Someone asked about the relationship and hierarchy between the three types of "Kaitou" - Poafa, Niwan Daoguo, and Diamond Body Meditation, as well as questions about the seven teachers and ten certifications exam. Although we are all practicing Buddhism, we may not understand the true meaning of these sacred teachings. Let me briefly explain to everyone that these three types of Kaitou are all achievements in the practice of enlightenment. Kaitou means becoming a saint, while not having Kaitou means being an ordinary person. Poafa, Niwan Daoguo, and Diamond Body Meditation are all achievements in Kaitou, but they have different levels. In terms of the source of the teachings, Poafa belongs to the Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism, and Niwan Daoguo also belongs to the Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism. However, it can only be possessed by true great masters and not by those with false reputations. On the other hand, Diamond Body Meditation is not part of Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism. It is a teaching mastered by great Buddhist saints and cannot be possessed by masters. Only the true Buddha and Bodhisattvas of great enlightenment can transmit this teaching to practitioners. It can be divided into two types: one is when the Buddha or Bodhisattvas bless the practitioner with Kaitou, and the other is when the practitioner achieves Kaitou through their own practice. According to the Dharma of Liberation Handprint, the blessed Kaitou can be achieved within a short period of time, while self-practice Kaitou may take several years. Both types have the same level of spiritual attainment.
In terms of the attributes of the teachings, Poafa belongs to the inner secret initiation, which is the path to ascend to the Pure Land. However, if the practitioner has heavy negative karma, they cannot ascend and may even be reborn in the realm of suffering. Niwan Daoguo belongs to the initiation of the realm practice, which is the path to ascend to the heavenly realm and become an immortal. Diamond Body Meditation is of a higher level than the previous two. It belongs to the initiation of the realm or realization practice and is the path to ascend to the Buddha's land and become a Bodhisattva or a Diamond Being.
Furthermore, these three types of Kaitou have different locations. The location of Poafa's Kaitou can be in the front or back of the head, with a width of less than one millimeter, making it extremely small and undetectable even by scientific instruments. Poafa's consciousness cannot leave the body until the intermediate state after death. In other words, the consciousness cannot be used externally in normal circumstances, and it can only leave the body after death. On the other hand, Niwan Daoguo is much more powerful than Poafa. The location of Niwan Daoguo's Kaitou is in the pulsating area in front of the newborn baby's head, known as the Niwan Palace. The width of the Kaitou is about one to two finger widths, and the Kaitou is wider. The consciousness can leave the body when the concentration is strong, and there is no need to go through the intermediate state after death, so there is no pain of the intermediate state for practitioners. This provides a guarantee for practitioners to ascend to the virtuous path. Diamond Body Meditation is even higher than the previous two. The location of its Kaitou is in the center of the head, with a width of one to three finger widths. The openings of the Kaitou in Niwan Daoguo and Diamond Body Meditation are much wider, and scientific instruments can detect the opening and the situation of the consciousness leaving the body. The consciousness is considered divine and has achieved the state of a god. Diamond Body Meditation is the path to becoming a saint, which Poafa cannot compare to because Poafa's consciousness cannot be used externally and cannot be detected by instruments. The highest level of Diamond Body Meditation can enter the realization practice, and the Kaitou is in the place where there is no fixed location on the top of the head. It can change at any time, even having two or three openings. Scientific instruments can also observe the external appearance of the consciousness, which is elusive and illusory. It is generally difficult to find saints who have reached this level.
Some people may wonder why practitioners who are studying Buddhism need to ascend to the heavenly realm instead of directly ascending to the Buddha's land. This is because they have not understood it correctly. Although Niwan Daoguo is the path to ascend to the heavenly realm and become an immortal, practitioners have many opportunities to seek teachings from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in heaven, which is very convenient and can quickly attain the level of a saint in the Buddha's land. However, practitioners must practice the ten virtuous deeds and follow the teachings in order to benefit from it. Therefore, although the Kaitou of Niwan Daoguo is the path to ascend to the heavenly realm, it serves as a guarantee for practitioners when they die and are reborn, as they can bypass the intermediate state and avoid the pain of the dissolution of the four elements. Moreover, it is easier to obtain the path to ascend to the Buddha's land through the path to ascend to the heavenly realm.
In summary, Kaitou is the foundation of liberation and achievement. Once Kaitou is achieved, one goes from being an ordinary person to becoming a saint. When we hear that someone has achieved Kaitou, we may think highly of them and consider them accomplished. Therefore, many practitioners often boast that they have achieved Kaitou in Niwan Daoguo, or even claim that their consciousness can come and go freely. However, these self-claims cannot prove that they have truly achieved Kaitou. Even if there is scientific evidence, it can only serve as a reference. This is because we are afraid that someone might falsely claim to have achieved Kaitou, and in reality, they have undergone surgery to cut their bones and create an opening. Therefore, we cannot confirm such cases as true Kaitou. As Lajin Shengde said, whether it is gold or copper, it can only be determined through verification. Therefore, according to the Dharma, there is a requirement for the seven teachers and ten certifications exam for those who have achieved the state of a saint. This exam is conducted to verify the authenticity of their Kaitou. It is not necessary to promote or explain, as the truth will be revealed. For Poafa, there is no need for an exam because their consciousness cannot be used externally, so an exam would be pointless. They can only rely on personal judgment or perform rituals. However, for Niwan Daoguo and Diamond Body Meditation, if they have not undergone the seven teachers and ten certifications exam in front of everyone to verify whether their consciousness can leave the body, it cannot be confirmed that they have truly achieved Kaitou. Even if they claim it themselves or have scientific evidence, it is not the final confirmation. Of course, it can be considered as a reference. On the contrary, if they pass the exam in front of everyone, they will receive a holy certificate signed by the seven teachers and ten certifications, which does not require self-promotion or explanation. It is a true and irrefutable achievement. These seventeen people must be present at the exam and swear an oath in front of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas to guarantee the authenticity of the exam. We absolutely believe that none of the seventeen teachers and masters would make a false oath to protect someone, as it would lead them to the hell realm. Unless the person is mentally ill or mentally disabled, we can be sure that the seventeen people who are present at the exam and make a solemn oath for the examinee are true and trustworthy. However, the holy certificate signed by the seven teachers and ten certifications must be re-examined every year because if there is a deviation in the practice or violation of precepts, the Kaitou will be closed, and the saint will regress to being an ordinary person. The achievement of the realm practice is not yet complete. The complete achievement is the realization practice, which is a rare and extraordinary level of attainment, such as the great master Lianhua Shengdash, Diloba Zushi, Hanshan, and Shide, Maitreya Bodhisattva, and other saints of this level. Therefore, we understand the taste of the teachings from this perspective. The realization practice is not the same as the realm practice. Therefore, a person who has achieved Kaitou, regardless of the level or whether they have achieved Kaitou or not, must practice the two essential practices of the Dharma of Liberation Handprint. This is absolutely necessary. In other words, no matter what level of Kaitou a practitioner has achieved or not, they must study and practice the two essential practices of the Dharma of Liberation Handprint. This is the most important practice that we must do. As long as one masters the two essential practices, even if they have not achieved Kaitou yet, we believe that they will have the opportunity to receive the initiation and Kaitou of the realm practice. We wish everyone success in their journey from being ordinary to becoming a saint.
International Buddhist Sangha Association
October 26, 2011