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:
- It can be upside down, meaning it cannot receive water (Dharma cannot enter if one does not pay attention).
- It can be dirty, meaning the water is contaminated (Dharma is misunderstood or received with impure motivation).
- 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:
- Rely upon the teaching, not the teacher.
- Rely upon the meaning, not the text.
- Rely upon the definitive meaning, not the provisional meaning.
- 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
Peace LiLy 