Chapter 7 - Special Techniques in Esoteric Buddhism (Yantra)

I find that Esoteric Buddhism is different from other schools of religion in its secrecy , which refers to its special ways of transmission.

Because of the existence of special transmission, it has inheritance (Lineage) . It is Esoteric Buddhism that gives much emphasis on inheritance (Lineage) , while other schools of religion have no need for inheritance (Lineage).

In general, Exoteric Buddhism lays emphasis on reason. (Buddhist Doctrine) One can keep on practice and get achievement without the necessary inheritance(Lineage).

Esoteric Buddhism lays emphasis on its special techniques (Yantra) and has technical secrecy, which, I think, after some in-depth study, is of crucial importance for keeping on practice.

As a matter of fact, the special techniques (Yantra) of Esoteric Buddhism cannot be publicized and the reason for this lies in that once they are publicized the whole Dharma world will be jeopardized.

Is it really so serious? I say yes absolutely Therefore, what I can do is to try my best to publicize the part that can be publicized and touch upon the part that cannot be publicized.

The external methods (Four Preliminaries, Guru's Yoga, Yidam) of the True Buddha School are completely open.

The internal methods (Wind, Channel, Light drops-Bindu) of the True Buddha School are half open and half secret.

The secret methods (Annutarayogatantra) of the True Buddha School are not open at all.

The most secret methods (Atiyoga-Dzogchen) of the True Buddha School are not open at all.

(The so-called internal methods refer to the practices of the air, pulses and points. The so-called secret methods (Annutarayogatantra) refer to the highest secret part and the so-called most secret methods refers to the secret part of Great Perfection.(Atiyoga-Dzogchen))

I am a practitioner who has got the inheritance (Lineage) of Esoteric Buddhism. In order to get it, I have experienced great sufferings, but I have certainly mastered all the special techniques (Yantras) of Esoteric Buddhism.

I call the techniques the center (heart of the heart), which has profound implication.

The center (heart) of the heart - The heart Dharma is already very special, so the center (heart) of the heart Dharma is the secrecy of secrecy, the highest secrecy.

I have come to understand at last the center (heart) of the heart of all the past, present and future Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas in the ten directions. With the understanding of the center (heart) of the heart, I got enlightened and became clear about everything.

So there is the center (heart) of the heart in mantras.

So there is the center (heart) of the heart in mudras.

So there is the center (heart) of the heart in visualization.

There is the center (heart) of the heart in the internal methods.

The uppermost secret part (Annutarayogatantra) is almost all filled with technical secrecy, which is listed as the highest secrecy by the living Buddhas who understand it. This part has been deleted from all classics of Esoteric Buddhism, because the most secret part is the center (heart) of the heart.

The center (heart) of the heart of the secret part of Great Perfection (Atiyoga-Dzogchen) cannot be mentioned in any way.

I, Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu, would like to give an example to explain briefly the kinds of mudras, which include,

• The radical mudra.
• The general mudra (the universal mudra).
• The career mudra.
• The pleasing mudra.
• And so on.

However, I know the mind (heart) in mind (heart) mudra of all the past, present and future Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the ten directions. This mudra is listed as the most secret, because once one forms it, he can go directly to the center (heart) of the heart of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the ten directions during the three times.

The mind (heart) in mind (heart) mudra is also a kind of special technique which cannot be taught to anybody without special reasons, because once all sentient beings have a complete understanding of this mudra, they might form it for no reason at all, which will throw the whole Dharma world into confusion.

Because once the mudra is formed, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are sure to descend. It will be a great crime to teach this technique rashly without careful choice of candidates.

The mantras of Esoteric Buddhism consist of Major Mantras , Middle Mantras and Minor Mantras. Major Mantras are the radical Mantra, Middle Mantras are the heart Mantra and Minor Mantras are center (heart) of-the-heart. There is also the seed mantra, the pleasing mantra, etc.

Another classification is that there are mantras chanted by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas themselves.

There are also the mantras chanted by practitioners.

The center (heart)-of-the-heart Mantra I keep is not an ordinary minor mantra, however, it was taught by oral instructions (transmission) of my Gurus of Esoteric Buddhism.

The center (heart)-of-the-heart mantra has three kinds of great meaning, which include Empowerment by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas , absorbing and keeping and inheritance (Lineage). It is usually chanted silently in mind.

This is to inherit the incredible power of the cross-path in inheritance (Lineage) responses of the interaction between paths , in which there are various benefits which cannot be described in words.

The center (heart)-of-the-heart mantra certainly cannot be taught just to anybody and nor can it be written about in a book, since it is also a secret technique.

There is a center (heart)-of-the-heart mantra in all the Tathagata's mantras, the Bodhisattva's mantras, the two vehicles' mantras, the various heavens' mantras, and the various gods' mantras.

The center (heart)-of-the-heart Mantras of True Buddha School is the most secret of its inheritance (Lineage).

The opening of the middle pulse (Avadhuti) in Esoteric Buddhism is originally an obligatory step in the internal methods, however, all the practitioners in the world, even some masters of Esoteric Buddhism, do not know that the middle pulse (Avadhuti) itself has the upper gap and the lower gap.

• The upper gap - There is a gap in the middle pulse (Avadhuti) from the throat area to the center between eyebrows.

• The lower gap - There is a gap in the middle pulse (Avadhuti) from the pubic region to the reproduction organ.

In order to bridge the middle pulse (Avadhuti), one has to get the the upper and lower gaps through (Connected). The method of removing the gap is a secret technique, a secrecy of secrecy, which should only be taught to the closest disciples who have cultivated well enough.

My masters of Esoteric Buddhism told me, In order to bridge the middle pulse (Avadhuti), the upper and lower gaps have to be bridged and the middle pulse (Avadhuti) should be kept straight. Only when one sets a straight posture, the middle pulse (Avadhuti) is open. This is the special technique, which is only understood by real Vajra masters. There are few practitioners in the world who can understand it and most of them will keep it as a secret, since it is very mysterious (secretive).

There are many people who can say their middle pulses (Avadhuti) are already open, but there are many people who claim that they can help people open their middle pulses.(Avadhuti) However, if they do not know how to remove the upper and lower gaps, how can they open the middle pulse (Avadhuti)?

In the bright point method (Light drops-Bindu) , there are four great pithy formulas:

1. The sun and the moon combined in the mind.(Heart)

2. A single warrior at the navel.

3. A bright point at the secret region in pleasure.

4. The white hair seed between eyebrows.

In the secret techniques of the bright point (Light drops-Bindu) method, there are the moving of the air (Wind) and visualization and many knacks and key points, which are all special techniques, including the knacks applied to cross-legged sitting in meditation.

The pithy formulas of the internal fire are:

1. The dull fire turns red.
2. The fire is burning bright.
3. The bright points (Light drops-Bindu) are interlocking.
4. The fire wheels.(Chakras)
5. The fire is flaming fiercely.
6. The fire is flaming extremely fiercely.
7. The fire is flaming all over the body.

I found that practitioners who have entered the internal method all understand that there are too many special Esoteric Buddhist techniques (Yantras). Without a Vajra master standing beside and giving detailed explanation, it is very hard to understand them clearly. Therefore, they cannot be understood through reading Dharma books alone or following rituals (Sadhanas). They can only be taught through oral instruction.(Transmission)

In the part of the supreme secrecy (Annutarayogatantra) one who practises the supreme secrecy (Annutarayogatantra) generally will get three kinds of great achievement:

1. Making the bright point (Light drops-Bindu) of thousand-leaf Lotus (the eyebrow center wheel) descend.

2. Making the convenient air (Wind) change into wisdom air (Wind).

3. His human body changing into a Buddha's body , that is, becoming a Buddha with his present body.

Only practitioners of the internal methods who have got enough achievement can practise the part of the supreme secrecy (Annutarayogatantra).

All special techniques in it are secret.

The practitioners who have come to this point cannot say a single word about the secret techniques, since they are the secrecy of secrecy.

These practitioners are close to becoming Buddhas.

Practitioners who have realized (achieved) the great Vidyarajas (Krodhadevatas) Dharma can be said to be Buddhas.

I am amazed at the great transcending power of the special techniques (Yantra) of Esoteric Buddhism, which are absolutely unimaginable (Above the ceiling) for the reasoning of Exoteric Buddhism.

The greatness of Esoteric Buddhism does not lie in expedience or convenience, but in diligent practice and realization, not in empty and loud talks.

I often say that Esoteric Buddhism is,

To observe (Visualize) the mind (heart) with mind (heart)

To remove illusion with illusion.

To transform poison with poison.

The part of great perfection (Atiyoga-Dzogchen) cannot be described in any way, therefore, I can only explain it in two words - profound and extensive :

• "Profound" refers to the profound wisdom .

• "Extensive" refers to the immeasurability .

Indescribable, immeasurable, unfathomable, inexhaustible....

This is basically a realm where the "Dharma is not Dharma" and there is nothing for practice . People who have achieved this will be the highest masters with great pleasure and wisdom, who may behave like lunatics, but who have obtained supernatural powers, who have realized the empty nature with permanent cause and effect, who can play games in the Saha world and who enjoy great bliss in meditation.

I, Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu, tell the readers with great honesty that the key points and pithy formulas for becoming a Buddha are all stored in my mind. I am well-versed in Buddha Dharmas. Without the help of my special techniques (Yantras) of Esoteric Buddhism, what hard work it will be to become a Buddha!

In the techniques of Esoteric Buddhism, there are the center (heart)-of the-heart mantras , the center (heart)-of-the-heart mudras , the center (heart)-of-the-heart visualization , the center (heart)-of-the-heart techniques , the center (heart)-of-the-heart supernatural powers , the center (heart)-of-the-heart rituals (Sadhanas) , the center (heart)-of-the-heart body .... With the combination of them, the secret practice of Esoteric Buddhism is based on the Buddhist doctrine and aims at becoming a Buddha with one's present body in the end.

Only through the practice of Esoteric Buddhism can one become a Buddha with his present body (Lifetime).

In fact, even the external methods of Esoteric Buddhism (from the four preliminaries to the personal deity (Yidam) method) were also secret rituals (sadhanas) in the early days, which could not be publicized at all.

In order to inform the modern people of the method of diligent practice and the method of cultivation in Esoteric Buddhism and in order to spread the knowledge of Esoteric Buddhism, I explained without any reservation the connotation of the method of diligent practice and the method of cultivation in my book The Great Brightness of Esoteric Buddhism.

For that reason, The Great Brightness of Esoteric Buddhism is very valuable.

I have not only studied the doctrines.

But also I have practised every method and its details, which constitute the quintessence of the most secret Buddhist Dharma.

Now we come to "supernatural power". "Supernatural power" is just a kind of supernatural phenomena. It will not be talked about in Exoteric Buddhism; however, it is very common to talk about it in Esoteric Buddhism.

This is because during the course of practising the special techniques of Esoteric Buddhism, there will be many mysterious situations and supernatural miracles appearing. They are all natural phenomena, but rarely appear for the practitioners of Exoteric Buddhism, who are usually surprised at them.

One should have the experience of "supernatural power".

Only practitioners who practise diligently the techniques of Esoteric Buddhism can experience it by themselves; other people have no access to it.

In Exoteric Buddhism one relies on the Dharma not on the people.

In Esoteric Buddhism one relies both on the Dharma and the people.

Why?

Because only a real Vajra master can teach the special techniques (Yantras) of Esoteric Buddhism by oral instructions (Transmission) to his Vajra disciples.

Only in this way can the true essence of Esoteric Buddhism be kept alive.

(There are also occasions on which a master demonstrates the special techniques (Yantras) of Esoteric Buddhism while his disciples watch and follow his demonstration (Footsteps).

The techniques in the Annutarayogatantra should be kept secret, because they are easy to be slandered for stirring people's strong desires. In fact, the true essence lies in the fact that they sublimate people's primitive and instinctive desires. In other words, by using desires for practice, they are turned into great pleasures of wisdom.

I would like to use three words to describe this kind of realm,

• Desire
• Emptiness
• Pleasure

The special techniques (Yantras) in the Annutarayogatantra of Esoteric Buddhism cannot be practised by ordinary people, because they are very detailed and delicate. Therefore, they are not open at all. If one wants to practise them, he needs a Vajra master's oral instructions (Transmission) and demonstration (Footsteps) in person.

I tell the readers with great honesty that I have practised the special techniques (Yantras) of Esoteric Buddhism, which have given me real peace and pleasure and have removed from me various kinds of unhealthy thoughts , lust , restlessness , and worry.

I have got,

• Real peace of mind.
• Great pleasure of body.
• Eternal enlightenment.

If people in this Saha world want to get peace of mind, great pleasure of body and enlightenment, they can follow my footsteps in practice!

I know my previous lives.

I know my future lives.

I know I can go into real nirvana.

I am a man of thorough cultivation.

I think the special techniques (Yantras) of Esoteric Buddhism aim at the realization of emptiness, which can only be got through the practice of consciousness , and which, in the end, leads to becoming a Buddha with one's present body.

I have the experiences of Christianity, Taoism, Exoteric Buddhism and Esoteric Buddhism. I found that in Exoteric Buddhism there is only the doctrine, but without actual practice methods. The reading and chanting and superficial meditation are not diligent practice.

I found that the special techniques (Yantras) of Esoteric Buddhism are real methods for diligent practice and only through the practice of Esoteric Buddhism can one become a Buddha with his present body (Lifetime).

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