In Tibetan esoteric dharma, there are five types of precious pills. They are the Nectar Pill, the Long Life Pill, the Great Precious Pill, the Vajra Pill and the Supreme Precious Pill. Actually, these five types of pills are made from nectar bestowed by different Buddhas. There are also red pills and black pills made with Chinese herbs after the herbs are empowered through mantras, such as the red pills and white pills made by H.E. Tangtong Gyalpo. The Long Life Pill has the empowering effect of extending one’s lifespan. The Great Precious Pill can further one’s accomplishment in the dharma. The Vajra Pill can help dispel demons and increase longevity and good fortune. The Supreme Precious Pill can ensure accomplishment in the dharma. The five types of pills are crystallization of merit produced from the power of Buddha-dharma and the empowerment of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Basically, all great rinpoches have what they call precious pills. But most of them are of the ordinary type, not the holy precious type of pills. Holy precious pills and ordinary ones are two totally different concepts. I personally saw Nectar Pills made from nectar bestowed by Buddhas. I also personally saw true Vajra Pills and heard them chant mantras.
Certain famous rinpoches and dharma kings from the highest temples in Tibet have said that the Buddha-dharma that can enable a vajra pill to fly has not been seen in this world in three hundred years. This is a fact. There was a crazy yogi named Be Wa Ba who could manifest such power hundreds of years ago, but according to these respected rinpoches and dharma kings who have had contact with all of the well known dharma kings of recent times, this dharma had disappeared from this world.
I follow my Buddha Master, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata, and am constantly by His Holiness’s side. Therefore, I have experienced many magnificent and real manifestations of Buddha-dharma. Now I will tell everyone about my experience of the true Vajra Pill. When the holy vajra mantra and mudra are practiced, the Vajra Pill will jump and even transform into rainbow light and soar into the sky. I have also heard the Vajra Pill dance and chant mantras. I watched other people listen to the Vajra Pill sing songs.
I vow that the events reported here are true and happened as reported. If not, I am willing to bear the karmic retribution of the hell realms.
Amazing supernatural events preceded my first experience with the karmic affinity of the Vajra Pill. This happened in April, 2003. I traveled from San Francisco to Los Angeles to see H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu. During the trip I suddenly saw a colorful and large rainbow light appear in the sky. The rainbow completely surrounded the sun. There were also Sanskrit symbols in the sky. Just as the rainbow was fading from sight, I was able to take a picture of the bottom half of this light by focusing the camera below the sun. A dignified Buddha–Dorje Chang Buddha–appeared in the middle of the rainbow. This Buddha became my Buddha master, H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, who was wearing a red robe and was sitting in the middle of the rainbow. The scene was awesome and extremely wonderful. The rainbow light appeared in the sky for several hours.
When I arrived, I was fortunate to immediately see my Buddha Master. A great lama obtained three true Vajra Pills and had respectfully given them to H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata as an offering. The Buddha Master bestowed me with two of them. Unexpectedly the Vajra Pills in my hand started to jump. At that time the Vajra Pills jumped in my hand just as if they were alive. They not only jumped but one of them started to circle around and left my hand. It transformed into a dazzling bright red light and soared into the sky. At that time, I saw that the Buddha Master, who sat far away on the dais, had become a blue Buddha Vajradhara. The blue light was shining bright. The scene was very dignified. I was greatly astonished. This is when I first saw the true Vajra Pill and the true identity of my Buddha Master.
There was a very virtuous disciple who came from Australia. Because of a question I had asked H.H.Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata about a dharma matter concerning mysterious power, the Holiest Tathagata said to me, “Bring your Vajra Pill to empower this disciple.” I took out the Vajra Pill. In order to prevent the Vajra Pill from escaping, this great layperson personally put the Vajra Pill in a small cup and sealed the cup with a piece of paper. The disciple put the cup to his ear and moved 15-20 feet away from the Holiest Tathagata. Several of us were sitting on the floor around H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata. Then everyone started to chant mantras and practice dharma. Soon the Vajra Pill began to chant and sing Buddhist songs. This layperson was very moved. It is hard to believe that a tiny pill can actually sing Buddhist songs, but I have heard this myself. Actually, I did not hear Buddhist songs, but clearly heard the chanting of holy mantras. The sound came from this tiny BB sized pill that I personally held to my ear. It is truly unbelievable. In this world within the supreme Vajra Division of Esoteric Buddhism the Vajra Pill truly can be categorized into ordinary types and holy types. The Vajra Pill in my hand was living proof of the holy type.
Today I sincerely tell everyone my personal experience. My Buddha Master, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata is the supreme and highest Buddha. May all living beings have the good fortune to hear, learn, and practice the true Buddha-dharma and quickly attain enlightenment.
I, Buddhist disciple Zhaxi Zhuoma, sincerely vow and clearly write down these events to prove the existence of the true Buddha-dharma in the world today.
Over the past ten years I have been indeed fortunate to receive so many empowerments and initiations from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. I have practiced the dharma of self-cultivation taught me by my Buddha Master so that I do have a modest degree of realization. My life has been dedicated to helping others learn and practice as well. I have seen many miraculous states including seeing my Buddha Master and other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the heavens and watching a vajra pill fly out of my hand in a dazzling red light. I was also able to awaken another vajra pill and hear and see others sing and dance.
But were these signs that I was a holy being? His Holiness had said that I was, but would ordinary people be able to see the transformation? My real concern was, would I be able to help liberate other living beings? Would they believe me and follow the teachings that I had learned from my Buddha Master?
I learned of another magnificent Buddha-dharma from The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation that can enable one to actually demonstrate that they have the body of a saint or holy being. It is known as the Tien Jie Mandala Ni-Wan Dao-guo Fa or Heavenly Realm Mandala Mud Pill Lamdre Dharma. “Ni-wan” translates literally as “mud pill.” Lamdre is a Tibetan term for “the path and its fruit.” Through this dharma, the “gate to heaven” on the crown of the head can truly be opened. The “mud pill” is also found in the meditative techniques of inner alchemy in Daoism. The Mud Pill crown opening was what was sought to become an immortal. Ancient emperors of China would have given their kingdoms and fortunes to be able to receive this dharma. Ni-wan is also a Daoist term for the place where the consciousness or spirit enters and leaves the body of an immortal. It literally means a point on the top of the head that when open feels like soft mud. A newborn’s brain is like this, which is the reason one has to protect the head of a baby until these openings or fontanelles can grow shut. This point is also known in acupuncture as the Bai Hui or the hundredth meeting point and is connected to the hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary glands—all parts of our anatomy that modern science does not fully understand or appreciate. This is also the Hindu Yogic equivalent of the Crown Chakra. The “ni-wan” also refers to the upper Cinnabar Field in Daoism or the center for intellect and spirituality. In Daoism, one refines one’s essence (jing) into vital energy (qi), refines one’s vital energy into spirit (shen), and refines one’s spirit into emptiness. One unites one’s primordial spirit to become form (an immortal) and dissipates that spirit to become formless vital energy. One is then neither empty nor substantial. That is what is called “non-doing.” In Daoism you are said to also be able to receive cosmic energy through this point as well.
Lest there be confusion, I want to make something perfectly clear. The Mud Pill of Daoism is the place on the crown of the head through which one leaves the body to ascend to heaven. Buddhism also recognizes that the Mud Pill is the place through which one leaves the body to become a celestial being or immortal, which is one type of living being among all of the living beings in the six realms. However, what I am writing about is the Buddha-dharma and not Daoism or any other form of religion. When Buddhism came to China, the Daoists adopted many aspects of Buddhism. Still, Buddhism leads one to become a Buddha or Bodhisattva, and Daoism leads one to become an immortal. People who misunderstand what I am saying might question why I talk of a Daoist practice. This is a result of simply not understanding the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha clearly stated in the sutras that there are six realms into which living beings can reincarnate and that the highest realm is the realm of the immortals. The ten types of immortals are described in general terms in the Surangama Sutra and elsewhere, but they can generally be grouped into three classes: earth bound immortals who continue to live amongst us, heavenly immortals who will go to the heavenly realms only after they leave this earth, and the divine immortals who can go to the heavenly realms now with their earthly bodies as well as after they leave this world. What the Surangama Sutra does not say, but the Buddha explains in other texts, is the fact that those who cultivate themselves according to the teachings of the Buddha can continue their practice in these heavenly realms and go on to become Bodhisattvas. The translation that I have of the Surangama Sutra is not clear on this point and appears to be discussing primarily the earth-bound immortals and not their higher forms.
Although this Buddha-dharma can be transmitted to non-Buddhists as well as Buddhists and help sincere practitioners of other religions to achieve their goals of heavenly rebirth, its purpose for a Buddhist is quite different. Buddhists are also able to take rebirth in the Heavenly Realm and enjoy this paradise, but they do so in order to continue their cultivation and practice of the dharma and be able to eventually become Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. In the Sutra on Loving-Kindness (Metta Sutta), Shakyamuni Buddha tells us that although a non-Buddhist may enjoy a life-span in these heavens, when that life-span ends he must return to the lower realms to repay his karmic debts due to the law of cause and effect. However, one who follows the way of the Buddha can enjoy the pleasures of these realms and also gain liberation through the practice of Buddha-dharma while in these realms, eventually attaining the… “complete extinction of lust, hate and delusion in that same kind of heavenly existence.” But there is another aspect of this dharma that also makes it important. When one becomes accomplished in or achieves the fruit of this dharma, one’s structural body actually changes. One’s bones become different than those of an ordinary being to enable one’s consciousness to ascend to the heavenly realms. In this way one becomes a true holy being or saint.
Why is this important? Only holy beings or saints can liberate other living beings, and our work here as Buddhists is to help others seek liberation from the unhappiness, pain, and suffering of samsara or worldly existence. So, how do we know that someone is a holy being? There are many who claim such status and their disciples support them by calling their master a holy being, but are those who make such a claim really able to demonstrate their holiness?
There are two aspects of holy beings that distinguish them from ordinary beings. The first is that they manifest the Great Compassionate Bodhisattva State. This is a type of mind or level of accomplishment whereby everything they do is done for living beings. No matter what they do, say, or think, it is to help living beings become accomplished in the dharma or liberated. This is the aspect of virtuous conduct. However, this alone is not enough to be designated a holy being, because, generally speaking, it cannot be seen or understood by ordinary people.
The second aspect of a holy being is that their physical body type is different from that of ordinary people and there are ways that this can be demonstrated. This is seen through miraculous events that actually change the structure of the body. The Mud Pill Holy Dharma is a Highest Form of Inner-Tantric State-Practice Initiation contained in The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation. The Mud Pill Holy Dharma can accomplish this change in the structure of the body, as can accomplishment in the practice of Tummo Dharma that goes beyond the second stage. It is one way to prove that someone actually has the true Buddha-dharma and can help liberate other living beings. The process for becoming a saint in Catholicism is quite similar. A person has to have exhibited a pure, moral, and kind life and demonstrate some sort of miracle. The opening of the crown in the skull without any visible means on the surface of the skull is such a miracle! But scientific tests show that there indeed is such an opening!
As I mentioned earlier, the Mud Pill dharma from The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation is unique in that such dharma can be practiced by the practitioner of any religion. Although one needs to be a good person with deep roots of kindness, one does not need become a Buddhist to practice it. However, one must be careful in applying this dharma. It can be used to have the consciousness leave and return to the body, and it can be useful at the time of leaving this earth. But if your crown has been so opened, you must strictly abide by the Mud Pill Path Fruit Precepts. If you violate any of those precepts, you must repent that same day. If you repent a day later, your crown will close and you will not attain liberation. But if you abide by the precepts, you will be able to go immediately to the heaven or paradise of your choice after death. You do not need to pass through the bardo. A Christian’s soul would go the Christian Heaven to be with Jesus, while a Hindu would have his consciousness merge with Universal Consciousness (Supreme Cosmic Spirit) in the formless realms or go to the Brahman Heavens of the Form Realm, and so on. In an oral discourse on the dharma, the Buddha Master expounded that our crowns must be opened for us to go to any of the higher realms. What we call consciousness and others refer to as the soul or “spirit” exits the body at the time of death. The means by which it exits determines the next life. The Buddhist sutras also state that if the exit is through the souls of the feet or Yong-Quan gate, one goes to the hell realms; the lower orifices, one becomes an animal; or the navel, one becomes a hungry ghost. The part of the body that determines where the consciousness/soul/spirit of the person goes will remain warm after the rest of the body becomes cold. If one’s heart is warm and the rest of the body is cold, one is reborn to the human realm to be a human. If the throat or the throat gate is hot and the rest of the body is cold, one becomes an Asura. If one’s body is cold and the Mud Pill gate, or fontanelle, is hot, one becomes a deva or a heavenly being. When one is liberated and/or is reborn into a Buddha land, the exit place will be at the Da-Le gate, i.e. the top gate right in the middle of the skull. I remember Dr. Mitchell Levy at Zion, Illinois reporting that after the Sixteenth Karmapa departed this world, to his and the rest of the hospital staff’s amazement, the area around his heart remained warm for a very long time, which would imply that he would be reborn as a human.
The “Mud Pill” dharma does not enable one to become a Bodhisattva. It only enables one to become an immortal and go to the heavenly realms. It can demonstrate that one’s physical body has the qualities of a holy being. However, there are many kinds of holy beings. It does not mean that as long as you have your crown opened it can be said that you are a great holy being. This is true no matter what type of crown opening you receive—either from the Ni-wan Dharma or the Vajra Substitute Body Meditation Dharma. These crown openings belong to the initial stage of a holy being. They are not great holy beings who truly attain the level of perfect liberation. His Holiness has made it very clear that even for the dharma of Vajra Substitute Body Meditation, the opening of the crown should reveal a hole as big as an egg. Moreover, there should be a deep hole in the brain. It does not count if one just has an opening of the scalp or scull bone. His Holiness taught us that using scientific exams alone is not enough to determine the success of a crown opening. In front of the watchful eyes of many people, testing and verification of the crown opening must take place based on Buddha-dharma rules. There is 100% proof that the crown opening was successful when three peacock feathers hanging over the crown of the person tested move about as a result of his consciousness leaving his body or his energy leaving his crown.
MRI scans of those who have received the Mud Pill empowerment show a small opening at the crown. However, the concentration powers of a small portion of those practitioners are not strong. For the sake of their safety, it is best that their openings are closed. At the time of their death, their crowns will naturally open again. There is no need to close the openings of those whose concentration powers are strong. Still, such people must strictly abide by the Mud Pill Path Fruit Precepts. I know of a devout Tibetan whose skull had many such openings from empowerments he had received from various rinpoches. His skull was retrieved from the sky burial field and kept for veneration at a local temple because the lamas knew that he was a true holy being.
So, although I was encouraged to continue my dharm a practice and seek higher states of realization, my Master wanted me to have this empowerment. At the time of my Mud Pill Path Fruit Crown Opening, I wrote a vow of truth that stated the following: “FACING WHAT IS TRUE—Becoming accomplished through the Mud Pill Path-Fruit of The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation does not require the Master to touch the crown of the head or pour water onto the crown from a precious vase. The Master was on one side of the garden, and I was on the other side. The Buddha Master never came close to the crown of my head. His Holiness used His mind to accomplish this transmission. Right then and there His Holiness caused the Emperor of Heaven to descend and open the crown of my head. I clearly saw a wondrous state appear before me. It was extremely clear. Nobody would believe me. How could this be? I was worried it might have been an illusion, so I had it evaluated by a scientific instrument. That evaluation proved that what had happened was real. This fact proves that I have the qualifications of an immortal. If what I have just stated is false, I will surely descend into hell. Sincerely spoken by Zhaxi Zhuoma.”
I hope that virtuous non-Buddhists with deep roots of kindness will also receive this empowerment.
My own experience in receiving and practicing the Mud Pill Dharma of The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation was incredible. I find it difficult to describe in any way that can explain what happened in a believable way. Fortunately, I have the MRI photos that can show the success or fruit of my efforts. I truly believe that these pictures are “worth a thousand words” as far as demonstrating the results, but let me try and tell as much as I can about how they came about. As I have mentioned elsewhere, one does not usually talk about the empowerments and holy inner-tantric initiations one has received. In fact, we are prohibited from doing so according to the dharma. This is an inviolable rule especially with respect to State Practice Initiations. However, I will describe what I am permitted to describe in order to provide non-Chinese speaking people with more specific information about the magnificence of the true Buddha-dharma.
First, it was a beautiful, balmy day. The sun was shining brightly with a slight breeze, providing ideal weather. I sat under a large orange tree next to a calm pool. My assistant sat behind me and was some distance away from me. She faced the opposite direction since she could not witness the ceremony. Of course, I cannot give the particulars of the ceremony itself, but what I can tell you is that my magnificent Master was not in any way near me. His Holiness never touched me or my head before, during or after the ceremony. In fact, my Master was on one side of the yard and I on the other during the ceremony. His Holiness used His mind to accomplish this transmission of the Buddha-dharma to me. His Holiness continued to pray for me while I practiced the dharma. His Holiness prayed that I be a most kindhearted person, that I always benefit all living beings, that I always wish my country and its people be at peace, that I always wish all living beings be free from disasters and hardships, and that I always wish all sentient beings be eternally happy. After I received this dharma, I sat and chanted a certain mantra silently. When I experienced a bright, distinct holy state, I began chanting the same mantra loudly to thank the Emperor of Heaven—also known as the Jade Emperor— for receiving me. My place in the celestial realms as an immortal had been insured. Right then and there my practice of the dharma caused the Emperor of Heaven to descend and open the crown of my head. The wondrous state that appeared before me was extremely clear. There was no doubt that something supernatural had happened!
After the ceremony my Master still did not touch my crown, including the entire time from when I received the dharma until year of 2010 at a medical center where I went to have a MRI image made of my head. Even if the Buddha Master had opened the “Gate of Heaven” on my crown by touching my head, such a power would have exceeded that of all of the Buddhist patriarchs throughout the generations. Even without touching my head, the Buddha Master enabled me to experience the supernatural state through mind transmission alone. I still wondered, “Could this just be an illusion?” It was, after all, an incredible accomplishment. I knew that in ancient times many great sages had devoted their entire lives and resources to achieving this to no avail. Why was I able to realize it?
As soon as I returned from the MRI center, I put the CD of the procedure on a computer. I knew from personally witnessing the beautiful holy state that the ceremony had been a success, but what would the MRI scans show? Would modern medical science be able to see this crown opening? Would the photos record that which is not visible to the naked eye? We were not disappointed. The results were phenomenal! The MRI image showed exactly what should appear according to a discourse given by my Master on this subject—that the Emperor of Heaven connected with me and opened my crown with a hole that was at least an inch wide. The bone around the opening even curved downward to allow for the opening. It was as if the bone had been transformed to a soft wax that could easily be shaped into a different form. Some of the images showed the opening from different angles. It was amazing! Who could believe it? Yet when I looked in the mirror, there was no sign of any change on my crown. No scars, no marks, nothing was visible to the ordinary eye. However, the sophisticated scientific instruments at the MRI center clearly showed a large opening in my crown. It went all the way through the bone into the soft tissue of my brain. It was so amazing. To the average person, this was a miracle! To a holy being, this was supernormal! I now had the body of a holy being and could prove it!
After the image was recorded, I deeply understood that my powers were not yet mature enough. Therefore, I decided to temporarily close my crown to prevent my consciousness from leaving my body and not returning or riding the clouds to heaven before my time has come. That way, I can remain in this world for a while longer. If I abide by the Mud Pill Dharma precepts, I will be received by the Emperor of Heaven and the other celestial beings and be able to continue my study and practice of the Buddha-dharma in paradise. If I become accomplished in the Buddha-dharma in this lifetime, my Da-Le gate will automatically open and I will be able to go to the Buddha-lands. Should I be able to go to the Buddha-lands, the celestial beings will come to escort me there. My Buddha Master is magnificent. I sincerely pray that all living beings have the opportunity to receive this blessed dharma. My gratitude to my Buddha Master is without limits.
The International Buddhism Sangha Association (IBSA) published the following concerning a question about the Mud-Pill Fruit Dharma:
“Some people may ask the following question. Since the goal of a cultivator learning Buddhism is for ascending to the Buddha-Land, why should one seek to reincarnate in the heaven realm? There is something that this person did not understand. Although the Mud-Pill Fruit of Accomplishment is truly a dharma for reincarnating in the heaven realm to become a god, because a cultivator is living in a paradise, he or she will have many opportunities and affinities to beseech dharma from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Thus one can easily and quickly attain through practice the holy realization for ascending to the Buddha-Land. However, the prerequisite for reaping such beneficial reward is that the cultivator must carry out and abide by the ten good deeds and cultivate according to the dharma. Therefore, although crown opening by Mud-Pill Fruit of Accomplishment enables one to reincarnate in the heaven realm, the dharma provides a safeguard to the cultivator at the time of dying and reincarnation so that one does not have to experience the stage of bardo. As a result, there is no suffering caused by the disintegration of the four great elements. Moreover, reincarnating in the heaven realm will make it easier to receive the dharma for ascending to the Buddha-Land.” Click to read the entire article, Announcement #201103.
I’ve always enjoyed exploring new recipes, especially when they’re healthy, simple to prepare, and vegetarian. There’s something deeply satisfying about discovering fresh flavors that not only nourish the body but also bring joy to my family and friends.
Recently, I came across a collection of easy and wholesome recipes on Zhaxi Zhuoma’s website. These dishes are perfect for early summer—light, refreshing, and full of natural goodness. I’m excited to share a few of my favorites with you here. I hope they inspire you to enjoy healthy cooking as much as I do!
Tofu with Gochujang Sauce
I fell in love with gochujang and when I bought my first tub from Amazon, I tried it on everything—ok, I didn’t put it on ice cream, but I considered it. It is complex and good enough to just use by itself with a little oil or butter, maybe cut with miso or doenjang (Korean soybean paste) if it is too spicy. Different varieties vary in sweetness and heat, so go easy with it until you get the Goldilock spot for you. I use gochujang paste which keeps forever and is more concentrated. Sometimes it is sold as a sauce and comes with other ingredients like vinegar and sugar added. It is cheaper and can be used, but adjust the other ingredients you add accordingly.
The following is a wish list—use what you have on hand. I rarely have all the ingredients when I feel an urge for Korean flavors. You can use the sauce alone, too—without the tofu or with beans, chicken breasts, shrimp, hamburger, etc. There are some other options to consider.
GOCHUJANG SAUCE
1/4 cup soy sauce
1-2 tbsp gochujang (may be part Korean doenjang or Japanese miso)
1 tsp-2 tbsp maple syrup, brown sugar, honey, monk’s fruit, molasses
1 tbsp avocado or olive oil
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 clove of garlic, minced or grated
1 inch ginger, minced or chopped
Lime juice & zest or rice vinegar to taste
1/2 tsp black pepper
Toasted sesame seeds sprinkled in
1-2 scallion chopped, white parts may be sauteed first
TOFU
1 tub firm tofu
Neutral oil for sauteing
TOPPINGS: Green scallions, Sesame seeds, Diced seeded tomatoes, Diced bell peppers, Diced Chili peppers, raw or canned or pickled, Grated cheese, Greek yogurt-whole milk best, Sour cream, Diced Avocados, Fresh raw corn cut off cob, Shredded crisp lettuce or other greens, Finely chopped parsley or cilantro leaves, Finely chopped nuts-walnuts, peanuts, cashews, Fried or poached egg, Baby Shrimp (non-vegetarian), Red onion pickle, etc.
SAUCE OPTIONS: If you can’t find gochujang, ketchup or tomato paste and chili powder is an option, but no substitute; Coconut milk; Fish sauce (non-vegetarian); Anchovies (non-vegetarian); Kimchi (often non-vegetarian); Grated apple or pear for sweetener; Chickpeas or beans.
Directions:
If you want to use grated cheese as a topping, and I do recommend it, try grating it from a brick and avoid the prepackaged grated cheese. I finally understood why—too often the commercial gratings are dusted with something to preserve shelf-life and they do not melt correctly.
TOFU-CRUMBLED or CUBED: If you use crumbled tofu, it is best to leave in tub in freezer overnight or longer. The ice crystals that form when frozen -thaw- and extract the water from within the tofu. You can squeeze the tofu like a sponge and it will expel the majority of the water. It then is very able to absorb whatever sauce you put on it. If you don’t have time to freeze and thaw it, you can still dry or press tofu to remove as much water as possible, then crumble unfrozen tofu with a fork or cut into bite-size cubes. Either way saute tofu until crispy in neutral oil and add sauce.
TOFU-AIRFRY: You may also cut tofu into slabs pressing out as much water as possible and then either just rub or spray slab with oil or first dip in starch/flour or Panko crumbs or egg or combination of these and then airfry at 400F for about 10 minutes on both sides or until golden.
Serve tofu with Gochujang Sauce on rice, noodles, polenta, or pasta with your choice of topping(s) or wrap a piece of tofu in lettuce leaves with topping(s) and eat like tiny tamales with your favorite dipping sauce.
Eggs Florentine-Air Fryer or Oven
Eggs and spinach are always good together. This is just a contemporary version of a classic. I’m using my air fryer again as I am cooking in my cave instead of the temple kitchen. I do that when someone is doing a Solitary Retreat and needs the kitchen. I try to not have any contact with anyone on such a retreat, but I do sometimes forget, especially when the person doing the retreat is so quiet that I even forget they are also living here. Last week I heard someone shaking the screen door leading to the kitchen and I was sure it was our very pregnant Lucy Lentil trying to find a nest inside and I yelled. She had already ripped the screen and managed to get in before. I had forgotten to close the back door when I went to water the herbs and veggies. It was not Momma Lucy, but a very startled and thoughtful person trying her best to observe silence. Embarassed? Yes,very. Sorry.
Ingredients:
3 Cups Fresh or frozen spinach, thawed and drained,
1/4 Kosher salt,
1/2 Cup Ricotta cheese,
2 Tbsp Heavy cream or coconut cream,
2 Garlic cloves, minced (optional),
1/8 tsp Black pepper,
2 tsp Unsalted butter, melted,
3 Tbsp Grated parmesan cheese,
1/2 Cup Panko gluten-free crumbs,
4 Large eggs.
Directions:
Mix spinach, ricotta, cream, garlic (if used), salt & pepper. Also mix butter, cheese, and panko. Set aside. Scoop spinach mixture into individual serving circles on oiled air fryer basket or sheet pan. Set air fryer to AIR ROAST, set temperature to 375F degrees, and set time to 15 minutes select START/PAUSE to begin preheating. When preheated, slide basket or sheet pan into oven. After 8 minutes, press PAUSE and remove the pan. Make an indentation in each spinach serving, crack an egg into the indentation and sprinkle with panko mixture over the surface of the egg.
Return the pan to oven and push START to resume cooking. After 5 minutes, check eggs. Cook longer, if needed.
CONVENTIONAL OVEN: Set temperature at 400F degrees. May need to be cooked a few minutes more at each stage.
Chocolate Waffles
Ingredients
4 Eggs, whisked
1/3 Cup canned coconut milk
2 Tbsp maple syrup or raw honey (some kind of sweetener)
1 1/2 Cups almond meal/flour
2 Tbsp heaping unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 Cup dark chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Toppings
Apple sauce, unsweetened creamy almond butter, Greek Yogurt coconut butter warmed to liquid state raw pecans chopped dark chocolate chopped blueberries
Directions:
Plug in waffle iron. Whisk eggs in a medium-large sized bowl. Add coconut milk and sweetener and whisk together with eggs. Next add almond flour and mix more! Then add cocoa powder, baking soda and mix together.
Lastly, add in your chocolate chips, vanilla, salt and cinnamon. Mix together thoroughly. Pour into waffle iron and cook until cooked through, about 4-5 minutes, until cooked through and crisped up.
4 Servings. I really liked them with the apple sauce toppings and Greek yogurt, but the more traditional maple syrup and butter are great, too. Enjoy!
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.
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.”
At early year 2006, I found that my strength was leaving my body. I had tried various alternative medical treatments, but it seemed that I was loosing energy every day. When a friend gave me a thermometer, I started taking my temperature and found that my body temperature was constantly at around 95 degrees—way below normal. I just felt that my life force was leaving me and that one by one all my body functions were beginning to shut down. I had watched my elderly father die several years earlier and knew that was what happened in the death process, so I became convinced that I was about to die.
I am fortunate to be able to see the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III fairly often, but he is so busy, I did not want to bother him with my problems. I figured that if this was my time to go, I would go. If not I would stay. I am 65 years old and ready. His Holiness had told me that as soon as he was finished with a particular project, he would take care of my problems. Since I have seen His Holiness help many of his disciples and how they have miraculously become well or heal after receiving the Buddha Master’s blessing, I was not too concerned. I had also seen the Buddha Master help people who were not even Buddhists go to the Western Paradise. Whether I lived or died, it would be ok. Either way I had faith in my vajra master and knew he would take care of me.
One afternoon, I could not bear to stay with the Buddha Master any longer. I simply had to go home and rest. As I was paying my respects to leave, His Holiness looked at me and stopped what He was doing and asked what was wrong. I told him how I was very, very tired and wanted to get some rest.
The Buddha Master said, “No, wait. I will help you.” His Holiness was very busy right then and in the middle of doing some very important matters, but the Buddha Master stopped and went into the next room and when He came back, His Holiness said that He would practice a particular dharma for me. What I did not know until later, because it was not translated at the time (I do not understand Chinese), was that His Holiness told the other disciples who were there, that I was in a very dangerous state. In hindsight, I should have suspected as much, since the Buddha Master was so very busy and it was His Holiness who volunteered to help me. I did not even ask. His Holiness told those present that my chakras had almost completely shut down and, if He could not reactivate them by transferring his energy to me, I might as well go home and prepare to die. They should contact my relatives to prepare for my funeral. I know the disciples had suddenly gathered around us and looked very serious, but that often happened when the Buddha Master transmitted any dharma, so I was not alarmed. The first few times the Buddha Master tried to open my chakras, nothing happened. His Holiness practiced the dharma and recited many mantras. I felt nothing. He then told the other disciples (and they told me afterwards) that He could try one more time and if that did not work I was a goner. Some of the disciples thought at first that the Buddha Master was joking, but by now they realized how serious the matter was. All this time the Buddha Master was very jolly and since I knew no better, I was not frightened. Then His Holiness did another dharma and, while reciting a secret mantra, he was able to transfer his energy to me. It was like being hit by a lightening bolt. POW! I can’t say it was painful, but it was certainly overwhelming!
His Holiness showed us how He could turn this transfer of energy on and off. I would feel the energy, then I would not. The Buddha Master had complete control over this process. It was amazing. The Buddha Master was very happy. I knew from his reaction that His Holiness had healed me. His Holiness said my chakras were now functioning and open and “That was what I have been waiting for. This is the last step you needed to receive the Dharma. Now I can teach you.” Over the past few years the Buddha Master had given me many initiations and empowerments to remove my negative karma and prepare me for receiving the esoteric dharma.
Of course I was ecstatic. I went home and slept for a very long time. I woke up feeling that my entire body had been run over by a semi. Every cell in my body ached, but I could tell my energy or life force was back. This very understandable “cell fatigue” only lasted a few days. When I remembered to take my temperature again it was back to normal. I have had extraordinary energy ever since. I normally only sleep a few hours a night and feel great! My Buddha Master is truly magnificent. The healing powers of His Holiness are amazing. The Buddha Master has attained perfection in all of the Five Vidyas and the Buddha-dharma! I am very, very grateful for the kindness and compassion of my Buddha Master. Amitabha!
Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche recalls several holy manifestations and unusual supernormal events that she personally witnessed after following her Buddha Master, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Many other students have other similar experiences and are included in books and various articles reported elsewhere on this website. It must be noted that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III does not encourage or advocate practicing any form of supernatural power and is very modest about His own abilities. He is constantly warning us not to be attached to these states and experiences, but to instead practice our cultivation and develop our morality, concentration, and wisdom. A more complete accounting of what Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche has seen and experienced is now available in book form on this website and at Amazon and other book stores.
After receiving a small blue “Return-to-Youth Pill”, my hair changed from salt & pepper to the original light brown of my youth. I even let my hair grow, just to see for sure.
When I could not understand why I was asked to do something (although, of course, I did what was asked), several unrelated events occurred that explained why this was so.
I saw three-colored nectar suddenly manifested in a freshly washed bowl after a group of us disciples chanted mantras. Click for news article.
My students have also seen and even received advice from certain holy beings. Several of my students have had the Buddha Master appear and bless them.
I have never seen the Buddha not be able to answer any question asked of him.
On a special occasion, the Buddha Master blessed me and after that a diamond formed on my head that would turn bright red and pulsate from time to time. This also happened when I read the Buddha Master’s discourses, but other times as well.
“Once, when in Washington, D.C., preparing to introduce the book H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, to various congressional staff, I saw a very large bright neon pink light jump from tree to tree across a field from where I was staying. Earlier that morning and at other times, I would see bright yellow lights flash when I was doing dharma work for the Buddha Master. They were like the lights that flashed when the discourse What Is Cultivation?was first transmitted.” Click for article on this event.
I saw rainbow “jewels” appear on a holy site where many inner-tantric initiations had been held and where “Auspicious Grass of the Four Jewels” had grown. Click for news article.
After having a minor stroke, I was again healed so as to be able to go on a strenuous trip to visit all fifty states in the U.S.
On several occasions, I have seen pillars of light descend from the heavens, sometimes being able to capture them on digital cameras.
I have seen nectar fall several times and places, the first being in southern California under a certain magnolia tree and the last under that same tree after it had been moved to Hua Zang Si, a temple in San Francisco. It also rained under a flowering jacaranda tree on the veranda where students performed skits and other shows in honor of the Buddha Master’s birthday. Click for news article.
I have seen students practice the tummo (inner heat or fire) dharma and raise their body temperature to very high levels–even high enough to burn the fingers of those who touched a metal bowl lying on the student’s stomach. Click for article.
I have seen sacred seed syllables form on the bodies of students and holy ones.
I have had my crown opened as documented by a MRI devise. Read article on this miraculous event.
Several very large koi fish came and did a dance for the Buddha Master in the pond at the Holy Vajrasana Temple & Retreat Center in Sanger. Schools of fish also followed the Buddha Master around as He toured a Japanese garden south of San Francisco and Dragon Fish came to pay respect to the Buddha when he gave a discourse in Thailand.
A vajra pill sang and danced while I held it.
I saw a particular type of flower called “Auspicious Grass of the Four Jewels” grow directly in front of where the Ultimate Bathing the Buddha ceremony took place. The flowers had four distinct very thin parts. They grew in a particular pattern and formed a perfect circle. Prior to the Dharma Assembly the area was perfectly flat. After the ceremony, the ground became slightly elevated, forming a mound upon which these special flowers grew. These flowers grew no other place in the yard. Click for news article.
Another red vajra pill flew from my hand to a holy place and was recovered and empowered by the Kalachakra Vajra, a manifestation of Shakyamuni Buddha. The pill danced in my hand and also in a clear stupa where it remains. It continues to dance in the stupa from time to time. Click for article.
An old metal pole started shaking quite violently at the temple and over time was joined by four more poles. Sometimes the shaking is constant, sometime it seems to pulsate as if sending coded messages. Others report seeing various lights or feel energy emanating from these poles. Pilgrims travel from all over the world to see these poles. Click for article. Also see many news articles of pilgrims visiting the poles.
Many light beings from other realms appear and can sometimes be seen by the naked eye and sometimes only on video or digital recordings at the temple in Sanger. Visitors to the temple have also seen and recorded them. Click for photos.
I saw the beautiful and amazing relics or sharira from a special close disciple of the Buddha Master. Click for article.
The Buddha Master was able to transfer His energy to me and enable me to raise my temperature after it continued to decline to dangerous levels.
A colored mandala was written on top of a large flat stone. After dharma was done, the stone was removed and the same mandala had been transferred through the stone and appeared on a bed of sand beneath the stone. This I saw done twice. The second time a pile of mixed various colored sands was placed below the stone, but were sorted out into seed characters after the dharma was performed on the stone. Click for photo.
I experienced the elimination of dark karma by having the Buddha Master’s magical Dharma Wheel placed on my chest. I could not bear the heat of the small metal object, but the Buddha Master picked it up with no problem. Click for news article.
I saw the Buddha Master create incredible works of art in very short periods of time. Some even contained a permanent fog or mist. Click for photo
I saw the Buddha Master change very quickly from an old beaten and bruised person to His usual self. This happened after the Buddha Master had predicted what would happen the previous day. An even more amazing transformation from an old man to a handsome youth happened and was was documented more recently. Click for more.
I saw the Buddha Master turn blue during an empowerment ceremony. I did not know at the time that He was an incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha who is blue. Click for article.
I saw my roommate and another rinpoche lift a pool of water weighing over two tons with only the power of their mantras at the Ultimate Bathing of the Buddha Dharma Assembly. Click for more.
I have seen the consciousness of my relatives and those of my students raised to a higher level. One western student’s mother (who was not a Buddhist) had the Buddha Master come to help her go to the Pure Land. Click for news article.
I was there when a very young rinpoche took a vow that she would become accomplished in a very short period of time after she had received a Prajna Empowerment and she did.
I have seen many, many Buddha Lights appear around both the sun and the moon prior or after or during special dharma assemblies or events.
I saw an antique wooden statue of Kuan Yin emit golden light after another dharma of selection ceremony. This time I shook a large container of long bamboo sticks. Each stick had a certain number that corresponded to a given outcome. I did this three or four times for each event and each time the results for each time I shook the sticks was the same AND exactly what the Buddha Master had predicted. I witnessed variations on this dharma many times.
I received a dharma of selection whereby I printed a number of outcomes on small pieces of paper for a major life decision that I was about to make; rolled these pieces of paper into tight rolls; placed these rolls in a round vase, and then asked to shake the vase and remove one. I rerolled it and replaced it doing this at least three times. Each time, I drew the same answer, which was the answer the Buddha Master gave me in the beginning.
I was present when various colored sharira appeared in a cloud of nectar.
I experienced a “freak” rain of hail one summer in Los Angeles that only rained where the Buddha Master was staying and right after a speech given by the Buddha Master that had forecasted such an event.
I saw sand from the Ganges River in India assemble to form strands of hair that created a three-dimensional crown on certain images of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha to prove that they were both incarnations of Buddhas.
The term “Zhuo Huo Ding” (Tummo Concentration 拙火定) is widely recognized in Tibet. Practicing this skill has the potential to alter body temperature, and when mastered, it is believed to eliminate all diseases within oneself. Moreover, adept practitioners can employ Zhuo Huo to heal others, and advanced individuals may even achieve the transformation of their bodies into light. However, finding individuals who have truly mastered this skill is rare nowadays. Notably, there have been recent reports of Tibetan yogis practicing Zhuo Huo in winter, gradually drying wet felt cloth draped over their bodies.
While many have heard about the dharma of Tummo Concentration, witnessing a genuine manifestation of Tummo power is exceptionally challenging. In contemporary Tibet, India, and other locations, numerous lamas engage in Tummo concentration. However, when they emerge from extended seclusion practices, only a few manage to demonstrably raise their body temperature. At most, they symbolically wear a wet blanket while moving around the temple. Those who attain this initial level are revered as holy and venerable, reflecting the gradual loss of tantric dharmas across generations.
Tummo concentration, as a high-class Buddha-dharma of meditation, is an essential practice for cultivating the life power of the body, mind-wind, and bright spot, leading to the accomplishment of a rainbow-light body. Regardless of the ailment, Tummo practice is believed to have the capacity to eliminate it entirely, making it the nemesis of the demon of illness. Positioned within the realm of supreme yoga, mastering this dharma combined with Vajra Body Substitution Meditation can elevate one to the rank of a Bodhisattva at the twelfth stage or higher.
Two types of Tummo concentration practices exist: Yoga Tummo from Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism and Corpse-Laying Tummo, regarded as the “King of Tummo.” The practitioner’s ability to raise body temperature correlates with their realization power, surpassing typical human body temperatures. The realization power evolves through four steps, from the Initial Warmth Step to the Delight at Extreme Temperature. Each step corresponds to an increase in body temperature and an augmentation of the practitioner’s healing abilities.
Comparisons between practitioners often highlight the mastery of Zhuo Huo, with some claiming attainment of high levels. However, when juxtaposed with the technique of the renowned Rinpoche Wangze, these claims fall short.
On October 15, 2009, five Buddhist masters of the Gelug school, including the 8th SongJi Rinpoche, Gamadega Gonglare Rinpoche, Yongdeng Gongbu Rinpoche, American Rinpoche Zhaxi Zhuoma, and the 16th Chongdi Rinpoche, received a “Zhuo Huo removal of obstacles blessing” from the highly respected Holy Master Wangze Rinpoche, in the United States. Wangze Rinpoche is a devoted disciple of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. This blessing miraculously eliminated their illnesses and negative karma.
During the blessing ceremony, Rinpoche Wangze engaged in a sequence of actions with SongJi Rinpoche. First, he placed his palm in front of SongJi, making three deliberate motions of opening and closing his hand while instructing him to pay close attention. Subsequently, Rinpoche Wangze gently rested his palm on the top of SongJi’s head. Initially, SongJi perceived the touch as gentle and soft. However, within a few minutes, a sensation of heat began to radiate from his feet, gradually enveloping his back, neck, the back of his head, and culminating at the top of his head.
Suddenly, Rinpoche Wangze’s palm emitted an intense, fiery sensation at the crown of SongJi’s head, causing an unbearable pain within a mere two seconds. Describing the experience, SongJi expressed, “It was more agonizing than placing a red-hot iron on the top of my head.” In that brief span, a conspicuous red lump manifested on the crown, with certain areas burning through the skin and emitting black smoke. Simultaneously, SongJi experienced an extraordinary sense of physical and mental comfort. Several hours later, a yellow, crystal-like substance emerged at the site of the lump. According to insights from an elderly hidden yogi, this phenomenon is known as “merit honey,” a rare and auspicious occurrence indicating the elimination of impurities or karmic obstacles accumulated by Buddhists.
SongJi Rinpoche experienced an extraordinary sense of physical and mental comfort. Several hours later, a yellow, crystal-like substance emerged at the site of the lump
Following the release of merit honey, all existing ailments in SongJi Rinpoche’s body miraculously vanished. Kama Dege Gongla Rinpoche, belonging to the Kagyu sect, also underwent the Zhuo Huo Dispelling Obstacles Empowerment from Wangze Rinpoche. In a matter of seconds, a distinctive mark was burned into his philtrum. Yongdeng Gongbu Rinpoche bore a notable imprint on his forehead and between his eyebrows, outcomes of the empowerment. Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche, too, retained a Zhuo Huo mark on her throat, accompanied by the flow of black qi from the respective marks.
I have followed this Buddha – H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, before I even knew He was a Buddha, because I wanted to learn the Buddha-dharma of Shakyamuni Buddha; the dharma that can enlighten and enable one to attain liberation from samsara. I am grateful to all the other teachers who helped me on this path, but I have come to know that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is truly a holy being and has the Buddha-dharma that can enable us to become Bodhisattvas and eventually Buddhas. I don’t see that anywhere else, but I do see a lot of erroneous and even evil practices that do not provide the power of the dharma that Shakyamuni Buddha brought to this world. I am alarmed at the secularization of Buddhism that has occurred in the West. It would seem that much of what is presented as Buddhism today is mainly a form of mindfulness that is a method to develop concentration, reduce stress, and achieve serenity. These are all worthy by-products and useful, but fall far short of the wonders and marvelous existence taught by Shakyamuni Buddha. People do not believe in the power of the Buddha-dharma, because they have never experienced or seen it.
I would like to share two true stories about my wonderful Buddha Master, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III:
Some time ago my Buddha Master, asked me to practice the Modesty and Patience Dharma taught by Shakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha Master taught me how to respect persons lower than myself and told me to prostrate to those who were lower than me in their cultivation. To tell you the truth this bothered me. How could I possibly prostrate to them? The Buddha Master told me that in His past lives Shakyamuni Buddha prostrated to everyone. Shakyamuni Buddha practiced in this way to cut off self-attachment and practice forbearance.
One night at Hua Zang Si, a rinpoche attempted the Hidden Mani Stone Selection Dharma. After finding the first stone, he tried for a long time and was never able to locate the second stone that we had hidden. However, I was able at that time to see them. Because he found one of the mani stones, the temple arranged for me to prostrate to him at the end of the Dharma Assembly. To tell you the truth, my first reaction was resentment—I was almost even angry. Based on my own practice, how could I prostrate to this person who had not been able to successfully complete the test, when I could have easily done so? When this thought just appeared, I saw my Buddha Master teaching me forbearance again and I was very ashamed. However, several days passed, but I was still bothered by this, so I went to see my Buddha Master and asked: “How can I prostrate to a person who doesn’t have my vajra power in front of so many people?” My Buddha Master asked me, “Did you forget the true story I told you about Shakyamuni Buddha? Putting yourself as low as possible is the true way to true cultivation.” At the same time I saw that my Buddha Master had the best understanding in all of esoteric and exoteric Buddhism and had complete mastery of all five of the vidyas. My Buddha Master is a great Dharma King. At that time His identity as a Buddha had not yet been announced to the public, but we already knew that He was a great Dharma King. How could I not listen to His teachings?
I thought for some time, just which great Bodhisattva is my Buddha Master? Then I had a shocking experience that I have not shared publicly before. I actually saw my Dharma King Master drastically change His appearance in a very short period of time. Even though my Buddha Master had predicted that He would on such and such a day take on the negative karma of others and would not be available to meet the public, I was not prepared for what I saw. He appeared on the predicted day looking very ugly and old—His face was bloodied as if He had just been severely beaten. His eyes were swollen and half closed! There were many people standing around, but they seemed to be accepting of this condition. I had been thinking that, because of His accomplishments in both exoteric Buddhism and esoteric Buddhism and the Five Vidyas, my Master must be a Buddha, but how could this be true when He looks so old and decrepit? I could barely stand looking at my beloved Dharma King Master when He was like this. Remember, at that time we did not know that our Dharma King Master was a Buddha. In less than an hour, I looked again, and my Buddha Master had changed to a beautiful young man. I was shocked. Oh, my God. How could this be? My Master is a Buddha! What I was thinking is true! He is not just a Bodhisattva, but a Buddha. I looked around, but no one else was shocked or showing any reaction at all to what had just happened. I looked again at my Master and He just smiled. He put His finger to His mouth and quietly said “shhh” and I realized that no one else had seen this transformation, but I knew this fact about the Buddha.
These photos were true records of the holy miracle Buddha Dharma, they are now displayed at Hua Zang Si, at San Francisco
Among Caucasian female Rinpoches, Respected Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche is one of outstanding cultivation. She has realized the power to telekinetically awaken a vajra pill. In order to seek the highest dharma, in her early years she learned under Japanese, Korean, and American Buddhist masters. Still, she did not obtain the true Buddha-dharma. She went through all kinds of hardships in her search for the supreme Buddha-dharma master. Finally, she was accepted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III as a disciple, deeply penetrated the Buddha-dharma, and fulfilled her wish. The rinpoche is very conversant in English material on the various dharma lineages and their history.
Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche personally witnessed many of the holy states associated with His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III. She was present, for example, when the magnolia tree under which His Holiness was sitting began to rain nectar and continued raining nectar for three days and nights. She was also present when this happened a few years later on her Buddha Master’s birthday. She saw the various miracles that occurred at the Bathing of the Buddha Dharma Assembly including seeing her roommate and another fellow disciple lift a pool of water that weighed over two tons. She has seen the countless Buddha Lights that accompany His Holiness and appear at the Holy Vajrasana Temple and other places associated with the true Buddha-dharma. She heard the holy vajra pill chant mantras and watched it turn into colored light and fly away. It was at that time that she saw her Buddha Master turn into a luminous blue manifestation.
Since she has began following her most magnificent Buddha Master, she has received many, many inner tantra dharma initiations.
The Mud Pill Holy Dharma is a Highest Form of Inner-Tantric State-Practice Initiation contained in The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation. It is one way to prove that someone actually has the true Buddha-dharma and can help liberate other living beings. The process for becoming a saint in Catholicism is quite similar. A person has to have exhibited a pure, moral, and kind life and demonstrate some sort of miracle. The opening of the crown in the skull without any visible means on the surface of the skull is such a miracle! But scientific tests show that there indeed is such an opening!
The Mud Pill dharma from The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation is unique in that such dharma can be practiced by the practitioner of any religion. Although one needs to be a good person with deep roots of kindness, one does not need become a Buddhist to practice it. However, one must be careful in applying this dharma. It can be used to have the consciousness leave and return to the body, and it can be useful at the time of leaving this earth. But if your crown has been so opened, you must strictly abide by the Mud Pill Path Fruit Precepts. If you violate any of those precepts, you must repent that same day. If you repent a day later, your crown will close and you will not attain liberation. But if you abide by the precepts, you will be able to go immediately to the heaven or paradise of your choice after death. You do not need to pass through the bardo. A Christian’s soul would go the Christian Heaven to be with Jesus, while a Hindu would have his consciousness merge with Universal Consciousness (Supreme Cosmic Spirit) in the formless realms or go to the Brahman Heavens of the Form Realm, and so on. In an oral discourse on the dharma, the Buddha Master expounded that our crowns must be opened for us to go to any of the higher realms. What we call consciousness and others refer to as the soul or “spirit” exits the body at the time of death. The means by which it exits determines the next life. The Buddhist sutras also state that if the exit is through the souls of the feet or Yong-Quan gate, one goes to the hell realms; the lower orifices, one becomes an animal; or the navel, one becomes a hungry ghost. The part of the body that determines where the consciousness/soul/spirit of the person goes will remain warm after the rest of the body becomes cold. If one’s heart is warm and the rest of the body is cold, one is reborn to the human realm to be a human. If the throat or the throat gate is hot and the rest of the body is cold, one becomes an Asura. If one’s body is cold and the Mud Pill gate, or fontanelle, is hot, one becomes a deva or a heavenly being. When one is liberated and/or is reborn into a Buddha land, the exit place will be at the Da-Le gate, i.e. the top gate right in the middle of the skull. I remember Dr. Mitchell Levy at Zion, Illinois reporting that after the Sixteenth Karmapa departed this world, to his and the rest of the hospital staff’s amazement, the area around his heart remained warm for a very long time, which would imply that he would be reborn as a human.
The “Mud Pill” dharma does not enable one to become a Bodhisattva. It only enables one to become an immortal and go to the heavenly realms. It can demonstrate that one’s physical body has the qualities of a holy being. However, there are many kinds of holy beings. It does not mean that as long as you have your crown opened it can be said that you are a great holy being. This is true no matter what type of crown opening you receive—either from the Ni-wan Dharma or the Vajra Substitute Body Meditation Dharma. These crown openings belong to the initial stage of a holy being. They are not great holy beings who truly attain the level of perfect liberation. His Holiness has made it very clear that even for the dharma of Vajra Substitute Body Meditation, the opening of the crown should reveal a hole as big as an egg. Moreover, there should be a deep hole in the brain. It does not count if one just has an opening of the scalp or scull bone. His Holiness taught us that using scientific exams alone is not enough to determine the success of a crown opening. In front of the watchful eyes of many people, testing and verification of the crown opening must take place based on Buddha-dharma rules. There is 100% proof that the crown opening was successful when three peacock feathers hanging over the crown of the person tested move about as a result of his consciousness leaving his body or his energy leaving his crown.
Here is what Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche experienced when she received Mud Pill Holy Dharma Initiation.
My own experience in receiving and practicing the Mud Pill Dharma of The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation was incredible. I find it difficult to describe in any way that can explain what happened in a believable way. Fortunately, I have the MRI photos that can show the success or fruit of my efforts. I truly believe that these pictures are “worth a thousand words” as far as demonstrating the results, but let me try and tell as much as I can about how they came about. As I have mentioned elsewhere, one does not usually talk about the empowerments and holy inner-tantric initiations one has received. In fact, we are prohibited from doing so according to the dharma. This is an inviolable rule especially with respect to State Practice Initiations. However, I will describe what I am permitted to describe in order to provide non-Chinese speaking people with more specific information about the magnificence of the true Buddha-dharma.
First, it was a beautiful, balmy day. The sun was shining brightly with a slight breeze, providing ideal weather. I sat under a large orange tree next to a calm pool. My assistant sat behind me and was some distance away from me. She faced the opposite direction since she could not witness the ceremony. Of course, I cannot give the particulars of the ceremony itself, but what I can tell you is that my magnificent Master was not in any way near me. His Holiness never touched me or my head before, during or after the ceremony. In fact, my Master was on one side of the yard and I on the other during the ceremony. His Holiness used His mind to accomplish this transmission of the Buddha-dharma to me. His Holiness continued to pray for me while I practiced the dharma. His Holiness prayed that I be a most kindhearted person, that I always benefit all living beings, that I always wish my country and its people be at peace, that I always wish all living beings be free from disasters and hardships, and that I always wish all sentient beings be eternally happy. After I received this dharma, I sat and chanted a certain mantra silently. When I experienced a bright, distinct holy state, I began chanting the same mantra loudly to thank the Emperor of Heaven—also known as the Jade Emperor— for receiving me. My place in the celestial realms as an immortal had been insured. Right then and there my practice of the dharma caused the Emperor of Heaven to descend and open the crown of my head. The wondrous state that appeared before me was extremely clear. There was no doubt that something supernatural had happened!
After the ceremony my Master still did not touch my crown, including the entire time from when I received the dharma until year of 2010 at a medical center where I went to have a MRI image made of my head. Even if the Buddha Master had opened the “Gate of Heaven” on my crown by touching my head, such a power would have exceeded that of all of the Buddhist patriarchs throughout the generations. Even without touching my head, the Buddha Master enabled me to experience the supernatural state through mind transmission alone. I still wondered, “Could this just be an illusion?” It was, after all, an incredible accomplishment. I knew that in ancient times many great sages had devoted their entire lives and resources to achieving this to no avail. Why was I able to realize it?
As soon as I returned from the MRI center, I put the CD of the procedure on a computer. I knew from personally witnessing the beautiful holy state that the ceremony had been a success, but what would the MRI scans show? Would modern medical science be able to see this crown opening? Would the photos record that which is not visible to the naked eye? We were not disappointed. The results were phenomenal! The MRI image showed exactly what should appear according to a discourse given by my Master on this subject—that the Emperor of Heaven connected with me and opened my crown with a hole that was at least an inch wide. The bone around the opening even curved downward to allow for the opening. It was as if the bone had been transformed to a soft wax that could easily be shaped into a different form. Some of the images showed the opening from different angles. It was amazing! Who could believe it? Yet when I looked in the mirror, there was no sign of any change on my crown. No scars, no marks, nothing was visible to the ordinary eye. However, the sophisticated scientific instruments at the MRI center clearly showed a large opening in my crown. It went all the way through the bone into the soft tissue of my brain. It was so amazing. To the average person, this was a miracle! To a holy being, this was supernormal! I now had the body of a holy being and could prove it!
After the image was recorded, I deeply understood that my powers were not yet mature enough. Therefore, I decided to temporarily close my crown to prevent my consciousness from leaving my body and not returning or riding the clouds to heaven before my time has come. That way, I can remain in this world for a while longer. If I abide by the Mud Pill Dharma precepts, I will be received by the Emperor of Heaven and the other celestial beings and be able to continue my study and practice of the Buddha-dharma in paradise. If I become accomplished in the Buddha-dharma in this lifetime, my Da-Le gate will automatically open and I will be able to go to the Buddha-lands. Should I be able to go to the Buddha-lands, the celestial beings will come to escort me there. My Buddha Master is magnificent. I sincerely pray that all living beings have the opportunity to receive this blessed dharma. My gratitude to my Buddha Master is without limits.
In September 5th, 2015 a great Dharma Assembly — Jin Gang Fa Man Ze Jue was successfully conducted by Wang Zha Shang Zun at a Temple in Los Angeles. This was an amazing and very high level ceremony to determine who was and who was not an authentic incarnation of a Buddha. Wang Zhan Shang Zun is a most impressive and powerful elder man who is worthy of our respect. I have met many dharma kings of different sects, but no one is like Wang Zha Shang Zun. His power and virtue surpass all of them.
After the ceremony, I had the extreme good fortune to meet an attendant of his who speaks English and requested to prostrate to the Shang Zun, which to my surprise, was granted. It is very difficult to meet him. The Assistant told me that, to date, probably less than 100 persons in the U.S. have had the good fortune to meet him privately. The attendant took me to the place where this great mahasattva was staying. I was very excited to be able to see him again. Wang Zha Shang Zun mostly speaks Tibetan, but I am told he can also speak Mandarin Chinese. His voice was as I had remembered from the ceremony. Seeing him up close, I realize that he is probably over six feet tall and in excellent health. I had guessed that he must be at least sixty as I knew he had spent 45 years in seclusion in Tibet, but from his appearance guessed he could be even younger. His attendant told me that Shang Zun had already turned 93. He is very spirited and looked like and had the energy and bearing of a much younger man. As for his appearance, he has a most remarkable full beard, large kind eyes, bushy eyebrows, a rectangular face, and is bald. I was reminded of images of Bodhidharma, the “barbarian” with such a beard and eyebrows who went to China from India, only Wang Zha Shang Zun is considerably more handsome than the great patriarch of Zen is usually portrayed to be. However, what is most impressive is his incredible modesty and humility. This is what it is like to be in the presence of a great holy being!
I had wanted to meet him to express my gratitude for the empowerment I received at the Jin Gang Fa Man Ze Jue Dharma Assembly, but also just to show my respect because I knew that only someone of very high attainment could have performed that dharma. When I offered him prostrations, he would always tell me to prostrate instead to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. His attendant told me that this holder of three gold buttons at a Shang Zun level always carried an image of the Buddha Master with him and did this. When he went back to his living space, the first thing he would do was to put H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s image and Shakyamuni Buddha’s image in a high place and make offerings to them. I again prostrated, but it was just as before. Wang Zha said, “The Buddha Master is here. You should prostrate to the Buddha Master. How can I accept your prostrations?” The other dharma kings I have met always accepted and even arrogantly awaited my prostrations while silently seating on their throne. Wang Zha Shang Zun is certainly the top chief great dharma king among all dharma kings, but he is still so humble. I was very touched. Again I realized how very, very fortunate I am.
Wang Zha Shang Zun is very easy to communicate with and very amiable. Every sentence he says with a smile. He also provided me with hot tea having his assistant serve me using traditional China teacups. I accepted the teacup and put it aside on the table. Wang Zha then told me that “the quality of this tea is not very good. It comes from Tibet and is called Old Eagle Tea”. However, the fragrance of the tea, was so wonderful that it betrayed his humble portrayal. I requested from Wang Zha Shang Zun how to practice the Green Tara Mirror Altar Dharma (Jing Tan Fa). The Shang Zun said, “First you have to have a good mirror. Then you get the dharma transmitted through holy inner tantric initiation. The most important thing is that you should practice according to the Buddha Master’s teachings, and let all people know that they should do good and cease evil. It is then very easy to succeed with this dharma. But you should decide by yourself if you want to practice this dharma. The Buddha Master proposed that we should cultivate ourselves and opposed the miraculous. I am not telling you to practice this Green Tara Altar Dharma.”
The time flew by so quickly. My mouth was dry and I realized I needed to drink the tea, but when I lifted the cup, the cup is so heavy it is as if it were glued to the table. I couldn’t move it even when I exerted a lot of force. I was so surprised. I put that cup on the table. How can I now not lift it? This time Wang Zha Shang Zun saw what was happening and told me, “It is no use to use force. Force cannot lift it. You have to use your mind to lift it. When your mind is not attached to anything, everything will follow your mind.” Then Wang Zha Shang Zun asked me to lift it again. Very strange. It was as if it was weightless. I easily lifted it and also when I opened the cover of the cup, there is a moving image like a video in the cover. I clearly saw a picture of one of my fellow brothers from the past and a moment when I was in Japan. It was very clear, but it quickly started to disappear. I was really surprised. I used my eyes to follow the cover. After a while it completely disappeared. Then Shang Zun said. “Any object can be used as a mirror.” So I suddenly understood why my mind and my cultivation are so important and cannot be replaced by anything else.
I pray that each of you take advantage of this most fortunate fact that the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha is living in this world now and practice the Dharma that you learn. I also pray that you all quickly become accomplished.
Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III! Namo Shakyamuni Buddha!
A very ashamed and fortunate disciple, Zhaxi Zhuoma prostrates and offers special thanks to Wang Zha Shang Zun for teaching her this important lesson.