Tag: H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

Rainbow Jewels

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Rainbow Jewels

During June-July, 2006 a holy state appeared at the  mandala of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yisinubu. This was the site of many inner-tantric initiations for rinpoches, dharma teachers, and lamas as well as many Buddha-dharma ceremonies, such as the Buddhas Bestowing Nectar Dharma Assembly and the Highest Form of Bathing the Buddha Dharma Assembly. A jacaranda tree that rained nectar for seven straight days in order to offer congratulations to H.H. Great Dharma King on his holy birthday is also located at this  site. After the Highest Form of Bathing the Buddha Dharma Assembly, the area under the lotus tub used to bathe a statue of the Buddha grew Auspicious Grass of the Four Jewels. This was the same site where Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche received the Dharma Wheel initiation.

Detail of the "Rainbow Jewels" on the Auspicious Grass of the Four Jewels

Detail of the “Rainbow Jewels” on the Auspicious Grass of the Four Jewels. Their colors were more vivid like glittering rubies, emeralds, diamonds, sapphires, and other gems.

The ascension of a rainbow that manifested from the "Rainbow Jewels."

The ascension of a rainbow that manifested from the “Rainbow Jewels.”

Beginning in late June and on several other occasions through mid-July, that same area suddenly emitted a few thousand glittering and colorful lights. These sparkling lights not only manifested a variety of different colors, they also continually changed as they glittered. Some of them were on the tips of grass, some of them were near the roots of grass, some of them were on the middle of grass, and some of them were suspended in the empty space between blades of grass. Different colors could be seen depending on the distance and angle from which one viewed that area. Moreover, each person saw different things when viewing that area from the same place. Some saw multicolored lights, some saw white lights, some saw blue lights, some saw red lights, and some saw green lights. Some even saw rainbows that quickly ascended into the heavens. What is even more amazing is that those lights constantly changed colors. Some of those lights even suddenly disappeared, only to reappear suddenly a moment later. All of these things can be clearly seen in the video shot at that time. On one occasion a fragrant perfume was emitted from the area and the roar of Vajra Thunder could be heard in the heavens. Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche reports that although she did not see these lights the first day as she was in San Francisco and only saw a very few the next time they appeared due to her karmic hindrances, she was able to see many, many of these brilliant and holy “jewels” on subsequent occasions. What was amazing was the fact that they were indestructible “vajra jewels.” The disciples tried to hose them down with water, but they were not moved. They also tried to spray another nearby area with water to see if the sunlight would create something similar, but to no avail. These were indescribable holy blessings from another realm and not of any worldly source.

This holy scene thoroughly demonstrates that the Buddhas constantly bless this mandala with wonderful auspicious signs.

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/06/29/rainbow-jewels/

The Law of Cause and Effect

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The Law of Cause and Effect

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III tells us that “within the truth of Buddhism, there is the doctrine that the law of cause and effect can never be denied. Cause and effect cannot be eliminated. To say that it can is to take a nihilistic point of view. Hence, we can only build a wall of good karma, which is like building a retaining wall. This wall of good karma has the effect of blocking us from our evil karma.”

Dorje Pa Mu has also told us that all Buddha-dharma can be condensed into the words cause and effect. All conditioned phenomena are subject to the processes of cause and effect and the four stages of arising, subsisting, changing and passing away. Those who realize the unconditioned obtain enlightenment as a result of certain causes. Yet, they are not attached to the thought of obtaining enlightenment. All Buddhist disciples must understand cause and effect, but merely understanding this principle is not enough. One must clearly believe in the principle and live accordingly. One must use this principle in one’s actual practice to solve one’s worldly problems. One ends causes and effects through cultivation.

Dorje Pa Mu also warned us that we would not exist without other beings. Our cultivation and any accomplishment we achieve are dependent upon and made possible by other living beings. We must repay the kindness of the countless living beings in the six realms of existence. Otherwise, we will violate the law of cause and effect. It is as Shakyamuni Buddha said, we should never fail to repay the kindness granted us.

Dorje Pa Mu reminds us that everything in this world comes into being through the occurrence of certain causes and conditions and passes away with the cessation of such causes and conditions. Nothing can be held on to and nothing can be kept forever. In fact, there is nothing to obtain, seek, lose, or take.

All karma created in the present life and previous lives is stored in the alaya-vijnana or the eighth consciousness. The alaya consciousness is regarded as that which undergoes the cycle of birth and death.

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/06/22/the-law-of-cause-and-effect/

Phases of Transmission

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Phases of Transmission

Buddhism began in the in 6th century BCE in northeast India with the historic Shakyamuni Buddha teaching for around 45 years in that area. Buddhism lasted in India as a major movement for over a thousand years, starting a gradual decline in influence in the seventh century CE, although the great Buddhist universities and monastic centers continued to flourish for many centuries. The Muslim invasion of India began in the 11th century, destroying vast Buddhist libraries and universities in the process. By the 13th century Buddhism had disappeared from Northern India where it had originated, not returning until the 19th century.

First Phase: In the 3rd century BCE, King Ashoka, who ruled India from 272 to 231 BCE, sent missionaries throughout India and South-east Asia to transmit what became known as the Theravada teachings. These teachings were transmitted first to Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Burma) and later to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and southern Vietnam where Buddhism still holds a dominant influence on the culture, although recent political events have curtailed the role of the sangha in the governments of the communist and military dominated regimes. Over the years, the Mahayana was also transmitted and there is even some evidence of the tantric practices of the Vajrayana in some of these countries, but the monastic dominated Theravada prevailed.

Second Phase: The flowering of the mahayana tradition began around the 1st century of the Current Era (CE). The great university at Nalanda was founded in the 2nd century CE. However, the evolution of mahayana Buddhist thinking and study was already well established before the start of the current era. The great Dharma King and Mahasiddha Nagarjuna (150-250) founded the Madhyamaka School in the 2nd century. In the 4th century Dharma King Asanga, founded the Yogachara School. These two lineages were the basis for the mahayana teachings which then spread into Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and along the Silk Road into China and Northern Viet Nam and on into Korea (4th century) and Japan (6th century). Bodhidharma went to China in 526 and began what became the Ch’an or Zen School. The Pure Land, T’ian T’ai, Hua-Yen and Fa-Hsiang schools all evolved in China by the late seventh century. Many of these schools took root and flourished in Korea and Japan as Buddhism waned in China. Buddhist influence in China peaked during the 10th century, but remained an essential component of Chinese culture, although the Communists have tried systematically to repress its influence. Afghanistan and Indonesia became Muslim dominated countries and completely eradicated the practice of Buddhism. Some of the great monuments of mahayana Buddhism from this phase still remain in these countries, howbeit mainly as tourist attractions. The gigantic Buddha statues destroyed by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001 and by other Islamic groups in Pakistan in 2007 were from this phase.

Third Phase: The esoteric mahayana or tantra practice was well established in India by the 7th century. The esoteric or vajrayana teachings were transmitted to Tibet, Bhutan, and China in the 8th century and went on to Japan (early 9th century), Mongolia (13th century), and with the Tibetan diaspora back into India and Nepal (20th century). There is also some evidence of transmission of these teachings into southeast Asia, especially Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The Indian Dharma King and Mahasiddha Padmasambhava went to Tibet in the 8th century. Vikramasila University was founded around the same time in India.

Dharma King Atisha, a leading teacher from Vikramasila, went to Tibet in 1042. Marpa and Drokmi went to India from Tibet to seek the Dharma in the 11th century. Much of the Buddha-dharma of India from this phase was transmitted to Tibet before it was destroyed by Muslim invasions during the 11th and 12th centuries. The conquering Muslims sacked the great Nalanda Monastic University in 1197 and Vikramasila in 1203.

For about 500 years after the arrival of Padmasambhava, many obtained liberation in Tibet. The highest Dharmas were freely taught, but sometimes to those who were not qualified to receive them. In the fourteenth century, Dharma King Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), an emanation of Manjushri, restored monastic discipline in Tibet and corrected the false teachings that had evolved through the many false rinpoches in Tibet and from those fleeing India. The Buddha-dharma that evolved in Tibet represented the highest and most powerful of all the Buddha-dharmas to date. In 1950 the Chinese communists invaded Tibet suppressing Buddhism, destroying monasteries and temples, and persecuting monks and nuns whom they considered to be parasites of the working people. Many of the surviving rinpoches and lamas fled to India, Bhutan, Nepal, and the West, while most of those remaining in what had been Tibet were imprisoned or forced to return to other professions, usually hard labor. After the Cultural Revolution some were allowed to return and rebuild their monasteries, but with only a handful of monks, and mostly to maintain them as tourist attractions.

Fourth Phase: 18th-19th century CE. Buddhism began to be transmitted to the West as Buddhists from various Asian countries started migrating to the West in the mid 19th century and as Westerners going to Japan, Korea, China, and south-east Asia to seek the Dharma returned to teach what they had learned. Like in Tibet after the massive out migration from India in the Middle Ages, the West has seen a proliferation of false teachers who primarily teach as a means of livelihood and who do not have an authentic lineage or know the correct Buddha-dharma.

His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha  came to this world to show living beings that the power and wisdom of the true Buddha-dharma that Shakyamuni Buddha possessed can still be learned in this age. His Holiness also came to correct the mistakes that have appeared in the various transmissions over time; and to teach the highest Dharmas of Shakyamuni Buddha, some of which have not yet been transmitted. His Holiness has said that only 30% of the Buddha-dharma that Shakyamuni had received was taught during His lifetime. The Nagas received and kept around 70% of the dharma of Shakyamuni in their palace beneath the sea. It is important to remember that Shakyamuni Buddha learned this dharma from His master, Dipkankara Buddha, another manifestation of Dorje Chang Buddha.

Dharma King Padmasambhava prophesied in the 8th century that “When the iron eagle flies and horses run on wheels, the Tibetan people will be scattered over the earth, and the Dharma will go to the land of the red man.” Earlier Shakyamuni Buddha stated in The Sutra Requested by the Goddess of Flawless Light that 2,500 years after His passing, the Dharma will spread to the “land of those with red faces.” Native Americans have always been thought of as the “red” race, although some think this refers to the “pinko-grey” color of some Caucasians. Either way it would appear that these prophecies were correct.

One can see from the map shown above and the lineage chart of the various sects and schools how Buddhism has evolved and been transmitted over time.

What isn’t obvious from these graphics are the so called “Golden Ages” that existed in these countries when Buddhism was at its peak of influence. The art and poetic expression from these ages still amaze us, whether it be from the grotto caves of India, Sri Lanka, and China, the amazing ancient stupas of Sri Lanka and Burma, the Angkor Wat of Cambodia, the famous temple ruins in Indonesia, or the magnificent sacred art and architecture throughout China and Japan.

As Buddhism waned in one location, it appeared in another culture, only to evolve into yet another form that was appropriate to teach those living in that time and place. At each point in history, great beings incarnated to make this possible. America now has transmissions from all of these great phases in the evolution of Buddhism transmitted from many different cultures. America also has H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/06/15/phases-of-transmission/

Purification

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Purification

Even though we are cultivating ourselves, it is hard to overcome many, many lifetimes of evil behavior accumulated over eons of time, both as humans and as non-humans. However, we can stop negative actions from ripening by purifying them. His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III said it is like building a wall of good karma to protect us from the bad. Our bad karma cannot be eliminated–only by becoming enlightened can we escape the laws of cause and effect. The sutras say that “there can be no fault so serious that it cannot be purified by the four powers or four opponent forces.” Even Milarepa and Angulimala, who were both mass-murderers, were able to purify their negative karma and become enlightened in a single lifetime, but they both were able to do this by following enlightened masters and using these powers. These four opponent powers that are essential for successful purification are:

1) The power of regret: One begins by reflecting on regret; the awareness that actions we have committed bring suffering to ourselves and others. This is not the same as guilt, which implies a negative and helpless state of mind and is not useful, but a sort of “intelligent regret,” which is a very positive and creative mental state aimed at correcting the mistake so we won’t repeat it.

2) The power of reliance: To correct our mistakes or negative actions directed toward either the Four Jewels or other sentient beings, we take refuge and generate bodhichitta. We rely on the Buddha who is our role model, the dharma that is the teachings of the Buddha, and the sangha.

3) The power of remedy (the antidote): These are positive actions of body, speech, and mind that we do to purify the negativity. This is “building the wall” of good karma. This can include kind deeds, chanting mantras, meditation, etc. and the dedication of the merit of what we have done to help anyone we may have harmed.

4) The power of resolve: This is our ongoing determination to never repeat the negative action and then not doing it again.

Of course there are dharmas that can be learned to help elicit the support of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, but they all depend on these four powers.

Link: https://wordpress.com/post/wisdomtea.org/1266

Emptiness

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Emptiness

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has told us that there are three levels of true emptiness and wonderful existence. The first is to understand the principle. The second is to realize the wonderful existence. But these two mean that you only understand this. You can’t actually do it. The third is where you actually know the relationship between true emptiness and wonderful existence and not just realize it, but you actually attain that state. You enter that state. That is when “form is emptiness, emptiness is form.” It is hard for us to do this because of our bad karma. The dharma protectors will not bless us.

There is a tendency, especially among Western students, to talk about emptiness and to imitate certain masters who actually had the level of realization to understand that samsara and nirvana are both empty. They think that because “everything is empty” that they need not abide by the precepts, show respect for holy objects, etc. They argue that it is ok to behave in this manner because these things are all empty. This is not correct, but the behavior of demons. Only someone who has truly experienced emptiness can understand emptiness in this manner. Some teachers–especially in Zen and Tibet–engaged in outrageous behavior to wake up their disciples and heighten their state of realization. This is known as “deliberate behavior” but it is not to be practiced by ordinary people. Without correct understanding and motivation such behavior will only result in rebirth in the hells or lower realms and will certainly not enable one to progress on the path. One must be careful to not fall into either of the extremes of “nihilism” where one believes that nothing exists or “eternalism” where one believes that things do have an inherent existence. That is the reason we study the Middle Way (Madhyamaka).

True emptiness or non-being is the same as wonderful existence or being. Form and emptiness are one and the same. Nothingness and somethingness are not different. All worldly phenomena exist in a false manner. They arise due to the convergence of causes and conditions. They vanish when these causes and conditions break up or cease. This is the truth underlying the cycle of birth and death. The ignorant person thinks that there is a self underlying the five aggregates or skandhas or that one or more of the five aggregates are the self. All five aggregates are intrinsically empty.

Link: https://wordpress.com/post/wisdomtea.org/1253

A Holy Feat: H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Gave a Proof of True Buddha-Dharma

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A Holy Feat: H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Gave a Proof of True Buddha-Dharma

(Translated from a report in Chinese published in Las Vegas Chinese Newspaper on June 3, 2014)

(Reported from Los Angeles) The H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum is the first cultural museum named after H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in this earthly world with the mission of demonstrating His Holiness the Buddha’s enlightenment and accomplishments in the Five Vidyas. The museum is scheduled for its grand opening on June 7, 2014. Before this grand opening, an extremely holy feat happened to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. While H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was traveling on a tour, a flock of birds flew within the view of His Holiness the Buddha at a distance of about 100 meters. Then they jumped on a water surface to splash the water and presented a group dance. The dance was also accompanied by a storm.

This event occurred on May 19, 2014. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was visiting Mexico at the time, accompanied by an entourage of more than 20 people. It was shortly after five o’clock in the afternoon. On the way back after visiting an ancient Maya site near the city of Merida, the Mexican tour guide led them to visit the Temozon Resort Hotel, which is a high-class resort hotel built from a manor farm. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and two top-notch holy virtuous ones were sitting at a table near the window inside a coffee shop. Right in front of the window at a distance of about 100 meters (328 feet) was a rectangular-shaped swimming pool. At that time, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III called His entourage together and made an announcement:

“You came on this trip with me and saw many eye-opening scenes. However, today you all will soon see an amazing dance that you have never seen before. In a short while, many birds will fly to this swimming pool to perform a ‘Dragonfly Stepping on Water’ dance. The birds will dive down, shuttling above and treading on the surface of the water. They will step on the water and then soaring upward into the sky. This is also the dance of ‘Spiritual Birds Stepping on Water.’ They will also continue to perform after the rain starts.”

At that time, people within the entourage all looked outside the window but did not see even one bird. However, since H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III had called them over and told them that a world-astounding miracle would occur soon, they were confident that it would definitely happen. Still some of them raised a doubt, “Can a bird fly up after touching the water? Wouldn’t it plunge into the water and drown?”

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III then asked them, “Do you see birds now?” The disciples replied, “No, there isn’t a bird, not even a bird’s shadow.” H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said, “If you suspect that they will not come, or they will plunge into the water and drown, just wait and see what happens. Anyway, I will just tell you this. If there are no birds dancing above the swimming pool, the dharma I expounded would be evil views. If they do show up, that means I am truly Dorje Chang Buddha III, representing all Buddhas in the ten directions and, on the other hand, those dharma kings, rinpoches, venerable ones, and great dharma masters who slandered me are either evil masters or swindlers. The fact will be shown when the birds come. You just wait and see. Moreover, in a sudden moment, celestial deities will cast a heavy rainstorm within one or two seconds, providing an accompanying performance to the dance. However, the birds will not be driven away or stop due to the rain. You will soon see, whether Dorje Chang Buddha III expounded true Buddha-dharma or evil dharma and whether those who engaged in slandering and defamation are demonic persons, evil masters, and swindlers or not.”

After only one minute or so, many birds did fly to the sky above the swimming pool. There were no birds at any other place. They were circling and flipping very fast above the swimming pool. Some began dashing downward. Shortly afterwards, just as H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III had predicted a few minutes ago, the birds dived down from the sky and had their feet stepping on the water, and then flew upward back to the sky. The dance repeated this way over and over again.

Then, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said, “It is going rain heavily right away.” Everyone started to count silently, one, two, …… Exactly as told, in less than two seconds, a heavy downpour suddenly started. The bird did not stop or leave, and continued to dance within the rainstorm. Every detail of the prediction made ahead of time by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III came true completely, proving that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Buddha-dharma is the true dharma and that those who slandered His Holiness the Buddha are all demonic persons, evil masters, and swindlers.

To provide witnesses to this absolutely true holy scene, the disciples who accompanied His Holiness the Buddha on the trip and saw with their own eyes this extremely magnificent holy feat recorded in writing the situation at the time and signed their names. They also took oaths against severe consequences to guarantee what they wrote are ironclad facts. If what they wrote were an untrue fabricated story rather than their own experience, they not only would not become accomplished in this lifetime but also would devolve into the hell of uninterrupted suffering to undergo all kinds of sufferings. On the other hand, if what they stated is true, they will be certain to attain liberation and accomplishment in the current lifetime. They wished that all living beings can learn the true Buddha-dharma from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

The whole process at that time was recorded by video. This live video recording included many world-astounding scenes one after another that proved His Holiness the Buddha’s realization of enlightenment and will be dedicated as a present to the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum. The video will be shown to the public at the museum’s grand opening ceremony and will be distributed to people of all walks.

The written testimony was signed by thirteen witnesses of the entourage who took oaths against severe consequences, including Xuan Hui, Wenli, Baima Dorje Cuomu, Hengsheng, Long Zhi, Kuan, Jiawei Dianba, Cideji, Cirong Zhuoma, Gesang Quzeng, Renqing Quezan, Dunzhu, and Tongchang. Their testimony stated:

“This event seems to be plain simple. However, after careful thinking, we can realize that:”

  • “First, this place is quite far off. Except the Mexican tour guide, none of us on the tour has been here. Neither did we know the location, the setting, or anything about this place. We did not know this place had birds either.
  • Secondly, when H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III made the announcement, we all clearly saw that there was not even one bird above the swimming pool and the higher sky above it.
  • Thirdly, birds are of course not human. They have no way to speak to us or communicate with us in other ways. We human are not able to give notice or direction to the birds either to let them tread and dance on the water surface, not to say that they were more than 100 meters (328 feet) away from us.”

“With all these facts, then how was H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III able to inform all of us two or three minutes ahead of time that many birds would fly to the sky above the swimming pool and state definitively that the birds would perform a world-astounding miraculous dance? What was even more astounding is announcing that celestial deities would produce a heavy downpour within 1-2 seconds and the birds would not be driven away by the rain and would continue to dance. Exactly as forecasted, such a world-astounding scene did take place, proving the truthfulness of the announcement made by His Holiness the Buddha. This is not an issue of prediction. Rather, it represents the ultimate truth and Buddha-dharma that is millions of times more powerful than a prediction!!!! This fact fully proved that the world of Buddhas is completely different from living beings’ world, that the truth of Buddha-dharma that the Buddha expounded to living beings is absolutely true without anything untrue, and that living beings must cultivate in accord with the Buddha’s teaching, in order to become accomplished and truly enter the world of Buddha-dharma. This is because His Holiness the Buddha is the sole highest extremely great holy virtuous one. We simply are unable to know all truths and facts that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is aware of. Therefore, we cultivate in accord with the His Holiness Buddha’s teaching. Only then can we turn the state of an ordinary being into the state of a Buddha and enter the world of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!”

“You should not believe literally H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s description of this event. His Holiness the Buddha said that He is a humble one, He does not have the ability of telling the birds to present a dance on top of the water or telling celestial deities to rain a heavy downpour as an accompanying performance to the dance, this holy occurrence was a coincidence due to the karmic conditions of all who were present, and He does not have such a power of realization. Rather, you should realize that these statements reflected the supreme virtue of selflessness of a true Buddha. You should think carefully about this situation. Which dharma king, rinpoche, dharma master, or holy one can announce ahead of time when there is no bird seen that many birds will come to perform a dance of treading water? Moreover, within only three minutes, many birds did show up and dance on the water, making many splashes of water.”

“Maybe we can just say that this is not amazing. However, such a statement of announcing the arrival of many birds to perform a dance of treading water cannot be baselessly made by a person with the status of a Buddha when a live video recording was on and there was no bird around. How would the situation end if there weren’t many birds showing up afterwards? Moreover, the announcement said that celestial deities were to pour a heavy rain in two seconds. Two seconds after the sentence ended, a heavy downpour started immediately, manifesting an accompanying performance to the birds’ dance. This is something far more than being amazing. It is truly a holy feat made by His Holiness the Buddha. No other holy one can do so, because he does not have such supreme realization of Buddha-dharma. We know that no eminent monk, dharma king, or rinpoche in history has ever done so. In real life, we do not see any great dharma king, great rinpoche, or great dharma master making such accomplishment either! Looking at the last several thousand years, only H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has the true dharma of the Tathagata to manifest such inspiration and virtuous realization. In another instance, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III reversed an aged appearance to that of a youth after only a little over ten minutes. Can any great patriarch master, great dharma king, great rinpoche, or great dharma master make an accomplishment that bears a remote resemblance to this?”c

“Now we know that a true Buddha came to our world. Why don’t you seize this opportunity to follow the Buddha to cultivate and learn the dharma to end the cycle of birth and death? Also, it is certain that you will die soon and you will not be able to escape the death!!! That time will soon come, when your breath will stop and you will die. Your soul, which is the spiritual consciousness you have now, will not have anything that you once possessed in the human world. You will be penniless regardless of how much money you once had. At that time, there will be no food, no house, and nothing. While you are at the stage of bardo, you can see your family members but they can’t hear you talking to them. You will only have loneness, extreme suffering, hunger, and fear. There is no hotel on your way to the afterworld. You don’t know where you can stay for the night. This is not to scare you. That day will come very soon! This is an obvious fact. You are certain to experience the loneness, fear, and the coming together of all kinds of sufferings that never end. The only way to avoid this consequence is to learn the true dharma of the Tathagata right now. Only by doing so can you become accomplished and break away from the fear of death. You should look for the Buddha immediately to learn the dharma. There will be no second chance if you waste this lifetime!!! Then only loneness and suffering with no possibility of being rescued are waiting for your soul.”

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/05/11/a-holy-feat-h-h-dorje-chang-buddha-iii-gave-a-proof-of-true-buddha-dharma/

True Events Seen at the Side of a Buddha

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True Events Seen at the Side of a Buddha

by Jue Hui Shih

Every time we mention holy occurrences related to H.H. Dorje Chang III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata, our discussions never ends. Such are the facts. Wherever H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III goes, mysterious and unexpected phenomena nearly always appear. It seems abnormal for holy phenomena not to appear.

For example, there was one time when H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III practiced the Torma Offering Dharma in which food was offered to the Buddhas and then given to living beings. The most excellent and precious food offered to the Buddhas that time was nectar pills made from mixing real nectar bestowed by the Buddhas at the invocation of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III together with flour and butter. Those nectar pills were hand-made the night before by rinpoches, dharma teachers, and others. Many holy phenomena occurred at that dharma assembly during the course of making offerings to the Buddhas.

First of all, an image of Sakyamuni Buddha was in the middle of the mandala that day. An image of Dorje Chang Buddha, the primordial sambhogakaya Buddha, was above the image of Sakyamuni Buddha. To the right of the image of Sakyamuni Buddha were holy relics of the Buddha. To the left of the image of Sakyamuni Buddha was an image of Guru Padmasambhava. A bright-colored array of fresh flowers, rare fruit, various types of food made from Tibetan roasted barley flour, fragrant cheese, and other offerings dazzled the eyes and filled three offering tables. The nectar pills were placed in the middle of the offering tables.

Before offerings were made to the Buddhas, the nectar pills were placed inside a jade bowl. At that time, the nectar pills were level with the lower edge of the brim of the bowl. Those nectar pills were piled up evenly and filled the entire bowl. The Buddha Master later empowered the fifty-nine attendees of that dharma assembly by giving each of them some of those nectar pills. As a result, the nectar pills that remained in the jade bowl were lower than the lower edge of the brim of the bowl by about 1.5 centimeters. We saw that the nectar pills neither lessened nor increased from 7:03 p.m. when the practice of the dharma began until around 8:10 p.m. when the offerings of the three karmas to the Buddhas was completed. At that time, a holy event nobody ever imagined suddenly took place. In an instant, the nectar pills grew in number. Not only did the pile of nectar pills rise more than 1.5 centimeters filling the entire bowl, its top part formed a dome that rose high above the brim. Everyone was ecstatic at the sight of that holy occurrence.

Nectar pills before they miraculously increased in number.

Furthermore, the nectar pills were moist and soft right after they were made. Everyone decided to use a microwave oven to dry the nectar pills so that they would become dry and hard as soon as possible. A few dharma teachers placed four nectar pills inside the microwave oven as a test to determine the appropriate microwave time. Shortly after those nectar pills were placed inside, to everyone’s surprise the microwave oven began emitting smoke and a burning scent. Everyone quickly took out those pills only to discover that two of them were burning and had become like black coal, while the other two were still their original bright red without any sign of being burned.

The Buddha Master decided to mix the two nectar pills that were burned black and the two that were still bright red into the jade bowl that contained nectar pills to be offered to the Buddhas. A few minutes after this was done, the two nectar pills that were burned black surprisingly disappeared in the bowl. Everyone had no choice but to spill the nectar pills onto a large platter and carefully look for those two nectar pills. However, no matter how meticulously all of us looked, no trace of those two black nectar pills could be found. At this time, Venerable Xirao Jiebu said, “How could there be any differentiation in the Buddha-dharma tathata (true-suchness) of the Buddha Master? None of you will ever find those two pills. How could there be the concepts of burned black and not burned black with respect to true nectar that is Buddha nature? How could there be differentiation of colors?”

Second, the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and dharma protecting deities bid farewell to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III when that dharma assembly to make offerings to the Buddhas ended. At that time, the starry and cloudless sky suddenly rumbled with thunder four consecutive times. All of the people there heard this. Of course, that was the laughter of the dharma protecting deities. It was the height of summer in the Los Angeles area. It had not rained for a few months, and the sky was full of stars. How could there be thunder under such circumstances?

What I have just described is merely one example from among the many feats of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Actually, we at the International Buddhism Sangha Association often receive emergency phone calls. In the vast majority of those phone calls, the caller beseeches H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to save his or her life or the life of another person. Of course, without exception, those close to death take a turn for the better and are out of danger after being empowered by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. We then receive their calls expressing gratitude toward H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Thus, in our eyes H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III truly acts as an emergency treatment center that relieves the sufferings of all living beings.

At times like those, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III often promptly gives a discourse to everyone about how the law of cause and effect, or karma, never fails or about how living beings must cultivate themselves in order to change or postpone karmic retribution. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has told us that it is useless to rely on empowerment alone. Although empowerment has the effect of temporarily blocking one’s karmic hindrances, one will ultimately still experience karmic retribution if one does not cultivate oneself.

One day we learned that a layperson with the surname Yan had contracted cancer of the nose and pharynx (nasopharyngeal carcinoma). For seven days and seven nights, he only ate a few spoonfuls of thin rice gruel. He was in the final throes of late-stage cancer with only a few hours left to live. There being no alternative, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was asked to
save him. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III told him that his situation was the manifestation of karma, or cause and effect, and that there was no way to save him. However, being unable to withstand the strenuous and sorrowful supplications of layman Yan’s family, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III went to layman Yan and gave him a nectar pill. Unexpectedly, after this person who was on the brink of death ate that nectar pill, he regained a clear state of mind that very evening. In less than a half month, his cancer disappeared, and he became completely well. He even taught people the martial arts. His entire family was tremendously grateful to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. However, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III simply said, “What I did is of no use if he does not cultivate himself. He will still pass away.” Given these words of His Holiness, what happened to him five years later was indeed expected. Although his cancer had completely disappeared, his mouth ulcerated as a result of his previous late-stage cancer. He was no longer able to speak clearly. One day he suddenly came up with a strange idea. He decided to use the flesh on his body to fill the gap in his mouth caused by the ulcer. Layman Yan died in the hospital as a result of that operation.

Thus, I would like to sincerely offer the following advice. We should not hope that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III will completely eliminate our karmic forces simply because H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is alive in our world today. First of all, do you have the karmic affinity to meet His Holiness? Even if you meet the Buddha Master, will the Buddha Master accept you as a disciple? Even if you are accepted as a disciple, do you practice virtue such that you are qualified to learn the Buddha-dharma? Even if you learn dharma transmitted by the Buddha Master, can you practice that dharma with your three karmas perfectly corresponding with the teachings of the Buddha Master? We should avail ourselves of the time this Buddha is in our world to follow the correct course of cultivation shown to us by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and practice the highest Buddha-dharma that His Holiness has taught us. This applies to our daily lives and daily meditation. We will then be able to truly attain good fortune, wisdom, accomplishment in the dharma, and liberation!

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/04/27/true-events-seen-at-the-side-of-a-buddha/

Dharma Protectors

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Dharma Protectors

By Zhaxi Zhuoma

The Sanskrit term dharmapala literally means the guardian of the dharma.  For the protection of its teachings and institutions, the vajrayana called upon this group of beings who can also be invoked by the individual practitioner. Dharma protectors are sometimes emanations of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas, and sometimes spirits, celestial beings,animals, or even demons who have been subjugated by a Great Master and bound under oath. Dakinis are also considered dharma protectors. When you have the desire to benefit and make happy all sentient beings and keep your precepts, the dharma protectors will come to protect and uphold your practice, wipe out your demonic obstructions and assist you in becoming accomplished. The dharma protectors will safeguard your road to liberation. The dharma protectors will not allow nectar to be bestowed or other initiations to take place unless the recipients are qualified according to the dharma. It is the dharma protectors who will open your chakras to enable you to receive supernormal powers. If the holy dharmapalas are properly evoked by one who practices the correct dharma, they can also bestow blessings and empowerment that will enable that person to quickly become an enlightened holy being.

Guan Yu

Statue of Dharma Protector Guan Yu at Hua Zang Si.

Statue of Dharma Protector Guan Yu at Hua Zang Si.

Every year Hua Zang Si and other temples celebrate the holy birthday of the Dharma Protecting Deity, Guan Yu to pray that disasters will be minimized, evil eradicated, and good promoted so as to bring harmony to families and happiness to our life and to safeguard the country.

The couplets on the pavilion of the Dharma Protecting Deity express the profound dharma expounded by H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu. The first line of the couplets is “Yu quan shan zhong li miao tang di jun gui fo men.” This explains that Guan Yu took refuge in Master Zhiyi at Yuquan Hill. He then manifested great supernatural power and constructed the Yuquan Temple overnight on a barren lot, where he resolved to become a protector of Buddhism. The other line of the couplet is “Guan sheng ting quian yao qian yun ling gan shi guo yin.” Even before the statue of Guan Yu was installed at Hua Zang Si, it has manifested great efficacious power. It is for these reasons that it is most auspicious to have this pavilion and statue in the temple garden.

Skanda Bodhisattva

Skanda Bodhisattva

Skanda Bodhisattva

While Guan Yu Bodhisattva watches over and protects our worldly affairs, Skanda Bodhisattva protects our spiritual affairs, watching over dharma matters.

The Holy Shrine of Skanda Bodhisattva at Hua Zang Si has two couplets about Skanda Bodhisattva written by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III:

xian san zhou gan ying ding huan yu

you liu dao you qing zhen qian kun

The first line of the couplet by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu is “xian san zhou gan ying ding huan yu.” Its basic meaning is as follows. Skanda Bodhisattva is a great dharma protector who is constantly with us. He protects all sentient beings in the entire universe. Through meditation, he looks over the entire universe.

The second line of the couplet is “you liu dao you qing zhen qian kun.” Skanda Bodhisattva has great compassion. He compassionately blesses and protects all living beings whose lives are in correspondence with the dharma. He comes and goes day and night as he supernaturally observes what happens on earth. He often uses his samadhi powers to stabilize all things in the universe.

Skanda Bodhisattva’s birthday is celebrated on or near the third day of the sixth lunar month each year.

Guan Yu Bodhisattva watches over worldly matters while Skanda Bodhisattva watches over dharma

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/04/20/dharma-protectors/

Avalokiteshvara (Kuan Yin)

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Avalokiteshvara (Kuan Yin)

Avalokiteshvara or Kuan (Guan) Yin Bodhisattva is a well-known great Bodhisattva. She had attained buddhahood countless eons ago and was known as Zheng Fa Ming (Correct Dharma Realization or True Dharma Brightness) Tathagata. Based upon her holy bodhicitta and vows of compassion, she manifests in this earthly realm as a bodhisattva to help liberate living beings from all sufferings. Many disciples of H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu have reported seeing Kuan Yin at various times. One disciple was able to capture a picture of Her standing on the clouds. She appears in many forms–sometimes standing with two arms and sometimes sitting with four arms, as well as other forms including as a thousand arm being. John Blofeld, who was a professor of religion at the University of California at Berkeley and a Buddhist, tells of traveling with a Jesuit priest in Asia and meeting a shining apparition. The priest saw this other worldly being as Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John saw Kuan Yin. Although the Chinese refer to Kuan Yin in the feminine and the Indians (Avalokiteshvara), Tibetans (Chenrezig) and others see him as more masculine in form, he/she is neither male nor female.

Kuan Yin’s birthday is celebrated each year on or near the 19th day of the second lunar month of the Chinese calendar.

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/04/13/avalokiteshvara-kuan-yin/

The Incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha

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The Incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha

by the International Buddhism Sangha Association from the book H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

Dorje Chang Buddha is Buddha Vajradhara. Dorje Chang Buddha is not “Vajradhara.” In English, people often use the word vajradhara to refer to a “Practitioner [or holder] of the Vajra.” Actually a vajradhara is a master or guru. Buddha Vajradhara is a Buddha. Moreover, Buddha Vajradhara is the primordial sambhogakaya Buddha whose sambhogakaya manifested out of the dharmakaya of Adharma Buddha (Adi Buddha, or Samantabhadra Tathagata). All of the Buddha-dharma of Buddha Vajradhara originated from the tathata (true suchness) of Samantabhadra Tathagata. With respect to the dharmakaya of Samantabhadra Tathagata, there is no past and no future. Without form yet not empty, He neither comes nor goes. There are no Buddhas above Him to become. There are no living beings below Him to be saved. Such is His absolute truth. Thus, the dharma-body state of Samantabhadra Tathagata is without signs or characteristics, without speech, and without form. As such, there is no subject or being who could expound the dharma. Without such a subject or being, the multitudinous living beings could not be saved.

Because of such karmic conditions, the formless dharmakaya Buddha generated the first sambhogakaya Buddha with form. This sambhogakaya Buddha with form transformed into Vajrasattva and other nirmanakayas. In order to make a distinction between those three, the dharmakaya Buddha was named Adharma Buddha; the sambhogakaya Buddha was named Dorje Chang Buddha; the nirmanakaya was named Vajrasattva. Actually, all three are Samantabhadra Tathagata, all three are Adharma Buddha, and all three are Dorje Chang Buddha. In truth, there are not two Buddhas. These distinctions are due to the dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya aspects. Based on this, Samantabhadra Tathagata did not directly incarnate. Even the ancient Buddha Dipankara and Vajrasattva were the nirmankayas of Dorje Chang Buddha.
Dorje Chang Buddha is also called Buddha Vajradhara or Ruler of the Vajra Beings. In the entire universe, Dorje Chang Buddha is the first Buddha with form and is the highest Buddha. That is, the highest leader of Buddhism in the entire universe came into being in the form of Dorje Chang Buddha. It was Dorje Chang Buddha who began transmitting dharma and saving living beings in the dharmadhatu. As a result, Buddhism was born and the Buddha-dharma began spreading.
However, many sects and lineages list Samantabhadra Tathagata as the first Buddha who began all the lineages in the dharmadhatu. This way of thinking is actually correct as well. That is because although Samantabhadra Tathagata is a dharmakaya without form and has no way of speaking, the origin lies with this dharmakaya from which the sambhogakaya Dorje Chang Buddha manifested. This sambhogakaya Buddha was the first one to spread the Buddha-dharma in the dharmadhatu. That sambhogakaya Buddha also transformed into Vajrasattva and other nirmanakayas who spread the dharma in the triloka (three spheres). Because of the birth of Dorje Chang Buddha, living beings were thus able to become holy beings in accordance with His dharma teachings.

We often see in dharma books a blue image of Adharma Buddha. Actually, this image is a symbol. Such a symbolic form is necessary since the tathata emptiness of Adharma Buddha is invisible and cannot be depicted in a thangka. There is no way to draw the shape of emptiness. The dharmakaya has no features that can be pictorially depicted. In fact, the concept of dharmakaya is the absolute truth of the universe that is not born and does not perish. The sambhogakaya Buddha (Buddha Vajradhara) manifested out of this concept of not being born and not perishing.
Dorje Chang Buddha is the ancient, primordial sambhogakaya Buddha. He has the unsurpassed virtuous appearance that all of the Buddhas in the ten directions have. He was the first in the dharmadhatu and triloka (three spheres) to express the dharma. Therefore, Buddha Vajradhara, or Dorje Chang Buddha, is actually the greatest leader of Buddhism in the entire dharmadhatu. He is the original ancestor of Buddhism.
However, many Buddhists misinterpret Dorje Chang Buddha, or Buddha Vajradhara, as being a or Practitioner [Holder] of the Vajra (i.e. vajradhara). This is a mistake in a matter of principle that carries with it a karmic offence. Buddha Vajradhara has the meaning of one who is in charge of and has supervision over all of the vajra beings. Thus, He is the Ruler of the Vajra Beings, the one who has dominion over the vajra beings. On the other hand, the Practitioner of the Vajra (i.e. vajradhara), is one who learns the dharma and teaches others. Such a person enlightens himself and others. The term Practitioner of the Vajra, connotes Vajra Master. There is a world of difference between a Practitioner of the Vajra on the one hand and a Ruler of the Vajra Beings on the other hand.

Buddha Vajradhara has passed down dharma to all of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who received such dharma. All of the Buddha-dharma of both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism was originally transmitted by this Ruler of the Vajra Beings. The 84,000 dharma methods that Sakyamuni Buddha taught were transmitted to Sakyamuni Buddha by the ancient Buddha Dipankara, who was a nirmanakaya of Dorje Chang Buddha. Tibetan esoteric Buddhism, which contains all of the dharma of the Nyingma, Sakya, Jonang, Kagyu, and Geluk sects, including the Kalachakra Vajra Dharma transmitted by Sakyamuni Buddha; Japanese esoteric Buddhism; and esoteric Buddhism taught by Sakyamuni Buddha contained in the Tripitakaall come from the lineage of which Dorje Chang Buddha is the original ancestor or from the lineage of His nirmanakaya, Vajrasattva. Buddha Vajradhara or Ruler of the Vajra Beings is the supreme leader of Buddhism in the dharmadhatu. He is not a Vajra Master who is a Practitioner of the Vajra (i.e.vajradhara).

When disciples find a qualified master, they should visualize their Vajra Master as being a Buddha. This is done out of respect for the dharma and respect for one’s lineage. However, no matter what type of master he may be, if his identity or status has not been recognized as a Buddha by rinpoches of great holiness in accordance with the dharma, then he is not a Buddha. Still, the disciple must visualize Him as a Buddha. Even the holy and venerable Vimalakirti, who as the second Buddha Vajradhara, was affirmed as a Tathagata (Buddha) through an announcement of Sakyamuni Buddha.
The incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha is different from the nirmanakayas of any other Buddha. Such an incarnation is a primordial manifestation of the existence of Buddha-dharma. In each world of living beings, there can be at any one time only one incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, who manifests or expresses the existence of the true dharma. There will not be a second incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha in the same age or era. Only after the first incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha leaves the world can the second incarnation be born based on karmic conditions relating to the good fortune of living beings. For example, the holy and venerable Vimalakirti, who was the second Dorje Chang Buddha, took birth in this earthly realm in the past. The third Dorje Chang Buddha, H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, took birth in this earthly realm more than one thousand years after Vimalakirti left it and only when karmic conditions relating to the good fortune of living beings had matured.

Nobody can get away with falsely claiming to be the incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha. In order to protect the dignity of the Buddha-dharma in the dharmadhatu and prevent demons from falsely claiming to be Buddha Vajradhara or the Ruler of the Vajra Beings, Buddha Vajradhara must be born with His own dharma and realization so that He may manifest or express the dharma. No other Buddha is able to manifest realization equal to the realization of Dorje Chang Buddha. That is because in order to protect the true dharma, the Buddhas do not manifest realization powers at the same holy level as the realization of Dorje Chang Buddha. Conversely, all demons lack the power to manifest such realization and therefore cannot manifest such realization.

When Sakyamuni Buddha lived in this world, Dorje Chang Buddha took birth as the holy and venerable Vimalakirti, who helped Sakyamuni Buddha teach the 500 monks and 8,000 Bodhisattvas. The holy and venerable Vimalakirti, who was the second incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, had the highest wisdom and the greatest ability to manifest supernatural powers as an expression of dharma. No other holy being could match Him.

H.H. Mahavairocana Tathagata formally pronounced that the third incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, must meet five conditions: He must successfully invoke the Buddhas to bestow nectar. He must be able to perform the Golden Vase Selection of Karmic Affinity and predict the results of that ceremony beforehand. He must be able to eliminate the karmic obstructions of disciples. He must be able to take mist, place it inside a hollowed out sculpted boulder, and have the mist stay there. He must be able to carve wondrous multicolored sculptures.
The formal pronouncement stated that no other holy being could achieve those five types of accomplishments. It also stated that if any other person of great holiness achieved those five types of accomplishments, then Mahavairocana Tathagata’s recognition that H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu is Dorje Chang Buddha is false, and the pronouncement has deceived the public in order to build up a false reputation.

The facts have proven that in this world there is no being of great holiness and virtue or even an expert who is able to match the accomplishments of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu. Furthermore, great dharma kings on the level of a Buddha or Bodhisattva have unanimously recognized the identity of H.H. Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu through recognition certificates. This thoroughly proves that no one can get away with falsely claiming the identity or status of Dorje Chang Buddha.

In order to prevent demons from wreaking havoc by falsely claiming to be the incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, the required number of many holy beings must recognize the incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha. Furthermore, many additional holy beings must bear witness to the veracity of the recognition and respectfully offer congratulations. The many holy beings who recognize the incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha must be Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, or great dharma kings. Those who bear witness to the veracity of the recognition and respectfully offer congratulations must be extremely holy and virtuous Bodhisattvas. All of those who recognize, bear witness, and respectfully offer congratulations must be famous leaders within Buddhism and great rinpoches. If the identity of the person was not recognized by those on such a holy level, if congratulations were not respectfully offered to him by those on such a holy level, and if he does not have legitimate recognition certificates, then his claims that he is a holy being are false.

People say, “So-and-so rinpoche is universally recognized as the incarnation of Buddha Vajradhara.” This way of speaking is based on heretical and erroneous understanding. It is not in accord with the rules of true Buddhism. Where is the realization of this rinpoche that an incarnation of Buddha Vajradhara would have? Does this rinpoche have complete proficiency in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism? Does he have full mastery of the Five Vidyas? Which five dharma kings have recognized his identity as being Buddha Vajradhara and which ten dharma kings or rinpoches have certified that recognition? Can he show others a recognition certificate showing he is the third Buddha Vajradhara? Which several famous people of holy virtue respectfully offered congratulations to him for being recognized? No matter how high a certain monastic may be, if he does not have true realization and the required written recognitions and congratulations stating he is the third incarnation of Buddha Vajradhara, then all claims by others that he is Buddha Vajradhara are flattery, exaggeration, and rumors.

Hence, one must understand that Buddha Vajradhara is  a Buddha. On the other hand, a  vajradhara is a lama (master). Anyone who misinterprets a lama as being a Buddha Vajradhara is undoubtedly placing the status of a mere vajra master over that of Amitabha Buddha and other Buddhas. Such conduct is a terrible offense because according to the sutras and esoteric scriptures Buddha Vajradhara is Dorje Chang Buddha, the Master of the Five Buddhas and other Buddhas.

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/04/06/the-incarnation-of-dorje-chang-buddha/