Category: Buddhist Sutra

Your Yidam

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The Yidam plays a crucial role in the daily practice of Buddhist disciples, especially for practitioners of Esoteric Buddhism. This article explains how you acquire a yidam and how your relationship with your yidam can develop.

The Buddha Master, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, tells us that “your Yidam is the holy being presiding over the particular Dharma you decide to practice in order to attain accomplishment.” The Buddha Master also tells us we have to face our Yidam and the Dharma protectors of our Yidam. And you cannot hide from either your Yidam or the Dharma Protectors. You may wonder how you know who your Yidam is. As you advance in your practice, you may receive a particular Dharma of Selection and be told who your Yidam is. As I understand it, this is probably a being that you have already achieved some accomplishments with in past lives and you are already familiar with the Dharma associated with that Yidam. You do not practice more than one Yidam Dharma at a time. Many of us start this practice with Kuan Yin Bodhisattva as our Yidam and follow the “Vajra Yoga Perfection Dharma” that you can find in True Stories about a Holy Monk. You may be fortunate to receive other Yidam practices from authentic Dharma masters and rinpoches.  You would only do one yidam practice at a time, but you may also follow different Yidams throughout your spiritual career. I was told that if you cannot receive a Dharma of Selection, you may select the Yidam for whom you have the greatest affinity. In fact, you do not pick the Yidam, the Yidam actually picks you. You must keep your precepts and not hold any of the “128 Evil and Erroneous Views” in the Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation.

Painting of Green Tara by Zhaxi Zhuoma
Painting of Green Tara by Zhaxi Zhuoma.

Do not be frustrated if something is not clear. If you are not progressing in your Yidam practice, go back and reflect on your cultivation. You should be doing this three times per day anyhow. If you are not keeping the precepts or developing your bodhichitta, you cannot progress. If your cultivation is good, your Yidam may come and teach you what you need to know. I have had that happen as have several of my students.

Once I was not clear on how to visualize a particular mantra and my Yidam showed me how to do it. I have a student who does not live near California and who is unable to visit either the Buddha Master or me very often. He is a serious, sincere, and compassionate cultivator and does, however, have a very good relationship with his Yidam. She has helped him on many matters. I recently received an email from him telling me how much he had gained from his last trip to the Holy Vajrasana Temple and being able to study Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra. Even though he was only able to study this Dharma a short time this trip, he gained realizations which he didn’t get in all the previous years he had studied here. He said, “It made a deep impact on my life and I am very grateful that I was able to read even this little bit of it. Since then I was reflecting even more on how our daily lives relate to achieving accomplishment in the Dharma, how cultivation and Dharma practice need to go together. I often compared it with breathing, like inhaling and exhaling following one another and both are necessary to keep [your] life working. This morning I received an instruction from [my Yidam] on this topic while I was doing my Dharma practice which I would like to share with you.”

He went on to explain that his Yidam told him that he should see that cultivation is like collecting firewood. Doing a Dharma practice is like igniting a fire. If we have not collected enough wood (or any at all) the fire of wisdom cannot burn. So even a kind thought is like a dry twig which will fuel the fire. So, cultivating ourselves seriously and not slipping in any moment is like piling up a huge amount of firewood which will cause the fire to burn strongly and result in accomplishments.I was delighted. He said I could share the teaching as an example of how our Yidams do teach us, but we must do the practice and cultivate our behavior. The Buddha Master tells us in Learning from Buddha that if you learn one of the Mind Essences from the Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation “. . .to the point of proficiency and put it into practice, you need not worry about not being able to learn Buddha Dharma. Even if I, your Master, do not teach you, the Yidam will teach you.”

By Zhaxi Zhouma Rinpoche

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/04/03/your-yidam/

Source: https://www.zhaxizhuoma.org/your-yidam/

Vimalakirti’s Profound Teachings on Suffering and Liberation

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The Profound Wisdom of the Holy Buddha Vimalakirti

The Vimalakirti Sutra stands as one of the most profound texts in Mahayana Buddhism, offering deep insight into wisdom, compassion, and the nature of illness. One of its most significant sections, the “Chapter on Illness,” presents a powerful dialogue between Manjushri and Vimalakirti, a lay Bodhisattva of extraordinary realization.

Vimalakirti, despite his unparalleled wisdom, feigns illness to teach a vital lesson. When Manjushri visits him and asks, “Aren’t you successful in your practice? If so, how can you be ill?” Vimalakirti responds, “I am ill because all sentient beings are ill.” This response redefines illness—not as a personal affliction but as an expression of universal suffering. His illness is a manifestation of his boundless compassion, mirroring the pain of all beings so that he may guide them toward liberation.

Manjushri Bodhisattva and other disciples visiting H.H. Vimalakirti

The dialogue between Vimalakirti and Manjushri unfolds into a deeper contemplation on suffering. When asked when his illness will be cured, Vimalakirti replies, “When the last sentient being is free from illness, then my illness will be cured.” This statement embodies the heart of Mahayana Buddhism—the vow to attain enlightenment not for oneself alone but for all beings. His words resonate with the self-sacrificial love found in other spiritual traditions, such as Jesus Christ’s willingness to bear humanity’s suffering.

Vimalakirti further explains, “From ignorance comes love, and thus my illness arises.” He reveals that suffering stems from attachment—attachment to family, possessions, ambitions, and even spiritual practice. Such attachments cloud the mind, giving rise to suffering. True liberation, he teaches, comes from transcending these attachments through wisdom and compassion.

The holy and venerable Vimalakirti is unique in Buddhist history, as he was an ancient Buddha who chose to manifest as a layperson rather than an ordained monk. During the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, he played a crucial role in teaching monastics and Bodhisattvas who struggled to develop Mahayana bodhicitta. His unparalleled wisdom and skillful means helped bridge the gap between monastic and lay practitioners, proving that profound realization is not limited to those in monastic robes.

In reality, Vimalakirti was the incarnation of the supreme Buddha Dorje Chang (Vajradhara), the primordial Buddha and master of all Buddhas. Yet, instead of taking a leadership role that might have caused sectarian divisions, he humbly chose to serve as a Bodhisattva assisting Shakyamuni Buddha. His teachings, recorded in the Vimalakirti-nirdesa Sutra, are regarded as sutras in their own right, carrying the weight of authentic Buddha-dharma.

The depth of Vimalakirti’s wisdom was so vast that even the most accomplished Bodhisattvas hesitated to engage him in dialogue. When Shakyamuni Buddha asked Maitreya Bodhisattva to inquire about Vimalakirti’s health, Maitreya declined, admitting that Vimalakirti had once humbled him with his superior insight. Ultimately, only Manjushri, the ancient Buddha and master of the seven Buddhas, dared to engage Vimalakirti in discourse.

Chinese Ink painting Holy Master Vimalakirti by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

Vimalakirti’s teachings were not limited to words alone—he also demonstrated his supreme realization through extraordinary miracles. In one instance, he used his boundless supernatural powers to bring the entire Buddha-land of Abhirati, including the Immovable Buddha (Aksobhya), into the human realm. Even the Immovable Buddha himself declared, “I did not do this; it was through the supernatural powers of Vimalakirti.” Such feats reveal that Vimalakirti’s realization surpassed that of all Bodhisattvas and was equal to that of Shakyamuni Buddha himself.

Shakyamuni Buddha himself affirmed the extraordinary status of Vimalakirti, stating, “One who makes offerings to that holy being should know that this is making offerings to the Buddhas. One who transcribes this sutra or keeps it in a room should know that the Tathagata exists in that room.” These words confirm that Vimalakirti was, in essence, a Buddha.

His teachings continue to inspire practitioners today, offering a profound perspective on suffering, wisdom, and compassion. His willingness to manifest illness as a teaching tool, his unparalleled debates with great Bodhisattvas, and his supernatural demonstrations all serve as timeless lessons in the path to enlightenment.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/03/28/vimalakirtis-profound-teachings-on-suffering-and-liberation/

Exploring the Concept of Size in Buddhism: Mount Sumeru and the Mustard Seed

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In the realm of Buddhist philosophy, the imagery of Mount Sumeru and the mustard seed serves as a profound metaphor for understanding the nature of reality and perception. Originally a mountain in Indian mythology, Mount Sumeru is revered in Buddhism as the dwelling place of celestial beings like Indra and the Four Heavenly Kings. Standing at an astonishing height of 84,000 yojanas, it symbolizes the vastness and grandeur of existence. In contrast, the mustard seed, a tiny grain often used in culinary practices, represents the minuscule aspects of life.

This juxtaposition is beautifully illustrated in a dialogue between Li Bo, a governor of Jiangzhou during the Tang Dynasty, and the Zen master Zhi Chang. Li Bo questioned the seemingly paradoxical notion found in Buddhist texts that “Mount Sumeru can fit within a mustard seed, and a mustard seed can contain Mount Sumeru.” He found it hard to believe that such a small seed could encompass such a towering mountain.

With a smile, Zhi Chang responded by asking, “People say you have read thousands of books; is that true?” Proudly, Li Bo affirmed, “Of course! I have read far more than that!”

Zhi Chang then inquired, “And where are those thousands of books now?”

Li Bo pointed to his head and replied, “They are all right here!”

Zhi Chang chuckled and said, “Strange, then. Your head seems no bigger than a coconut; how could it possibly hold thousands of books?”

At that moment, Li Bo experienced a profound realization: the distinctions of large and small are mere constructs of the mind. In reality, size is subjective and arises from our perceptions.

This concept resonates deeply with modern science, which demonstrates that vast amounts of knowledge can be stored within a minuscule chip, echoing the Buddhist teaching that the universe can be contained within the smallest of objects.

The English poet William Blake expressed a similar sentiment in his famous lines:
“To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.”

His words capture the essence of this Buddhist teaching: within the tiniest elements of our world lies the vastness of the infinite.

Ultimately, Buddhist wisdom encourages us to transcend conventional notions of size and reality. When we embrace the idea that the vast can reside within the minute, we cultivate a deeper awareness of the interconnectedness of all things. In this way, Mount Sumeru and the mustard seed serve as powerful reminders of the boundless nature of existence and the limitless potential of the human mind.

In the Āgama Sūtra, there is a remarkable story that illustrates how the merit of a single grain of rice can be as vast as Mount Sumeru.

During the time of the Buddha, a poor couple lived in a crumbling cave with nothing to their name. They were so impoverished that they owned only a single set of clothes, which they had to share. When the husband went out, the wife had to stay home, and when the wife needed to leave, the husband had no choice but to remain inside, barely clothed.

One day, they heard that the Buddha and his disciples were passing through their village on their alms rounds. The couple reflected on their misfortune and said, “We have never practiced generosity, which is why we suffer such poverty today. Now that the Buddha is here, how can we miss this rare opportunity to give?”

However, as they looked around their home, the wife sighed deeply, “But we have nothing to offer…”

The husband, after thinking for a moment, made a firm decision: “No matter what, we must not let this opportunity slip away. Even if we starve, we must make an offering! The only thing we still have of value is this set of clothing—let us give it to the Buddha!”

With hearts full of joy, they humbly presented their only garment as an offering. The disciples, however, hesitated, feeling uneasy about receiving such an item. They passed the garment among themselves, reluctant to accept it, until Ananda finally brought it before the Buddha and asked, “Lord, this garment is too worn to be used. Should we discard it?”

The Buddha, filled with compassion, gently instructed, “My disciples, do not think this way. The generosity of the poor is the most precious of all. Bring the garment to me.”

Feeling ashamed for their earlier hesitation, Ananda and Maudgalyayana took the garment to the river to wash it. But as soon as they immersed it in the water, the entire river surged wildly, waves crashing in all directions. Alarmed, Maudgalyayana used his divine powers to summon Mount Sumeru in an attempt to subdue the turbulent waters. Yet, no matter how he pressed it down, the waves remained uncontrollable.

Helpless, the two disciples rushed back to the Buddha to report what had happened. At that moment, the Buddha was calmly eating his meal. Without saying much, he gently picked up a single grain of rice and handed it to them, saying, “Take this rice grain to the river, and it will settle.”

Perplexed, Ananda asked, “Lord, even the mighty Mount Sumeru couldn’t calm the waves—how can a tiny grain of rice possibly do so?”

The Buddha smiled and said, “Try it and see.”

Still doubtful but obedient, Ananda and Maudgalyayana took the grain of rice and cast it into the river. Miraculously, the raging waters instantly calmed, becoming as still as a mirror.

Shocked by what they had witnessed, the two disciples returned to the Buddha and asked, “How could a single grain of rice hold more power than a mountain?”

The Buddha then explained, “From the moment a grain of rice is planted, it undergoes countless efforts—watering, fertilizing, harvesting, processing, and selling—each step carrying the labor and dedication of many beings. Because of this, a single grain of rice contains immeasurable merit. Likewise, the garment offered by the poor couple was their only possession, their entire livelihood. Their act of giving was boundless in sincerity, making its merit just as vast. The Dragon Kings of the ocean understood the profound virtue behind this offering, which is why they immediately retreated in reverence. This is the power of true devotion—whether a grain of rice or a simple piece of clothing, when given with absolute sincerity, its merit can equal that of Mount Sumeru.”

From this teaching, a well-known Buddhist verse arose to remind monks and practitioners of the sacred nature of even the smallest offering:

“A single grain of rice in the Buddha’s gate,
As vast as Mount Sumeru.
If enlightenment is not attained in this life,
One shall return repaying the debt, bearing horns and fur.”

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that every offering—no matter how small—carries immense significance when given with a pure heart. It also warns practitioners to cherish and respect all acts of generosity, for every grain of rice represents the kindness and labor of countless beings.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/03/21/exploring-the-concept-of-size-in-buddhism-mount-sumeru-and-the-mustard-seed/

The Sacred Dragon Stone: Manjushri Bodhisattva’s Compassion and the Five Dragon Princess

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Mount Wutai, home to over 53 sacred monasteries, stands as one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Chinese Buddhism. Each of these mountains is regarded as the bodhimaṇḍa of one of the four great bodhisattvas, and Wutai is the sacred domain of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. Revered since ancient times, Mount Wutai holds a profound spiritual significance, attracting countless pilgrims seeking enlightenment and divine blessings.

Mount Wutai was the first of the four great mountains to be identified and is often referred to as the “First Among the Four Great Mountains.” Due to its unique status, it is also known as “Golden Wutai.” The identification of this sacred site can be traced back to the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, which describes the abodes of many bodhisattvas. In this scripture, Manjushri is said to reside on a “clear cold mountain” in the northeast. This passage not only solidified Wutai’s spiritual identity but also inspired its alternative name, “Clear Cool Mountain.” With an annual average temperature of around -4°C and high-moisture air, the mountain’s name perfectly encapsulates its serene and pure atmosphere.

Legends tell of Manjushri’s frequent appearances on Mount Wutai, often taking the form of ordinary pilgrims, monks, or most notably, five-colored clouds. Among the many tales that surround this sacred land, the story of the Xielong Stone and the Dragon Temple remains one of the most awe-inspiring.

In ancient times, the climate of Mount Wutai was harsh—winters were bitterly cold, and powerful spring winds carried dust and sand, making the land inhospitable. At that time, the mountain was simply known as “Five Peaks Mountain.” Determined to transform Wutai into a haven for spiritual cultivation and to bring blessings to sentient beings, Manjushri sought the mystical Xielong Stone, a sacred gem held by the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea. This stone possessed miraculous powers that could regulate the climate, making the land fertile and serene.

Manjushri traveled to the Dragon Palace and humbly requested the Xielong Stone. However, the Dragon King hesitated, explaining, “This stone was left behind by the goddess Nüwa. It is a resting place for our dragon clan, and we cannot part with it.”

With infinite compassion, Manjushri responded, “I seek this stone to benefit all sentient beings. I hope you, great Dragon King, will fulfill this virtuous karmic connection.”

Although moved by Manjushri’s vow, the Dragon King was reluctant to relinquish the treasured stone. He assumed that even with his great dharma powers, Manjushri would be unable to move it, as it weighed tens of thousands of pounds. Feigning generosity, he said, “Great Bodhisattva, if you can take the stone, you may do so.”

To the Dragon King’s astonishment, Manjushri gently approached the stone, recited a divine mantra, and instantly shrank the massive rock to the size of a marble. With a flick of his sleeve, he stowed it away, bowed to the Dragon King, and effortlessly departed.

The Dragon King, realizing his mistake too late, could only watch in stunned regret.

When the five dragon princes returned to the palace and learned what had happened, they were enraged. Determined to reclaim the stone, they pursued Manjushri to Wutai Mountain. As they arrived, Manjushri sat in serene meditation, awaiting them.

Upon seeing him, the Fifth Dragon Prince demanded, “Are you truly the teacher of the Seven Buddhas, the Awakened Mother of the Three Periods, Manjushri Bodhisattva?”

Manjushri calmly replied, “Indeed, I am.”

Scoffing, the young dragon sneered, “It is said that past Buddhas were your disciples, yet you appear to be only fifteen or sixteen years old. How can this be?”

Manjushri then imparted a teaching:

“The Buddha taught that there are four things in the world that must never be underestimated:

  • A young prince—though small, he will one day rule the land and influence countless lives.
  • A young dragon—though young, he will one day command the winds and tides.
  • A small flame—though weak, it can grow into an all-consuming blaze.
  • A young monk—though inexperienced, he may attain supreme wisdom through practice.”

Hearing this, the young dragons began to reflect on the depth of Manjushri’s wisdom. However, the young dragons were still defiant. They demanded, “If you truly have great divine power, why not change the climate of Wutai Mountain directly? Why did you have to take the Xielong Stone?”

With patience, Manjushri explained, “Divine power can temporarily change conditions, but only through the Xielong Stone can Wutai Mountain remain perpetually cool and become a sanctuary for spiritual cultivation.”

Unconvinced, the young dragons retorted angrily, “So you admit that your power is limited! Return the stone at once, or we will show no mercy!”

Furious, the five dragons launched a fierce attack, unleashing their claws, storms, and lightning against Manjushri. Yet, no matter how they struck, they could not harm him in the slightest.

In their frustration, they began to tear at the mountains, hoping to shake the ground beneath Manjushri. Their immense strength clawed away the mountaintops, scattering rocks across the land, creating what is now known as the Dragon-Turned Stones (龙翻石).

Realizing the young dragons’ arrogance and aggression, Manjushri used his supreme power to subdue them. He sealed them beneath Mimo Rock (秘魔岩), merging two great peaks, leaving only a narrow crevice for them to reflect and temper their hearts. He then instructed the local mountain spirits and earth deities to ensure the dragons were provided with food and offerings, allowing them to cultivate patience and wisdom until their minds were at peace.

Later, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea personally traveled to Wutai Mountain, pleading with Manjushri to release his sons.

With a compassionate smile, Manjushri assured him, “I have never harmed even an ant, let alone your five sons. They are here only to refine their minds. Once they achieve inner harmony, they will be freed naturally.”

To honor the young dragons and appease their spirits, Manjushri decreed that a Dragon King Temple be built in their name. There, they would receive offerings and incense from devoted followers, increasing their divine merits while they cultivated.

From then on, the Dragon King Temple on Wutai Mountain flourished, becoming a revered site for pilgrims seeking blessings for favorable weather and divine protection. Its existence symbolizes humanity’s reverence for the water deities and our hope for harmony between nature and sentient beings. Amidst the rising incense and prayers, worshippers not only feel the celestial blessings but also gain insight into wisdom and inner peace through spiritual practice.

Today’s Wutai Mountain is surrounded by lush green hills, beneath a sky of pure blue and auspicious clouds. In summer, the weather shifts between sunshine and rain, mist and fog. On clear days, the vast sky is brilliantly blue, filling the heart with joy and serenity; on rainy days, the misty veils create an atmosphere of elegance and tranquility, bringing deep peace to the soul. Strolling through the mountains, one feels naturally at ease and in harmony with the surroundings.

All of this, in truth, is a manifestation of the blessings and protection of Manjushri Bodhisattva. With His innate cool radiance, Manjushri employed the Dragon-Resting Gem to enlighten the beings of the dragon lineage. In doing so, He also established this sacred pure land of Wutai, where both ordinary and holy beings coexist. Here, He watches over this realm, awaiting the return of the countless wayfarers lost in the endless cycles of samsara.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/03/04/the-sacred-dragon-stone-manjushri-bodhisattvas-compassion-and-the-five-dragon-princess/

How to Discern Authentic Dharma Teachings

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You can receive the Dharma from many sources—through discourses given by Dharma Kings, Rinpoches, Lamas, or great Dharma teachers, as well as by reading their writings. You can also study exoteric and esoteric texts along with classic commentaries by fully realized masters. However, how can you determine whether these are authentic teachings? How do you know if the master or teacher is truly enlightened? And even if they are, how can you be sure that the translations you receive are accurate if the original text was not in English?

This issue applies even to the holy sutras and tantras, which have been transmitted through various traditions, cultures, and translations. Remember, it took centuries and the combined efforts of kings, emperors, and accomplished holy beings to complete these translations in China, Japan, Tibet, and other Buddhist countries. These translations were tested for their correctness by greatly realized beings. The authenticity of teachings must be verified by their efficacy—do they lead to full enlightenment?

Recognizing Accomplished Masters

How can you tell if someone is truly accomplished? A genuine master exhibits complete mastery of the sutras and tantras and demonstrates proficiency in all five vidyas. It is crucial to develop wisdom to discern true Dharma Kings or Rinpoches from those who are not. A reliable way to do this is by listening to the discourses and reading the books of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. His Holiness teaches the correct Buddha-Dharma and has demonstrated mastery of all five vidyas.

Master Mipam Gyatso (1846-1912) of the Nyingma sect warned:

“…. As the sutras and tantras prophesy, there are many who, having abandoned the profound meaning through dry analysis, distribute quasi-doctrine for material gain, leading those of low merit and small intelligence onto a perverse path at this time of the Dharma-Ending Age….”

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has stated that true Dharma teachings enlighten people, increase their good fortune, eliminate disasters, and help them attain the Bodhi state. The Buddha further emphasized that the Dharma must align with the Tripitaka and the commentaries of those who have attained enlightenment. It does not matter whether the teacher is a layperson or a monastic—if the teachings do not conform to the Tripitaka, tantras, or bodhichitta and are not given with compassion, they will contain errors. The Dharma must guide us toward happiness, liberation, and freedom from the cycle of reincarnation; otherwise, it holds no real value.

The Rarity of Listening to True Dharma

The opportunity to listen to the true Dharma is a rare and precious karmic condition. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has said that listening to the true Dharma for one day can yield more progress than ten years—or even decades—of self-practice and meditation. The ability to hear the Dharma is a reward for accumulated merit. Without sufficient merit, one may not even have the opportunity to encounter it.

If you do not understand the principles of Buddhism, your cultivation may be in vain, as you may practice based on a confused understanding of the teachings. Listening to the discourses of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and reading authentic Buddhist books is essential for proper cultivation.

The Proper Way to Listen to the Dharma

How you listen to the Dharma is just as important as receiving it. The analogy of the three pots is often used to illustrate this point. A pot can have three faults:

  1. It can be upside down, meaning it cannot receive water (Dharma cannot enter if one does not pay attention).
  2. It can be dirty, meaning the water is contaminated (Dharma is misunderstood or received with impure motivation).
  3. It can be full of holes, meaning it cannot retain water (Dharma is heard but not remembered or applied).

Even if you have the fortune to hear the Dharma, it will not benefit you if you do not pay attention, misunderstand the teachings, or fail to retain and practice them.

In ancient India and Tibet, practitioners had an extraordinary capacity for memorization. While modern individuals may lack this ability, we have the advantage of electronic recordings and printed texts. We should repeatedly listen to and reread the teachings until we thoroughly understand their principles and integrate them into daily practice—this is true understanding.

Applying the Dharma in Daily Life

It is not enough to merely listen, read, or even memorize the Dharma. True practice requires applying it in daily life. The Buddha’s teachings were meant to be lived, not just studied intellectually. Our actions, speech, and thoughts must align with the Dharma.

Dorje Pa Mu’s book, Dharma That Every Buddhist Must Follow, is an excellent guide, as are the books and discourses of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. However, to truly recognize authentic Buddha-Dharma in the world today, one must read H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

Guidelines for Evaluating Dharma Teachings

The sutras teach that when attending a Dharma lecture or listening to a teacher, one should focus on the teachings rather than the teacher’s personal attributes. Avoid distractions such as whether the teacher:

  • Has or has not violated precepts
  • Comes from a poor or wealthy background
  • Has a pleasant or unpleasant physical appearance
  • Has good diction or a speech impediment
  • Has a melodious or harsh voice

Instead, follow the Buddha’s four guidelines from the Catuhpratisarana and Samdhinirmocana Sutras:

  1. Rely upon the teaching, not the teacher.
  2. Rely upon the meaning, not the text.
  3. Rely upon the definitive meaning, not the provisional meaning.
  4. Rely upon prajna (wisdom), not consciousness.

By becoming familiar with the Tripitaka and tantras, you will be able to evaluate the authenticity of any teaching. Then, through practice, you will discover whether they truly lead to enlightenment. True Dharma will bring real transformation, guiding you toward liberation and awakening.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/02/28/how-to-discern-authentic-dharma-teachings/

Source: https://holyvajrasana.org/dharma-and-ritual/receiving-dharma

Nezha: From Buddhist Origins to a Chinese Cultural Icon

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Recently, the animated film Nezha 2 has become incredibly popular, reaching the top spot in global box office earnings for animated movies. While many believe Nezha is a character from Chinese mythology, his origins can actually be traced back to Buddhist scriptures.

Vaisravana

Nezha’s name first appeared in Vajrayana Buddhist texts, where he is associated with the role of a Dharma protector. He is described as the third son of Vaisravana, one of the Four Heavenly Kings. According to The Ritual of Vaisravana, “The Heavenly King’s third son, Prince Nezha, holds a pagoda and always follows the King.” His duty is to assist his father in safeguarding the Dharma, driving away evil forces, and protecting humanity. In The Mantra of the Dharma Protector Following the Northern Vaisravana Heavenly King, translated by the eminent Tang Dynasty monk Amoghavajra, Nezha is again referred to as Vaisravana’s third son. Other Buddhist texts from the Tang Dynasty, such as The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana and The Lotus Sutra, also mention Nezha.

In Buddhism, Dharma protectors and yaksha deities often have fierce appearances, symbolizing their hatred of evil and fearless bravery. As a result, Nezha is typically depicted with a wrathful and intimidating image. As Buddhism spread to China, many Buddhist stories and figures gradually merged with local Chinese culture, giving rise to new belief systems. Over time, Nezha became integrated into Taoism and Chinese folk beliefs, forming a unique cultural phenomenon.

The story of Nezha is filled with many well-known and beloved episodes, such as his birth from a ball of flesh, cutting his flesh and bones to repay his parents, and being reborn from a lotus flower. Although this scene cannot be found in modern Buddhist scriptures, it became a popular topic among monks after the Song Dynasty. For example, Volume 1 of The Comprehensive Collection of Zen Verses on Ancient Cases mentions: “Prince Nezha offered his flesh to his mother and his bones to his father, then manifested his true form and used his divine power to preach to his parents.” This suggests that the story of Nezha sacrificing his flesh and bones likely originated from Buddhist texts. Although the exact cause and details are unclear, this story undoubtedly provided a prototype for later adaptations in folk literature.

As Buddhism spread throughout China, the assimilation of foreign religions by local culture and the evolution of folk beliefs gradually transformed Nezha’s image, steering it away from its original Buddhist context and toward a more Chinese identity. After the Tang Dynasty, the worship of Vaisravana (known as Bishamonten in Japan) reached its peak in China, gaining widespread recognition from both the imperial court and the common people. He was honored in official rituals and revered by many folk believers. Simultaneously, Li Jing, a prominent Tang Dynasty military general, became a popular figure of worship as a god of war. Renowned for his military campaigns against the Turks and Tuyuhun in the northwest, Li Jing was deified as early as the Tang Dynasty, with dedicated temples built in his honor during the Song Dynasty.

Li Jing’s temple wall statue

The broader and deeper the spread of a belief, the greater the possibility of its transformation and integration with other cultural elements. Over time, through public imagination and interpretation, the belief in Vaisravana merged with the worship of Li Jing, forming a new deity known as “Pagoda-Wielding Heavenly King Li” (Tuota Li Tianwang) by the Song Dynasty at the latest. From then on, Vaisravana took on the surname Li and became more secularized and localized within Chinese culture. Since Li Jing became identified with Vaisravana, it was only natural within folk beliefs to regard Nezha as Li Jing’s son. This marked Nezha’s departure from the cultural context of foreign religions and his integration into the Chinese pantheon.

This transformation made Nezha a more relatable and accessible figure, understood through the lens of native cultural concepts. As a result, Nezha’s story gained broader appeal, providing ample room for reinterpretation and adaptation in later generations.

Nezha holds an important place in ancient Chinese mythology. Under the influence of Taoism, he was endowed with more mythological attributes, portrayed as a young hero with powerful magical abilities who frequently battles demons and protects the people. His story further developed in classic literary works such as Journey to the West and Investiture of the Gods, where Nezha became a symbol of justice and courage.

Nezha Temple in HeNan China

Folk worship activities for Nezha

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/02/21/nezha-from-buddhist-origins-to-a-chinese-cultural-icon/

HQ Announcement 20210101: An Impostor Will Not Dare To Practice These Eighteen Dharmas

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The Headquarters would like to use this announcement to express our gratitude to Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III for the dependent origination of the Dharma impartment for a Shakya descendant, who is the Chairperson of a Buddhist University. This Dharma discourse has jolted and woken the karmic-obstructed Buddhists. Such an earth-shattering Dharma discourse has also destroyed the heresy that “Deluded thought makes you an ordinary person, an enlightened thought makes you a Buddha.” We are incredibly grateful to Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III.

Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III has imparted that since Shakyamuni Buddha entered nirvana, and Mara the Demon King vowed to have his descendants infiltrate the Sangha, those mara-monastics have been wearing sangha attires posing as monks and nuns and become evil masters. They have transgressed and desecrated the authentic Buddha Dharma. Therefore, today’s Buddhism is in a deteriorating and decadent state. Evildoers are rampant in Buddhist communities. They blatantly disregard and contradict Shakyamuni Buddha’s Doctrines, Precepts, and Dharma. Some mara-descendants become evil Dharma masters, and some sit on the Dharma King’s rostrum. Whether monastics or laymen, they all falsely claim to be great Bodhisattva or even Buddha.

They show the inflated and pretentious outside of being eminent monastics, Dharma masters, Dharma kings, or great virtuous laypeople. However, they are just ordinary people with frail bodies who fool and confuse those clueless Buddhist followers. They lie through their teeth without blinking, and their bloviations are merely an army of pompous phrases. They flash their fictitious holiness certificates and show little to no achievement in Five Vidyas. Furthermore, while pretending to be Buddhas or Bodhisattvas, these scoundrels have violated the precepts, eroded the Dharma, and deceived the public. Worse yet, some Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis exhibit obscene, scandalous, and offensive behaviors and shamelessly post those videos on the web.

These evil masters and evildoers have wreaked havoc in the Buddhist communities. They have fooled millions of people into believing they were holy sages. In fact, whether an individual is a Tathagata, Bodhisattva, or Arahat, the Buddhas have established the Eighteen Kinds of Great Dharma for Holiness Selection and Confirmation. By way of them, all frauds will show their true colors easily. Any evil master, whether they sit on the Dharma king’s rostrum, a patriarch of a Buddhist lineage, a repository of sutras and treatises, or who can talk nineteen to the dozen, once put under the Dharma for confirmation, righteous or evil will reveal itself immediately. It is why the impostors dare not try any of the Eighteen Dharmas, because ordinary people will not be able to conduct any of these Dharmas successfully and will expose their frauds under the sun.

Buddhist disciples, if the truth is what you are after, these four points are essential to remember:

  1. You must not listen to this person’s empty talk on Sutra or Shastra.
  2. You must not solely trust this person’s superficial status as a lineage patriarch.
  3. You must not exclusively believe in this person’s fame and notoriety, such as a lineage-holder of a Buddhist sect.
  4. Tests must validate this individual; the Holy Test is the standard measure.

Otherwise, those who follow the impostors will most likely be deceived and ruined for good.

Whether a heavenly king, earthly deity, Bodhisattva, venerable, or Arahat, if the individual can conduct any of the Eighteen Dharmas and demonstrate the manifestation state according to the Dharma, this person is 100% a reincarnated Bodhisattva or Buddha. On the contrary, if this individual cannot practice any of these Dharmas, this person is certifiably ordinary, an impostor, and may even be a wicked con artist or scoundrel!

These Eighteen Dharmas are 1. Buddha Bestowing Holy Amritas (佛降甘露)；2. Sending a Petition to Bodhisattva (送菩薩一表)；3. Holy Fire Homa (勝義火供)；4. Uncovering Terma with Direct Verification (現量伏藏)；5. Knowing in Advance and Foretelling (先知預言)；6. Establishing Mandala Through a Boulder (隔石建壇)；7. Bodhi Holy Water (菩提聖水)；8. Lifting Pestle onto Platform With One Hand (拿杵上座)；9. Bodhi Path Sin Decrease and Merit Increase Dharma (菩提道損減增益法)；10. Vajra Array (金剛陣)；11. Grand Eight Winds Array (八風大陣)；12. Vajra Pillar Adjudication (金剛柱擇決)；13. Hanging Bowl to Ask the Truth ( 懸缽問真.)；14. Moving Vajra Pill like Dancing on Ice ( 冰姿顯聖)；15. Vajra Faman Holy Adjudication (金剛法曼擇決)；16. Hayagriva Or Horse-Head Wisdom King Water Altar Bead Hexagram (馬頭明王水壇珠卦)；17. Dharma Gate Peacock Feathers Adjudication (法門宮羽)；18. Double Adjudications (雙應擇決). These Eighteen Dharmas determine the holy from the mundane and the good from the evil. Each Dharma has its own Bodhisattva, Buddha, Vajra, and Dharmapala as yidam, and each presents a different manifestation of the realization state.

For examples,

  1. Buddha Bestowing Amrita: The congregation witnesses the Buddha, an Equal Enlightenment Bodhisattva, or a Marvelous Enlightenment Bodhisattva practicing the Dharma to beseech the Buddha to appear in the sky and bestow holy amritas into an empty bowl.
  2. Sending a Petition to Bodhisattva: The congregation witnesses the Tremendous Holy Guru practicing the Dharma, and a Bodhisattva retrieves the petition in front of the public.
  3. Holy Fire Homa: The congregation witnesses the Bodhisattva, a Tremendous Holy Guru, practicing the Dharma. The blue Vajra Maternal Buddha appears in the sky, prancing and dancing in front of the disciples, and then emits flame from between the eyebrows and ignites the charcoals in the cauldron instantly. The flame’s temperature can reach more than a thousand degrees Celsius.
  4. Uncovering Terma with Direct Verification: The congregation participates and witnesses in person. See details on the March 19, 2019 edition of “Wangzha Shangzun Manifests Vajra Power, and Yuzun Uncovers Terma With Direct Verification at The Holy Miracles Temple” on Las Vegas Chinese News Network.
  5. Knowing in Advance and Foretelling: The Tremendous Holy Guru personally predicts the number of amrita pills he will hold in his hand. He then reaches and grabs a bunch of amrita pills. The pills are counted before the congregation, and the result will be the same as his prediction.
  6. Establishing Mandala Through a Boulder: The congregation witnesses the Tremendous Holy Guru or Great Holy Guru using colored sands to create a Mandala on top of a boulder. With a flick of the finger, the Mandala design penetrates through the boulder to the bottom of the boulder and onto an empty Mandala plate. The Mandala is thus established.
  7. Bodhi Holy Water: The holy water manifested by the Tremendous Holy Guru or a Great Holy Guru. The water can penetrate any vessel. And, when poured on a rostrum, the water will maneuver according to the direction given by the Bodhisattva, Tathagata, a Tremendous or Great Holy Guru.
  8. Lifting Pestle onto Platform With One Hand: It determines whether the participant’s physical condition is holy or mundane. Anybody can try, and everyone is treated equally. Lifting the vajra Pestle with one hand to determine the holiness level will instantly reveal the sacred or mundane.
  9. Bodhi Path Sin Decrease and Merit Increase Dharma: See Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III imparted Dharma “This is the Invincible Vajra Dharma to Enable Buddhist Practitioners to Achieve Accomplishment.” If an individual with such advanced cultivation conducts this Dharma successfully before the congregation, then this individual must be a Bodhisattva or a Buddha, a Tremendous Holy Guru.
  10. Vajra Array: It is a mighty formation that tests a person’s level or stage in Buddhist practice. The World Buddhism Association Headquarters has video recordings of the Vajra Array in real applications.
  11. Grand Eight Winds Array: No candidate can step across a thin vajra rope when the array is established. The World Buddhism Association Headquarters has videos of the Grand Eight Winds Array in real applications.
  12. Vajra Pillar Adjudication: The congregation will witness a peacock feather hanging in the air. The Tremendous Holy Guru stands about 10 meters away from it and submits inquiries to the vajra pillar. The truth will be revealed in front of the congregation.
  13. Hanging Bowl to Ask the Truth: The congregation witnesses the supernatural come-without-a-shadow-and-leave-without-a-trace Vajra descending to the Mandala. The Vajra will knock on the bowl to confirm adjudication.
  14. Moving Vajra Pill like Dancing on Ice: It is a holy inner-tantric initiation. The sacred manifestation goes beyond the entry-level vibration of the Vajra Pill. The Vajra Pill must twirl like dancing on a snow-capped mountain. It is more like ice figure skating than swing dancing. It can transform to be bigger or smaller, taller or shorter. It can levitate and spin around the bowl without touching its wall or even shows the image of a wrathful Vajra.
  15. Vajra Faman Holy Adjudication: The congregation witnesses Vajra sand forming into crowns of various fruition and realization stages that befit the ones to be validated above the heads of their visages.
  16. Hayagriva (Horse-Head) Wisdom King Water Altar Bead Hexagram: The congregation does a lottery to choose a candidate. The adjudication is unequivocally accurate. The Bodhi beads are placed on the water altar. See details on World Buddhism Association Headquarters Announcement No. 20200103.
  17. Dharma Gate Peacock Feathers Adjudication: The congregation witnesses that the presiding master stands from afar, and the disciple stands in front of the sacred peacock feathers and submits an inquiry. The peacock feathers will respond definitively to the question the disciple raises accordingly.
  18. Double Adjudications: It is a test that entails both the Lesser Eight Winds Array (八風小陣) and the Holy Divination of Manjushri Bodhisattva. All the candidates take part in this test individually, with everyone witnessing the result, which shows accurate and consistent answers between the two adjudications without discrepancy.

Among the above Eighteen Dharmas, some only a Buddha, an Equal Enlightenment Bodhisattva or a Marvelous Enlightenment Bodhisattva can practice, and others only a great Mahasattva or above can. One must be at least at the level of an Arahat to be able to practice these Dharmas. The only exception is Puji Vajra’s (普及金剛) Lifting Pestle onto Platform With One Hand. Anyone can attempt to lift the Vajra Pestle to determine their holiness level.

Although each Dharma has its yidam, these Eighteen Dharmas can differentiate the real from the fake and the righteous from the evil. We call them Demon-Revealing Mirrors. They are not actual mirrors but categories of great Dharmas. In concrete applications, only Lifting Pestle onto Platform With One Hand takes as little as requiring the candidate to lift the pestle off the ground for 8 seconds. For the other seventeen Dharmas, the self-proclaimed holy individual is asked to choose one and practice it in front of the congregation. Whether this individual is a divine being or a fake can be seen on the spot.

Besides, only a Buddha, an Equal Enlightenment Bodhisattva or a Marvelous Enlightenment Bodhisattva are qualified to conduct the Dharma of Buddha Bestowing Amrita, all Bodhisattvas of lesser stages do not have the power to practice the Dharma. Many people have personally participated in and witnessed these Eighteen Dharmas, which were genuinely extraordinary, remarkable and praiseworthy.

On May 15, a great Mahasattva and the anagarikas of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters conducted the Bodhi Path Sin Decrease and Merit Increase Dharma for a pious practitioner who made outstanding contributions to Buddhist work. The entire congregation successfully practiced the Dharma together. Everyone experienced and witnessed this wonderful, world-astounding, and miraculous event. With only one strike on the bell, the sound reverberated throughout the site and resonated for a long time. All attendants stood about four to five feet from the platform, and all eyes focused on the jar in the middle. The total number of Bodhi pills has increased by three. The blessed disciple, from now on, can take the merit-increasing Bodhi pills every month and is guaranteed to achieve accomplishment. The Shengzun brought some of the merit-increasing Bodhi pills and made offerings to Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III to celebrate His Holiness, the Buddha’s holy birthday. Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III praised and proclaimed, “Although you have successfully practiced this holy Dharma, you should persistently turn away from all evildoings, commit to doing good, and selflessly serve and benefit others with your body, speech, and mind.” The Shengzun bowed and replied, “This disciple shall faithfully obey and will practice in accordance with the Dharma.”

Please note that during a validation test, the first eight Dharmas are the type that the candidate must practice in person. They are to verify if this individual has attained sufficient cultivation accomplishment to complete any of these eight Dharmas. The first eight Dharmas must be practiced by this candidate and witnessed by the congregation. No substitution is allowed. From the ninth to the eighteenth Dharmas, the candidate can practice the Dharma by themself to reveal their stage of holy manifestation. However, a great reincarnated Bodhisattva can also conduct the Dharma to adjudicate this individual’s true nature as sacred or mundane. It is the same process as verifying which fruition level, bhumi (ground), or Bodhisattva stage someone’s holiness stage is. The process can also be applied to confirm if any Sutra, Vinaya, Shastra, and Dharma contains distorted, erroneous, and deluded views. For example, some sutras have different versions of translations and interpretations. And various sutras may contradict each other. It is the aftermath caused by mara-descendants, who have infiltrated the Sangha and corrupted Shakyamuni Buddha’s Sutrapitaka. The Buddha knew the tricks of these evildoers to distort and falsify the Tripitaka. Therefore, the Buddha imparted these Eighteen Dharmas to differentiate the authentic from the spurious and the righteous from the evil. These Eighteen Dharmas are necessary to distinguish the moral from the evil. And we will not be able to resolve the self-contradictory statements between sutras without these eighteen Dharmas.

For example, on a Sutra, it writes: “The period since I became a buddha would exceed this by umpteen nayutas and asamkhyas of kalpas. Since then, I have been residing in the sahā world, teaching the Dharma and inspiring sentient beings. I have also been leading and benefiting sentient beings in umpteen nayutas and asamkhyas of other worlds. “On another Sutra, it indicates that Shakyamuni Buddha had been “a royal prince for ten lifetimes, and through many kalpas to become a Ksanti-vadi-rsi,” and after that, Buddha Dipamkara gave the prediction that the prince would achieve enlightenment at the Assembly on the Gridhakuta Peak (aka the Vulture’s Peak). Another Sutra depicts that when Prince Siddhartha Gautama practiced asceticism on the bank of the Nairanjananadi (Phalgu River), He was unsure if He would achieve enlightenment. The prince placed a bowl on the Nairanjananadi and made a wish: “If I can be the Enlightened One, this bowl will float upstream.” The bowl indeed floated upstream, which foretold His Buddhahood. In addition, Sutrapitaka lectures and proclaims that all Dharma (phenomena) arise in dependence upon causality.

Nevertheless, the Buddha also made many prophecies in the sutras, seemingly indicating a self-contradictory fatalism. In addition, many versions of the same Sutra or Mantra contain many different lengths of wording. All the confusion and destruction were caused by the mara-descendants who executed the orders from the Demon King. Therefore, practicing any of the Eighteen Dharmas will provide adjudication clearly and irrefutably to verify if an individual is holy or evil.

One of the Eighteen Dharmas provides the most convenient and immediate adjudication. It can validate any individual to be genuine or a sham in a few seconds unconditionally. This Dharma is Lifting a Pestle Onto Platform With One Hand Using Vajra Hook, whose yidam is Puji Vajra. Anyone who volunteers to participate will use one hand to lift the pestle. It will instantly confirm the participant’s physical condition irrefutably according to their corresponding realization power. Those who reach level twelve and above are the entry-level holy person. Those who fail to reach above level eleven don’t have a holy physical condition and are 100% ordinary. See details in “By Age and Weight, The Good-Health-Man Weight Standards for Lifting Vajra Pestle With One Hand.”

Please note that women are not required to partake in Lifting Pestle Onto Platform With One Hand. The other seventeen Dharmas will validate them instead. However, all men – pious believers, eminent monks, great Dharma masters, the Ehrampa Geshis, Lharampa Geshis, great lamas, great rinpoches, great Dharma kings, generational patriarchs, or even ordinary Buddhists, are treated equally in front of the Dharma of Lifting Pestle Onto Platform With One Hand. By lifting the same vajra pestle, whether the candidate has a holy physical composition or simply an ordinary body, and whether they are genuine or sham, will be revealed. This Dharma will confirm that an ordinary person is just ordinary and a holy being is holy. Pompous grandees without dharma power will be just that. In as little as a few seconds, the truth will reveal itself. There is no freeloading at all. Therefore, the impostors dare not lift the pestle.

However, suppose a male master, who has been validated by one of the Eighteen Dharmas, is a humble Buddhist cultivator, teaches according to the Dharma, is discreet and unpretentious, and practices true Dharma but has some health issues. In that case, the validation requirements of the Dharma of Lifting the Pestle Onto Platform With One Hand do not apply to him. Therefore, all Buddhist disciples should heed that as long as your Dharma master follows the teachings of Namo Shakyamuni Buddha and abides by the Dharma imparted by Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III, you should approve your master. Your learning relies on the audio recordings of the Dharma imparted by His Holiness the Buddha, which is the standard and guiding principle of correct meaning. Besides, only a Tremendous Holy Guru of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters with dharma power can transmit a holy Dharma to you. Your master’s role is to assist you in following the authentic Dharma and walking on the correct Bodhi path. Therefore, the master does not need to have advanced dharma power. If the master abides by the Buddha’s doctrine, the disciples should respect and follow them.

The Headquarters has received some complaint letters that state xxx pretended to be a Buddha; xxx deceived their disciples and self-proclaimed as a great Bodhisattva or a Marvelous Enlightenment Bodhisattva; xxx Dharma master has a scandalous relationship with xxx Bhikkuni and they went to karaoke, drank alcohol and ate meat, etc. These are unsurprising because Shakyamuni Buddha already predicted that evil demons would increase in the Dharma Degeneration Age and authentic Dharma would be increasingly diluted and corrupted. These reports have fulfilled the Buddha’s prophecies. Evil and demonic elements have rampantly mixed with pure Buddhism, obscured authentic Buddha Dharma, disregarded the precepts and ordinance, and contradicted and counterfeited the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni. Worst of all, a charlatan even declares that he was recognized and authenticated by Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III as a reincarnated Bodhisattva and Tathagata. We implored a reply from Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III yesterday about this.

Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III replied, “I am very humbled. What capacity do I have to confirm others to be holy being? Ever since I was young, I have never confirmed anyone to be a Buddha or Bodhisattva for two reasons. First, I am a common cultivator. Therefore, I can’t practice the Eighteen Dharmas. Although I did lift the grand pestle, it hurt my back and legs. I am so humbled. What credentials have I to confirm others to be sacred or not? Second. I am not a Tremendous Holy Guru. I don’t have the authority to confirm anybody to be Buddha or Bodhisattva. I only advocate for others to practice cultivation diligently, avoid evildoings, and commit to doing good. If anyone is arrogant, unbridled, and self-proclaimed to be sacred and trump as a holy king, if they are so shamelessly audacious, why would they not dare to conduct any of the Eighteen Dharmas to prove to Buddhist disciples that they are holy and not mundane? If they cannot do it, they must be an impostor!!!”

The Holy Gurus at the Headquarters agree that His Holiness the Buddha’s words and deeds left us with contrite hearts. His Holiness the Buddha is the unsurpassed, complete and perfect Enlightened One. However, His Holiness the Buddha has maintained such humility and is without a shred of arrogance. Here are some facts. Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III has exhibited for all to see His Holiness the Buddha’s perfect mastery of the Five Vidyas. His Holiness the Buddha publicly lifted the pestle to surpass His base standard by 59 levels, which far exceeds the level of the King of Great Vajra Strength. Throughout history, His Holiness the Buddha is the only one who never accepted any offerings but voluntarily served the masses to let them learn from Buddha and practice cultivation.

It is confirmed that Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III has never recognized anyone as a Buddha or Bodhisattva. Those so-called Dharma kings, Bodhisattva impostors, and fake great Dharma masters don’t even qualify to dust the shoes for Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III. Nevertheless, the Headquarters has established Puji Vajra’s Dharma of Lifting a Pestle Onto Platform With One Hand Using a Vajra Hook. From the lightest “Ruzi Chu” (Beginner Pestle), to “Famen Chu” (Dharma Gate Pestle), to “World Strongman Pestle,” and to “Buddha Pestle,” which is one level above Bodhisattva’s King-of-Great-Vajra-Strength level, all are openly placed at the Headquarters’ temple. All virtuous and pious people are welcome to try.

If your master calls himself a holy being, you must discreetly observe him to see if he is a counterfeit or if he dares to lift the pestle to prove his realization state. Perhaps you should invite the self-enthroned great Bodhisattva to raise the pestle at the Headquarters’ temple. If he excuses himself, you should see if he will go to a gym to raise the barbell with one hand. If he does, you can inform us of the heaviest weight he can lift. We will check and confirm back to you if he surpasses his base standard or fails to reach it and whether he is holy or mundane. The result will give definitive adjudication. If our Headquarters’ 90-year-old Kaichu Jiaozun, who weighed 180 lbs, could lift the pestle off the ground, how can the self-proclaimed Bodhisattva, who professes to teach others to become divine, not raise the pestle of the same weight? Perhaps he cannot even lift the “Dharma Gate Pestle” or the lightest “Beginner Pestle,” can he? It proves that not only he is not holy, but he has also not even entered the “Dharma Gate.” That is to say, if someone cannot even walk across the door, he then must be counterfeit and is just an ordinary person. For he who cannot even lift the “Beginner Pestle,” if he is not mundane, what is he? Could he be called holy? Could he not be feeble and has a holy physique?

Look, no matter how glorious this person’s status is, should he pompously self-proclaim to be a Bodhisattva, you must see if this individual dares to take the test of “Lifting Pestle Onto Platform With One Hand”!! Of course, this invitation is for those mundane masters who pretend to be holy.

We must unequivocally warn Buddhist disciples not to believe in those fairy tales, such as a divine being stepping on a boulder and leaving a footprint or handprint. Those are hoaxes. It is outrageous blasphemy to compare the Bodhisattva and Tathagata to stonemasons. Consider this: Is a Bodhisattva or Tathagata with complete mastery of the Five Vidyas just a stone mason who processes stones? Isn’t it ridiculous?

Furthermore, throughout history, there has never been a holy being who stepped on a boulder and left a footprint for all to see. The foot impression or handprint on boulders you see were fabricated by the fake or his disciples, who secretly chiseled out the imprints in advance, then pompously and fictitiously advertised it as a holy remark. Any skeptical Buddhist can try to duplicate it, and you will find the truth. The Headquarters can confidently assert that the so-called lineage-holder, rumored to have stepped on a boulder and left a footprint, would not be able to lift the vajra pestle that the 90-year-old Kaichu Jiaozun lifted off the ground with one hand and surpassed his base by 26 levels. It is because this individual is a fake, an ordinary person without any accomplishment that goes beyond the commoners, let alone to be compared to the holy elder, Kaichu Jiaozun.

We wish to remind all Buddhists that only the masters whose Dharma attire shows the ranking remarks certified by the Holy Gurus via Dharma authentication are recognized. Otherwise, for those famous figures or ordinary Buddhists, who have not been validated by one of the Eighteen Dharmas, if they self-proclaim to be holy, you should reserve a question mark on them. Otherwise, in this Dharma Degeneration Age, you have probably already been cheated. The matter of fact is that you have yet to follow a genuine holy guru to learn from Buddha and cultivate yourself. You have gone astray and blindly believed in an evil master or a con artist. That will ruin your life forever and lead you toward the Three Evil Realms of reincarnation!

World Buddhism Association Headquarters

May 15, 2021

(Translated to English from Chinese by Sheila Lauly. English translation reviewed and edited by Eric Huang)

Link ref: HQ Announcement 20210101: An Impostor Will Not Dare To Practice These Eighteen Dharmas

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE SUPREME LEADEROF JONANG SECT H.H. DHARMA KING JIGME DORJE

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Within Tibetan Buddhism, the Jonang sect has been known around the world for the true practice of its followers. There currently are two dharma kings who are in charge of the dharma teachings of the Jonang sect. One of them is the head of the Zangwa Monastery, H.H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje. The other is H.H. Dharma King Ngagwang Pedma Namgyal Palzangpo of the Longshijia Monastery. There is also a young future sect leader, Jianyang Lezhu Rinpoche, who is vice-head of the Zangwa Monastery.

When Shakyamuni Buddha lived in the world, H.H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje Rinpoche was already a great Bodhisattva in that lifetime. H.H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje was born in 1944 accompanied by various amazing auspicious signs that cannot be fully described. As a child, he never did anything to upset his parents, such as crying or acting in a common, childish way. He was very much different from other children. The masters of a monastery, as well as the monastics and laypersons in that monastery who handled monastery matters, all praised the child as being the incarnation of a wonderful Bodhisattva who had come back to this world voluntarily. Later, he went to the headquarters of the Jonang sect, the Zangwa Monastery in Rangtang, where he worshipped the Buddhas. His uncle, the Sai Rinpoche by the name of Awang Genga Phuntsok who lived at the Zangwa Monastery, saw that this child was the incarnation of a holy being. In accordance with the dharma, Awang Genga Phuntsok Rinpoche recognized that the child was the true reincarnation of a rinpoche who had been the head of the Zangwa Monastery. In accordance with the dharma rules, Lama Danba Daji from Xiayan, Lama Aguoba from Hongtu, and others practiced the dharma, entered holy supernatural states, and confirmed the accuracy of Awang Genga Phuntsok Rinpoche’s conclusion. They then made their formal pronouncements concerning the identity of H.H. Jigme Dorje. Moreover, the International Buddhism Sangha Association held an unprecedented Drawing Lots From a Golden Vase Ceremony to affirm the true reincarnated identity of H.H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje and others. There were ten possible identities recognized by various rinpoches. One lot was drawn from among 120 lots to affirm the true reincarnated identity of H.H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje. That drawing affirmed that H.H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje is the incarnation of Shambhala King Suchandra, which is the reincarnated identity that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III recognized before that lot was drawn.

After the formal enthronement ceremony for H.H. Jigme Dorje Rinpoche was performed at Saige Monastery in Aba County and the celebration of the enthronement ceremony was performed at Zhuoge Monastery, the rinpoche returned to Zangwa Monastery. The intelligence of the rinpoche is extraordinary. He was able to thoroughly learn and recite the scriptures, treatises, and rituals without having to exert himself. He later served as a disciple under his root master, Awang Gongqiu Daji, who was the Vajra Master of the Zangwa Dazang Monastery and the 44th Kalachakra Dharma King of the Jonang sect. Under H.H. Awang Gongqiu Daji, the rinpoche learned and practiced the five preliminary practices of the Jonang sect and the generation and completion stages of the Kalachakra Vajra the Six Yogas. He reached perfect merit in every dharma he practiced.

When the rinpoche was eight years old, he succeeded to the throne of the head of the Zangwa Monastery. However, at this time, his uncle, the Sai Rinpoche, and H.H. Dharma King Awang Gongqiu Daji predicted to H.H. Jigme Dorje Rinpoche that changes in the world situation would occur that would be disadvantageous to Buddhism. They told the rinpoche to go back to Aba County and that in the future, when the world situation stabilizes, he should return to the Zangwa Monastery and teach the dharma. Afterward, the Sai Rinpoche passed away and later H.H. Dharma King Awang Gongqiu Daji passed away as well. H.H. Jigme Dorje Rinpoche then went to Aba County, where he requested and received the complete precepts from Lama Tujihua of Sai. He later served as a disciple under another root master, Lama Kesang, who is the nirmanakaya of the Eleven-Faced Kuan Yin Bodhisattva. Under Lama Kesang, the rinpoche learned all of the initiation and lineage teachings. During this time period, he both herded goats and cultivated himself in caves, tree holes, and other places while traveling from mountain to mountain. He realized the state of viewing all phenomena as equal and the state where the mind is not affected by the situation one encounters. Thus, he became a free and unhindered person of great accomplishment in the dharma. He then lived in a cave, where he continued his practice of the dharma.

After the restraints on religion were slightly eased, the supreme leader of the Jonang sect, H.H. Dharma King Yundan Sangbu of the Zangwa Monastery in Rangtang, twice dispatched people to the cave at the Zilang Monastery in Aba County (that was the cave in which Maji Lazun practiced the Xiduan Dharma) where the rinpoche was staying. H.H. Dharma King Yundan Sangbu did so based upon the formal pronouncements of certain great masters of the past. When those dispatched arrived, they invited H.H. Jigme Dorje Rinpoche to go to the Zangwa Monastery and lead the teaching of the Buddha-dharma. There was a third visit when H.H. Dharma King Yundan Sangbu himself went to that cave at the Zilang Monastery, bringing with him a kharda (white silk scarf). When the two venerable ones met, they praised each other. H.H. Dharma King Yundan Sangbu repeatedly urged H.H. Jigme Dorje Rinpoche to follow the formal pronouncements of those great masters of the past by going to the Zangwa Dazang Monastery, by leading the teaching of the Buddha-dharma of the Jonang sect at that monastery, and by being the monastery’s retreat lineage Vajra Master. H.H. Jigme Dorje Rinpoche then gave his response to the formal pronouncements of those three masters of the past (H.H. Dharma King Gongqiu Daji, the Sai Rinpoche, and Lama Kesang) that he must go to the Zangwa Monastery in Rangtang. He respectfully said to H.H. Dharma King Yundan Sangbu, “Your merit and cultivation are like those of my father. You are my master. I will carry out your instructions well!”

After H.H. Jigme Dorje Rinpoche returned to the Zangwa Monastery at Rangtang, he helped H.H. Dharma King Yundan Sangbu restore the monastery and build Buddhist statues. The rinpoche performed initiations and dharma transmissions at regular intervals and guided those on retreat. He perpetuated the dharma teachings of the Jonang sect in this human world and propagated such teachings around the world.

In accordance with the rules handed down by the historical masters, H.H. Dharma King Yundan Sangbu personally handed over to H.H. Jigme Dorje Rinpoche in 1998 certain precious objects passed down through the generations by past masters, such as a vajra bell, a vajra, and the writing called “Guiding Text You Will Know Its Meaning When You See It.” He also formally conferred upon H.H. Jigme Dorje Rinpoche the positions of 47th dharma throne holder of the Jonang Kalachakra lineage and 11th Vajra Master of the Zangwa Dazang Monastery. After H.H. Dharma King Yundan Sangbu passed away, H.H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje became the supreme leader of the Jonang sect.

After H.H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje saw who His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu is through the limitless omniscience displayed in A Treasury of True BuddhaDharma, he stated that His Holiness Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu has reached the highest state of Buddhahood in the few-thousand-year history of Buddhism, having truly attained complete.

CONGRATULATIONS
United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters:
On behalf of the Jonang sect, I hereby respectfully congratulate H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu for directly propagating in this world the teachings of Buddhism. Such teachings have benefited countless living beings in their practice of the dharma and have caused countless living beings to obtain deep blessings and wisdom. The book A Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma especially shows this Buddha’s complete proficiency in exoteric and esoteric Buddhism and perfect mastery of the Five Vidyas. Such superlative accomplishments are truly unprecedented in the past few thousand years, outshining the accomplishments of all others, both ancient and modern. His Holiness is a shining paragon among Buddhas. May this inexhaustibly mighty light and power of compassion continue so that His Holiness forever teaches the dharma and forever remains in the world. I place my palms together and respectfully praise His Holiness.

I respectfully prostrate to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu!
Supreme Dharma King of the Jonang Sect
Jigme Dorje
May 8, 2007

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/01/10/brief-introduction-to-the-supreme-leaderof-jonang-sect-h-h-dharma-king-jigme-dorje/

Source: A Treasury of True Buddha Dharma


San Francisco Hua Zang Si Temple Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Charity Event: “Love Without Limits” Donation Drive

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San Francisco Hua Zang Si Temple Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Charity Event: “Love Without Limits” Donation Drive Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lee (The Hua Zang Si Temple held a Dharma Assembly to celebrate the Holy Birthday of Amitabha Buddha)

The San Francisco Hua Zang Si Temple, inaugurated on December 26, 2004, upholds and promotes the genuine teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, the incarnation of the primordial Buddha, and the World-Honored Shakyamuni Buddha, extending boundless compassion and kindness to all beings. 

Guided by the teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, Hua Zang Si Temple has actively participated in various charitable activities for many years, including organizing New Year entertainment events in nursing homes, assisting with hospital relocations, providing food relief to disaster-affected areas, and holding garage sales, with all proceeds donated to vulnerable groups. The temple expressed their hope that this spirit of helping others will continue to flourish: “In acts of kindness, seeds of virtue grow, a family that sows goodness finds happiness in full flow.”

San Francisco Hua Zang Si Temple Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Charity Event: "Love Without Limits” Donation Drive
Photo Courtesy: Natty Kao (Nuns from Hua Zang Si Temple and volunteers from the Dharma-Protecting Fellowship of Hua Zang Si donated items to San Francisco Marin Food Bank.)

To commemorate its 20th anniversary, Hua Zang Si launched a month-long charity drive titled “Love Without Limits” in November, supporting animal rescue centers, homeless and low-income families, and local food banks. On the morning of December 15, a Dharma Assembly was held to celebrate the Holy Birthday of Amitabha Buddha, praying for world peace and the well-being of all people. The afternoon featured a 20th-anniversary performance and raffle, attended by nearly 300 people.

By December, Hua Zang Si had collected a total of 812 items, categorized into three main types: 241 animal supplies, including dog collars, walking harnesses, pet carriers, and disposable puppy pads; 211 baby and cookware items, including baby bottle drying racks, baby bodysuits, air fryers, and cookware sets; and a total of 2,265 pounds of food, including rice, pasta, and other food items. On December 11, nuns from Hua Zang Si Temple and volunteers from the Dharma-Protecting Fellowship of Hua Zang Si delivered these items to Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP), and the San Francisco Marin Food Bank.

San Francisco Hua Zang Si Temple Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Charity Event: "Love Without Limits” Donation Drive Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lee (The abbess of Hua Zang Si Temple awarded 20 years’ service awards to volunteers.)
Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lee (The abbess of Hua Zang Si Temple awarded 20 years’ service awards to volunteers.)

As the first cage-free rescue organization in the U.S. and California’s first nonprofit dedicated to rescuing senior dogs, Muttville has rescued nearly 13,000 senior dogs over the past 17 years, providing support for about 100 senior dogs each month. The generous donations from Hua Zang Si were gratefully received, greatly aiding in the care and rehoming efforts for these senior dogs.

The San Francisco Marin Food Bank, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing hunger in San Francisco and Marin counties, distributed over 60 million pounds of food this year, thanks in part to Hua Zang Si’s year-end support. In these regions, one in five people faces food insecurity, and the temple’s contributions have significantly bolstered the food bank’s efforts. The donated food from the temple will be utilized in various community programs, including after-school programs, Boy and Girl Scouts, ensuring that nutritious meals reach those in need.

San Francisco Hua Zang Si Temple Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Charity Event: "Love Without Limits” Donation Drive
Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lee
(The abbess of Hua Zang Si Temple awarded 10 years’ service awards to volunteers.)

The Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP), a renowned family support center in the U.S, serves over 4,000 vulnerable families each year, particularly aiding mothers seeking assistance during pregnancy and parenting. The temple’s donations have significantly enhanced HPP’s ability to support mothers and children facing life challenges.

On the afternoon of December 15, the 20th-anniversary celebration was held in the main shrine of Hua Zang Si, featuring live performances of several classic philosophical songs with lyrics written by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, cello performances of various songs, a mesmerizing Tibetan dance, and an exciting raffle with numerous prizes. The event provided a visual and auditory feast for nearly 300 attendees. The celebration concluded with a heartfelt group sing-along of “Buddha Holding My Hand,” bringing the 20th-anniversary festivities to a perfect close.

Looking ahead, Hua Zang Si will continue to serve as a beacon of love and care within the community. They hope more people will join in these acts of kindness, creating a warm, loving, and harmonious society together.


The above article is from the World Reporter, December 23, 2024.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/01/08/san-francisco-hua-zang-si-temple-celebrates-20th-anniversary-with-charity-event-love-without-limits-donation-drive/

Hair Sariras of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

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In Buddhist scriptures, relics are broadly classified into two types. The first type, known as Dharma-body relics, refers to the teachings and scriptures spoken by the Buddha, representing his spiritual essence and wisdom. The second type, physical relics, comprises the solid remains left after the Buddha’s cremation. These physical relics are traditionally described as being of three kinds: white bone relics, red flesh relics, and black hair relics. They are noted for their luminous, pristine appearance, unbreakable nature, and incomparable beauty, far surpassing worldly jewels.

It is also believed that Bodhisattvas and Arhats may leave behind similar relics. According to Buddhist teachings, relics naturally crystallize in those who have achieved enlightenment and sincerely practiced devotion to the Buddha. They are considered extraordinary and unattainable by ordinary individuals.

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is recognized as the true reincarnation of the Primordial Buddha. His Holiness has demonstrated extraordinary miracles, including the manifestation of hair sariras. Below are authentic accounts from Buddhist disciples detailing their experiences and discoveries of the hair sariras of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

Hair Sariras (1)

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata usually cuts His own hair. However, there have been several occasions when I respectfully accompanied His Holiness to a barber shop. Each time, out of reverence, I carefully swept away the floor and removed other people’s hair before the haircut began. After the Buddha Master’s haircut was finished, I would gather His hair from the floor, wrap it carefully in paper, and place it on my Buddhist altar upon returning home. Gradually, I began collecting and keeping some of the hair.

I still remember what happened on June 1, 2003. On that day, I took out several unopened paper packs and organized them, intending to wash the hair. Because the individual hairs were very fine, I had paid special attention and placed them on a screen. While soaking them in water, I saw three small round red beads among the hair. The entire cleaning process was handled by me, and I did not touch anything else during that time. I felt this to be very strange and wondered where those red beads came from. I intended to press them with my finger to see if they were hard or soft and even took a magnifying glass to carefully exam them. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. Could they be sariras? I realized if I did this, it would be too disrespectful.
Hurriedly, I placed the three small beads in a small white box and took them to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to inquire of their origin. I asked, “May I know what these things are?” The Buddha Master said, “Where did you get these? These are sariras!” Afterwards, the Buddha Master practiced dharma and chanted mantras to prove the authenticity of those sariras. I reported to the Buddha Master that they were wrapped in paper and appeared from the cut hair of His Holiness.

Later, the Buddha Master gave us a special discourse in which His Holiness stated, “This has happened because of conditions and the level of fortune of all sentient beings. It does not matter where they come from. Perhaps they originated from the empowerment of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It actually does not matter what the disciples think concerning how or where they come from. If they can appear out of nothing, then they can disappear out of nothing. The important thing is the cultivation of each one of us and the need to live in accordance with the teachings and abide by the principles of Buddhism.”
That night, I carefully placed those three red sariras in a small tightly covered Tibetan box and cushioned them with white cotton. The next day, a fellow disciple requested to view them. I thought about placing the sariras in a crystal bottle that I had just bought. When I opened the small box and looked inside–how could it be that there were only two sariras left? I did not touch any other things anymore! I shredded and tore the cotton, but could only find two sariras. It was really upsetting! This proves and corresponds to what H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III previously expounded: “If they can
appear out of nothing, then they can disappear out of nothing.”

This extraordinary occurrence reminded me of a fellow disciple’s personal testimony of witnessing sariras falling from the Buddha Master. This time, I experienced it firsthand, and it was truly a wonderful and auspicious sign.

Everything I have recounted above is true and authentic. If there are any falsehoods, may I suffer all evil retribution. If they are genuine facts, may living beings receive the dharma teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata, be liberated from the cycle of life and death, and attain wisdom and good fortune.

Buddhist disciple,
Hsuan Hui

(This is a complete translation of the Chinese text that follows, originally written and signed by Hsuan Hui.)

Hair Sariras (2)

I established a Buddhist altar in my home in Thailand on January 16, 2005. On that day, a fellow disciple brought me a small glass bottle containing several individual strands of the hair sariras of my Buddha Master, Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata. Each strand was approximately one centimeter long. Out of reverence, I placed a blue semi-precious stone inside the bottle and set it on my altar.

A few months later, I decided to replace the glass bottle with a Venetian crystal one. When I opened the glass bottle, I noticed something astonishing: the originally short hairs had grown longer. Although surprised, I did not dwell on it initially. However, the hairs continued to grow, and recently the change has become undeniable. Some strands have grown to five or six times their original length, now measuring five or six centimeters. Remarkably, some of the hairs, pinned down on both ends by the stone, have grown in their middle sections, forming loops. How truly extraordinary!

From a scientific perspective, hair cells die once cut, making it inexplicable how short, severed hairs could continue to grow. Let this miraculous phenomenon strengthen our faith and conviction. It is a genuine manifestation of the power of the Buddha-dharma!

Buddhist disciple,
Shu-Hui Chen

(This is a complete translation of the Chinese text that follows, originally written and signed by Shu-Hui Chen.)

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2024/12/06/hair-sariras-of-h-h-dorje-chang-buddha-iii/

Source: https://www.tpcdct.org/sites/default/files/media/194.pdf