World Buddhism Association Headquarters Announcement No.
20190106:Determining the Physical Conditions, Strengths,
and Health of Male Practitioners of Buddha Dharma
What is the purpose of cultivating yourself and learning from Buddha? It is undoubtedly for the sake of having good physical health, perfect good fortune, and wisdom and attaining liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. However, nowadays, many Buddhist masters do not even have such foundations, yet they claim to be masters everywhere. They recklessly give evil teachings to delude and fool novices. Lacking detailed understanding, those who learn Buddhism blindly believe these masters and follow all their orders. These masters create a cult out of themselves, making people fall prey to their deception, thus having an awful impact on Buddhism. As a result, those ignorant and don’t understand the truth tend to think the phenomena manifest in Buddha Dharma are unscientific. But what they don’t understand is that the existence of the phenomena is precisely the tangible measure of the power in Buddha Dharma. Denying the fact of reality is simply ignorance.
The following are some examples of the power of Buddha Dharma manifesting itself in reality. A Buddhist nun once flew at high speed while people at both her starting point and destination were monitoring. That is an undeniable fact; Scientific instruments detected that the temperature of a practitioner’s belly reached well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit to almost 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Rinpoches and Dharma masters who touched the practitioner’s belly with their fingers could not withstand the heat and got their fingers blistered. That was the real power of Buddha Dharma; During the Holy Fire-Offering Dharma Assembly, the attendees personally witnessed Vajra Maternal Buddha appear in the sky. Vajra Maternal Buddha emitted flame from between Her eyebrows to ignite the charcoals in the cauldron. Suddenly, a raging fire was ablaze. That is the scientific existence of facts and the real power of Buddha Dharma. Another example is meeting the required standard of lifting the Vajra Pestle with on hand onto a platform. That is a fact cast in iron, which cannot be overridden by empty talks.
Since foolish people have no understanding, they suspect facts to be untrue. Instead, they acknowledge false and empty claims as reality. For Buddha Dharma, the pursuit is precisely the scientific facts derived from real realization powers. What is realized by Buddha Dharma is a direct manifestation of causality underlying the myriad phenomena in the universe. The principles of Buddha Dharma for truth and reality are precisely eradicating superstition and falsity and seeking the proof in real measures.
Some masters have not even developed good physical health and have absolutely no real power, yet they boast of having true realization power and abilities. Someone even claimed that he practiced a specific great Dharma of Dumeng Vajra (獨猛金剛 in Chinese, lit. a solitary ferocious Vajra). He declared that the true Buddha Dharma was transmitted to him by a certain great Dharma king who is a Larampa Geshe and that the mighty power of his Dharma is unrivaled.
Dumeng Vajra is indeed a king of great strength who has substantial might. What he doesn’t know is that the Buddha Dharma his master holds is a fake Buddha Dharma rather than a holy Dharma. He does not have the true Dharma of Dumeng Vajra. That is why even though he has practiced for a lifetime, neither his physical condition nor his energy could reveal any Vajra power element. He is not strong enough to lift the Hall-Guarding Vajra Pestle onto the platform with one hand. (It entails lifting the Vajra Pestle off the ground with one hand, the weight of which is according to the standard for his age and body weight, chanting the Six-Character Great Bright Mantra seven times, and then placing the Vajra Pestle onto the platform.) This person could not even lift the pestle off the ground. After lowering the weight requirement by three levels, he still could not do it. Could this be the physical condition of someone who has attained accomplishment from the Dharma of Dumeng Vajra? He is so naive and pathetic. His physical condition is that of an ordinary person who is feeble and lack of strength. If he cannot even develop his physical condition and body strength well, how can he accomplish Vajra’s power or attain liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth?
Last month, a prominent Geshe who practices the Dharma of Dumeng Vajra came here. To everyone’s surprise, he did not have the strength to lift the Vajra Pestle. Not to say that he is a Larampa Geshe, even if he were an Eranpa Geshe, he could not raise the Vajra Pestle. His body was feeble and deficient of strength. He did not have real power from Buddha Dharma. Through the comparative evaluation of the Hetu-Vidya, his empty claim proves to be unscientific and invalid. What he derived from the so-called Dharma manual of Dumeng Vajra is but feeble strength. He cannot speak of any holy realization. After the weight was adjusted down by four levels, he was still unable to lift the Vajra Pestle off the ground at all. Could he be practicing the true Dharma of Dumeng Vajra? It is only humiliating. He has brought total disgrace to the Vajra Division. This kind of so-called Vajra master is truly shameless. Only a King of Great Strength is worthy of calling himself a practitioner of the Dharma of Dumeng Vajra. As for a King of Great Vajra Strength, he must lift the weight four levels above the standard corresponding to his age and body weight. What are you made of, empty talks or scientific facts? You should think this over yourself.
In addition to being proficient in the sutras, Vinaya, and shastras, a Buddhist cultivator—and especially a master—must cultivate oneself and practice Buddha Dharma to attain realization states and levels in terms of good fortune and wisdom. They include outer realization, inner realization, and holy realization power. Whether you receive any beneficial effect or not, your health, physical condition, and strength are especially essential indicators! If your health is poor and your physical condition is weak, how can you teach others to develop a healthy body? If you don’t even have a healthy body, how can you have any Dharma realization power? Can your poor health be considered proof of your abilities and realization power? Can someone with a weak and sickly body speak of having extraordinary physical condition and strength? It is worth pondering!
To recognize fine masters and beneficent practitioners to learn with, and to guard against unqualified pretenders, the World Buddhism Association Headquarters will implement the exam and annual evaluation that includes the additional requirement of a physical test. Based on the Buddhist system and Dharma rules, the exam is composed of four parts. The perfect scores of the four parts are 1) 150 points for sutras, Vinaya, and shastras; 2) 300 points for merit from continual cultivation; 3) 150 points for physical health and strength, and 4) Buddha Dharma realization power, which is the sum of the three subjects of which the perfect score is 600. A combined score of 400 will be the passing score. The final result is the summation of the total score and the determination of one’s realization power by Holy Selection. The exam subjects for female Buddhists are 1) sutras, Vinaya, and shastras; 2) merit from continual cultivation; and 3) holy realization from Buddha Dharma. The exam subjects for male Buddhists are 1) sutras, Vinaya, and shastras; 2) merit from continual cultivation; 3) physical health and strength; 4) holy realization from Buddha Dharma.
The physical health and strength of a male Buddhist practitioner must be evaluated through his realization and inner power. Except for male Tremendously Great Holy Gurus, who already accomplished Sending a Petition to Bodhisattva, Uncovering Terma with Direct Verification, Holy Predictions, or Establishing Mandala through a Boulder, all Buddhist practitioners must go through the physical test of One Hand Lifting Vajra Pestle onto Platform.
The raising and lowering of the weight standards of One Hand Lifting Vajra Pestle onto Platform yield four titles: 1. Robust Physique Man (優體士), 2. Strongman of Good Strength (小力士), 3. Strongman of Great Strength (大力士), and 4. King of Great Vajra Strength (金剛大力王).
Anyone who acquires the title of a Strongman of Superior Health must be of excellent health; their physical condition and strength superior to ordinary people, and they have the corresponding realization power. On the contrary, anyone who can lift the weight one to two levels below his standard is called a Good Health Man (康體人). Anyone who can raise three levels below the standard is called a Deficient Strength Man (欠力人). Anyone who cannot lift the weight four levels lower than the standard is undoubtedly an ordinary person with a frail body. However, if someone can do a one-hand lift four levels above their standard weight, this person is a King of Great Vajra Strength. It is hard to find a person like that in this world.
Some masters mentioned that His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III disagrees with conducting the physical evaluation by lifting the pestle. However, these masters have forgotten what H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III also said: “What is important for a Buddhist is to delve deeply into the sutras, Vinaya, and shastras and place emphasis on cultivation. Only then will one receive a beneficial effect from one’s Dharma practice. Physical health is a significant indicator of your level of realization. However, I do not quite agree with verifying a practitioner’s physical condition and inner strength through Lifting the Pestle onto Platform with One Hand. I am evading or dismissing something. I don’t think lifting an ordinary person’s pestle could pose any difficulty for me. What matters is the physical evaluation through Lifting Pestle onto Platform with One Hand will embarrass many male candidates. I think the bar is set too high, and the requirement too strict. Of course, I always wish that everyone is free of all illnesses and has good health and vibrant energy and that everyone becomes a Strongman of Superior Health.”
The World Buddhism Association Headquarters has gone through much deliberation and decided to implement the test of Lifting Hall-Guarding Vajra Pestle onto Platform with One Hand for the sake of preventing evil masters, swindlers, and people of no Dharma realization from feigning as holy people. However, we adjusted down the perfect score to 150 points. To determine the fair and proportional testing standards for male Buddhist cultivators, the Headquarters has used the quantitative approach of the Hetu-Vidya to determine the realization state that they have genuinely attained. Listed below are the testing standards to give everyone a clear understanding. (The weight standards listed in the following table are fair to people of all ages without partiality).
Weight Standards for Lifting Hall-Guarding Vajra Pestle onto Platform with One Hand
| Age group | Required weight |
|---|---|
| 20-35 | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). If one’s body weight exceeds the base weight, add 2 jins (i.e., 1 kg) to every jin of body weight over 100 jins. |
| 36-45 | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). If one’s body weight exceeds the base weight, add 1.8 jins (0.9 kg) to every jin of body weight over 100 jins. |
| 46-55 | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). If one’s body weight exceeds the base weight, add 1.7 jins (0.85 kg) to every jin of body weight over 100 jins. |
| 56-60 | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). If one’s body weight exceeds the base weight, add 1.6 jins (0.8 kg) to every jin of body weight over 100 jins. |
| 60-65 | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). If one’s body weight exceeds the base weight, add 1.5 jins (0.75 kg) to every jin of body weight over 100 jins. |
| 66-70 | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). If one’s body weight exceeds the base weight, add 1.4 jins (0.7 kg) to every jin of body weight over 100 jins. |
| 71-75 | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). If one’s body weight exceeds the base weight, add 1 jin (0.5 kg) to every jin of body weight over 100 jins. |
| 76-80 | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). If one’s body weight exceeds the base weight, add 0.8 jin (0.4 kg) to every jin of body weight over 100 jins. |
| 81-85 | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). If one’s body weight exceeds the base weight, add 0.5 jin (0.25 kg) to every jin of body weight over 100 jins. |
| 86-90 | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). If one’s body weight exceeds the base weight, add 0.2 jin (0.1 kg) to every jin of body weight over 100 jins. |
| 90 and above | The base weight is 100 jins (50 kg). No extra weight is added. |
For example, if a Buddhist practitioner is between 25 to 35 years of age whose body weight is 230 jins, the base weight of the Hall-Guarding Vajra Pestle that he must lift with one hand is 100 jins. For each jin of additional bodyweight above 100 jins, 2 jins will be added to the total weight that he has to lift. Therefore, the total weight that he must lift will be 360 jins, because 100 jins + (230 jins – 100 jins) x 2 = 360 jins (i.e., 180 kg). After lifting the Vajra Pestle off the ground, he must chant the Six Syllable Great Bright Mantra seven times, then place the Vajra Pestle on the platform. Then he is considered having met the standard.
The weight standard set for people who are between 20 and 35 years of age is the highest. If anyone in this age group can surpass the standard, they can take one level up, and 2.25 jins (1.125 kg) will be added to each jin of body weight over 100 jins. For two levels up, 2.5 jins (1.25 kg) will be added per extra jin beyond 100 jins. For three levels up, 2.6 jins (1.3 kg) will be added per extra jin beyond 100 jins. For four levels up, 2.7 jins (1.35 kg) will be added per extra jin beyond 100 jins. Anyone who can lift the weight four levels up is a King of Vajra Great Strength.
The World Buddhism Association Headquarters has already set up the Hall-Guarding Vajra Pestle at the Holy Miracles Temple. Buddhist cultivators are welcome to register for the physical strength test to validate whether they have real inner power. Female Buddhist cultivators are more than welcome to try and lift the Hall-Guarding Vajra Pestle if interested. However, according to the rule of the Dharma, their exam score will not include their performance.
World Buddhism Association Headquarters
August 7, 2019
(English translation final-edited by Zunba, 2020-09-26)
