You inquired about whether Hong Kong now has a vajra master. It seems that you do not understand the concept of vajra master. Certainly not just in Hong Kong, there are many who have the title of vajra master throughout the world. The term of vajra master originated from the translation of acarya in Tibet. The appellation of vajra master is very broad in meaning. It includes different concepts and several categories or classes: There are true vajra masters, false vajra masters, vajra masters with semi-proficiency, holy vajra masters, and so on. The differences between the natures of these types can be as big as that between sky and ground.
As long as a person learning from Buddha can explain common Buddhist teachings, strictly abides by the precepts, and helps to propagate true Dharma to benefit the great masses and living beings, this person can be a teacher and, in Esoteric Buddhism, is called a vajra teacher or vajra master.
It should be particularly noted that being called a vajra master does not mean one is a holy guru. From as high as Master Padmasambhava to as low as those who transmit or propagate Dharma to people, all are called masters. Masters are everywhere in the world. There is no way to count their number. However, only a true “Holy Vajra Master” is very difficult to find. Among 10,000 vajra masters, it is difficult to have one Holy Vajra Master. For instance, Master Padmasambhava is also called “Great Acarya,” meaning Holy Vajra Master. To distinguish, one who wears golden button(s) on the robe is a true Holy Vajra Master. Anyone who is not a holy guru wearing golden button(s) is not a Holy Vajra Master.
The status of Holy Vajra Master is attained through passing an examination with two major tests. The first of the two is to pass the test of answering questions based on sutras, vanayas, and shastras by scoring 60 points or higher. One then enters the second test of Holy Examination, in the form of the Vajra Array, the big form of Eight-wind Array, or Lifting Pestle onto the Platform. Alternatively, the candidate’s nature is determined by a decision by selection through performing the Horsehead Vidyaraja Water Mandala Bead Divination Dharma, Determination by Vajra Pole, or Famen Gongyu. Those whose nature has not been determined by a holy determination by selection with the Dharma performed by a Tremendously Great Holy Guru at the level of Taizun or higher and who do not wear a robe with golden button(s) may be called a vajra master but they are absolutely not a Holy Vajra Master!
Though having not attained the holy guru status of Holy Vajra Master, some masters have already possessed the corresponding morality, are kind benefactors who can teach their disciples to cultivate themselves through learning from Buddha, and abide by the precepts rigorously. They are also called vajra masters in the world. It is very easy for masters who are propagating the Dharma and benefiting living beings to receive an Inner-tantric Initiation. This is because of their merit in leading living beings to listen to the Dharma. According to what we know at the World Buddhism Association Headquarters, there are these several categories of vajra masters in the world:
The first category is the vajra masters who have been approved by World Buddhism Association Headquarters because they are cultivating themselves excellently. They possess knowledge in Buddhist study, rigorously abide by the precepts, benefit living beings with loving-compassion, and lead people in listening to and benefiting from the recorded Dharma discourses imparted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
The second category includes kind benefactors who have loving compassion and morality and possess the ability to teach disciples to learn from Buddha and cultivate themselves. They lead people in listening to and benefiting from the recorded Dharma discourses imparted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and have people who follow them to learn. They are self-established vajra masters.
Within the third category are those who have semi-proficiency in Buddhism but make the effort to lead people in listening to and benefiting from the recorded Dharma discourses imparted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in the process of learning from Buddha and cultivating themselves. They may also teach some mantras and preliminary knowledge in Buddhist study. They are self-established vajra masters.
The fourth category includes the people who do false acts and tell lies whenever they wish to deceive others for the purpose of chasing fame and honor. They use the name of their lineage to defraud followers and disciples and proclaim themselves holy vajra masters. These are false vajra masters and charlatans in society.
The fifth category is vajra masters meeting the authentic and true Dharma rules. They earned the golden button(s) on their robe through passing the written test with questions based on sutras, vinayas, and shastras and successfully taking the Holy Examination. This is the category of Holy Vajra Masters. A Holy Vajra Master is extremely rare and difficult to encounter. There is not a good chance to find one among 10,000 people who have the title of vajra master. This is what you need to pay serious attention to! No witch or fortune teller who fake a holy one through making miraculous or peculiar claims can pass the Holy Examination to earn a golden button. Therefore, Holy Vajra Masters are very rare. There is no way to ambiguously pose as one because cultivators must see that their robe has golden button(s) and that they hold a certificate of golden-button holy guru to verify. Without this verification, one is absolutely not a master with holy realization and abilities.
Since there are very many swindlers faking holy gurus in the world, cultivators must discern holy gurus based on their certificate. Whenever someone who does not wear a golden-button robe and does not hold a certificate of golden-button holy guru fake a holy guru, you must perceive this person as a wandering swindler. The World Buddhism Association Headquarters can guarantee that the totally mundane physical body and physical strength of anyone faking a holy guru will be proven through lifting a barbell. One whose body weight is up to 200 pounds should single-handedly lift a barbell of 260 pounds; one whose body weight is up to 230 pounds should single-handedly lift a barbell of 280 pounds; one whose body weight is up to 260 pounds should single-handedly lift a barbell of 295 pounds; and one whose body weight is up to 280 pounds should single-handedly lift a barbell of 310 pounds.
If you do not have a standard vajra hook with rolling wheels for lifting, the requirement will be the same for lifting a barbell with one bear hand. That is, lifting the barbell away from the ground and holding it in the air for 8 seconds. Doing that can prove without doubt someone possesses the holy physique indicating holy realization and is a holy guru. Otherwise, he is no doubt a wandering swindler. The World Buddhism Association Headquarters will now publicly make an assertion: when evaluated through lifting a barbell with the corresponding weight, a fake holy guru would not be able to lift it up and keep it away from the ground for just one second. This is because his body is mundane with bones and tenderloins of an ordinary person. To someone with the weak physical body of an ordinary person, this test is direct and very accurate. Everyone can use this method to discern whether a male person self-claiming to be a holy guru is a holy one or swindler. The nature of a female master can be determined using a holy determination by selection.
Here is an example for your reference. Someone once claimed that he was able to enter and leave the Shambhala Pure Land, that he is at the same level as Master Padmasambhava and Master Marpa, and that the Jade Emperor had invited him to have a meal at the well-known Wangfujing Street in Beijing. He said that the Jade Emperor even knelt on the ground to repent for acting impolitely by ordering dishes without asking what he would prefer. Yet, when invited to perform, this person could not lift the smallest pestle, the 200-pound Baby Pestle, away from the ground. This fact very realistically exposed the foul tumors and poisonous fluid within his entire body. Of course, cultivating oneself through learning from Buddha is the conduct of benefiting others and living beings with kind intention. A vajra master who leads others to listen to the recorded Dharma discourses imparted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III truly has very great merit and can easily receive an inner-tantric Dharma because of the act of benefiting others and living beings.
For the question of whether someone has taken annual reexamination or not mentioned in your letter of inquiry, you must always see whether he holds a certificate indicating his status and grade level issued by the World Buddhism Association Headquarters and wears a robe indicating the corresponding grade level.
The following is the reply to the inquiry about whether having a holy mandala required by a Buddha Hall of True Dharma means the place is a Buddha Hall of True Dharma:
A holy mandala is the main and major leading installment for presenting offerings in a Buddha Hall of True Dharma and is thus absolutely indispensable. However, everything and all materials used by the Buddha Hall such as the eight-offering cups, bells, scepters, and even the cloth and fabric materials used must go through performing the Dharma and rituals required for a Buddha Hall of True Dharma. In general, all things used by the Buddha Hall must be brought to the temple or home of the hall-building master ahead of time to perform the rituals in accord with the Dharma. Although the procedures are very complex and tedious and take days to complete, it is necessary to activate the Yidam Siddhi according to the Dharma. Only after that can the master formally enter the hall to apply the rules to establish the Buddha Hall of True Dharma. Only a Buddha Hall that has been built and established by performing the Dharma according to the rituals is a Buddha Hall of True Dharma. Not even one step can be missed. Just worshipping a holy mandala required by a Buddha Hall of True Dharma absolutely will not have the effect of a Buddha Hall of True Dharma. This is because many remaining steps have not been carried out according to the Dharma yet.
World Buddhism Association Headquarters Inquiry Center
September 13, 2021
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