The Aura of Wisdom By Living Buddha Sheng-yen
Lu This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 154th book, 智慧的光環. CHAPTER 27 - Perfect Penetration of the Sutra and Tantra Teachings When I ascended the Dharma throne and expounded the Dharma to an assembly of two thousand lamas at the Drepung Loseling Monastery, I touched on `the Essentials of Tantric Cultivation`. When I descended the throne, the Khenpo or abbot of the monastery said to me, `What you have just spoken is beyond their comprehension.` `Why?` I was astonished. The Khenpo then explained to me, `The lamas learn only the five sastras [Pramanavartika, Abhisamayalamkara, Madhamakavatara, Vinaya and Abhidharmakosha] of the Sutra tradition while studying here in the three major monasteries. Upon completion of their education, they then proceed to either the Upper Tantric College or Lower Tantric College, or other Tantric grwa tshang (colleges) to learn the Tantric teachings.` His explanation certainly enlightened me. Cultivation of the Tantric Dharma in Tibet requires one to study the Buddhadharma of the Sutra tradition for twelve years, following which one must spend another eight years cultivating according to the Tantra teachings. All in all, it takes twenty years of education before one gains a thorough understanding of the Sutra and Tantra teachings. It goes without saying that the Tantric doctrines are indeed very precious. In the past, when a person wished to receive transmission of a practice, he was required to make an offering of all his wealth, climb mountains and cross rivers, or take a long and hazardous journey before he could receive the empowerment. Today, with the wide propagation of the True Buddha Tantric Dharma, we ought to treasure this opportunity offered to us to learn the Buddhadharma. As Tantric practitioners, we should know that two schools of thought exist in Buddhism, the Sutra and the Tantra traditions. The Sutra tradition tends to focus more on principle, whereas the Tantra tradition focuses more on practice to reach enlightenment. The Sutra tradition offers the basic teaching of Buddhism, and it is important to learn the teachings of both traditions. When practicing the Tantric teachings, one needs to brush up on the theoretical aspects of Buddhism. Grounded with the proper views of Buddhism, one will not go astray while studying Tantric Buddhism. The True Buddha School advocates the perfect interpenetration of the Sutra and Tantra teachings, though we begin with the Tantric practices. When I deliver my Dharma talks, I place great emphasis on the The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lam Rim Chen Mo) and The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra (Nagakrim Chenmo) [both authored by Guru Tsongkhapa]. If the Sutra tradition is the shirt, then the Tantra tradition is the collar. There is no way one can forgo the shirt and wear only the collar. |
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