(Book 51 Highest Yoga Tantra and Mahamudra《無上密與大手印》)
‧Written by Sheng-yen Lu‧
(continued from pg06 , TBN issue # 1065)
I am an accomplished adept because it is a supreme victory to attain buddhahood. Therefore, I have earned the status of a teacher in the human and spiritual worlds because I, an enlightened Vajra master, have demonstrated and proved the process of attaining buddhahood. My titles include the “Emanation of White Mahapadmakumara of the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds,”“religious torchbearer,” “one who enlightens man and succors the world,” “Holy Red Crown Vajra Guru,” and “Tantric Master Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu.” Those who follow my practices and read my books are indeed endowed with the affinity to attain buddhahood.
Those who wish to learn from me must meet the following five conditions:
The first condition is to take refuge in the Holy Red Crown Vajra Guru. Why? This is because I have spiritual attainments from actual cultivation, and I know the Vajrayana Buddhism for attaining buddhahood. I am the Buddha and the Buddha is me. There is really no difference. I know the means to deliver sentient beings, and those who follow my methods shall reach buddhahood. I am the representative of the holy Sangha, and I am a holy Sangha member myself. I represent the unification of the Guru, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Therefore, I embody the Triple Jewels. Thus, taking refuge in the Holy Red Crown Vajra Guru is equivalent to taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. To practice Buddha-dharma, we must follow the rules of studying Buddhism. Upon taking refuge, one develops faith. Those without faith and who haven’t taken refuge will find it impossible to enter the Vajrayana path. Without the guru’s power of blessings and responses, there will be no accomplishment.
The second condition is generating the bodhicitta. This vow refers to perseverance in cultivation, with the intention of attaining buddhahood and delivering sentient beings. It is expressed through the Four Immeasurable Vows, which are: “May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness. This is Immeasurable Loving-kindness. May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering. This is Immeasurable Compassion. May all beings live in eternal peace and delight, without suffering. This is Immeasurable Joy. May all beings abide in equanimity, and be free from attraction and aversion. This is Immeasurable Equanimity.” I want my students motivated towards reaching buddhahood and to cultivate diligently and consistently, in order to build a solid foundation. Upon reaching buddhahood, one must vow to return to deliver sentient beings so that all may attain the fruition of buddhahood. This is the highest aspiration.
The third condition is repentance. Not only do the speech and actions of ordinary beings generate negative karma, but their discur- sive thoughts also do as well. Hence, the behavior of ordinary beings is distorted, confused, illusory, and entwined with negative karma. Before starting any practice, humans are subject to the influence of the defiled mind and are unaware of the purified mind of self-nature. They are affected by afflictions, impulsiveness, and obstacles. Thus, they are really miserable. The Sutra on the Eight Realizations states, “The mind is the source of evil, while the form is the assembly of crimes.”
(to be continued)
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