文／蓮生活佛盧勝彥

修行密教，有所謂「生起次第」及「圓滿次第」。在這當中，是層層次第分明。
密教要依次第灌頂，次第去修證。如果不這樣，那是非常危險的。因為密教的成就愈大，其危難會更大。
我認為修密的人，要先修身口意清淨，再修氣脈明點，依次進入無上密，最後才是大圓滿。
在藏密白教，就是：
專一瑜伽。
離戲瑜伽。
一味瑜伽。
無修瑜伽。
細分的修行次第是：
「四加行」、「上師相應法」、「本尊法」、「寶瓶氣」、「拙火法」、「明點法」、「無漏法」、「開五輪」、「金剛法」、「無上密」、「大圓滿」等次第。
密教的密法，法本上固然可以參閱著修，但其中最祕密的心要口訣在法本上是看不到的，必須由上師親口傳授，外人不能得知。所以經云：「一切密法，若不從上師親傳心要口訣，所修不得成就。」
例如：
氣如何進入中脈，一定有上師口訣引導才知。
無漏「薩迦六勢變」的技法，一定有上師口訣，才能適時印證。
明點法的「降、提、持、散」如何引導？沒有上師口訣亦不行。
還有「提明點飛須彌山」，一定要上師親自示範瑜伽姿式。
如此等等。
如果捨離上師心要口訣，當然不知訣竅，不知所從，如何能相應，如同瞎子臨懸崖，危險甚矣！
密教的心要口訣，確實甚深祕密，學密者可不慎乎！

The Heart Essence and the Orally Transmitted Secrets

Written by Lian-shen Linving Buddha Sheng-yen Lu 
Translated by Cheng Yew Chung edited by Victor Hazen
True Buddha Foundation Translation Team

The cultivation of Tantric Buddhism is divided into the Generation Stage and the Completion Stage. These stages are very defined in their progressive steps.
In Tantric Buddhism, we must receive empowerment and cultivate according to the respective stages. Otherwise, it would be dangerous. This is because, as one gains greater attainment in Tantrayana, greater dangers are involved.
I feel that the Tantric practitioner should begin with the practice of purifying one’s body, speech and mind. Following which, one should cultivate the winds, channels and drops. And through the stages of cultivation, one approaches the Highest Yoga Tantra and finally enters into the Great Perfection.
The stages of cultivation in the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism are：
The Yoga of One-Pointedness.
The Yoga of Simplicity.
The Yoga of One Taste.
The Yoga of Nonmeditation.
The detailed division of the stages includes：The Four Preliminaries, Guru Yoga, Deity Yoga, Treasure Vase Breathing Practice, Inner Fire Yoga, Yoga of Drops, Yoga of Non-leakage, the Approach to opening the Five Chakras of Channel Wheels, Vajra Deity Practice, Highest Yoga Tantra, and The Great Perfection.
One may cultivate the sadhanas or methods of Tantric Buddhism following the practice texts, but their deepest heart essence and orally transmitted secrets are never revealed in the practice texts. They must be transmitted orally through the Guru to the initiate, and the doctrines are unknown to the uninitiated. Thus, a sutra states, “The secrets of all Tantric practices must be transmitted personally by the Guru, or there can be no attainment.”
For example：
Only through the guidance of the Guru can one understand the secrets of channelling the winds into the central channel.
The techniques of the Six Sakya Exercises of Non-leakage must be practiced with the secret keys revealed by the Guru so that the timely verification of one’s progress can be ascertained.
How does one regulate the descent, elevation, retention and dispersion of drops? Without the orally transmitted secrets of the Guru, there can be no progress.
So is the technique of ‘elevating the drops and leaping over Mt. Sumeru’, where the Guru must demonstrate the yoga postures personally.
And likewise with all other transmissions.
If a practitioner disregards the heart essence and secret keys of the Guru, he or she will have no idea what the keys are, and would not know how to progress. How can he or she achieve yogic response and results? Like a blind man walking along the verge of a cliff, it spells only danger.
The heart essence and orally transmitted secrets of Tantric Buddhism are extremely profound and secret. Tantric practitioners must be cautious!