from World Buddhism Association Headquarters
The announcement issued by the World Buddhism Association Headquarters (WBAH) on January 14, 2019 (No. 20190101) already stated very clearly the principles and nature related to the questions to be mentioned below, but some people are still raising questions of such kinds. We now specifically make the following important brief replies to what you asked.
First, you should all pay attention to a concept. In a lot of Buddhist knowledge, treatises, and studies, the terms of “in the magnificent (holy) sense” and “mundane (worldly)” are used or mentioned. In those places, these words are terminologies used to classify categories of knowledge, but do not represent the concepts of “in the holy sense” and “mundane (worldly)” that we speak of. In our context, the terms of “in the holy sense” and “mundane (worldly)” represent the different characteristics between holy and worldly, or of directly become liberated to attain holiness versus diligently cultivating and practicing to seek liberation.
- The Yidam does not refer to any holy virtuous master and refers to a Buddha or Bodhisattva in space.
- Dharma script or ritual script of any kind that underwent a determination by holy selection and has been approved by the Buddha or Bodhisattva is a dharma script or ritual script in the holy sense. Any dharma script altered by even one word will be regarded as mundane taint by the Yidam!!! It will immediately become a mundane script and will not be empowered by the Yidam.
- A verbally stated inner-tantric initiation represents an approval given by the master. There is no approval from the Yidam.
- A true inner-tantric initiation entails being approved by the Yidam, but does not mean Yidam-transmitted lineage.
- In an inner-tantric initiation in the holy sense (a holy inner-tantric initiation), the Yidam will accept in person the object of faith from the disciple, which will be taken away by the yidam. This entails Yidam-transmitted lineage.
- What is meant by a holy inner-tantric initiation? At the time of conferring the initiation, you submit in person the thing that you should submit to the Yidam. As a result, the Yidam approves you as His disciple. The Dharma will ensure your accomplishment. This is the only format of Yidam-transmitted lineage.
- What is meant by worldly Buddha-dharma? Any Buddha-dharma that has not undergone a determination by holy selection and does not have the approval from the Yidam is a worldly Buddha-dharma. Such dharmas are mainly within the domain of theory and knowledge. Worldly Buddha-dharmas include what has been elevated by praises, such as mentally impressed linage, illumination-manifested lineage, orally stated linage, ear-transmitted lineage, Karma or Daima, whether the lineage is from northern Tibet or southern Tibet, Huodao initiation, treasure vase initiation, secret tantric initiation, wisdom initiation, casting-flower initiation, acarya initiation, initiation by the five Buddhas, and so on. The yidam will not arrive in person to accept the object and transmit the lineage. None of these are holy inner-tantric initiations. These can only be a lineage from an initiation of theory or verbal speech. However, a tremendously holy person who is able to discover terma with immediate validation can confer the initiation to the disciple with Yidam-transmitted lineage.
- Practicing worldly Buddha-dharma must completely rely on studying the essence of the teachings from the theory and practicing diligently by oneself, in order to move and invoke the Yidam. There is no one-hundred-percent certainty. Only if the Dharma is transmitted to you by a Buddha, Bodhisattva, or tremendously holy virtuous person, can the chance of success be higher. But this is still not as good as a true inner-tantric initiation with the Yidam’s approval, not to mention being not as good as a holy inner-tantric initiation with Yidam-transmitted lineage. Yidam-transmitted lineage entails holy cause and affinity with the Dharma of the utmost high class and categorically includes dharmas at many different levels and classes.
World Buddhism Association Headquarters (Seal)
February 26, 2019