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 22 of the Lunar year (March 9, 2018)
Answer No. 22
The thin, white facial light between the eyebrows that represents one of the thirty-two major elegant marks of a Buddha is not what anyone can see completely or is even able to see. Those who do not possess the karmic condition or speak falsely to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who are insincere and have told lies to a Buddha, who are extremely selfish, who have violated serious precepts, who are not kind in mind, who are demonic persons or evil ghosts and monsters, and who do not sincerely learn from Buddha to cultivate oneself as well as all people who lack the affinity or do not possess the good fortune of respectfully observing are all unable to see some of the thirty-two major elegant marks.
This fact was actually proven by an event last December. At that time, more than 100 persons saw H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s real facial appearance of a Buddha. His facial complexion was like the color of an extremely precious red coral. To some, it was like a brilliant sun, emitting radiance that kept their eyes from opening, but what some others saw was utmost and penetratingly transparent red with embodied moisturized beauty. As to the thin white light between the eyebrows of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, some saw only one ray, while some others saw extremely many, countless light rays. Some saw the light rays curving and piling up to form the shape of a pearl, but some others saw the light rays as straight as sharp swords of different lengths and forming an outwardly radiating shape that radiate different types of auspicious lights. At the same place and same time, there were also people who did not see the thin, white facial light. Some people saw the appearance of firm and neat teeth, which is also one of the thirty-two major elegant marks of a Buddha. Some others did not see that but saw H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III manifesting two completely different appearances of great compassion. However, only more than 70 people saw the appearances that belong to the thirty-two major elegant marks of a Buddha. The other more than 20 people did not, even though they were at the same place and at the time.
Actually, the thirty-two major elegant marks of a Buddha are not fixed. There exist in somewhat different versions in scriptures. Only the topknot on top of the head, a thin white light between the eyebrows, the appearance of neat and firm teeth, and having the character卍on the chest can be regarded as the consensus, while it is difficult to unify the other items with definite explanations. Different people have different understanding and views on that. In particular, Buddhas respond to karmic conditions and manifest according to the species of living beings to save them. Therefore, They manifest in different appearances in different realms such as the heaven realm, the human realm, the animal realm, and so on and based on different karmic conditions and circumstances. This fact was mentioned in the Madhyama Agama and other sutras. Such explanations can be found from online encyclopedias.
Therefore, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s manifestations of having the complexion of extremely precious red coral, emitting light like a sun, different appearances of the thin, white light between the eyebrows in terms of the number of rays, length, transformation, and so on were seen differently by the people present, due to their different karmic conditions. Thus, the thirty-two major elegant marks of a Buddha are not fixed or constant.
Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters
Written on behalf of great holy virtuous ones to answer questions raised
March 9, 2018