True Buddha Empowerment
■Book 104 - A Plethora Of Scenic Splendours
■Written by GrandMaster Sheng-yen Lu
I was feted to Johor Bahru from Singapore's Raffles City on 20 December 1992 at 4.p.m. by a Malaysian guru Mr Yang Zhong Zhi.
It is very convenient to travel from Singapore to Malaysia. All you have to do is clear the immigration and custom of both countries.
The officers at the Singapore immigration and custom department heard the news of my arrival. They decided to take refuge in me. A ceremony was held immediately. We were then brought to tour the drug detection facilities.
The checking at the Malaysia custom was more stringent. But one of the officers recognised me and asked, “Are you Master Lu Sheng Yen ?”
“Yes, I am, How do you know me?” I answered with a question.
“I have read your books.”
I was able to clear the custom without opening my luggage.
I said in the car, “As a famous person, I do have privilege to get special treatment. But at times, people will be more fastidious towards me.” A happy and yet painful thought surged in my minds alternately for the two extreme ways of treatment.
Too good a treatment is not good, so is too thorough a check. There are just too many things in this world, I am unaccustomed to. I am compassionate to them yet I am unable to help them.
The time was 7.00 p.m.
An estimated crowds of 8,000 people filled the Indoor Stadium of Johor Bahru. I explained the meaning of True Buddha empowerment.
There are two important aspects of empowerment. The first is affirmation, and the second, guarantee.
Empowerment is a special ritual in Tantra.
I also explained the true meanings of empowerment for the following :
(1) Vase
(2) Precious Crown
(3) Vajra
(4) Bell
(5) Name
After receiving all the five types of empowerment, a practitioner should have accumulated adequate virtue to understand the sequence of cultivation. If he has experienced Samadhi, a stage of tranquillity exempt from all external sensations, or enters into Vairocana's sea of lights, or contemplation of the five stages in Vairocana Buddhahood (- entry into the Bodhi-mind, maintenance of it, attainment of the diamond mind, realization of the diamond embodiment, and perfect attainment of Buddhahood.) then he is qualified to inherit the tantra tradition and impart the acarya empowerment.
A true Vajra Guru is a person who has achieved a certain level of proficiency in his cultivation ; be it upper, middle or lower level. He is qualified to teach the empowerment rituals, as he has accumulated certain merit and is able to use certain mystic powers. Most important of all, he is well versed in the rites of empowerment. He knows how to invoke and embody the root deity of wisdom. The Vajra guru turns himself into Vajradhara whose task is to use Tantra to succour human beings.
A truly qualified Vajra Guru must have four pre-requisites:
1. His cultivation must reach certain level.
2. He must have mystic powers.
3. He must manifest his merit.
4. He must be able to embody Vajradhara.
Then his empowerment can be powerful and effective.
To receive empowerment, the disciples must:
1. Make a vow to learn Tantra whole-heartedly and with unceasing effort. Willing to be enlightened as a Buddha and return to succour others.
2. Have confidence in his guru, apart from knowing the basic theory on Sutrayana and Tantrayana.
3. Observe all the precepts, amongst others the 50 guru stanza; 14 root tantric precepts ; 5 precepts and 10 good deeds. Be willing to devote life, wealth, willpower, and time to the guru.
4. Master the sequence of cultivation. Always follow the guidance of the guru to do cultivation, never attempt any short-cut.
I will now teach you how to visualise different colours of light during empowerment :
1. White light is visualised for misfortune eradication.
2. Red light is visualised for loving kindness.
3. Yellow light is visualised for merit accumulation.
4. Blue light is visualised for demon subjugation.
If a disciple after receiving empowerment still encounters bad dreams at night, then obviously he did not receive the benefits
from such empowerment. He must repent for his unwholesome karma by doing the confessional rites (ksamayati). He can ask the guru to empower him again once he started to have good dreams.
This is the only condition a disciple must have before receiving empowerment from the guru.
