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 54 - Seen in the Context of Heresy Tantric Buddhism often finds itself the target of criticism, accused of being heretical. Naturally there are many reasons contributing to this, but most accusations are founded on a lack of understanding of the Tantric doctrines, as well as on false allegations. For example, some have painted Tantric Buddhism as Brahmanism, as they feel that Tantric Buddhism`s wide inclusion of every spectrum of celestial beings is similar to Brahmanism. The truth is, Tantric Buddhism is no different from Mahayana Buddhism when it comes to delivering sentient beings out of the ocean of suffering, away from the three lower realms. Some have made the remark that Tantric Buddhism promotes spiritual powers and uses the power of gods to perform divination, check the records of past lives, pray for rain, give healing, use chart astrology and perform geomancy. These phenomena are similar in nature to the activities of ghosts and the occult, and based on this assumption, they call Tantrayana a heresy. Fundamentally speaking, the talk on Tantric Buddhism being associated with divination, astrology, geomancy, praying for rain and healing barely scratches the surface of the mixed aspects of Tantric Buddhism. The true Tantric teachings involve the doctrines of vajra disciplinary rules, the bodhi mind, liberation from samsara, and attaining buddhahood in this very body. Therefore Tantric Buddhism cuts away all illusions and realizes what is true and real. It is very different from the way that some pseudo masters are practicing - by amassing wealth and by womanizing. Some have said that the homa rituals performed in Tantric Buddhism are similar to the fire offering rituals of Zoroastrianism from Persia. Thus, there should not be any homa practice. To my knowledge, the Tantric homa practice involves the use of mudra, and therefore will achieve results. It utilizes a shrine to work its powers, moving the forces with the mind. This homa practice anchors on the mind itself. This is why Guru Tsongkhapa considered homa to be one of the three accomplishments. Then there are remarks about the Completion stage of the Inner Tantra being the cultivation of winds, channels and drops. As the Completion Stage focuses only on the building of physical health, which is the cultivation of the physical body, it has already deviated from the path of mind training. Therefore, it is a heresy. I want to clarify that the Tantric practice of chi or winds advocates the blending of mind and chi - that mind is chi, and chi cannot exist without the mind. Through the training of chi or winds, we can verify the mind. There is no separation from mind. And eventually, through the practice of winds, channels and drops, we can verify the presence of the Secret Adorned Mind. This is the spiritual ground of Tantrayana. There is no ground for accusing that Tantric practice has deviated from the mind! I feel that it is our great privilege and blessing to find the Tantric teachings, offered to us as a rare and special affinity. We must never slander its doctrines! |
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