Chapter 11 - Correspondence (Yoga-Response)

I like the metaphorical saying that Yoga means "correspondence" or "response".

There are five kinds of "correspondence" - the "correspondence in realm", the "correspondence in action", the "correspondence in principle (doctrine), the "correspondence in fruition or final attainment" and the "correspondence in potentiality".

Esoteric Buddhism is a sect of the Yoga School, which can slso be called a sect of Correspondence. The five kinds of equality in correspondence include:

1. Equality in reliance (I am a Buddha and there is no difference between the Buddha and me. That is equality in reliance).

2. Equality in karmic relationships (The Buddha has the actual self-nature and so do I. That is the equality in karmic relationships).

3. Equality in behaviour (The practice of the Buddha and my practice are equal).

4. Equality in time ( The three times are of oneness, which in turn is the three times. That is the equality in time.

5. Equality in space ( The body and Universe are integrated with extensiveness in the ten directions. That is the equality in space).

If one can understand the five kinds of equality, he is correspondent to the Buddha.

Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can give reinforcements (Empowerment,Blessings) to practitioners, so we should practise in reliance on Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The masters of Esoteric Buddhism can also give reinforcements to practitioners, so we can also practise in reliance on our masters. That is what reliance means.

It s karmic relationships that enable a practitioner to have a full understanding of all the Dharma principles and know that the self-nature belongs to the Dharma body. Practitioners should not deviate from the Buddhist teachings. That is what behaviour" means. A practitioner should not be separated from the Buddha at any time and at any place. That is what "time and space" mean.

That is the principle of correspondence (Yoga-response). A practitioner who can generate universal compassion and non-karmic compassion has the attaining power for correspondence.

• Universal compassion - All sentient beings are the same. There is no difference among one's mind, the Buddha and sentient beings.

• The non-karmic compassion - There is no distinction between close and distant relationships or between the loved ones and enemies. That is equality in karmic relationships.

I, Living Buddha Liansheng, Sheng-yen Lu, have a deep understanding of the great principles in this field, therefore I made a biggest vow that I will not abandon a single living being, which is an indication of universal compassion and non-karmic compassion.

I feel deeply that correspondence has four characteristics -

1. Firmness - It is an unreserved belief and the pure belief, which will never diminish.

2. Purification - Tathagata s three secrets consist of the purification of body, speech and mind, while a practitioner with the purification of body, speech and mind will be pure without any contamination.

3. Liberation - Being very extensive in meaning, here it refers to the liberation(free) from all worries.

4. Perfection - Everything is perfect.

Somebody asked me how to get correspondences more easily.

My answer is this: a practitioner of Esoteric Buddhism should have an idea about his level, which refers to one s feelings of the certainty of success, and make special effort on the selection of one s personal deity (Yidam), since the selected deity is of crucial importance for his success.

For instance, in the True Buddha School there are eight great deities (Yidams), each having his own characteristics.

1. The Medicine Buddha - Characterized by the vow to cure the diseases of sentient beings.

2. Amitabha - Characterized by the rebirth in his pure land.

3. Avalokitesvara - Characterized by the great kindness and compassion.

4. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva - Characterized by his conversion of sentient beings in both the nether world and the human world.

5. The Maha Cundi - Characterized by superior purification.

6. Guru Padmasambhava - Characterized by the promotion (spreading) of the Dharma with eternal rainbow light.

7. The Yellow Wealth God (Jambhala) - Characterized by doing good to mankind.

8. The Padmakumara - Characterized by his rebirth in pure land and great wealth.

For example, you should select the deity (Yidam) who is the most congenial to you or with agreeable individuality to you and who has the same power of vow and the same level as you do. If you only seek for the rebirth in the pure land, it is advised that you should choose the deities (Yidams) related with the Western Pure Land, including Amithaba, the Longevity Buddha (Amitayus), Avalokitesvara, the Taras or Vajrapani (Vajrasattva)and others.

In this way one will get yogic responses easily.

I find that in Esoteric Buddhism there are the correspondences of air (Wind), pulses (channel) and points (Light drops-bindu), besides those of the three secrets (components), including the purification of body, speech and mind. And the final correspondences should be,

1. The yogic correspondence in the five kinds of wisdom - The yogic correspondence in Tathagata s five kinds of wisdom.

2. The yogic correspondence in the five elements - The earth, water, fire, wind, and space in the practitioner's body are in yogic correspondent with the earth, water, fire, wind and space in the Universe.

Somebody asked me, "Living Buddha Liansheng, Sheng-yen Lu, In your writings, there are so many I s, which are followed by Living Buddha Liansheng, Sheng-yen Lu. Are you (Living Buddha Liansheng, Sheng-yen Lu) too much attached to ego? Do you give too much attention to yourself? Are you too self-important?"

To this, my answer is,

In general, a practitioner of Esoteric Buddhism should at first learn to be "egoless" and the first thing to be removed is always the self.

Sentient beings in the world have too much self-attachment and are always attached to the "ego", self-centered in all their behaviour. However, self-attachment is the origin of worries. The more attention is given to self, the more difficult it is to be liberated from worries.

It is well known that in Small Vehicle Buddhism (Hinayana) one has to get rid of both self-attachment and the attachment to others, while in Great Vehicle Buddhism (Mahayana) one has to get rid of self-attachment, the attachment to others and the attachment to the Dharma. Therefore the self should be removed both in the Small and Great Vehicles of Buddhism.

However, why did Sakyamuni say,

"I am the only revered one either in heaven or on earth".

In fact, this "I" is in its broad sense and it refers to the self that is in correspondence with the Universe.

It is the "self of eternal pleasure and purity" in The Sutra on the Great Nirvana.

The "I, Living Buddha Liansheng, Sheng-yen Lu" in my writings has two references, the former of which is in its broad sense, referring to the corresponding self and the latter of which (Living Buddha Liansheng, Sheng-yen Lu) refers to myself with individuality. That is exactly a way of writing, in which Buddha and myself are integrated.

Some people claimed that they had got yogic responses with the Root Gurus. We have to test whether it is true or not. The method of testing is very simple:

The touchstone is whether the practitioner is willing to devote the rest of his life completely to the practice of Esoteric Dharma!

Whether he is willing to set his life, property, resolution, and time entirely at the disposal of the Root Gurus? If the practitioner has really got yogic responses with the Root Gurus, he has to follow their footsteps completely. Without this basic condition, he has not got the response at all.

In my opinion,

"The mind is a Buddha" - He who is with the right thought is a Buddha.

"Non-mind is no Buddha" - He who is without the right thought is not a Buddha.

"I am a Buddha",

"With brightness and empty nature".

These are Dharma words for yogic correspondence.

How to practise the method of yogic correspondence? The answer is:

Follow the pithy saying of Grand Master Padmasambhava: honour the Guru, treasure the Dharma and practise diligently (Actual practice)

In Esoteric Buddhism, the Root Guru should be honoured before anyone else, and offerings are made to him before anyone else. The single condition for getting correspondence is to be reinforced by the Root Guru. That explains why A Praise to the Fifty Methods of Guru's Devotion by Asvaghosa has been handed down from generation to generation. The male disciples should serve and honour the Root Guru as servants and the female as wives.

The practice of the method of correspondence begins with honouring the Guru and then comes treasuring the Dharma and practising the Dharma diligently.

In the course of it, there are undertaking duties, making offerings, holding services, and repenting.

In that way, one's mind can be opened. The Root Guru will make use of his own attaining power to open the practitioner's and finally take him to the stage of correspondence between minds.

Why did some people fail to get correspondence after practising Esoteric Buddhism for a long time?

The answer is:

In general, if a disciple of the True Buddha School has superior root, it is easy for him to get correspondence in the practice of Esoteric Dharma after being sprinkled over the head (receiving empowerment, blessings).

The fact that some people fail to get correspondence after a long period of practice is due to karmic hindrances, which should serve as a warning to the practitioner. He should be diligent in his study of the Esoteric Dharma so as not to miss anything. In addition, he should have more repenting sessions, since the failure is probably due to insufficient repentance.

If the more one practises, the less energetic he becomes, both wisdom and happiness decrease and there are repeated setbacks and nightmares, then they are indicative of non-correspondence. When that happens, the practitioner is advised to practise the method of repentance, repenting for the various sins at various times so that they won't generate karmic hindrances.

The practitioner is to keep practising the "method of repentance" until his nightmares become fond dreams, his energy resumes, and his wisdom increases and his fortune makes a turn for the better.All these depended on Repentance Dharma (Sadhanas).

I hold that the power of correspondence in Esoteric Buddhism has four sources:

1. The power from reinforcements by the Root Guru.

2. The Dharma power from one s Personal Deity (Yidam).

3. The protecting power of Dharma protectors.

4. One's own power of concentration.

Among them, the second and the third can be called power of the Universe.

The practitioners of Esoteric Buddhism, besides their own power of concentration, have to rely on the power from the reinforcements by the Root Guru and the power of Universe of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and various Dharma protectors (the power of the Dharma realm).

It is well-known that in the course of the practice of Esoteric Dharma, there will be many hindrances and various setbacks, therefore we should know how to

1. Subjugation of devils (Maras);

2. Get rid of illness;

3. Eliminate hindrances;

4. Deal with accidents;

5. Protect the body.

Only when those five things are well done, can one have the development of Dharma power.

In the course of it, the practitioners should always keep in mind that the Root Guru, the Yidams and themselves should be united as one, which is the first condition for getting correspondences.

The Dharma protectors are very important for practitioners of Esoteric Buddhism to get correspondences. The following is a verse praying for the protection from Dharma protectors:

Wish for the power to observe precepts enhanced when evil temptation arising.

Wish for the power of anutpattika-dharma-ksanti strengthened when unreasonable causes arising.

Wish for the power of concentration to stop illusory thoughts enhanced when distraction and confusion arising.

Wish for the power of brightness of the Dharma body strengthened when dizziness arising.

Wish for the power to know and transform dreams enhanced when nightmares arising.

Wish for the power to control birth and death strengthened when the devil of death coming.

Wish for the power to stay firmly alive enhanced when life hindrance arising.

Wish for the power to gather wealth without hindrance strengthened when poverty arising.

Wish for the power to promote diligence enhanced when interruption arising.

Wish for the power to endure the small and to achieve the big strengthened when small achievement arising.

Wish for the power of the bright Dharma body enhanced when deciding to die.

Wish for the power to transform into a Buddha strengthened during the period between death and birth.

Wish for the power to get the highest birth in the highest class enhanced when going to the Buddha s pure land.

Wish for the power of the eight great siddhis strengthened when converting sentient beings.

Wish for the power to convert enhanced when meeting people with non-Buddhist belief.

Beg the Buddha to generously bestow the power of independence of the eighth stage.

I am deeply convinced that this verse is very comprehensive. One should not neglect the power of Dharma protectors (Dharmapalas)

The conditions for getting correspondence easily include:

1. Practising the True Buddha Tantric Dharma.

2. Following rituals completely and skillfully.

3. Observing the precepts and disciplines including the Fifty Methods of Guru's Devotion and the Fourteen Great Precepts of Esoteric Buddhism.

4. The protection by the eight kinds of heavenly beings and dragons.

5. Sincere respect and pure belief.

6. Making great Bodhi resolutions.

7. The right view.

Practitioners who can do the above seven things will find it easy to get correspondences.

A person who has got correspondences changes a lot both in body and in mind compared with the time when he has not. In his mind, the changes include:

The changes from ignorance to wisdom, from greed and illusion to purification, from conceit to modesty, from frequent anger to compassion, from envy to praise, from hate for unfavourable surroundings to gratitude.

These are great changes in one's state of mind.

When a person who has got correspondence reaches the highest realm, he will be like Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in characteristics, which, though difficult to explain, will definitely include,

• No pursuit - Never for oneself.

• No form - Without confusion.

• Firm - Indifference and fearlessness.

• Free movement - Complete freedom and independence.

After I, Living Buddha Liansheng, Sheng-yen Lu, got correspondences, I came to know that everything in the world is illusory, including pursuit, since there is originally nothing in the world. I also came to know that both fame and wealth are illusory, since anything with form is empty. I will not be confused or blinded by anything. I am firm and unmoved, as I am indifferent to and fearless of all attacks and slanders. All I have is nothing but free movement, which consist of nothing but supernatural games.

The man who has got correspondences should at least be,

Stabilized in body, concentrated in mind, with smooth circulation of air.

The correspondence in the internal Esoteric methods includes:

• Your air (Wind) is connected with the Yidam's air (Wind) - Breathing through the same nostrils.

• Your pulse (channel) is connected with the Yidam's pulse (Channel) - The middle pulses (Avadhuti) being connected with each other.

• Your points (Light drops-Bindu) are connected with the Yidam's points (Light drops-Bindu) - The points (Light drops) being connected with each other.

• Your brightness is integrated with the Buddha (Yidam)'s brightness - The integration of brightness.

When yogic correspondence comes, even the pulses (channel) will change from thick pulse (opaque) to thin pulse (translucent) and at last to very fine pulse (transparent).

This kind of yogic correspondence is obvious and firm.

The corresponding air (wind) is characterized by,

Clearness, purity and softness.

In correspondence, the material drops of light, turbid drops of light, wind drops of light, white drops of light, red drops of light are all transformed into the wisdom drops of lights.

The fact that some people fail to get correspondences after practising for a long time is due to many possible hindrances, of which I give the following particular examples:

1. Doubt about the Guru - A slight thought of doubt will lead to the failure of reinforcement, hence no correspondence.

2. Doubt about the Dharma - The doubt about the feasibility of the True Buddha Tantric Dharma will lead to the failure of the power of lineage.

3. Too many worldly duties - As a result, it is difficult for the practice to bring about continuing power.

4. Following incomplete rituals (Sadhanas) - The practitioner is not familiar with the practice rituals (sadhanas) and misses out certain procedures.

5. Too many improper thoughts - While practising, the practitioner has too many unhealthy thoughts racing across his mind, never achieving single-mindedness; the practice will lead to nowhere.

6. Too much mixed practice - Engaged in a variety of practices, the practitioner cannot concentrate on one kind of practice and perfect it.

I tell the readers with great honesty that, taking the method of the Personal Deity (Yidam) as the main practice, I kept at it throughout these years, with others serving as auxiliary practices.

The mastery of one method will lead to that of all others.

If the practitioner has practised for a long time without responses and he believes that he has no doubt about the Guru or the Dharma, he has given up worldly duties, his rituals (sadhanas) are complete, and he has no improper thought and follow one single practice, he should stop and check if there is something wrong with the sequence of practice. The sequence for practice of the True Buddha Tantric Dharma is the (First Empowerment) Four Preliminary Practices, the correspondence with masters (Guru's Yoga) the Personal Deity (Yidam), (Second empowerment) the internal secret (wind, channel and light drops), (Third empowerment) the highest secret (Annutarayogatantra) and (Fourth empowerment) the great perfection (Atiyoga-Dzogchen,Zen,Ganges Mahamudra). He should at first ask himself whether he gets yogic responses in the Four Preliminary Practices before he continues to the next. Similarly one should not practise the Personal Deity (yidam) before he has got yogic responses from Root Guru.

As long as the conditions are sufficient, it is sure to have yogic correspondences. (If this does not work either, he can come to me to ask for new sprinkling over the head (New empowerment) and pray for great reinforcement (Blessings). I will put the Dharma flow into his body and mind and then he can begin his practice all over again.)

I, Living Buddha Liansheng, Sheng-yen Lu, make the following promise with great sincerity:

• I, Living Buddha Liansheng, Sheng-yen Lu - A phenomenal Supreme Root Guru.

• The True Buddha Tantric Dharma - The most extraordinary Dharma.

• The eight Personal Deities (Yidams) - The most miraculous (Yidams).

• The Dharma protectors in the Void - The most incredible protectors of the Dharma.

In this century, I am the single master who has attained the body of great pleasure (Mahasukha) and rainbow light (Jalus) - Highest achievement in Nyingmapa (Red Sect) with no death . My True Buddha Tantric Dharma, which has discarded the dross and keeps the essentials, is the real wondrous method for pure peace and pleasure. The great achievement bestowed by the Personal Deity (Yidam) has proved the extraordinariness of the eight Personal Deities (Yidam). All the Dharma protectors in the Void come to protect/defend the True Buddha School, which shows the incredible nature of the Dharma protection. The supreme power of reinforcement and the supreme obtaining power of the Root Guru,Yidams and the incredible power of the Dharma protectors are rare in this Saha world. I wish all those who have seen or heard about all this and who are laughing at or slandering all this will come to be converted.

Toolbox

Back Top Print Bookmark Tell a friend:

© 2008 Padmakumara. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright & Terms of Use.