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The Aura of Wisdom
- Book 154: The Aura of Wisdom
- Chapter 52: Merging as One
- 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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The quintessence of Tantrayana lies in yoga, and yoga means `union`. Therefore, this `union` is a very secret matter. Thus, it is said in the book, Essentials of Tantrayana: `The meaning of the word Secret is secret mystery, or profound secret, seen within the context of a hidden mystery. It is a realm concealed in deep secrecy, which is the Dharma gate of cultivation born of Self Realized wisdom.`
It is my understanding that with yogic union, there is the function of the `blessing of miraculous transformation`. With this blessing of miraculous transformation comes the three incredible bodies:
Dharmakaya - the body of self nature
Sambhogakaya - the body of enjoyment
Nirmanakaya - the body of blessings
Regarding the Yoga Tantra, Venerable Master Yin Guang once said, `The action of the Three Secrets of Tantrayana produces the blessing of miraculous transformation which helps the common mortal to attain fruition in this lifetime. Its merits and activities are beyond the probe of thoughts and descriptive words. Hence, it is known as `the unimaginable operation`. `
Thus, the Mahavairocana Sutra writes: The Dharma that is so profound that it has no form (the principle of anutpada) cannot be understood by the shallow intellect. There is the phenomenal speech of the manifest form to agree with it.` [???]
The point to note in this Dharma of manifest form is the visualization of the merging of self and deity. One visualizes:
The pure moon disc.
The appearance of the Sanskrit seed syllable.
The appearance of the principal deity.
The principal deity abiding above the centre of the crown. The deity shrinks and enters the central channel and descends to the heart of the practitioner, and sits on the lotus of the heart. Then it expands to the body size of the practitioner. The practitioner and the deity are indivisible and indistinguishable, and in one instant, the practitioner becomes the deity and the deity becomes the practitioner.
I honestly say to you that when you form the mudra, recite the mantra and visualize the merging of self and deity, you are at an equal level with the Three Secrets (body, speech, and mind) of the Tathagata, and thus possess limitless meritorious functions. This is the truth of yogic union.
Once the practitioner achieves union, and becomes one with the principal deity, he or she gains access into the Dharma realm through this single gateway.
In all honesty and sincerity, I must state that this is absolutely true.
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