Important Replies from Holy Monks#
Replies from the Consultation Center of the World Buddhist Headquarters#
Lunar January 5th
Answer 5:
Namo the Third Dharma King Dorje Chang Buddha III has responded to our questions and expressed his views. Dorje Chang Buddha III said, "In your answers to everyone's questions, you repeatedly emphasize the need for legal regulations and the importance of the secret empowerment of the Vajra Pill. There are many terms like these in your responses. You mention so many manifestations of sacred states, but that is not the way I practice Buddhism. I'm not saying that your emphasis on regulations is wrong, and I don't think what you say is mysterious. In the Buddhist scriptures, Shakyamuni Buddha mentioned many more manifestations of sacred states than what you say, and they are even more awe-inspiring and profound. As a Buddhist, I have no doubt about what Shakyamuni Buddha said. I completely respect the World Honored One and admire the Buddha's teachings." What Dorje Chang Buddha III said is absolutely correct. Not to mention Shakyamuni Buddha, even the deeds of one of the sixteen venerables under the Buddha's seat, Venerable Uddiyana, are manifestations of sacred states. For example, he could touch his head and turn it into a large topknot, make his intestines come out of his abdomen, produce wonderful objects from his alms bowl, fly alone, and walk in the air. All these sacred appearances shown by Shakyamuni Buddha are not the true Dharma of the Tathagata? If one has doubts about the many sacred appearances and manifestations mentioned by Shakyamuni Buddha, it is undoubtedly slandering the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Dorje Chang Buddha III also said, "However, the loss and misinterpretation of the teachings of the Buddha by the venerables when they recorded the scriptures and the misinterpretation of the meaning of the translated scriptures by later generations are another matter. I want to remind you that there are many people in the world who are learning Buddhism. Where can you find so many holy teachers to teach them? How many great holy teachers are there to teach them? Take me as an example, I am just a Buddhist practitioner, not a holy person. Not to mention that the few of you cannot teach so many people, even when Shakyamuni Buddha was alive, he couldn't teach those who were not qualified because they lacked sincerity and even told lies. The Buddha would not teach them. It is precisely because of this that there are still many people in the world who have not attained enlightenment. Have you ever thought about it? Moreover, how many sincere and devout disciples are qualified to meet your high standards and contribute to the cause of Buddhism and benefiting sentient beings? How many such disciples are there? Does it mean that those who have not received the secret empowerment do not need to learn Buddhism? Yes! My name is the Third Dharma King Dorje Chang Buddha. This title is not self-proclaimed but comes from the certification and endorsement of the heads of various sects, regents, and living Buddhas. Can I deny that I am the Third Dharma King Dorje Chang Buddha? Although I am the Third Dharma King Dorje Chang Buddha, I understand that I have been given the title of Buddha by the holy monks and virtuous ones, but in essence, I am just an ordinary member of Buddhism. I am not qualified to be a holy monk, and I am not qualified to be a leader of Buddhism. Both my body and mind are still in cultivation. However, the Buddhist teachings I expound are absolutely orthodox and correct!!! They are the highest and most perfect Dharma of complete liberation and wisdom!!! They are the same Dharma as that of all the Buddhas in the ten directions!!! Those who have attained liberation have already proven it through practice!!! However, I do not participate in your strict regulations of the secret empowerment as you imagine. I advocate that people who learn and practice Buddhism have their own affinities with the Dharma and should choose the sect they like. As long as it is a Buddhist sect, each sect has its own strengths. In my view, all sects are equal. Shakyamuni Buddha spoke of eighty-four thousand Dharma doors for the sake of benefiting sentient beings. No matter which sect or school one learns, one should first strive to be a good person and start from the perspective of cause and effect. If one can truly refrain from doing evil and practice all that is good, and elevate one's character and attain the state of a saint, if one cannot even be a good person, how can one learn Buddhism and attain the fruit of enlightenment? Not to mention that there are already many sects in Buddhism today. For example, the Exoteric Buddhism does not have the secret empowerment. Can it not attain liberation? I must solemnly inform you, holy monks, that it is important to study the book "Learning Buddhism" and the "Great Liberation Seal" and put them into practice. Only then is it important!!! Otherwise, the secret empowerment is useless. When the karmic obstacles are reduced, one will understand the true meaning of "The True Meaning of the Sutra of Mind". One will also comprehend the "Sutra of the Profound Meaning", the "Diamond Sutra", and so on. With a solid foundation, there is no problem with the transmission of the secret empowerment." Namo the Third Dharma King Dorje Chang Buddha said that he is not Shakyamuni Buddha and is not qualified to be called a holy monk. Please do not misunderstand. This is because Dorje Chang Buddha III humbly expresses the selflessness for the benefit of sentient beings and sets an example through words and actions. If the Third Dharma King Dorje Chang Buddha is not Shakyamuni Buddha, then are the leaders of the major sects, great Dharma kings, regents, and great living Buddhas of the world all frauds? Because it is they who wrote and certified that "the Third Dharma King Dorje Chang Buddha is the holder of the Vajra and the Buddha." If Dorje Chang Buddha III is not Shakyamuni Buddha, then there is no Buddha in the world, including the recognized living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism in history, because they are all certified. The certification of Dorje Chang Buddha III is much more extensive than that of the Dharma kings and living Buddhas. Can we still say that these living Buddhas' certifications are true? Moreover, they cannot be established. Based solely on the achievements of Dorje Chang Buddha III, you can see that no patriarch or bodhisattva in history has surpassed the achievements of Dorje Chang Buddha III. Today, we are not just talking empty words. Let's present the actual achievements, compare them, and examine historical records. Is there any patriarch or bodhisattva whose achievements can be compared? This will prove the truth. Based solely on the extraordinary achievement of the miraculous skill of "a stone horizontally floats," no saint can achieve even one-tenth of what Dorje Chang Buddha III has accomplished. We can honestly say that among the vast and numerous achievements of Dorje Chang Buddha III, no one from the past or present can be found to be on par with him. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the peak of the five wisdoms of a Buddha, and based on this alone, he is a Buddha. Not to mention that he is the only Buddha recognized by all the holy monks and virtuous ones in the world over thousands of years of Buddhist history. This is unprecedented in Buddhist history. The status of Dorje Chang Buddha III is the highest and supreme. Yet, he humbly manifests selflessness and the great enlightenment of Bodhi without self. This makes us, disciples under the grace of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, extremely ashamed. We still wear the crown of a holy monk, which is truly embarrassing. Regarding the secret regulations, Dorje Chang Buddha III has explained it very thoroughly and logically. However, there have been thirty-five questions raised by seekers of truth. We must provide correct regulations, principles, practices, and secret empowerments to answer the questions of Buddhists. This is because we bear the responsibility of cause and effect. We must let practitioners know the correct answers to their questions about regulations, principles, practices, secret empowerments, etc., so as not to be deceived by fraudulent teachers. This is a must in upholding the supreme Dharma and providing truthful answers!!! Of course, the cultivation Dorje Chang Buddha III speaks of is the fundamental cause for sentient beings to seek liberation. If the fundamental cause is wrong, not to mention receiving the secret empowerment, even if one receives it, it will not be effective. If the fundamental cause is correct, one will naturally receive the secret empowerment, learn the great Dharma, transcend the ordinary, attain enlightenment, and even attain immediate enlightenment and become a saint!!!
Consultation Center of the World Buddhist Headquarters
Answering questions on behalf of the holy monks
February 20, 2018