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 February 3 of the Lunar year (March 19, 2018)
Answer No. 32
There are many types of Buddha halls. One that is established and consecrated with a respectful heart is an ordinary Buddha hall and is not a Buddha hall of true Buddha-dharma that meets the stipulations of the dharma on establishing a Buddha hall. A Buddha hall of true Buddha-dharma is not related to a consecrated Buddha hall. A Buddha hall of true Buddha-dharma has gone through the ironclad process of setting up the required offering and inviting dharma protectors of the eight types of celestial beings to take up their seats. Therefore, one who has established a Buddha hall of true Buddha-dharma will be protected and blessed by the eight types of celestial beings.
Note that a Buddha hall of true Buddha-dharma is not an inner-tantric mandala. An inner-tantric mandala that meets the stipulations of the dharma can only be established by a tremendous holy virtuous one or great holy virtuous one. Beginning level holy virtuous ones or eminent monastics and great virtuous ones are unable to establish one. If even eminent monastics and great virtuous ones could establish an inner-tantric mandala, the world of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas would not be normal, since there would exist no difference between the level of great holy virtuous ones and the level of eminent monastics and great virtuous ones. However, people in society tend to mistakenly categorize dharma masters with cultivated accomplishment and holy ones as eminent monastics and great virtuous ones.
Regardless of whether one has the status of a holy virtuous one or an eminent monastic or great virtuous one, only a master who has received an inner-tantric initiation on establishing a Buddha hall to connect the lineage of the dharma to establish a Buddha hall can establish a Buddha hall of true Buddha-dharma that meets the stipulations of the dharma. Such master holds a three-colored Vajra rope received at the time of receiving the inner-tantric initiation on establishing a Buddha hall and possesses an inner-mandala hall of the Four Heavenly Kings. A professional master in establishing Buddha halls does not have to be an eminent monastic or a great virtuous one, but only a Buddha hall established by a master of establishing Buddha halls can invoke and worship Bodhisattvas and holy beings.
From what we know clearly, Wang Zha Shang Zun and other Shang Zuns and Yu Zuns can confer the initiation of masters establishing Buddha halls to transmit the dharma of establishing Buddha halls to such masters. However, it is simply impossible at present to confer the initiation to masters establishing Buddha halls to transmit the dharma of establishing Buddha halls to them, because there is no inner-tantric mandala for conferring this initiation and transmitting the dharma. Even when someday a master receives this initiation to establish Buddha halls, this master cannot violate precepts. Violation of precepts will cause the eight types of celestial beings not to respond to the invitation to come. Then, this master who has violated the precepts will lose the accomplished power of establishing Buddha halls. However, the Buddha hall(s) previously established by this master will not be affected.
On the other hand, the view of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is that, although an authentic Buddha hall really should be established by one who knows the stipulations of the dharma, nonetheless, if all Buddha halls are to be established by masters who have the ability to establish Buddha halls, many people will be unable to find such masters. Does that means Buddhists do not set up Buddha halls? Such a situation would not be beneficial to the undertaking of learning from Buddha. Therefore, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III thinks that, for those who have already set up their Buddha halls, it is very good even if they just worship Amitabha Buddha or Guan Yin Bodhisattva. The key is in practicing kindness and leaving evils to cultivate oneself deeply on the foundation of being a good person. They can wait until encountering a master of establishing Buddha halls to consider inviting a master of establishing Buddha halls to perform the dharma and change or replace the installation and arrangement in accord with the stipulations.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said clearly that He does not transmit the dharma of conferring the initiation for masters of establishing Buddha halls. Therefore, those who wish to learn the dharma of establishing Buddha halls should not seek H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters
Written on behalf of great holy virtuous ones to answer questions raised
March 19, 2018