Currently, in the entire Buddhist community, in different countries and regions, many Buddhist practitioners of different sects have raised inquiries, among which the immediate concern is whether a true spiritual teacher must possess the certification of the seven teachers and ten qualifications. Does the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche have a definitive statement on this?
In fact, this is not a matter of definitive statement, but a very serious and firm principle issue, because it involves whether one is responsible for sentient beings and whether one allows false teachers and fraudsters to harm practitioners. Many people in today's society claim to be holy beings, reincarnations of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and they are spread all over the world. Who is true and who is false? If one is a teacher who strictly observes precepts, is responsible for sentient beings, does not speak falsely, sincerely practices, and selflessly benefits others, then the seven teachers and ten qualifications are something to be happy and praised about, because true great virtue and true holiness are like pure gold, naturally not afraid of being refined by fire, let alone for the sake of discerning true and false teachers for practitioners. Not to mention holy beings, even in terms of teacher qualifications and empowerments, as long as the teacher is selfless, they must be transparent and allow disciples to have a clear understanding, rather than letting disciples only listen to empty lineages and empty holders of the Dharma, leaving disciples in confusion and doubt. Not to mention that teachers need confirmation, and even receiving ordination requires three teachers and seven confirmations, all to prevent false ordination. Why is this? This is the seriousness of Buddhism and the purity of the Dharma that must be upheld for the sake of sentient beings. Therefore, all Buddhist disciples must understand clearly that the seven teachers and ten qualifications are regulations that are responsible for the ten directions of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors, teachers, sentient beings, and disciples. They are most beneficial for disciples to discern true holiness, great virtue, and good knowledge. If someone says that the seven teachers and ten qualifications are not necessary, first of all, saying this already indicates a serious problem. Why is this? A teacher who is committed to benefiting sentient beings, truly qualified as a teacher, and not a self-proclaimed false teacher, should not give disciples a fair explanation? Are they afraid of confirmation from the seven teachers and ten qualifications? For example, there are many Rinpoche's nowadays, some claiming to be the reincarnation of Amitabha Buddha, some claiming to be the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and they even have corresponding certification. Since they claim to be Amitabha Buddha or Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, they should have the corresponding abilities of Amitabha Buddha or Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, rather than being able to represent Buddhas and Bodhisattvas by simply saying false words. Therefore, the seven teachers and ten qualifications are proof of the abilities and qualifications of true holy beings. For example, now there are many people practicing the rainbow body method, not only can they not achieve the rainbow body, but they also die from illness. On the other hand, to put it simply, a true Buddha or Bodhisattva, for the benefit of sentient beings, why would they be afraid of the confirmation of the seven teachers and ten qualifications? Therefore, everyone must be very clear that the regulations of the seven teachers and ten qualifications are necessary, they are the power of the Buddha's path, and demons and evil spirits cannot correspond to them, and fraudsters are even more powerless. Of course, for great virtue or good knowledge, because they do not belong to the level of superior truth or inner secrecy as teachers, they do not need the certification of the seven teachers and ten qualifications, because they do not claim to be holy beings. Or even if there are holy beings among them, but they do not consider themselves as holy beings, they also do not need the certification of the seven teachers and ten qualifications. However, in order to let sentient beings practice the Dharma without doubt, if one is a holy being, they should strive to obtain the assessment of the seven teachers and ten qualifications, obtain the certification, and the purpose is to benefit practitioners.
Especially recently, the office of the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche has continuously received letters from great virtue, holiness, and practitioners inquiring. In the present society, there are many fraudsters who claim to be Rinpoche, venerable ones, or Dharma kings, pretending to be great Bodhisattvas, spreading false teachings, and deceiving practitioners by collecting offerings. Therefore, this is one of the chaotic phenomena in the Dharma-ending age, where false teachers using the banner of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and borrowing the lineage of the Dharma transmission are everywhere. The Buddhas have long been aware of this. If there were no seven teachers and ten qualifications to prevent false teachers from masquerading as genuine ones, what would happen? The ones who would suffer would be the kind-hearted practitioners. Therefore, the office of the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche has summarized a section of the teachings on respecting the Buddha, discerning the Dharma, and valuing the teacher from "The Great Liberation Mudra" and provided a brief explanation for practitioners to discern. According to "The Great Liberation Mudra," it is stipulated that for teachers who possess the qualifications of an upper-level awakened teacher, a middle-level awakened teacher, or a master-level awakened teacher, which are divided into six categories, or those who have already attained the qualifications of great virtue or holiness, they must hold the certification of the seven teachers and ten qualifications. These teachers must hang the certification in front of the Dharma platform before giving empowerments or teachings to disciples (regardless of the occasion or form of the Dharma platform, it is similar to the principle that monastics must wear robes and carry the necessary items when paying respects to the Buddha). They must first pay respects to the Buddha, recite the Buddha's homage mantra, then bow to the certification, and only then can they ascend the platform and take their seat. Before receiving teachings or listening to teachings from the teacher, disciples must first pay respects to the Buddha, then bow to the certification, and personally recite the certification once to understand whether the certification hanging on the platform is the certification of the seven teachers and ten qualifications, and what level the teacher belongs to, whether they belong to the level of an upper-level awakened teacher, a middle-level awakened teacher, or a master-level awakened teacher, or whether they are great virtue or holiness. If a teacher claims to be a holy being but does not hang the certification or finds various excuses to justify not hanging the certification, it indicates that this teacher who claims to be holy is a fake, and they do not have the certification of the seven teachers and ten qualifications. Such a teacher is undoubtedly a demonic and evil person. According to "The Great Liberation Mudra Tantra," it is certain that for a teacher who claims to be holy, not hanging the certification is a disrespectful and slow act towards the Buddha and the Dharma. If disciples rely on and follow such a teacher, they are equally engaging in negative actions. Disciples must immediately leave and not rely on them for learning. If the teacher is a great virtue or good knowledge teacher, they do not need this type of certification, and this is legitimate. Regardless of the lineage or sect of the teacher, they must abide by the definitive regulations of "The Great Liberation Mudra," and they cannot be changed.
In fact, the purpose of these regulations is only one, which is to prevent false teachers and fraudsters from deceiving sentient beings under the guise of Buddhism, and to let disciples have a clear understanding and practice the Dharma with peace of mind. In short, this is good for sentient beings and beneficial to everyone, so we should do it, and we should not do what is not good and harmful to everyone.
Office of the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche
June 18, 2010
https://www.hhdcb3office.org/html/information/announcement_no13_2010_06_18.html