■Book 51─Highest Yoga Tantra and Mahamudra
■Written by Master Sheng-yen Lu
■Chapter Two
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Those who wish to learn from me must meet the following five conditions:
The first condition is to take refuge in the Holy Red Crown Vajra Guru. Why? This is because I have spiritual attainments from actual cultivation, and I know the Vajrayana Buddhism for attaining buddhahood. I am the Buddha and the Buddha is me. There is really no difference. I know the means to deliver sentient beings, and those who follow my methods shall reach buddhahood. I am the representative of the holy Sangha, and I am a holy Sangha member myself. I represent the unification of the Guru, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Therefore, I embody the Triple Jewels. Thus, taking refuge in the Holy Red Crown Vajra Guru is equivalent to taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. To practice Buddha-dharma, we must follow the rules of studying Buddhism. Upon taking refuge, one develops faith. Those without faith and who haven't taken refuge will find it impossible to enter the Vajrayana path. Without the guru's power of blessings and responses, there will be no accomplishment.
The second condition is generating the bodhicitta. This vow refers to perseverance in cultivation, with the intention of attaining buddhahood and delivering sentient beings. It is expressed through the Four Immeasurable Vows, which are: “May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness. This is Immeasurable Loving-kindness. May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering. This is Immeasurable Compassion. May all beings live in eternal peace and delight, without suffering. This is Immeasurable Joy. May all beings abide in equanimity, and be free from attraction and aversion. This is Immeasurable Equanimity.” I want my students motivated towards reaching buddhahood and to cultivate diligently and consistently, in order to build a solid foundation. Upon reaching buddhahood, one must vow to return to deliver sentient beings so that all may attain the fruition of buddhahood. This is the highest aspiration.
The third condition is repentance. Not only do the speech and actions of ordinary beings generate negative karma, but their discursive thoughts also do as well. Hence, the behavior of ordinary beings is distorted, confused, illusory, and entwined with negative karma. Before starting any practice, humans are subject to the influence of the defiled mind and are unaware of the purified mind of self-nature. They are affected by afflictions, impulsiveness, and obstacles. Thus, they are really miserable. The Sutra on the Eight Realizations states, “The mind is the source of evil, while the form is the assembly of crimes.” One whose body and mind are drowning in a deep pool of transgressions is completely unaware of his or her predicament. Therefore, it is necessary to repent and cultivate the Four Preliminaries, especially the Vajrasattva Practice, also known as the Vajrasattva Hundred-Syllable Mantra Practice. Through the recitation of the Hundred Syllable Mantra, negative karma is eliminated.
The fourth condition is to make offerings to the guru. Since the guru is the embodiment of the Triple Jewels, making offerings to the guru is equivalent to making offerings to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. A true guru who accepts the offerings from his disciples does not delight in these donations, but rather he uses this wealth as a means to benefit sentient beings through the completion of his duties and assignments. Through your offerings, the guru may help to reduce your karma and bless you. The act of making offerings constitutes the path of generosity, and can carry the meaning of renunciation from worldly affairs and samsara. When one makes offerings to the guru, one receives his blessings and naturally gains spiritual responses quickly.
The fifth condition is to swiftly attain spiritual union with the guru. Those who follow my teachings must first practice Guru Yoga. One should know that the yogic power from the lineage gurus is the only secret to attaining buddhahood. Guru Yoga is the first Dharma gate that one practices in attaining buddhahood through Mahamudra. One must recite the Guru Mantra: Om ah hum guru-bei ah-ha-sa-sa-ma-ha lian-sheng siddhi hum. Form the Padmakumara Mudra where the right hand forms the Teaching Mudra, and the left hand forms the Lotus Holding Mudra. Visualize the lineage holders seated in meditation and arranged in levels according to the order of transmission. At the top level there is Vajradhara, and at the lowest level there is Guru Lian-sheng. The lineage holders emit a spectrum of light that enters into the practitioner's body. The initial step in gaining the wisdom of Mahamudra lies in obtaining responses in Guru Yoga. The key secret of this uncommon teaching is the active supplication of the lineage holders to bestow their guidance and blessings. In this way one becomes close with the gurus and receives their transmission.
It is only upon fulfilling these five conditions that one truly becomes my lineage disciple.
Mahamudra is the method of attaining buddhahood. By revealing this major practice and its secrets, many senior leaders of Vajrayana Buddhism around the world will most likely be astonished. The world shall witness the re-emergence of this major teaching that has only been transmitted in secrecy in past generations. The key instructions of Master Sheng-yen Lu come from a long line of gurus. With the publication of this book, the teachings shall continue to be transmitted into the future, so that everyone will be able to partake in its precious secrets. Take note, however, that we must practice in gradual steps, beginning with the fulfillment of the five conditions. We must then practice the Four Preliminaries, followed by Guru Yoga, Personal Deity Yoga, the Vajra Practices, and finally the Highest Yoga Tantra. Before one can cultivate the Mahamudra, one must gain realization through these stages.
Thus this book is precious and extraordinary, and it should be treasured. I would like to once again emphasize that the true teaching of actual practice is the Mahamudra of attaining buddhahood.
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