Important Replies from Holy Virtuous Ones and Eminent Monastics
—— Answer 30
On Day 30 of the Lunar New Year
Why does the Dharma stipulate that the Equal Enlightenment and Marvelous Enlightenment Bodhisattvas must perform Inner-tantric Initiations in an Inner-tantric Mandala that meets the two significant stipulations of the Dharma? The reason is to protect and serve Buddhist cultivators who learn from Buddha and prevent evil masters and charlatans from faking as great holy persons to defraud Buddhist disciples. Therefore, the Equal Enlightenment and Marvelous Enlightenment Bodhisattvas lead by example and do not perform any Inner-tantric Initiation unless in an Inner-tantric Mandala. Otherwise, the disciple receiving the initiation will not have any beneficial effect. This measure has prevented evil and malicious charlatans from faking as great Bodhisattvas. Moreover, eminent monastics and greatly virtuous ones absolutely will not pretend to be great Bodhisattvas or falsely claim to be able to perform Inner-tantric Initiations or to have an Inner-tantric Mandala. Only evil and malicious charlatans will boast themselves as great Bodhisattvas. This is because no evil master or charlatan has the power to establish an Inner-tantric Mandala, no matter how cunning he or she may be.
First, on presenting the Earth Pestle and the Heaven Pestle, they cannot change the fact that they merely have a weak body and depleted physical strength. Even if they could present the Earth Pestle and the Heaven Pestle, they could not fake presenting the Dharma Pestle. It is less possible for them to have the enormous holy realization to “Present a Petition to a Bodhisattva.”
Therefore, no matter how evil masters and charlatans brag about being a bigshot, they can only profess with hollow words and dare not try to establish an Inner-tantric Mandala publicly. It is because only a real Greatly Holy Guru or a real Great Bodhisattva, who truly has substance and power, can create an Inner-tantric Mandala! No evil master, charlatan, or false great Bodhisattva can ever do that.
Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters
Written on behalf of great holy virtuous ones to answer questions raised
March 17, 2018
(English translation last edited by Zunba on 2020-12-08)
