Important Replies from Holy Virtuous Ones and Eminent Monastics
Response from the Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters to Questions Raised by Inquirers
On the Day of January 12 of the Lunar year (February 27, 2018)
Answer No. 12
A master who is able to confer a borrowed inner-tantric initiation from the lineage must meet these three major requirements: 1. This master has received an inner-tantric initiation and must possess a “Measuring Vajra Rope” with a length between 16.5 to 33 feet as an object of evidence; 2. This master must be a holy virtuous one at a level of golden button(s); and 3. This master truly did not lose the lineage. Not meeting any one of the three requirements means that this master does not possess the cultivated accomplishment to confer a borrowed inner-tantric initiation.
A master who is able to confer a true inner-tantric initiation by oneself must be a holy virtuous one at the level of Golden Button Grade 3 or higher. However, a holy virtuous one at the level of Golden Button Grade 3 cannot confer an “Initiation of Dharma Affinity with the Yidam.”
Holy virtuous ones at the levels of Golden Button Grade 1 and Golden Button Grade 2 can only confer borrowed inner-tantric initiations in a borrowed inner-tantric mandala. A venerable one wearing a lotus button can confer borrowed inner-tantric initiations but does not have the absolute certainty to successfully confer true inner-tantric initiations for disciples.
Any initiation that involves the inner-tantric requirements must be conferred in an inner-tantric mandala that meets the stipulations of the dharma to be in accord with the dharma. Otherwise, even if an initiation is conferred, the disciple receiving the initiation will not have the slightest possibility of obtaining benefits from practicing.
Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters
Written on behalf of great holy virtuous ones to answer questions raised
February 27, 2018