Seven Teachers and Ten Certificates: Distinguishing the True from the False#
Recently, the United International World Buddhist Headquarters issued a batch of sacred certificates. After some Rinpoche and masters saw them, although they already knew that the Office of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche had clearly stated in Announcement No. 13 that the certificates for the Seven Teachers and Ten Certificates had expressed their views, they still raised some questions, especially: they saw that it was clearly stated as the Seven Teachers and Ten Certificates, so why do some people have certificates signed as Three Teachers and Seven Certificates? Some people also raised the question that these levels can be easily achieved by anyone who knows how to use a computer. Others questioned whether there are Rinpoche who can prophesy, and if so, how many methods of prophecy are there? Do the teachers who have reached the highest level have specific names of great bodhisattvas? Therefore, based on these questions, the Office of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche further elaborated.
First of all, we fully support the practice of the United International World Buddhist Headquarters. Firstly, it prevents fake teachers, fraudsters, and evil teachers from impersonating the true ones. Secondly, it truly benefits sentient beings. Thirdly, it is in accordance with the teachings of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche. Indeed, as the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche said in his teachings, "The qualifications of the teachers are not important, what is truly important is to learn and implement the three essential principles of liberation in one's own thoughts, speech, and actions."
The sacred certificates of the Seven Teachers and Ten Certificates (divided into sacred virtue certificates for the Seven Teachers and Ten Certificates and sacred virtue teacher qualification certificates for the Seven Teachers and Ten Certificates, with only the Wheel of Vajra and sacred virtue certificates and the Wheel of Sun and Moon, and even all of them are Wheels of Sun and Moon) are the threshold for measuring whether a practitioner is holy or ordinary, and they reflect the level of achievement in terms of certification. Possessing the sacred certificates of the Seven Teachers and Ten Certificates means being a genuine holy person; if one does not have the sacred certificates of the Seven Teachers and Ten Certificates but claims to be a holy person or holds some kind of certification, then they are undoubtedly a fraud or an evil spirit. Of course, there are exceptions, and those true practitioners who do not claim to be holy also include great virtuous ones, high monks, and knowledgeable teachers, and they are worth learning from. Therefore, the examination conducted by the United International World Buddhist Headquarters is a responsible action for Buddha, Buddhism, and sentient beings. Its purpose is to distinguish between true and false, and to select genuine sacred virtues and good teachers who benefit sentient beings. On the contrary, false sacred virtues have no real skill or true level of certification, so they cannot pass the certification examination conducted by the United International World Buddhist Headquarters. Therefore, they dare not take the public examination and can only speak in private, fabricate false statements, or present videos and photos to deceive people for a few days or even years. However, no matter what arguments or evidence such a person uses, as long as they are a false holy person, they will ultimately be unable to produce sacred virtue certificates to face their students and cannot change this ironclad fact. Therefore, in order to cover up their false identity, these evil teachers can only tell lies and deceive students by gaining their trust. On the other hand, some students believe in other so-called evidence when their own teachers cannot produce sacred virtue certificates. This is truly hopeless and foolish. You should ask yourself: Why doesn't my teacher dare to face the sacred virtue examination? Why does he claim to have a certain level of sacred virtue without having sacred virtue certificates? Today, I will tell you that even those recognized by the four major sects and jointly certified by the Lotus-born Great Master, if they do not have sacred virtue certificates, they are still ordinary beings and false sacred virtues! False Lotus-born masters!!! The President of the United International World Buddhist Headquarters, Loden Zampal Rinpoche, said: "I am already an old fool in my seventies, and life and death are right in front of me. As a practitioner, I cannot afford to make any mistakes in cause and effect. I dare not have the slightest difference. I am wholeheartedly practicing the Dharma for the benefit of sentient beings. This is the power of my conscious awareness."
Secondly, some people think that this sacred certificate, from its appearance, is nothing more than a pattern composed of a few ink marks and color blocks, and it can be easily made. What is so important about it? This understanding is a great ignorance. Ignorance lies not in the number or appearance of these patterns, but in the essence contained in the meanings of these patterns. It can only be obtained through the actual certification of sacred level achievement. From the perspective of the logo, a few wheels may not seem important, but in fact, they are used to prove that the certificate holder has been examined by the seventeen monks and sacred virtues, and has personally witnessed the certificate holder's transcendence of sacred levels and entry into the realm of the holy. Therefore, in reverse, these wheels become important symbols and treasures, and they are not as simple as patterns of ink marks and color blocks.
Furthermore, what is even more important is that each sacred certificate is independently sworn and signed by seventeen monks, three of whom must be supervising teachers with sacred virtues. These seventeen people and the public present must personally witness and personally examine the actual sacred level skills of the certificate holder. This is not a trivial matter. It requires real skills to be recognized, and these sacred virtues and monks will perform rituals and practices on the spot to test the examinee. For example, reciting the Diamond Sutra, the Great Compassion Mantra, the Shurangama Mantra, the Lotus Sutra, Mahamayuri, Mahavajradhara, Kalachakra, Vajra Yogini, and Mahakala, etc. If the examinee is an outsider, they will naturally perish before the Dharma, unable to do anything. If the examinee is a follower of the Dharma but does not have enough cultivation, and fails the examination, no supervising teacher would dare to guarantee their entry into the holy realm by swearing and signing on the sacred certificate. And all seventeen people must sign and swear, and one missing signature is not acceptable. As you can imagine, this cannot be faked, so passing the examination means passing the examination. If one passes the first level, they cannot claim to have passed the second level. If one passes the second level, they cannot claim to have passed the third level. The sacred virtue certificate of the Wheel of Vajra cannot be claimed to be the sacred virtue teacher qualification certificate with the Wheel of Sun and Moon. To put it simply, one is one, two is two, without any falsehood, without any convenience! If it is fake, no one would dare to make a solemn oath and sign their name on the certificate! Regardless of whether a great virtuous one is a patriarch, venerable, dharma king, Rinpoche, or master, regardless of their status, they must take the examination in front of the public, present their own cultivation, swear and sign on the sacred certificate in the presence of the seven teachers and ten certificates, in order to prove their level of holiness, whether it is sacred virtue or sacred virtue teacher qualification. This cannot be faked by anyone, therefore, this sacred certificate is the most solid and authentic proof of the certification of the certificate holder's extraordinary and holy level of sacred virtue in the entire Buddhist community!
In addition, this sacred certificate is jointly issued by seven teachers and ten certificates, not by any sacred virtue alone. Even the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche said, "I have no authority to issue any sacred certificate, nor do I have the authority to not issue any sacred certificate. The sacred certificate is the manifestation of the practitioner's true level of cultivation, the manifestation of the level of accomplishment in terms of fruit, status, and realization in the known realm of present awareness. It must be verified by everyone and examined by the seven teachers and ten certificates. It is only through this examination in front of the public masters and Rinpoche that a definite conclusion can be reached. I am ashamed and therefore not qualified." Therefore, regardless of the level of the sacred certificate, it must be jointly issued by the seventeen monks and sacred virtues who are present at the examination. Only by achieving this step can it be completely ironclad and recognized by the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche. Therefore, the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche said that he has no authority to issue or not to issue.
It is reported that the sacred certificates currently seen by everyone are certified by three teachers and seven certificates, based on the results of video recordings, infrared thermal imaging cameras, MRI high-tech testing, etc. Therefore, the sacred certificate also states: "This certificate is issued for preliminary assessment, and the supervising teachers for the assessment are three teachers and seven certificates. The final examination will be conducted by seven teachers and ten certificates." In other words, the current sacred certificate cannot represent the on-site examination sacred certificate of the seven teachers and ten certificates. If one wants to obtain the final sacred certificate, regardless of who they are, they must pass the examination of the seven teachers and ten certificates and obtain the sacred certificate of the seven teachers and ten certificates, which is 100% genuine and true sacred virtue. Then, the level of the wheel can be distinguished from the sacred virtue certificate.
"Unlocking the Great Seal" clearly states: There are six types of teacher qualifications, including the qualification of the upper awakened teacher, which does not represent the true identity of a specific named bodhisattva, but only defines the range of sacred virtues. To accurately determine which bodhisattva has reincarnated, the only certification must be through prophecy. There are three different methods of prophecy for the reincarnation of the bodhisattva of perfect enlightenment, which must be held in a formal temple's main hall. First, the temple's monks hold a solemn ceremony, reciting scriptures and mantras, such as the Diamond Sutra, the Great Compassion Mantra, the Shurangama Mantra, the Lotus Sutra, Mahamayuri, Mahavajradhara, Kalachakra, Vajra Yogini, and Mahakala, under the supervision of the main Dharma master. The seven teachers and ten certificates jointly supervise the examination. The person who claims to be a bodhisattva must publicly announce their bodhisattva identity and name in front of the public and the seven teachers and ten certificates, and then everyone present will jointly examine them. First, half of the people will disrupt the prophecy of the person in question, and then the person in question will demonstrate their sacred level as a bodhisattva of perfect enlightenment, allowing everyone present to see it. At that moment, the person's identity matches the prophecy without any difference, and then they continue to pass the three examinations together, without any mistakes. To give an analogy, for example, there are twenty numbered pieces of paper, all the same size, placed in a golden bottle, invisible to the naked eye. The examinee predicts how many numbers they will draw, and then they draw the exact same number, and they continue to draw three times without any mistakes. Even if the examinee predicts that they will grab hundreds or thousands of pills of nectar, they can grab exactly the number of pills as predicted, not one more, not one less. Only then can the person be established as the reincarnation of a bodhisattva of perfect enlightenment and be issued the teacher qualification certificate of the upper awakened teacher with the specific name of the bodhisattva of perfect enlightenment. However, it should be said that in the Dharma-ending period, it is basically impossible to have such a thing in this world, and even if it does exist, it will not coexist with everyone due to karmic conditions. As for being able to point with one's hand and make water in a bowl made of gold, silver, or copper penetrate through a wall, that is only the realm of the teacher qualification of the middle earth, and it is not qualified to be the reincarnation of a bodhisattva of perfect enlightenment. If one can build a temple city across a stone with a single finger in public or invite the Buddha to descend from the sky in front of everyone, that is the level of the teacher qualification of the upper awakened.
Regarding the certification of the reincarnation identity of the bodhisattva of the earth, it is not the prediction of the person in question, but the prediction by the teacher who certifies them. The person in question must take out the same number as predicted by the certifying teacher from a certain number of options, and then the certifying teacher must do the same twice, and the person in question must do the same three times, all matching the prediction of the certifying teacher without any difference. Only then can the certified teacher establish the specific named bodhisattva identity. However, to obtain the teacher qualification certificate, one must pass the on-site examination of the seven teachers and ten certificates and meet the qualifications of the teacher qualification of the middle earth or the teacher qualification of the master's path. Only then can the corresponding teacher qualification certificate be issued.
For the certification of the reincarnation identity of the Arhat venerables, there is no need for the person in question to predict it personally. Only the teacher qualification of the upper awakened teacher needs to make the prophecy, and then the person in question must pass the three examinations without any mistakes, in accordance with the prophecy, to establish the exact reincarnation identity. However, the teacher qualification certificate must also be obtained by passing the on-site examination of the seven teachers and ten certificates, because the seven teachers and ten certificates must bear the karma and make an oath. It is important to note that this is not an ordinary drawing of lots, not the kind of drawing where the number of ivory sticks corresponds to the number of people. It must be predicted by the public in advance, and then the sacred level must be demonstrated immediately, fulfilling the prophecy.
Please understand, great virtuous ones, knowledgeable ones, and sacred virtues, we are Buddhists, and we must be responsible for the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, sentient beings, and Buddhism. Therefore, our office must tell the truth.
The President of the United International World Buddhist Headquarters said that true great virtuous ones and knowledgeable ones who possess sacred levels, regardless of their sect, are welcome as long as they are Buddhists. They can go to Huazang Temple in San Francisco, USA to be assessed for their sacred levels. The temple has set up examinations for sacred virtues and the six types of teacher qualifications. Of course, those who have passed the examination of the seven teachers and ten certificates do not need to take the examination again. They will be issued certificates according to the specified standards.
Please pay special attention, good men and women, Buddhist disciples, if your teacher claims to be a dharma king, venerable, great Rinpoche, or great master, or if he claims and implicitly assumes the position of a holy person, you must bow and look at his sacred certificate. If you do not bow and look, you will plant the karma of disrespecting the Dharma and commit the three evil paths of bowing to the ordinary as holy, promoting evil, and propagating false holy persons. Once this happens, you will never receive the empowerment of the realm of practice in this life or even in eternity. The possibility of achieving it immediately ceases to exist. Therefore, you must bow and look at the certificate. If your teacher claims to be holy but does not have a sacred certificate, and only comes up with various attractive excuses to explain, it indicates that this teacher has a serious problem and does not dare to take the examination in front of the seven teachers and ten certificates. Therefore, you should respectfully ask him to take the examination in order to dispel the doubts of sentient beings and benefit sentient beings. If he continues to make excuses and refuses to go, and still claims to be a sacred virtue and continues to receive worship and offerings, it indicates that this teacher is an absolute fraud and even a false teacher hiding behind a legitimate lineage. If practitioners do not quickly leave and seek a good teacher, then the disciples will have the same karmic obstacles as the teacher, including those who have been recognized by the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche. As long as they claim to be venerable, dharma king, or great master, if they do not take the examination and obtain the sacred certificate, it also indicates that the teacher has deviated from the path of bodhi and entered the path of heresy. There is even a possibility of committing evil views. Therefore, the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche said that everyone must have a sacred virtue certificate that has been sworn and signed by the seven teachers and ten certificates. However, it should be noted that if your teacher does not fall into the 128 views, humbly considers himself, strictly observes the precepts, takes great compassion as the foundation, benefits sentient beings, and never claims to be a sacred virtue or a bodhisattva, then this person belongs to the category of great virtuous ones and knowledgeable teachers and does not need to obtain a sacred certificate, because the sacred certificate is a definite and authentic certification that is established for the holders of ironclad sacred virtues and is not a concept of personal claiming of sacred virtues or a concept of recognition by sect leaders or living Buddhas. It is a certification that is established by seventeen people who stake their eternal future and bear the karma of cause and effect, and is based on the solemn oath made in front of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, using the guarantee of karmic retribution. Therefore, it is a true sacred virtue. Whether it is holy or ordinary, at what level, what rank, there is only one criterion: look at the sacred virtue certificate! Whether it is evil or righteous, there is only one criterion: the verification of the 128 views!
Office of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche
September 3, 2012
https://www.hhdcb3office.org/html/information/announcement_no29_2012_09_03.html