The Aura of Wisdom 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環.

CHAPTER 17 - True Practice

I remember one night when I was performing my duties for Taichung`s South Gate Bridge Land Surveying Company, an invisible spiritual teacher descended and continued to teach me the Tantric Dharma over a period of three years, averaging an hour per night.

Back then, my arms and legs were often manipulated by the invisible spiritual master, and these experiences made me realize that gods and spirits really exist in this universe; that there is such a thing as a `spiritual world`, and the `invisible` does exist. I hence made a vow that this shall be my conviction in life and I would cultivate truthfully.

Once I was lazy and uttered, `Why should I practise the Dharma arts? In times of need, all it takes is the help of my invisible teacher to settle things for me.`

I was reprimanded for making such a statement. I have studied the Tantric teachings for many years, entering into retreat for three years at the Ling Xian (Spiritual Immortal) Villa in Seattle, USA. It has been thirty years since the Golden Mother of the Jade Pond initiated the opening of my spiritual eye. I feel that my only strong point is my persistence in cultivation, truthfully practising daily without fail.

My blood type is `O`, depicting a strong character with great patience. When faced with any assignment, I will complete it, no matter what. I am down-to-earth, and shun laziness. You can say I am silly and idiotic, but I am very serious and committed to my cultivation.

I often say that writing and practice are the two important duties of my life, and they are activities I must perform daily. My writing improves over time, as does my spiritual unfolding through practice. No one can ever take that away from me!

Let me say this to you. I am a true Vajra Guru. On what basis do I say this? I say this on the basis that I truthfully practise the True Buddha Tantric Dharma daily, without fail.

There are many pseudo Masters among us in today? society, and they all claim, `With a single empowerment, the three main channels shall circulate freely.`

`With one single empowerment, the spiritual foetus shall be conceived.`

`With one single empowerment, one shall live to be more than a hundred years old.`

`With one single empowerment, the Dharma Wheel shall spin on its own, and one will not need to make any effort in cultivation.`

How true are such claims? Please do not ask me. You may refer to the words of Padmasambhava, which state, `Honor the Guru, treasure the Dharma, and practice diligently.`

Please remember this:

Practise with perseverance and patience. Never crave for magical approaches and never look for short cuts. Be practical and honest with your cultivation!

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Up
01 - Spiritual Conviction
02 - Vanity
03 - Adopting a Monistic Life
04 - Manifestations
05 - Spiritual Response
06 - Purification of One's Mind
07 - Right View
08 - The True Acharya
09 - Self Importance
10 - The Four Levels of Empowerment
11 - Making Offerings
12 - Making Offerings (2)
13 - Spiritual Authentication
14 - Keeping the Codes and Precepts
15 - The Spirit of Upholding the Precepts
16 - The True Buddha School
17 - True Practice
18 - Respect the Guru
19 - The Most Comprehensive System of Buddhist Practice
20 - Do Not Slander the Tantric Teachings
21 - Ignorance
22 - Liberal Authentication
23 - The Sutra and Tantra Traditions
24 - Dharma Epithet
25 - The Secret Referred to in the Secret Teachings
26 - Mahabodhicitta, the Mind of Perfect Enlightenment
27 - Perfect Penetration of the Sutra and Tantra Teachings
28 - The Mandala
29 - Attaining Budddhahood in this Very Body
30 - Refrain from Killing
31 - Taking Meat or Vegetarian Meals
32 - Offering Wine and Meat to the Buddha
33 - Why Practice Buddhism and Do Cultivation?
34 - The Guru's Power of Blessing
35 - The Precious Teachings of Tantric Buddhism
36 - The Jambhala or Wealth Deity Practice
37 - The Wrathful Guardian Deities
38 - Yab-Yum, the Consort Practice
39 - Fundamental Rationale of Tantric Buddhism
40 - The Heart Essence and the Orally Transmitted Secrets
41 - Cultivating with Contemplation and Visualization
42 - Aijikan, the Visualization of the Seed Syllable AH
43 - Choosing One`s Principal Deity (Yidam)
44 - The Fourfold and Sixfold Refuge
45 - Radiating Light Blessing
46 - Radiating Light Invocation
47 - The Importance of the Four Preliminaries
48 - The Secret of Contemplating on Emptiness
49 - Elucidation on the Three Powers
50 - Reverence for the High King Sutra
51 - A Buddha Manifestation of Great Authority
52 - Merging as One
53 - The Key Instructions of Entering, Abiding and Absorbing
54 - Seen in the Context of Heresy
55 - The Importance of Cultivating Chi