Answer 12 On Day 12 of the Lunar year
A master who can preside over a borrowed inner-tantric initiation from the lineage must meet these three major requirements:
- This master has received an inner-tantric initiation and must possess a “Measuring Vajra Rope” with a length between five and ten meters as an object of evidence;
- This master must be a holy virtuous one of Gold Button levels; and
- This master truly has not lost the lineage.
Not meeting any one of the three requirements means that this master does not possess the realization capability to confer a borrowed inner-tantric initiation.
A master who can confer a real inner-tantric initiation by oneself must be a holy virtuous one of Gold Button Level 3 or higher. However, a holy virtuous one of Gold Button Level 3 cannot confer an “Initiation of Dharma Affinity with the Yidam.”
Holy virtuous ones of Gold Button Levels 1 and 2 can only preside over the Borrowed Inner-tantric Initiations in a Borrowed Inner-tantric Mandala. A venerable one wearing a Lotus Button can preside over the borrowed inner-tantric initiations but does not have the absolute certainty to perform authentic Inner-tantric Initiations for disciples successfully.
To be in accord with the Dharma, any initiation that involves the inner-tantric requirements must be done in an inner-tantric mandala that meets the stipulations of the Dharma. Otherwise, even if the Initiation is given, the disciple receiving the Initiation will not have the slightest possibility to obtain any benefit from the Dharma practice.
The Inquiry Center of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters
Written on behalf of great holy virtuous ones to answer questions raised
February 27, 2018
(translation last edited by Zunba 2020-06-03)