Our Office received a number of letters that reported the occurrences of manipulating crooked methods and evil ways, playing strange paranormal phenomena, violating the law of cause and effect, and using superstitions to contaminate Buddhism. Meanwhile, the letters also inquired about many masters who are emerging in society with the title of rinpoche or other statuses to seek answers regarding whether they belong to the rank of authentic Buddhism, whether they know Buddha-dharma, and whether they meet master’s qualifications or not. This Office hereby issues the following public announcement:
When evaluating a person who wears a rinpoche’s robe or a dharma master’s cassock or possesses the status of an acarya, including the situation of this person holding documents of recognition, being recognized by or showing the document of recognition from a certain dharma king, rinpoche, venerable one, or the Group of Recognition formed by the International Buddhism Sangha Association (IBSA) cannot prove whether this person has broad knowledge of and is proficient in the faith of Buddhism, the scholarly study of Buddhism, and Buddha-dharma or not. Nor can such status of recognition determine whether this person is a Buddhist with the correct knowledge and views. Rather, the answers must be obtained by using the 128 views to measure. Only a person who does not fall into the 128 evil views and erroneous views is a Buddhist with correct knowledge and views. This is an ironclad standard. There exists no second standard.
To check a master who has the status of Buddhist dharma king, rinpoche, dharma master, acarya, or others, we should examine if this person mixes word analysis, fortune telling, face reading, throwing divination blocks, Yin-Yang, Feng Shui (geomancy), I Ching (the Book of Change), witchcraft, inducing consciousness to leave the body, drawing on a sand tray with a divine pen, streamer lifting, having a Bodhisattva or heavenly being occupy one’s body, and so on into the discourses of Buddhism given to people in the world, or is involved in any one evil or inferior deeds of advocating superstition, deluding living beings, scamming and harming living beings, and violating the law of cause and effect. If involvement is found in any of the above, this person definitely belongs to the categories of heretics using the name of Buddhism, peddlers of evil dogmas, and so on, or is a manipulator of strange paranormal phenomena, religious swindler, or a witch without doubt!
During the current dharma-ending era, holding the status or certificate of dharma king, rinpoche, or dharma master does not prove anyone to be a truly qualified master of Buddha-dharma. Actually, many of such people are even outsiders of Buddhism. Therefore, you all must examine a person’s certificate of holiness and virtue as evidence. More importantly, the 128 views should be used to check and validate. Even if one already possesses the statue of a holy virtuous one, cultivators should still use the 128 views to validate this person. If this person falls into any of the 128 views, that means this person is problematic at one of the various levels.
Correct cultivation must abide by the Contemplating the Magnificence of Perfect Prerequisite Oceanic Mind Essence and the Most Magnificent Bodhi Dakini Oceanic Mind Essence of the Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation and What Is Cultivation that are the absolutely correct guidance of Buddhist cultivation. Cultivators should also respectfully listen to the recorded dharma lessons expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. To understand and realize liberation, the nature of emptiness, and dharmakaya, one shall learn and study the dharma Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra taught by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s recorded dharma lessons on the dharma gate of mental state and related subjects! Additionally, teachings of Buddhism by any master must be checked and verified for validation with the essence of the dharma taught by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and Namo Sakyamuni Buddha, regardless of what status this master may have. Any disagreement found means the teaching must not be used, followed, or utilized!!!
From the Office of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III,
September 10, 2014