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The Aura of Wisdom
- Book 154:The Aura of Wisdom
- Chapter 02: Vanity
- Written by Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated and edited by True Buddha Foundation
- Translation Team (Cheng Yew Chung, Victor Hazen, Dance Smith)
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According to the doctrines of Tantric Buddhism, the Vajra Guru embodies the Triple Jewels of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. He represents Vajrasattva in transmitting the teachings. Hence, the Vajra Guru is very precious and all Tantric practitioners must perform a full body prostration before him.
However, with regard to such prostrations, some people may feel that the Vajra Guru is promoting the worship of personality, and in so doing, elevating himself above others; as a result, he may easily succumb to vanity. This is the vanity of being egotistical and looking down on others.
In my view, this should not be the case, as I feel that the act of prostration can actually overcome the habitual pattern of vanity. My thoughts are:
When a Tantric practitioner prostrates before a master, the practitioner? sense of vanity is being counteracted. And when a master prostrates before his or her root guru, the master? sense of pride is being subdued. Likewise, when the Root Guru prostrates before the lineage gurus, the root guru? self-vanity is being subdued.
Hence the sequence: the tantric practitioner prostrates before the master, the master prostrates before myself, and I in turn prostrate before my teacher, Guru Thubten Taerchi.
I may be Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu, the manifestation of Padmakumara, who is Amitabha Himself. None-the-less, it matters little what sort of divine manifestation you are, for you must still prostrate before your guru when you meet him. Thus, regardless of one`s great spiritual attainment, one must kneel and prostrate before one`s guru. The practitioner must first subdue his or her own vanity.
Sakyamuni Buddha once said, `If vanity is not removed, although one may have some achievement in meditation, one shall descend to becoming an asura king or the Mara King.`
True Buddha practitioner, please keep this in mind:
If you overcome vanity, you are the Buddha.
If you remain proud and egotistical, you are the Mara.
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