Here is a brief explanation from the Office of the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche regarding inquiries from temples, associations, and other institutions around the world regarding whether the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche has issued authorization letters and agreed to transmit teachings such as XXX, XXX, XXXX, etc.
First, whether a person has the qualification to transmit the Dharma and whether the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche agrees or disagrees with it are not related. It is not related to whether the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche agrees or disagrees with a person's qualification to transmit empowerments to others. Because only genuine Dharma can benefit sentient beings, to learn genuine Dharma, there is only one way, which is to follow a genuine great sage, virtuous sage, or great virtuous sage. The Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche has repeatedly stated in his teachings that the qualification to transmit teachings comes from the precepts of the Dharma, correct understanding, and genuine Dharma, and one should have actual realization, rather than just holding an empty title. Any person, regardless of their identity as a venerable, dharma king, master, Rinpoche, teacher, acharya, dharma teacher, ordained monk, ordained nun, or lay practitioner, can transmit teachings and benefit others as long as they have the qualification, and cannot transmit teachings if they do not have the qualification.
Second, the qualification of a teacher who transmits the Dharma not only requires personal realization but also the ability to guide others to realize the path. Any great sage, whether they are a genuine practitioner of the calm abiding meditation, a practitioner who has attained the realization of the mud pill path, or even a virtuous sage who has attained the realization of the vajra body transformation, can only indicate that they have achieved a high level of realization themselves, and indeed belong to the category of genuine great sages or virtuous sages, but it does not necessarily mean they have the qualification to transmit empowerments. Therefore, the qualification to transmit the Dharma of the profound meaning or the profound meaning empowerments exists independently, and this is another path, which is the six qualifications of a teacher.
Third, as for the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche personally issuing authorization letters, this is indeed the case, but it should be understood that the basic requirement for a person to obtain the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche's authorization certificate is to have the qualification of a virtuous sage, that is, to have the six qualifications of a teacher. In addition, as an ordinary great sage, it is impossible to obtain an authorization letter personally issued by the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche! In addition, there is no need for certification for the qualification of a teacher who transmits the empowerments of the exoteric and esoteric teachings.
Fourth, there are four types of authorization certificates for transmitting empowerments. The first two types are absolute certificates of realization: the "authorization certificate of the path of supreme awakening" (for the sake of convenience, we call it the gemstone certificate of realization); the "authorization certificate of the path of middle ground" (gold certificate of realization). These two types must be examined and tested by the seven teachers and ten examiners, and after passing the corresponding level of realization in the examination, they will be signed by the seven teachers and ten examiners, presented to the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche for signature, seal, and issuance. These are the only two types of certificates of realization issued by the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche, and there are only a few people in the world who can obtain these certificates, and it is easy to know who has them and who does not.
In addition, the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche also issues certificates to virtuous sages who have achieved realization in the practices of mahamudra, vajra body transformation, calm abiding meditation, etc., but these certificates only prove their identity as virtuous sages or great virtuous sages, and do not represent the qualification of a teacher. To obtain a teacher's certificate, one must pass another examination.
The above is not limited to great sages who have achieved realization in the practices of awakening and conduct, because those who have achieved realization in awakening and conduct are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas themselves, and whatever they teach is correct. Please refer to the section on the level of awakening and conduct described in "The Great Seal of Liberation" for more details.
The third type is the "certificate of the path of lower ground" (also known as the silver certificate of realization), which is issued after passing the examination.
The fourth type is the certificate of a great virtuous sage. The third and fourth types are signed by the three teachers and seven examiners, and then issued by the king, dharma lineage holder, or virtuous sage with realization, Rinpoche, and are not issued by the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche.
One thing to note is that along with the issuance of these four types of authorization letters, a corresponding video recording of the recipient's graduation achievement during the examination will also be given. The video recording will record the entire process of issuing the certificate as evidence.
Fifth, as for the Acharyas and dharma teachers you have inquired about, some have the qualification to transmit teachings, while others do not. As long as a person meets the following criteria, they have the qualification to transmit empowerments and exoteric teachings: first, they do not fall into the 128 evil and erroneous views; second, they follow the teachings; third, they do good deeds for the benefit of sentient beings; fourth, they have a thorough understanding of the teachings. If they meet these four criteria, then they have the ability to transmit the corresponding knowledge of the Dharma they have learned and understood and engage in activities that benefit sentient beings. If they do not have a thorough understanding of the teachings, especially if they fall into the 128 evil and erroneous views, then regardless of their identity as a venerable, dharma king, master, Rinpoche, teacher, lay practitioner, acharya, or dharma teacher, including holding a silver certificate of realization, they do not have the qualification to transmit teachings and give teachings on the Dharma, because they are false saints, true ordinary beings, or teachers who have fallen into wrong views, so what they say must be wrong views, and they do not have the qualification to transmit empowerments.
Office of the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche
March 1, 2010
Source: https://www.hhdcb3office.org/html/information/statement_no7_2010_03_01.html