The office of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche has received information from various Buddhist followers, reflecting the various problems they have encountered with different people and situations.
These problems involve the speech and behavior of certain individuals. However, for true Buddhists who follow the teachings, how can these speech and behavior become a problem? First, it is important to understand a fact: the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche has already given clear teachings and opened a bright lamp on the path of the Tathagata, proclaiming the "128 points of knowledge and views" and instructing everyone on how to discern and address these problems, to understand good and bad. Furthermore, in the last page of the book "The Third Dzogchen Rinpoche," under the title "Who can represent me in accepting disciples, giving empowerments, transmitting teachings, giving teachings, and liberating beings?" it is clearly stated. The office of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche has also issued many announcements, urging people to use the teachings of the Buddha as a standard to evaluate all people and matters. Many people have studied seriously and followed accordingly, achieving auspiciousness, happiness, and excellent results. However, unfortunately, there are a few unfortunate individuals who, despite their appearance of practice, do not listen to the teachings of the Buddha. When they themselves do not heed the warnings and encounter problems, they do not reflect on themselves as individuals who do not follow the teachings of the Buddha. Instead, they go against the "Great Seal of Liberation," deviate from the path of enlightenment, and create trouble for the office of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche, remaining ignorant and unawakened. They do not address the fundamental issue, which is that both the teacher and disciple involved in these problems have not truly studied and practiced Buddhism. Can someone who does not follow the teachings of the Buddha be considered a Buddhist practitioner? Please answer this question: what kind of practice are you engaged in? Whose teachings are you following? According to whose instructions are you practicing? Everyone, please think about it. Where does the root of falling into these problems lie? What are the consequences of following the words of others?
This is a sad reality. However, today, the office would like to remind those who do not practice according to the teachings:
First, the establishment of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche is based on the wisdom, accomplishments, and teachings of the Buddha, as well as the more than 2,000 volumes of the Buddha's teachings. Just like Shakyamuni Buddha, who relied on his own wisdom, accomplishments, and the Tripitaka scriptures, he did not need anyone's certification to be recognized as the Buddha. For the certification written for the Buddha, it is worthless paper to him because the witnesses who wrote the certification are far inferior in wisdom and accomplishments compared to the Buddha. It is like having sixteen elders certify Shakyamuni Buddha, which is an insult to the Buddha. However, for the benefit of sentient beings, the certification is beneficial because sentient beings have faith in conventional appearances. For the great masters who write the certification, it is a merit of right knowledge and right view.
Second, the 128 evil and erroneous views are the mirror that verifies all practitioners. Whether they are venerables, lineage holders, Rinpoches, masters, or lay practitioners of any level, regardless of whose certification or lineage they hold, regardless of whether they claim to be a great bodhisattva or even the incarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva, Lianhua Sheng Dasheng, Marpa, or Tsongkhapa, anyone who falls into the 128 evil and erroneous views is definitely a false teacher or a fraud, not a holy person.
Third, all temples, practice centers, and places where the teachings are heard should not welcome or receive any venerables, lineage holders, Rinpoches, masters, or lay practitioners of any level who have fallen into the 128 evil and erroneous views. Instead, they should welcome all practitioners who follow the teachings and have not fallen into the 128 evil and erroneous views.
Fourth, the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche has repeatedly stated in his teachings and clearly declared in the book "The Third Dzogchen Rinpoche" that no one is qualified to represent him in accepting offerings. Yet, there are still some people who disregard the warnings of the Buddha and willingly fall into deception, increasing their deluded actions. Afterward, they cry and create trouble, not realizing that they have deviated from their practice.
Fifth, the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche has already stated in his teachings that the venerables, lineage holders, Rinpoches, masters, and all those listed in the book "The Third Dzogchen Rinpoche," regardless of their lineage or background, can be distinguished by whether they hold the sacred certification issued after passing the examination of the seven masters and ten witnesses. Without the sacred certification signed and sworn by the seven masters and ten witnesses, they are not holy.
Sixth, anyone without the sacred certification issued after the annual examination of the seven masters and ten witnesses is not holy. Anyone without the certification of a middle-level master or the highest level of an awakened master is not qualified to give teachings. Of course, you cannot see the certification of an awakened master, such as Maitreya Bodhisattva, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Green Tara, or Shakyamuni Buddha. Since you cannot see these great saints, you cannot see their certifications either.
Seventh, reincarnation and lineage do not mean receiving empowerments and transmitting teachings. Receiving empowerments and studying teachings does not mean achieving holy accomplishments. For example, the mud pill path fruit attains the opening of the crown within a certain time after receiving the empowerment of the realm. Although they have actually attained the opening of the crown, if they violate the precepts of the realm, they will lose their holy accomplishments and return to being an ordinary being. Therefore, holy accomplishments do not necessarily mean having achieved the six types of master qualifications.
Eighth, a person receiving an empowerment from a holy master and a person giving empowerments to their disciples are two completely different concepts. For example, a holy being who has attained the opening of the crown through the empowerment of the realm can only indicate that they themselves have received the empowerment and their own crown has opened. However, they do not have the qualifications to give empowerments of the realm and the opening of the crown to their disciples. Similarly, a Rinpoche who has received the innermost empowerment has only received the empowerment themselves. However, they do not have the qualifications to give innermost empowerments to their disciples. If they want to give innermost empowerments to their disciples, they must hold the certification of an awakened master.
Ninth, in the "Great Seal of Liberation" by the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche, it is clearly stated in the first of the ten special notes: "Some practitioners mistakenly believe that the path of the realm and awakening is the dual cultivation method of the highest yoga tantra, the Vajrayana Guhyagarbha Tantra. I now solemnly warn those who hold this mistaken view: the path of the realm is pure and immaculate, the highest awakened state of the true nature of the sacred realm. The path of awakening is the perfect and complete great awakening, the only supreme method in Buddhism that can guide and lead disciples to achieve perfect accomplishment within a certain time, surpassing the nine vehicles, transcending the ten bhumis, and directly attaining the holy state of Buddha's awakening. For example, the realization of the great perfection, the non-time death and rebirth method, the Vajra transformation meditation, the corpse fire meditation, the mud pill path fruit, disciples can immediately practice and attain realization, demonstrating actual accomplishment. This is something that no other school of teachings can achieve within just one hour of realization. It has nothing to do with the mistaken view of dual cultivation of the Vajrayana. Moreover, the practice of dual cultivation of men and women in the Vajrayana has become widespread, with written texts spreading promiscuity and becoming an evil trend. It has misled many people and been used as an excuse for evil and immoral actions. Conversely, in reality, we do not see any practitioners who claim to practice dual cultivation actually demonstrating any actual accomplishment. They only talk big, unable to open the crown or generate the fire of meditation. They are dull-witted and lack understanding, only possessing empty names and lacking actual accomplishments. They do not even have ordinary realization and have accumulated endless negative karma. The Great Seal of Liberation is not a practice of the Vajrayana but a true and profound practice of Mahayana Buddhism, benefiting sentient beings with great compassion. It is the highest and supreme method that allows disciples to see the true nature of reality everywhere, transcending empty words and speculative discussions, surpassing the peak of the nine vehicles, and going beyond the ten bhumis, directly attaining the holy state of Buddha's awakening."
Tenth, some people have raised concerns that they have encountered difficulties or obstacles when requesting teachings, or they have received edited teachings. They feel helpless. You should understand that any temple, practice center, or place where the teachings are heard exists independently and has the right to directly request teachings from the International Buddhist Sangha Association without any organization or introduction. Any practice center that does not have complete teachings or has intentionally delayed, controlled, or edited teachings to mislead and harm others is engaging in evil behavior.
We would like to emphasize once again that the office of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche has never requested any teachings for anyone because the office does not produce teachings. Even the teachings heard by the office are requested from the International Buddhist Sangha Association.
We sincerely hope that everyone can respectfully listen, learn, understand, and practice according to the teachings of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche, benefiting all beings. In this way, people will be happier and healthier, society will develop and progress, and the world will be more peaceful and auspicious.
Office of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche
May 5, 2011
https://www.hhdcb3office.org/html/information/announcement_no20_2011_05_05.html