gain," also known as the "Great Bodhi Enlightenment Method." The third is the "Presentation of a Bodhisattva," also known as the "Highest and Direct Lineage Protection and Presentation Method." These three methods are collectively known as the "Supreme and Equal Holy King Methods of the Dharma Realm," and they are the crowning methods that ensure the great achievement of transforming from an ordinary being to a saint in this lifetime. These three methods are all methods that manifest the reality of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, not empty theories, but they must be presided over by the Buddha and extraordinary enlightened Bodhisattvas to impart the highest empowerment of the true meaning to disciples!
Those who receive the "Buddha's Bestowal of Nectar Empowerment" will experience the bursting of their bones and the opening of the eighty-four thousand meridians in their bodies after consuming the true essence of nectar and the empowerment formula. Within an hour, they will realize their innate Dharma body and achieve the great accomplishment of a fully enlightened being.
Those who receive the empowerment of the "Bodhi Path of Loss, Reduction, Increase, and Gain" will be personally guaranteed by the Buddha and Bodhisattvas to achieve enlightenment in this lifetime and transform from an ordinary being to a saint. The disciples who receive the empowerment will immediately receive the Bodhi Pill personally given by the Buddha and Bodhisattvas (not given by any master who presides over the empowerment). From then on, they will take one pill every month. This Bodhi Pill comes into existence out of nothingness and possesses the highest sacred power. Many great Dharma methods of victory cannot be performed without it. For example, the "Method of Reviving the Dead Out of Season," when placed in the mouth of a deceased person, can bring them back to life. Similarly, the "Empowerment of Awakening Practice," "Empowerment of the Original Self," "Perfect Realization of Present Awareness," "Unspoken Zen," "Single-minded Zen," "Victorious Fire Offering," "Vajra Formation," "Eight Winds Formation," "Hanging Bowl Inquiry," and "Water Altar Beads of the Horse-Headed Wisdom King" can only be effective when offered with the Bodhi Pill.
Those who receive the empowerment of the "Presentation of a Bodhisattva" can practice any Buddhist method. The Buddha or extraordinary enlightened Bodhisattvas will personally guarantee that you will achieve great sainthood in this lifetime. The disciple will receive the document of presentation from the Bodhisattva in person, promising to escort the disciple to the Buddha's Pure Land. This is a foolproof method of personally escorting ordinary beings to achieve sainthood.
Let's use an inappropriate metaphor of sailing on the sea. The Pure Land chanting method is like a wooden raft on the sea, slow and steady, but without safety guarantees when encountering strong winds and waves. The Powa method is like wearing a life jacket, but it is still difficult to escape danger when encountering strong winds and waves. The Zen method is like boarding a ship driven by an amateur. If you are lucky, it can quickly bring you to the other shore, but if you are not accurate, you will stay in place or collide randomly without any guarantee. Ordinary beings practicing Zen are already amateurs, so how can they easily realize their true nature? Other sects such as Esoteric Buddhism, Yogacara, and Huayan are like riding different sizes of speedboats and ferries on the sea, with uncertain safety and danger. The only method that can ensure immediate accomplishment through practice is the "Buddha's Bestowal of True Essence Nectar Empowerment," the "Bodhi Path of Loss, Reduction, Increase, and Gain," and the "Presentation of a Bodhisattva," which are the "Supreme and Equal Holy King Methods of the Dharma Realm." They are like an aircraft carrier on the sea, fully equipped and invincible. However, the "Buddha's Bestowal of True Essence Nectar Empowerment" is not accessible to those who are not highly respected great saints. At most, they can receive the sprinkling of nectar or consume nectar pills. This is because it depends on the mind and actions, and the actual size of the merits you have accumulated in Buddhist practices. Otherwise, you will not pass the selection and will not receive the empowerment. The empowerment of the "Bodhi Path of Loss, Reduction, Increase, and Gain" is not accessible to those who are not sincere and have not made great merits as Buddhist disciples. They must pass the selection before receiving the empowerment. The conditions for the "Presentation of a Bodhisattva" are the same as those for the "Bodhi Path of Loss, Reduction, Increase, and Gain."
If we rank based on the display of saintly qualities and spiritual cultivation, it would be the "Victorious Fire Offering," "Prophetic Prophecy," "Present Awareness of Hidden Treasures," "Building an Altar with Separated Stones," "Bodhi Holy Water," "Manifestation of Holy Ice," and "Taking the Seat with a Pestle." If we rank based on the powerfulness of the holy realm, it would be the "Vajra Formation" and the "Eight Winds Formation." In terms of selection, it would be the "Vajra Pillar Selection," "Hanging Bowl Inquiry," "Vajra Dharma Mantra Selection," "Water Altar Beads of the Horse-Headed Wisdom King," "Dharma Gate Palace Feather," and "Dual Response Selection." Therefore, each method has its own purpose and different effects. Since the fundamental purpose of learning Buddhism is to be liberated from birth and death, all eighty-four thousand Dharma doors are under the three top-ranking king methods and are not on the same level of spatial and temporal realms. However, the three top-ranking king methods and all other Buddhist methods must be practiced with the "Great Liberation Hand Seal" of Namo Guanfo online, which has a thousandfold effectiveness.
World Buddhist Headquarters Shengde Group
June 13, 2021