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 9 of the Lunar year (February 24, 2018)
Answer No. 9
The three phurbas in “Presenting the Three Vajra Phurbas” are 1. “Heaven Phurba,” 2. “Earth Phurba,” and 3. “Dharma Phurba.” Presenting these three phurbas is an absolutely required procedure in establishing an inner-tantric mandala, unless “Presenting a Petition to a Bodhisattva” can be performed. “Presenting the Three Vajra Phurbas” is also to test and verify whether a master possesses inner realization or not, whether his physique is weak and exhausted or not, whether he has healthy physical power and inner power or not, and whether his cultivated accomplishment is boasted or not.
For a truly great male rinpoche whose age is around 30 (“around 30” means rounding to the nearest 10 with 30 being the middle value or the range of 25-34) and whose body weight is around 200 pounds (use the same rounding to the nearest 10), the requirement is to lift an “Earth Phurba” weighing 260 pounds up from the ground to the initial (or first-stage) offering table. One whose age is around 40 has to lift and place 240 pounds; one whose age is around 50 has to lift and place 220 pounds; one whose age is around 60 has to lift and place 200 pounds; and one whose age is around 70 has to lift and place 180 pounds. If presenting the “Heaven Phurba” as an offering, the phurba must be lifted above the shoulder, but the weight is reduced from that of the “Earth Phurba” based on one’s age and body weight. All forms of presenting the offering are to lift the phurba single-handedly up and onto the offering table. Presenting and offering the “Dharma Phurba” is rather difficult. Although the “Dharma Phurba” is very small, the offering cannot be presented just by a strong external power. One must have holy realization and inner power to be able to present this offering. Any rinpoche who is able to “Present the Three Vajra Phurbas” is proven to be a truly great rinpoche with a healthy physique and internally realized cultivated power.
“Presenting a Petition to a Bodhisattva” is even more important than “Presenting the Three Vajra Phurbas” because the petition is a descriptive statement that must be reported to the yidam who is a Bodhisattva. “Collecting the Petition and Transforming It into a Rainbow” must be seen by all as the evidence of approving the inner-tantric mandala. Such can only be accomplished by an absolutely great holy virtuous master. Standing at a distance of more than 16.5 feet away, the master conferring the initiation asks the Vajra pill to transform miraculously, change its height and/or size, perform a dance, change appearance, or fly into the sky and disappear. “Miraculous Transformation of Vajra Pill” and “Presenting a Petition to a Bodhisattva” can rigorously prevent evil masters and charlatans from using magic and evil ways to deceive Buddhists. A magician can play all kinds of evil methods and magic but will not be able to fake this scenario: A sheet of paper with writings by another person is placed before and is watched and guarded by that person. The master conferring the initiation is told to stand at a spot far away and has to invite the Bodhisattva to collect and take away this sheet being watched and guarded before the watching crowd. It will transform into a rainbow and fly into the sky and then disappear. If the master cannot accomplish this, it is proven that this master does not possess the cultivated accomplishment of establishing a true inner-tantric mandala and is not a great holy one!!! Moreover, whatever miracles or strange phenomena manifested by a master who fakes a holy one to his disciples always belong to magic. This master must be an ordinary person and an ordinary person with a weak or handicapped body.
You think about this. Can’t a Bodhisattva or a great holy one turn a sheet of paper into a rainbow? Without this bit of capability, can one be a great holy person?
Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters
Written on behalf of great holy virtuous ones to answer questions raised
February 24, 2018